4 Legs and a Tail-North VT-Spring 2016

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Mud Season 2016 Northern VT

Wild Cats In Our Neighborhoods America’s First Seeing Eye Dog Tax Tips For Pet Owners Battling For Elephants

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

Rabbit Ears, Dog’s Ear, Dog’s Foot, Coloring on Dogs Muzzel, Green Egg Missing

Inside 4 Legs & a Tail W J Y M R S V O X X O E B L E

V O A H I R A V I E V N L K C

Y E O N V O Q I F T H Z A Y U

F U Q D E J P N Y I M O C W T

D E D U C T I O N S Z X K T E

BLACKBEAR CHICKENS DEDUCTION ELEPHANT FERAL GOAT

D E V R D H Q T Y A K A B I R

S R F X S N U T T R L Q E U V

W N K U Q Q N C L A Y M A W V

J Y E X B A J F K P G U R E K

M U G K H A P E D P H O T I V

A H I P C G V R W H N E A N Y

PARASITE PUG SQUIRREL VETERANS WOODCHUCK

N B E C P I S A W V R N Z T M

T L Z H K G H L V A C A Z U H

E R P U G G Z C N S A Z G G B

L E R R I U Q S Y X Z M T I U

This Centaur Cooking Dinner

A Fowl at the Matinee Movies

A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a chicken sitting next to him. “Are you a chicken?” asked the man, surprised. “Yes.” “What are you doing at the movies?” The chicken replied, “Well, I liked the book.” source: http://jokes4us.com/animaljokes/chickenjokes.html

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

2. Bark for Life

Have your dog help bring an end to cancer

A new Film by Vermont Youth focuses on the threat of Elephant and Rhino Extinction

Vermont Therapy Dogs, on duty at Fletcher Allen Health Care

Shake up your routine, Cross Training has numerous benefits

3. Vermont Battles for Elephants

4. Alternatively Speaking: Food as Medicine, Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA 6. Play with Me, Steve Reiman 7. Cross Training for Equine Fitness, Jessica Stewart Riley

Pg. 3

9. How Can You Help Feral Cats in Your Neighborhood?

Amy Woodman-Dubuc -

Humane Options for Feral Cat populations

Pay up or “Something Bad Might Happen”

Pet, Egg Layer or Broiler: Great information for your chicken’s health

Despite his problems, a determined Pug makes his place in one home

Pamela Levin, DVM

Make Spring more fun and interesting for your dog with these enriching activities

Sara Blackmore, CPA

10. The Seeing Eye – The origins of the oldest existing guide dog school in the world 11. The French Fry Protection Racket, Mark Carlson 12. Backyard Chickens 101, Susan Dyer DVM 15. Benedict, Jim Mayor

16. Helping Our Pets Age Gracefully The Noninvasive Way, 17. Spring Scratch & Sniff, Mike Robertson Pg. 10

18. Can Fluffy and Fido Fetch You Savings on Your Tax Bill?,

20. Attis, John Peaveler - A young, street-wise pup helps rescue dogs in Kuwait 21. Green Mountain Animal Defenders: Advocates for All Animals,

Jenny Joczik

Let’s Avoid Conflict; Follow these guidelines

Tips to avoid the confusion

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22. Living with Black Bears

24. The Confusing World of Pet Parasite Prevention, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM 25. A Sweet History (That’s a Little Squirrely), Tanya Sousa

The odd, but true origins of Maple Sugaring

4 Legs & a Tail catches up with the Easter Bunny

27. A New Technique for Extracting Lower Jaw Canine Teeth or

What I learned at the 2015 Veterinary Dental Forum, Sandra Waugh, DVM 28. A Moment with a 4 Legs & a Tail Celebrity

4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.116 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com Spring 2016

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: Heather Young, Scott Palzer,

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.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 1

Bark For Life H

Last year at Bark For Life.

ave you ever missed participating in a Relay for Life event in your community because your dogs were not allowed? Well, guess what?! Since our canine caregivers can be such a vital part of patient survivorship, it is our pleasure to invite you, to join us in celebrating them, at a local 2016 Bark for Life event! The American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life is a noncompetitive walking event for dogs and their owners that raises funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer!

This is a special year for Bark for Life. Our Chittenden County VT event has grown so much, and is so popular, that we have had to add a new event in Franklin County VT! We are adding so many news things to our events; from cool theme ideas, activities for both you and your canines, more food and special treats, and so much more! If you are a business that would like to become a sponsor for either of these events, we have opportunities for you as well!

Bark for Life is committed to honoring the lifelong contributions of our canine support team; and so we invite everyone to join us in celebrating our canines and to bring an end to cancer. It is time to build your FIGHT BACK team and start fundraising to make this year’s Bark for Life event is a huge success! To register your team, please visit www. relayforlife.org/barkchittendenvt or www.relayforlife.org/barkfranklinvt; or contact Jennifer Clark at 802.872.6323 or jennifer.clark@cancer.org for more information or if you have any questions!

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

Jennifer Clark | Community Manager, Relay For Life New England Division | American Cancer Society, Inc.

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Spring 2016

Vermont Battles For Elephants IVORY FREE VERMONT ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF A TEN-MINUTE FILM MADE BY VERMONT YOUTH THAT HIGHTLIGHTS THE THREAT OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO EXTINCTION

vory Free Vermont, an all-volunteer organization working to outlaw the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn in Vermont, is pleased to announce the completion of a ten-minute film about the dire threat of extinction that these two iconic species face. Made by local youth, Vermont Battles for Elephants casts a poignant and compelling spotlight on this critically time-sensitive conservation issue.

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Spearheaded by twelve-year-old Taegen Yardley of Charlotte, Vermont Battles for Elephants is a collaboration with Vermont Commons School, the college preparatory school located in South Burlington. Taegen is an integral member of Ivory Free Vermont and its efforts to pass H.297, a bill that would outlaw the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn in the Green Mountain State. Taegen and other students at the school, together with Mark Cline Lucey, the chair of the social studies department who is also a filmmaker, have created a powerful and heartfelt film that articulates why these gentle giants must be saved. According to Mark, “When my student Taegen came to me with the idea to make a short film in support of bill H.297, I was thrilled at the opportunity to combine my concern for wildlife with my love of filmmaking.” And according to Taegen: “We have created this short film to help raise awareness about both the conservation and humanitarian reasons as to why it is so important to ban the sale of ivory.

Vermont must pass bill H.297, without exemptions, and become the first state in New England to stand up for these iconic species and help save them from extinction. We will keep fighting until we have closed all of the loopholes in each and every state.”

More than 35,000 elephants are killed every year—that’s one every fifteen minutes—for their ivory. Between 2010 and 2012 alone, poachers slaughtered more than 100,000 African elephants (about a quarter of their entire population on earth). A rhino is slaughtered once every eight hours for its horn. Research has firmly established the links between terrorist organizations and the poaching of these wild and wonderful creatures.

This amazing film, Vermont Battles for Elephants, is gaining international traction and has been tweeted by the Embassy of the Republic of Gabon to the United States; and New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak, who successfully championed the first complete ivory and rhino horn sales ban in 2014. It has also been shared by Richard Ruggiero, chief of the Division of International Conservation at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. To view the film please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRM6y3XnezE. For more information about this critical situation, the Vermont bill H.297, and how you can support it, please visit: www.ivoryfreevermont.org.

Spring 2016

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Alternatively Speaking: Food as Medicine Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

E very Friday night in our house is movie night. The night is special partly for the movie, but also because we usually make fish sticks and boxed mac and cheese for

dinner. We don’t eat “junk” food that often but as an occasional treat it’s fine. We mainly eat fresh whole foods that have not been pulverized into new shapes, dehydrated, or preserved with all kinds of chemicals. We know that the better we eat, the more our bodies will have the resources with which to maintain their health and avoid illness.

We typically do not think like this when feeding our pets. Ever since the first grain company realized they could feed pets as well as livestock, our pets have been eating dry processed food. Convenience and low expense made it popular, and having a “complete and balanced” meal without having to think, sealed the deal. While the dog food corporations tell us this food is the best nutritionally and should be fed exclusively, holistic practitioners do not agree. Processed diets contain high glycemic starches and use synthetic nutrients to replace all the real food value destroyed in processing. These nutrients are a shadow of the biological value of the proteins, antioxidants, vitamins and enzymes found in fresh foods. Also, every species has evolved specific digestive and metabolic processes in order to eat the diets they have evolved on. To replace meat, bones, cartilage, and organ meats with processed starches and grains can stress systems, especially over years of feeding.

