March/April 2015

March/April 2015

Midsouth’s Community Pet Magazine

Cruelty and P revention Issue Bluff City Bark Magazine

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contents features 10 Nathan’s Story

14 6 Meet Alexis Amorose The New Director of the Mid-South Spay & Neuter Clinic

16 Featured Rescue: Meet Memphis’s newest animal rescuers

On the cover....

Meet Nathan, a pup who is famous all over the internet pg 10 “like” us on facebook @Bluff City Bark

follow us on twitter @BluffCityBark

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follow us on instagram @BluffCityBark

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On Our Site

departments

Bluff City Bark

Midsouth’s Community Pet Magazine

4

My Letter

20

Lyme Disease Prevention

24 20 31

Ask A Trainer Maude’s News

28

Puperscopes

Ask A Vet

30 Pets of Instagram

interests 9

What are we feeding our pets

8

Walk Your Dog Month

6

DIY Pet Recipes

Creator

Katey McCabe

Contributing Writer Tiffany Warmbrod Hana Meskovi Emily Anderson

Copywriter Elise Starling

HOW TO CONTACT US

Info@bluffcitybark.com Website: bluffcitybark.com SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Do you have a pet related event coming up? Email us at info@ bluffcitybark.com and submit your event. We want to share any pet related event in the Bluff City area.

DON’T MISS OUT Never miss an issue! Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest Bark News.

Bluff City Bark is very excited to be Memphis, TN’s first pet magazine. We are very dedicated to publishing helpful and educational information to our community.

We welcome submissions from writers and photographers anytime. Please email to katey@bluffcitybark.com with questions and creative ideas for articles.

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My L e t t e r

If Pets Had Thumbs Day leaves me pondering, but what if they did….

March 3rd is National If Pets Had Thumbs Day. Opposable thumbs are what sets man apart from several other species on the planet. We are able to do many things with these appendages like use the space bar on our keyboards, use can openers and give a thumbs up to your friends.

Now let’s imagine a world where our pets have the same abilities. What types of fun things could they do with us or ways they could be more independent?

Here is our list of things we imagine our pets could do if they had thumbs:

-Thumb Wrestle: I’m sure Maude would win against me in thumb wrestling with her big paws.

-Hitchhike: If anyone’s pet had thumbs, we know for sure they would use it to hitch for rides to the dog park or their best friend’s house. This would be nice on those extra sleepy cold days when you pup is begging to get out, but you don’t feel like it.

-Text: AT&T would love it if my pets could text. My bill would be so high, but I’m sure there would be some funny pics of my cats all over the internet.

-Control the remote: The struggle over the remote is bad enough with my husband, but if my pets had control, we would have to get another TV. No one wants to watch hours and hours of DogTV. -Play Bass: If a pet could play bass, just imagine the concerts and type of music they could create! I would go to a pup concert, especially if they were named something like The Red Hot Milk Bones or Gladys Night and The Pups.

-Suck their thumbs as a puppy: BRACES! We would have dog orthodontics, just imagine that for a moment….

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An Interview With Alexis Amorose: Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services New Executive Director

Written by: Hana Meskovic Photos by: Katey McCabe

B luff City Bark would like to welcome Alexis Amorose as the new director of Mid South Spay and Neuter! Congratulations! Alexis was kind enough to answer a few interview

questions for us, and as you will see, she brings promising game to the animal services world.

Although Alexis didn’t start her career in the world of helping animals, it was her passion and love for animals that lead her on the path that she is now. Growing up as an avid animal-lover, she took to volunteering at her local SPCA. Through broadcasting and event management jobs, she found ways to continue her involvement with animal rescue by covering stories about animals to fostering and re-homing animals in her own household. In 2011, she became the Executive director of the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County where she achieved double the amount of intakes and an increased adoption rate. Which brings us to her current position. We are excited to follow her endeavours with MSNS as she will be very successful!

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What was your first pet?

My first pet was a boxer named Rocky.

How many and what kind of pets do you currently have?

My fiancee and I have three dogs- an 11 year-old yellow lab mix named Huey, adopted from the Humane Society when he was a puppy; an 8 year-old black lab mix named Wilma who was at the DeSoto Animal Shelter with distemper as a puppy when I rescued her; finally, we have a 6 year-old Australian shepherd mix named Evaline who was a cruelty case at the Humane Society- we fostered her and nursed her back to health and then just couldn’t give her up.

