4 Legs & A Tail 2016 Rutland Summer

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Dog Days of Summer Western Vermont 2016

A Bizarre Tale from Baseball’s Madison Bumgarner Inspiration from the Father of Our Country Why Your Cat Needs a Dentist Hail to the Pooch A Hollywood Look at Horses

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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2. When Dogs Fly

Get ready for a summer of fun at Lake Bomoseen

The Northwood public pool wraps up summer with dogs

A reason why your cat may be finicky

Renal disease affects 1 in 3 geriatric cats. Spot the signs sooner rather than later

3. PoolFest

4. Feline Tooth Resorption, Farrell Campbell, DVM

5. Summer Fun Without Pesky Fleas 6. Pet Allergies: A Problem We're Itching to Solve, Michael Tanneberger, DVM 7. Kidney Disease in Cats, Catherine MacLean, DVM 8. Alternatively Speaking: Homeopathy - Little Doses with Big Effects, Anne Carroll, DVM - As Rufus discovered, not every ailment requires a pill

Pg. 7

9. Create a Tick-Safe Zone - They're Back!

Tips to protect you and your pets 10. Are You Helmet Tough?, Jessica Stewart Riley

Pg. 13

Why more western riders are making this smart choice

How one American Pit Bull works her person

A tale to share this Fourth of July

The tale of a retired couple and their One Old Dog

What coyotes are saying when they howl

12. Lights, Camera, HORSES! A look at horses on the silver screen 13. Meet Biscuit, Vermont's Arson Dog, Tim Goodwin 14. Preparing Your Home for Sale with Pets What pet owners need to know before the FOR SALE sign is posted 15. Five Tips for Getting More Bacon, Audrey 17. A Dog on the Battlefield and the Character of George Washington, Kate Kelly 18. Of DINKS and DROODS, Justine O'Keefe 19. Translating the Song Dog, Jaymi Heimbuch 21. Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Wonderful World of Animal Idioms, Mark Carlson 22. Hail to the Pooch, Tim Hoehn When will a dog hold the title of President?

23. Presidential Pets, Michael Nadeau

A look at some four legged residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

of famer Madison Bumgarner

You don't need to be an experienced birdwatcher to enjoy the sights

24. A Rabbit With More Than Just a Lucky Foot Baseball legend Vin Scully shares an unbelievable but true tale from future hall

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25. Dear God - How one little girl coped with the loss of her beloved Abbey 26. West Rutland Marsh, Tim Goodwin 27. A Feline Friend (and 18 Wheels) Companionship can be found in unusual places 4 Legs & a Tail Volume R.216

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn

P.O. Box 841

Senior Editor: Scott Palzer

Lebanon, NH 03766

Office Manager: Beth Hoehn

603-727-9214

Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff, Monica Reinfeld, Kate Haas

TimH.4LT@gmail.com Summer 2016

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 Western VT. 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

When Dogs Fly? Tim Goodwin

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“

ey, you know what you should do?“ When I hear those words come from my business partner’s office I never really know what’s coming next. It could be anything from. ”Take it easy,” to “Let’s travel to a magazine publishers meeting in Saskatchewan to hear the latest trends in mobile media platforms geared towards the Andriod user in late spring.”

But, this time it was something fun!

“Why don’t you find the folks that run this event where dogs try to see how far they can jump off a dock into water. I believe there’s one in the Rutland area.”

So with a quick online search I found Jeff Leonard of Rutland, Vermont. Jeff runs Green Mountain Water Treatment Company and his passion has been competing with his three dogs in distance jumping. To oversimplify it, the dogs sit at one end of a 40 foot dock. The handler goes to the water’s edge. On command, individual dogs run the length of the dock and jump out chasing a soft ball, and they measure the distance the dog flies through the air.

Jeff’s wife Suzanne Ellis is just as passionate about the sport. In fact Jeff and Suzanne’s first date was at a dog jumping competition. I was amazed to hear that Jeff and Suzanne do this with their dogs all year round. There are indoor competitions in Canada in the winter and they just finished doing an Ultimate Air Dog competition for three days in New York.

A few different companies exist that

Jeff, Suzanne & the pups

put on these competitions, traveling to different locations, setting up pools, and having weekend competitions.

Arriving at my appointment with Jeff, I was also greeted by three world class athletes: Mainer (3 yrs 10 mo), Chester (6 yrs) and Wilder (5.5 yrs), two Black Labs and a Golden Retriever. The four of them were very friendly and invited me into their home.

When Jeff started doing this sport with his dogs he was one of only two competitors in Vermont. He had so much fun with it and he started spreading the word. In 2013 he was invited to use a pond up in Killington for competition and training. There they set up Fly Dog’s, opening the event up to anyone. He would run practices to help teach people the sport he loved. Jeff is very proud that today there are over 50 teams in Vermont and the numbers continue to grow.

After 3 years on top of Killington, Fly Dog’s is moving to its new home on Lake Bomoseen. They are now known as Prospect Bay Fly Dogs (check them out on Facebook). They will have events this year on June 26th, July 24th and August 14th. There may be one more in the Fall as well. These are family friendly

events and spectators are even encouraged to come in their boats and watch from the bay.

Jeff runs organized practices on Sunday mornings. Just go to their Facebook page and reach out to Jeff for any info. Do you think your dog might have what it takes? Jeff tells me if they have a “toy drive” and like the water, you may have a competitor in your family.

The competitions are in two stages.

First, all dog’s jump to gauge what range they are in for distance. Then, in the second round the dogs will compete with other dogs that jump in the same distance range. Fly Dogs is not as serious as some of the competitions out there. It really is meant to be a fun event with a family atmosphere. Even if you don’t own a dog, stop in and enjoy the show.

All three of Jeff’s dogs can jump over 20 feet. Less than 20% of dogs that compete, can achieve that distance. Mainer has had one jump of 23 feet 2 inches.

Grab the family and come out for a fun day on the lake and watch some dog’s fly…. Or better yet, bring your pup and learn about a great sport you can do together, and make your bond even tighter.

Check out fast flying action this summer on Lake Bomoseen

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Summer 2016

Rutland County

Humane Society T

he Rutland County Humane Society is excited for their annual Dog Days of Summer Pool Party in late August. Special thanks to Rutland Town for use of the pool and facility.

At the end of August (around the 27th or 28th) the Northwood Pool will be open to dogs. This is a fundraiser for Homeless Pets in Rutland County.

Exact dates are still being worked out. Keep an eye on the Rutland County Humane Society website: http://rchsvt.org/ or call Jen at 802.483.9171 for more details.

Northwood Pool is located on Post Road in Rutland, VT. This pool party will be held on the last day of the year for the pool to be open. After the dogs swim, the pool will be emptied and cleaned for winter. This event will happen rain or shine and is a great family event.

All dogs must be leashed , except when swimming. Dogs under 4 months old and dogs in heat are not allowed. Aggressive dogs will be asked to leave.

Summer 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 3

Feline Tooth Resorption I

t might surprise some readers of this article that cats don’t brush their teeth. Although our feline companions are stereotypically fastidiously clean creatures, they seem to have not picked up the importance of dental hygiene.

As a result, the majority of cats seen in veterinary practices suffer from a variety of dental ailments. All sarcasm aside, dental disease is consistently one of the top 5 medical problems Veterinarians diagnose in our feline patients. Some clinicians may even argue that dental disease is the number one ailment of cats. Of the many dental diseases that affect cats, tooth resorption is the most common condition. Tooth resorption is so common that greater than half of all cats older than three years old will have at least one tooth affected by resorption.

The exact cause of tooth resorption is unknown, but theories supporting an autoimmune response, calicivirus and metabolic imbalances relating to calcium regulation have been proposed.