Not every pet can eat a perfect fresh diet all the time. But since most pets eat processed foods most of the time, it is important to include diet as part of their medical management when illness occurs. Hippocrates says, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” but my favorite quote is a Chinese proverb “The man who takes his pill but neglects his diet wastes his doctor’s skills.” Diet is not only a tool to prevent illness, but it can help treat it as well, or if left unaddressed, can impair treatment.

Using diet as part of a medical plan: Most ancient medical philosophies dictated including or avoiding certain foods based a person’s body type or condition. Many cultures advocate eating or avoiding certain foods during illness. Modern science provides insight into how we can support stressed tissues by feeding them better.

Combining all of these sources of knowledge together as part of a medical plan is a large part of the holistic medical approach.

Button was underweight and had diarrhea from the day she was brought home as a kitten. She did not play and slept all day. Conventional approaches including antibiotics, probiotics, dewormers, canned food, dry food, and prescription food were tried. Nothing seemed to work, her weight dropped and her labwork showed signs of liver stress. India, a 6 year old Bengal cat, also struggled with diarrhea due to a rare parasite. With treatment his condition did improve until he was about 3 years old.

He began having diarrhea again, despite antibiotics, prescription food, and medicaContinued NEXT PAGE

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Spring 2016

tions to address nausea, he dropped from 17 to 14 ½ pounds over a year. He was not active, grumpy and hunched from a crampy tummy he did not want to play or be with the family. For both of these cats, the answer was a quality commercial raw diet. These raw diets are very plain, minimally processed meat and none of the vegetables or starches. For both the response was immediate, diarrhea stopped and they returned to being thriving kitties.

Button grew and became a proper terror, while India gained 2 pounds and was his happy content self again.

Veterinary prescription diets were not the answer. Prescription foods are designed to help an impaired organ or body system function, mainly by reducing nutrients difficult for the body to manage, impaired by illness. They let the body work around its problem more than trying to feed the impaired body as a whole.

These diets can be extremely useful in taking some work load off the body until an acute crisis has passed. But for chronic illness, the limitation of normal nutrients may not be ideal for all patients. In many cases, even those involving organ failure, supporting the organs so they can heal while feeding the body ideal nutrients can be much better. For Button and India, a diet much closer to their natural one to allowed them to thrive. Raw diets are not for every pet, but just as we take care to feed the exotic animals in the zoo exactly what they eat in the wild to keep them healthy, understanding how our domestic dogs and cats work internally to digest and process nutrients gives us valuable information regarding their ideal diet.

Food therapy is not just for digestive complaints. Veterinarians have been treating skin allergies and urinary issues with food. Any body organ can be supported by providing the nutrients those systems need most to thrive.

The debate over ideal feeding will always exist, despite the debate on content, no one disputes that food does play a significant role in health. Holistic exams evaluate your pet right from the start, identifying weaknesses and match them up with the diet that supports health while avoiding feeding things that are stressful to their biology. When illness does occur, consider nutrition a valuable tool to help treat disease and promote healing. After all, you are what you eat!

Dr.Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she practices both conventional medicine and surgery, as well as several alternative modalities, including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Her associate Dr. Betty Jo Black brings classical homeopathy to the practice. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com Spring 2016

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With many of our family and friends returning from a long war, the Vermont Department of Corrections has been addressing the needs of our veterans, thanks to the efforts of the Blue Star Mothers of Vermont. According to program coordinator Terri Sabens, inmates at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT began training service dogs last winter to assist returning military personnel. As a former volunteer with Soldiers Angels, Sabens spent more than a year reaching out to the Vermont DOC. “PTSD is a widespread issue that many of our veterans face. There are just too many related suicides that can’t be ignored.”

Mazie was the first puppy to be raised by inmates through the BSMVT pet program. She was placed with her veteran last Mother’s Day. He was taking 16 prescriptions for his PTSD when he got her, to date he has cut that number down to ZERO prescriptions that he depends on for his anxiety. He says it’s all because of her.

Thank you Blue Star Mothers of VT and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Most of all, we extend our gratitude to all veterans who have served our country. www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

"Dr." Jordan, a Therapy Dog of Vermont plays ball with young patient.

Play With Me

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Steve Reiman

ily, her half-sister Jordan, and I were on duty in the old Emergency Room of

Fletcher Allen Health Care. A nurse who knew us well welcomed us and asked if we would help her with a patient. These are words I love to hear. Then she said “He is in X-ray right now and I’ll bring him over after we know the damage.” Soon thereafter, I could hear him coming.

The little fellow had lost the end of the fingers in a car door accident.

The nurse was holding him up by his injured hand. He was screaming, kicking, hot, and sweaty. As she brought him around a corner, he saw my two German Shepherds looking straight at him. Lily had a small Frisbee in her mouth and Jordan was holding a tennis ball. Both were dressed in hospital scrubs, with stethoscopes, pagers, and FAHC photo ID badges identifying them as Dr. Lily and Dr. Jordan. As the boy saw them, he immediately stopped screaming and stared intently at the two dogs in costume.

Jordan placed her tennis ball at her feet and kicked it to the little boy. It was a trick she loved to do to get people to play with her. The boy watched the ball roll slowly to his feet and I dropped to my knees and asked, “Will you play with my dog?”

The boy, taken completely by surprise by the unexpected visitors, slowly reached down and pushed the ball back to Jordan.

The dog picked up the ball, chewed it a few times, put it on the floor again, and kicked it back to the boy. During their little game, the nurse and her assistant sewed up the boy’s injured fingers. The nurse thanked me saying that she had no idea how she was going to stitch up the boy until we came along. This photo was taken later in the waiting room.

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To Learn more about joining the team, visit www.TherapyDogs.org Spring 2016

Cross-Training For Equine Fitness Jessica Stewart Riley - Randolph Center, VT

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ingwork can be boring. There, I said it. And I am a person who prefers rid ing in the ring to riding on the trail. But when done on a regular basis, it can be easy to lose your motivation for working on the fundamentals within the confines of the 4 walls of the arena or ring. We begin to do the same patterns or exercises over and over again: walk both directions, trot both directions, then canter both directions with a circle or two thrown in for some excitement. Unfortunately, just like heading to the gym and jogging on the treadmill for 45 minutes every day, this is only minimally beneficial for our horses. It does help them to maintain a low level of fitness, but it does not aim to improve things like coordination, balance, proprioception (awareness of self), cardiovascular endurance, and physical strength, areas that positively influence the horse’s ability to perform the tasks we ask of him with ease and grace.

The best human athletes cross-train to keep their bodies in shape, so why wouldn’t we vary our horse’s training regimen? Two areas I have found especially beneficial for cross-training my own horses are: • In-hand work: stretches and backing • Ground poles, cavaletti, and small jumps In-hand work can help teach your horse correct posture, like engaging his abdominal muscles, lifting his back, and stretching his neck forward, or the correct response for something like bending or moving off the rider’s leg. These types of exercises are especially beneficial because they remove some of the elements of human error that can occur when riding. I like to perform lateral neck stretches, belly-lifts, tail pulls and backing. It’s important not to perform any stretches when the horse’s muscles are cold, so I always save the stretching for the end of a workout before my horse has cooled off completely. One activity that has caused a marked improvement in my own horse’s topline (back and top of neck) and hindquarter muscles, is backing in hand. I started off just backing a few steps each day and have worked up to backing one entire circuit of the arena in both directions. It’s important that the horse maintain a soft and relaxed neck posture and that you give frequent breaks if you see signs of him tiring, i.e. resistance to continue, repeated raising of the head, stressed or anxious facial expression, etc.

Ground poles are another fantastic way to shake up your routine and cross-train in the arena. In my experience, horses seem to enjoy doing exercises with ground poles because they are different, and riders find them interesting and fun. They are incredibly beneficial for loosening the joints of the hind end and teaching the horse to bring his legs further under his body. This in turn enables the horse to raise his back and Continued NEXT PAGE

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engage his abdominals while making movement more efficient and comfortable to ride. Working over ground poles also improves the horse’s balance and proprioception, making performing in their given discipline that much easier.

In time, you can work up to raised poles, cavaletti, and even a small jump. You also don’t need fancy ground poles; 8-10’ long tree limbs that have had the branches removed so there aren’t any sharp edges or even PVC pipes can be used in place of more expensive lumber. PVC pipes do tend to be lighter than a 4’ by 4’ but the most important thing is to make it work for you and your horse!

