Lowcountry Dog Magazine June July 2017

Issue No. 11 • JUNE/JULY 2017 • DIGITAL

Remembering

DOGS of THE PAST STORIES OF DOGS WHO CHANGED LIVES

A Look Inside a Cruel Tradition

Adoptable Dogs!

RESCUE SPOTLIGHTBullies 2 the Rescue

Meet the Pack PUBLISHER Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com CHIEF CANINE OFFICER Peanut WEB AD SALES Kelly Glasson kelly@lowcountrydog.com SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Jessica Harrell jessica@lowcountrydog.com EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Alicia Williams alicia@lowcountrydog.com PHOTOGRAPHER Southern Vintage Design and Photography RESCUE SPOTLIGHT WRITER Julie Murray

We believe that our dogs are our best friends, and that’s why we need a reliable source to turn to for information on all things “dog” in our community. Our mission is to be the number one Charleston area resource for dog owners regarding regional dog-centric and dogwelcoming events, health & wellness information, dog training, trends, and local news. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various Lowcountry-based pet nonprofits, and we promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices.

Founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 2005 as a print magazine, we re-launched in 2015 as an online publication. In 2016 we have updated our website to continue our mission to be the best dog friendly resource in the Lowcountry.

RESCUE SPOTLIGHT PRODUCER Palmetto Coast Media WEB DEVELOPER & CONSULTANT Laura Olsen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Danielle Dolce Harvey Shi

Sniff Us out!

CONTENTS COVER STORY

18 DOGS OF THE PAST.

STORIES OF DOGS WHO CHANGED LIVES

04

FEATURES PEANUT TIPS- HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET HEALTHY IN CHARLESTON HEAT

06

SIT, STAY, BEHAVE- WHY OBEDIENCE IS IMPORTANT

10

HEALTH AND WELLNESSTO CHEW OR NOT TO CHEW

14

PEACE, LOVE & REAL TALK

28

A LOOK INSIDE A CRUEL TRADITION

32

RESCUE SPOTLIGHT: BULLIES 2 THE RESCUE

37

GO GREEN: ADOPTABLE DOGS

A LOOK INSIDE A CRUEL TRADITION Page 28

RESCUE SPOTLIGHT: BULLIES 2 THE Page 32 RESCUE

Charleston's Digital Dog Magazine

Summer Safety!

's t u n Pea s Tip

Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup.

Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot and/or humid outdoors.

Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse.

Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively.

Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers.

Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them.

Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog.

When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt.

Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach.

Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbecues can be poisonous to pets.

Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations and never use fireworks around pets.

SOURCE: ASPCA

lowcountry dog 4

Sit, Stay...Behave!

Why

OBEDIENCE is important.

Written by Danielle Dolce, Master Trainer at Strong Mind K9 lowcountry dog 6

At Strong Mind K9 LLC, we offer on and off leash obedience right here in the low country. Obedience is our main focus for many reasons when it comes to training your pet. It is the foundation for all kinds of scenarios, ranging from training a dog in becoming a service animal to solving simple household problems. Regardless of the targeted skill set you want for your dog, obedience gives our four legged friends a job, teaches them boundaries, and gives them independence, which, in all, creates a happier companion.

Here are a few key reasons why obedience is a crucial and a valuable tool in you and your dog's relationship:

1. Creates a physically AND mentally tired dog We want our dogs to not only be physically tired but mentally tired too. During a normal day, most dogs do not get the stimulation that they need. This can cause a dog to get bored and find their own entertainment, which does not always result in good decision making.

One way you can mentally stimulate your dog is by having them stop when you stop on a walk. Taking your dog on a walk is great, but it is always so much better if your dog isn't walking you.

2. Helps dogs clearly think and make better decisions If our dogs can't clearly think, it often results in anxiety, jumping, digging, and many other destructive behaviors. When we add in mental stimulation, we see a much calmer mindset. If our dog's minds are heightened all the time will no stimulation, that's where behavioral problems can occur. Obedience helps us control our dog to fight their bad habits. One major issue I personally see is jumping or door bolting.

This is where I utilize the “Come” command or the “Climb" command.

We want our dogs to create better habits when the doorbell rings and extinguish the anticipation of their bad habit.

3. Confidence building Oftentimes I will work with dogs who are very fearful or timid. It is fascinating how teaching dogs obedience in foundation work can help them overcome their fears when we do behavior modification. In situations that may cause a dog to be fearful, being in control and calmly communicating with our dogs can help create a better experience for them. We can also encourage them in tough situations to build trust. The more positive experiences that your dog has, the stronger your dog's mind will be.