When was the first time you knew you loved animals?

It’s hard to say- I just know that every picture of me as a kid is of me hugging a dog. I honestly can’t remember a day where running into an animal didn’t stop me in my tracks and subsequently slow down my mother- there is something indescribably special about the love between an animal and a human that I just can’t get enough of!

When was the first time you knew you wanted to work with animals?

In my other career pursuits, I always tried to work some sort of animal interaction into my life, whether by covering stories about animals when I worked in the news business, or by volunteering with animal organizations in college and when I worked in event planning here in Memphis. When the opportunity presented itself to combine my job skills with

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my passion for animals professionally, it was as if I had hit the career lottery.

How did MSNS start?

Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services started as the Animal Protection Association back in the 1970’s, and was initially focused on legislative reform to help fight animal cruelty.

Over the years, the organization recognized the need for low-cost spay neuter services in the Mid-South, and saw the opportunity to shift the mission to really focus on addressing the overpopulation problem at the source.

Since the clinic opened in 2005, we have fixed more than 33,000 pets, which means literally hundreds of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens that didn’t end up in our city shelters or left to die on our streets.

What do you hope to bring to the clinic in your new position? To Memphis?

I’ve learned over the years working with animals that while working on the rescue side is as rewarding and fulfilling as anything in my life, that I need to put my time and talents into increasing spay and neuter efforts in our community if I want to say I am truly making a difference for dogs and cats in the Mid-South.

I think my ability to communicate effectively, creatively persuade donors to support us, and to find engaging ways to bring new stakeholders to the cause are the attributes that will be most beneficial to Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services and subsequently the MidSouth as a whole.

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It seems in your early careers, you had jobs that weren’t necessarily focused on animal welfare (report, event manager, etc.) but somehow always turned your focus towards that. In what ways did you achieve this? Was it easy to do?

I think if you listen to yourself and give your passion a voice, finding a career where you get to combine your professional skills and your charitable cause of choice IS possible.

I think anybody who wants to achieve the same kind of transition just needs to be open to the idea and find ways to expose yourself to your dream industry- that is how I did it. By volunteering, I was in the right place at the right time to make the transition.

In what ways are you planning to make spaying and neutering available to all people of the midsouth and promote the importance of spaying and neutering?

My focus is on finding donors at all giving levels to help us offer our surgeries at discounted prices for low-income pet owners. I always say, if the choice is between getting your pet fixed or putting dinner on the table for your kids, that really isn’t a choice at all. If we can recruit enough donors to help us offset the surgery costs so they are low enough that everyone can afford it, we are not only helping to control the pet population in our community, but we are preventing that family from having the burden of a litter of puppies or kittens that they don’t have the resources to handle.

What would you say to someone who has pets that aren’t spayed or neutered or doesn’t see the need to spay or neuter their pets?

I think it is important, before you start making an argument, that you hear the reasons why they are against it. Is it because they are worried about putting their pet under anesthesia and the risks of surgery? Then I would respond by telling

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them how unaltered pets are much more likely to get cancer and have a shorter life span, and therefore if it is your pet’s health you are worried about, spaying and neutering actually decreases their health risks. Is it because they don’t want to change their pet’s personality? Research shows that spaying and neutering does not change the personality, but does reduce or eliminate undesirable behaviors like marking, spraying, wandering, and can even reduce aggression.

Perhaps it is that they want to show their children the miracle of life. I would then recommend that they get involved as fosters for a rescue group or local shelter, where they can take of newborn puppies and kittens that don’t have mothers to nurse them. Or what about someone who isn’t really interested in animal causes at all? I then focus on the fact that for every $1 we spend on proactive spay or neuter efforts, we save $3 for taxpayers in animal sheltering and animal control costs- so this can actually REDUCE your tax burden in the long run. The bottom line is there is no one size fits all answer- you need to find out what motivates people to do what they do, and then give them the evidence to help them make an informed decision.

What changed do you want to see at MSNS within the next year?

My goal in 2015 is to grow our donor base so that we can have enough annual funding to allow us to offer discounted surgeries for EVERY low-income pet owner that requests help. After we are able to help everyone who wants the surgery but can’t afford it (what I would call “low-hanging fruit”, where money is the only obstacle), that’s when we can start focusing our energy on educating those that are against the idea (the “high-hanging fruit” so to speak) and really start making a difference in our shelter intake numbers.