Most horse people know how important it is to work their horse consistently if they want to have a happy and successful equine athlete, but doing the same thing day after day can get boring and cause a loss in motivation. Changing up your riding routine to include stretching and ground poles is a great way to make riding fun and interesting again, while also benefitting your horse. If you are new to either of these types of exercises, I strongly encourage you to seek the advice of an experienced professional so neither you or your horse becomes injured. If you would like more information on equine fitness, stretching and ground pole exercises, as well as proper warm-ups and cool-downs, there are two books I would highly recommend: Equine Fitness: A Conditioning Program of Exercises and Routines for Your Horse and 101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse and Rider, both by Jec Aristotle Ballou. You certainly don’t have to ride western to appreciate the last book; you just have to enjoy riding! Happy Cross-training!

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Jessica Stewart Riley is and Assistant Professor and the director of the Vermont Technical College Equine Studies Program in Randolph Center,VT. She is a graduate of Johnson State College, UVM, and Vermont Tech, as well as a member of the American Quarter Horse Association Professional Horsemen and an American Riding Instructor Association Certified instructor in Western, Huntseat on the Flat, and Stable Management. www.vtc.edu/equinestudies Spring 2016

How Can You Help Feral Cats in Your Neighborhood?

Amy Woodman - Dubuc

W

hen any of us sees a roaming cat in our

neighborhood, we immediately want to help it. It is a reality of being an animal lover. But before we take action, it is important to take certain steps to ensure we are doing the right thing for each cat. On the outside, cats look similar but in reality, they can be very different, and so their needs and what we should do, is also different.

The first step one must take when a cat is seen roaming, is to identify what type of cat it is. Below are three different categories most cats fall into.

Owned Indoor/Outdoor Cats These cats often return to spending more time outside as the warmer months arrive. An indoor/ outdoor cat may freely approach you and will probably look well fed, with a shiny coat.

Stray Cats A stray cat–a cat who was dumped or lost–is not going to be in as good shape as an indoor/outdoor cat. A stray may have a dirty, scruffy coat, be thin, injured, shelter would be a good alternative, and a humane approach, but and/or flea infested. If a cat shows up suddenly and doesn’t look it is actually quite traumatic for them. Feral cats do very well outgreat, that’s a pretty good sign that they may be lost or dumped. side, they know how to cope with the elements and fare as well outdoors as other wild animals do. Feral cats are not socialized Feral Cats to people, so living in cages or in forced proximity to humans Unlike pets and strays, feral cats will not approach you. You is very stressful. Shelter living is not a humane option for feral won’t be able to pet a feral cat unless it is in extreme distress. A cats. feral cat may even look pretty good as they have an impeccable In the past, many municipalities attempted to manage feral ability to maintain their health. They could be a little fluffier cat colonies by killing them. In the end, this doesn’t work. The than your housecat, especially in the winter, because they grow cat population simply rebounds. Even if cats are removed from a thick coat. You will often see them hanging around abandoned a colony, the resources (such as a rodent population and shelter) buildings or moving from point A to point B. They will never go will remain, and a new colony will move in. toward a human.

Alley Cat Allies, an organization that studies and works on issues related to feral cats, reports, “Scientific evidence indicates Now that you have identified the type of cat you are dealing that removing feral cat populations only opens up the habitat with, it is much easier to know what action you need to take in to an influx of new cats, either from neighboring territories or the best interest of that particular animal. born from survivors. Each time cats are removed, the popula If you find an owned indoor/outdoor cat,check with neightion will rebound through a natural phenomenon known as the bors and see if the cat you are seeing belongs to someone. If you “vacuum effect,” drawing the community into a costly, endless find the owner, leave the cat be.

If you find a stray cat, check with neighbors to see if she cycle of trapping and killing.” belongs to anyone. If she keeps trying to come into your house The Upper Valley Humane Society offers spay and neuter or meowing, bring her to the shelter that serves your town. It services for feral cats. is helpful to call ahead in order to ensure there is space in the If you find a feral kitten, the strategy is a little different than for feral adults. The earlier feral kittens are removed from the intake area.

If you find a feral cat, the best thing that you can do for free- colony, the better. There is roughly a 16-week window in which roaming adult cats in your neighborhood is a process called Trap it is possible to socialize feral kittens. You may be able to bring Neuter Return (TNR). As part of a TNR program, feral cats are the litter to your local humane society which will provide care, trapped using a humane trap such as a Havahart, then spayed or medical attention, and socialization for the kittens until they neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and returned to the place can be adopted into a home. they were found. The sterilization keeps them from breeding If you have an unmanaged feral cat colony in your neighborand the vaccination helps them stay healthy. hood, call your shelter and they may be able to discuss options It might seem that trapping feral cats and bringing them to a with you and your neighbors.

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THE SEEING EYE Early History

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n 1927, a young man named Morris Frank (1908-1980) learned of an article about dogs being trained as guides for blinded veterans of World War I. Frustrated by his own lack of mobility as a blind person, he was inspired to write its author for help. Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886-1946) was an American training German shepherd police dogs in Switzerland, and when she received Morris Frank’s letter, she agreed to help him. He promised he would return to the United States and spread the word about these wonderful dogs. On June 11, 1928, having completed instruction in Switzerland, he arrived in New York City, proving the ability of his dog, Buddy, by navigating a dangerous street crossing before throngs of news reporters. His one-word telegram to Mrs. Eustis told the entire story: “Success.” The Seeing Eye was born with the dream of making the entire world accessible to people who are blind.

Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 29, 1929. In 1931, the organization relocated to Whippany, N.J., because the climate in the northeast was more suitable for training dogs.

On June 5, 1965, the cornerstone was laid for the current headquarters in Morris Township, N.J. Renovations to the Washington Valley headquarters were completed in 2013. The 60-acre campus is home to the administrative offices, student residence, veterinary clinic and kennels. In 2001, a breeding station was built on 330 acres in Chester, N.J., which houses the adult breeding dogs and puppies until they are 8-weeks-old. An additional training center is located in downtown Morristown.

Pioneers from Past to Present The Seeing Eye is the oldest existing guide dog school in the world and continues its role as a pioneer in the guide dog movement. The Seeing Eye has played an integral part in shaping public policy guaranteeing access and accommodation to people who use service animals. From developing a computer information system that calculates the suitability of every Dates and Locations The Seeing Eye was incorporated in dog in the colony to become a breeder, to funding cutting edge research in DNA

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Morris and Buddy Street Crossing: The famous New York City street crossing was captured shortly after Morris Frank and Buddy returned from training in Switzerland.

sequencing and identifying genetic markers for degenerative eye disease, The Seeing Eye is a research leader in canine genetics, breeding, disease control and behavior. The organization is a founding member of the Council of U.S. Guide dog Schools and a fully accredited member of the International Guide Dog Federation.

Spring 2016

The French Fry Protection Racket Mark Carlson

M

y dog is running a protection racket.

For those of you who don’t remember the old gangster films of the 1930s, a protection racket is where a couple of thugs go to some small business and tell the owner that if he don’t pay them some money on a regular basis, ‘Somethin’ bad might happen to his business.’ one will pay any mind.”

Well, my Labrador has apparently been watch “Um…okay. But you remember, the Guide ing late-night Turner Classic Movies.

Dog school says you’re never supposed to have But he don’t want no money. He’s after French people food. It’s not good for you.” It was weak, fries. but it was all I had.

Musket is a retired Guide Dog, but when he was “Oh,” came the silent but determined voice working, I took him everywhere, including resfrom under the table. “I see. Well, if you want to taurants. As an Assistance Animal he had access take the chance…” to all public places. He always behaved as a well “No!” I almost blurted out. “I didn’t mean trained dog. He never caused any trouble. He that. I’m responsible for your health. And was welcomed in restaurants from coast to fries aren’t healthy for you.” coast. Patrons were impressed by how quiet

I swear I heard a snort. “And that double and sweet he was and often commented bacon chili cheeseburger with extra mayo on this. Sometimes they didn’t even is health food? What would Mommy say?” know he was there until it was time He had me there. “You win,” I said, to leave and he poked his big head finally wilting. I had no choice. As bad as out from under the table. “Hey, I his ‘accidents’ might have been, I couldn’t didn’t even know he was down there!” have him telling Jane about my little culiWell, that’s what an Assistance Dog is sup- Soon the order arrived and was placed nary indulgence. “Okay, but just a few.” posed to be. Unseen. before me.

“That’s fine, pal. Nothin’ bad will hap Okay, fine. But there’s a minor hitch, And that’s when the thug under the pen.” in my case. First of all, Musket, like most table made his move. “Hey pal. Nice place After I’d paid up, the meal went fine.