4. Creates a way to clearly communicate with your dog When we communicate with our dogs, we want it to be clear and fair to them. Dogs don't think or communicate the same way that we do. If we teach them obedience and use Motivation, Timing, and Consistency (see in our blog "How to Clearly Communicate with your Dog" also in Lowcountry Dog Magazine – Fall 2016 Issue), we are able to clearly and fairly communicate in a smoother and more satisfying way.

Strong Mind K9 wants you to have the utmost success with training! We believe the bond, trust, and level of communication are so important in your relationship with your dog. What kind of goals do you have with your dog? Check us out and sign up for a free, in-home evaluation.

Health

Wellness

Written by Jessica Harrell

To Chew or not to Chew?

There’s no doubt about it: we all love spoiling our dogs. Whether it be through treats or toys, if it makes our dogs happy, it makes us happy. However, these treats and toys, such as chew products, not only provide our furry friends with joy, but provide health and wellness benefits for them as well!

First, chew products provide our dogs with dental benefits! When dogs chew on these products, they scrape away at plaque and tartar buildup, removing bad breath, yellowing teeth, and the cause for a number of dental problems, such as periodontal disease. lowcountry dog 10

Second, chew products act as a type of mental stimulation for dogs! Much like humans, dogs need both physical and mental exercise.

Chewing is a great way to accomplish both of these tasks, seeing as it exercises the jaw muscles and requires a fair amount of concentration to continuously wear down a product. By providing exercise, these products additionally relieve boredom and provide an outlet for older dogs who are no longer able to exercise and play as much as they used to.

Finally, chew products allow dogs to perform one of their most innate, natural habits: chewing. All dogs, from teething puppies to older members of the family, have an urge to chew. This means that, sooner or later, your dog will find a product he or she likes to chew on whether it be your shoes or the legs of your favorite chair.

However, chew toys provide an outlet for dogs to perform this innate urge.

They taste better and are harder to chew than most household supplies, keeping your belongings safe and your dog satisfied.

One example of these products are bully sticks, which are very similar in taste and texture to rawhide chews.

These sticks are 100% beef, made from the pizzle or penis of the bull.

Because they are only made with one ingredient, they are fully digestible and, therefore, cannot cause any blockage. Additionally, any other form of one-ingredient, natural chews provide our dogs with the same benefits. Examples of these may include raw bones; pork, lamb, and cow ears; deer antlers; duck and turkey feet; and various frozen fruits (check to make sure they are dogfriendly first!).

As you can tell, chew products do have many benefits to our beloved furry friends; however, some can cause Chew products provide our favorite harm, depending on each particular furry friends with a variety of health dog’s dietary habits. Rawhide chews, and mental benefits, but it is for example, can often times cause important to know your dog’s dietary blockage. Owners should be cautious habits before choosing the correct giving these chews to dogs who chew chew product for him or her. There fast and swallow large chunks of food may be an inevitable period of trial at a time, seeing as these big, coarse and error when attempting to pieces can get stuck in throats or choose the right chew products for intestines. Additionally, there are your dog; however, once your dog some ingredients in rawhide chews truly finds a product that he or she than can cause many dogs to have enjoys, the benefits will be all worth upset stomachs. If your dog falls into the while. this category of chewers, don’t be Learn more about some chew discouraged! There are tons of options at alternative, natural chew products that provide the same benefits as rawhide chews without the same dietary risks.

619 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Photography by Southern Vintage Design and Photography

May 27th, 2017 CLICK HERE FOR A FULL RECAP

Sometimes, You Can Leave Fido Home!

Dear World: Yes, it’s a blast to bring your favorite fur friend to the bar with you at “yappy” hour. Yes, a lot of memories are made with your dog buddy roaming around the dog park and outside trails. Yes, it’s super-duper fun to take your pup to catch some rays at the beach. Do you know what’s not so great? WHEN YOUR DOG IS A JERK. Do you know how many dogs it takes to ruin a perfectly good outing for a lot of other people and their dogs?

The answer: ONE. If your dog is being a brat, please do us all a favor and leave the premises as fast as you can. lowcountry dog 14

Your ONE misbehaving dog can cause all of the other dogs (and people) in the area a great amount of stress. Then what happens? Well, it’s just a domino effect. Rufus starts barking in circles, Cleo runs away and hides, Lucky gets into a scuffle – the mayhem doesn’t stop until the trouble starter is completely removed from the situation.

I am a firm believer in socializing animals, but let’s do it properly shall we? There is absolutely no reason to over stimulate your dog. One social excursion isn’t going to automatically reverse the damage done on any dog – socialization takes time. So when your dog is hinting that it’s time to go, it may just be time to go.