For more information on Mid-South Spay & Neuter Clinic visit, http:// spaymemphis.org/ www.bluffcitybark.com

What are we feeding our pets?

You know what to watch for when reading your own food labels, right? Here's what's important for your furry friends.

• Don’t worry about the name: Terms like “Gourmet” and “ Premium” are not regulated and can be used falsely.

• Look at the order of ingredients: The top ingredients should be meat and vegetables. Things like corn and grains should be towards the bottom of the top ingredients.

• Senior and arthritic pets look for there words: Glucosamine and Chondoroitin If your dog has arthritis, look for these dietary additives, which can help maintain joint health.

• Where’s the Beef: products labeled as “beef” contain more beef than those labeled “beef dinner.” Anything called “dog food with beef” contains the least amount of beef. And “beef flavor” is not the same as beef!

• Read the Nutritional Adequacy Statement This is the most critical part of the label. It means the recipe meets the requirements of the

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Nathan’s Story

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M

any of you remember seeing numerous pictures on Facebook, in November 2013, of a grayish sad and scared pit bull named Nathan. This boy was famous all over the place, but sadly not for something positive.

Nathan was found, tied by a thick heavy chain to Hollywood Feed on Broad Avenue, one late cold stormy night. He was starving and wondering why he had this life.

“Nathan was tied up to a business and found by a dear friend and foster dad to 4 of sunny meadows senior babies. We have searched ALL cameras in the area where he was found and all we could see was a man running from the location...sadly not enough to prosecute and no other leads.”

Brent Bain, a foster parent for Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets (a local nokill rescue) and a few of his friends were driving home when one of them noticed something in the Hollywood Feed on Broad parking lot. Pulling over, they discovered this neglected, malnourished dog tied to the railing.

He was so happy to see someone that he, instinctively knew he had found someone he could immediately trust. When the group approached Nathan, he lowered his head and wagged his tail.

Once Brent sat down next to him, Brian felt a sense of relief from Nathan. “You’re cool? I’m cool.” He felt this dog had a moment where he thought to himself, “I’m going to live.”

He was instantly taken to AEC on Summer Avenue to be examined for injuries and other health issues.

The veterinary revealed that Nathan was severely malnourished, which caused his hair loss, suffered from parasites, a broken jaw and had a few open pressure wounds on his back end.

Weighing only 35 lbs pounds, Nathan was tired, but not ready to give up. He saw hope in the eyes of his saviors.

AEC vets believed if he had been left at the store overnight, he would not have lived to see the morning.

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S

eeing Nathan now, you would not believe that this is the same dog. His fur is a soft black color, his eyes are bright and happy, but the most important thing for Nathan is that he is safe and loved by many people.

Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets, the rescue that took him in, was able to raise $10,000 for his extensive medical care. Nathan had many dental surgeries to remove dead and infected teeth, heartworm treatment and wound care.

We asked Sunny Meadows if anyone was ever caught for leaving Nathan to die. Sadly, the answer is, “No.” Amy Goad, director of Sunny Meadows, said “We have searched ALL cameras in the area where he was found and all we could see was a man running from the location...sadly not enough to prosecute and no other leads.” They don’t know if the person who tied him up there was trying to get the dog help or was possibly the person who neglected him.

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Today, Nathan is living in a foster home with a few other foster dogs from Sunny Meadows. He spends his days now napping on the couch, meeting new dogs and enjoying life. We met up with Nathan at Chickasaw Gardens to see how he was faring. As you can see in the photos, he is not missing a meal and very much thankful for all whom had a hand in taking care of him.

From the rescuers to the hundreds of people who donated towards his care, Nathan says

“Thank you!�

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"What is the story behind this dog?"

If you attended the Art Unleash art show benefiting Memphis Pets Alive and saw this painting you probably asked the same question I did, what is the story behind this dog?

We asked artist and volunteer at Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, Hailey Maker what inspired her to paint this for Art Unleash to find out more.

What is the story behind the dog?

Jack Frost is a dog that was abandoned on the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County’s property in 2014. And befitting his namesake, he brought with him one of the coldest nights of the year. He had behavioral indicators that lead us to believe he had been abused, and due to this, he was shut down and wary of new people. However, due to the work of some of the wonderful volunteers and staff, Jack made quick strides in his confidence level.

