4 Legs & a Tail 2017 Lebanon Spring

FR

EE

Miranda Lambert and Her Dogs

Mud Season 2017 Central NH & VT

Money Saving Tips for Pet Owners

Bring Out the Best in Your Horse Deciphering Your Pet Food Packaging What To Do When Dogs Really Fight

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

4.

5.

What’s New at the Upper Valley Humane Society

Pg. 6

Meet Nikki Grimes, the new Executive Director

Service Volunteers

Milne Travel announces a new program to help non-profits such as pet rescue groups

6. Let’s Take a Bite Out of Cancer...Together!

The American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life is a noncompetitive

walking event for dogs and their owners

7. Going to School for a Unique Equine Clinic

Take advantage of the Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation’s 5th Annual Unique Equine Clinic. Coming this April, a horseless clinic

9. Third Annual Caws for Paws Pet Expo in Barre June 3rd JD Green does it again with close to 100 vendors, DOCK DOGS,

behavior training demonstrations and More!

Pg. 16

11. Bring Out the Best in Your Horse World Renowned Trainer Linda Parelli outlines the basics for becoming

a good horseman

14. On Earth Day Celebrate Cats Alley Cat Allies celebrate the role of cats in the environment, along

with the people and programs that help them.

15. Unintended Consequences, Nancy Holmes Proposed Legislation needs the examination of the interested public

to look out for Unintended Consequences

16. Lynx Spotted in Southern Vermont The first confirmed evidence of lynx in Vermont outside of the Northeast Kingdom in decades

17. High Horses & the Hooved Animal Society, Sue Miller When missions align great things can happen 19. Money Saving Tips

Follow these tips to come out ahead with your pet

21. Cool Pet Products That Won’t Break the Bank 23. Miranda Lambert...A Dogs Best Friend

Pg. 23

Meet the country music superstar in an exclusive 4 Legs & a Tail interview

27. Rad Girls Club

These RADical girls use social media and a unique approach to help animals in rescues and shelters across our region

29. Why I Didn’t Get the Dog I Wanted, Karen Sturtevant

In adopting, the eventual goal is to adopt the right dog to the right family, into the right dynamic, for life

31. Is Your Dog a Good Host? Paula Bergeron

Over Eager Greeters, Reluctant Receivers, and Bouncers; is your dog one of these? How to give your dog the tools they need to be good hosts to your visitors

34. Cat Senses, Mike Robertson

Overstimulation can cause nipping, “Whisker Fatigue” and how to prevent it

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 1

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

35. Dog Fights!, John Peaveler

Pg. 38

What to do when dogs “tangle”

36. A Healthy Gut Means a Happy Pet

The secret behind probiotics

38. Alternatively Speaking: When What You Need is More Time, Anne Carroll, DVM 40. Appreciating Snakes, Scott Borthwick

The adventures of un-welcomed visitors

41. How to Help an Injured Wild Bird, Catherine Greenleaf

Confidently know what to do if you come across an injured wild bird

44. Heartworm Prevention and Treatment, Elisa Speckert

A little prevention now can save your dog from complicated and expensive treatments later

45. Bunnies and Chicks for Easter, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Pg. 48

They are “cute” at Easter, but a handful by Mothers Day

46. Feline Urinary Obstruction, Catherine MacLean, DVM

Act quickly for your cat’s sake

48. A new legend for Zelda: Ferret receives pacemaker from Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University 50. Fractured Jaw Fixed with Dental Materials, Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS

After a motorcycle accident, see how one pug survived

51. Preparing for Spring Training, John R. Killacky

With Spring, your horse’s pent-up energy abounds, build on the basics, contentment is around the corner

52. The Bond of the Box: Pet Parents Identify with Human Trends in Pet Food Packaging, Holly McClelland and Patrick Sturgeon

Pg. 57

Making sense of your bag of pet food

55. How to Attack Fleas, Millie Armstrong, DVM

They’re BACK! And this is the way to combat this recurring problem

57. Happy Anniversary Cat in the Hat!

We fondly remember Dr. Suess and his mischievous cat and the origins of this favorite story of millions.

59. BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog), Abby Tassel

4 Legs & a Tail Volume L.117 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com 2 4 Legs & a Tail

At WISE Furry Friends help Survivors Connect

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Senior Editor: Scott Palzer Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff, Lacey Dardis Kerry Rowland Sales: Karyn Swett, Scott Palzer, Barry deSousa

If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Central VT & NH. 4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim.

Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

Spring 2017

From the Editors Happy Mud Season!

te pet. s, emails and photos of your favori dog ter let ny ma e eiv rec we ue, iss h With eac too of her in Grantham, NH is a first. A tat ul Tattoo in However, this picture from Kate e So e artist is Chris Bowen at Vintag Bailey and her pet rat Millie. Th West Lebanon. ing obsessive ments on a Facebook post regard comes to com of lot a ed eiv rec we tly cen Re en it us can be a little over the top wh h: dog disorder. It seems many of wit up e tes and a few others you cam ori fav our of e som are re He s. dog

with your dog - Do you like spending more time ds frien with out g goin than - You have more than one dog ing the dog Do you spend your lunch hour walk se spou r you re befo dog r you t gree - You dog snee zes - Say “ble ss you” whenever your the perf ect name before you - You realize you gave your dog doing their busines - Congratulated your dog for them had your first child being into s year ral seve outside, toys dog with red litte is se hou r You housebroken check on the dogs nex t to - You go home during the day to e it personally when your dog sits Tak floor instead someone other than you the on sit you ch, cou the on - If your dog is sleeping r dog while but you order the 20 oz sirloin - Listen to people talk about thei - You’re not a big meat eater,lefto r dog is better you how t abou king vers secretly thin because your dog like s the your dog than your children - Your phone has more photos of t to the doctor, but you - It’s been years since you wenuall y ann vet the to dog r you take Tim & Tim s favorite - You snowblow a path to your dog pee spot

Enjoy!

issue, ail, egs & a T ticle in the winter L 4 r a e g it , I D r er readin ssie. for the a t f u o A y .” k n in a Je Th in Pa mily cat t May be in our fa is (I am s n ig “Your Pe s e ome of th y mom about th hat noticed s me and t nt e d m e o v e fr li n e o c b I When ok him he didn’t rs old), s ch. She finally to a e . y e lv e tw tapeworm oo mu h t it g w in y d r e r s I was wo d he was diagno n a t e v e to th now on Je ssie is ion and me dicat er. u ch b e t t feeling m hank you. dIt Jessie an

H ello 4 L egs I r eally en & a Tail, jo lo o k f o r w y the magazin e a n ard to r ec eiv in g ev d is s u e . I er y sn a p p e d th is p h o to couple o f year s ag a o o f a f ox r ac c o o n s an d har in g a m eal in backyard. m Sorry it’s a little blu y but I’m 1 05 years rry, o ld and a shaky. little T hank s, Warren P atric

k - Towns hend, V T

, Sincerely ne ig v Ava La ury, VT b s St . John Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 3

What's New at the Upper Valley Humane Society T

he Upper Valley Humane Society recently announced the hiring of a member of the shelter’s own leadership team to serve as its next Executive Director, Nikki Ranieri (formerly Grimes). By hiring a well-qualified internal candidate who has worked exceptionally close with Ayeshah A l-Hu m a id h i, t he UVHS is confident that we will maintain both the positive direction of the shelter and Tim Goodwin and Kenzie of 4 Legs & a Tail the quality of care making new friends at Tails & Trails the animals deserve.

Nikki joined UVHS nearly 18 months ago as Development Director, and was instrumental in advancing their fundraising program. Previously, Nikki worked at Central Vermont Humane Society. She is committed to carrying on the good work and direction established by Ayeshah and to serving the Upper Valley where she grew up. An animal lover with three dogs of her own, Nikki is passionate about maintaining an outstanding shelter and continuing to serve people and pets with compassion.

You can meet Nikki at the UVHS in Enfield or stop by and say hello at the Tails & Trails Walk-a-thon at Colburn Park, Lebanon on May 20.

4 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Service - Volunteers...

Milne Travel’s Prog ram to Promote Volunteering

V

olunteering is the foundation of most successful non-profit organizations. Every year thousands of folks take time to support causes and charities that make a difference in our communities.

Milne Travel’s Service-Volunteers program is designed to inspire and honor volunteers and the organizations they serve. According to company President, Scott Milne, “Milne Travel is all about service- to our clients, among ourselves and our communities. Our focus on service started with our founders-my parents, Don and Marion Milne.”

In response to this commitment, Milne Travel has launched a new program designed to reward those groups and volunteers who give of themselves.

How to Win Travel Prizes

Scott Milne and Vince at the Appalachian Trail

n Volunteers must log their time volunteering for an eligible non-profit, in order to be eligible and recognized as part of the Service-Volunteers program.

Hours will be logged by registering on their website. www.MilneVolunteers.com n Monthly recognition will be given to the top volunteers. n Quarterly, a Service-Volunteers winner will be awarded a prize. Winners will be authenticated by our proprietary database to verify the person’s claim (log) before announcing the winner. n Share points are the credits that volunteers receive for logging and sharing their volunteer activity. An hour of volunteering counts for 4 Share points. Activity volunteers post to Facebook (via Service-Volunteers) are awarded one point each for likes and comments. More Shares = more chances to win! n Winners will be posted via Milne Media streams. Be sure to follow them on Facebook! n Minimum logging hours to qualify: 4 hrs per month/50 per year. n At the end of the yearlong campaign, one of the twelve monthly winners, as well as the top three total time contributing volunteers, will be put into a random drawing for a grand prize. n The grand prize award to be named the “Marion Milne Service-Volunteers Recognition Award.”

As Milne explains, “We’ve partnered with our friends at Cabot Creamery Co-operative to also give you the opportunity to win monthly prizes through the Reward Volunteers program.

By logging your time with us you will automatically be eligible for these great monthly prizes!”

For more information or to register, visit www.MilneVolunteers.com Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

Let’s take a bite out of cancer... together!!

H

ave you ever missed out on participating in a Relay for Life event in your community because your dogs were not allowed? Well, guess what?!

Since we know that our canine caregivers can be such a vital part of patient survivorship, it is our pleasure to invite you to join us to celebrate them at a local 2017 Bark for Life event! The American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners that raises funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer!

Bark for Life is committed to honoring the lifelong contributions of our canine support team; and so we invite everyone to join us to celebrate our canines and to bring an end to cancer.

It is time to build your FIGHT BACK team and start fundraising to make this year’s Bark for Life event a huge success!

This year, we are once again hosting two events in May. We are adding many news things to our events; from fun event theme, vendor tables, raffles, games, and so much more! If you are a business that is interested in supporting our event; there are sponsorship opportunities available.

For more info or to register your team for one of our events; please contact Jennifer Clark at 802.872.6323 or jennifer.clark@cancer.org or by visiting our websites at: Chittenden County – May 5, 2017 at Technology Park www.relayforlife.org/barkchittendenvt Franklin County – May 19, 2017 at Collins Perley Sports Complex www.relayforlife.org/barkfranklinvt

6 4 Legs & a Tail

Let’s take a bite out of cancer... together!!

Spring 2017

Past speakers John Greenall, Luman Wadhams, Richard Boule, and Steve Davis (left to right)

Going to School for a Unique Equine Clinic “S

chool days, school days, good old golden rule days…” not quite, “no readin’, writin’ or ‘rithmetic,” for this school. Just lots of horse talk. This popular horse-less equine clinic is in its fifth year of bringing professional expertise for person-to-person encounters. Have questions on a training problem? Want to know more about equine acupuncture? Do you know how greatly your horse will respond to a massage? Are you interested in turning your horse into a dancing partner? Take advantage of the Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation’s 5th Annual Unique Equine Clinic.

In April of 2012, the Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation President, Marilyn Childs, brought up a fundraising idea: a Spring horse-less clinic to be held at the Sharon School, Sharon, VT. The clinic would bring in top horse professionals for a series of classroom presentations, to be followed by a convivial family luncheon. What could be better to shrug off the winter blues and get into the swing for a new equine season?

This year’s 5th Annual Spring Clinic on April 1, 2017, in Sharon may surpass expectations – Richard Boule makes his 5th appearance. Richard is a USEF Judge, manager/trainer extraordinaire for Taylor River Farm. He fields training, exhibiting and judging questions.

John Greenall is making his second appearance. Also a USEF judge, John is an international authority on all things carriage and endurance riding/ driving. Lori Berger is a second timer, bringing her knowledge of dressage and western dressage – the newest challenge to developing a well trained partner. Then there is Doctor Randy Frantz, who has many years of experience in the veterinary field. Have a horse that is sore, or stiff? Randy can help pin point problem areas and offer assistance in overcoming these hidden problems.

Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 7

Bulrush son of Justin Morgan

The morning starts at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome coffee and baked goods meet-and-greet with the Foundation sponsors: Joy Smith, Judy Mosman and Nancy Plimpton, as well as the speakers.

Many of the Foundation members will be there to introduce themselves and assist in answering questions as well. At the stroke of 10:00 a.m. the classrooms start filling up, so make sure you grab a chair. The speakers have separate assigned classrooms, giving attendees the opportunity to pick a favorite presenter or the topic of most interest. Bring your questions; this is the time to ask the experts! Are you ready for more? At 11:00 a.m. attendees can change rooms for a different speaker/topic and take a seat.