Let’s also remember that it’s never a good idea to bring a newborn or relatively young pup (no matter how adorable) ANYWHERE until it’s properly vaccinated and dewormed. Not only can the youngin’ pick up diseases, but he or she can also spread them to the perfectly healthy dogs who are just trying to have a good time. Nobody wants to deal with taking care of an ill dog and the vet bills that come with it.

Lastly, when it comes to bringing your beloved pet to public places, please (PLEASE) have them spayed or neutered. It seriously blows my mind that people bring their dogs out and about when they (the dog) are still intact! Not parading your female dog in heat seems to be relatively understood. However, parading your adult male dog around with huge balls seems to be acceptable. Well guess what people?! It isn’t! The dog with the balls is picking fights with every male dog and hump every female dog. It’s absolute insanity. Not to mention that getting your dog fixed is the most responsible thing to do.

One time a person threw a tantrum because I requested that all dogs who attended a rescue event be spayed or neutered.

(Please note that spaying and neutering are the basics in rescue.)

This guy was ranting on about how he only breeds “special” dogs and how he won’t be “supporting” the rescue event since we “discriminate” against unfixed animals. GOOD RIDDANCE, MY FRIEND. Please take yourself and your “special dogs” and quickly exit stage left.

Well folks, that’s my ramble for this issue. I hope we learned some lessons here.

1. If your dog is being disobedient, go home.

2. If your dog isn’t properly vaccinated, stay home.

3. If your dog isn’t fixed, go to the vet and FIX IT.

About the Cover "Remembering Dogs of the Past" Our cover photo is by Olsen Imagery and features LCD publisher's dog Jasmine, who passed away in 2009.

This photo was taken on the day before she was laid to rest after a 3 year battle with cancer.

Read her story as well as some other local dogs who changed the lives of their owners. Â

Remembering

DOGS of Jasmine

Chester

THE PAST

Stories of dogs who changed our lives

Remembering

DOGS of THE PAST STORIES OF DOGS WHO CHANGED LIVES

Pepper lowcountry and Daisey dog  18Mae

Daisy

Jasmine the Wonderdog written by Brian Foster, publisher of Lowcountry Dog MAgazine

I don't think I had ever heard her bark before. She was two and she never barked! She ran back up the stairs and then back down and barked again like Lassie saying Timmy fell down a well. I WAS VISITING MY PARENTS AND NO ONE WAS HOME BUT MY MOM, So I followed her. She lead me up the stairs and down the hall to my mom’s room. When I walked in the room, I found my mom in distress laying on the bed, and Jasmine was beside her. When I saw my mom on the bed, I quickly grabbed the phone to call 911. She was having a heart attack!

Now, you have to know, my mom was an independent sort and I was so busy following her oddly specific instructions for exactly which hospital she would like to go to (as she was having a HEART ATTACK!) that my dog jumped in the car too. I forgot to bring anything for her (leash, bags, water... anything!). We sped to the hospital of my mother’s choice, where my dad, a nervous wreck, met us. He was pretty shaken by all that had happened and needed something to do to keep him busy for a moment, so He went to go take care of Jasmine. I’ll never forget the sight of him walking her around the hospital grounds using my apron from the pizza joint as a leash. She was already loved, but she became a true member of the family that day. My mother was in for a long recovery, but she was going to be just fine thanks to Jasmine. Jasmine had saved her life. They always had a special bond from then on.

A couple years earlier in 1994 I was working a slow Sunday at pizza joint in Smyrna, GA, when a co-worker walked in with his new puppy. This puppy was an adorable fluffy brown little munchkin and looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars. I was instantly in love and asked him where he got her. Getting a dog was probably not the best decision for a 20 year old long haired punk college kid who worked full time and played in a rock band. But hey, what are college years are for, right?

The next day I went to the house where my friend got his little fluff ball, and The puppies all ran up to me. I picked up the first little BLACK one, and she stuck her tiedyed tongue out at me. She was a Chow-Chow, and hada black tongue with pink spots all over: I was sold. “She’s yours for five bucks,” the owner said, so I handed her a crumpled 5 dollar bill and jumped in my 1980 Toyota Corolla to head home.

Being a busy college student and preparing my apartment for the new pup took all my time and energy, so for the first week SHE didn't have a NAME. I brought my little nameless fluff ball with me on my next trip home as a surprise where My sister named her Jasmine after the Disney princess.

I think I probably spent a 1000 bucks that first year on vet bills and supplies. She was mine, and I was determined to take the best care of her that I could. She seemed to know this and went easy on me. She never had “an accident” in the house. After graduating FROM COLLEGE IN SUMMER OF 1996 , I got a 'real job' at a real estate company and we spent our weekends hiking trails in central Georgia. Over the next few years, I would learn that I was truly blessed to have Jasmine in my life.