Tooth resorption lesions typically begin on the outside of the tooth where the gum meets the dental surface and the resorption may extend into the

Farrell Campbell

root, the crown or in both directions. There are five recognized stages of tooth resorption. Initially in stage 1 only an enamel defect is noted. The lesion is usually minimally sensitive because it has not entered the dentin. In stage 2, the lesion penetrates enamel and dentin. When resorption progresses into the pulp chamber (nerve) stage 3 has occurred. In stage 4, large amounts of Lesions can be seen where the tooth meets the gum. the tooth’s hard structure have been destroyed. By the time stage 5 the gums). Tooth resorption may be has occurred, most of the tooth has been diagnosed by visualization or exploring resorbed, leaving only a bump covered with a dental explorer. Chattering of the by gum tissue. jaw, due to discomfort, may sometimes An oral exam by your veterinarian occur when a resorptive lesion is probed, is key to identifying this common ail- but this can occur whenever dentin is ment. Physical examination may show exposed. Therefore, a definitive diagnosis localized or generalized gingivitis (gum of tooth resorption is best established inflammation) which can be suggestive with both probing and dental radiographs of the presence of tooth resorption. Tooth (X-rays) which allows the clinician to resorption lesions may not be visible evaluate the root structure of suspicious due to presence of calculus (tartar) or teeth.

Continued Next Page may be located subgingivally (under

Key Points of Feline Tooth Resorption: 4 The diagnosis is best

established with probing and radiographs.

4 The cause has not been

proven, so extraction is the best treatment.

4 The condition is painful

and should not be ignored.

4 Cats that have one

4 4 Legs & a Tail

affected tooth will most likely have more in the future and need dental radiographs periodically throughout life.

Summer 2016

Besides knowing that tooth resorption is extremely common in cats, it’s also important to realize that this disease is painful. Cats are very careful not to demonstrate pain. Signs of pain can be very subtle in cats with this condition. You might notice more calculus in specific areas of the mouth, gingival inflammation (possibly the only sign), increased salivation or changes in food preferences. Owners typically fail to realize their cat is in pain until after they experience behavioral changes (happier and more playful cats) subsequent to treatment for these resorbing teeth.

The best treatment for tooth resorption is dental extraction. Unfortunately, this is easier stated, than performed.

These teeth are fragile and usually fracture during extraction. Dental radiographs are essential for extracting these teeth because they help the Veterinarian find fractured root fragments. The entire tooth should be removed to avoid infection or other problems.

Farrell Campbell, DVM is a Vermont native who spent a year in California interning at California Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Campbell had direct involvement with specialty services including internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, radiology, ophthalmology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.

She obtained her Veterinary Medical Degree from Cornell University and is on staff at Riverside Veterinary Care & Dental Services. www.RiversideVetCare.com

Summer 2016

Summer Fun Without Pesky Fleas Warm weather means

fun in the sun, but it also means that we will soon see a growing population of fleas. Although pets can get fleas any time of the year, spring and summer are often the worst times of year for these blood-sucking parasites. Besides making your pet miserable and itchy, fleas carry diseases such as plague, tularemia, and feline infectious anemia. In addition, certain tapeworm species are carried by fleas. They can also cause life-threatening anemia in young and debilitated animals. Many dogs and cats are severely allergic to fleas, too.

Preventing a flea problem is much kinder to your pet, easier to do, and less expensive than treating an outbreak.

Fleas on your pet can be prevented and killed by using a topical medication or pill. Even indoor cats and dogs should receive a monthly preventative, as fleas can hitchhike on you or a visitor and you can track the eggs in from outside.

Your veterinarian can recommend a flea product for your pet. It is important to talk to your veterinarian before using any over the counter flea products. Many older products are hazardous to people and pets. Cats are especially sensitive to many over the counter topical products.

Flea collars are hazardous to cats as studies have shown that cats that wear flea collars are more likely to develop cancer in their mouths from ingestion of the chemicals when they groom themselves.

How do you know if your pet already has fleas? You may not see them at all, especially if your pet is extremely allergic (they lick and chew them off) or if there aren’t many fleas present (yet). Look for black sand like material on your pet’s skin, especially found from the rib cage back. Comb a bit of it out, put it on a paper towel and place a drop of water on it. If it turns red, that is “flea dirt”- the digested blood the fleas have sucked from your pet and you‘ve got a flea problem.

It’s critical to understand the flea life cycle in order to eradicate them. Once adult fleas jump onto our pets, they begin reproducing within 24 hours. A single flea can produce 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. These eggs hatch in as little as 5 days and the ones that don’t hatch

immediately can stay dormant for up to 5 months. This is pertinent because only 5% of the fleas in the environment are on your pet! These are the adults you can see-- the remaining 95% are microscopic eggs and larvae that are in the carpet, bedding, hardwood floors, and organic litter in the yard. This means that if you only treat your pet for one month, you are not addressing the much bigger problem of all of those immature fleas in the environment.

Fleas can be treated with a topical product or pill. Your veterinarian, who knows your pet, will help you decide which product is best. These products must be used for a minimum of 3-6 months (most veterinarians recommend year-round protection) to break the life cycle and prevent new infestations. Use flea area treatments that contain insect growth regulators as a means of destroying the eggs and larvae in your home.

Also vacuum well and wash bedding frequently. Remember, you must treat ALL pets in the household, monthly, as well as the environment or you will not solve the flea problem.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 343 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888.

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PET ALLERGIES A

Michael Tanneberger D.V.M.

s any veterinarian will tell you, itchy skin in pets is one of the most common problems we see in practice. While skin disease has many causes, allergies are near or at the top of the list. Notice that I’m talking about itchy skin – not the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes that we people tend to get. In our pets, it’s mostly about the skin.

There are three main categories of allergies: the most common is called “atopy” which is a hypersensitivity to inhaled or absorbed environmental antigens such as pollens, molds, house mites, etc. Next, food allergy can cause itching as well as gastrointestinal signs such as loose stools or vomiting. The third is contact allergy.

This is when the skin reacts to having been in contact with the offending substance (wool for example if the pet has been laying on a wool blanket). Contact allergy is actually very rare compared to atopy and food allergy and it is low on the list of worries.

The bad news about allergies at this point in time is that they still can’t be cured. However, the good news is that there are numerous supplements, shampoos, medications and foods all designed to treat the symptoms and improve comfort. Symptoms include itching, redness, hair loss, infections, hyperpigmentation (blackening of the skin), and tend to affect certain areas to a greater degree.

Feet, axillae (arm pits), ears, and groin are most frequently targets. Secondary yeast infections in the areas of inflamed skin are very common. Think chronic ear infections, or toes that are always red and are being licked all the time. In these situations the problem rarely gets solved unless the allergies and the infection are treated.

Identifying the cause of the skin problem often involves a series of tests. Fungal cultures, skin scrapes (to find parasites), food trials of hypoallergenic diets, and skin or blood tests to identify pesky allergy agents are all part of the discovery process.

Don’t forget the obvious…treat those fleas!!

A single flea is enough to make an allergic dog or cat miserable. And remember – ALL pets in the house must be on flea control, even if only one is itching. We are lucky to have so many easy and effective products on the market. Food trials must be done carefully, meticulously, and for a long enough period of time to provide accurate information. There are many commercially made limited antigen or hypoallergenic diets available and I recommend you discuss these options with your veterinarian. Unfortunately, it seems all too common that well intentioned pet owners are simply doing food trials incorrectly.

Immunotherapy (commonly known as “allergy shots”, but are now also available as oral medication) can be of great help 6 4 Legs & a Tail

A Problem We’re Itching to Solve

when necessary. Pets must be allergy tested first, and owners committed to a long term process, but relief can be obtained against a wide variety of environmental antigens.

For less severely affected pets, fatty acid supplements in the diet can be helpful (use only high quality products) and many great shampoos are available. One point to make about shampoos – so many of us tend to think that over shampooing will dry out the pet’s skin that we are hesitant to use these high quality medicated shampoos as often as needed. Without getting too complicated, most of todays medicated shampoos are “soapless” and do not strip the natural oils off the skin like all the shampoos from years ago.