Following the presentations a home made lunch awaits. Lunch is officiated by the ‘Sharon Sprouts’, 5th and 6th grade students, who will serve each person a plate of delicious hot food. The Sharon Sprouts is an active school program that raises money for the school’s food services. Chef Liann Perry and Sharon School Principal, Barrett Williams, coordinate the program. Food is grown in the school’s on-site garden, or is locally sourced – a food to plate experience. The students help prep and serve the lunch with much aplomb. The Foundation is more than happy to hire the Sprouts for your dining pleasure.

Your host, The Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation, is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating the public about the Morgan Horse, and protecting and preserving the history of the Morgan horse. Are you interested in Morgan horses, Vermont history, or becoming involved in great projects? Then fill out a MHHF membership form – the MHHF has something for everyone. Come and join us for the MHHF 5th Annual Spring Indoor Clinic. See you there.

For more information contact: Anne Brown, 802 878-4128, 1380 Old Stage Road, Westford, VT 05494 8 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

JD Green with a big fan of the Caws

3rd ANNUAL CAWS 4 PAWS RETURNS TO BARRE, VT JUNE 3rd

T

his June, local radio personality JD Green brings his annual pet expo, “CAWS 4 PAWS” back to Barre, VT. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, June 3rd from 10am-3pm.

The last two years have seen record crowds at the BOR ice arena, and this year Green plans for an even larger event. The vendor list last year topped sixty-five, a third larger than the inaugural event in May of 2015.

Green’s inspiration behind his CAWS 4 PAWS expo is rooted in his love for animals, mostly his passion for dogs and even more specifically his beloved partner of sixteen years, Buddy. “This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but when I lost Buddy I decided to start it up in his memory,” says Green, who adds that Vermont has one of the largest population of dog owners in the country.

With over four thousand attendees last spring, Green wasn’t surprised by the turnout, especially considering the debut of the world famous DOCK DOGS. “People turned out in droves to see what so many of us in Vermont have never witnessed — dogs that can leap upwards of twenty feet or more across the water to retrieve their favorite toy,” he says with a grin. “It was huge. Like nothing I’ve ever seen Spring 2017

before. The trophies and ribbons, the competition, the entire show was a real treat for so many families,” he adds. DOCK DOGS, the world’s premier canine aquatics competition featured various competition events such as “Big Air”, “Speed Retrieve”, “Extreme Vertical” and more, with final rounds of the three day event on Sunday. Well behaved dogs ARE welcome at CAWS 4 PAWS. Last spring, many tried out their aerial skills for the first time in the novice jumping division.

This spring Green hopes to move Continued Next Page

www.4LegsAndATail.com 9

closer to his goal of 100 vendors, while teaming up with his radio station 101 THE ONE to promote. His aim this year is to expand the crowd from the reaches of Rutland, St. Jay, Middlebury, St. Albans, Burlington and even New York.

“There is something for every pet owner —from nutrition to obedience and behavior, to doggy daycare, apparel and beyond. The sky’s the limit really,” he says.

Ian Grant, Owner & Head Trainer from Vermont Dog Boarding & Behavior will be in attendance to offer dog training demonstrations. “The better we understand dogs, the better relationship we have with them,” says Grant.

Clients come from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Connecticut to have their dogs trained by Ian and his staff. He was recently featured on WCAX’s “Made in Vermont” segment.

Green’s goal however, is to focus on the cause of countless pet adoption organizations in New England. He welcomes clubs, rescue and therapy groups from all over New England and last year even had several from as far away as Georgia and Florida. “The word is out. It’s back this spring, and better than ever. Those who attended last year will be there again with their dogs.

Those that travel from anywhere in Vermont and New England for that matter won’t be disappointed. Don’t leave your dog at home. Hop in the car and bring them with you. It’s a giant win-win for the community and the local economy and I couldn’t be more proud of what it has become already,” he closes.

10 4 Legs & a Tail

To learn more, or get involved as a vendor or volunteer on June 3rd, get in touch with Green who says he’s already been contacted by several attendees from last year.

Make sure to visit the CAWS 4 PAWS Facebook page.

Spring 2017

Bring Out The Best In Your Horse

O

Linda Parelli

ne of the worst things that happens when you first get into horses is that you think all you have to do is just get on and ride. No wonder there are so many failed relationships with horses! Most horses have a justifiably negative opinion of humans and have learned behaviors that range from frustrating to downright dangerous.

What if, from the first day you dreamed of having a horse, you were taught that your job is to learn how to bring out the best in your horse? That sometimes riding cannot be your major focus, that you might have to act as a trainer — or psychologist or behaviorist or all of the above — first? Then it would make sense that you have to learn to become a horseman, because a horseman is part rider, part trainer, part psychologist and part behaviorist. A horseman is way more than just a rider, but is a great rider too.

Part Rider There are two components to riding: 1. Not falling off, going with the flow.

2. Developing and advancing your skills.

It’s the second one that is key here, because it’s not until your horse is calm, confident and willing that you can work on yourself to improve your feel, posture, position, technique and advance your skills.

This is also why “school masters” are so valuable. They have their act together, they know their job and they can put up Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 11

with the mistakes riders make as they are learning. Pat Parelli expresses this in #7 of the Eight Principles: “Horses teach humans and humans teach horses” because he knows how valuable it is for riders to learn from experienced horses.

Unfortunately not all of us are lucky enough to have access to that kind of horse which is why becoming an excellent rider, sometimes takes longer than it should.

Part Trainer A trainer is a teacher, and it is your responsibility to teach your horse what you need and want him to know. As his teacher you need to be a good communicator, have a plan, and be knowledgeable, disciplined, patient, and focused. You need to be able to blend consistency and variety in the right proportions, to solve and prevent problems, and to make progress as soon as your horse is in a learning frame of mind.

Part Psychologist In the Parelli program you learn a lot about how to use equine psychology to influence your horse’s mind, rather than manipulate him against his will using physical force. It’s about getting your idea to become your horse’s idea, but understanding your horse’s idea first. Essentially this means you need know what strategies calm or motivate a horse, when to retreat or use reverse psychology, and when to advance and make rapid progress.

Part Behaviorist Understanding horse behavior takes the mystery out of horses, and the key to understanding the individual horse is “Horsenality.” Not only does this allow you to understand why your horse behaves in a certain way, it informs you of potential behavioral patterns. You’ll know how to design productive training sessions, when to speed up or slow down, and you’ll stop bringing out the crazy, unpredictable, lazy or naughty side of your horse.

Be a Horseman By using all your skills as a horseman you’ll bring out the best in your horse by slipping effortlessly from one role to the other exactly as needed. When your horse is afraid or loses trust and confidence, you’ll understand him and help Continued Next Page

12 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

him regain his confidence and trust in your leadership. When your horse resists or shuts down, you’ll know how to encourage his ideas or wait until he asks you a question. When your horse is calm, trusting, motivated and willing, you’ll get to work on the subtleties of becoming an excellent rider. Even though “rider” is first on this list, for the good of the horse it’s the thing you get to focus on last. One day it will all be seamless — you’ll do it all, all of the time. And then, in your horse’s eyes, you are a real horseman.

Linda Parelli is an equine educator and co-founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, a program which offers a systematic and fun way to learn to think like a horse. She is especially well-known for her work on horse psychology and her development of the concept of Horsenality™, or horse personality.

Along with licensed psychologist Dr. Patrick Handley, she has developed a h o rs e/h u m a n p e rs o n a l i t y matching system, the Horsenality™/ Humanality™ Match Report.

A lifelong enthusiast of the sport of Dressage, Linda enjoys learning from classical masters and applying their concepts to her own work.

Linda’s experiences as a student of the legendary dressage trainer Walter Zettl resulted in her development of a Game of Contact course, a step-bystep program that helps riders achieve mental, emotional, and physical connection with their horses.

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 13

ON EARTH DAY, CELEBRATE CATS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

A

lley Cat Allies marks Earth Day 2017 by celebrating the role of cats in the environment, the work that caregivers, advocates, animal control officers, and shelters are doing to help them, and the widespread success of Trap-Neuter-Return programs.

“As animal advocates, we want what’s best for cats and for all animals,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “Cats in every community live alongside wildlife now just as they always have, and the best way to help all of them is t h rough

humane care. Spay/neuter and vaccination, delivered through a TrapNeuter-Return program, is best for cats, wildlife, and the people who live nearby.”

CATS AND WILDLIFE COEXISTING Many communities worldwide have chosen to allow cats, people and wildlife to coexist. For example, more than 570 communities in the U.S. alone have adopted a Trap-Neuter-Return ordinance or policy as a means of managing community cat populations.

Trap-Neuter-Return is a humane and effective approach to stabilize community cat colonies and improve the lives of cats, wildlife and people. Cats are spayed or neutered, “eartipped” (a small portion of their ear is removed while the cats are anesthetized), vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor home. Trap-NeuterReturn is proven to stop the breeding cycle of cats – litters of kittens are no longer born.

TNR AS A MAINSTREAM APPROACH “People everywhere tell us how much they love cats and welcome them into their neighborhoods,” Robinson said.

“Earth Day reminds us that TNR programs help communities understand how to enjoy cats by respecting them as a vital part of the community. This is why it has become such a mainstream approach in the U.S.” Cats make their neighborhoods more enjoyable, peaceful places to live when managed in Trap-Neuter-Return programs. Behaviors associated with mating, and calls to authorities about the cats halt. Because of the open discussions about cats that accompany a TNR program, another result is that residents enjoy improved communication and better understanding about cats and the environment.

Visit alleycat.org to learn more about how TNR can help cats become great neighbors.

14 4 Legs & a Tail

Alley Cat Allies, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 600,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens worldwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org, and Alley Cat Allies is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube.

Spring 2017

E

veryone has probably experienced unintended consequences of actions they have taken. Maybe you taught your pet a cute trick which evolved into something unexpected.

I taught my kitten to play with her ping pong ball and other toys in the tub so she wouldn’t lose them under furniture. So it’s my own darn fault when I find a live (or dead) mouse in the bathtub! She’s just doing what I taught her, ‘playing’ with a ‘toy’ in the tub.

A big area where consequences can be difficult to see, is in proposed legislation.

I learned to read bills myself and not rely on interpretations of what an ‘animal welfare’ bill means, not even that of a well-known organization. People writing bills may have a clear view of what they want to accomplish, but not see what the law would mean to the average pet owner.

One year a NH bill was brought forward to force anyone who bred a litter to have each dog outside in a fenced yard for a full hour every day to exercise. This seemed a kind and reasonable way to ensure that dogs kept in less than great conditions got more exercise.

I’m sure that was the bill sponsor’s intent. But what did this mean when applied to ‘all’ of these dogs? It meant mother dogs with new litters would be forced away from them an hour a day, causing them trauma and possibly fatal chilling for the pups. It meant no consideration for the needs of the individual dogs.

I have shown dogs, and occasionally my pets had a carefully planned litter.

I would have to put my blind, crippled, 16 ½ year old, balding, five pound dog out an hour every day whether snowing, freezing, raining, boiling hot, humid etc. because I’d raised pups! No exceptions for elderly or ill animals! Dogs with breathing issues could be out in heat and humidity, hairless dogs could be out in freezing cold because they lived with a breeder. That didn’t sound so kind anymore! Unintended consequences for sure!

I raised those points at the bill hearing, even people who favored it were aghast at the unforseen consequences. So intent on what they wanted to do, they missed that what they would be doing to the animals could be animal cruelty!

Another bill forbade the tying of dogs outside. Many campaigns on this topic typically portray a sad looking dog living its life outside on a heavy chain with no shelter. Yes, there are situations where tying a dog out isn’t done humanely. Does this mean anyone in a living situation where they can Spring 2017

Unintended Consequences Nancy Holmes have a dog but not a fence should have no option for time outside, when they can’t physically take it for a walk?

Before a fence, I was glad for my tieout runs when I was sick, in the middle of the night and dogs needed to go out, or time was too short for a walk, or just to get them away from the vacuum cleaner. Forbidding everyone because a few situations are bad, just isn’t fair to the average pet owner and might keep good pet owners from having a dog at all.

These are just examples of bills which show up every year with many others, impacting animals and owners in New England. Now, I read every bill line by line, check the sections of code they refer to or will change, and try to understand what the far reaching implications might be. I don’t rely on what a group or supporters say they believe a bill will do. I like to read for

myself and decide if I support it or if I see unintended consequences will negatively impact people and their pets.

That allows me the option of writing to legislators in support or to outline issues I see with a bill as written, giving another perspective on how the bill will impact pet owners. It’s easier to encourage amendment of a bill or kill it in committee, than to live with the results when a law accidentally makes sensible pet care illegal.

I encourage every pet lover to become familiar with animal oriented bills in their state and decide for themselves their good and bad points. Proposed legislation typically can be found via your state’s .gov website. Write committee members, address the committee involved in investigating the bill, keep your own legislators up to date on bills that interest you, and help avoid unintended consequences that could impact you and your pets.

To learn more about NH bills contact Dog Owners of the Granite St at e ( D O G S) w w w.n hd og s.or g or w w w.fac eb ook .c om /n hdog s /.

DOGS, founded in 1991, monitors NH legislation to protect the interests of pets and their owners.

Nancy Holmes is a lifetime animal lover who has bred champion show dogs, trained difficult dogs, done breed rescue on a local and national basis, studied canine structure, health, behavior and genetics and very strongly believes in the inestimable value of the human animal bond.