What made you want to paint this particular dog?

Jack Frost became the subject for this piece because he was the quintessential symbol of what every animal rescuer wants to do. We want to provide a voice for those that need it most, for those who do not have one. And he was just that, a shy guy without the ability to speak for himself, too scared to even speak.

And through the effort of many wonderful souls, he found a voice in the rescuers, volunteer, adopters who made every effort to give him the life that every living being deserves - an existence filled with love and respect.

How did Jack come to the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County?

Do you know the Jack Frost lore? Well, Jack Frost originated in Scandinavian mythology as an Elf that quietly sneaks into towns at night and brings the crisp cold weather of winter.

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This is why we named this handsome boy Jack Frost, because he snuck onto our property late at night on New Year’s Eve (which as you all know was the first day of our intense cold spell). Jack Frost is much like the lore in the sense that he is quiet and he moves with such grace that he almost looks like he is floating. Unfortunately, Jack Frost does show signs that he has been beaten in the past in would do best in patient family that has dealt with abused dogs.

Where is the dog today?

Shy dogs can be hard to place into homes because they often require a level of dedication and patience that not many people are able to provide. Jack Frost was one of the fortunate cases that found his “forever” home rather quickly. The perfect family came in, and it was obvious that they had captured each other’s hearts from the first moment they met, and now Jack Frost is living happily ever after with his new family with a new name: Luke. He has even made great strides in his training and knows how to sit, shake, and lie down.

Written and photos by: Katey McCabe

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Bluff City Bark is excited to have Alive Rescue Memphis as our featured

rescue for our March/April issue! Alive’s mission statement is to “Protect the Lives and the rights of animals”. ARM is not breed specific; they provide medical, behavioral, and physical support for animals regardless of age, breed, or health. ARM President, Ranise Coppens gave us a little more insight into the organization and how they ended up in the Bluff City.

Written by: Tiffany Warmbrod Photos by: Katey McCabe

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How did Alive Rescue Memphis get started? Do you ever go to the shelter and rescue Alive Rescue Memphis started when the founder from there? Where do most of the dogs that of ALIVE Rescue in Chicago decided that with you have for adoption come to you from? my move to Memphis she would ask me to start a branch of ALIVE. It was known that I had plans to move to Memphis and would be starting my own rescue. When Kristen, ALIVE’s founder asked me I was thrilled. I had been volunteering with ALIVE for quite some time and the rescue was exactly what I envisioned for my rescue to be. It already held so many beliefs that I hold true to my heart.

Once we knew ALIVE Rescue Memphis would be happening we planned a trip to Memphis. Kristen, myself, and Debra (volunteer coordinator) came down here to tour shelters and meet with the staff, shelter directors, and of course the animals. We spent an entire day at MAS and the next day at WMAS. We came down in a rented cargo van with the hopes of bringing some animals back to Chicago. Three days later we headed back to Chicago with 19 animals and a better idea of what I would be dealing with while living down here.

Is there a board?

Currently the board is myself and the founder of ALIVE Rescue Kristen Gerali.

How many volunteers do you have?

If I include my husband who is literally the biggest supporter of ALIVE Rescue Memphis, we currently have 5 volunteers. That is not including the staff of WMAS who besides helping with adoption events and fundraisers have literally become family to me down here.

How many dogs does ARM currently have in foster care? We currently have 10 dogs in foster homes.

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We have pulled from both MAS and WMAS as well as a couple of street dogs. Most of our dogs have come from WMAS. The staff there is wonderful and they do everything they possibly can to stay as no kill as they possibly can. They have play lots where we are able to temp test dogs and also allow cat testing. It’s a wonderful shelter that often gets overlooked and we love helping them get their animals out and into safety.

Do you rescue cats?

We would LOVE to pull some cats but we currently have not gotten any foster applications for them. If you would like to foster a cat please fill out our application at http://www. aliverescuememphis.org/RP_Application.asp

What are the future plans for ARM?

We have some very big plans for 2015. We are currently working on Reach Out Days where we will bring wellmannered dogs to retirement communities as well as children's hospitals. We are working on doing one community pet day this year where we can offer vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter coupons to low income pet owners. ALIVE Rescue does this in Chicago by partnering up with two other wonderful rescues there. We would love to help the community and at the same time work together with other rescues like the Chicago chapter has.