Labradors, loves food. Right? Nope, not you got here. I wouldn’t want nothin’ bad But you know the lesson. ‘Once you’ve even close. I think, given a choice between to happen to it.” given in to them, you’re theirs for life.’ At breathing and food, he’d give up breath- “What do you mean, Musket?” I was least I got to eat my burger in peace. ing. When I took Musket into a restaurant, trying to be calm, but I felt a tiny chill. The Until the next time. his nose immediately began to twitch. pressure was being applied.

It buzzed so fast it sounded like a hive of “Well, things happen, y’know? I mean, Note: this is humorous satire. I don’t angry bees. suppose somehow something bumped encourage anyone to give dogs food at the He knew this was a magic place where your elbow just as you were picking up table, and certainly not people food. So stop nice people brought you food for noth- your cup of coffee. That would make a dialing the ASPCA and PETA. And for dog’s ing. Of course, like any other kid today, he mess, wouldn’t it?” sake, don’t call my wife! knew nothing of paying for food. I never “Yeah, I guess it would. I’ll have to be let him have the credit card. Food just careful, huh? Heh, heh.”

Originally published in San Diego Pets appeared.

For a long moment, no sound came Magazine May 2013 After being led to my table, I told from under the table but the buzzing Musket to go underneath and lie down. He of a cold nose. “Yeah, but no matter how did this right away. Then I sat down and careful you try to be, you can’t anticipate When not visiting his in-laws in South discussed my order with the waitress. “By everything. I might, ah, ‘accidentally’ Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of the way,” I usually said, “my Guide Dog is grab the tablecloth with my teeth and pull his time in North County, CA with his wife, under the table, so if you feel something it down. Just think of the mess that would Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron. licking your ankle, don’t freak out.” make.”

He is an award writer and an aviation his Most often the waitress was enchanted Now I was really sweating. I tried to torian, with numerous articles and books

by Musket and asked if he would like some eat, but the food had lost all its flavor. “I including his latest, Confessions of a water. Once that was settled, I ordered my think I understand what you’re saying. So Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and food. I’m a typical American guy. I like what do I do?” works with Saffron, and is a member of hamburgers. Since I like to keep things “It ain’t much. Really, you’ll never simple I ask for French fries rather than a notice it. Just ‘accidentally drop a few several aviation, maritime, and veteran baked potato or rice. fries on the floor. You’re a blind guy, so no organizations. www.musketmania.com

Spring 2016

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Backyard Chickens 101 Dr. Susan Dyer, DVM - Bradford, VT

Some Quick Facts

Many backyard chickens live approximately 8–10 years They have only three good productive years 70% of the cost of raising chickens is spent on feed In monogastric animals, like chickens, energy comes mainly from carbohydrates and fats since fibre-containing cellulose cannot be digested White eggs are laid by chickens with white ear lobes, while brown eggs are laid by chickens with red ear lobes.

B

ackyard chickens are becoming more and more popular as production animals (meat or eggs) and pets. Many households start with a few pullets (birds under 1 year old) or chicks, but the flock grows as time goes on. There are many considerations to owning chickens, and I will address a few here.

There are many different breeds of birds and assessing which breed would suit your family or farmstead is ideal. There are many online resources to learn traits of different breeds of birds. For example, if you are going for a breed that is going to live for a long time, then a breed that is less of a production animal will definitely live longer. On the other hand, production birds are bred to maximize their potential output of eggs or meat in the shortest time possible. Most high production egg laying birds are limited to about 3-4 years old before their usefulness has gone. Whereas, a lesser producing bird may live for up to 10-12 years.

Shelter must be provided from predators and weather extremes. Good ventilation is a must to prevent respiratory disease but must be balanced by preventing drafts. The substrate on the floor of a chicken coop should be kept clean and dry. Overcrowding is a common problem in the winter time when the birds are confined for extended periods of time. Birds that are overcrowded will break eggs and peck on each other causing illness and damage. Much of this can be alleviated by providing enrichment and adequate space. Enrichment can consist of heads of cabbage suspended from the ceiling for pecking at, supplementing with live food like crickets and mealworms, and giving a dust bath of sand in a litter box.

Many birds are housed with access to the outdoors, whether free range or confined to a pen. Birds with this access are at risk of predators or developing mites, avian influenza, infectious laryngotracheitis or intestinal parasites, to name a few. This is not to say that they shouldn’t have access, but as a provider for your birds, it is good to know the risks involved with different sorts of housing.

Given the multitude of diseases that birds can acquire, I do not recommend getting birds from other private homes. There are many contagious diseases (a few mentioned above) that can affect your entire flock that the other party may not even be aware that they have. This can be due to a “carrier state” in their own birds where they’ve been exposed to a milder form of a disease or perhaps they survived a bout as a younger bird. This can allow an apparently healthy bird to enter your flock and cause Continued NEXT PAGE

12 4 Legs & a Tail

Spring 2016

an outbreak of disease. I recommend hatching your own chicks or purchasing day old chicks from a hatchery rather than acquiring from a local private party, unless these will be your only birds.

The food offered must meet the requirements of the different life stages as developed for the poultry industry:

Life stage

Age

Ration

Egg layer

Day 1 to 6 weeks

Starter

7–18 weeks

Grower

19–70 weeks

Layer

Day 1 to 3 weeks

Starter

4–7 weeks

Finisher

Broiler (meat)

Feeding commercial pellets is recommended as the basis for a diet. Many diseases are made worse by dietary deficiencies. So, feed a pelleted diet as the majority of the diet and supplement occasionally with other products like ground or cracked corn, millet, barley or table scraps.

Birds that are housed on the ground rarely require grit supplementation, but those that are indoors only, or on hard packed dirt, will need a coarse sand or gravel to allow them to digest their food properly. A litter box with sand for birds housed indoors can also allow them to have more natural behaviors in dust bathing and if they have mites, allowing them to mechanically remove the parasites.

Chickens can make lively and entertaining pets or can be a production animal for meat or eggs or both. Feel free to consult with your veterinarian or local feed store for feeding and housing tips.

Dr. Susan Dyer sees chickens, dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets at Bradford Veterinary Clinic in Bradford, VT, 802-222-4903. www.bradfordvet.com

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Spring 2016

Benedict B

Jim Mayor - Orleans, VT

enedict was welcomed into our household three

years ago, when he was about nine, after an intermediate stop at Frontier Animal Society in Orleans, Vermont. Presumably, his previous home had acquired a new baby and, for whatever reason, they felt a dog was no longer welcome. Ironically, many years ago when our first child was born, we had nine dogs and three cats. This undemanding and seriously sweet pug was welcomed with open arms into our current household.

As far as we can ascertain there has never been an aggressive thought in Benedict’s mind. The closest thing to a demand has been his desire for sleep-time, preferably near another warm body, even better if it was human. He did have one quirk, an inclination to scratch his ears. Assuming it was an allergy, we have avoided the four most common allergens in dogs – wheat, beef, corn, chicken – and that pretty much has solved the problem. Therefore he not only has different food, but special treats. Thankfully,todaytheseareeasytoobtainandnotexpensive.

Soon after Benedict joined us, he developed corneal ulcers. Visits to our friend, Dr. Hoy the ophthalmologist with Vermont Veterinary Eye Care at Peak Veterinary Referral Center in Williston, Vermont, resulted in several eye medications. Unfortunately, both eyes were also developing cataracts and he was not a candidate for cataract surgery.

Eventually, Dr. Hoy removed one of his eyes and performed a corneal graft on the other. The vision in his remaining eye is essentially zero, but that does not dampen Benedict’s spirits.

You can enjoy all of those heart-warming Internet videos of companion animals caring for blind comrades, but none of our companions seem to be moved in the slightest by Benedict’s disability. Even-tempered Ranger will occasionally go so far as to growl menacingly, when Benedict gets close to invading Ranger’s personal space. Exuberant Teddy has been known to knock larger Benedict aside in his rush to go somewhere or other, as if a fraction of a second had real meaning.

Dr. Hoy had warned us of the pugs’ propensity for eye problems. We feel that Nature has compensated for that by giving them hard heads, because wherever he goes he lowers his head and charges. Well, maybe not exactly “charges,” more like “intrepidly marches.”

Although his perception of obstacles does not appear to be strong, one “thunk” and he alters course. He has adapted to our outdoor environment well, but we did put up a small fence to limit his roaming to relatively clear areas, but the fence does not limit larger Ranger and more agile Teddy. He has developed an aptitude, possibly assisted by some limited vision, for locating the ramp back into the house, a skill particularly useful at night.

