4 Legs and a Tail - North Vermont Summer 2015

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Dog Days of Summer Northern VT & NH

One Lost Dog During the American Revolution Emergency Care!

Big Foot Sighting in Vermont

Thoroughbreds Retiring to Vermont Cats Need Vet Care Too

4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN! What's 5 Things Are Different?

Dog’s foot, Dog’s Tail, Missing Tree in Background, Rocks, Frisbee

Did You Know…

All clams start out as males; some decide to become females at some point in their lives.

All pet hamsters are descended from a single female wild golden hamster found with a litter of 12 young in Syria in 1930.

An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.

An electric eel can produce a shock of up to 650 volts.

An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

WORD SCRAMBLE SREIPNA EEBGLA AAOAOPPSL GANARO NACARY TTABE

g This Ba Of Cat Food !

Is Alive

PERSIAN, BEAGLE, APPALOOSA, ANGORA, CANARY, BETTA

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4

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Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail Pg. 2

Five Tips for Getting More Bacon, Aubrey

For when you’ve just gotta get the good stuff

Alternatively Speaking; Managing Lyme Disease, Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

Managing the silent effects this infection can have on the body

That’s One Big Foot!

The search for the most elusive “pet/animal” in Vermont

What happens to Thoroughbreds when they’re finished as a race horse?

Summer is here! Ten things to consider before you take to the water with your dog

July 9th – 12th - Green Mountain Dog Club & Woodstock Dog Club

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AFTER the Track, Ginny Iverson

Ten Water Safety Tips for Dogs, Millie Armstrong, DVM

11 FOUR DAYS OF DOG SHOWS! Pg. 13

13 A Dog on the Battlefield and the Character of George Washington,

Kate Kelly - The aftermath of the battle at Germantown and the response that may

surprise you.

In the 1930’s a champion Doberman and his owners pave the way for Pet-Friendly hotels

Check out the changes for the Central Vermont’s biggest fundraiser of the year

A story that may inspire you to join the Therapy Dogs of Vermont team

When you should seek it; What to do if your pet is poisoned; First Aid Kits for Dogs

14 Doberman Hotel, Kate Kelly 15 Walk for Animals

15 Yipee, It’s Uncle Roy! Steve Reiman

16 Don’t Treat Your Dog to a Bone or Your Dog May Need Treatment ,

Sandra Waugh, VD, MS - Save your pets teeth and learn the “Knee-Cap Rule” 18 Emergency Care, Whitney Durivage 19 Cats Need Vet Care Too, Emily Crawford, DVM

Many cat owners confuse low maintenance with no maintenance.

Two warriors share an extraordinary love and loyalty

How you can slack off a bit on maintenance, conserve water, take care of your garden, & enjoy summer

When unraveling the mystery of human relationships, you never know where help might come from

An amazing dog and his owner fly across the country in pursuit of a cancer cure with the help of Emma’s Foundation

Behavior issues may go back to puppy hood

Wrinkles, droopy eyes, respiratory problems, determination and open checkbook that’s the dog for me!

21 Dexter: the Wounded Warrior, Sandy Johnson

Pg. 19

23 Summer Aquarium Health, DJ Nelson 24 A Snake’s Gift, Talaia Thomas

25 McKinley Gets a Bone (Marrow Transplant), Amy Floria

27 My Rescue Dog – Abused or Something Else? Mike Robertson 28 An Unconventional Kind of Puppy Love, Karen Sturtevant

4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.215 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com Summer 2015

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Senior Editor: Scott Palzer Office Manager: Beth Hoehn Accounting: Elisa Speckert Graphic Design: Monica Reinfeld, Lacey Dardis, Kate Haas Sales: Karyn Swett, Scott Palzer,

Mr. Big - Anna Carr of Burlington

If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Northern 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.

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Five Tips for Getting More Bacon O

ur Guest Author this week is Aubrey, an American Staffordshire/American Foxhound mix. She’s a 2-yr old service-dog-in-training, and an avid follower of bacon and Kong Balls.

It’s your human’s job to bring home the bacon. Humans know this, which is why sites like LinkedIn, Inc.com, and WSJ.com are clamoring to tell them how to earn more bacon. A big shout-out to all you human career enablers, dogs appreciate more bacon! What comes next is a tough job, but as Mike Rowe says, “Somebody’s gotta do it!” As a dog, it’s your job to get your human to share that bacon.

Here are five tips to help you do just that: SIT CLOSE, BUT NOT TOO CLOSE Aubrey-A Bacon Lover!

Distance matters. You need to sit right at the limit of the Doggie-to-Bacon Function (See Bacon Math illustration below). This is as close to calculus as we canines get, and I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing! Not completely sure where the limit is? Use this rule of paw: if your person is feeling like Tolstoy’s description, “He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began.” – back it up a bit!

The limit of a function, simply illustrated. Dogs KNOW limits. (We also prefer eating bacon to homework) THE EYES HAVE IT

Practice speaking with your eyes.

“The eyes are the window to the soul,” says an old proverb. And “puppy eyes” is a human term for a human expression they find hard to resist. Where did it originate? With puppies, of course. Adult dogs can pull off this look too. Imagine your human is about to hand you that bacon, and then it vanishes. Poof! Now, imagine this sequence again, and again. Your eyes will naturally take on an expression simultaneously hopeful and mournful.

Perfect!

“The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter.” Marcus Tullius Cicero KEEP STILL It never hurts to follow BBC Sherlock’s lead and “take the precaution of a short coat and a round friend” – or something like that.

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Summer 2015

Distance matters – we covered that earlier (see picture). You’ve found that perfect not-begging distance, and are wearing a mournfully attentive expression. It feels as if it’s time to act. Your predator instincts beg you to leap for the bacon’s throat and bring it down. Don’t do it. “In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you” - Deepak Chopra. Worth $80 million, the man knows about bacon. And Lao Tzu “Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity,” (and bacon). Hold fast, and you will be rewarded.

KEEP SILENT Sometimes the wait is long. Relax. Breathe.

The key to bacony success is patience. Stillness is one weapon in your arsenal, silence is another. Any noise you make in the presence of bacon is going to be interpreted as begging or pestering. You may be called out on your lurking, or be removed from the area. While noise carries negative connotations, silence is incredibly positive and has lasting impact. MLK Jr. observed, “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Silence is golden (goldenbrown, delicious-smelling, and crispy!) Stay focused, stay quiet.

LET HUMAN NATURE WORK ON YOUR BEHALF Embrace early failures. If your human ignores you and consumes all the bacon, do not act disappointed. Be extra affectionate and particularly well-behaved. Counterintuitive, maybe even ridiculous. Canines are straightforward and simple, however, we live with the most absurd species on the planet. Humans overcomplicate things. Seriously – humans invented golf, which is “deceptively simple and endlessly complicated,” according to Arnold Palmer. Seriously. A stick, ball, and grass to roll around in, and they make “A Thing” out of it!

Excessive complication isn’t just limited to humans in the United States. It’s everywhere: • “Some things in life are too complicated to explain in any language.”– Haruki Murakami • “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”– Confucius • “People tend to complicate their own lives, as if living isn’t complicated enough.”– Carlos Luiz Zafon • “All you really need to know for the moment is that the universe is a lot more complicated than you might think, even if you start from a position of thinking it’s pretty damn complicated in the first place.”– Douglas Adams Happily, this tendency to over-think can work to our benefit. Be affectionate even in disappointment, your human’s overactive brain will kick in. They imagine you are being loyal and forgiving – and they will feel guilty for having not shared that bacon. Soon, up to a week if your human is one of the difficult-to-train varieties, guilt will reach critical mass, and you will receive bacon. Resume standard positive reinforcement techniques.

Happiness: plenty of bacon and walks.

Following these five recommendations, you will be eating bacon as often as your human does. Be joyful, bacon is in your future. Be grateful every day for these humans with their opposable thumbs, who bring home and cook the bacon – AND take us outside to walk it off!

– Aubrey Aubrey’s bacon connection is Stripe, a biologist, writer, and lifelong animal rescuer/owner. Stripe is an avid follower of the evolution of thinking about training and behavior - for dogs in particular.

Summer 2015

Courtney Raymond catches her "babies", Mason & Marley enjoying the dog days of summer. For more info on adopting a Pug, visit www.GreenMtnPugRescue.com

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Alternatively Speaking: Managing Lyme Disease Anne M. Carroll, DVM-Chelsea, VT

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et’s face it; ticks are scary. Those eight little legs make my skin crawl and they can carry some pretty serious diseases as well, Lyme being the most infamous. They are tiny and hard to detect, and increasingly, everywhere. Our dogs have a high risk of coming into contact with them, while running through the tall grass and woods.

We do have good tools to deal with Lyme disease in our dogs. We have excellent tick protection products, including natural products that repel ticks from hitching a ride. When choosing, do the proper research and ask appropriate questions such as, “How long will a tick attach before dying or transmitting disease?” Best practice is to not have them attach at all, or for as short as possible.

There is even a vaccine against Lyme disease. Unfortunately, there are equally serious diseases that a tick can infect your vaccinated dog with. Using a tick preventative and yearly screening for tick borne

Shiloh - Submitted by Michael Van Norden, Woodsville, NH

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illnesses through a simple blood test, allows your veterinarian to best manage your dog’s health.