One day, Jasmine started acting funny and coughing like she had something in her throat. I called my vet and they said that Chow-Chows can get hairballs like cats and to try hairball treatment. One morning I woke up to find that Jasmine had thrown up blood and went out the dog door to lie outside in the rain. Obviously, this was much more than a hairball, So I picked her up and raced her to the vet.

The vet said that he believed Jasmine had been poisoned and asked me to go home and look for clues. I went home and looked over the back yard and there it was a large box of rat poison torn open and empty in my yard from the previous owner. Jasmine found it and ate the whole box! I took the box to the vet, crying, because I felt it was my fault for not throwing it away when I moved in. The vet was very somber telling me the amount she ate would be enough to kill a dog of twice her size. She was only 35 lbs.

He said if I wanted to try and save her, he would do all he could, but it wasn't promising. Over the next few weeks she had numerous blood transfusions, was on a IV, and stayed at the vet’s office. I visited her everyday. They told me that she would lay in her kennel until moments before I would show up each day and then she would try to stand up to greet me before I even walked in because she could sense I was coming.

The next year she was taking daily vitamin K supplements to make sure her new blood would stay healthy. After maxing out all my credit cards and borrowing money, she was healthy again, and my vet told me that she was now known as Jasmine the Wonder Dog because no one thought she would make it. in 2002, we moved Charleston to start another chapter of our lives. fast forward to 2006: I took Jasmine in to the vet because she just wasn't herself: No energy, no appetite, and a strong odor to her. It turned out to be worse than we feared: She had an oral melanoma... cancer. They gave me options but no guarantees. I made the difficult decision to not pursue radical treatment and to just have the mass removed. That made a HUGE difference in her quality of life. She was her old self again for a little while. She had one more procedure to remove more growth over the next THREE YEARS, and, Once again, everyone was amazed at Jasmine the Wonder Dog.

My mother lived another decade after Jasmine saved her life. She got to meet her grandchild and enjoy her retirement. We lost her in April of 2007 after a battle with cancer. Just two short years after that in April 2009 I took Jasmine for her last walk on the beach she loved so much. The next day I took her back to Ohlandt and said goodbye to my best friend of the past 15 years. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. This issue's cover photo was shot that day.

A few months later, in July of 2009, I went to Pet Helpers Adoption Center for the very first time. You know, just to check it out and see what this adoption thing was about. I was NOT leaving with a dog.

I walked around the adoption floor and didn't connect with any of the dogs there. I was headed for the door when a little blonde dog caught my eye. I walked over to the kennel she was in off to the side and looked for the information card. It said "Hello, my name is Peanut!".... the rest is history!

JASMINE April 1, 1994 to April 11, 2009

From Chester's House to Max's House Written by Jennifer Cleve

It was a gloomy Saturday morning, Feb. 13, 2010, and, as I awoke with the promise of going to rescue a dog at an adoption event, it started to snow. It never snows in Charleston!

My husband just smiled at me and said, “Honey, it’s just a flurry, we’re still going to look at doggies.” My heart relieved, I dressed for our journey, a 30-minute ride to Mount Pleasant.

Having searched rescue websites for a couple months and visiting adoption events, my hopes weren’t too high, again, as my husband is the difficult one. We lost our beloved golden retriever, Chester, about 14 months ago. My husband got him as a puppy and had been his best pal for 14 ½ years. Age finally overcame him. Making that decision on putting your best friend “to sleep” or be selfish and hold on as long as you can is one the hardest decisions to ever make. Chester had been in my life for 3 years. I loved him dearly, and my heart broke when that decision came.

We had lived in Mount Pleasant when Chester was alive and called our house, “Chester House.” After his passing we found our new home in West Ashley: clean house, no doggie tumbleweeds roaming the halls, no hurrying home to let someone out to do his business. This was fine for a while, but my heart ached as I watched our neighbors walking their dogs.

This particular event was listed online, and I had looked at the dogs. A certain golden lab had caught my attention. We knew we didn’t want a puppy, so 1-2 years old was our goal. We arrived precisely at the start of the noon event and were informed the lab had been adopted.

Deflation.

I had written a long letter to this organization describing our love for animals and our loss of Chester. I fully expected a house inspection and background check. One of the volunteers noticed us and inquired about our sadness. I explained that we had come to look at the Labrador. “You’re the ones that had the golden retriever aren’t you?” She had read my letter and remembered it. “Yes we are,” I brightened a little. “You really need to meet Max.” That name rang a bell, and I recognized him as the picture of the dog I had seen online and made a comment to my co-workers that I would probably fall in love with that “ugly” dog. He was in a crate curled up and asleep, even with all the commotion going on around him. The volunteer stated that he had been playing earlier and was tired. She went to get him, and I took off my “snow” coat and kneeled down. Out of the crate came the most handsome boy I had EVER seen in my life and padded right over to me.