Oral medications are also very commonly used to control symptoms. A wide range of (but not all!) antihistamines are safe for pets – make sure to check with your veterinarian. Cortisones are widely used when their potency is needed, but they tend to have a lot of side effects. They typically are used for short periods in controlled doses. A newer oral medication that blocks inflammatory pathways in the body is now readily available to veterinarians.

It has none of the side effects of cortisones and I have seen some truly excellent results with it.

Until genetic engineering solves the mystery of allergies, we will continue to make use of today’s products. Use them in combination and use them often and you will meet with your best success.

Dr. Mike Tanneberger grew up in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut before attending veterinary school at Cornell University. Prior to his arrival at Petit Brook, he was a partner in a large mixed practice in Northern, NY Summer 2016

Kidney Disease in Cats Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

K

idney disease, also known as renal disease, is a very common problem in cats. It is mostly older or geriatric cats that are affected, but younger cats can be affected as well. About 1 in 3 geriatric cats have renal disease. One of the most common misconceptions I hear from owners when I discuss renal disease, is that their pet is urinating, so its kidneys are working just fine. In fact, this is not true. Both cats and dogs will typically lose about 75% of their renal function before they show clinical signs. If your pet is not urinating, it is because the kidneys have stopped making urine. The kidneys have failed and can often not recover.

There are two types of renal disease in cats: acute and chronic. Acute renal disease can affect cats of all ages. It occurs when your kitty has an acute/sudden injury to their kidneys. Possible causes include trauma, anti-freeze ingestion, toxin ingestion, an infection, etc. Cats that suffer from acute renal disease are often very ill and may stop producing urine. When urine production stops, the prognosis is usually very poor. With acute renal disease it’s important to diagnose quickly and start treatment as soon as possible. This helps protect the kidneys and gives your pet a better chance of a full recovery.

Chronic renal disease is more commonly seen in middle age to older cats.

It occurs over the course of time as kidneys stop functioning properly. Cats with chronic renal disease tend to compensate for months to years. Mild signs of illness and dehydration will occur before full blown signs of renal disease may be noticed by owners. Chronic renal disease can be an aging change, but can also be caused by a kidney stone, cancer, polycystic kidney disease or other conditions.

Early signs of chronic renal disease include increased thirst and larger wet spots of urine in the litter box, or a subtle amount of weight loss. Cats with moderate to severe chronic renal disease may show decreased appetite, noticeable weight loss, decreased grooming, vomiting, lethargy, paler gums, bad breath, and noticeably increased thirst and urination.

Early signs of chronic renal disease can sometimes be detected when a veterinarian does a physical exam on your pet.

Your veterinarian may notice abnormal kidney size, pain when palpating your cat’s kidneys, or may find stones in the urinary tract. Blood work and a urinalysis Summer 2016

Bella

Bella was very lucky because her owners cared very deeply for her and wanted to give her every opportunity possible.

Over the course of the next six months we resolved Bella’s anemia and keep her kidney values stable. Unfortunately, as is often with geriatric patients, other health issues came up and Bella made her journey over the Rainbow Bridge this March.

Bella’s story is on the extreme end of the spectrum in terms of the care that she needed. Most of my renal patients don’t need such extensive treatments. I have several geriatric cats who were diagnosed with renal disease very early on because of routine senior blood work. In these situations I have maintained them by just switching their diet and monitoring their kidney values every three months.

I also have patients that fall somewhere in between with their treatment plans.

Unless acute renal disease is caught early, it is not a curable disease. However, there are steps that can be taken to make your pet comfortable and give them a good quality of life. Renal disease does not automatically mean your cat has a death sentence. By making sure your pet has annual exams and by doing routine blood work when appropriate, renal disease as well as other diseases, can often be caught early. This gives your pet the chance of a better outcome and a longer, healthier life.

will often shed light on how well your cat’s kidneys are functioning.

If your veterinarian discovers that your cat has renal disease, treatment is often initiated. What type of treatment chosen for your pet depends on how advanced the renal disease is and what the owner is willing to do. Treatment can be as simple as changing your cat’s food, to giving fluids and other medications at home.

Bella, a beautiful 17-year-old Himalayan began seeing me in September of 2015. New to the area the owners were concerned that Bella was not acting like herself. One owner had been away for several weeks and when she returned she felt that Bella had lost a lot of weight and her appetite was diminished. On exam, her gums appeared to be a paler pink than I would normally expect and Dr. MacLean completed her her kidneys felt smaller than normal.

Bachelor of Science from Penn State Blood work showed that Bella was anemic (low number of red blood cells) and had University, her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary elevated kidney values. In Bella’s case her College, and her pet acupuncture anemia was caused by her renal disease. certification from Chi Institute. Her Treatment plans were discussed including further diagnostics with an areas of special interest include general practice and acupuncture. She ultrasound, diet change, giving subcuopened Sugar River Animal Hospital taneous fluids, and medication to help in 2013, and she has been practicregenerate Bella’s red blood cells. The ing veterinary medicine since 2010. owners decided against the ultrasound, Dr. MacLean’s family consists of her but were open to treating Bella’s anemia with medication, doing subcutaneous husband Matt, her daughter Katarina, and their three pets: Jack and Misty, fluids, vitamin B12 injections, changing her diet, and a long list of other things. two cats, and Arrow, a dog. www.4LegsAndATail.com 7

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

L 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 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 8 4 Legs & a Tail

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 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 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

Riley was treated with antibiotics & homeopathy.

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 therapies. 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 Summer 2016

CREATE A TICK-SAFE ZONE

A

fter yet another mild New England winter, pet owners are now faced with the never ending battle against ticks. Local veterinarians have seen historic numbers of cases due to current conditions and flea and tick products are flying off the shelves of pet stores and feed and supply companies. According to the Vermont Department of Health, there are other ways to protect your pets and family using landscaping techniques, to create a tick-safe zone around homes, parks, and recreational areas.

Ticks that transmit Lyme disease thrive in humid wooded areas. They die quickly in sunny and dry environments. Here are some simple landscaping techniques to help reduce tick populations.

• Remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edges of lawns.

• Place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration to recreational areas.

• Mow the lawn and clear brush and leaf litter frequently.

• Keep the ground under bird feeders clean.

• Stack wood neatly and in dry areas.

• Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees.

Landscape Plan For Tick Prevention Tools For Tick Control

•

Bait boxes that treat wild rodents with acaricide (insecticide that kills ticks) are now available for home use.

Properly used, these boxes have been shown to reduce ticks around homes by more than 50 percent. The treat ment is similar to products used to control fleas and ticks on pets; it does not harm the rodents. Bait boxes are available from licensed pest control companies in many states.

•

Other methods for controlling ticks currently under evaluation include vegetation and habitat modification, devices for applying topical acaricides to deer, fungal agents for biological control, and natural extracts that safely repel ticks.

Discourage Deer Ticks that transmit Lyme disease can be found on deer. Actions to control deer movement or populations in communities are usually initiated at the local level in consultation with your state wildlife agency. However, there are actions you can take at your property that may help reduce deer populations around your home.

• Do not feed deer on your property. It may be necessary to remove bird feeders and clean up spilled birdfeed.

• Construct physical barriers to discourage deer from entering your yard.

• Check with garden centers, nurseries, or local extension agents to learn about deer-resistant plants.

Summer 2016

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Are You Helmet Tough?

Jessica Stewart Riley

W

hether its all-around events like western pleasure, or pro-rodeo events like calf roping and barrel racing, helmets are not commonly worn in western competition. The straw or felt cowboy hat is and has always been a major part of the traditional attire. I started showing in American Quarter Horse Association All-Around competitions as a 10 year old, and later became a member of the AQHA Professional Horsemen and trainer of youth and amateur competitors in events like western pleasure, western horsemanship, and trail. Besides young children compet- In 2010 Nicole Aichele and Blondie broke a world ing in leadline and walk-trot, and record for fastest time on a WRPA standard pattern. now youth competitors in English events (because of a rule change in late 2013), it’s fairly rare to see someone wearing a helmet at AQHA shows. This lack of concern for safety that seems to be the norm has always caused me an internal struggle, because my “other” job is as an educator in the Vermont Technical College Equine Studies Program, where safety is our first priority. The focus of our program is teaching the next generation of equine professionals to be the best horsemen possible. Because of this, we require all riders to wear an ASTM-SEI approved helmet at our facility when mounted, regardless of the discipline they are riding.