How worried should you be if your dog contracts Lyme disease? Unfortunately, it is common despite all our efforts. In my clinic in the last two years, one in six dogs tested positive for Lyme, one in five had either Lyme, Anaplasmosis or Ehrlichia exposures. The good news is, that in both experimental studies of Beagles, and in real life cases, most dogs do not experience significant illness from Lyme disease. 85% of infected dogs will not show any symptoms. For those that do, traditional treatment is a prolonged course of antibiotics (hopefully combined with a good probiotic) and most dogs will respond well. Only in rare cases are there serious issues with Lyme disease, usually in Labradors.

An alternative perspective on Lyme disease is managing the silent effects this infection can have on the body. The infective agent of Lyme disease is a master of disguise, coating itself with the dog’s own proteins, hiding in the joints so it becomes virtually undetectable by the immune system. Some immune activity can be triggered, since the body can’t cure the infection, the defensive immune stimulation can be chronic and cause problems long term. Holistic therapy is targeted at this potential issue and aims to support the joints with good nutrition and supplements, to support the immune system to avoid the harmful reactions that can occur with chronic stimulation, and to clear as much infection from the body as possible. Homeopathy is our primary tool, and when used alone or with antibiotics, we see very good results.

Riley, was diagnosed with Lyme at his annual checkup but had no symptoms.

His owner was concerned that chronic infection might cause silent problems.

A blood test to measure how much Lyme was in his system came back at seven times the level considered a threat, so we treated Riley with antibiotics and homeopathy. One year later Riley was still acting fine and we rechecked his Lyme level.

A drop of 50% is considered a success for antibiotic therapy alone. Riley tested negative for Lyme, with zero detectable level.

Keeping new ticks off, and the combined therapy, helped his body rid the infection far quicker than typically possible.

Not every dog will become negative, but a Continued Next Page

Summer 2015

Riley was treated with antibiotics & homeopathy.

good percentage will convert from high to zero or at least below the level of concern, if new tick bites are prevented.

Alternative treatments become even more valuable for those less common situations where the infection is causing problems. Repeated tick bites and high numbers of Lyme agents can trigger changes in the joints, as well as a stronger immune response in an attempt to clear the infection. We then see the classic Lyme symptoms in dogs including fever, body aches and swollen joints. Not all of these issues are caused by the Lyme infection itself, but by the immune reaction

Summer 2015

the body is mounting against it. Usually antibiotics would take care of this, but issues do come up.

Cassie was an active and happy Golden Retriever until she contracted Lyme disease. The first six months she seemed ok, after that she was tired, lame, and running a fever. Her veterinarian prescribed antibiotics, which did help, but she could not tolerate the medication and became ill when they had to be discontinued.

Several drugs were tried, each no better than the last. She was chronically affected and unable to go on her favorite hikes and so listless that she did not even care. We treated her with homeopathy and acupuncture for the Lyme and she responded immediately. She was a new dog. She continued acupuncture for several treatments. Within months she was acting like a puppy and able to run and play. Her improvement held for years beyond her treatments.

Scout, was different. She had Lyme disease with classic symptoms and was able to tolerate antibiotics, which worked at first. However, she kept relapsing over a two-year period. Probably in part, due to repeated tick exposures or perhaps her immune system was hypersensitive to the infection hiding in her joints. Over time the antibiotics were less effective. Her energy level was low, she did not want to play, with intermittent lameness issues despite homeopathic and antibiotic ther-

apies. We thought it was something other than the Lyme disease because her levels were not very high. Finally we treated her with a different homeopathic remedy and she responded very well. In the past year she has had some minor arthritis, but she is energetic, her tail wagging high for a ten year-old Retriever.

Holistic practitioners have a different arsenal of treatments for battling Lyme disease. As with all patients, each one should be evaluated individually to determine what the best approach is for prevention, and if needed, dealing with Lyme disease infection. Ticks are here to stay, their presence will only be more widespread as time passes. Short of moving to the desert to escape, we will have to focus our healthcare to include protection from ticks, and herbal, nutritional and homeopathic therapies to prevent and treat infections spread by tick bites.

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

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That’s One Big Foot!

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f you happen to be a visitor this summer, welcome! Vermont and the North Country offer a wide array of outdoor activities for all, including some of the best hiking trails on the planet. After several recent TV reports and examining documents dating back to 1876, a favorite form of recreation is searching for Bigfoot.

In fact, self-described Sasquatch researcher Frank Siecienski insists he captured one of the legendary hairy beasts, on a camera he set up outside his Hubbardton, VT home. “This is where the creature was crouching down in this position right here,” Siecienski said, demonstrating for New England Cable News how the purported giant creature was hunched over.

Siecienski told NECN he set up the camera because he wanted to know who or what was taking all the apples from the tree in his front yard in September of 2010.

His photographs produced shots of a coyote, then of a blurry figure near a hemlock tree. That figure has been nearly impossible for most people to identify. “Both my wife and I, at the exact same time, said,

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“My god, what in the world is that?’” Siecienski remembers.

According to a newspaper article by Noah Hoffenberg of the Bennington Banner, A Winooski man believes he saw a bigfoot-type creature at dusk while driving north on Route 7. At about 7:10 one evening Ray Dufresne, 45, was heading back North after visiting his daughter at Southern Vermont College, when he spotted a 6-foot-plus tall, 270-pound “big, black thing” walking upright from near the highest point of elevation on Route 7.

“It was hairy from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet,” said Dufresne. “It was not walking like a normal person.” Although Dufresne couldn’t see the animal’s face, he said from his vantage point of about 140 feet away he could see that the creature had very long arms and was covered in long, black hair. He said it walked east Abraham, Baylee and into the woods toward Glastenbury Olivia encounter Mountain.

Bigfoot in Essex Jct “The first thing I thought was, this is a gorilla costume. I thought it was a joke,” he said. “Then, I put two and two together.”

Audrey Coffin, Clara Ide There were no houses or aban(holding Ozzy a cat up doned cars nearby, so Dufresne surfor Adoption) with a Yeti mised that the dark figure could not moment at Montpelier have been a person. Furthermore, Agway Dufresne has been an avid hunter since the age of 15, and he says he knows his animals. It was not a moose or a bear, he said. Although he had heard of the ers saw a “wildman” while hunting in bigfoot phenomena before, Dufresne said the mountains just south of Pownal. The he had never heard a sighting in Vermont. Times said of the Oct. 17, 1879 occurrence: The New York Times reported on Oct. “The young men describe the creature as 18, 1879, that two young Vermont hunt- being about five feet high, resembling a man in form and movement, but covered all over with bright red hair, and having a long straggling beard, and with very wild eyes. When first seen, the creature sprang from behind a rocky cliff and started for the woods nearby. When mistaking it for a bear or other wild animal, one of the men fired, and, it is thought, wounded it, for with fierce cries of pain and rage, it turned on its assailants, driving them before it at high speed. They lost their guns and ammunition in their flight and dared not return for fear of encountering the strange being.”

Other accounts are much more recent.

According to a report printed at the Space On The Run Newsletter Web site, in December 1989 a man from Eden in Lamoille County, found footprints in the snow measuring 12 to 14 inches in length and about 6 inches wide. This was in an area that was 10 miles from the nearest house.

In East Haven in October 1976, a woman who was reading in the woods saw something like the creature that Dufresne saw. It had a muscular neck, a large head and broad shoulders. It stood around 8 to 11 feet in height, with ape-like hair and long arms, according to the Gulf Coast BigFoot Research Organization Web site.

A similar account and description was given by a boy in Essex Junction in June 1994, as well.

Enjoy the thousands of miles of hiking trails that Vermont and New Hampshire has to offer. Just remember to bring your camera, for you might not be alone.

Summer 2015

Backside Diva Racing at Suffolk Downs.

AFTER the Track “T

Ginny Iverson-Hinesberg, VT

ens of thousands of Thorough-bred horses are born annually to breeders hoping to raise a champion racehorse, but very few become stars during their short careers. So what happens after the track? AFTER the Track, at Lakota~Way Farm in Hinesburg, Vermont, retrains racehorses for the next phase of their lives.” WCAX AFTER the Track is a public, non-profit organization. It is a specialized re-training and placement facility, created to ensure the welfare of select Thoroughbred racehorses that are no longer competitive at the track.

AFTER the Track began when I learned of the urgent need for aftercare programs, for Thoroughbred racehorses. I’ve trained horses for over 40 years. My niche was starting young horses, retraining problem horses, and bringing them along in dressage, eventing, show and pleasure. As an event rider, I had several Thoroughbreds, and along the way became aware of the intense need for Thoroughbred racehorses to find new careers when their racing days are over. I began to research the need and what I learned was staggering! I embarked on a mission to do my share to help these incredible animals. I acquired my first racehorse in 2007. I purchased another the following year and began to put my Holistic Retraining Program into place.

AFTER the Track seeks unsuccessful racehorses that are likely to become good sport and pleasure horses for adult amateur riders, professional riders and junior riders. Horses are purchased outright, so they are not rescue animals. But they are very much at-risk. Each year there are thousands of racehorses that meet with very unfortunate circumstances.

As WCAX reported, “The statistics are grim. According to the Jockey Club Fact Book, 77 percent of thoroughbred foals born between 2004 and 2010 went to slaughter. In 2012 alone, more than 176,000 horses were shipped from the United States to Mexico, Canada and Japan for slaughter.”

The median age of horses that retire from the track is 5 to 6 years old. They can live to be 30, so they have many years ahead of them as athletes.

Retraining an Off the Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) takes time. Racehorses are trained and cared for very differently Diva and her new owner, Kelly.