As far as we can tell Benedict has three favorite things in life – eating, sleeping, and cuddling. Eating, of course, is always joyously anticipated. Thankfully, his “I’m hungry” vocalization is more like a whine. His ear-piercing bark is limited to the occasional delays in his food preparation, but as soon as he gets his eye medication he knows that food is on the way and is patient and quiet.

Sleeping on his favorite chair is always a joy to watch. No amount of extraSpring 2016

Benedict catching up on some Zzzzs.

neous noise disturbs him, making us wonder about his hearing, which has never been sharp. His, typically-pug breathing noises, most noticeable while he sleeps, eats, or scrounges for a potential smidgeon of an eatable, are mellifluous and lovely. Speaking of his favorite chair, his lack of vision has never impaired his ability to locate and get up onto it, or the sofa, for that matter.

No matter who is sitting on the sofa or his favorite chair that is the place he wants to be most of all. As soon as he feels he is next to a human he snuggles down and instantly falls asleep. His sleep is always accompanied by those precious grunts and snorts and snuffles. And it’s nice to know that if you have to get up for any reason, he will be there when you return, exactly as you left him.

What a shame it would be for any human baby (or human adult) to grow up missing this!

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Helping Our Pets Age Gracefully The Noninvasive Way T

Dr. Pamela Levin, DVM, CVA, CCRT

hanks to the art of modern medicine, we are all living longer and healthier lives. Fortunately, this is also true for our companion animals. As a result of living longer, older pets often develop a number of conditions such as arthritis and obesity, which can cause pain, affect mobility, and alter their quality of life.

In veterinary medicine, we now have a number of noninvasive options such as physical rehabilitation, laser therapy and acupuncture, in addition to conventional medical therapy, to help our pets live their best and most comfortable lives.

Physical rehabilitation adapts human physical therapy techniques and equipment to increase function and mobility of joints and muscles in animals. Using tools such as physioballs, balance boards, therapeutic floor exercise, and hands on techniques such as massage and joint mobilization, we are able to improve joint range of motion, muscular strength and endurance in our older companions and those recovering from orthopedic or neurologic surgery.

Therapeutic laser therapy (also known as “cold laser”), is another very helpful tool that has been shown to enhance healing and promote pain relief. Laser therapy uses light energy to penetrate deep tissues to promote cellular changes. The result is improved cellular energy and circulation, as well as enhanced healing and pain relief. This noninvasive treatment is very well tolerated by pets and can be highly effective in treating chronic conditions such as arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, as well as acute injuries (strains and sprains), wounds, and hot spots. Laser therapy is available at some veterinary offices and has interestingly been used for many years by athletics trainers in many major professional sports teams such as the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots!

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Acupuncture is an ancient art that has been used in both humans and animals for more than 3000 years. Acupuncture is based on the belief that the healthy body is a perfect balance of “yin and yang” or Qi. When there is illness or pain, there is an imbalance in the body’s energy.

Acupuncture seeks to restore this balance by the use of needles applied to specific points on the body. From a western perspective, research has shown that acupuncture triggers a number of changes in the spinal cord and brain that lead to the release of a number of chemicals such as endorphins- which are the body’s natural “pain killing” hormones.

Acupuncture is performed by veterinarians who have been trained and certified. It is very well tolerated by most pets and is usually painless. Many pets even fall asleep during treatment. The needles are typically left in place for 20-30 minutes and treatments are usually done weekly for 4 weeks to start and then tapered as needed for maintenance treatment. Many long term acupuncture patients are seen every 3-4 weeks to manage their conditions. Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of disorders, but is most commonly used for painful conditions such as arthritis, as well as neurologic conditions (weakness, disc disease, degenerative spinal cord disease). Acupuncture is not a “cure- all” but we do see positive results in about 80% of patients.

We now have a much better understanding of pain in animals and have many noninvasive options to approach its treatment. The best approach is most often a combination of several different modalities, but the goal is always the same - to promote the well being of our pets and help them to live long healthy active lives.

Dr. Pamela Levin is a veterinarian certified in Acupuncture and canine rehabilitation. She is available for consultations at Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists in Williston, VT. www.bevsvt.com Spring 2016

Spring Scratch and Sniff

Occasionally, lightly spray different areas of the house and the dog’s toys. This also can provide enrichment for older dogs that spend a good amount of time in bed.

Infusing the bedding with the odor can bring back memories of an adventurous youth!

FIND SPECIFIC ITEMS Our last project has the potential to be productive and profitable. We will harness and focus your dog’s amazing ability pring in finally here. We eager- to discriminate a single scent out of hun ly await the smell of flowering trees and dreds. A few possible applications: • Locate shed deer and moose antlers freshly turned garden soil after a mostly • Find a certain tree species. Basswood sterile winter. for example, for a wood carver.

To your dog, the arrival of these clas- • Find rare wild edibles. Wild Ginseng, sic Spring smells is like a kaleidoscope of for example. odor. Where we recognize a dozen scents, • Locate grubs in your garden for you the dog is noticing hundreds. Imagine the to remove. intensity of a Spring morning for your dog!

Here are a few fun and useful skills to make this season, as well as Summer and Fall, more interesting and rewarding for you and your dog.

Mike Robertson - Plymouth, NH

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CREATE A SCENT BOX Not so much a skill, but rather a way to enhance the reward of an already smelly earth. When vegetation is disrupted it releases odors into the air. This is the principle of police tracking dogs, who target on not only the scent of the perpetrator, but also the smell of freshly disturbed ground where the person has stepped.

For this project you will simply rough up a track of ground for your dog to sniff in. A rototiller makes a great scent box, but your dog will be perfectly happy with one created with a lawn rake.

For added fun, perhaps for less nosedriven dogs, bury dog biscuits in your scent box.

To preserve the intrigue, only allow the dog to enter the scent box by permission.

OUTSIDE-IN-A-BOTTLE City dwellers may find it difficult (or illegal) to create a scent box outdoors.

While the city provides its own variety of unique scents, it’s often more rewarding for your dog to gain access to the smells of nature. This is where creating a spray bottle of “Outside-In-A-Bottle” can really make you your dog’s best friend.

Here’s how: • Fill a quart Ziploc bag with mixed vegetation from the park.

• Crush the bagged material and transfer to a pot with three cups o distilled water • Simmer the “vegetable stew” on low heat for an hour, and then let cool overnight.

• Strain the “stew” through cheesecloth into a clean spray bottle.

You now have Outside-In-A-Bottle.

Spring 2016

The applications are endless; luckily the base training technique is nearly the same for all.

Here is a brief overview of the training steps. You’ll want to consult a trainer in order to really help your dog excel in using his nose.

• Decide how you want your dog to alert you to having found the scent (AA - Alert Action). Sitting, laying down, barking, etc.

• Associate the alert with the specific scent (SC). Present the SC and ask the dog for the AA. Reward once accomplished.

•

•

•

•

•

When your dog is presenting the AA immediately upon smelling the SC and without your verbal command, you can move onto the next step.

With three small boxes, place the SC in one and leave the other two boxes empty. Tell your dog to “find it” and lead him to each of the boxes.

When your dog reaches the box with the SC, he should present the AA. If not, you may give the AA command.

Eliminate the need for the verbal command as quickly as possible.

When your dog is successfully locating the correct box and presenting the AA without command, move your SC outdoors and repeat the previous step.

Gradually increase the hiding distance of the SC. Be cautious not to move from one step to the next too quickly. For some dogs this process can take months.

Most importantly, take this change in seasons to have fun with your dog!

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 www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

Can Fluffy and Fido Fetch You Savings on Your Tax Bill?

I

Sara Blackmore, CPA

’m a self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady” and do my fair share of

referring to my kitties as my babies. While there’s no doubt that most of our four-legged, furry friends are dependent on us for their basic needs, when it comes to the Internal Revenue Service, claiming your pet as a dependent doesn’t fly. Exemptions for dependents aren’t the only way to reduce your taxable income, though, and there are a few ways your pets may be able to provide some tax savings.

Service Animals – If you or one of your dependents require a service animal, such as a seeing-eye dog or therapy animal, the expenses of buying, training, and maintaining that animal are qualified medical expenses eligible for a deduction. However, you’ll have to clear certain thresholds (medical expenses in excess of 10% of adjusted gross income from those under age 65) to claim the deduction.

Moving Expenses – While we consider our pets family, the IRS takes the view that they are personal property. As harsh as that may sound, the upside is that the costs of moving your furry friends when relocating your human family may be tax deductible. If your moving costs qualify for the moving expense deduction, you can include the costs of relocating your pets, too.