Recently there has been a lot of buzz on social media about helmets in the western part of the equine industry. Champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor made a splash at the 2014 National Finals Rodeo by thundering down the alley and bursting into the Thomas and Mack arena in a helmet. She went on to win that go-round of the competition and also become the 2014 Women’s Pro Rodeo Association World Champion Barrel Racer. There have been numerous articles and interviews with Fallon where she talks about experiencing a life-threatening head injury, and how that motivated her to start promoting helmets in barrel racing. Another professional barrel racer, Nicole Aichele, started wearing a helmet after she learned about traumatic brain injuries in sports like football, snowboarding, and skiing in a high school class she was taking. She decided that it was just too much of a risk not to wear a helmet in such a fast and potentially dangerous sport. She started wearing a helmet by choice and became known as “the helmet girl” on the rodeo circuit. Years later, after receiving large amounts of fan mail from young barrel racers who had been made fun of for wearing helmets, she decided to start the #HelmetTough campaign to help eliminate the stigma of helmets in western competition. Fallon Taylor decided to use her notoriety to bring more awareness to Nicole’s #HelmetTough movement.

7 time World Champion Header Jake Barnes recently received attention for Continued NEXT PAGE

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trading his cowboy hat in after experiencing a traumatic brain injury that had him laid up in a hospital bed for two months. Initially it was questionable whether Jake would walk and talk again, let alone ride and rope. Although he didn’t want to, he started wearing a helmet at his wife’s request, and now feels comfortable wearing one on a regular basis. Jake has stated in a variety of articles that he would prefer if the focus was on the quality of his roping rather than the apparel he is wearing, but is happy to use his celebrity status for a good cause.

Overall, I am encouraged by the #HelmetTough movement, and the number of people, although small, that I have seen wearing helmets in western disciplines lately. I don’t think that things will change overnight, but I can also remember a time that you didn’t see anyone wearing a helmet at a ski area, and now it’s become rare to see someone on the slopes without. It’s not about how much we trust our horses or how well-trained they are; the inherent risk is a part of the sport we love. Even the best horse can be taken by surprise or lose traction, slip, and fall. Wearing a helmet increases the chances we won’t be severely injured and unable to ride.

It doesn’t make us any less of a cowboy or cowgirl; it just makes us smarter (and safer)!

Jessica Stewart Riley is an 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

The dog days of summer in downtown Rutland

Summer 2016

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Lights, Camera, HORSES! O

ne of my favorite Kevin Costner movies is Dances With Wolves. Even though I’ve seen it a hundred times, I always pick up something new. For example, there is the scene when Costner, now friends with a Souix tribe, rides horseback into battle against the Pawnee. During the melee many are killed, including the horses. While this was a million dollar Hollywood production, it appeared to be so real that it made me curious. Did the horses really fall down or were those special effects? Were they real horses or something created by the Disney labs?

I started by looking at the 1934 classic, The Charge of the Light Brigade starring Errol Flynn. The battlefield set was lined with trip wires called a Running W, designed to trip the cavalry horses. For the filming of the climactic charge, 125 horses were trip-wired. Of those horses, 25 were killed outright or had to be put down afterward. Flynn, an accomplished horseman, was so outraged by the number of horses injured and killed during the charge, and by director Michael When 12 Gauge isn't playing with Katie Stygles, he stands 16.3 hands.

Curtiz’s seeming indifference to the carnage, at one point, while arguing with Curtiz he couldn’t contain himself and physically attacked Curtiz. They were pulled apart before any serious damage was done. The Charge sequence of the film itself, forced the U.S. Congress to ensure the safety of animals in motion pictures. The ASPCA banned trip wires from films in its guidelines as well. Because of the use of trip wires and the number of horses killed, the movie was never re-released by Warner Brothers.

In this modern era of cinematography, horses are carefully trained and are as integral to the movie as the humans they share the screen with. Whether in classics like Dances with Wolves or more current films like Avatar and Django Unchained, horses are trained to perform safely.

“Think of a falling horse as an acrobat,” says Petrine Mitchum, author of Hollywood Hoofbeats: Trails Blazed Across the Silver Screen. “They need to be athletic and fearless, and also need to have a very trusting nature. So they have to not only have a calm, strong nature but also be willing to place total trust in their trainer.”

The humane way of making a horse fall is actually centuries old. It’s an old battlefield technique of teaching a horse to fall so that - I mean, it’s not for a very good reason on the battlefield - so that you can fall a horse and use him as a shield.

But as it has evolved as really an art in the film business, it’s a process by where the horse is trained very, very slowly, starting at a standstill. The trainer will pick up one of the horse’s front legs, maybe tie it up and slowly push him over - always onto soft ground - very, very carefully done so that the horse lands on his shoulder and he’s not hurt. And once the horse is confident doing that - that he’s not going to get hurt - then they’ll start doing it at a walk and then at a trot and then finally, at a gallop.

This can take months to teach a horse, and not every horse is going to go for it. I mean, it’s a very strange thing to do. But some horses just trust their trainer enough and have the athletic ability to do it. And from what I heard from talking to stunt men who trained their own falling horses, which is usually the case, they had horses who actually came to love it and anticipate it and were real star athletes.

In a recent interview on National Public radio, Mitchum pointed out: You can tell a trained fall when you’re watching a film by looking for the horse’s head - looking at the horse’s head. And as the horse is galloping along, the trainer will pull the horse’s head, usually to the left, and he will fall on the opposite shoulder. So he’s taking the weight off of the outside by pulling the horse’s head to the inside and then cueing him to fall over onto the other side. Of course, the stunt man is wearing a saddle that has rubber stirrups on that side so when the horse is falling, he’s not falling on anything hard.

Of course, the rider has to get his leg out of the way, if possible. So it’s a very, very carefully orchestrated - almost a dance move, if you will.

The training is very specialized and not just anyone can do it,” says Mitchum: It requires extreme patience and confidence, and the ability to read the horse and know what it is capable of, and when to push and when to back off. The trainer also has to have impeccable timing and a certain fearlessness, as well. To deliberately fall down with a 1,000-pound animal in a gallop is not for the faint of heart.

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Meet Biscuit, Vermont’s Arson Dog I

thought, wouldn’t it be cool to have a picture in the next issue of 4 Legs & a Tail of one of Rutland’s Police Dogs? I had just driven by a K-9 unit and wrote myself a note to swing by the barracks on my lunch break.

I expected to meet a big German Shepherd and hear about them chasing down bad guys and detecting drugs. Instead, I met a very sweet 7 year old Black Lab named Biscuit. Biscuit and her handler Det. Sgt David Sutton are constant companions. Biscuit is an Arson Dog. Arson Dogs, or Accelerant Detection Canines, are trained to sniff out minute traces of accelerant (gasoline, lighter fluid, etc.) that may have been used to start a fire. Each dog works and lives with their handler, a law enforcement officer or firefighter trained to investigate fire scenes. The canine and handler are required to complete 200 hours of training. Every 3 months they must also travel to the Connecticut State Police K9 Academy, and train with the staff. They stay for approximately three days working various fire scenes.