Summer 2015

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than sport and pleasure horses, and they deserve the time they need to reformat their bodies and minds. The hallmark of AFTER the Track is the time we take to be sure each horse is ready for adoption. Training begins on Day One, where something as simple as being turned out to pasture can be a scary experience for a former racehorse. Thoroughbreds are highly intelligent and sensitive horses.

Racehorses have already developed a solid work ethic and it’s our duty to nourish that attitude while carefully and systematically guiding them into a new way of living, working and communicating. AFTER the Track’s Holistic Retraining Program details the curriculum, assessment and training practices that enable us to offer safe, healthy, well-trained Thoroughbreds to individuals seeking outstanding equine partners for show, event, dressage, trail and pleasure riding.

Currently, eight ex-racehorses reside at the farm. A few, like Wild Pioneer, great grandson of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, are now available for adoption. Adoption fees vary and are partially tax deductible.

In addition to helping retired racehorses, AFTER the Track offers educational internships for high school and college students, in areas including horsemanship, farm management and business innovations. We currently have formal partnerships with Champlain Valley Union High School and the University of Vermont. Our interns are working in a variety of areas for academic credit. We welcome the opportunity to support educational institutions and create situations to meet the needs of their students.

AFTER the Track is hosting an Open House on Saturday, June 13 from 11am to 3pm, to showcase its horses and activities. The Open House will provide a chance for the public to meet the horses, tour the facility, see the Thoroughbreds in action, and enjoy fun activities for th whole family, including: Music by Special Guest, Jamie Lee Thurston Silent Auction Children’s Activities Used Tack Sale Pony Rides Open Barn Demonstrations Full Concession For more information about AFTER the Track, visit: http://www.afterthetrack.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ AFTERtheTrackInc

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Summer 2015

Ten Water Safety Tips for Dogs S

Millie Armstrong, DVM-Colchester, VT

ummertime finds people and their pets looking for ways to keep cool.

Swimming and boating are the most common ways to do this. Our dogs enjoy spending time with us, but they may not all be as comfortable in the water as we are.

A few things to consider before you take to the water with your dog.

1. Not all dogs are good swimmers.

Dogs are not born knowing how to swim; it is a learned skill. Don’t assume your dog will be able to stay afloat. Dogs can drown just as fast (or faster) than people. Some dogs paddle better than others and some dogs sink like a stone. Generally, heavy dogs with short legs find swimming a real challenge. While most dogs enjoy the water, some breed’s physical limitations inhibit them from swimming; others just don’t enjoy the water. Do your research; read about your breed and consider how your pet might respond in the water.

2. Don’t force it; take it slowly.

Many people playfully toss their dog into the water, assuming the dog will naturally start swimming. Forcing your dog can be a dangerous and traumatic experience. Many dogs are fearful the first time they encounter water. Even if your dog has never had a scary experience in the pool, it may not like being unable to touch the bottom. Take the time to build confidence around the water. Try out shallow water first; buying a kiddies’ pool to get comfortable in the water is less intimidating.

3. Keep your dog close, but not too close.

Don’t let him swim too far away from you. Even dogs that swim well can tire quickly, even faster than you. They don’t understand resting or treading water – they just swim and swim, until they can’t anymore. Beware the “strike zone” of the thrashing legs and feet; it is easy to get tangled, scratched badly, or pulled under water as your dog tries to climb onto your shoulders in a panic.

4. Have an exit strategy.

Make sure there is always an easy way out of the water for your dog, and they know how to use it. A thrashing dog trying to escape will get tired and may drown. If stairs are inconvenient or hard for your dog, consider floating ramps or “doggy ramps” on the stairs. Companies make portable ramps for bringing your dog to a lake or pool away from home. Ensuring an exit is available could save his life, should he fall in by accident.

5. Pets should never be left unsupervised around water.

Dogs may need assistance when in trouble and cannot always bark to get someone’s attention. Fenced pool areas should not be used as a dog yard. If your dog is old, has a heart condition or a seizure disorder, keep them away from the pool.

6. No drinking in the pool.

Discourage your dog from drinking large amounts of water while swimming. Chlorine and chemicals in the pool, salt in the ocean, and bacteria in lakes can all make your pet sick. Chlorine in the pool is safe, when used at levels used for people. However, a dog’s eyes, nose and ears are more sensitive than a human’s and may be irritated Continued Next Page

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easier. Some pool owners opt for non-chlorine chemicals like bromine which may be less harmful to pets. A clean bowl of fresh water available nearby is an alternative. If your dog ingests a large amount of sea water, seek veterinary attention as the salt could lead to a life threatening emergency. Do not allow pets to swim in water covered by a green sheen. This may be blue green algae which produces a serious toxin for pets, even in small quantities.

7. Stay afloat.

Dogs spending time on or around the water should wear a life jacket specifically designed for dogs. A must for new or non-swimmers, also a good idea for experienced swimmers. Like people, dogs may develop a leg cramp, become exhausted far from shore, or in rivers or oceans, be overwhelmed by currents and tides. In a boat, your dog should wear a life preserver. If he jumps or falls into the water, it will keep him afloat, make him easier to spot, and give you something to grab to get him back into the boat.

8. Lock down.

A barrier around your pool ensures pets and children cannot wander into the pool area and accidentally fall in. Self-closing and locking gates are best. Consider a pool alarm to warn you the pool water has been disturbed. Collar alarm kits specifically for pets are available from The Safety Turtle http://www.safetyturtle.com/pur-

chase/safety-turtle-pet-kit Secure solar pool blankets; these can be hazardous if a dog falls in and gets trapped under them, or becomes disoriented. The weight of the blanket can also push dogs under.

9. Shower time!

Give a post-swim rinse with fresh warm water to wash away chemicals, bacteria or dirt he might have picked up while swimming. Dry your dog well, especially thick, long hair coats. Remove wet collars; “hot spots” can easily develop from moisture collecting in thick fur. Large floppy ears are susceptible to ear infections if water gets into the ear canals. Dry ear canals with tissue and watch for debris buildup or odor.

10. Talk to your veterinarian.

Veterinary assistance should be sought for dogs rescued from a near drowning incident. Complications including hypothermia, pneumonia or fluid build-up in the lungs can occur. If you have any questions or concerns, you should visit or call your veterinarian – your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets!

Dr. Millie Armstrong is a small animal veterinarian at Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic in Colchester, VT. She is a member of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association.

For more information visit www.vtvets.org 10 4 Legs & a Tail

Summer 2015

FOUR DAYS OF DOG SHOWS July 9th – 12th Green Mountain Dog Club & Woodstock Dog Club

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his year, the Green Mountain Dog Club will hold its 68th & 69th Annual Dog Shows on Saturday and Sunday, July 11th & 12th at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. The Woodstock Dog Club will also be holding its annual show at the same location on Thursday and Friday, the 9th and 10th.

Farmer Elisha Lougee held the first Tunbridge World’s Fair in 1867, as a way to determine who owned the fastest horse or the best-looking cow. In keeping with determining the “best,” we will have a Best in Show all four days. Woodstock Dog Club and Green Mountain Dog Club are honored to hold our VERMONT SCENIC CIRCUIT - Four Days of Dog Shows at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds.

We expect approximately 1000 entries and over 100 breeds. With Exhibitors coming from over 35 states and Canada, a long weekend of Dog Shows can bring in over $450,000 to the area.

There will be Conformation Classes with Best in Show, Companion Events, Obedience, and Rally, for both purebred and mixed breed dogs all four days.

There will be Best Puppy & Best Veteran, Dog Show Tours, an Ice Cream Social on Thursday, with a BBQ and Live Music on Saturday. Call Mary at 479-9843 or go to www.greenmountaindogclub.org for more information.

The Green Mountain Dog Club is a non-profit organization serving the Central Vermont area. In addition to hosting the annual Dog Show, GMDC holds many activities to promote responsible dog ownership. Some other events that are sponsored by the Club are: Sanctioned AKC Matches; Obedience and Handling Classes; and educational programs. Many of our members and their canine partners show, as well as do agility, rally, and hunt. We have a few Therapy dogs as well.

Membership meetings are held the 4th Thursday of every month and guests are always welcome. For more information on the GMDC, the show in July, or other events, please visit www.greenmountaindogclub.org Roberta Garrand of Waterbury is the president of GMDC. Roberta breeds and shows Boxers, Boston Terriers and Vizslas.

Dave Jones of Waitsfield is the chairman for our show on July 11th & 12th. Dave breeds and shows Australian Shepherds and Golden Retrievers as well as teaches Obedience Classes for GMDC. The Club has approximately 25 members located throughout the Central Vermont area.

For more information on the Woodstock Dog Club go to http://woodstockdogclub.org/ Four Days of Dog Shows July 9th – 12th –Tunbridge Fairgrounds, VT – 8:00 am – 6 pm!

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Summer 2015

A Dog on the Battlefield and the Character of George Washington G

Kate Kelly

eorge Washington was said to have been a man who loved dogs and owned many.

He was an avid hunter, and most of his dogs would have been used for hunting.

The Marquis de Lafayette was known to have sent seven staghounds to George Washington in a sign of friendship. A photo of this breed shows a likeness to what we know today as greyhounds. In colonial times, these dogs were great hunters, but they were bred to hunt via speed and sight; scent was not key to their hunting ability.

Sweet Lips, Scentwell, and Vulcan were the names of three of Washington’s staghounds.