Next thing I knew, my face got a big ole sloppy kiss and my arms flung around his neck! I longingly peered up at my husband, “Can I have him?” There was no way I was leaving without my new best friend. My husband knew “he” would be on the curb if this adoption didn’t happen. After a walk thru the store for Max’s first doggie treat from us to celebrate, we headed home to “Max’s House”!

Costco here I come! With American Express (they still took it then) in hand, I embarked on a doggie spending spree. New bed, doggie couch (had never seen one of those before), biscuits, food, dentastix, fancy food and water holder, toys, and steaks. Had to get something for the new parents! Smoking card put away, we began our new life with Max. Max was estimated to be 2 ½ yrs and weighed 55lbs (now 74 lbs). He is a brindle retriever mixed-breed. He was found as a stray in upper SC State around a dumpster. The shelter he was stranded in was about to end his life, since no one had come forward to claim him. Thank the lord a staff member realized how wonderful he was and called for help. Palmetto Paws to the rescue!

Our lives have been full of “dog-son” love since Max has come into our lives. Yes, we both have had other dogs and loved them truly. For me, however, I can honestly say Max is my heart. He was put on this earth for me. He is literally my sunrise and sunset. Every morning we get up together as soon as our feet hit the floor and gear up for our doggie adventure run. He is almost 10-years-old now, but he hasn’t slowed down.

We take Max everywhere that we are allowed to. He has a pretty good life and has definitely made ours more fulfilling. He’s been boating, beaching, doggie park playing, visiting friends homes, doggie friends at our house, visiting his grandma, staying in a hotel, getting an astronomical amount of belly rubs, many hours of playing squeaky squirrel, and just going around the block in the car with the windows down, ears flapping in the wind. As for being my sunset, he greets me every time I return home and puts us to bed at night. He jumps up in between us when we go to sleep and sometime during the night, when he is sure we are safe and sound, he will silently get into his own bed, which faces ours.

Someday God will call him to the rainbow bridge and when that day comes, I will be inconsolable. He is my best friend, my love at first sight, and my heart.

My two beautiful girls came into our lives at different times.

Daisey Mae was an American Cocker Spaniel that I got when I was 18 years old. She had been my best friend through it all, the hard times and the best times, with her great personality. Daisey was there through most of the rescues that we saved from being a stray and until they found a new fur-ever home. She almost made it to 16 years old, but unfortunately, she had a rough ending with a stroke and an aneurism that took her life. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and see her in one of the new rescue dogs that have now joined our family.

Pepper Corn was a 7 year old English Cocker Spaniel that my husband and I rescued from the Henry County Pound in McDonough, GA. She had a rough start; when we got her she had bilateral cherry eyes, her skin had 2 inches of scabs all over her body, and she was covered in fleas and ticks. She got her name after we gave her a capstar to get rid of the fleas and ticks and the ticks looked like pepper coming off of her. Pepper was such a sweet, angelic and fun loving dog. She could be quiet and relaxed at home and then just put on the smile and charm when meeting people.

Pepper had a bit of the rough ending, but she was so strong through it all and never let anything get in her way of just being happy. In the last year of her life she was able to see a huge part of this country, from Reno, Nevada to Savannah, Georgia. Pepper had cancer in the mouth, heart failure, and loss of muscle mass. She still had spunk with everything going on until her last day.

Pepper and Daisey were not just sisters, they were best friends. They did everything together, slept next to each other, and were always with one another, so when we lost Daisey, it was hard on Pepper. She went into a depression, eating little at time and laying in the spot where Daisey used to sleep. It didn't matter to her that we had other dogs in the family. We ended up trying to get her spirits up by getting her out more, taking her to pet festivals, and seeing family, but it wasn’t until we brought a new rescue into the family we saw a great difference. We rescued a 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Dutchess, and Pepper soon found her new best friend.

Thank you for reading our story, Robyn, Jake, Kali, Dutchess & Carolina

Goose Creek  NOW OPEN!

A Good Dog...

written by Ken Bergmann..

Most of us have had dogs. All shapes and sizes. For some of us these furry little balls of energy become so ingrained in our lives that they become more than just a pet; they become part of our family. Yesterday I had to put my best furry friend to sleep. Her name was Daisy, and she was a 14-year-old yellow lab.