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by Kelly Green D.V.M from Animal Hospital Raliegh-Bartlett

What should my routine deworming be for any age pet?

Puppies and kittens can be infected with worms either before or right after birth. That is why we recommend deworming with a general dewormer every 2 weeks starting at 2 weeks of age until 8 weeks -- at which time they can be started on a monthly heartworm preventative that also claims intestinal parasite control. Intestinal parasite screens should also be performed to rule out parasites not affected by general dewormers.

Adults should receive monthly heartworm preventatives that also includes intestinal parasite control (even indoor cats) and have yearly parasite screening test -- more often if they develop diarrhea or have weight loss.

What should I do if I my pet has ingested weed killer?

Most weed killers are safe if used as directed and allowed to dry before pets have access to treated areas. Some can be irritating to the mouth and stomach if ingested while still wet, while others can be more serious. If your pet ingest weed killer do not try to induce vomiting unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. If exposure is very recent try to rinse out the mouth with a gentle spray of water. Then call your veterinarian (or poison control ) with the list of active ingredients for further instructions.

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What cat is constantly cleaning my other cats and then coughs up hair balls. How can I help with the hair balls?

Brushing your cats daily will help remove the loose hair that inevitably gets ingested during their normal grooming routine. The less hair ingested -- the less chance of hair balls.

Routine use of hair ball treats or diets can help improve the passage of hair through the gastrointestinal tract.

If, however, you find your cat vomits hair (or just vomits) frequently, it would be best to take them to your veterinarian for a checkup.

What can I do if my pet burns her paws?

If your pet manages to burn a paw , place the paw in cool (not cold) water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then loosely wrap the paw in a clean gauze dressing and take her to your veterinarian for further care.

Have a question for one of our vets? Email them to ask@bluffcitybark.com and your question could be featured in our next issue.

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Pint 4 Pups Night

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Our family has adopted a new puppy.

She is stubborn with toys and won’t allow our older dog to play. What can we do at an early age to get our puppy to share toys and not growl when another dog gets around her?

My female beagle digs along the fence line when unsupervised. What should I do?

Instead of stubborn, she simply prefers to play by herself. Your puppy growls to let your older dog know she does not want to share her toys. Resource guarding is a normal, acceptable dog behavior as long as no fighting occurs. Do not tell your puppy no when she growls. This may result in a dogfight due to elimination of normal canine communication. It is admirable to want your dogs to share toys and play together.

However, some dogs do not initiate play with other dogs. They are more solitary in their behavior. This may be who she is. As long as she does not take and guard all toys, it would be best to allow her to be who she is. When she gets a toy and your other dog wants to play, redirect the older dog to play with you.

Digging is natural in dogs. Some breeds such as terriers and hounds (like your beagle) “go to ground” more than others.

Dogs dig to hide treasures, to find critters, to play, or out of boredom. Digging along the fence line suggests the latter. It does not take long for a beagle to get bored! The best solution is to supervise your dog while outside so you can distract her with other activities. You could also designate a digging spot. Create a big enough sandbox mixing sand and soil so it is fun to dig. Bury a toy close to the surface and invite your dog to “Go Dig”. Praise her lavishly when she does.

Practice until she digs on cue. As she makes progress, bury toys without letting your dog see you. If she starts digging elsewhere, interrupt her and redirect her to her sandbox with her cue. With supervision, practice, and lots of patience, your dog will learn to go to her designated spot when she wants to dig.

Ann Marie Easton, PhD, CPDT-KSA, PMCT Pawsitive Companionship, LLC

Martha Bernal, ABCDT Wet Nose University

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Ask a Trainer How can I get my dog not to jump on the couch when we are gone and lick the pillows?

When we come home, the couch is wet in spots from her licking so much. We provide bones and toys for her to play with, but sometimes she prefers to lick the pillows.

Obsessive licking can sometimes indicate stress and/or boredom, which may occur when your dog is home alone. Provide treat-dispensing, interactive toys to help keep your dog’s interest and to help relieve stress.

Toys like KONGs, Tug-a-Jugs™, and Buster® Cubes are good examples. Only give your dog these toys when you leave. Rotate the toys to prevent boredom.

A nice walk with your dog before you leave the house can go a long way to decrease some problem behaviors, as well.

Lastly, don’t allow your dog access to the couch and pillows when you’re away.