Washington also owned Black and Tan Coonhounds. These dogs were scent hounds, and those whose names are known were called Drunkard, Taster, Tippler, and Tipsy (It would be nice to know more about this choice of names!).

One source says that Washington bred the Black and Tan Coonhounds with the Staghounds, which may have resulted in Americas first fox hounds.

But a story about a dog found on a battlefield reveals a great deal about the character of the man who was to be our first President.

The Battle of Germantown In July of 1777 British General William Howe started moving his forces toward Philadelphia in an effort to seize the city that was serving as the revolutionary capital. Washington and the Continental Army had suffered a couple of serious defeats in September of 1777, and then Cornwallis successfully marched into Philadelphia and claimed it for the British, so American spirits were low. General Howe arranged for the next move for the British, and he sent of his men off to Germantown.

With winter approaching, Washington felt he had time for one more attack, and with the British forces spreading out, Washington thought his men might be able to overtake those at the garrison in Germantown. While Washington’s plan was a brave one–and if successful, it could have made a huge difference in the war. However, Washington did not accomplish his goal. He over-estimated his men’s preparedness, and the plan, which required coordination among spread-out units, was plagued by incredibly foggy weather.

The men could not coordinate their movements because they could not see what was happening on the battlefield. The British were again successful, assuring that Philadelphia would remain in British hands for the remainder of the war.

Small Dog Found After the battle, a small dog was found on the battlefield, and when the Americans capture the dog, they saw from his collar that he belonged to General Howe.

Washington’s men wanted to hold the dog in retribution for their defeat at the hands of Howe’s men.

Washington saw the situation from a different view, and he arranged for a messenger to return the dog to Howe with a two-line letter:

“General Washington’s compliments to General Howe, does himself the pleasure to return [to] him a Dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe.”

While many of the stories about Washington’s character seem to have been created by his earliest biographer, Parson Weems, this lovely story of kindness and gallantry is one that can be fully documented as a draft of the note still exists. It is written in the handwriting of Washington’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton, and the note can be found is in the Washington Papers at the Library of Congress.

Summer 2015

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DOBERMAN HOTEL A Champion Doberman Paves the Way for Dog-Friendly Hotels

I

Kate Kelly

n 1931 a Massachusetts executive, Colyar Dodson, was traveling to Russia on business. His wife was on shipboard with him, so to make the trip more enjoyable, they got off to visit at some of the ports where the ship docked.

One of their stops was in Hamburg, Germany, a city that was well-known for its splendid kennels of pure-bred dogs.

The Dodson’s dog had recently died, so Mr. and Mrs. Dodson were on the lookout for a new dog to take home. They were not dog show people; all they wanted was to share their home with a dog again.

Toured Doberman Kennel When they toured one of the kennels, they happened upon some 8-week-old Doberman Pinscher puppies, and they fell in love with one puppy in particular.

Just as breeders do today, breeders of the time generally wanted to keep their dogs near enough to consider for future breedings, so we will never fully understand how the Dodsons were able to buy a puppy that was going to be taken overseas and kept as a pet. The kennel owner may

have needed the money, or he may have decided that this particular puppy looked like one that could be let go. Whatever transpired, the Dodsons left with a little Doberman; they named him Carlo Von Bassewitz.

With help from the ship’s captain, it was arranged that Carlo could stay in the Dodson’s state room. Several months later, they arrived back in the Boston area where Mr. and Mrs. Dodson lived.

Changing the World of Hotels Then two things happened that changed the world of Dobermans and surprisingly, the world of hotels.

Like all young dogs, Carlo needed obedience training. In looking for a trainer, Colyar Dodson discovered a Boston banker who had formerly worked for the Hamburg police force, where his job was to train police dogs.

When banker/trainer Hans Tossutti met Carlo, he knew that the dog was exceptional: The dog was medium-sized with a compact build. His head was in perfect proportion to his body, and his movements were elegant. In temperament, Carlo was alert, determined, obedient to commands, and very loyal.

Tossutti knew this dog should not “only” be a pet, and he encouraged the Dodsons to start showing Carlo. After much persuasion, the Dodsons entered Carlo in a few of the dog shows around New England. The Dodsons thought perhaps Carlo might bring home a ribbon or two.

As it happened, at his first show Carlo won

every category in which he was entered, including best of breed.

At the second show, the story was the same. By the third contest, the Dodsons were hooked, and they started entering Carlo in whatever shows were available.

Traveling the Circuit Anyone on the dog show circuit knows that a great deal of travel is involved, and the Dodsons soon learned that traveling with a dog posed major obstacles. Very few decent hotels were pet-friendly.

The Dodsons couldn’t change what they encountered on the road, but in his day job, Colyar Dodson was president of the Georgian Hotel Company. Here, he could make changes. The home base for the company was the Kenmore Hotel in Boston’s Kenmore Square. Dodson’s first job was making the Kenmore pet friendly.

On the mezzanine level, he established a room for crates and pens. There was direct access from that level to a portion of the roof. Two attendants were hired, and it was easy for the attendants to take the dogs out when necessary. One portion of the roof area was eventually fenced so the dogs could exercise off lead if the owners wished.

Soon a bathing room was created so the dogs could be cleaned and groomed before shows.

But Colyar Dodson had one more goal: to make some of the guest rooms dog friendly. He knew that dogs like to be with their owners, and owners like to be with their dogs, so he established a wing of the Kenmore that was reserved for people with dogs. That way a dog who barked unexpectedly would not upset other guests.

Dodson had also become an active volunteer in the world of dog shows and was helping to organize a show in nearby Newport, Rhode Island. To introduce the Kenmore’s new amenities, Dodson arranged for all dog owners coming to the show to have free lodging at the Kenmore.

As for Carlo von Bassewitz, he went on to win many more shows and be bred many times. His offspring were also major champions in the Doberman breed.

Carlo’s Legacy If you travel with your dog today, you know there are a good number of petfriendly hotels from which to choose.

While most do not offer the dog amenities originally offered at the Kenmore, we still owe Carlo and the Dodsons a tip of the hat for the fact that dog owners can find very nice hotels along the way where both dog and owner can be welcome and comfortable.

Thanks to the American Kennel Club for giving me access to their excellent library.

For more stories like this one, please visit www.americacomesalive.com where many other dog stories have been published. On the website, you may also sign up for regular mailings of upcoming dog stories.

14 4 Legs & a Tail

Summer 2015

Central Vermont Humane Society Announces Changes in Walk for Animals On Saturday, June 6th Central Vermont Humane Society (CVHS) will hold

its 23rd Annual Walk for Animals in downtown Montpelier.

“It’s our biggest event of the year,” said Mary Taylor, executive director of CVHS. “It’s also a great way for animal lovers of all ages to get actively involved in a fun activity to help the animals.”

Each walker will raise money for CVHS from family, friends, and other sponsors.

This year’s walk route is two miles through downtown Montpelier and, for the first time ever, walkers will parade across the steps of the Vermont State House with 200 other animal lovers. A post-Walk celebration will follow that includes animal-related vendors, free refreshments for everyone, and prizes for the top fundraisers.

Walk for Animals helps to increase awareness of homeless, neglected, and abused animals in Central Vermont and raises critical funds to help CVHS continue

saving more animal lives. This year’s fundraising goal is $40,000.

CVHS serves more than 1,200 animals every year. Funds raised for the Walk for Animals help provide shelter, quality medical care, and adoption services.

“This year’s Walk is especially important,” says CVHS Board President, Erika Holm, “as we are nearing the end of a fiscal year that drew heavily on our resources to fulfill our mission to protect and advocate for animals in need. We were involved in several cruelty cases that resulted in unprecedented medical costs, and we want to be in a strong position to continue that assistance in future cases.”

Some aspects of the Walk for Animals are new for this year. There is a new location – the Walk will start and end at Montpelier High School. The new Walk route is shorter, also, which will allow more people and dogs of all fitness levels and abilities to participate. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome, but walkers don’t need to bring a dog or be pet owners to participate. All they need is a desire to help shelter animals.

Every walk participant who raises at least $50 will receive a free Walk t-shirt. Those interested in participating can go onto the CVHS web site www.

CentralVermontHumane.org to find printable pledge sheets, get a link to create their

own online donation page, and learn tips for raising donations from friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.

Interested parties can also call the events coordinator, Linnea Cecere, at 802476-3811 x110 or email her at linnea@centralvermonthumane.org.

Central Vermont Humane Society, created in 1964, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of the Central Vermont Humane Society is to protect and advocate for animals in need and to build a humane community that promotes compassion and seeks to strengthen the human-animal bond.

Yippee, It’s Uncle Roy Steve Reiman-Therapy Dogs of Vermont

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oy didn’t hear our knock. This wasn’t a surprise because his television was blearing through the closed door of his room in a retirement home in Richmond, Vermont. When we cracked open the door, Micro, who knew whom he was going to visit, rushed inside to find his good friend asleep in his wheelchair in front of a CNN broadcast. With excitement uncharacteristic of the little dog, Micro stood erect on his hind legs and barked his greeting as he gently tapped the man’s legs with his fore paws.

We watched with tears of delight as Micro’s “Uncle Roy” slowly woke and looked down upon his excited four-footed friend. With a joyful “Hi Micro”, he them gently eased the little dog up into his lap for a happy reunion. Hugs, pats, pictures, stories and articles were then shared and enjoyed.