While Trooper Sutton Det Sgt David Sutton and Biscuit talked to me about the continued training and job responsibilities, Without Biscuit, a large area where Biscuit spent her time close to me enjoy- the fire was thought to have begun would ing being petted and meeting a new need to be sent to the lab to find out friend. She was quiet but ever alert to exactly what accelerant was used. Biscuit everything around her. can identify a much smaller area, that If a fire occurs and there is a question will be cut out and sent to the lab, saving about its origin, Biscuit gets a call. When the state a lot of time and money. an accelerant is used to start a fire, the Biscuit travels the whole state fire is actually burning the vapors of the of Vermont working day and night. accelerant. No fire will ever burn off all Sometimes she even gets called to the of the accelerant and minute traces are neighboring states when they need her left behind. Once the area where the fire expertise. Biscuit also has a lot of fun began is found , Biscuit is brought to that doing demonstrations at local schools. A area to find the exact spot it started. When little accelerant will be put on a teacher’s she detects the spot, she will sit and look or student’s shoelaces. Biscuit will then at her handler. The handler will display search the whole class until she finds it. an open hand held high as a signal for I was lucky enough to observe her “show me.” Biscuit will quickly point to as Trooper Sutton did a demonstration the spot and then sit back down. for me. Biscuit searched the entire room Summer 2016

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n October 24, 2013 one of Rutland’s most distinguished residents arrived to the scene of the Church Street Congregational Church in Burlington. Just one day earlier, the historic downtown landmark was engulfed in flames, in what fire officials deemed as suspicious.

This is when Biscuit went to work. As Vermont’s only trained arson dog, she has been a part of the investigation team of several fires. In the case of the Congressional Church fire, a lighter was discovered at the site. Soon after Aliaksandr Bychkou of Burlington was charged with arson.

until she found the spot where the tiniest drop of accelerant was present. In under 30 seconds, she had found the spot and was sitting, staring at her handler.

The bond between these two is very tight. 24/7, they are side by side working. There is no question that they are lucky to have each other, and that Rutland and the whole state of Vermont are lucky to have them and the services they provide. www.4LegsAndATail.com 13

Preparing Your Home

FOR SALE

With Pets S

ummer is a busy time for realtors in New England. Recently we were checking out a few homes that came onto the market. The price points were within budget, the neighborhood was right and according to the listings, they had everything we were looking for. Unfortunately, the first home we toured was also home to a Bichon. No, she was not part of the sale, but her constant barking made it difficult to get a real feel for the home. Another home we visited was also home to several cats. We love cats, but when one snuck out while checking out the backyard, we spent most of our time trying to catch the cat.

If you’re selling your home, your realtor has probably discussed curb appeal and de-personalizing your home for a quicker sale. If you are a pet owner and selling your home, here are some other tips for your consideration.

1. TA L K T O YO U R P E T ’ S VETERINARIAN F I R S T.

One important thing to keep in mind is that your animal has its own needs, needs that are best discussed with your veterinarian. Talk to him or her about what you plan on doing, and how it will work with your specific pet or pets. This is especially important when your pet is older and may not adjust well to change. Selling a home can be just as stressful for the pet as it is for the home owner.

2. TEMPORARILY RELOCATE. This may or may not be something you are willing to do, but it is easier to show-and-sell your home (and keep it clean), if your pets are not present when buyers arrive. If you have a friend or family member that you are comfortable leaving your animal with, it will give you the chance to eliminate all of the signs of having a pet in the house (which can significantly reduce a home’s value), and avoid the pet causing further issues. While I happen to be a pet lover myself there are many home buyers who are not. In fact some folks consider it a huge turn-off when looking at potential homes they may want to own.

3. REPAIR ANY DAMAGE. As much as we love our pets, they are still animals, and pet damage is never attractive when selling your home. Dogs and cats will inevitably destroy something, including carpets, furniture, hardwood flooring, walls, doors, turf in your yard and your fence.

All of this damage should be repaired prior to showing the home. This may require some investment on your part, especially if the animal has damaged expensive items like your hardwood flooring or walls in your house. Regardless of the cost of repair, though, the value you will get for your house will be well worth paying for the repairs.

4. REMOVE PET ODORS AND STAINS. Pets have accidents; and while it

is possible to get used to the pet smell over time, new visitors to your home will be sure to notice the smells. This is not something you want to happen. In fact, above all else, this may be the most important tip for selling a home when you have pets.

Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our emotions, our memory and on our perception of things. An initial urine odor on entering a house is sure to stick in the buyer’s mind, and he or she will likely deduct the cost of carpet replacement immediately from an offer as a result. A strong odor is in fact one of the top reasons a buyer will pass on a home.

Avoid this by having your carpet and flooring professionally cleaned, with a focus on removing pet odors. If the staining or odors are too bad, you may need to replace the carpet in the problem areas.

5. CLEAN YOUR YARD. Pick up any messes in the backyard, and have any sod replaced and other damage repaired as necessary. You may be the kind of person who picks up after your pet regularly, or you may have a cat that causes very little impact to your yard. However, a large number of dog owners give their pets free reign of the backyard. This is a great life for dogs and cats, but it can be hard on the look of your lawn. One of the best tips, when selling a home with pets, is to make sure you don’t neglect the yard as this is just as important to some buyers as the inside of the home.

6. ERASE SIGNS OF YOUR PET FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS.

You want buyers to be as unaware of your pet ownership as possible. If they ask the question, you will have to answer honestly. However, you can often avoid this by taking necessary steps like those listed above. In addition, put away all pet toys, bedding, litter boxes and food – preferably at another location besides your home.

Some realtors recommend removing all photos where your pet is present as well, and to look and make certain the animal does not show up in any marketing materials you create for your home. Like other forms of home staging, removing extra pet clutter is an important consideration when you are selling your property.

7. PREPARE PROPERLY. Selling a home with pets takes work, but it’s worth it in the long run! You may do all of these things and still have buyers ask about whether you have pets. Sometimes it is impossible to hide all evidence, and sometimes they just ask anyway. Even if this happens, though, you have still done everything necessary to return your house to its prior pet-free status. Buyers will have little to complain about, because your house now looks (and hopefully smells) as good as it did before you had your pet.

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Five Tips for Getting More Bacon

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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.

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.

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Summer 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 15

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 (golden-brown, 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

#Happiness

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.

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A Dog on the Battlefield and the Character of George Washington Kate Kelly

G 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.

Summer 2016

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.

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Of DINKS and DROODS Justine O’Keefe - East Montpelier, VT

B ack in the 1980’s we were DINKS, a married couple with a double

income and no kids. As retirees, we no longer qualify for DINK status. A more appropriate acronym might be DROODS-double retirees, one old dog. We dote on One Old Dog, a much-loved arthritic Golden Retriever with bum knees, allergies, and enough hair to make a toupee for every bald guy in town.

As a pup, One Old Dog blew out the ACL’s on both knees. Two surgeries and four thousand dollars later, we had a dog with functioning knees and a severe case of PTSD. Routine trips to the vet caused his blood pressure to skyrocket and the whites of his eyes to turn red.

Mild mannered at home, at the vet he screamed and thrashed, knocked hypodermic needles across the room, and shed a blizzard of hair.

Life for OOD took a further downturn when we replaced the worn carpet in our basement with a hardwood floor. As soon as One Old Dog stepped onto its gleaming surface, he did a belly flop, all four legs splayed out, two east, two west.

Using a variety of runners and mats, we created a path on which he could safely traverse the floor's slick surface, but OOD remained uneasy and dispirited.

In the weeks that followed, One Old Dog sank deeper and deeper into decrepitude. He slept most of the time, couldn’t get up without help, and fell whenever he ventured onto the kitchen tile. His toys languished in their box and we, his devoted DROODS, prepared ourselves for his imminent demise. Before that sad event transpired, however, One Old Dog’s guardian angel appeared in the

22 year old Lacey Jane.

Photo from Renee Babcock

18 4 Legs & a Tail

One old dog with support hose.

form of Angela the House Call Vet. She arrived one afternoon wearing doggie printed scrubs and toting an iPad. OOD, always pleased to have company, livened up enough to show her his latest stuffed animal and to coat her black jeans with a generous amount of hair.

There followed a thorough examination and discussion of his various fat deposits, warts, runny eyes, greasy back, and regrettable teeth. She referred delicately to his weight and gave him a rabies shot.

I told Angela that we were unwilling to subject OOD to the stressors of invasive procedures. Our goal was to make him feel safe and comfortable, not to prolong his life for our own benefit. Angela suggested several ways to ease his arthritis and improve joint function. That evening on line, I purchased fish oil, chondroitin chews, and seborrhea mousse for his allergies.