Currently she shares her home with two cats and two dogs (and the occasional deer mouse who tries to move in). All this has led her towards helping the NH DOGS group in their efforts to preserve the rights of pet owners to have and enjoy the animals they love.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 15

Lynx Spotted in Southern Vermont

A

lone Canada lynx was spotted in the southern Vermont town of Londonderry last spring, marking the first confirmed evidence of lynx in Vermont outside of the Northeast Kingdom in decades. Lynx are listed as ‘threatened’ under the federal Endangered Species Act and ‘endangered’ in the state of Vermont.

The lynx was seen in the back yard of a rural Londonderry home. Biologists with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department confirmed the identification of the animal from the photos and visited the site to confirm the location of the photos.

Since that time, a wildlife camera photo has emerged that biologists suspect is also of a lynx in nearby Searsburg, Vermont. The photo was taken in May shortly before the Londonderry sighting, but was only recently noticed by the University of Vermont student who had set the camera trap out as part of her wildlife research.

The animal was photographed while it was passing under

16 4 Legs & a Tail

Route 9 using a wildlife underpass created in partnership with Vermont Fish & Wildlife and VTrans.

“This was very exciting news for Vermont,” said Chris Bernier, a wildlife biologist for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department who is in charge of lynx conservation. “The fact that this animal chose to travel such a long distance demonstrates why it is vitally important to maintain healthy and well-connected habitat in Vermont. We were thrilled to see the animal using a wildlife underpass that was created for the express purpose of allowing animals to pass safely under the road.”

Male lynx are known to disperse long distances, so Bernier believes that there is a strong chance this may be the same lynx in both sightings. Biologists regularly monitor lynx habitat in the area and have not picked up other evidence of the animals locally, indicating that it is unlikely that lynx have established a resident population in southern Vermont. Lynx are strongly tied to large, unbroken forests of spruce and fir trees with high numbers of snowshoe hares, their primary prey species. Forests of this type are mostly found in Vermont in Essex County, and are less common elsewhere in the state.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department actively monitors for lynx in the Nulheegan Basin of Conte National Wildlife Refuge and at the Bill Sladyk and Victory Basin Wildlife Management Areas in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Plum Creek Timber Co. Survey work in 2016 was unable to detect a resident population anywhere in Vermont despite increased survey efforts.

“Vermont has never had a large or stable lynx population.

Records of lynx in Vermont were extremely rare even at the time of the earliest colonists, and have remained infrequent,” said Bernier. “We believe lynx may have dispersed into Vermont following a boom in Maine’s lynx population in the early 1990s.

Maintaining appropriate habitat is vital to ensuring that lynx can exist in this state, even if only as transients.”

Spring 2017

The Partnership of High Horses and The Hooved Animal Sanctuary HAS rescue horse Stanley

G

reat things happen when two local non-profits are able to collaborate.

The Hooved Animal Sanctuary and High Horses were able to join forces to help one of the Sanctuary horses. The Hooved Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit organization located in Chelsea Vt. providing protection and rehabilitation of neglected, abused and abandoned hooved animals with the goal of placing them in loving, safe homes. The Hooved Animal Sanctuary’s mission, is: 1. To provide a safe, caring sanctuary for abused and abandoned hooved animals.

2. To provide for the protection and rehabilitation of neglected animals with the goal of placing them in loving, safe homes.

3. To provide ongoing youth programs and community education that will help enable us to reach these goals This mission aligns well with High Horses mission of, improving the well-being of people with unique needs through a therapeutic equine experience.

Sue Miller Shasta is a 15 hand, chestnut, Quarter Horse mare of unknown breeding that is estimated to have been born in 1996. Shasta enjoys being groomed in her stall or in the aisle if someone is holding her. Shasta has a longish curly coat and really has a lovely free, forward walk. She tracks well and has a wonderfully smooth rotational feel when she is striding out that really gives the rider a good core workout. Shasta came to HAS about 3 months before she came to High Horses. Shasta was trained daily on groundwork and under saddle. She was underweight and received vet, farrier, and chiropractic care to get her ready for her new home.

High Horses took Shasta on trial this fall to see if she would fit into the program. Shasta was at first uncomfortable standing at the mounting ramps, but has steadily gotten better as she gets used to her new location, people, and learns her job at High Horses and has become a wonderful assest to the program.

Not every horse is cut out to be a therapy horse. Horses are chosen for their size, temperament and soundness.

Horses in the program must be able to walk, trot & canter soundly. The horses Continued Next Page

Shasta in her stall at High Horses

How perfect for High Horses as we were looking to add a horse to our program. One of High Horses new instructors, Molly Fenty has also been working at the HAS as the barn manager.

Molly told us all about this lovely little mare that had come to the sanctuary.

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

must be able to tolerate several different people being around them, walking beside them as well as have different items, such as balls and other motor planning toys passed around their bodies, feet and head.

The horse must be of a size that can accommodate many different riders of varying heights & weights. Each horse has a weight limit of about 20 percent of their body weight so they are Shasta & Molly Fenty working on the curtain not overburdened. The obstacle in an agility course horses are never asked to work more than 3 hours contiguously writing and event planning. Molly is and never more than 6 hours in a day. excited to help the Sanctuary continue High Horses is a premier accredited pro- to grow well into the future. gram with PATH International so the If you are looking for a new riding program abides by the highest standard horse or a companion for animals you in the industry. already have, you should check out The The Hooved Animal Sanctuary is Hooved Animal Sanctuary they might transitioning. After many years of tire- have just what you are looking for. The less work, Deb Baker is retiring as the Sanctuary has a lovely Arabian lookExecutive Director at HAS and is turning ing for a new forever home. Stanley to reins over to Molly Fenty. Deb will is a five year old black Arabian geldremain on the Board of Directors. Molly ing who is approximately 14.1 hands has been the Barn Manager for the past high. He was seized by police and 18 months and helping Deb with grant removed from a property belonging to hoarders along with thirteen other horses and came to The Hooved Animal Sanctuary as a stallion in 2016. He was malnourished, covered in rain rot and dandruff, and terrified of humans.

Stanley has improved by leaps and bounds in his time at The Hooved Animal Sanctuary in both physical and mental health. He was gelded for health and population control reasons and is now incredibly affectionate towards his humans and herd mates.

Stanley was lucky enough to spend 30 days with the professional trainers at Follow My Lead Horsemanship in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont where he improved his manners, began training under saddle, and learned many new skills.

Stanley returned to The Hooved Animal Sanctuary were he continues his training. Stanley continues to improve every day. He is excellent for the veterinarian, farrier, and on lead. Stanley is ready to begin his new career and could take any direction his new owner wants him to including driving, riding, jumping, cross country, or dressage. For more information about Stanley or any of the other horses available for adoption please contact Molly Fenty at The Hooved Animal Sanctuary. Look on the Hooved Animal Sanctuary’s website for further information about the animals they have and upcoming events. www.hooved.org.

18 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Money $aving Pet Tips I

t’s tax season and there is no better time to look at the family budget than now. Your pet is an important part of your family (although you can’t claim them as a dependant), and probably account for more expense than you think. If you’re interested is saving money and improving your pets quality of life, here are some important money saving ideas:

1. Brush Teeth Daily

Dental problems are more common than you think. Imagine if you never brushed your teeth! If you don’t already have the supplies, get a speciallymade pet toothbrush and toothpaste (they come in various flavors), and make it a routine. Pets suffer from the same dental problems as people (plaque, tartar, gingivitis, etc.) and should have their teeth brushed daily to avoid costly veterinary procedures.

Perhaps instead of needing a $500-1000 intensive dental cleaning every year, your veterinarian will recommend it every two or three years.

2. Choose a Long-Lasting Flea and Tick Preventative

Over the past few years, fleas and ticks have been the #1 problem facing New England pet owners. Fortunately, there are many types of preventatives to choose from these days. Discuss with your veterinarian which type best fits your needs, and consider preventatives that are longer lasting.

Some preventatives can offer your pet protection against nasty flea and ticks for up to 12 weeks. This can be both convenient and economical for you in the long run.

3. Invest in Quality Food

Feeding a high quality pet food is one of the simplest yet most important things you can do.

A properly balanced diet will help ensure that your pet will remain in good health with a shiny coat and a strong immune and digestive system. You may end up spending a little more at the check-out line, but the overall investment should save you hundreds!

Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 19

4. Avoid Overfeeding

Portion-control is not only crucial in maintaining your pet’s health but cost effective. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over 50% of dogs and cats are overweight or obese. A big part of the problem is excess calories due to overfeeding. Portion sizes will vary depending on the age, size, and activity level of your pet. Read the pet food label and discuss with your veterinarian how many calories your pet should consume daily. Then portion out the meals using a measuring cup.

5. Exercise Regularly

An overweight or obese pet can be more prone to suffer from expensive and life-threatening health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Exercise with your pet regularly to help avoid encountering such problems. Often all it takes is 15-30 minutes a day of physical activity (combined with a proper diet) to ensure your pet remains at a healthy weight. Discuss with your veterinarian about how often and how long your pet should exercise, especially if the dog or cat already is overweight

6. Pet-proof Home and Yard

Every year thousands of dollars are spent on treating pets for accidents and poisonings. Pet-proof your home in order to avoid common pet emergencies such as poisonings and electrocutions. Start by walking your entire house imagining what a pet could eat, climb, or pull down, and then secure those things. Your yard should also be pet-proofed. Check for loose boards along the fence, unlocked gate latches, and trash, recycle bins and other potentially dangerous containers that may not be properly sealed or stored.

7. Start a Health Saving or Pet Insurance Plan

Setting up a savings plan for expected pet care costs like vaccinations, heartworm testing and annual exams is not only possible but also practical. For unexpected or catastrophic events, you may want to consider shopping for a pet insurance plan. Either way, plan wisely. Borrowing money to pay for your pet’s healthcare can end up increasing the real price of your pet care exponentially.

8 . M a ximize Discounts and Rewards Visit the website of your favorite local pet supply store. Many offer loyalty reward programs, coupons and rebates that can help save you money on things you were already going to buy for your pet. It is, however, important that you don’t chase savings by continually switching certain items like pet food and medications. Often pets become accustomed to a certain type of food or medication and may suffer from adverse reactions when making an abrupt change. If you are considering making a change, consult your veterinarian on how to best approach the situation.

As New Englanders, we are renowned for our common sense. Remember the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The best money tip is a visit to your vet for an annual wellness exam.

20 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Affordable Pet Products

I’m Gismo I’m Gismo Leash handle keeps all your accessories in one place. Never lose your f lashlight, poop bags, or treat dispenser! Keep them connected to the Gismo base unit and you’ll never have missing accessories again.

Tropiclean Fresh Breath Water Additive One Capful of Tropiclean a day saves on vet bills in the future! 80% of dogs begin to show signs of periodontal disease by age 3… help them keep their teeth and gums clean starting today. Plus: no messy brushing required!

Snack Station Pick-and-choose only the treats you want with the Snack Station.

Buying bulk lets you pick from a variety of treats such as pumpkin spice turkey sticks and honey garlic duck feet. Buy only what you need at any given time, and give your pet some variety.

Catit Wellness Center The ultimate cat relaxation spot!

This relaxation spot for cats has a large napping pad, ergonomic ridges for massaging, and durable combs to keep your cat relaxed and entertained. Add catnip or catnip spray for added engagement!

Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

True Pet Care Cleaning Products True Pet’s line of shampoos, cleaners, and wipes feature natural cleaners that are much milder than harmful chemicals found in other products. All True Pet Care products are made with bio-renewable resources…plus they smell fantastic!

Dirty Dog Shammy This super absorbent microfiber cloth soaks-up 20x more water and mud than other shammy towels.

It’s perfect for keeping the snow and dirt from your pet outside of your house, off of your carpet, and away from your couch.

K9 Glucosamine from Liquid Health 25% of dogs eventually develop some kind of mobility issues later in life. Keep your dog active throughout his entire lifetime with glucosamine and chondroitin from Liquid Health. The liquid supplement is absorbed much faster than tablets, and will keep your pets joints moving smoothly.

True Hemp Chews for Dogs True Hemp is a new line from Trueleaf pet that features a general health, hip+joint, and calming chews for dogs. These chews are grain-free, use only natural preservatives, and use no artificial colors or flavors.

The True Hemp line features ground hemp seed and is a great source of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.

22 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Miranda Lambert...

A D o g's B e s t F r i e n d

Miranda, Bel lamy & Delta Daw n Photo credit to Jamie Wrig ht

W

hen she was in her 20s, Miranda Lambert emerged as one of country music’s rising stars. She grew up in Lindale, TX, a small town where her parents ran a private detective agency.

Her father was also a guitarist and songwriter, and she grew up listening to such country music greats as Merle Haggard and Guy Clark.

At the age of 10, Lambert entered her first country music talent show. Her budding career got a boost from performing on Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue, a weekly variety show in Arlington, Texas.

This program helped launch the careers of several other country music stars, including LeAnn Rimes and Lee Ann Womack.

Another talent contest led to some acting work, appearing in a commercial and the teen comedy Slap Her She’s French (2001).

She got a big break when she passed the auditions for a new country music reality show, Nashville Star. She moved to the country music capital to compete for a recording contract among other prizes. While she didn’t win, Lambert still landed a major label contract with Sony Music after becoming the show’s second runner-up. “I was hoping not to win,” she said in a statement on her website.

“The winner had to go in right after the contest and make a record in a couple of weeks, and I wasn’t ready.”

Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

Miranda Lambert with Bellamy - Photo credit to Stephanie Diggs

24 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Miranda continues her reign as one of country’s most popular performers. In 2014, she released Platinum, which featured such hit tracks as “Automatic” and “Somethin’ Bad.” The record also earned several CMA Awards, including single of the year and album of the year, and won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Country Album.

As the Highway Vagabond Tour got off to a great start this year, Miranda is rallying the support of pet lovers by calling on concertgoers to support her passion and to “Fill The Little Red Wagon” at her tour stops with food and supplies to help animals in need.

The country superstar is offering up the chance for one lucky fan and a guest to meet her before her performance. To enter, all you have to do is drop off pet food, treats or toys into the “Little Red Wagon” that is set up at the entrance of the venue on the evening of her shows.

All donations benefit local shelters.

Recently, 4 Legs & a Tail caught up with the country music superstar and dog enthusiast between shows.

4 Legs & a Tail - Your passion for dogs is well known. In 2009, you and your mom, Bev started Mutt Nation. What was the inspiration behind this?

ML: All my life I have felt such a strong connection with dogs and never lost the passion for wanting to find homes for them. When I was younger I volunteered at a local shelter where I saw how much money and work it took for a shelter to run efficiently. My mom, Bev, and I wanted to help them so we put together a charity event called “Cause for the Paws” where all the proceeds would be donated to that specific shelter. The event continued to grow every year, so we decided to start working on a program that could help animals on a national level. We decided to start the MuttNation Foundation in 2009 to give it a proper framework and accountability.

4 Legs & a Tail - The foundation has grown with on-line and retail pet products. Can you tell us more?

ML: MuttNation Foundation’s main mission is educating the public and bringing awareness to how important and rewarding it is to adopt a shelter pet, and some of the most effective ways to do that is through rescue missions and charity events. We love helping dogs and it made sense to create a product line where it would help fund those rescue missions and charity events. The product line also has a rescue dog plush toy collection and we’ve personalized each dog with a tag that has their story where you can learn more about them. We hope that customers will share those stories, encouraging others to adopt, and in some Spring 2017

way become involved with helping to save dogs.

4 Legs & a Tail - Two years ago your 50 States/50 Shelters helped fund the Animal Rescue League of NH. On June 2 & 3 you have performances at the Bank of NH Pavilion. Do any of your dogs accompany you on tour?

ML: My smaller dogs, Bellamy, Delta and Cher, go out on the road with me all the time. They are my “road dogs.” It makes me feel more at home to have them out with me.

4 Legs & a Tail - When you’re on the road, who takes care of your dogs at home?

ML: I have some good people that help watch over them while I’m gone. With seven dogs you need help walking them off and on, and four of my dogs are way too big for the bus on a longer run, that would definitely not be very comfortable for them.

4 Legs & a Tail - What kind of dogs do you currently have?

ML: They run the gamut. Jessi and Waylon are Golden mixes and they are sister and brother. My 2 Great Pyrenees Thelma and Louise are also girl siblings.

Bellamy is a Comfort Retriever, Delta is a Chihuahua/Pug mix and Cher is a Deer Chihuahua.

4 Legs & a Tail - Animal homelessness is rampant in many southern areas. What do you see as the most effective solution to this problem?

ML: Many people believe shelters are not a great place to find a dog, but I truly believe shelters are a great way to find your forever furry friend. Most shelters I visit do a great job taking in animals and rehabilitating them to give them a chance at getting adopted. When those dogs go home with their new owners, they are so grateful because their entire life just changed and they know it. This is MuttNation Foundation’s main focus Continued Next Page

www.4LegsAndATail.com 25

Photo credit to Daniela Federici

along with educating people, about how important and beneficial it is to adopt a pet rather than buy one.

4 Legs & a Tail - As a country superstar, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, how do you manage your time?

ML: I try to live a normal life and take down time at home as much as possible to stay grounded. I truly love what I do for a living and getting to create things that I can be proud of, that also brings happiness to others, animals included!

So I purposefully make sure that any work related or hobby projects reflect who I am, so I continue to have a good balance in my life.

26 4 Legs & a Tail

4 Legs & a Tail - Can you share your favorite dog story?

ML: So many! One that really stands out is how Jessi and Waylon became part of my family. One day my mom Bev and I went on an errand in town and drove over a bridge, when I thought I saw something move. It was pouring rain and we stopped and backtracked to see if there was really something moving on the side of the road.

Turned out there were these two very soaking wet but beautiful little puppies, and we took them to the vet immediately.

For a couple of days it was touch and go, but luckily both of them pushed through and have been by my side for the past 9 years. They are such amazing and loving dogs, I’m so lucky to have found them. I love hearing stories about how rescue dogs have become a part of people’s families and changed their lives for the better.

A rescue getting their happy ending is what really matters. Don’t forget, love a shelter pet!

Spring 2017

Denver

T

he RAD Girls Club is a rescuebased initiative founded and run by Katie Falcone and Chelsea Edson. The girls dedicate their free time giving second chances to rescue dogs across New England and encouraging people across the country to carry out their RAD mission. The RAD Girls Club believes that all dogs and humans alike deserve a second chance at living a better life. Their club is dedicated to raising awareness for discriminated breeds, senior dogs, and dogs who need special emotional or physical accommodations. Not a physical shelter, their approach is unique.

The girls have created a social platform which helps the public perceive these dogs without the stigma that comes with the shelters. They volunteer at shelters and within local foster networks, taking the dogs for day trips to help them both de-stress in nature and let them soak in the VT wilderness.

RAD Girls Club and returned for several reasons beyond his control, he has had significant trauma that makes him fearful of other animals. Despite this, he is a beautiful dog with a real love for humans. Excitable and goofy, he is also stoic and inquisitive. A few daytrips have really shown us that he feels comfortable in nature. We know he would really thrive at a home with plenty of property to explore and exercise in.

Denver would be most comfortable in a home with no other pets, fearful of dogs, we don’t want to subject him to anymore psychological trauma. Denver is lucky to be in an amazing foster home who have continued to support him until he

finds his forever home. Denver is available through Passion 4 Paws at www. passion4paws.com, his perfect family is somewhere out there. Denver epitomizes that “nothing worth having in this life should be attained easily.” With loyalty and commitment Denver will be the greatest of companions.

RAD Girl Rescue Story (Winnie):

“Thank you, We never would have found her without you and we feel like our Family is complete now that we have her”- Winnie’s New Owner Winnie, formally known as Shania Twain, is the perfect example of why we started this group and how community ties and organically talking about what Continued Next Page

How you can get Involved: Tag us on Instagram at @radgirlsclubvt in a picture with your rescue dog or become a RAD Girl Ambassador by volunteering at your local shelter or your local foster networks. Take adoptable dogs on daytrips, spread the word on adoption and share our posts on social media.

Hold fundraisers within your community to help us fund rescue groups and individual dogs through Paypal on our website. The money we raise helps to pay for medical bills, costs associated with the shelter, and any funding care for the dogs we help to highlight!

Denver:

Denver is an adoptable dog who has spent nearly his entire life in a dedicated foster. Denver came from South Carolina at four months old and had a rough start to his short life. Adopted Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

we do in our day to day activities can really pay off. We met Winnie in August 2016, in the process of collecting photos for a campaign with Found My Animal, a Brooklyn based dog leash company which makes leashes and collars for adopted dogs.

We set up a meet and greet with Winnie through Passion4-Paws in Essex. When we pulled in a huge Pitbull mix barreled out of her foster’s car and charged at us wiggling and snorting like a pig. We fell in love then and there.

Winnie was deaf, although that never slowed her down or hindered her socialization. She was thriving in her foster home with dogs, cats and human kids but has trouble finding the right owner. Months later, Katie was at the Gym and talked about The RAD Girls club. At the time, we were rallying for a dog named Mitch. A woman inquired about the club, their Pitbull Mix had just passed away and she was absolutely devastated. Flipping through photos, Maura, spotted Winnie. Long story short, Maura adopted Winnie. We get photos of Winnie thriving in her new home and we couldn’t be happier.

RAD Girl Rescue Story (Pierce):

In the summer of 2016 we began a partnership with Potter’s Angels Rescue. We were running a fun program with the Warren Store in Warren, Vermont- a historic general store with great people and Vermont-based goods.

We had reached out to Potter’s asking to take one of their dogs down to meet and greet, the first time we picked up Pierce we fell in love. Porky and cuddly, excitable and so eager to meet people, we couldn’t believe how adorable he was. He loved to stand between us, once he had given each of us enough kisses he would lay down and snooze in the backseat. Pierce was in an incredible foster with dogs and

28 4 Legs & a Tail

kids who adored him, yet he continued to be overlooked by adopters for 6+ months. We brought him out for day trips to the Warren Store, Sugarbush resort, Ethan Allen Homestead, and even just to hang out with us and our dogs. Loveable and easygoing, he loved to be out in the woods. We were so pleased when we found his adopters had another dog and 30 acres of land in rural Vermont! Pierce was a case where Pierce excitable energy, his pitbull appearance, and not being a young “malleable” puppy worked against him.

It took so long for him to find his perfect family.

The girls are supported by a community of makers, rescue advocates, and small businesses that have the same goal as they do: put some good out into the world and bring people and dogs together in a way that saves them both. Every homeless dog has a perfect family waiting for them, regardless of any “negative” characteristics that they have been defined by in the past. Every dog has a story and the RAD girls provide the voice for those animals who can’t speak for themselves and encourage men and women across the country to become a RAD advocate.

Spring 2017

Why didn’t I get the dog I wanted?

Karen Sturtevant

N

elson wiggles his wrinkly, stocky little butt uncontrollably when I approach. His sweet nature is magnified only by this distinctive display of greeting. Nelson is a five-year-old male English bulldog who was available for adoption earlier this year. As with all dogs that grace our space at Vermont English Bulldog Rescue, Nelson stole our hearts.

Rocco, a one-year-old male English bulldog, more vocal than Nelson, would make us laugh each time his pitch and volume changed from a mild “I’m ready to play,” to “PAY ATTENTION TO ME NOW!” in doggie language. If dogs could curse, Rocco would get a gold star. Solid and strong with puppy power energy, Rocco quickly became our most popular social media sensation. Was it his looks?

His age? Probably both. Rocco got over 29,000 clicks on his handsome photos.

When both dogs were ready for adoption, several applications were received for Nelson and hundreds, yes hundreds, for Rocco. Some were stellar, others… not so much.

“I want Nelson because he’s so cute,” “Rocco looks like the pal my other bulldog needs, so when can I come pick him up?” “Nelson looks like a teddy bear, I want him!” When adoption applications are received, several factors are taken into account based on the needs of the specific dog being considered. Some dogs are outgoing, active, want to be social, some are introverts who prefer to call their bed home and expect visitors to come to them, not the other way around.

The eventual goal at VEBR is to adopt to the right family, into the right dynamic, for life. Our application process is stringent. If we don’t follow our due diligence when screening applications, we haven’t done our job.

Many well-meaning applicants don’t understand why they were not the chosen one. They see a face, fall in love only to be disappointed. Applications range from hastily filled out with incomplete information to thorough explanations with matter-of-fact points for consideration. Perhaps the person lives in an apartment on the third floor with no green space for play or is gone ten hours a day with no provisions for when the dog is alone. Some families already have dogs or other pets. As with people, we don’t care to be around everyone we meet, dogs are like that too. We’ve met dogs who are content to be the sole pet, while others want to have a party atmosphere.

Each dog is assessed on their individual merits and inclinations.

Every dog’s personality does not fit every family’s way of life. Our focus puts the welfare of the animal at the forefront. Some dogs would love to be a penthouse pampered pooch, others would not. An active dog usually requires a fenced yard. A meek, quiet dog would unravel being around busyness and multiple active canines and kids day in and out. We don’t compromise placements and sometimes that means losing the popularity contest. If a proper, rightfit home can’t be found, then the dog will stay with us until it can be.

When filling out an adoption application for any rescue or shelter, be candid and forthright, clear and concise with your answers, don’t embellish and most importantly, be honest. The ultimate objective is to Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 29

Nelson & Family

Rocco & Family

unite dog with human, successfully with minimal snags. We never give up hope, even when temporary guests become long-term residents.

I believe that for every dog we are given the task of caring for there is a person or persons for whom that dog is meant to be with.

Wiggly-jiggly Nelson found his forever home with Robbie and Jerome in Massachusetts. He’s happy, welladjusted and joyfully wiggles his little bulldog butt every day. Rock star Rocco now calls New York his city with humans, Brooke and Stuart. From the updates and pictures we receive from these doggie parents, life is very sweet indeed. Mission accomplished.

Be patient in your search for a canine companion as this is a lifetime commitment (don’t forget the vet bills, chewed new sneakers, boarding arrangements for vacation days, specific food and treats, specialized c a re and pos si ble c ompound prescriptions!) which comes with daily doses of drool-spotted f loors and buckets of unconditional returns on love.

For information on Vermont English Bulldog Rescue, please visit, www.VermontEnglishBulldogRescue.com and find us on Facebook.

30 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Is Your Dog a Good Host?

Tips on helping your dog greet guests that won’t leave them running for the door.

Paula Bergeron - Grafton,NH

T

here are three typical scenarios when someone knocks on the door of a home who has dogs.

There are the OVER EAGER GREETERS who are wiggling and jumping at the door ready to lick, paw, and knock down anyone brave enough to cross the threshold. There are the RELUCTANT RECEIVERS, skittish pups who are not sure if they should rush the door barking, or run and hide, sometimes they do a bit of both with a little snap thrown in just to confuse you. Then there are the all endearing BOUNCERS. There is no mistaking these dogs, they rush the door growling barking and showing their teeth, sending all but the hardiest of souls heading for the hills. No matter the dog, there are three things you can do to make having guests more comfortable for everyone.

BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR DOOR. If your dog is always the first one to the door and dominates every entrance they believe they have become the gate-keeper. Silly dogs allow everyone to pass, albeit covered in slobber and dog fur. Shy dogs overreact because they have neither the know-how or confidence to fulfill the gatekeeper role.

Bouncers will take joy in striking fear and rejecting everyone who dares step foot on your doorstep. There are ways to take back control. Give your dog somewhere to Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 31

go other than the door. When there is a knock guide your dog to his or her crate, or if your dog has learned a reliable “PLACE” command guide them to their dog bed or designated area while you go answer the door. You can even train your dog to automatically go to their “PLACE” when they hear a doorbell or a knock on the door, Whether they go to their crate, or to place they must stay there until you release them.

BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR GUESTS. Too many times you have your dog all ready to greet someone…and when I mean ready, it probably means you have hold or their collar and are straining for control, only to have your guest come in the door and cry…. “PUPPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY!” shattering any sense of calm you might have achieved. If you want your dog to be calm with your friends, then your friends have to learn to be calm with your dog.

Start with posting a sign on your dog that says DOG IN TRAINING PLEASE HELP BY FOLLOWING OUR INSTRUCTIONS. This helps everyone to know you are changing how things usually happen, and you will be asking them to do something, or in

32 4 Legs & a Tail

this case NOT do something, when your guests come in the door, let them know your dog is waiting to greet them in the crate or on “place” and they are to ignore them until you tell them it is ok. They are not to give any attention to the dog including eye contact. Let them know that the calmer they are the more success you will have. When the excitement has settled walk your dog on leash among your guests. Allow the dog to sniff while the human is still and silent, when he is finished sniffing make the decision as to whether there can be some attention, if there is still too much excitement keep your dog walking . As the excitement in the house dissipates your dog will relax and be able to act like the dog you know and love around anyone in your home.

If you want to change your dogs greeting behavior you have to take the time to show them what to do and practice. Don’t expect your dog to conform to a new ritual next time you have company. Set up a training time every day where you role play someone coming to the door, and walk your dog through the new desired behavior. It may feel impossible at first because your dog is so accustomed to over excitement when there is someone at the door, but if you take it slow, walk your dog through the steps, reward with joyful praise and well timed treats, your friends and family will not only enjoy coming to your home, but you will have trained them to a new and loving way to greet your dog. I believe they call that a win - win. Happy Training!

Paula Bergeron and the gang at Good Dogma embrace a holistic approach to bringing balance to your dog’s behavioral issues.

Exercise, training, relaxation, massage, grooming, play, socialization and energy healing are incorporated into your dog’s routine. www.Goodogma.com Spring 2017

Stormy and Scout

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 33

senses

Mike Robertson - Plymouth, NH

Overstimulation Can Cause Nipping in Cats

M

ost cats will simply walk away when they have had enough attention from you. Others, however, will nip at your hand. Why do they do this? You aren’t hurting them, just stroking, it can be confusing.

Some cats become over stimulated easily. The stroking causes a building of nervous tension and the bite relieves some of that ten-

sion. Others just never learned that biting was inappropriate behavior.

With cats that have a tendency to bite, it is good to follow what has been dubbed the “Seven-stroke rule.” Allow yourself to stroke (avoiding the whiskers, see below for information on “whisker fatigue”) your cat only seven times, then stop. This is usually short enough not to create agitation. Eventually you can add another stroke and then another, but do it slowly over time. This will give your cat time to build up a tolerance to, and hopefully enjoyment of, being stroked.

WHISKER FATIGUE At the base of each whisker there is a sensory organ called a proprioceptor whose purpose is to send messages to the cat’s brain and nervous system, related to what is going on around it. With such sensitivity, the cat’s whiskers can easily become stressed by repeated contact with an object. Deep food or water bowls are the most frequent source of whisker fatigue. When the cat moves their head down into the bowl to eat or drink, the whiskers contact the side of the bowl and get pulled pack. A possible comparison of this sensation might be that of repeatedly poking an ingrown hair.

Here are a few signs that your cat might be experiencing whisker fatigue: • Paws food out of the bowl and eats from the floor • Drinks by dipping and licking their paw • Leaves food in the bowl but still seems to be hungry • Avoids food on the perimeter of the bowl • Stands or paces around the filled bowl • Will only eat when the bowl is filled to the very top The solution is very simple; a wider food and water bowl. Ideally allowing a space at least twice the width of the cat’s head, including the whiskers.

34 4 Legs & a Tail

Mike Robertson is a certified animal trainer and certified behaviour consultant located in Plymouth NH. He is the owner of White Mountain College for Pets, with two locations: 661 Mayhew Turnpike & 594 Tenney Mtn Hwy in Plymouth NH. View upcoming class schedules or contact him at: www.collegeforpets.com or by phone 603-369-4PET. Spring 2017

DOG FIGHTS D

John Peaveler

og fights happen. Just as conflicts arise among humans, dogs too have altercations that sometimes result in physical violence.

I’d like to be clear upfront on this topic that I am not a dog behaviorist. I am a professional animal handler and instructor. Dog behaviorists and trainers should be your first stop if you have a fight prone dog, particularly one who poses a risk to humans or other animals. My job is to give you some options for those hopefully rare occasions when you need to stop a fight in progress. However, the absolutely best way to deal with a fight is to prevent it.

There are a whole host of things we do in our lives which require adequate education, from reading to driving, yet it’s no exaggeration to say that the majority of dog owners have had no formal or even informal instruction on canine behavior.

Barbara Handleman, a certified canine behaviorist based in Norwich, VT wrote an incredible book I recommend called Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook.

This book is quite comprehensive and will prove an excellent reference for anyone wanting to know what their dogs’ behavior means. Once you know what your dog is communicating, it’s much easier to get the root of problems.

Safety is the most important element of fight intervention. Most of us love our pets, so our first instinct is often to get in the middle of a fight in order to stop it at all costs. Those costs, however, can be profound and include emergency and reconstructive surgery for both humans and dogs as well as rabies quarantine and euthanasia depending upon ordinances. Getting into the middle of a fight is simply not an option.

If for instance, as is common, you were to pull two dogs apart by their collars, you may physically pull the animals apart but the farther you pull them the more your face ends up between them. This happens all the time and very often results in severe injury for the person who does it.

Dog fights can be minor altercations or true emergencies, so in controlled settings where fights are likely to occur, such as animal shelters, boarding facilities, and doggy daycares, it’s important to have the same level of preparedness as a you would have for medical emergencies or fires.

Spring 2017

Fight response options depend upon the severity of the fight and preparedness of the people involved. Your first recourse should be sound. In minor fights, a loud clap and shout of ‘hey’ repeated as necessary will often suffice. If this is insufficient, escalate to an air horn or pet deterrent spray (such as Premier brand compressed air or air with citronella). These are great options because they are portable and effective in the average fight. Water is your next best option. A bucket kept ready offers a high volume in a short time, but a hose is more realistic in most settings. Your goal is to soak the heads of both animals and startle them out of the fight and back into voice control. For professional animal care organizations, I recommend that a “Y” pole be an integrated piece of equipment for fight response. This is a passive restraint tool, but it also works very well as a wedge to drive between two dogs. “Y” poles require additional training. Finally, physical barriers are required for some fights, particularly the rare one that doesn’t end after trying everything else above. A livestock sorting panel is great, a piece of plywood will work, and in uncontrolled situations, any item can be used to physically separate the dogs: a chair, cardboard box, crate, bike, table, whatever is present.

The point is to put a barrier other than your body between two fighting dogs.

Now let’s say you’re out for a walk in a field and your dog gets into a fight.

You basically have two options depending upon the severity of the fight and assuming you’ve tried shouting with no success.

Your best option is wheelbarrowing. If there are two owners, work together simultaneously on this. Grab both hind legs of the more dominant dog or the dog that is winning and raise the entire hind end up off the ground, dragging the dog away from the fight. This works well in large breed dogs, but keep in mind a smaller dog like a Jack Russel can likely reach around for a bite. The other option isn’t nearly as nice. Never put your hands or face in a dog fight, but if you absolutely must use your body, use your legs. I’m

not advocating kicking, but your shoe is much more durable than your face.

These are the basics of dog fight response, paired down to fit in 800 words, but the condensed version may not leave you feeling well equipped. If you’d like more information, I regularly teach day long animal handling and capture classes. I would also be happy to write more on this subject for the next issue.

If you’re interested in either of these, just drop me a line at john@animal-care. com. Finally, dog fight intervention is dangerous, and I cannot accept any liability should you attempt any of the techniques I have described.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 35

A Healthy Gut Means a Happy Mutt!

Contributed by ForeFront™ Nutrition

A

s pet owners we’re always concerned about what goes into – and comes out of – our beloved dogs. The wrong thing going “in” can certainly have dire consequences on what comes “out”. One ill-gotten meal and you’re either dealing with an unhappy dog at best, a series of terrible messes, or at worst a trip to the vet.

It’s not surprising then, that what goes into a dog can have tremendous impact on their overall well-being. The gut represents the largest immune organ in the dog’s body, roughly 70% of the canine immune system resides in their gastrointestinal tract. When the gut isn’t processing the absorption of food and nutrients, it’s working on blocking bacteria and toxins. But, when the body’s natural defenses in the gut breakdown, like after consuming a food or treat that doesn’t necessarily agree with them, digestive upsets including vomiting, diarrhea and constipation can unfortunately occur.

Having the proper gut flora, both in type and quantity is critical to, not only

36 4 Legs & a Tail

get your dog through these times of gastric stress, but to also reduce the impact of the illness, as well. Though many premium dog food blends claim to include probiotics in their ingredients, there is no way of knowing the type of probiotic that is included, and most importantly, whether it is still viable by the time it gets into your dog’s bowl. Most probiotics used in pet products today are derived from bovine, human or yeast sources. For probiotics to have the desired effect they should be species specific, e.g. canine-specific probiotics.

Even when dealing with premium dog food blends claiming to contain added probiotics, there is no guarantee what the probiotic source is. Furthermore, the natural enemy of probiotics is heat, water and pressure. Most commercial dog foods go through a heating and pressurization process when the kibble is extruded, which essentially kills off the beneficial bacteria. To combat this, some of the brands have begun spraying a probiotic blend on their kibble following baking. However, the quantity of food you buy, the manner in which it’s stored and how long it has been on the shelf are all factors which can all impact the viability of the probiotic contained within the food.

Canine Digest by ForeFront™ is a meatflavored, all natural powder supplement designed to be sprinkled atop your dog’s daily meal. One to two daily scoops are recommended depending on your dog’s size, age, condition and health. Each scoop of ForeFront Canine Digest™ provides a minimum of 500 million CFU’s of Probiotics.

ForeFront’s Canine Digest™ not only contains a blend of four canine-specific probiotics but also includes prebiotics, as well. Prebiotics are the nutrients probiotics

require to stay alive and flourish. Because ForeFront Canine Digest’s™ probiotics are fueled by prebiotics plus are host-specific, they can withstand the rigors of the canine digestive tract. ForeFront’s Canine Digest™ is designed to not only soothe the digestive system, but also to encourage nutrient absorption while simultaneously supporting overall health.

Another key ingredient in ForeFront’s Canine Digest™ is BeneCell®. BeneCell® is a proprietary blend of purified nucleotides, along with other essential nutrients designed to support cellular growth and promote healing and recovery. Simply put, BeneCell® promotes healing by naturally accelerating the dog’s normal cell proliferation process. The production of new cells allow your dog to more quickly recover from a variety of stresses, including those that can come in the form of illness, injury, disease or even as a result to anxiety from emotional or physiological situations.

BeneCell® is particularly helpful for pets in less-than-optimal health or for breeds typically known for having food allergies and sensitive digestive systems.

Remember, not all probiotics are alike. Do your homework and ensure the digestive support you’re giving your dog contains the nutrients they can actually benefit from. For more information on ForeFront and its line of premium canine & equine products visit www.forefrontequine.com About ForeFront Nutrition: ForeFront Nutrition™ is a family owned and operated business out of Vermont who understand the level of devotion and energy it takes to properly care for horses and dogs. By recognizing the increasing need to provide premium quality supplements, ForeFront’s team embarked on a passionate and extensive industry research journey. Since then their team of professionals with over 75 years of animal nutrition experience, have sourced, formulated and manufactured a selection of the highest quality animal supplements available. All ForeFront™ products are independently tested and certified prior to blending and are manufactured from all natural ingredients exclusively in the United States. www.forefrontequine.com, (888) 772-9582 Dealer Inquiries Welcome.

Spring 2017

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 37

Nika

Alternatively Speaking: When What You Need Is More Time Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

I

llnesses are like accidents, arriving unplanned and at the most inconvenient times. Between family, work and day-to-day needs, we are stretched thin more often than not. On a good day, even the simplest medical issue for our pets can be stressful to handle. Even more difficult, is when that trip to the vet uncovers something serious and suddenly a lot of choices need to be made in a fairly short window of time.

Families can suddenly be left with little hope and the possibility they could lose their companion in a very short period of time. Moments like these are difficult, there is no right choice in these situations.

There are decisions regarding extensive and expensive testing or whether to seek the opinion of a specialist. Should your pet, who is not feeling great already, have to endure more procedures and office visits.