Pet Rescue Programs – Many animal shelters are nonprofit organizations. If you volunteer with such an organization to provide a pet foster home, some of your expenses for doing so, such as pet food, vet bills, and supplies, may qualify as charitable contributions. In a 2011 case, the U.S. Tax Court ruled in favor of a taxpayer and allowed her deduction of $12,068 in expenses she incurred while caring for feral cats at her home. You can also claim a write-off for vehicle mileage driven while providing services to a charitable organization at the rate of $0.19 per mile.

Professional Pets – Some activities involving pets and animals are actual businesses. If you’re showing or breeding dogs, racing horses, raising agricultural animals, or engaging in other similar activities with a profit motive, your expenses incurred in doing so are likely deductible. Even if you engage in these types of activities as a hobby, your expenses may still be eligible for a deduction, although they are treated as an itemized deduction and are subject to certain limits.

If you think your pet-related expenses might be eligible for a tax deduction, I encourage you to consult with your favorite tax professional before writing them off, as most deductions require specific documentation and are subject to various thresholds and limits.

18 4 Legs & a Tail

Sara (Hoehn) Blackmore is originally from Hartford, VT. She is a graduate of the University of Maine with a Masters in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a Senior Accountant with ATKG, LLP and resides in San Antonio.

Spring 2016

Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 19

I

ATTIS

t was spring of 2005 when I first saw him, standing in an empty lot. Black and white body, long black ears, his face innocent and sad, a look of fear etched on his young features. As a naive but committed new animal rescuer, I passionately wanted to get him off the streets, to help however I could. I had a profound ignorance of dogs, but a burning desire to learn and to save this species that had so recently touched my life. I followed him a few times, observing his fear of people, the quiet little overgrown fields where he sought safety.

Once he stood across the street from a feral cat and barked at her, too afraid to approach a cat to take its food. Another time, in my own folly, I managed to sneak up on him while he slept, thinking perhaps, if I could get well inside his flight zone I might be able to break through to him. He awoke with a start when I was about three feet away and he ran off barking. From that encounter on, I too was his enemy. Someone in his neighborhood tried to burn him out of a patch of reeds, and his fear grew.

While I was away for a couple of weeks, a colleague received word that he would be poisoned or shot if he wasn’t removed, so she borrowed a trap and started trying. We were all so green then. First she caught chickens, but finally she caught him, little more than a frightened 9 month old puppy, six months after he had first been seen living on the streets outside of Kuwait City, Kuwait.

I returned from my trip elated that he had been caught and ready with a name: Attis. I simply knew in my heart that he and I were meant for each other.

His training was complicated at first and entailed never leaving my side at all until he learned to trust me, then we worked on basic obedience. My training was much more profound. First I learned his breed: English Pointer. Then I learned his nature: timid around others, desperate for companionship, anxious to please, fiercely inquisitive. As our relationship evolved, so did my career, progressing from building and operating a shelter in Kuwait under the incredible leadership of then E.D. Ayeshah Al-Humaidhi, and moving into an ever increasing role in animal capture, rescue, and population management.

It turns out that scared little puppy had an incredible gift, and it wasn’t 20 4 Legs & a Tail

John Peaveler - W. Fairlee, VT

Attis on duty-John and Attis pose for a picture during dog management operations at the Abdaliya Nature Preserve in Western Kuwait, 2014.

Attis at hospital- Attis on a visit to the U.S. Army military hospital at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, 2015.

pointing at birds. I had been doing dog population surveys for a pilot program in Ahmadi, Kuwait, and taking him for runs around my work hours. As we ran, I kept him on a close recall and observed his behavior, particularly when we approached strange dogs. Time after time I watched him walk into a group of feral dogs and perfectly display the submissive traits needed to avoid confrontation and peacefully engage their seeking or curiosity system. Attis was exactly the tool I needed to count dogs.

No street dog would ignore a strange animal in their territory, and 999 times out of 1,000 (probably more, we caught thousands) he would walk away unscathed having provided me with an opportunity to count and observe every animal in a given territory. He was bitten twice that I recall, though never seriously. It was as if his time on the streets connected him to other street dogs and he could say to them “hey, I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there, but life’s not all bad. Let’s play.” He literally saved hundreds of dogs by building their trust in a country where animal abuse is commonplace, and then transferring that trust to me so that I could catch them and take them out of the hostile desert and into the shelter.

His trust, however, extends only to me. Once, my well-meaning wife sent him with the groomers and he got loose, running around a strange neighborhood until I arrived, using my vehicle siren to recall him as I regularly did in the field. I don’t believe any dog has ever run faster than he did when he heard and then saw my truck, and I have seen this dog outrun every challenger flat out in his prime. He was never groomed again.

He’s older now, and tired. Years of hard work in the desert have taken their toll, but as I look at him, I remember the puppy, the professional. And I remember how we found each other. I didn’t know he was a pure bred dog. I just loved his spirit, his innocence, and his floppy ears.

Our relationship didn’t start because I went looking for a particular dog or a particular breed of dog. I just found a dog and in each other we found our best friends and colleagues. Long live Attis!

John Peaveler is an Animal Welfare Consultant with over ten years experience working with all types of animals on three continents. He lives with his wife and two children in West Fairlee,Vermont and continues to work and write at home and abroad.

Spring 2016

Green Mountain Animal Defenders: Advocates for All Animals Jenny Joczik

G

reen Mountain Animal Defenders (GMAD) is Vermont’s largest nonprofit, volunteer-run animal protection organization. We have members and supporters all over the state, and because we rely on volunteers, we are always looking for more!

Our efforts to improve the well-being of all species of animals through education, outreach, and collaboration include: • Programs for dogs and cats, including spay/neuter, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), pet food drives, and the building of feral cat shelters and insulated dog houses.

• Wildlife protection, which involves support for wildlife rehabilitators by providing cages, medical supplies, bedding, and food, and resources for injured or abandoned animals, as well as humane solutions to the problem of wildlife getting into homes and gardens or damaging property.

• Rescue and rehabilitation of unwanted or abused farmed animals and education about the negative aspects of factory farming.

• A focus on alternatives to the use of animals in apparel, animals in entertainment, and animal experimentation.

GMAD participates in local, statewide, national, and international animal protection programs throughout the year. Our many outreach activities provide life-saving information about cruelty-free shopping, injured or abandoned wildlife, low-cost spay/neuter, lost and found pets, and foster care for cats in need.

Green Mountain Animal Defenders is involved in many events in 2016, including the recent HSUS’s Humane Lobby Day, when animal advocates from across Vermont converged at the Statehouse in Montpelier to promote pro-animal legislation. We also participated in World Spay Day by facilitating local spaying and neutering and by encouraging everyone to prevent animal overpopulation, which reduces animal homelessness and euthanasia.

In tribute to the Great American Meatout, our volunteers visit local college campuses to raise awareness about the benefits of a plant-based diet, which helps animals and the environment and improves human health and wellness.

GMAD also takes part in the World Week for Animals in Laboratories movement, with the aim of preventing or reducing the use of animals for dissection or product testing. GMAD promotes the use Spring 2016

of cruelty-free cosmetics and advocates Wendy Doyle caught her baby, against trapping wildlife for their skin "Baby" kickin' back and fur.

Since 1983, Green Mountain Animal Defenders has been promoting, protect- To learn more about us, become an ing, and advocating for animals and intern, volunteer, or make their welfare. We are grateful for all of our a donation, please visit wonderful volunteers, interns, and sup- www.GreenMountainAnimalDefenders. porters who have helped us accomplish org, contact us at info@gmad.info, write so much. With your continued support, to us at GMAD looks forward to a very productive GMAD, PO Box 4577, Burlington, VT 05406 2016! or call 802-861-3030.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

Living With Black Bears B

lack bears are found in most forested portions of Vermont. They generally rely on wild foods such as berries, cherries, beechnuts, and acorns to survive.

However, as humans move into bear habitat, bears can become attracted to other foods such as birdseed, garbage, and pet food. You can help the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department maintain a healthy bear population by reducing the chance you will attract bears to your property.

Bird feeders, barbecue grills, garbage, and dirty campsites can become appealing food sources. They are also deadly — the bear could be struck by a motor vehicle in a populated area, injured or shot by someone protecting their property, or have to be destroyed. When a bear is being fed (directly or indirectly), its life expectancy is likely reduced.

Black bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans. However, a bear that has been fed by humans loses this shyness and can become a potential danger to human safety. When this occurs, there is often little recourse except to destroy the bear.