Micro and Roy became acquainted several years ago at the assisted living facility where Lessie worked as the recreation therapist. Their fast friendship was such that Micro was the subject of much of Roy’s conversation. Perhaps Roy’s love for liverwurst, which he often shared with Micro, helped cement the closeness between them. Since our visit was to be a surprise, we brought liverwurst and crackers for Roy some of which he quickly fed to his little euphoric visitor.

Do dogs remember their friends? Absolutely. Do they cut though the boredom and routine of an elder in a retirement facility? Certainly. And without doubt, Roy will be telling people at the dinner table tonight about his visit from Micro just as Micro will always perk up his ears and cock his head when we mention “Uncle Roy”.

Roy & Micro

Steve Reiman is the President and Founder of Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Therapy Dogs of Vermont (TDV) is a non-profit organization of highly-trained dogs and their volunteer handlers. The handler/canine teams work on the emotional health of hospital patients, students in educational settings, residents of nursing/retirement homes, and correctional facilities. www.TherapyDogs.org Summer 2015

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Don’t Treat Your Dog to a Bone or Your Dog May Need Treatment Sandra Waugh, VD, MS-Windsor, VT

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ne of my pet peeves is the idea that marrow bones are good for your dog’s teeth, as chewing on these will make the teeth nice and shiny. After all, wild dogs chew on bones and surely none of them ever get fractured teeth, so the theory goes, so it must be OK for my domestic dog. Well, not true. Dogs, wild or domestic, suffer from broken teeth.

Unfortunately, bones of any type may cause trauma to the teeth, either by creating vibration which kills the tooth through internal bleeding, or fracturing the crown which kills the tooth by destroying it! I recently saw two dogs with typical injuries from chewing on objects that were too hard for the teeth.

Many of my clients seem to believe that dog teeth are really tough and can withstand trauma that our teeth cannot. Actually, the enamel on the human tooth is twice as thick as the enamel on dog and cat teeth! Dog teeth are very long, which makes them vulnerable to injuries involving torque (twisting motion of the tooth around its length). They also come to sharp points, meaning that the width of the tooth is greatly reduced at the top of the crown. Less width adds up to less strength. And dogs have much stronger jaws than humans, which puts a lot of pressure on the teeth.

Treats which are likely to cause trauma to a dog’s teeth: • Marrow bones • Compressed rawhide • Dry cow or pig hooves • Deer Antlers • Hard plastic treats, such as the original Nylabone • Ice cubes - if your dog likes ice, crush it up into small pieces • Hard plastic Frisbees thrown for the dog to catch in mid-air • Bully Sticks are just the right size to break and get wedged in the upper jaw.

• Tennis balls - the nap collects grit which then grinds down the teeth.

Find a rubber ball of the same size instead.

So, what should we give our dogs to chew on?

Dr Frazer Hale, board certified veterinary dentist (www.toothvet.ca) says it well: “I tell clients that there is nothing that is ‘safe’ but there are some things that are ‘safer’ (i.e., less dangerous) if used appropriately. To judge an item, they should apply the “Knee-Cap Rule”. Simply stated, if you would not want me to hit you in the knee cap with it, don’t let your dog chew on it. For small dogs, I will modify and say, if your small dog would not want me to hit them in the knee-cap with it, don’t let him/her chew on it.”

OR “If you would not chew on it yourself for fear of damaging your own teeth, do not let your dog chew on it.”

OR Any potential chew item should dent when pressed on with your thumbnail.

Now, for real examples.

First is a Doberman who had the misfortune of sustaining two different injuries on two different teeth from chewing on a marrow bone, all in one day! The upper left canine tooth suffered internal bleeding, which caused the tooth to turn pink/purple.

This is the same as a bruise in the skin, except that it causes the death of the tooth.

Continued Next Page

Canine tooth discolored from internal bleeding.

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Fractured upper 4th premolar (Carnassial tooth).

Summer 2015

It is easy to imagine this canine as a bruised tooth. Bleeding inside the tooth creates pressure which kills the pulp tissue, leading to a dead tooth. This tooth underwent a root canal procedure to retain the tooth within the mouth. The only other option was extraction. Discolored teeth are dead and are a cause of pain for the dog, even if dogs do not complain about the pain in an obvious way. Do not “wait and see,” as this really makes no sense! This color will modify over time, just like a bruise, with the tooth eventually becoming dark yellow or gray.

Fractured upper left 4th premolar.

Normal upper right 4th premolar from the same dog. Photograph has been reversed to make the comparison easier.

Second, is a Goldendoodle who found a deer skull in the woods and proudly brought it home for her owners. Unfortunately she had chewed on the antlers and broke the upper 4th premolar. The two photographs below are the same tooth from different angles.

This fracture is described as a “slab fracture”. It is actually two fractures. The tip of the crown breaks off first, then the side of the tooth fractures off as if the antler were a chisel driving off a wedge of tooth. The slab fracture extends below the gum line.

The green arrows point to the top of the pulp chamber in the crown of the tooth. If you can see a round spot like this in a tooth, it means that the pulp chamber has been exposed and the tooth is dead.

Again, this tooth is a source of infection and pain for your dog and it should either be extracted or treated with a root canal procedure. If you have had a dead tooth yourself or know someone who needed a root canal procedure done, then you know that a dead tooth is a painful tooth.

The black arrow points to part of the developmental groove, a normal structure. Most of the groove has been fractured off with the tip of the crown.

We would all like a chew treat that helps to keep the teeth clean, is too tough for our dogs to destroy, but at the same time is not going to cause damage to the teeth. Like other things in life, this is not so easy to have. It is better to have the teeth stay intact even if it means buying lots of chew toys and treats, than to have the teeth become damaged and painful from inappropriate treats and toys.

Also see http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm208365.htm for their article “No Bones About It: Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog” 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.

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Emergency Care W

Whitney Durivage-Williston,VT

ith summer comes outdoor fun for all! From dog parks and trails to pools and lakes, everyone is busy soaking up the sunshine. This is also the time of year when veterinarians are treating many pets with emergency issues. Here are a few things for you to consider this summer.

Seek emergency care immediately in these situations: • Unconsciousness, collapse or extreme lethargy • Suspected ingestion of a foreign body, harmful chemicals, human medications, or toxic plants • Trouble breathing • Trauma from fall or hit by moving vehicle • Extreme pain causing whining or shaking • Swollen and tense abdomen • Straining to urinate • Hemorrhage • Disorientation or seizures • Uncontrolled or prolonged vomiting and/or diarrhea • Prolonged straining without delivery of puppies or kittens

What to do if your dog or cat is poisoned: • Remove your pet from the area.

• Check to make sure your pet is safe: breathing and acting normally.

• Do NOT give any home antidotes.

• Do NOT induce vomiting without consulting a vet or Pet Poison Helpline.

• Call Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680.

• If veterinary attention is necessary, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic immediately.

First Aid Kits for Dogs - 5 Key Items to Pack Saline – This is used to flush out wounds when dirt or debris is present. You may use the bottle alone, or carry a syringe without a needle to apply the saline. Saline is sold over the counter.

Triple Antibiotic Ointment - This may be used for minor scrapes and cuts that your pet may encounter. A common one used is over the counter Bacitracin. Do not allow your pet to lick the ointment off of the cut or scrape.

Gauze and Wrap - If your pet gets a cut that is bleeding, it is important to be able to control the bleeding until you are able to get to a veterinarian. Gauze is a soft material that you may place over the bleeding wound to help control the bleeding. A soft wrap (such as vet wrap) is then applied to keep the gauze in place. The vet wrap sticks to itself so that it stays on, but not to your pet’s fur. They will love you extra when it’s time to remove the wrap. When wrapping, make sure to place a thumb or finger underneath the wrap to ensure that you are not wrapping too tight.

Fresh Hydrogen Peroxide - This is not to be used for cleaning , but rather to induce vomiting if your pet ingests something toxic. ALWAYS consult with your veterinarian or poison control center before giving your dog Peroxide. In some cases, vomiting should NOT be induced (such as ingestion of Kerosene, sharp objects or many other chemicals) Muzzle - When dogs injure themselves, they are in pain, and this may cause them to want to bite. It doesn’t mean that you have a mean dog, just that he/she is telling you that they hurt. A muzzle will help to prevent bites to you and/or helpers.

If you are concerned or unsure if your pet needs emergency care, please call your vet or Burlington Emergency & Veterinary Specialists at (802) 863-2387. If your dog or cat ingested something poisonous please call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 for help immediately! The sooner a dog poisoning or cat poisoning is diagnosed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is for your pet to get treated!

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Whitney graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BS in Animal Science and a minor in Business Administration. In 2012, Whitney became the hospital manager of BEVS and is now responsible for managing and overseeing the overall activities of their 24/7 emergency and referral veterinary hospital.

Summer 2015

Cats Need Check-Ups Too! C

Emily Crawford, DVM-Waterbury,VT

ats are the most popular pet in America, exceeding the number of pet dogs by millions. However, studies show that cats receive far less medical attention than their canine counterparts, especially when it comes to wellness (preventive) care or routine “check-ups.” Many cats do not receive annual examinations, statistically visiting vets 30% less than dogs. The reasons for this are multiple, but include: the perception that cats are independent, “low-maintenance,” and can take care of themselves, the belief that indoor cats are at low risk for disease exposure, and the perception that the cat seems fine, perfectly healthy, so why go to the vet? Also, the struggle to get a cat in a carrier, and the perceived stress of the car ride and vet visit, discourage many cat owners from seeking routine vet care.