Fourteen years ago I answered an ad for lab puppies. As I walked to the pen there were four furry balls of energy, including a bruiser that I immediately wanted: big block head, stocky, he looked like the perfect specimen. When I entered the pen, the bruiser saw me, whimpered, and hid behind his sisters and cowered. I was disappointed until one of the pups turned around and looked at me. She stared at me for a second, and then a goofy grin broke out on her face and she rushed to me. I ad never seen such a happy puppy before. I knew then this was MY dog; I didn't choose her she chose ME. We took her home, and she began to settle into our lives. She was smart as a whip and ready to learn. I taught her basic commands, which she mastered quickly. As she grew, she became a furry sister to my daughters and went everywhere with us: always ready to play and cuddle. When any of us were in a bad mood, she would come up and beg for attention, and as we scrubbed her ears and rubbed her belly the bad mood faded away. Daisy and I had a bond I have never had with another dog.. As the years waned on and I had to deploy for months at a time, when I returned she was always there, wagging her tail and jumping in my lap.

One day, Daisy could not make it up the stairs; she couldn’t hop up on the bed. It made me pause, and I realized twelve years had flown by. She was still happy and got around just fine, but I realized she was getting old and the thought of her leaving us was fleeting. We continued on as always, her playing and always being there. She was Daisy and never changed. Another year went by and she got a little slower but was still Daisy. Then, she began approaching her 14th birthday. She had a seizure a few months before that but was still ok and had not had another. It was hard for her to get up and walk but as soon as she was up she was fine. I knew she was drawing to the end of her time. Every time I thought about it my heart sank each time.

Her 14th birthday came and we took her to the dog park. We had her on a wagon and she smiled as we rolled her along. She wanted down, and she walked around, met some other dogs, and was happy as a clam.

We gave her a birthday biscuit, and even though she gave herself another seizure trying to swallow it whole, she recovered quickly was still smiling and wagging her tail.

She was on her daily pills, and they seemed to keep the pain at bay in her back legs. She still got up and went outside, smiled, wagged her tail, and loved attention. Then one day she couldn’t get herself up. I helped her outside and she managed to walk around and do her business, but she wasn’t wagging her tail. I knew it was time. My heart stopped and broke a little. I had looked for every glimmer of hope; I was grasping at any straw that told me she had a little more time. Then I ran out of glimmers and ways to make her comfortable, and I knew this was it. I realized those glimmers were for me, not for her. It wasn’t fair to her, who had given every shred of her being to make us happy. I knew I had to let her go.

I called my oldest daughter, who made arrangements to be off work, and the rest of us gathered. We got her a big cheese burger and cheese tots for supper and made her a pallet of blankets to rest on. The next morning, I made her a big plate of scrambled eggs, one of her favorites, and we all fed her and pet her.

She loved the attention; she was smiling and happy, happier than I had seen her in a long time. The doctor arrived, and we all sat around her as he gave her a shot to calm her down and sedate her.

Daisy Duke Bergmann 12/28/02 to 04/18/17

We all said our final “see ya laters,� seeing as none of us could bear to say goodbye. Then, the doc gave her the final shot. As we all held each other and her, she was gone. She was off across the rainbow bridge to rejoin our other pets and family. We all spent some time with her her, and I finally gathered the courage to wrap her up for her final drive.

I just got the call that she is ready to come home. Her ashes will be placed in a beautiful stone box, and she will reside next to our other pet on the piano. She is gone physically from our lives now but will remain in our hearts forever. Rest in peace my friend. You were loved more than any other animal in my life. You will live on in my heart forever. I miss you.

A Look

INSIDE A

CRUEL TRADITION DOG MEAT FESTIVAL OF YULIN

Written by Harvey Shi lowcountry dog 28

IN MAY OF 2017, NEWS HIT THE INTERNET THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD BANNED RESTAURANTS FROM SELLING DOG MEAT HENCE DELIVERING A BLOW TO THE YULIN FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. WE HAVE SEEN NO NEWS DIRECTLY FROM CHINA ON THE ACCURACY OF THE NEWS AS ALL REPORTING HAS BEEN BASED OUT OF THE USA AND BASED ON VERBAL NOT WRITTEN NEWS. THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE IS AN AMERICAN WHO LIVES IN CHINA AND SHOWS THE HISTORY OF THIS GRUESOME FESTIVAL.

As someone who has traveled many places in my time, I have acquired the ability to practice cultural sensitivity to the best of my ability. Cultural sensitivity is when you separate your own feelings because it is not your culture, meaning you should not tell those in other cultures what you believe is right or wrong.

I have tried to remain as sensitive as possible, but, when it comes to the Dog Meat Festival, I have been unable to remain completely impartial and without opinion or judgement.

Let me state now for the record that the following represents my own feelings and opinions as well as the feelings and opinions of those I have spoken to.