Finally you and your family want answers to justify your decisions, but most of all, you want a little more time.

As a veterinarian that practices alternative medicine I meet patients with families that are hoping for more time.

They have received a dire diagnosis, and are not ready to give up or give in. Perhaps western medicine may be too invasive or not offer a therapy at all. They are willing to try any route for that all elusive cure.

First we discuss expectations. Of course a cure would be the goal, but realistically when a body has suffered greatly, what I feel I can offer is time. First, holistic is not minimalistic. When we can, we like to do a thorough western work up to maximize integrative medicine. But in reality we can’t always have a diagnosis. Sometimes tests fail to give us answers, or we chose not to do them due to expense or invasiveness,

especially if we will have no better options whether their condition has a name or not.

Sometimes there are still Western therapies to try, based on a best guess. But alternative methods rely on their own diagnostic approaches and do not require Western testing. While they too can address acute symptoms, they also are aimed to slow down the root of the disorder that allowed the illness. Alternative therapeutic options can be much more specific and effective with fewer side effects than treating with drugs alone.

Take Nika, a 6 year old Yellow Lab who had breast cancer removed six months before she developed a limp, followed a week later by a swelling on her rib. X-rays suggested she may have a return of her cancer in her rib and leg. Awaiting biopsy results, she went to a veterinary oncologist to discuss options. By her appointment days later, the cancer had triggered an autoimmune destruction of her own blood cells, she would bruise or bleed from the slightest bump like a hemophiliac. The family could leave her in the hospital to try aggressive transfusions and drugs to stop the immune disease if possible. The odds of success were poor, and even if she did stabilize she was facing a terminal cancer with limited treatment options.

They felt they needed more time to say goodbye, so they brought her home. Her family felt that choice was the kindest for Nika. Familiar with alternative medicine, they asked if we could help her feel better until it was time. From a Chinese perspective we started several herbs to address her bleeding, as well as Western herbals, nutritional supplements and a homeopathic remedy. Nika felt better within a day, but what followed was quite unexpected. She continued to feel better. She stopped having spontaneous bruising, her normal appetite was restored and her limp was much better too. Other than medication for pain, she was not on any drugs. Her follow up blood work showed the bleeding abnormalities, not totally normal, were out of the crisis zone and stable. Nika enjoyed 5 good weeks of quality time with her family before her cancer spread to other areas and her family had to say goodbye.

Olive was an 8 year old Black Lab with the energy and appetite of her breed and routinely would jump her families couch.

From end to end! She was brought in acting Continued Next Page

38 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

very uncomfortable and not eating. Her owner thought her seizure condition was acting up. Her x-rays and blood work showed a problem in her liver. An ultrasound revealed extensive cancer in her liver and the specialist offered to do biopsies with the knowledge this disease was likely too aggressive to respond to any Western therapy.

Olive’s owners did not pursue such a hopeless situation and just wanted her comfortable to share some more time with her. Open to doing alternative supports, they felt her not well enough to have time to try those. However, when she responded pain medication they reconsidered. She started on Chinese herbs, nutritional supports for the immune system and a homemade diet for her liver. Soon her owners stopped the pain medication, within five days they could not tell that there was anything wrong with her. They enjoyed over 5 months of quality time together before her liver went into failure and they decided it was time to let her go.

As a veterinarian I know some of my patients from puppy or kitten to senior.

There are others, though our relationship is short, our bond is just as strong and I am

Olive

grateful to be a part of that and offer what help I can. Some diseases are not curable, given the state of the patient and their ability to overcome a disease long in the making. The key to providing temporary relief, especially in terminal illnesses, is to address not just the acute condition but also the underlying disorder in the body that allowed the illness to develop.

Western medicine is fast and effective for alleviating acute symptoms of illness, but it does not attempt to identify or address the problems that led to the illness’s development. Alternative management focuses on that core issue and sometimes turn around a condition that seems beyond treatment.

Better yet, when that core issue is addressed as part of a wellness program before it has culminated in a life threatening condition, our hope and goal is that we avoid having to say goodbye too early all together.

Dr. Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she practices both conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Her associate Dr. Betty Jo Black brings classical homeopathy to the practice. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 39

Appreciating Snakes Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH

N

othing in the wild seems to cause more fear and hatred than the lowly snake. Even bats are not as reviled as the poor snake. But like bats, snakes are extremely beneficial to have around because they eat rodents, bugs, and in some cases other snakes. One of the first snake calls I ever got was from a property maintenance company stating that a snake was terrorizing one of their tenants. On the way there I was chuckling to myself about how easy this job would be picking up a little garter snake. Then I thought to myself, “Oh, No! Maybe this is some exotic pet that had escaped, like a Boa Constrictor or something similar.” When I arrived at the apartment complex I knocked on the door and informed the resident that I was here for a snake problem, only to discover that the property maintenance company had sent me to the wrong unit. The resident immediately went into a panic and while I was trying to calm him down, the neighbor yelled over that the snake was at their unit. It was a 12” Garter snake coiled on the sidewalk sunning itself. The terrorizing snake was quickly apprehended but I was surprised at how fearful these people were about a harmless little snake.

The most common snake calls I get are for the Milk Snake. This snake can get fairly large, up to 3 feet or more. They are ominous in their size and appearance, having reddish brown spots similar to a Rattlesnake. However they are harmless unless you’re a rodent. For some reason they seem to enjoy entering human residences. I have a lot of funny stories about them, but I will stick to two. The first was a call from a large muscular man who was rugby coach at a local college. He said he had two Milk Snakes in his laundry room. It was a Saturday and my wife was with me. When we arrived we inspected the laundry room but found no snakes. Then I discovered a hole going in the furnace room. Upon entering I noticed the snakes wrapped around the pipe going into the chimney. I said “there they are” and when I turned around the man was gone.

I was able to grab them with my snake tongs and place them into the bag my wife was holding. The coach’s wife had to pay me because he had hurriedly left the property. Again showing the fear I had described before.

The last story happened in a very large house in Vermont. The housekeeper called saying that there was a large snake in the hallway leading to the kitchen.

Unfortunately I was far away and could not get there until the next morning. She was upset but said she would see what she could do about it. The housekeeper called me back later and said the snake had gone into a hole behind the refrigerator and that she had secured it there. The next day when I arrived the housekeeper was not there, just the homeowner. He showed me where the kitchen was. I tried to pull out the refrigerator but could not budge it. The owner then tried to help, between the two of us we still couldn’t move it. The housekeeper then arrived and we asked her why we could not move the refrigerator after she had done so herself the day before.

She did not know, so I asked how she had secured the snake. Well it seems that when the snake went behind the refrigerator, she pulled it out and saw the snake go into a hole behind the cabinets. She then took a can of spray foam and emptied it into the hole and the surrounding area. She then pushed the refrigerator back in place.

The foam expanded and dried sealing the poor snake and refrigerator in place.

The best way to keep snakes out of your house is to make sure your basement area, and bulkhead is sealed. Small holes can be sealed with foam but you should always make sure you seal them out, not in.

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

40 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

How to Help an Injured Wild Bird Catherine Greenleaf

I

t’s often hard to know what to do when you find an injured wild bird.

But don’t panic. The following tips will help you figure it all out: When you find an injured bird, the first and most important thing to do is remove the bird and get it to a safe place.

Remember the acronym D.W.Q., which stands for dark, warm and quiet. Put on some leather work gloves or gardening gloves, bring the bird indoors and place it in a cardboard box on a soft towel and keep it in a quiet room. Birds stress out very easily but keeping the bird in a dark box where it cannot see out will help keep it calm. Please do not give the bird food or water, since it may have internal injuries and ingesting anything could cause the bird to die.

When a bird is injured, it is a true emergency and time is of the essence.

The next step is to call your wildlife rehabilitator. You can find out who that is by going to w w w.wildlife. state.nh.us/wildlife/rehabilitators. html if you live in New Hampshire or www.vtfishandwildlife.com (type in the search words ‘wildlife rehabilitators’) if you live in Vermont. Some wildlife rehabilitators may ask you to drive the bird to their facility or others may send volunteers to pick up the bird or meet you half way. The sooner you get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator, the better its chances of survival.

When transporting the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator, please keep the animal in the back seat of your car, and not the trunk or bed of a pickup. Try to keep noise and disruption to a minimum and keep in mind that cigarette or cigar Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 41

smoke can permanently damage a bird’s delicate air sacs. If your children are involved in the rescue, please explain to them that holding and petting a wild bird can stress it out to the point where you may well end up with a D.O.A. on your hands.

If you have found a nestling songbird, and it appears uninjured, you can place the bird back in the nest.

Birds in general have a very poor sense of smell and it is not true that touching a baby bird will cause the parent birds to reject it. However, if you find a baby bird that has not yet grown feathers, is covered in dirt, is bleeding, is attracting

flies or has a broken leg or wing, then it is important to get that bird to a wildlife rehabilitator for medical treatment as soon as possible.

Another common injury to birds is a concussion due to flying into a window. If you find a bird that has hit a window, place it into a cardboard box, bring it inside, and call your local wildlife rehabilitator. While it has been quite common in years past to wait 40 minutes and then release the bird, the latest studies are showing many of those birds perish hours later in the woods. There are new medications rehabilitators are using that can quickly reduce brain swelling and internal hemorrhaging.

A bird that has been grabbed by a cat has most likely also been bitten and needs immediate attention. It can be very difficult to detect bite wounds on a bird due to their thick skin and heavy feathering. Cat saliva contains Pasturella bacteria, which is 100% fatal unless the bird receives special antibiotics within 12 hours of the bite.

A wildlife rehabilitator can provide this vital, life-saving medicine, provided you get the bird to a facility as soon as possible.

If you find a hawk, owl or eagle standing by the side of the road, then most likely it has been hit by a car and needs immediate attention. You can call New Hampshire Fish & Game Dispatch at (603) 271-3361 or Vermont Fish & Game Dispatch at (802) 8281529 or call local law enforcement to help you rescue the bird (especially if it has been found on a busy road or it is dark). Loons sometimes mistake asphalt parking lots for bodies of water, especially if it is rainy or foggy. If you see a loon stranded on land, again please call your wildlife rehabilitator.

Never hesitate to call us! We are happy to offer tips and suggestions. You may not realize it, but your willingness to help a bird in distress makes you a “Bird Angel� in the eyes of wildlife rehabilitators. Without you we could not do our work!

Catherine Greenleaf is the director of St. Francis Wild Bird Center in Lyme, N.H. If you have found an injured bird, please call 603-795-4850 or go to www.saintfrancisbirds.blogspot.com

42 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 43

Heartworm Prevention and Treatment Elisa Speckert

A

nnual heartworm testing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your dog lives a long and healthy life. Even though we do not encounter heartworm disease nearly as much as they do in the Southern United States it is certainly still a concern in our area. Last year we treated four dogs for heartworm disease at our clinic, two of them had never left the state. The number of dogs being brought to our area from the South makes this a risk that is only going to increase over time.

The best way to avoid this devastating illness is to give your dog a monthly heartworm prevention (Heartgard)– the cost is between $8-12 per month depending upon the size of your dog. In addition, yearly screening, at a cost of $45-50 annually, offers the benefit of early detection and the likelihood that treatment will be successful and without complication.

Treatment of hear tworm disease is leng thy, complicated and expensive. Ideally, this treatment involves a long course of twice daily oral antibiotics, chest radiographs, complete blood work, an echocardiogram, three sets of intramuscular injections, hospitalization, observation, pain medication, a repeat heartworm test and extremely restricted exercise.

This treatment is usually unpleasant for your dog and costs around $1,500.

With the $1,500 it would cost you to treat your dog for heartworm disease, you could buy any of the following: 12 ½ years of year-round heartworm prevention for your dog A week-long cruise to the Bahamas Two round trip plane tickets to France An African Safari 12 Field Box Boston Red Sox tickets 1 adult and 1 youth season pass to Killington 18 months of membership at a Gym Burton snowboard, boots, bindings, jacket and snowpants 15 pairs of Nike sneakers 4 pairs of Gucci sunglasses

So even though the $8-12 per month it costs to give your dog heartworm prevention certainly adds up, it can end up saving you significantly in the long run. If you have any questions regarding heartworm testing, treatment, or prevention please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

44 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Bunnies and Chicks for Easter: Buyer Beware M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

W

ith Easter approaching, many pet stores stock up on “hot” items including live chicks and rabbits, which are often purchased and given to young children as presents.

There is no doubt, young chicks and bunnies are impossibly cute, but the fact is they grow into adult rabbits and chickens who have housing, feeding, and handling requirements that many people do not know about.

Many folks think rabbits are low maintenance pets that only require a small cage and some lettuce. The truth is, they have dietary requirements that include a balanced diet of pellets, fresh lettuce and other vegetables, and grass hays. They also require daily exercise and space enough to perform three consecutive hops in a cage.

Young children tend to be rougher and not understand that rabbits can easily break their backs when handled. It is heartbreaking to have a child mishandle that new bunny and accidentally break its back. In addition, rabbits have long toenails that leave deep scratches, especially if handled improperly.

Chicks are another incredibly cute baby, but they ultimately grow into chickens which require care. Roosters, when they hit sexual maturity, have the potential to become aggressive.

Chickens, and all wild birds, can carry the potentially deadly Salmonella and E.coli that can cause serious diarrhea and possibly death to young children.