Cats who spend time outdoors often find trouble and have need for vet care: wounds, abscesses and other injuries, fleas, ear mites, or other parasites; are a few of the reasons outdoor kitties need treatment. But indoor cats are also at risk for many conditions. In fact, cats are excellent at hiding their illness and are considered great at masquerading as healthy, despite underlying disease.

Many of these issues can develop very gradually making it difficult for an owner to detect. It is important that your veterinarian examine your cat frequently so that issues can be caught early and addressed. Also having your vet familiar with your cat puts both doctor and patient at an advantage when illnesses do develop.

There will be a baseline of health that the vet can then use as a comparison when kitty is not feeling well.

Though it is true that indoor cats have fewer risks than outdoor cats, several conditions warrant veterinary screening: Oral and Dental Health: Most cats develop dental disease by the age of three. Plaque and tartar contribute to gingivitis for cats, and gum disease can then result in painful cavity-like tooth lesions, periodontal disease, risk of tooth root and jaw bone infections as well as spread of bacteria and disease to organ systems. Heart, liver and kidney health are all affected by an animal’s oral health.

Your vet can assess your cat’s teeth and gums and help make a plan to keep them healthy.

Oscar catching summer rays.

named above. The symptoms of these can be vague and develop slowly. Monitoring your cat’s weight, discussing their eating and litter box patterns, and having them evaluated more frequently as they get older can keep them feeling good.

Vaccinations All cats run the risk of contracting viral disease, and routine vaccination is important for disease prevention. Specifically, young cats are at risk of life-threatening illness from viruses such as panleukopenia, calicivirus, and feline leukemia.

Rabies is a high risk to cats and poses human health dangers, so frequent vaccination is required by law. Your veterinarian Continued NEXT PAGE

Obesity: Just as excess body weight creates human health risks, obesity in cats results in joint, heart, and liver disease in cats.

Obese cats are at an increased risk of diabetes. Your vet can help make the best diet and nutrition recommendations for your kitty.

Heart Health: Many breeds are prone to heart disease and heart murmurs and older cats are at risk of hypertension and high blood pressure. Only a vet’s exam, listening to the heart sounds, rate and rhythm can identify those cats at risk.

Geriatric Health: Our older patients often develop kidney and urinary tract disease, arthritis and joint pain and endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism in addition to the issues Summer 2015

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will determine what vaccinations are right for your cat based on their lifestyle and risk factors. Even indoor-only cats should receive vaccinations periodically.

While it is true that many cats can appear traumatized by a vet visit, there are steps you can take to make the process easier on them. Getting your cat into its carrier can be a daunting task.

Cat Carrier Tips: - Leave the carrier out in a space your cat visits often, that way it won’t appear foreign or scary to them. Storing it in a garage or closet and bringing it out only when it’s time for a vet visit can be frightening to them!

- Place a soft blanket or bed within the carrier and use cat nip, favorite toys, or a feline pheromone/calming spray such as Feliway to attract them.

- A hard plastic carrier with removable top is ideal. Removal of the top allows easier placement within and can allow a veterinarian to examine them directly in this more comfortable space.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is so true when it comes to feline care. Most issues found early on, can be managed to ensure your kitty has a long and comfortable life. Recognizing even minor issues early can save money for owners and pain for kitties. Prevention truly is the best medicine!

Dr. Emily Crawford is the owner and lead veterinarian at Waterbury Veterinary Hospital in Waterbury Center, VT. A 1999 graduate of The Ohio State University she has been practicing in New England since 2000. She has specific interests in feline medicine, internal medicine, oncology and geriatric care and is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. She can be reached for questions at 802-244-5452 or via Waterburyvet@gmail.com.

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Summer 2015

Dexter: The Wounded Warrior Sandy Johnson Puppy love—real puppy love—never grows old. The absolute, unconditional love in a dog’s eyes as he gazes up at us teaches us a little more about how to be human.

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his is the story of what former staff sergeant Curtiss Lindsay learned from

Dexter, his four-year-old Labrador Retriever, who has been in a wheelchair from the time he was a three-month-old puppy. He is a warrior, too—and a champion.

Curtiss teaches eighth-grade math; his wife, Sherlyn, is a pharmacist at the local longterm care facility; both lifelong dog lovers.

September 2006, ten months after Staff Sergeant Curtiss Lindsay returned home to Louisiana from eighteen-months in Iraq, Sherlyn presented him with a four-month-old Chocolate Lab, Paige. For Curtiss, Paige turned out to be the best hunting dog he’d ever seen.

In February 2009, she gave birth to nine puppies, seven males and two females. The last of the litter, the runt, was a male. After a week, Curtiss and Sherlyn noticed he was not moving his back legs. Alarmed, they took him to their veterinarian. The vet took X-rays, but since the bones weren’t sufficiently formed he assumed it was a severe inflammation causing temporary paralysis and prescribed dexamethasone to reduce the swelling. When it became clear paralysis was permanent, he held out no hope; the pup should be put down. Curtiss continued to refuse euthanasia, the vet told him not to bring the dog back.

He had seen too much on the battlefields of Iraq not to appreciate the preciousness of life—all life. He would give the pup every chance in the world to make it.

They took to calling him Dex (for the medication he was on) and tried their best to take care of him. But, little Dex suddenly became very ill. Another veterinarian, Dr. Melanie Toal, came up with a different diagnosis: Dex had not been born paralyzed, right after birth, his mother had accidentally stepped on the tiny pup, dislocating his rear hips and breaking both his hind legs.

Dr. Toal had her professional reservations about trying to help Dex. He was so frail. Sherlyn showed her a YouTube video of Dex in a homemade cart, retrieving a stuffed animal. A crude wheelchair from a piece of wood, a couple of casters, and some bungee cords enabled Dex to retrieve, and he loved the speed.

Dr. Toal agreed, under three conditions: Dex had to have a good quality of life, appropriate indoor space for his condition, and some type of transportation to support the normal, active lifestyle of a Labrador Retriever. A happy puppy, Dex was wagging his tail and giving kisses. She wanted to support their decision, but had to explain how serious his injuries were. Dex would have to begin a course of antibiotics, and, worse, both of his hind legs would have to be amputated.

Curtiss had witnessed many battlefield injuries that led to amputation. “Some nights I would sit with Sherlyn, worrying and wondering if we were doing the right thing. Finally, we came to the decision that if ever Dex seemed in pain—if his tail stopped wagging and he was clearly not happy—that would let us know he’d had enough. As long as he kept giving us kisses, asking for ear scratches and wagging his tail, we would get through it with him.

“What does one do with a two-legged Labrador Retriever? The amputations were too high up on the legs to fit him with prosthetics, and Labs are active dogs. To limit his mobility to two legs was definitely cause for concern.”

“Dex’s fighting spirit and his largerthan- life drive. He doesn’t realize that he is different. At three months, he was already retrieving our Maltese’s little bunny rabbit, dragging his two useless legs behind him. He is by far the happiest dog I’ve ever met. Even during the months of pain and hardship, he never had a single day of depression. Truly an inspiration.”

“We located Walkin’ Wheels, purchased a wheelchair, and it changed all of our lives forever. This chair has given Dex his life back. He loves long walks, and he keeps up with other dogs just fine, even chasing his Maltese sister around the island in the kitchen! And he loves to swim. He is a messy swimmer, but a swimmer nonetheless. We removed the wheels and put him in a floater, but one day the floater came off and he just kept right on swimming without it.

Dex also promises to be the great duck Continued NEXT PAGE

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ence has taught them lessons not found in textbooks: that love is unconditional, and that physical capabilities do not have to be obstacles but are merely opportunities to become more creative.

It is not unusual to find a student sitting on top of Dex’s dog bed in the corner of the classroom, reading quietly to him, Dex’s head resting in the student’s lap.

January 2014, Dex earned the title of Started Hunting Retriever at the hunt test in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The first watermark of the weekend was the longest swim of his life, but Dex would not back down. He belly-flopped into the water and swam his little heart out until he reached the mark; then he turned around and swam back. His tail was still wagging.

“We did not know what sort of life Dex was going to be able to lead. But he has never slowed down, never given up, never taken no for an answer, and never accepted anything as an obstacle. He knows no limitations. He adjusts to whatever life throws at him.

I hope people will think about him the next time they have a bad day.”

When Curtiss has episodes of PTSD, Dex pushes against him and takes Curtiss’s hand very gently in his mouth to remind him Dex and his owner Curtiss Lindsay upon receiving Dex’s his dog is near.

Started Hunting Retriever title in West Mississippi.

“Dex has been medicine for my soul. He is always by my side when I’m home and worries when I leave him, even for a few sechunter his mother, Paige, was. Accepted into his local Hunting onds. He has always wanted to please us as much we want to please Retriever Club, at the tender age of just one year he earned his him.”

HRC Started title at the hunt test. The tests try to simulate actual These two warriors have much to be grateful for, not the least hunting situations at realistic hunting ranges, with the handlers of which is the extraordinary love and loyalty they share. wearing appropriate hunting attire and firing a shotgun loaded with blanks.