Crating and baby gating can help you manage this. Upending some chairs on the sofa may be another good option. But remember to provide acceptable alternatives, like a soft dog bed. Dogs enjoy comfort, too!

Get a tasty treat, trade for the toy, and put the toy away.

3-When you tug, gently do so side to side, not up and down.

4-If your dog’s teeth touch your skin, drop the toy, trade him for the toy, and stop play.

5-If your dog begins growling, tugging wildly, or yanking on the toy, trade and put it away.

6-When the game is finished, ask your dog to drop the toy, then put it away.

Ann Marie Easton, PhD, CPDT-KSA, PMCT Pawsitive Companionship, LLC

I have a shy 6-year-old. He is shy around people and not a dog who goes out of his way to play with new ones. We want to adopt another younger dog, but don’t know what personality type we should adopt. If we add to our family, is there a personality that would fit best with our current pup?

Are you adopting the new dog as a companion for your shy dog? If so, it may not have the effect you intend. “Shy” usually means fearful, and from what you Valerie Campbell, ABCDT say, this may include dogs as well. Addition Knick Knack Patty Whack Pet Services of a second dog should take into account

your lifestyle, the size of your family, where

you live and what activities you like. I am Is it ok to play tug-a-war with my dog? He sure you do not want to acquire another loves the game, but I don’t want him to get out dog with the same issues, and there are of hand with the game and the growling. Is it protocols available to mitigate and to help a good game to play with a playful dog? your dog overcome her fears. I offer adoption assistance and would be happy to discuss

Yes. Tug-a-war is a wonderful game to your exact needs at length. Ann Marie Easton play with your dog, including those who are and I offer behavior assistance for fearful playful. If you follow a few rules, you and your dogs. Let us know if we can be of assistance. dog will enjoy this relationship building game.

1-Teach your dog to drop a toy when asked.

Elta Woodliff, Med, CPDT-KA 2-Initiate tug by letting your dog take one end The Dog Tutor of the toy. Do not let your dog grab the toy Email your pet trainer questions to from your hand. If he does, do not engage in ask@bluffcitybark.com play.

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Lyme Disease Prevention

Thanks

to Punxsutawney Phil and his dreaded shadow, we’ve got a bit to go before we start seeing any signs of spring.

However, it’s never too late to educate yourselves about the upcoming flea and tick season and some of the consequences these uninvited guests may bring with them.

Lyme disease is caused by the Borellia burgdorferi, or type of bacteria called a spirochete. Slow feeding, hard shelled deer ticks typically carry this bacteria. Usually infection can be seen after a dog has had one of these nasty bacteria carrying ticks attached for at least eighteen hours.

Lyme disease is one of the most common diseases in the world. It presents with inflammation of joints or lameness of limbs. This disease can cause serious damage to kidneys and sometimes affect the heart and nervous system. Your pet may also have difficulty breathing, show signs of fever, or be sensitive to touch. When kidney damage presents Signs of Kidney Failure: there are many symptoms to look for.

- Vomiting - Increased urination & thirst - Diarrhea - Fluid buildup in tissues or abdomen Prevention Tips: -

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Keep dogs and other animals away from tall grass or wooded areas where ticks are more prominent.

Be sure to spray your dog before reentering your home after playing outside. This helps significantly with fleas as well Bathe your dog regularly but not so often to disrupt your dogs’ natural essential oils in their skin and coat.

Manually check your dogs regularly for ticks Talk with your vet about possible vaccines and tick preventative medication available.

Many options are relatively inexpensive.

So what do you do if you find a tick on your dog? Beware of common “home remedies” or other folklore using heat or nail polish and other techniques to get the tick to detach. Those are about as bogus as they come, and the point is to get the tick out quickly and completely.

Here are tips on how to safely remove these pests: - - -

- - - -

Wash your hands thoroughly.

Always wear gloves – ticks carry diseases and it’s better safe than sorry.

Using fine-tipped tweezers, grab the tick by the head or mouth part right where they

enter the skin – do NOT grab by the body.

Pull firmly, and with a steady hand, directly outward without twisting.

Once removed, place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it.

Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant.

Written by Tiffany Warmbrod Remove & dispose of your gloves & wash your hands thoroughly.

Photo by Molly McManis

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Puperscopes Written by: Emily Anderson

What does your pups’ future hold?