Spring 2017

After Easter, many shelters are overwhelmed by the number of relinquished rabbits and many are euthanized. In fact, rabbits are the third most relinquished pets to animal shelters, (which are usually equipped to handle only a few rabbits and rodents at a time). A serious misconception is that rabbits can be released into the wild to fend for themselves. The fact is they often starve to death or become easy prey for predators in the wild.

So before purchasing that cute bunny or baby chick, remember they grow up into adult rabbits and chickens with their own essential requirements for care, housing, and nutrition for many years. You must commit to properly caring for them year round.

Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions or are considering buying a bunny or chick for Easter.

If you can’t provide the necessary care for your bunnies or chicks, just say no to live bunnies and chicks: stick to chocolate bunnies and peeps. They are easy to care for and don’t stay around long.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 45

Feline Urinary Obstructions Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

F

eline Urinary Obstruction (FUO) is a very common disease in male cats, often overlooked or missed by owners until the cat is very sick. Common clinical signs in male cats are frequent visits to the litter box with very little or no urine production, urinating small amounts of bloody urine, excessive grooming of the penis, lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, yowling (especially while in the litter box), or trying to urinate in strange places (i.e. on the carpet, in potted plants, etc.).

Feline urinary obstructions are more common in male cats than female cats because male cats have a long narrow urethra that can easily get blocked. Unlike male cats, female cats have short and wide urethras that allow them to pass urinary crystals and small urinary stones much easier. Urinary obstructions can happen

46 4 Legs & a Tail

in dogs, but it’s not as common as in cats.

What causes the urethra to become obstructed? Commonly, the urinary obstruction is caused by urinary crystals or small urinary stones. The two most commonly seen urinary crystals and stones in cats are calcium oxalate and struvite. Both form when the pH of the cat’s urine is either too acidic or basic.

The pH determines which type of urinary crystal or stone the cat will get. Cats also get urinary obstructions from mucous plugs and blood clots. Both mucous plugs and blood clots are usually formed secondarily to an underlying issue such as crystals, stones, cystitis, etc.

When a cat gets a urinary obstruction, it becomes a life threatening emergency.

Left untreated, your cat will die. The earlier it is recognized and corrected, the better the prognosis for the cat.

When a urinary obstruction occurs, urine backs up into the bladder since the cat is not able to urinate. This can lead to acute kidney failure, electrolyte abnormalities, possible life threatening cardiac arrhythmias, and in extreme cases rupture of the bladder.

If your cat may be exhibiting signs of a urinary obstruction, the first thing to do is call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will most likely see you right away. At the veterinary clinic, your veterinarian will get a thorough medical history and do a physical exam.

Cats with urinary obstructions will often have a very large firm bladder.

Your veterinarian will probably do blood work on your cat. Many cats will have abnormalities in their kidney and electrolyte values. It’s important to get the starting electrolyte values.

After blood work, they will most likely place your cat under general anesthesia in order to pass a urinary catheter in the urethra and remove the urinary obstruction. Once the bladder is able to empty, a urine sample will be collected to see if there are urinary crystals and what type they are. Most cats will be hospitalized to monitor urine output and to receive IV fluid therapy to help return the cat’s kidney and electrolyte values back to normal. In cases where the cat has had a urinary obstruction for a long time, permanent damage to the kidneys can occur.

Since most cats get urinar y obstructions from urinary crystals, a special life-long diet will be needed.

Several prescription urinary diets help dissolve struvite crystals and prevent the formation of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. With calcium oxalate stones, surgery may be needed since this type of stone cannot be dissolved with diet change alone. Prescription urinary diets help regulate the pH of the cat’s urine and increase drinking so Spring 2017

that the bladder is being flushed out more often. Every now and then there will be a cat that chronically has urinary obstructions. A special surgery, Perineal Urethrostomy, essentially reroutes the urethra so that the cat has a short and wide urethral opening like a female cat.

We don’t know why some cats are more prone to urinary obstructions than others. In my experience, it tends to happen in young male cats (typically between 2-7 years of age). I’ve seen it with cats fed anything from cat chow to very expensive high end food. My own cat, Jack, was on a high end food and got a urinary obstruction. Luckily for Jack, I caught it early because I was studying for third year veterinary school midterms. Ironically one of the midterms was my Renal class and one topic was urinary obstructions. While I was studying, Jack kept going in and out of the litter box and producing nothing. After an hour, I took him to the vet school emergency (of course it was Saturday night).

Successfully unblocked and treated, Jack has been managed with a prescription urinary diet for eight years.

Urinary obstructions can be life threatening if undetected. If you notice the clinical signs above, call your veterinarian right away. The worst (or best case scenario) is that your cat only has a urinary tract infection.

Feline urinary obstruction shouldn’t be ignored. Don’t “wait - and - see” since it could cause permanent damage to your cat’s kidneys and potentially cost him his life.

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

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 47

A New Legend

for

Zelda :

Ferret receives pacemaker from Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University

N

o, this is not an April Fools gag.

Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center has conducted its first-ever surgical implant of a heart pacemaker in a ferret. A team of veterinary specialists at the center recently performed the procedure on Zelda, a ferret from Olathe.

Zelda recommended she be seen by a cardiologist at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center.

Hobi and his ferrets then headed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to spend Christmas with family. Zelda still wasn’t feeling well, so Hobi took her to an animal health center outside of Pittsburgh. The veterinarian who examined Zelda and ran Owner Carl Hobi some tests on her was Christopher Norkus, and his ferret who just happened to have been a resident in anesthesiology and analgesia at Kansas State University from 2012-2015.

“After other tests, they said she had a third-degree atrioventricular block in her heart, which was responsible for the slow heart rate,” Hobi said. “Dr. Norkus told me to take her to K-State for pacemaker implantation.”

Once back in Kansas, Zelda was admitted to the Veterinary Health Center, where Before Christmas in December 2016, she was examined by James Carpenter, Carl Hobi, who owns three ferrets, professor of clinical medicine; David Eshar, noticed Zelda’s appetite was off and that assistant professor of clinical medicine; she was laying down more than usual. and Louden Wright, an intern, all veterinarHe took her to an area animal hospital, ians who specialize in wildlife and exotic where an EKG showed she had a very low animals. Zelda also was examined by Justin heartbeat. The veterinarian examining Thomason, a veterinary cardiologist.

“We performed an echocardiogram, EKG and chest X-rays, which demonstrated Zelda was a good candidate for pacemaker implantation,” Thomason said. “As with a human patient, this condition called for the implantation of a pacemaker to help increase Zelda’s heartbeat and provide her a good quality of life.”

“This was the first time I had ever performed this particular procedure on a ferret, although I have performed it on dogs before,” Klocke said. “I was very concerned about how small our patient was and whether I could successfully suture the pacemaker leads to her beating heart without causing severe bleeding. Our anesthesia service, led by Dr. David Rankin, was very instrumental in the success of this procedure.”

“Zelda’s case was a great example of a group of us here at the Veterinary Health Center working together to solve a case that none of us could have tackled on our own,” Wright said. “We had specialists in veterinary surgery, cardiology, anesthesiology and exotic animals all working to get Zelda the care she needed.”

The Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University provides routine, specialty and emergency care to patients across the Midwest. With more than 50 veterinarians, the center provides access to 14 board-certified specialties in small, exotic and large animal fields

48 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 49

Fractured Jaw Fixed with Dental Materials Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS

This young Pug broke her jaw by running into a motorcycle.

There is a complete break in the jaw bone, and the fracture line runs through the socket of one tooth. This tooth will die, but is left in the jaw during the healing phase because if it is extracted it becomes very difficult to keep the jaw in alignment while the wire and acrylic are applied.

This tooth was damaged when the jaw was broken and will die.

Fractured jaw.

Dental Acrylic

St a i n le s s s t e el surgical wire was placed around the fractured teeth in a figure-eight pattern. The wire is used to help stabilize the fracture and to also give support to the dental acrylic.

Surgical stainless steel wire

The fractured bone must be kept stable on both sides of the fracture in order for the body to build a bridge across the fracture site. This jaw was stabilized using stainless steel surgical wire and dental acrylic.

After placing the wire, the teeth were acid-etched. An acid paste, specially made for teeth, was applied to the crowns. The acid removes some of the mineral within the enamel of the teeth, making the surface of the enamel rough.

This roughness is temporary and is necessary to help the acrylic bond to the teeth. A Primer/Bonder was then applied, again to help the acrylic bond to the crowns. The acrylic comes out of a tube much like caulking. It is flowed over the area and allowed to harden in place.

The dog was able to eat and drink with the splint in place. The acrylic developed a crack over the fracture site 6 weeks after it was applied. At the time of removal the back part of the acrylic was missing. It had done its job and the fracture went on to heal.

The bottom of the root did not close indicating that the tooth had died.

The fracture healed well.

The dead tooth was extracted after the acrylic and wire were removed.

Bone will fill in this area over the next 8 weeks.

The use of dental acrylic and wire provides good stability for the healing fracture, is easily removed once the fracture has healed and is comfortable for the dog. It does require the use of special materials, such as acid etch, Primer/ Bonder and dental acrylic.

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 Veterinary & Dental Services.

50 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Preparing for Spring Training John R. Killacky

A

s the last vestiges of winter linger, the pony gets distracted in the indoor arena as the old wooden barn creaks in the freezing wind. She startles at the unfamiliar noises. Other days when the temperature warms, she spooks from the crashing of icicles melting or snow sliding off the roof. Crow-stepping and anxious, she wants to flee the scary sounds.

When she’s jumpy, it’s important to stay focused and reassure the pony, with me firmly in charge. As she pulls me in the cart, we’re a team in sync, responding to each other’s emotions and body language. Tension from either of us translates through the reins. We circle back to the place where the unexpected sounds happened, letting her know all is fine now - no monsters in this corner. Circling back and confronting our fears is always good, both for the pony and for me.

Spring 2017

Other horses and their riders are also antsy this time of year, and one misstep can set off a chain reaction in the training arena. Disruptions are quickly dispelled when riders and horses settle back down with calm intentionality. Soon enough we’re orbiting each other contentedly.

As the winter wanes, we all look forward to more quality time with our equines. Gone are the frozen water buckets, as well as numb and tingly fingers.

Early morning and late afternoon visits are no longer in the dark. And the horses are spending more time outside in the fields, resulting in happier animals with less pent up energy.

Training now ramps up in preparation for spring clinics and summer shows. It’s fun to see all of us, teens to seniors, get more motivated. Individualized action plans are honed with coaches. The pony

and I have been working together for six years now, and I still find it essential to work with someone more proficient, to build on what I know and learn what I still don’t know. My only end-goal is further enjoyment.

As the seasons shift, however, it’s important not to rush getting back into competitive shape. I’m told most accidents happen in the spring with over-eager equestrians and their under-prepared horses. As with marathoners and their training cycles, we have to remember to build upon the basics, cross-train with groundwork, and gradually build up strength and stamina for peak performances from our equine athletes.

John R. Killacky is executive directorof Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 51

The Bond of the Box: Pet Parents Identify with Human Trends in Pet Food Packaging Holly McClelland and Patrick Sturgeon

D

og and cat parents who peruse the pet food section at any retailer may feel overwhelmed by the high volume of products that are available. Regardless of whether pet owners visit their local mom and pop shops or browse online, they will be surrounded by a wide spectrum of food choices, ranging from the traditional dry kibble and wet can forms, to freeze-dried and dehydrated items. In order for pet food brands to stand out from the crowd in a heavily saturated market, it is critical for manufacturers to be creative from a packaging perspective. One effective technique is packaging humanization, which is intended to appeal to humans’ senses, values, and ethics through pet food packages that have similar features to human food packages. While packaging humanization techniques continue to evolve, there are three notable strategies that are prevalent in 2017.

1. Unique Containers: Most pet

parents are familiar with the 30 lb. bag of dry kibble and the 12 oz. can of wet food. While these formats have been trusted for decades, it is difficult for one bag or can to gain prominence given that hundreds of brands use these types of containers. A few eye catching containers that truly capture attention due to their packaging humanization are Caru’s broths and stews for dogs and cats, and Tucker’s Raw Frozen Cru Congelé for dogs of all life stages. Caru’s products are packaged in cardboard containers that look similar to human soup and broth/stock containers.

Tucker’s pork-bison and beef-pumpkin frozen items are packaged in plastic containers that look almost identical to human packages of ground meat. Pet owners are naturally drawn to these products because they resemble human food containers, which further increases the bond between them and their dogs and cats.

Continued Next Page

52 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

2. Product Messages: Countless pet food manufacturers are adding concise

messages to their food packages that are similar to the health claims seen on human food packages. One common messaging strategy is to focus on the absence of harmful ingredients. For several years, quite a few companies have offered grain-free and gluten-free products, and items that do not contain fillers, by-products, or rendered meats. However, recently we’ve seen the designation of “carrageenan-free,” which can be found on Nulo’s Freestyle products. Lotus also offers several stews and pâtés for cats and dogs that are described as “no carrageenan, no guar gum, and no xanthan gum.” Carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum have been used as binding agents and thickeners in human foods since the early 1900s. But, many health researchers believe these ingredients can lead to severe health problems, including cancer, inflammation, colitis, and immune suppression. Pet parents have become equally concerned that these ingredients may negatively impact their pets’ health by causing chronic and fatal conditions.