Let’s Avoid Conflict; Follow these guidelines to decrease the chance of conflicts with bears: Dispose of garbage frequently. Store it in clean, secure containers (top latched, tied, or chained). Don’t put garbage out at the curb the night before pickup.

Feed pets indoors.

Keep barbecue grills clean and stored inside.

Don’t feed birds from April 1 to December 1 if you live in an area where there are bears. If you see or suspect a bear near your home, remove your bird feeders for at least four weeks or until the bear is no longer in the area.

If you have livestock, dispose of animal carcasses immediately by burying or incinerating.

22 4 Legs & a Tail

Support protecting and enhancing natural food sources in areas away from human habitation. For more information about how you can help enhance bear habitat, visit the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website. Please report any black bear incidents you may have had. To report a backyard visit or damage caused by a bear, go to the Fish & Wildlife website for Wildlife Programs and fill in the form Black Bear Incident Reporting.

Above all, REMEMBER A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR! Visit these websites to learn more about black bears: Be Bear Aware: www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/bebearaware.html Continued NEXT PAGE Spring 2016

The black bear, Ursus americanus, is the smallest of the three bear species found in North America. It is the only bear found in Vermont. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s management objective for black bears is to maintain a population that is between 4,500 and 6,000 animals. The highest numbers of bears can be found in the center spine of the Green Mountains, from Massachusetts to Canada, and in the northeastern part of Vermont. The best habitat for black bears in Vermont is a mixture of coniferous trees, hardwoods, wetlands, and variation in terrain. Because they need dense cover to escape danger, the wary and elusive black bears prefer rough and wooded habitats.

Coniferous trees provide concealment and protection from severe weather. Stands of beech and oak, along with wetlands, are important feeding areas for bears. Live weights for adult female black bears in Vermont average between 120 and 180 pounds. In contrast, male black bears are generally larger, weighing 300-400 pounds. Black bears have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. However, their eyesight is not as well developed.

Bear Wise: www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Bearwi se/index.html Help is Available Persons suffering bear damage should contact the nearest Vermont Fish & Wildlife office or local state game warden prior to taking any control action on their own. Fish & Wildlife personnel will recommend appropriate measures or control strategies that can lessen the problem.

Producers of bees/honey, corn, fruit orchards, and livestock interested in learning more about black bear damage, its identification, what to do if damage occurs, and where to go for assistance should contact their local Vermont Fish & Wildlife local game warden: www.vtfishandwildlife.com/about_staff.cfm USFWS

Spring 2016

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The Confusing World of Pet Parasite Prevention M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM - Vermont Veterinary Medical Association

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pring is almost here (really!) and with it comes parasites of all sorts that can infect your pet. Most dog and cat owners understand the importance of keeping their pets safe from parasites such as heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks. However, pet owners are now being flooded with ads for generic products and these new brands are creating confusion. In addition, some of the other, better known products have disappeared leaving everyone even more confused. Exactly what parasite control products should you be using for your pets?

Uncertainty among pet owners about which products to use and economic factors are fueling the confusion. Generic heartworm preventives can now be found in many human pharmacies and online pet pharmacies are offering six to ten different medications to the public. Frankly, it is hard for a pet owner to know which is best for their pet! Some of these medications are also effective against intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. A few of

24 4 Legs & a Tail

these preventives are also now using compounds to treat tapeworms in addition to the other parasites. It’s even possible to get heartworm preventive that also includes a means to help control fleas!! There are collars, topical, oral medications, and powders available online for flea and tick prevention, too.

Products on the internet may be less expensive, but it is so important for you not to fall for advice in online forums, that recommend odd-ball alternative methods of protecting your pets against any parasite. These sites often misinterpret data or are actively promoting products that have not gone through proper testing and safety research. Remember, the internet is not policed for accuracy: anyone can make a claim, whether it is true or not. Some of these parasites can be fatal to your pet, you don’t want to trust an unproven or possibly fraudulent preventative. There have been instances of fraudulent products sold online under brand names that you trust, and for this reason the drug companies will not stand by their guarantees of efficacy if their product has been purchased online. In addition some products for dogs can be fatal to cats.

Veterinarians follow these trends every year. They couple this information with their understanding of the parasites’ life cycles, knowledge of your pet’s specific medical conditions, the reputation of the drug manufacturers and your region of the country. Certain parasites are less common in some areas of the country and your pet’s risk factors vary quite a bit. These risk factors also include exposure to parasites through trips to dog parks, hiking or camping, interstate travel or even the presence of other animals in the household. Veterinarians are best equipped to help you understand exactly which product provides the best parasite protection for your pet and your family.

This is an area of pet care where we have made great advances, but bad advice and a confusing market have created unnecessary risks and vulnerabilities.

Trust your pet’s healthcare advice to your family veterinarian and team. They know your pets’ health status, lifestyle, and risk of various parasites and are in the best position to give accurate advice.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of more than 330 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888.

Spring 2016

A Sweet History (That’s a Little Squirrely)

I

Tanya Sousa

’m not sure how many people know where maple sugaring originated, but many would guess we learned it from the Native Americans. They wouldn’t be too far off. Various tribes known as the Eastern Woodland Indians, the most famous of this group being the Iroquois and Cherokee nations, were seen by Jacques Cartier tapping maples in 1540. Settlers soon discovered the Native Americans had a really good idea and began tapping trees on their own.

But like most stories and histories, the answer is never that simple. There’s a surprise twist.

When author and professor Brend Heinrich of the Department of Zoology, UVM decided to study some long-reported but unsubstantiated animal behavior, it lead him to vast early spring maple groves in Maine and Vermont. He also researched maple tapping practices and myths of Native American peoples such as the Iroquois. He found the answer to the riddle - discovered the genius who made the sweet and lucrative business of maple sugaring possible today. It was a creature most people in the maple sugaring industry consider a scourge and an arch-enemy. None other than the tiny red squirrel!

It’s true. The animal that chews through plastic tap lines on occasion to get sap, may feel he has every right to do so, because he’s the very reason we have the delicious taste and the money it brings in the first place.

The Iroquois have an ancient myth about the red squirrel’s role in the discovery.

A youth in the woods saw a squirrel biting off the tip of a twig and licking the sap. The youth, curious, tried it too. And so, a grand discovery was made.

The details of how Native Americans realized the watery sap could be thicker, sweeter, even turned to sugar is also a credit to the smarts and behavior of this small, nimble rodent.

Continued NEXT PAGE

Caws 4 Paws Adopt-A-Thon & Pet Expo A

howling good time is in store for all as JD Green of Froggy 100.9 presents the 2nd Annual Caws 4 Paws Adopt-A-Thon & Pet Expo from 10-3 on Saturday, June 4 at the BOR in Barre. This is a must for all dog lovers and future dog lovers as the event will play host to a variety of rescue groups as well as local humane societies. Last year’s event was wildly successful with more than 1,000 attendee’s.

According to organizer and popular morning radio personality JD Green, “This has been a dream of mine for a long time.” A dog lover himself, Green is a regular contributor to the Sunday magazine of the Times Argus, sharing exploits of his long time buddy, “Buddy.”

The monthly column, entitled “Beyond The Dog” is based on a book project that is currently in the making. Learn more by visiting www. beyondthedog.com

JD Green makes a friend at Caws 4 Paws.

Spring 2016

In addition to adoption opportunities, the one day event will feature obedience training and behavior demonstrations as well as a wide variety of other educational canine programs. A large number of vendor booths ranging from veterinarians to pet food distributors will also be on hand to answer questions. The Caws 4 Paws will also feature guest speakers as well as K-9 demonstrations.

Admission will be on a donation basis with plenty of free parking. For more information contact JD at FroggyBreakfastClub@ gmail.com

www.4LegsAndATail.com 25

Heinrich, in 1989-1990, watched red squirrels “systematically harvesting sugar and syrup from sugar maple trees,” according to his paper, Maple Sugaring by Red Squirrels. He studied twenty-three sites in the two states and saw the very behavior he’d heard about and read about.

Squirrels pruned trees by snipping buds with their teeth, snipped off the tips of other branches, or slashed v-shaped wounds in the bark of sugar maple trees with their teeth. The odd thing was that the squirrely critters didn’t lick the sap right away. Instead, they left the scene and returned hours later after the sap had oozed onto the bark. The water had mostly if not all evaporated, and left these small furry maple sugar producers with their own syrup or sugar, to lick and eat away.

Heinrich also noticed amazing similarities to the traditional Native American method of harvesting the sap. They would hack a V-shaped wound in the tree to release the flowing sap – just like the V-shaped wound, but larger, made by the red squirrels.