Days later I received an email from our Angel Vet with a link to a company that sells non-slip doggie socks. Two tiny black socks arrived a week later. They furnish traction on the slippery floors, but are tricky to work onto OOD's pointy back feet and need to be removed each time he heads outside. No strangers to high maintenance, we DROODS perform the on-and-off several times a day.

In addition to his morning dose of arthritis medicine, One Old Dog now receives two scoops of fish oil in his kibbles and cooked vegetables. We use the chondroitin chews for treats during the daily walks that keep him ambulatory.

Once a week I groom OOD, working the rake through his thick undercoat and inhaling dangerously high doses of dog dander. I clean his ears, wipe his drippy eyes and rub seborrhea mousse into his freshly brushed coat. At the end of the session, OOD’s fur is fluffed and gleaming, his face clean and his eyes bright in anticipation of his post-grooming treat.

Having implemented the suggestions of the Angel Vet, we DROODS have seen a marked improvement in One Old Dog’s health. He gets off the floor without falling and appears to be in less pain. He looks better, too, if one ignores his fat deposits and bad teeth. The on-going expenses incurred by OOD’s new health regimen are considerable, but they are small price to pay to keep our boy healthy and happy. And, as former DINKS, we can afford it.

Justine is a writer and retired teacher in Vermont. She is a life-long dog lover and has lived with Golden Retrievers for the past forty years.

Summer 2016

What coyotes are saying when they howl Jaymi Heimbuch

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he scientific name for the coyote is Canis latrans, which translates to “barking dog,” a perfect name for this species which has been called the most vocal of North America’s mammals.

Less formally, the coyote is known as the song dog, and one listen to a group howl by a pack of coyotes makes it clear why. Rather than the simple but soulhaunting sound of a wolf’s howl, the coyote’s howl can be made up of highpitched howls, barks, and yips that make it clear the coyote has a whole lot of lyrics in a single song. But what exactly do those lyrics say?

The coyote has a range of vocalizations depending on social context and message. In 1978, Philip N. Lehner published his research of coyote communication and what the various vocalizations mean, which has been included in Coyotes: Biology, Behavior, and Management.

“The vocal repertoire of the adult coyote contains eleven vocalizations, several of which are also given by pups.

These vocalizations grade into one another such that their separation into eleven types is somewhat arbitrary based on their different sounds, behavior context, and physical characteristics.”

The coyote language is complex and depends on the social situation, the coyote’s body language in addition to the sounds, the intensity of the vocalization, and other factors. Some coyote hunters are convinced they know more than eleven calls for coyotes.

There is a lot of overlap in the sounds dogs, coyotes and other canid species make - from a startled huff to a whine of greeting, from an antagonistic growl to a bark of alarm. But coyotes take the language of canids to another level with their extensive list of sounds, especially the yips, howls, and of course their choral group howls.

Lehner created the following 11 categories, which can also be considered sign-posts on a gradient of meaning and intensity.

Summer 2016

Graphic by Morgan Heim

TYPES OF COYOTE VOCALIZATIONS 1. Growl - This vocalization holds no mystery. A growl is used as a threat, specifically for something within close range.

2. Huff - This is the expulsion of air through the nose and mouth, and is also used as a high-intensity threat in close proximity. Huffs are used, for instance, when there’s bickering over carrion.

3. Woof - This vocalization is made as both a low-intensity threat and as an alarm.

It's a sound made when a coyote is startled and unsure of exactly what is happening, but knows it is not comfortable with whatever it is.

4. Bark - The bark is a long-distance threat or alert of low to medium intensity.

5. Bark-Howl - This is when the coyote gets serious about a threat. The bark-howl is used as a long-distance high-intensity threat or alarm. It starts with a bark and blends into a howl.

6. Whine - This sound is used to express submission and is usually given by a subordinate coyote to a more dominant coyote.

7. Yelp - The yelp takes the whine up a notch and represents high-intensity submission. However, it can also be a response to being startled. As is the case with several other of these vocalizations, this categorization shows that coyote communication is more of a gradient. Lehner writes, “A yi-e-e-e often precedes or follows the yelp portion and resembles a high-frequency bark [and] appears on a sonogram like a short howl chopped into segments.”

8. Woo-oo-wow - This is the «greeting song» of coyotes, and is used during high-intensity greeting displays. The vocalization modulates in frequency and amplitude as a coyote›s motivation shifts, Lehner notes, and so can fluctuate from a whine to a growl.

9. Lone Howl - The lone howl is just what you probably already know it to be: a howl by a single coyote, which is often started with a series of barks that researcher R. M. Mengel called “herald barks.” As mentioned above, coyotes can distinguish individuals based on their unique howl, and the purpose of the howl is to announce one’s location to others in their social group. Often, the lone howl gets an answer, and the coyotes can find each other to meet up.

10. Group Howl - A group howl is sent up when two or more coyotes come together after being apart, or it could be given as a response to the howls of distant coyotes. It is, according to Lehner, essentially two or more coyotes giving their own lone howls either successively or simultaneously, as a way of giving out location information to any listeners.

11. Group Yip-Howl - This is what coyotes are really known for. The group yip-howl is sent up when coyotes reunite, or just before they separate to go off hunting individually. As more coyotes join in, the more intense the vocalizations become, increasing in frequency and amplitude. In other words, the many variations of coyote vocalizations show up in this chorus.

Continued Next Page

www.4LegsAndATail.com 19

Myth of the Coy-Dog Yes, domestic

dog and coyote hybrids are biologically possible and have occurred; but no genetic sampling of coyotes has found evidence Coy-dogs don’t survive, and here’s why.

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The coyote pair bond is strong and long-term, discouraging interlopers.

Male and female are sexually active once a year, and only briefly.

The female is receptive for 10 days, although general courtship activity that strengthens the pair bond can last for months.

Pups are born in spring when food to feed hungry young is plentiful.

Males are fully engaged feeding mate and young in the den, often with the help of older offspring.

Yes, a female coyote might pair with a domestic dog in the absence of a coyote mate, but a male dog lacks parental instincts and soon departs the scene. Starvation odds are high without his help, as well as predation of pups when the female leaves the den to hunt for food.

As a coy-dog hybrid, the rare survivor will reach sexual maturity in November, way off schedule with a true coyote’s breeding season in February. If a coy-dog does succeed in finding another hybrid to mate with, the second generation coy-dogs will be born in January, not May. The depths of winter are a tough time for the female to find food for herself and her young.

As a third and final strike against coy-dog survival, mixing up the genes also mixes up the instincts that help true coyotes survive in the wild world.

The chorus tells any nearby coyote packs about whose turf this is, and thus keeps other coyotes away. It also reveals (or hides) how many coyotes are in the area and may help regulate coyote density through reproductive rate. Female coyotes will produce larger litters when there is little competition, and smaller litters when there is a high density of coyotes in the habitat. This is one of the secrets to the coyote’s success at spreading

across the continent in the last century.

(Note: This is also why indiscriminate killing of coyotes to decrease their density doesn’t work as a management strategy. Coyotes repopulate an area quickly and easily when competition is eliminated, with the population rebounding or even expanding in a very short time. Perhaps a more effective, cost-cutting and non-lethal strategy for reducing the number of coyotes

in an area would be playing recorded group yip-howls to make resident coyotes think there is more competition for resources.)

Mitchell writes, “Group yip-howls are produced by a mated and territorial pair of ‘alpha’ coyotes, with the male howling while the female intersperses her yips, barks, and short howls. ‘Beta’ coyotes (the children of the alpha pair from previous years) and current year pups may join in if they are nearby, or respond with howls of their own. And once one group of coyotes starts howling, chances are that any other alpha pairs nearby will respond in kind, with chorus after chorus of group yip-howls rippling across the miles.”

How Many Coyotes Are Howling?

“When people hear coyote howls, they often mistakenly assume that they’re hearing a large pack of animals, all raising their voices at once,” writes Mitchell. “But this is an auditory illusion called the ‘beau geste’ effect.”