Dogs are animals. Throughout history man domesticated dogs to work for them and later to be their companion, and China was no different. Man and dog created a bond. They respected dogs and cared greatly for them. So it might make someone wonder how dogs would later become another meat option on a menu. Poverty and famine, in some small regions in China, are the largest factors in dogs' transition from friend to food. When families were starving, they chose their survival over their four legged friends.

Now I beg you not to stereotype all Chinese as dog eaters. China is an extremely large country and the areas in which dog meat is considered acceptable to eat is rather small. This is not a common practice with most Chinese people.

Eating dog is most common in a few places in the southern part of China, as well as a handful of cities in the north of China. Most Chinese wouldn't consider eating a dog. With these facts in mind, I will focus on one of the provinces and its city that not only has a high percentage of dog meat trade but also hosts the annual Dog Meat Festival.

Guangxi is a beautiful province in the Southwest of China. It's unique mountain range and colorful history pull visitors in for a one of a kind experience. Looking out the window of the bus at the stretches of rice fields which scale up the mountain like thin stairways. One would never imagine the annual festival that takes place in the summer on June 20th, brings in another type of traveller. There is a city in this beautiful province that is infamous among many young Chinese as well as foreign visitors. In this city of Yulin a cruel tradition takes place every year since 2010 in which dogs are slaughtered for their meat.

Being that many readers have never been to China and only know what the farm industry looks like in the west there are many differences in the treatment of livestock and the respect for their living conditions and comfort.

Imagine now a cage where the dogs have been stuffed in packing the cages in to maximize number of dogs available to slaughter with minimal space taken. There is no concern for the animals comfort or well being. They are looked at as a good to be sold and killed for money.

For many of us who have had or still have a dog for a pet seeing this will over flow us with an intense anger and disgust. 10-15,000 dogs and cats are sold and slaughtered for their meat during this festival.

Where do these dogs come from?

This part is the hardest part for many to accept. While there is a good amount of the dogs there that come from farms where they were raised for their meat and not as pets, there is also a good portion of family pets who have been stolen off the street and from apartment complexes and sold to meat traders. You can see them in cages with their collars and tags, confused and frightened as their entire life of being a loved part of a family has been cruelly stolen from them.

Many Chinese and foreigners have begun to fight to free these dogs from the terrible fate that awaits them as they are brought from all over Guangxi, lowcountry dog 30

as well as neighboring province of Guangdong to Yulin, to be slaughtered.

One of these volunteers spoke about their mission. They want to not only save these dogs and find them homes, but also have this festival banned. To be fully successful there would be no more eating of dog meat whatsoever.

While this dream may seem far fetched at this moment with little support being shown by local authority, it still is what they and many others are fighting for.

In a recent victory, 331 lives were saved.

A truck carrying cages full to the brim of dogs was spotted on the road.

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Volunteers called the police and the truck was detained for not having the proper papers for proof of quarantine for the dogs on the truck. The local volunteers stayed up all night never leaving the truck to make sure that they could get these dogs to a shelter as soon as possible. Once the driver of the dog their renounced the dogs the volunteers were able to step in and quickly get them to safety and begin the long process of treatment as well as searching for homes for the lives that were now given a second chance.

Social media in a China is now becoming a huge platform for raising  awareness and help.

Groups are created for those who want to help to donate money, offer their homes for fostering, or post about fosters needing homes or shelters needing volunteers and supplies.

For those in China, adopting a dog who was nearly a meal is a great way to show support and help save lives. However, if you want to help make a difference, then be a voice for those who don't have one. If you plan on visiting China, don't support tourism in places where they do these things to our furry friends. Together we can stop this violence.

Rescue Spotlight In the Rescue Spotlight this issue, we feature one of the most recognizable and squishiest breeds - the bulldog! I love every dog I meet and immediately want to become best friends with them, but there is something about a bulldog that just pulls those extra heart strings. I can’t resist their jiggly butts and Snuffleupagus snorts. Bullies 2 The Rescue, a Carolinabased organization that finds forever homes for English and French bulldogs, feel the same way! sponsored by Written by Julie Murray lowcountry dog 32

B2TR was founded by Director Courtney Vaux after she found out about a broker who was importing bulldogs under terrible circumstances, resulting in mistreatment and even death. Courtney took action by following up on complaints and gathering evidence on these unethical “bully brokers” and eventually was able to shut down the organization. Going through that experience opened her eyes as to how many bulldogs were in need of help, so she created Bullies 2 The Rescue to address this need. Since its inception in 2011, over 400 English and French bulldogs have been rescued!