Another messaging strategy is to state the inclusion of functional ingredients, such as superfoods, that offer health-promoting benefits beyond simply providing energy. Redbarn Naturals offers canned foods with flaxseed oil for a healthy coat and skin, green-lipped mussels for healthy joints, and dandelion greens for a healthy digestive system. Nutram centers its messaging on “Optimum Combinations,” including pomegranate plus turmeric for immunity boost, and flaxseed plus salmon oil for a shiny coat. This aligns with the human dietary trend of consuming superfoods that are purported to have similar health benefits as those achieved by the ingredients in pet food. Adding functional ingredients to pet food creates stronger links between pets and their parents by allowing owners to feel confident that their pets are receiving the same superfood health benefits that they are achieving in their own diets.

3. Recyclable Materials: A number of pet food manufacturers have succeeded

in making pet packages recyclable, which appeals to environmentally-conscious pet parents who look for recyclable packaging in their own foods. TerraCycle, a global leader in the recycling of challenging items across all industries, has been instrumental in allowing some pet food manufacturers to make their packages recyclable. WellPet was the first pet food manufacturer to partner with TerraCycle in 2015 to allow customers to recycle their packages through TerraCycle’s Wellness Pet Food Brigade. Pet parents can ship their Wellness pet food items to TerraCycle and earn rewards points that can be redeemed for a range of charitable gifts. Earthborn Holistic and Open Farm have also partnered with TerraCycle to increase recycling and improve the health of the planet.

We can only expect that packaging humanization will manifest itself in other ways as brands continue to compete in a crowded market. While this technique is used for manufacturers to differentiate and stand out, it’s great that it’s breeding even stronger relationships between pet owners and their favorite furry friends!

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 53

54 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

How to Attack Fleas “I

Millie Armstrong, DVM

tried flea medicine, but it didn’t work!” Veterinarians hear this all the time from folks who are battling fleas in their household. In many cases, it is not that the product failed, but that the flea’s life cycle was allowed to progress, leading to hundreds of new fleas in the environment. The key to battling fleas FLEA is to understand how fleas reproduce and at what stages in the flea’s lifecycle the flea product is designed to work.

LIFE CYCLE FLEA LIFE CYCLE Adult fleas lay 25-40 eggs per day in their environment. These eggs are small, white and less than the size of a grain of sand. They will drop off the pet throughout its environment and molt in 2-3 days into small larvae. Larvae are white, legless and blind. They are found in dark areas and feed on flea feces and other organic debris in the environment. In about 5-10 days, they will begin to form a hard-shelled cocoon, entering the pupa stage. The outer shell of the pupa is made of a hard material, similar to that of a cockroach shell, which cannot be penetrated by chemicals to kill them. The cocoon is also covered by a sticky substance that allows it to attach to deep carpet fibers and makes it difficult to remove by vacuuming or sweeping. The shell protects the developing flea until the environmental conditions are right for hatching, which can sometimes take up to 6 months. When the young adult emerges, it is hungry and begins to feed on blood from a person or pet within a few hours. The fleas will soon begin to lay eggs, starting the entire process over again.

“My dog is itchy but it’s January; he can’t have fleas.” Adult fleas prefer warm, humid weather and tend to hatch outside in mid-summer. Depending on environmental temperature and humidity levels, they survive outside until late fall. However, those fleas that have gained access to the house have laid eggs in the home and set the stage for the progression of the lifecycle inside the house. These eggs, larvae and pupae stages will survive in the house and hatch into adults during the winter months.

“I cannot see fleas so I know my dog does not have fleas.” It is possible to have a flea infestation without seeing fleas on the pet. Adult fleas only need one blood meal every 6 months. Once they feed, they may drop off the animal and begin to lay eggs in their environment. Because they are so small and only feed for a short time, it is not always possible to find adult fleas in the hairs of the pet. Sometimes, the only evidence of fleas on the pet is the fecal material they leave behind: small, pepper-like grit.

Because fleas feed on blood, their excrement is dried blood. Initially, this appears black, but when placed in water, it will turn red again. One way to check for fleas is to use a very fine-toothed comb, a flea comb, to actually catch fleas or their flea “dirt” in the teeth of the comb. Remove the fleas from the comb and place them into a small container of rubbing alcohol to kill them before they have a chance to escape and start the process over again.

“Where did my cat get fleas? She doesn’t go outside.” Fleas are mobile; they can jump 4-6 feet at a time. It does not take much for them to jump from the ground outside onto a pant leg and hitch a ride into the house. Also, they can latch onto purses, backpacks, bags, etc. and gain access into the home this way. Pet owning people can transfer fleas when visiting a friend, going to the dog park, or walking through the grocery store. Also, fleas are small; they can wiggle their way through a screen and enter the house.

“How do I get rid of these things?”

With so many different flea products available, it is critical to understand a few key factors: Product Safety: Not all flea products are safe for all animals. Read the package carefully to be sure the product is safe for the species you are treating. NEVER use a dog product on a cat; this could be fatal to your cat. Is it safe for the age of your pet? Certain breeds of animals are more sensitive to different types of flea products. Always consult a veterinarian.

Product Use: Always follow the label instructions to be sure the product is used properly. Is it to be applied topically or given orally? How often should it be used? Will bathing or swimming affect the efficacy of the product? Are there any Hatch in 2-3 Days

Go thru 3 stages in 5-10 days before pupating

Emerge and live on 1 host for up to 2 months

Live from 5-10 days to 6 months in a cocoon

Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 55

environmental concerns when using this product? Is it safe if there are young children, tropical fish, birds, or other species in the home? The label should include a phone number to call about safety of the product.

Which stage in the flea’s lifecycle will the product kill? Fleas have 4 different stages in their life cycle, and even the best flea products can only kill 3 of the 4 stages. Most flea products on the market today are designed to kill adult fleas. However, there are 3 other stages that are alive and waiting to become active, hungry adults.

Therefore, many flea control products have been designed to kill adults, eggs and larval stages. These interrupt the life cycle and reduce the number of pupae available to hatch into adults. However, nothing on the market kills the pupae.

WE HAVE TO ATTACK FLEAS WHERE THEY LIVE: ON AND OFF THE PET. “What can I use for my pet?” There are several options for treating pets. Oral products will kill fleas and ticks when they bite the dog. Depending on the product, some will last only 48 hours while others last 30-90 days. Topical products are available that will kill on contact and also last form 30 to 90 days. Some of these topical agents are absorbed through the skin and can create medical concerns in some animals. There are a few flea collars that are effective against fleas and ticks and can last up to 8 months, depending on the product.

“How can I kill fleas in the environment?” There are products that can be used in the house to kill fleas. Again, read the label carefully for safety and try to use a product that kills 3 of the 4 stages of the lifecycle. “Flea bombs” do not tend to work as well because they do not penetrate the areas where fleas like to hide: under tables and behind furniture. Premise sprays work best because they can be applied directly to the areas where fleas concentrate. Fleas are attracted to high traffic areas like entranceways and hallways; the motion and activity in these areas stimulate the pupae to hatch into adults. Using the vacuum prior to applying the product will stimulate the fleas, bringing them into contact with the product and killing them quicker. Empty the vacuum bag often to prevent fleas from escaping. It is important to treat hard wood floors and baseboard areas because fleas can live deep in small cracks. Wash any bedding pets use, including human blankets, bed spreads, pillows, etc. in hot water to wash away fleas and their eggs.

“Bottom line: what is the best product to use for fleas?” There is simply no easy answer to this question. It is best to consult a veterinarian. Each product works differently and some can have unwanted side effects.

One last word of advice: treat all the pets in the household. It is not uncommon for a family to apply flea control to the dog and neglect to treat the cat, regardless of whether it goes outside. These other pets can harbor fleas and be the silent missing link in flea control.

For more information, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Safe-use-of-flea-and-tick-preventive-products.as Dr. Millie was born in Burlington and grew up in Pennsylvania. (Go Flyers!) She worked in pharmaceutical research before going to veterinary school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dr. Millie worked in various small animal clinics in Vermont before settling into Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic in 2000.

56 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

Happy Anniversary to The Cat in the Hat Tim Hoehn

“T

he sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we sat in the house all that cold, Beth and Willow cold wet day. I sat there with Sally. We sat sharing some time with a couple of here we two and we said ‘How we wish we had favorite cats something to do.” It was the 1960’s when my mother first shared the magical adventures of the Dr. Seuss classic. I knew every word and often fantasized what it would be like to spend an unsupervised day with such a special feline. When my children came of age, The Cat in the Hat became a bedtime standard. As this literary classic turns 60 years old this year, and I share the tales of Sally, Thing One and Thing Two, a fish and The Cat with my granddaughter, the genius of Theodore Geisel jumps off the pages as if it were penned yesterday.

Theodore Geisel, writing as Dr. Seuss, created The Cat in the Hat in response to the May 24, 1954 Life magazine article

by John Hersey, titled “Why Do Students Bog Down on First R? A Local Committee Sheds Light on a National Problem: Reading.” In the article, Hersey was critical of school primers: In the classroom boys and girls are confronted with books that have insipid illustrations depicting the slicked-up lives of other children. [Existing primers] feature abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls. . . . In bookstores, anyone can buy brighter, livelier books featuring strange and wonderful animals and children who behave naturally, i.e., sometimes misbehave. Given incentive from school boards, publishers could do as well with primers.

He r s e y ’s a r g u me nt s w e r e enumerated over ten pages of Life Magazine, which was the leading periodical during that time. After detailing many issues contributing to the dilemma connected with student reading levels, Hersey asked toward the end of the article: Why should [school primers] not have pictures that widen rather than narrow the associative richness the children give to the words they illustrate — drawings like those of the wonderfully imaginative geniuses among children’s illustrators, Tenniel, Howard Pyle, “Dr. Seuss”, Walt Disney?

Dr. Seuss responded to this “challenge,” and began work. His publisher supplied him with the sight vocabulary of 223 words, one that was in harmony with the words the child would be learning in school.

In an interview he gave in Arizona magazine in June 1981, Dr. Seuss claimed the book took nine months to complete due to the difficulty in writing a book from the 223 selected Continued Next Page

Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 57

words. He added that the title for the book came from his desire to have the title rhyme and the first two suitable rhyming words that he could find from the list were "cat" and "hat". Dr. Seuss also regretted the association of his book and the "look say" reading method adopted during the Dewey revolt in the 1920s. He expressed the opinion that “... killing phonics was one of the greatest causes of illiteracy in the country.”

Seuss had already published nine books for children. The first, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry St reet, came out in 1937. The tenth, Horton Hears a Who!, would appear in the fall of 1954. He had received some acclaim for his books, winning Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool (1947), Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949), and If I Ran the Zoo (1950).

But Dr. Seuss was equally famous for “Quick, Henry, the Flit!” — his slogan for Flit insecticide. After first appearing in an ad in 1928, it quickly became a national catchphrase. His work in the field of advertising was his primary source of income.

The Cat in the Hat would change all that. Seuss wrote the book to teach children how to read, and its success allowed him to write full-time for

58 4 Legs & a Tail

children. Indeed, the Cat made “Dr. Seuss” a household name. With the publication of The Cat in the Hat in the spring of 1957 and of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! later that year, Dr. Seuss became an icon of American children’s literature.

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Theodor Robert Geisel, a successful brew master, and Henrietta Seuss Geisel. At age 18, Geisel left home to attend Dartmouth College, where he became the editor in chief of its humor magazine, JackO-Lantern. When Geisel and his friends were caught drinking in his dorm room one night, in violation of Prohibition law, he was kicked off the magazine staff, but continued to contribute to it using the pseudonym “Seuss.”

On April 4, 2012, the Dartmouth Me d ic a l School w a s rename d the Audrey and Theodor Geisel School of Medicine in honor of their many years of generosity to the College.

Though the brick and mortar of the Hanover, NH facility is bound to stand well beyond our lifetime, it is certain that it will not endure nearly as long as that mischievous Cat in the Hat. Happy 60th Anniversary!

Spring 2017

BYOD A WISE Practice (Bring - Your - Own - Dog):

Abby Tassel, Assistant Director at WISE

T

he importance of connectedness is something that people at WISE, the Upper Valley’s anti-gender-based violence organization, are very aware of. With our 24-hour, 365-days-a-year crisis line, we are always available for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and stalking to connect with us. When talking to people who have experienced interpersonal violence, we hear how deeply hurtful these crimes are physically, emotionally and spiritually and how alone they feel, how unconnected. Perpetrators isolate their victims which makes connecting with people who are always there for you and have an understanding of what is happening, that much more imperative. In addition, when someone who we should be able to trust and Continued Next Page

“Connectedness is a mammalian biological imperative” –Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, 2015 Spring 2017

www.4LegsAndATail.com 59

depend on - whether a partner, friend, family member, acquaintance or even stranger - hurts us, it makes us question whether we can trust anyone and thus makes us question humanity itself, further keeping us from this biological need to connect.

So, while our amazing staff and volunteer advocates offer human connection that hopefully restores some trust in our species, we have found that other species, in particular friendly furry mammals, offer a different kind of connection that can bring comfort in very difficult moments. Certainly this is true for children, who are often accompanying their mothers at WISE’s program center and light up when one of the staff member’s dogs comes to nuzzle a wet nose into their faces or share a snack, eliciting giggles all around.

What Five Things Are Different?

1. Smaller Hay Bale 2. Dog's Collar 3. Dog's Tail 4. Dog's Right Ear 5. Blue color on Hay Bale

60 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2017

FR

EE

Miranda Lambert and Her Dogs

Mud Season 2017 Central NH & VT

Money Saving Tips for Pet Owners

Bring Out the Best in Your Horse Deciphering Your Pet Food Packaging What To Do When Dogs Really Fight