Sandy Johnson attended the University of Pennsylvania, The Tower of Hope Foundation helps to train service dogs for CIDOC in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and the New School for injured veterans. Dex would roll up in his wheelchair, tail wagSocial Research in New York City. She studied acting at the ging vigorously, next to a veteran in a wheelchair. The surprised Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and at the Actors Studio veteran would give him a huge smile and say, “Hey, buddy! Wanna in Los Angeles. Learn more about Dexter and the other pets race?” and people in this book. See color photos, more stories, and Dex is allowed on occasion to attend Curtiss’s classes. His presupload your own at HandicappedPets.com/MiracleDogs

22 4 Legs & a Tail

Summer 2015

Summer Aquarium Health

DJ Nelson-St. Johnsbury,VT

his time of the year folks are thinking about getting outside and enjoying summer; swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, gardening, etc. The last thing on our minds is tending to our fish aquariums. We often let them go untended till fall. Sitting in my office writing this article I’m thinking of the summer temps, hanging out, relaxing and enjoying the great weather, I can almost feel the warmth that summer brings.

There is a way that you can keep your freshwater aquarium healthy and enjoy the summer time! That’s right, you can slack off a bit on the maintenance and take care of your Veggie or Flower gardens at the same time. At this point you’re thinking, did I read that right? Is he crazy? Let me explain. I’m going to separate this into 2 different options.

Option #1 The Planted Aquarium: I know what you’re thinking. OMG he talks about slacking a bit, and now he’s talking keeping plants in addition to fish. If you keep Cichlids or goldfish this option won’t work, but for a community or semi aggressive aquarium, this option is for you. If you have the right amount and balance of aquarium plants, it will actually help you with maintaining your aquarium! Whether you get into an actual fully planted aquarium with special planted gravel substrate, lights, and aquatic plant fertilizers or you go with the regular setup but just add many hardier types of aquarium plants, the same effect can be achieved.

Every ecosystem runs on what is called a Nitrogen Cycle. An aquarium is a type of ecosystem. Fish waste and decaying matter puts out ammonia, then bacteria changes it to Nitrite, a different bacteria changes that to Nitrates. Your filter will take care of Ammonia and Nitrite, but not Nitrates. There are 2 reasons regular aquarium water changes are recommended. 1. To replenish nutrients 2. To remove Nitrates.

Plants will use some of the Nitrates, so a good plant to fish balance should help keep your nitrate levels down, thus decreasing your need for water changes. Pop a timer on your lights and your aquarium can go a while without a water change. Enjoy the beauty of your multi-dimensional aquarium with less work. If you set-up a planted aquarium with special substrate, lights, etc you should still be ok, but you may find you just have to add aquatic plant fertilizers, this is simple and can be done quickly in many situations.

Option 2 Fertilize you Garden: This will work whether you are keeping Cichlids, Goldfish, Community, semi aggressive, or planted aquariums. All it requires is that you keep a flower or veggie garden, or even a lot of house plants. This trick I learned during a drought many years ago when our well dried up and we had to bring in water. I had over a dozen aquariums and they needed water changes, but the garden and houseplants needed water also. The aquariums were using a lot of water when water was hard to come by. I did my water changes, and used the water from the aquariums to water my gardens and even house plants. The fish waste in the water was a great fertilizer for the plants. It saved me water, and it saved me from having to do water changes, and then turn around and lug buckets or a hose out to water my garden. Don’t want to lug buckets from your aquarium (especially a larger aquarium), to the garden? Use one of the siphon-like devices that hook up to your sink, for filling and removing water from the aquarium. Instead of hooking it up to the sink, run the hose out to the garden and start doing your water change. Bingo, you’re doing two jobs at once, while saving time and water.

With both options you spend less time doing work and more time enjoying summer. I think we can all agree it goes by way to quickly, enjoy every moment while you can. Have a great safe summer!

For more information on keeping pets happy and healthy, your Vet or your local pet store can help you out.

T

DJ Nelson has worked in the pet industry for almost two decades and is the owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He works with Reptiles, Birds, Small Animals, Fresh/Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition. Since proper care is constantly changing, educating customers about their pets is very important to him. www.aquarealmaquarium.com and Facebook Summer 2015 www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

A Snake’s Gift Talaia Thomas-Hardwick,VT

F oxy is a much-loved therapy cat whose retrieving performances are especially entertaining to the kids I counsel. At

home, Foxy is always up for a game of fetch, and when I’m not home he leaves assorted gifts on my bed. Last night there were three grapes buried in the blankets. Grapes are fine. Toys and half chewed table scraps are fine. When I awake realizing I’ve been sleeping with a dead mouse, or better yet a live one, it’s not so fine.

It was a bitter January night when I pulled back the covers and Foxy found a 13-inch garter snake waiting for me. Foxy was elated with himself. I wasn’t.

After a few expletives I scooped the frightened snake into a small plastic terrarium and went to bed wondering about the rest of the snake family. My house is too warm for a dormant snake and too cold for an active one. I wasn’t keen on spending a few hundred dollars to construct a snake habitat, so I brought him to my office and hid him behind a chair, safely out of view of everyone. People enjoy Foxy or Silly Millie, the slow moving and affection mastiff, but many can’t tolerate snakes.

Morgan was a ten-year-old girl who’d been coming in with her mother for about two months. Through a series of legal maneuvers and fabrications Morgan’s paternal side of the family convinced her that her mother had abandoned her. Now years later, the court finally ruled that Morgan would see her mom twice a month. Morgan was determined to be as oppositional as possible while in her mother’s care. She yelled, swore and broke things. During therapy sessions Morgan tolerated her mother for about fifteen minutes. Afterwards her mother would go to the waiting room and Morgan would give me a glimpse into the frightening and hateful world she’d known most of her life.

Once, as Morgan was being particularly rude to her mother, who was about to go to the waiting room, I blurted out, “Morgan, do you like snakes?”

“Snakes?” She questioned, and gave her usual dismissive shrug until she spotted fear in her mother’s eyes.

I LOVE snakes!” She shouted. “Snakes are so awesome. Do you have a snake? I want to see it.”

I pulled the plastic terrarium from behind the chair. Morgan’s mom stiffened and put one hand on the doorknob.

“Ground rules,” I said to Morgan. “You don’t hurt the snake and you don’t scare your mother. Understood?” Morgan nodded.

I put the terrarium on the table and removed the lid. Morgan’s exuberance faded into apprehension. In a quiet act of love and selflessness Morgan’s mother crossed the room and knelt beside her daughter.

“He’s just a baby,” she said. “Do you want to hold him?” Morgan nodded and her mom reached into the container and cradled the little snake in her palm.

“What’s his name?” Morgan asked.

“I haven’t named him. Can you think of a good name?” I asked.

Morgan paused. “Carrot,” she said. “’Cause he’s a garden snake and he’s long like a carrot.”

“That makes sense,” I said. “Carrot it is.”

Morgan had a normal conversation with her mother. She held Carrot. At 1:00 I realized mother and daughter had spent a full hour in the office together. That was something I had hoped for, but wasn’t sure would happen.

I never found another snake in the house and I have no idea where Carrot came from, but it’s presence in the therapy office accomplished more in one hour than I had in two months. * The names and identifying characteristics have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

Talaia Thomas is a licensed mental health counselor operating a private practice in Hardwick, VT and a crisis clinician in Washington County. For more information, Google her or call 802-279-8575.

24 4 Legs & a Tail

Summer 2015

McKinley gets a Bone (Marrow Transplant)

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Amy Floria-Ossipee, NH

ough housing with my 4 year old German Shepherd, McKinley, in April 2012, I grabbed one of his hind legs and felt a lump. I was feeling one of the lymph nodes in his hindquarter. I found more enlarged lymph nodes. I was afraid it was cancer, he was running around and eating great, not acting sick. I brought him to New England Veterinary Oncology, in Waltham MA. It was stage 3, type A, and B-cell Lymphoma. The good news, McKinley was young, and it was stage 3 out of 5, it was throughout his lymph nodes, but not in any organs. B-cell is easier to treat than T-cell. Right away, we started the CHOP protocol, a 4 month long chemo treatment. He got some form of chemo once a week, pill or injection. McKinley was in remission within 10 days! We still had to do the full 4 month protocol.

He stayed in remission from the end of April 2012 till January 2013 (about 8 months). In January his lymph nodes were getting big again. We started him on the CHOP protocol, his cancer was back. In less than a week he was back in remission.

I looked online for others battling lymphoma in dogs, and stumbled upon Bone Marrow Transplants for dogs. Researching, I found some owners who had this done.

Two dogs were still going strong; one was 3 years cancer free, the other was about 1 year. Many others had it done, but were no longer alive. Either the cancer came back or another illness took their lives. There was some hope! I talked with my oncology vet, Dr. Erin Romansik, long and hard about bone marrow transplants, we researched it and the veterinaries that were doing it (there were only 3 in the country). A very hard decision due to the cost and logistics involved.

In March 2013 we prepared McKinley, to make sure he was qualified to do the transplant. He had to be in clinical remission, checked by blood work. He was. Twenty one days prior to the transplant an Emergency Veterinary had to administer a high dose of Cytoxan(chemo drug), with IV fluids for 24 hours, to kill any cancer that may have Continued NEXT PAGE

Summer 2015

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been hiding in his blood. I had to give him Neupogen shots to boost his stem cells 15 days before the transplant, so his body had time to produce new stem cells. He received these shots every 12 hours, at a cost of $250.00 per shot! A donor dog (littler mate, parent) test, ran up to $6,000 with no guarantee of a match. A donor match would increase his chance of a cure.

But, I decided to use his own stem cells due to the cost.

I flew him from New Hampshire to Wash-ington State, at the end of March 2013, to Bellingham Veterinary, with Dr.Edmund Sullivan, in Bellingham, WA. Two days later McKinley had his stem cells harvested by an apheresis machine which pumped his blood, while separating and collecting his stem cells. He could barely walk, he was so weak and groggy from the anesthesia. Being under anesthesia for so long, and pumping his blood took its toll.