Coyotes howl both to reunite and to keep trespassers at bay. It may be in their favor that if they howl, they sound like a bigger pack than they really are.

When two or three coyotes howl together, they can sound like a pack of six or ten or more, which perhaps makes them seem much more formidable to any nearby competitors or predators.

There is still so much to learn about what coyotes are saying through their complex and varied vocalizations. The more we learn about the way coyotes communicate as social predators, the more we can learn about not just their species, but our own as well.

For more information, visit www.urbancoyoteproject.com 20 4 Legs & a Tail

Summer 2016

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Wonderful World of Animal Idioms Mark Carlson

M

aybe I should just let sleeping dogs lie, but it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. I know this might put me in the dog house, but once I get started, I don’t like to change horses in mid-stream.

What are the origins of some of our most commonly used animal idioms?

Some may surprise you. But even if curiosity killed the cat, I’m probably safe.

Besides, the early bird gets the worm and I got up at 6 a.m.

‘Letting the cat out of the bag’ goes back to the 1500s, when Europe was a barter and trade economy. Sometimes fraudulent farmers, claiming they had a ‘pig in a poke’ (a piglet for sale) in a bag, had instead put in a cat. But if the cat escaped or was discovered, it was ‘out of the bag.’

We’ve all heard about it ‘raining cats and dogs.’ For years I believed the story that it derived from the Middle Ages, when small animals slept on the thatched roof of houses and barns. When it rained, the thatch was slippery and they slid off, literally raining cats and dogs. But there’s no evidence this is real. For one thing, can you think of a single dog that would choose to sleep on a roof for warmth and shelter? Not my dog, that’s for sure. No, the phrase’s origins are lost to history.

A few days ago I heard a man in a bar asking for ‘The hair of the dog.’ Supposedly a hangover cure, its origins have nothing to do with drink. In superstitious times, it was believed that when bitten by a rabid dog, a person could avoid rabies by applying hair from the same dog to the wound.

Nonsense, of course. Just think about how many people managed to get hair from an animal that was as ‘mean as a junkyard dog.’ I’d rather get the shots. Jim Croce gave us the popular line ‘meaner than a junkyard dog’ in his 1973 classic ‘Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown,’ but the phrase may go back farther, possibly to the 19th Century.

Have I got you grinning like a Cheshire Cat yet? Or are you about ready for a catnap?

Summer 2016

But, creeping in on little cat feet, I’ll continue.

Have you ever been to a ‘dog and pony show?’ They were popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Originally small traveling circuses with performing animal acts, the phrase has long since come to mean an over-hyped, heavily advertised public event.

Not a dog or a pony in sight.

Entertainment is really going to the dogs.

It’s been pretty cold in San Diego lately. In fact, it’s been a ‘three dog night.’ No, not the 1960s rock group. It’s an old Alaskan Inuit idiom that means it’s so cold you need three dogs to cuddle with to stay warm. Sounds like the Cat’s Pajamas to me.

In the 1920s, during the flapper and Jazz Age, any ‘cool’ or ‘hip’ person was a Cat. Saying someone was the ‘cat’s pajamas’ or ‘cat’s whiskers’ was the same as calling them ‘cool.’ Or they could be the ‘bee’s knees,’ if you can believe it.

I once asked someone a question they were reluctant to answer and I immediately said, “Hey, cat got your tongue?”

There is no actual incident that spawned this old phrase. It’s simply a children’s’ nonsense idiom that dates at least back to the 1870s.

Well just look what the cat dragged in.

No need to analyze this one. Cats love to please their owners and we’ve seen what they can catch and bring before us.

As for the tail wagging the dog, that’s from the 1860s and was used for some political comments and essays. Not much has changed. It’s become a dog eat dog world.

But that’s a horse of another color.

Now, don’t have kittens, but I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. This article might make you howl at the moon, so I’ll just run off with my tail between my legs.

Originally published in San Diego Pets Magazine When not visiting his in-laws in South Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of his time in North County, CA with his wife, Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron. He is an award writer and an aviation historian, with numerous articles and books including his latest, Confessions of a Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and works with Saffron, and is a member of several aviation, maritime, and veteran organizations. www.musketmania.com

www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

T

Hail to the Pooch

his November some will cast their presidential ballot based on political view, party of choice or a candidate’s experience.

But we have never voted for a CommanderIn-Chief solely based on breed.

Shouldn’t the discussion begin now, as to when we will have our first canine president? Before you shrug this off as impossible, keep in mind, The Constitution has specific age and naturalization guidelines in place, to be leader of the free world; however, “No Pets Allowed” is not mentioned.

Here is the case for a dog being president someday: In this day and age any infidelity almost guarantees the title of “Former” Presidential Candidate, Remember Gary Hart, or even most recently Herman Cain?

JFK would even be an also-ran, in today’s election climate. But, with the Spay and Neuter programs at an all-time high, this would not be political baggage for a presidential pooch.

We can also argue that dogs are smarter than people. On a -20 degree New England morning, we still take our dog out. Not only do we clean up after them, but we say “good dog!” and give more accolades than we give to teachers.

Popularity Polls – Dogs always score higher than almost anyone else in popularity.

So unless the other party fields a baby, dogs rule!

Finally, look at the work ethic of many of today’s dogs. Service dogs abound, helping those with issues ranging from seeing impairment to returning veterans with PTSD. Police departments have utilized

Bill Clinton and Buddy

22 4 Legs & a Tail

canine units for decades to keep our neighborhoods safe. Many hikers also owe their lives to search and rescue dogs who have tracked their trail deep in the mountains of northern New England.

I don’t expect to be around to experience our first presidential pooch. Let’s face it, the political wheels move slowly (what’s going on with the Supreme Court nominee these days?), but for the record, my dog has never bitten the mailman and seems really happy when gas prices go down.

1st Pooch's Inaugural Address George Washington set the precedent for the Inaugural address. Short and sweet. Although I’ve heard these speeches since the 1960’s, I really can’t recall any memorable pearls. If a dog were elected president, this is what I would expect from that historic occasion: “My fellow Americans; from the bottom of my paws, I thank you for this opportunity to lead this great nation. Although the past 18 months was a dogeat-dog campaign, it is time for us to come together and unleash our fears (but not our cats). There is a phrase used by people to describe ill-treatment of others, “treated him like a dog.” We dogs howl with laughter at this, because you treat us like royalty. At the doggie day spa, we chuckle at this, and when the food bowl is empty for a half-second, we joke about, “being treated like a human.”

A common remark I heard often, was that your support was based on the fact that “you liked dogs more than most people.” Although your affection made my tail wag, please take this advice. None of us are perfect. Your dog gives you undying loyalty and affection because you gave it to them first. Use your dog to perfect this positive attribute, then use it often with the people around you.

If you treat your fellow humans as well as you treat your dogs, ours will be a far better nation.”

Nominations Anyone?

Barack Obama and Bo (A Portuguese Water Dog)

Summer 2016

Presidential Pets Michael W. Nadeau

‘If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” President Harry Truman.

T

here are many stories about Presidents and their pets, and a long history of Presidential Pets.

Barack Obama has a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo, a gift from the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

George Washington bred his own foxhounds.

Thomas Jefferson received a pair of grizzly bears from Captain Zebulon Pike. He did not keep the bears long, but he did keep them out on the lawn safely caged.

The wife of John Quincy Adams kept silkworms. John Quincy Adams himself, owned an alligator that he kept in the bathroom, bringing it out on occasion to scare guests.

Herbert Hoover kept an opossum at the White House, until a baseball team in Maryland insisted it was their missing team mascot. The opossum was returned to the team.

Calvin Coolidge had 2 white Collies among his many animal friends. One of the Collies, Rob Roy, posed with his wife for a portrait that still hangs in the White House today. The Coolidges were also the proud owners of a raccoon named “Rebecca,” an exotic bird named “do-funny,” a pair of lion cubs named “Tax Reduction” and “Budget Bureau,” and a pygmy hippo named “Billy”.