Are you frowning at what I’m trying to suggest? A pesky rodent is responsible for a wonderful human achievement? Someone is calling the behavior of this scourge, a mere rodent “smart”? Imagine you’re one of the maple producers reading this.

Red squirrels are one of the tiny percentage of all animals that store food for winter. Humans are also part of that small percentage. They place their stores in piles called “middens” or stuff their stashes under logs or in hollow places. Yes, they forget where they store these sometimes, but we misplace our car keys all the time, don’t we? They also put things in “safe spots” and forget where that spot is.

When stores of food run low in certain years, the clever squirrels learned that sap could be useful. At some point, they even figured out, that there is much more energy and taste to be had by getting the water out of sap, so the good stuff is left behind. These rodents are good stewards of the forest as well. They start harvesting the sap and sugar as early as January, but around the first of March Heinrich could see the V-shaped marks on the trees increased in number, but never too many. They took what they needed and the tree wounds were well healed by July with the trees no worse for wear.

Who knows? Maybe those red squirrels see those plastic tap lines and think that after generations, we recognized their gift to humans, such a hairless and strange animal with hardly any survival skills at all. Maybe they think we are returning the favor by giving them easier access. Hey, I wouldn’t put anything past them!

Perhaps when they chide us for entering the maple groves with their chatters, screeches, whistles, chirps, rattles, growls, foot stomping and tail flicking, they have the right to ward us off. Seems they were the first in the maple business after all!

Tanya Sousa is a published author of many magazine articles and several children’s picture books. Most recently, her environmental novel, The Starling God, made the short-list for the national “Green Earth Book Awards,” in the Young Adult Fiction category. www.RadiantHen.com www.forestrypress.com

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Spring 2016

A New Technique for Extracting Lower Jaw Canine Teeth or

What I learned at the 2015 Veterinary Dental Forum E

Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS - Windsor, VT

very year, starting in 2006, I have attended the Veterinary Dental Forum, a three day long conference of lectures and laboratories on veterinary dentistry. What fun!! Last year there were 1,000 veterinarians in attendance. There are 6 different lectures going on all day, 2 half-day labs for learning new skills in a hands-on way, and a hall full of vendors plying their wares. And everyone is talking about dentistry. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions, learn new things, and buy new equipment at a (slightly) discounted price. Every year I learn something that helps me do a better job as a veterinary dentist.

This past November I was doing a lab in extracting broken root tips. Some teeth have long but thin roots and it can be a challenge to extract the tooth without breaking the root. Sometimes breakage is inevitable if the tooth has loss of structure. During the lab one of the instructors casually mentioned a new technique for extracting the lower canine tooth that would lessen the possibility of fracturing the jaw during the extraction. Why would the jaw fracture? The lower canine tooth is a long and large tooth that is set inside a long, narrow bone.

A tooth is attached to the jaw by a ligament (called the periodontal ligament) which goes from the surface of the root to the bone of the tooth socket. In a healthy tooth this ligament is 3600 around the root and goes from the top to the bottom of the root. In order to break down the ligament the tooth socket is opened on one side by removing bone and a tooth elevator is used to rotate the tooth around the long axis.

The tooth is also tilted by this procedure. Only after the periodontal ligament is broken down can the tooth be extracted.

Imagine a see-saw. The further an object sits on the board from the middle, the further that object will travel as the board tilts. If the tooth is the board and the elevator is causing the tooth to tilt around its middle, then the end of the root can push on the surrounding bone and break it. Yet some tilt is necessary. The problem is how to get the periodontal ligament to break down all the way to the bottom of the root without breaking the jaw.

This cat had previously fractured the jaw down the middle of the jaw (green arrow). The fracture had healed but the jaw was crooked. The lower left canine tooth was preventing the cat from closing her jaw and she was brought to me to extract the tooth. The canine tooth is quite a long and large tooth and it is in a fairly narrow channel of bone. As the elevator is placed along the tooth and starts to tilt it outwards (yellow arrow), the other end of the tooth swings in the opposite direction and pushes against a very narrow bit of bone (red arrow). Even if one is very careful it is possible to fracture the jaw at this point, and if the bone is diseased and soft it then becomes more likely to fracture. So, what to do? Shorten the length of the tooth and then use the techniques for extracting broken root tips to remove the root.

The tooth is going to be shortened twice. The crown (top of the tooth) actually can get in the way of the elevator, forcing larger movements. So the first thing is to cut off the crown of the tooth. Then a “moat” is drilled around the top of the cut end with a very small bur (1/4 round). This creates a space for the elevator. The root is then elevated just enough to allow it to be cut across again leaving the bottom half.

Another “moat” is drilled around it and the last bit of root can be elevated with very small movements.

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.

Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

A Moment with a 4 Legs and a Tail Celebrity Easter falls on March 27th this year. All over the world Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and children will eagerly await the arrival of the Easter Bunny. 4 Legs & a Tail recently caught up with the bouncing bunny.

4 L&T - So what does a rabbit have to do with the resurrection?

EB - Honestly, not much. But, since Easter is in the spring and a season of re-birth, why not a rabbit? Back in the 13th century, pre-Christian Germans worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostre was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of our high reproduction rate. By the 1700s I was very big in the Pennsylvania Dutch country!

4 L&T - How about the eggs? You don’t lay eggs, so whose idea was that?

EB - Decorating eggs goes back more than 700 years when eggs were dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. The Easter egg was also a byproduct of Lent, as many families would give up eggs during those fast days, which ends with Easter. That’s why I sub-contract with chicks and oversee the egg thing.

4 L&T - Speaking of eggs, what’s your favorite Easter Egg Hunt?

EB - I love ‘em all. Washington DC is a blast! Did you know that the tradition there actually started at the US Capitol, but we got kicked out after a mishap on the lawn and some lawmaker wrote the Turf Protection Act because of it. Fortunately, President Rutherford B. Hayes invited us to The White House South Lawn, where the tradition continues to this day.

4 L&T - One of our favorite Easter songs is “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.” Was it Gene Autry who gave you that name?

EB - The one and only “Singing Cowboy” who ended up with a top ten as I was bouncing down the bunny trail? The song was actually written in 1949 by a couple of guys, Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, who asked Gene to record it in 1950. They were also the Some historians note that First Lady Dolley Madison originally ones who named a certain snowman Frosty. suggested the idea of a public egg roll.

4 L&T - Do you know any famous people born on Easter?

EB - I’m the Easter Bunny, not The Stork. Ok, how about this: Blues great, Muddy Waters was born on Easter in 1915; John Ratzenberger was born on Easter, in 1947 (as Cliff Clavin of Cheers he never delivered mail on Easter Sunday); Harry Potter’s best friend actress Emma Watson was an Easter baby in 1990; and actor/comedian Paul Rudd was born on Easter in 1969.

4 L&T - Since you’re the Easter expert, any tips for our 4 Legs & a Tail readers?

EB - This year, over 90 million chocolate bunnies and 16 billion Jelly beans will be sold. Keep the phone number of your dentist close by.

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Spring 2016

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

Rabbit Ears, Dog’s Ear, Dog’s Foot, Coloring on Dogs Muzzel, Green Egg Missing

Inside 4 Legs & a Tail W J Y M R S V O X X O E B L E

V O A H I R A V I E V N L K C

Y E O N V O Q I F T H Z A Y U

F U Q D E J P N Y I M O C W T

D E D U C T I O N S Z X K T E

BLACKBEAR CHICKENS DEDUCTION ELEPHANT FERAL GOAT

D E V R D H Q T Y A K A B I R

S R F X S N U T T R L Q E U V

W N K U Q Q N C L A Y M A W V

J Y E X B A J F K P G U R E K

M U G K H A P E D P H O T I V

A H I P C G V R W H N E A N Y

PARASITE PUG SQUIRREL VETERANS WOODCHUCK

N B E C P I S A W V R N Z T M

T L Z H K G H L V A C A Z U H

E R P U G G Z C N S A Z G G B

L E R R I U Q S Y X Z M T I U

This Centaur Cooking Dinner

A Fowl at the Matinee Movies

A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a chicken sitting next to him. “Are you a chicken?” asked the man, surprised. “Yes.” “What are you doing at the movies?” The chicken replied, “Well, I liked the book.” source: http://jokes4us.com/animaljokes/chickenjokes.html

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Mud Season 2016 Northern VT

Wild Cats In Our Neighborhoods America’s First Seeing Eye Dog Tax Tips For Pet Owners Battling For Elephants