II spoke with Kristina Contreras, a bulldog mom herself, about her involvement in this rescue organization. She and her husband relocated to the Lowcountry in 2016 and wanted to get involved in some type of community efforts. Kristina had met Courtney years ago through her work in fundraising and reached out to see if any help was needed in the bulldog rescue community. Courtney responded with a resounding yes, and Kristina and her husband have been involved ever since. “That was the beginning of our efforts here in the Lowcountry. We have since in a year’s time fostered 21 bulldogs, completed home visits, fundraising efforts and really focus[ed] on

growing our foster network and education efforts, because the need is here!” Kristina told me that the bulldog is now a very popular breed in Charleston. Unfortunately with that comes things like irresponsible backyard breeders and people who don’t know how to care for this unique and wonderful breed, resulting in sickness and even death.

Kristina said that the biggest thing people need to understand about bulldogs is that, health-wise, they are a high maintenance breed. Much of this has to do with their characteristic squishy faces. “Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed...and this makes them very susceptible to breathing problems. Charleston’s summers are brutal with the heat and bulldogs are at a high risk for heat stroke.”

She says that it’s important to keep bulldogs inside and cool on days like that. They are also at high risk for having allergies. "It’s important that they are kept on a grain-free, limited ingredient diet and [the] majority need diets that do not contain anything with wings (chicken, duck, turkey).” Other issues may include eye health, possible hip and elbow problems and fungal and yeast issues if their wrinkles are not frequently cleaned. That being said, there are even more reasons why bulldogs are amazing and make great companions. Kristina told me that bulldogs are kind of like the city of Charleston - very laid back!

“They have just as much personality on the inside as displayed in the wrinkly, floppy jowls and underbites exterior.”

She says that one of her favorite things they do is something called Zoomies.

“It’s a real thing!”, Kristina says. “Want a laugh, put that in your YouTube search...they really are stout, snorting goofballs.” Another plus, for the right owner is that bulldogs don’t require lots of exercise. That doesn’t mean they can’t move, though! “What really cracks my husband and I up is dinner time. At our house, all is quiet and full of snoring bulldogs until the minute they hear the food container open!

They run [to us] with the force of racing horses!”

I asked Kristina if she had a favorite rescue story to tell us and she said one definitely sticks out in her mind the story of her foster-failure, Jasmine (now Vivian.) Jasmine was surrendered by an owner who originally purchased her off CraigsList. The woman saw right away what terrible condition Jasmine was in and called B2TR in for help.

Kristina remembers the first time she saw Jasmine, “I almost cried right then and there. Her entire neck was bare from a large and very infected hot spot. She had green goop covering her eyes, also cherry eyes.

Her fur was missing on both right and left side flanks. It was very obvious she was used to breed many litters of puppies.” After many vet visits and even more sleepless nights, Jasmine started to recover from her injuries and began to trust humans again.

However, they were all faced with another setback when Jasmine’s vet called and said they had found mammary tumors. “In my mind, I thought, no way can she come this far and have cancer.” Thankfully, along with the help of an amazing veterinarian in North Carolina the tumors were removed and Jasmine is cancer free! Kristina told me “I held that little girl close after picking her up [from her surgery]...I was upset thinking how she was used, abused and could have lost her life. It made me want to be stronger and fight

If this sounds like an organization you would like to become involved with, there are several ways to help! B2TR currently has a huge need for foster homes. This involves providing a temporary loving home for a bulldog while they are evaluated and, if necessary, brought back to good health. The rescue is also looking for event volunteers. Kristina told me that with the growing popularity of the breed in Charleston, they continuously need lots of local support - help with fundraising efforts, promoting the rescue and educating the public on the breed.

Please visit their website at www.bullies2therescue.com to learn more about adopting, fostering, hosting a fundraiser or donating. You can also check their Facebook pages, Bullies 2 the Rescue and Bullies 2 the Rescue Adopt-a-bulls, for information about their upcoming events, fundraisers and adoptable bullies.

As a former bulldog mom (R.I.P. sweet Murphy), I can attest to all the joy, laughs and the insane amount of gas these dogs will bring into your life.

They are loving, protective and loyal companions who will be there for you through all the Netflix marathons, porch sittin’ and road trips of life. By supporting this wonderful organization, you will ensure the future happiness of many bullies to come.

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event calendar Sniff out all events here 6/4 Eat, Drink, and be Giving for the Paws!, Frances R. Willis SPCA, Zest Grill, 5:30 to 9pm 6/8 LOWCOUNTRY DOG YAPPY HOUR, Tattooed Moosed Johns Island, 6 to 8pm 6/10 EARTHWISE PET GRAND OPENING PET PARTY, 104pm 6/10 Poker Run benefitting Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter. Forest Circle Middle School, 10 AM 6/11 Animals and Oils 101, Online FREE Course with Living Naturally with Carrie

ADOPTION EVENTS EVERY SATURDAY at both Pet Supplies Plus locations!