He got a day off to recover, he didn’t move all day long.

Next, he had full body radiation. They did half of his body for 3 hours, then 3 hours off, and then the other half of his body for 3 hours. They then injected his stem cells, harvested two days earlier, into his blood. Dr.Sullivan took him into a human hospital to have the radiation done. A radiation machine is so expensive that he has permission to use the human hospital. McKinley had human nurses, with Dr.Sullivan by his side.

The radiation was to kill any cancer cells in his blood, but it would also kill the good cells. Injecting new stem cells that were collected, not in his body during radiation, would start new white blood cell production. So for a few days after the radiation McKinley was feeling good.

It takes a few days for the old white cells to start dying, and a few days for the new stem cells to start growing new white cells.

Dr. Sullivan tracked the white blood cell count, when it got too low McKinley stayed in isolation, because he had no immune system to fight off anything (all part of the plan). While cells are dying and new stem cells are growing, they watch the plasma levels. They also did a few blood transfusions to help McKinley recover.

McKinley was in WA for three and a half weeks. I flew back home because I couldn’t see him, he had no immune system. I did ask Dr. Sullivan to send me one picture a day so I could see what he looked like. We all know our dogs well and can read how they are feeling by the look on their faces. Getting the pictures made it a little easier to leave him. Once his white blood cell, and plasma counts were back up he could come home. Dr. Sullivan kept me posted every day, how he was doing, and when I could get him.

Once I knew I could get him, I immediately got a flight out to see my boy. He was so happy to see me! I spent 2 days with him before we could get a flight back home. He 26 4 Legs & a Tail

was fine for the two days before we flew home. McKinley did get really sick the day we got back, we still have no idea what it was, few with bone marrow transplants know what to expect. I never would have left WA had I known he was going to get sick. He was sick for a good 12 days.

Today McKinley is 6 ½ years old, and cancer free! He had the transplant over 2 years ago.

McKinley enjoying another summer.

The cost was overwhelming, and I am still in credit card debt up to my eyeballs, but I have my dog! I have to give a big THANK YOU to Emma’s Foundation.

I applied to a lot of foundations for financial help, Emma’s Foundation was willing, even with little research proving a Bone Marrow Transplant would work.

They read my story, talked to me and my oncology vet, and believed McKinley had a chance! Positive people, great people, and dog loving people! Love Tina and Ron!!!!

Emma’s Foundation for Canine Cancer www.emmasfoundationforcanine cancer.org Amy Floria lives in West Ossippe, NH with her 2 German Shepherds and 1 Cat. She previously owned a kennel and was a dog and cat groomer. She now runs her restaurant, Ralphie’s Famous Roast Beef, and is happy to report McKinely is still kicking cancer’s butt!!

Summer 2015

My Rescue Dog Abused or Something Else?

Mike Robertson-Plymouth, NH

S

am was a little shy when you visited him at the shelter, but you chalked that up to all the noise and strange people he had to endure every day. “He’ll warm right up once he gets home,” the shelter staff assured you.

A week later, Sam still runs and hides from the family. Greeting visitors? Forget it; Sam disappears or worse…pees. Sam must have been abused, right? What else would explain this fear of humans?

Contrary to what P.E.T.A. and the H.S.U.S. would have you believe, with their dramatic media campaigns and TV Commercials; animal abuse isn’t nearly as prevalent as portrayed. It happens, but statistically the documented cases of abuse are small.

Lack of proper social exposure during the influential periods of puppy hood is very common, however. Lack of exposure to a variety of people, sights, sounds and textures between 8-16 weeks of age can have lifelong effects in the puppy, and on a the maturing dog. This deficit is commonly observed in the partial list of behaviors below: Fear of household sounds (TV, doorbell, furnace, etc.) but a noticeable comfort with outdoor sounds. The opposite might be observed; depending on what environment the puppy grew up in.

Fear of people, but comfort with dogs.

Fear of all but one sex/race of person.

Initial fear of people or objects that is followed by cautious curiosity.

A qualified behavior consultant will quickly be able to identify whether the behaviors you are observing in your dog are based in social deficits, abuse or both.

A future article will offer steps to help ease your timid dog into his new world.

Mike Robertson is a certified animal trainer and certified behavior 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. Summer 2015

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An Unconventional Kind of Puppy Love Warren Harding is the only President to own an English Bulldog such as Penny.

28 4 Legs & a Tail

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Karen Sturtevant

s a lover of all creatures finned or fuzzy, I’m the one who: stops the car to help a turtle find her way across the road; called 911 after finding an injured bird; after luring a runaway dog into my yard and finding its dad, reprimanded him on being a responsible animal owner (quite a feat for an introvert). The natural sequence of events would lead me down the path to a dog rescue in my hometown, to work with my all-time favorite canine breed: the English bulldog.

I answered an ad to care for rescue dogs, little did I realize what adventure lay ahead. I’ve always been a bit left of center when it comes to the mainstream. Don’t get me wrong, I love Labradors, poodles, and beagles as much as any other middleaged, empty nester. But, the bulldog - the wrinkles, droopy eyes, respiratory problems, steadfast determination and open checkbook ownership - that’s the dog for me.

I’ve studied them, stalked them, and dreamed that one day I would have my own. Mike, my fiancé, and I do not share a mutual opinion on animal - human compatibility. We compromised with two sister guinea pigs and two Russian tortoises.

This decision sat well, my need to connect with animal energy was fulfilled, until…

September 2014, I got a call from the founder of the rescue. She’d just arrived home with two filthy, scared, smelly females. Did I want to meet them? I was in her driveway in less than 10 minutes.

I have been unfaithful to Mike ever since, openly having an affair with these slowmoving, comical, snoring loves.

The Vermont English Bulldog Rescue is based in Williston, Vermont. Founder, Dawna Pederzani, opens her home to neglected and surrendered English bulldogs. She fosters them with nutrition, supplements, care, socialization, and most importantly, patience and love. I’ve seen dogs madly scratching, riddled with bacterial infections, transformed within weeks into comfortable, loyal pals. Puppy mill breeders with their systems and minds full of junk, detox to show their true selves with shiny coats, curious natures and wiggly butts. Dogs with so-called aggression issues turned into lap dogs. Eye infections, malnutrition, injury and broken spirits are healed one act, one day, at a time.

Call it a need to nurture or fill a void, (poor Mike), I officially adopted one of

those smelly girls, a former puppy mill breeder.

Penney and I share an unconventional partnership. I’m unable to bring her to work, don’t feel right about crating her, and won’t set her up to fail by having free reign of our house. How would I keep my fiancé happy while meeting Penney’s needs? An offer we couldn’t refuse!

During the week, while I’m at the white collar salt mine, Penney stays at Dawna’s house, enjoying the company of her kind and human companionship. After work, I get to see my furry little one. We talk about our day, go outside for playtime, eat dinner and have a cuddle-fest. Tucked into her soft, comfy bed with chewy bone in reach, I say my goodnights and slip out the door.

She spends the night under Dawna’s care, and we repeat this throughout the workweek. Weekends are a special treat for both of us. Like a divorced parent allowed child visitation on the weekends and holidays, I pick her up on Friday night and deliver her by bedtime Sunday.

Quirky, but Penney’s not complaining.

We have the best of both worlds. I open my heart (and checkbook) to keep her safe and happy. She’s repays me, shedding on my work clothes and my once spotless car interior. She finds the softest spot on the blanket we are sharing, and learns that life beyond the puppy mill cage can be pretty great.

I’ve learned that all rescues are different. Rules, fees, commitments, and requirements vary. Adopting a dog from VEBR is a serious deal: references are checked, home visits planned (really!) and heart connections must be made.

Pre-Penney, I had planned, one day, to bring an adorable English bulldog puppy into my home. Adopting an older dog never entered my mind, until I met Penney. Her snoring, sporadic energetic trots and go-with-the-flow attitude makes me think this chapter of my life with Miss Penney, was written long ago. With local shelters over capacity and the Internet full of dogs needing homes, rethink the puppy idea. Your new best friend could be closer than you think!

Find your special creature companion, whether it’s soft, scaly or fluffy, to share this journey we call life.

Karen Sturtevant is a freelance writer, works at the nutritional supplement company, FoodScience Corporation, is editor-in-chief and contributing writer of Vermont Bride magazine, and the author of two children’s books, The Adventures of Gert & Stu and Zippy too and The Rainy Day Adventures of Gert & Stu and Zippy too. She volunteers with Green Mountain Animal Defenders and Vermont English Bulldog Rescue. She shares her home with two guinea pigs, two Russian tortoises, fiancé, Mike and her beautiful English bulldog Penney. www.VermontEnglishBulldogRescue.com

Summer 2015

4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN! What's 5 Things Are Different?

Dog’s foot, Dog’s Tail, Missing Tree in Background, Rocks, Frisbee

Did You Know…

All clams start out as males; some decide to become females at some point in their lives.

All pet hamsters are descended from a single female wild golden hamster found with a litter of 12 young in Syria in 1930.

An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.

An electric eel can produce a shock of up to 650 volts.

An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

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Dog Days of Summer Northern VT & NH

One Lost Dog During the American Revolution Emergency Care!

Big Foot Sighting in Vermont

Thoroughbreds Retiring to Vermont Cats Need Vet Care Too