Our 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, kept a herd of sheep During World War I. Help was hard to find, and the sheep would keep the White House lawn trimmed.

Andrew Jackson kept fighting roosters, and he had a parrot named “Pol” that he taught to swear. Pol outlived Jackson, and at the President’s funeral, Pol had to be removed because he would not stop cursing.

At one time, one of the most popular dogs in the world belonged to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While running for a fourth term, “Fala” made the news repeatedly. He followed the President everywhere, including meetings with foreign heads of state. Fala’s adventures were well documented in the press, and he received thousands of fan letters during Roosevelt’s time in office.

At the height of World War II FDR made a trip to the Aleutian Islands with faithful Fala by his side. It was falsely reported that Fala had been left behind and FDR had dispatched a Navy Destroyer to go back and get him, costing the taxpayers millions of dollars during war time. You can imagine the uproar during a Presidential election.

On September 23, 1944 FDR delivered his famous “Fala Speech”. FDR stated “You know Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I’d left him behind on the Aluetian Islands and had sent a destroyer back to find him at a cost to the taxpayers of two or three or eight or 20 million dollars his Scotch soul was furious.

He has not been the same dog since…”

This diffused the controversy and FDR was re-elected to a fourth term.

When FDR died in 1945, Fala continued to live with Eleanor Roosevelt, constantly waiting near the door for FDR to return. He died 7 years later and was buried alongside FDR. Fala is the only presidential pet to be memorialized in statue.

Summer 2016

Long before Watergate, Nixon found himself in hot water on fiscal issues.

This time he ‘fessed up and admitting to taking a gift, a cocker spaniel named Checkers. His impassioned speech won the support of Americans.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

A Rabbit With More Than Just A Lucky Foot R

ecently I caught a tale from baseball’s legendary play-by-play announcer Vin Scully, about San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner. I had heard that the future Hall of Famer was a good ‘ole farm boy, but I was sure that this one was made of the stuff that urban legends, or in this case country legends, were born.

However, after further investigation, here is the story in text, originally from Tom Verducci’s 2014 profile of MadBum in Sports Illustrated:

24 4 Legs & a Tail

This may be the best Boone-like tale about the man they call Mad Bum. One day during spring training this year in Scottsdale, Bumgarner and his wife were roping cattle when Madison was startled by a large snake he figured was a rattler. He quickly grabbed an ax and hacked it to pieces. When Ali, an expert field dresser, examined what was left of the snake, she found two baby jackrabbits inside pieces of it and extracted them. A short while later the Bumgarners noticed that one of the rabbits had moved slightly. It was alive. Ali brought the rabbit back to their apartment and for the next few days kept it warm and bottle-nursed it. The rabbit soon was healthy enough for them to release into the wild.

“Think about how tough that rabbit was,” Bumgarner said.

“First it gets eaten by a snake, then the snake gets chopped to pieces, then it gets picked up by people and it lives. It’s all true.”

The pace of baseball

is often criticized, but the flip side of that is that there is time for Vin Scully to spin a yarn about snake murder and rabbit rebirth punctuated by a “Meanwhile, line drive base hit to center.” What a sport!

By the way, this isn’t even the best story from that SI profile. That would be the fact that Madison Bumgarner once dated a girl named Madison Bumgarner.

Summer 2016

Dear God O

ur 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she passed away, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God, so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could, so she dictated these words: We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope, because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought he had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch, addressed “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it, inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called “When a Pet Dies”. Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey and Meredith and this note:

Dear God, of my se take care a le p u o y ill W terday and is s e y d ie d e h r dog? S en. I miss he v a e h in u o y with at you I am happy th . h c u m ry n e v s my dog eve a r e h e v a h let me you sick. I hope t o g e h s h g thou s to her. She like h it w y la p ill w I am y with balls. hen swim and pla re of her so w tu ic p a g in d sen that you will know r e h e e s u o y ally miss her. re I . g o d y ith she is m Love, Mered

Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help, and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore.

Her spirit is here with me, just like it stays in your heart.

Abbey loved being your dog.

Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep, and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter, and thank your mother for helping you write it and send it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day, and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Summer 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 25

West Rutland Marsh Tim Goodwin

I

t was definitely time for a break. I had been driving around West Rutland and Rutland visiting clients Red Winged Blackbird and distributing magazines, I was tired. It was spring, and I was busy working on our Summer issue. I had already stopped and walked the dogs, but I didn’t get what I needed to refresh my brain and keep working.

The road I should have taken went to the left. I was at a stop sign and straight ahead was a dirt road. Dirt roads always lead somewhere good. I drove forward and enjoyed the bumpy ride and scenery at a slow speed.

I rounded one corner and on the right were some marble blocks, on the left was a boardwalk going out into a Marsh. I spun around, parked, grabbed my camera and walked out onto the boardwalk. All around me were cattails and lots of birds, mostly Redwing Blackbirds. I honestly don’t know many names for birds, but I do appreciate whoever named this species. It is a name I can remember!!.

I spent about 30 minutes trying to sneak up on the birds to get some pictures. Most of them were far away and I did the best I could with the lens I had with me. The nice thing was that I wasn’t as tired anymore, finding peace in this little slice of nature.

The West Rutland Marsh was formed from the castoff of sand used in the marble industry. It formed into a beautiful marsh and home to over 135 species of birds. It Prairie is one of the largest cattail marshes in the state of Vermont Warbler and well worth a visit.

One of the nicer aspects of producing a magazine is the exposure to new places and people. I am grateful to have visited this marvelous spot and look forward to going back later this summer to see what other birds stopover. Maybe I can see a Blue Nosed Black Tail.., (I would have been great at naming bird species!).

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Summer 2016

A Feline Friend (18 Wheels Later)

I f you listen closely, the sound of the road can tell you where you are.

For example, the low pitch roar of interstate blacktop says New England. The distinctive whining of concrete is the stretch of I-95 south of the Mason-Dixon Line, while the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York produces a slow tribal drum sound, thanks to constant gridlock and neglected potholes.

I was a truck driver of almost twenty years for a moving company, I’ve heard these and most of the roads and highways from coast-to-coast and until recently, made the runs solo. Several of my buddies will travel with their spouse or dog. Since I have neither, mine was a life of peaceful solitude with only a responsibility to myself.

It was June when I pulled up to a home just outside of Rutland, VT. A young couple was relocating to North Carolina in pursuit of a milder winter and new opportunities. My job was fairly simple. I was to move the larger items such as furniture and appliances, and they would be following a few days later with a pickup of personal items.

The truck loaded quickly and I was on the road in no time.

Just outside of Trenton, my dispatcher called with a strange request.

It seemed the young couple’s cat had turned up missing and with a search in the obvious places, kept coming up empty. They asked if I could check the truck to see if I had a stowaway. On the next stop I shut down my rig and listened intently for any sound in the box. Even when I opened the side doors there was still no sign of the cat, but just as I was about to hop into the cab, I heard the faint meow of my new passenger.

As I relayed the good news to the relieved couple, the plan was to proceed to North Carolina, unload furniture and cat, get food, water and litter and back on the road. Then a funny thing happened. I didn’t know the cat’s name, so I called him Buddy. Whenever the Summer 2016

radio would call out breaker-breaker good buddy, I’d smile at the cat and say, “They’re talking to you.” To be honest it was actually nice to have some company for a change, and I found the independent nature of a cat was not all that different from my own.

My sad farewell to Buddy was tem-

pered a few weeks later when it turned out Buddy was actually Miss Phoebe, with a litter due at the end of the month.

I called down to North Carolina a short time later with the offer to take one of the kittens. Several months later, I pulled out of Durham with 18 wheels and my new four-legged Buddy.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

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Summer 2016

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Dog Days of Summer Western Vermont 2016

A Bizarre Tale from Baseball’s Madison Bumgarner Inspiration from the Father of Our Country Why Your Cat Needs a Dentist Hail to the Pooch A Hollywood Look at Horses