Pisces (water) Feb 19th-

Mar 20th- You have been the epitome of cuddles lately, and if you can’t tell, your human is loving it!

Just don’t get sulky if your master’s attention gets pulled toward that noisy box in the room. Continue being snuggly and furry, and you’re sure to get some love in return.

Aries (fire) Mar 21-Apr 19-You may feel the

excitement in your life dwindling. The cat is lazy. Your two-legged creature is always gone. It’s ok. Challenge YOURSELF this month! If you put your mind to it, you’ll figure out a way to get to the treats on the top of the fridge.

Gemini (air) May 21st

-June 21st- You’ve got too much to do and not enough time. Let go of one of your projects (the pup next door will still be there during spring). You need to focus on fewer things because you don’t want to wind up chasing your tail!

Cancer (water) June 22nd- July 22nd-I know you

don’t want to let that old bone go, but it’s nasty, smelly, and just time to move on. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the forgotten toys hidden under your human’s bed.

Leo (fire) July 22nd- Aug 22nd-You are definitely the

king of the sidewalk! Your 3:25pm Wednesday howling helps all the dogs prepare for those awful sounding sirens. Keep at it! You were made to protect the herd.

Sniff out some new ways to lead, and add those to your list of to-dos.

Taurus (earth) Apr 20th- May 20th- Lately the safety Virgo (earth) Aug 23rd-Sept 22nd-You notice the of your kennel has been therapeutic. Just don’t get too complacent or you might find yourself stuck in there with the door locked. You need to get out and get started on a new project before you grow any more settled into your warm blankets.

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loose fringes on your toy. You notice the tiny specks of dirt on your coat. You notice everything! This month is about learning to let go. Tear that toy to shreds and revel in the dirt! Balance your fussiness with some fun, and you might notice your tail wagging a bit more. www.bluffcitybark.com

Libra (air) Sept 23rd- Oct 23rd- Use your playful

qualities to the fullest this month! There are a lot of pups at the park needing some extra loving. Get your nose up in those butts, and show off your friendly side!

Scorpio (water) Oct 24th- Nov 21st- Molehills in the yard caught your attention yet? Get at them!

You might tear up the yard (and hear some scolding) in the process, but you’re bound to get a few catches under your collar. Live up your obstinate temperament.

Sagittarius (fire) Nov 22nd-Dec 21st- Your reckless behavior is driving your human crazy! Even if the fence isn’t that hard to jump, try to constrain yourself.

Barking all day can be just as fulfilling, and your master will never know so long as you wait until the house is empty.

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Capricorn (earth) Dec 22nd-Jan 19th- : I’m sure

your have a strict daily routine: downward dog pose, whine at back door, pee on bush, eat, bark at bluesuited walking human, etc. Change it up a little this month! Don’t be scared to venture into unknown, bowel-relieving territory. The freshness will flow into all parts of your life.

Aquarius (air) Jan 20th-Feb18th- Have you been

feeling extra unpredictable lately? One second you’re man’s best friend, and the next you’re trying to chew through the leash. Hone in on this impulsive nature of yours but only for good causes! It’s time for you to explore and mark new territory.

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Pets of Instagram #bluffcitybarkpets

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Maude’s New

News From

Maude Hollywood Feed adds new products to its Mississippi Made line using dog bed fabrics Not too long after launching its Mississippi Made dog bed line, natural and holistic pet food retailer Hollywood Feed found a sustainable way to use the remnants of material left over after its dog bed patterns have been cut.

The brand has added collars and leashes, created from leftover fabric strips, to its Mississippi Made line. In addition, Hollywood Feed sells decorative items that sport their fashionable dog bed fabric patterns, including picture frames and night lights. Jean McGhee, buyer for Hollywood Feed came up with the idea of adding lamp shades to the line.

“When we say Mississippi Made, we mean it through and through,” “The lamp shades were a great addition to our growing line of home accent items,” said Anne Ross, buyer and merchandise analyst for Hollywood Feed. “These items can help a pet owner align their home accents with their pet’s bed, rather than their dog bed being a decorative outlier in an otherwise coordinated room.”

Prices start at $16.99 for collars, $17.99 for leashes, $19.99 for night lights, $21 for picture frames and $32 for large lamp shades.

In addition to the materials for the beds and accent items coming from Hollywood Feed’s facility in Tupelo, MS, they also found a local picture frame manufacturer who buys materials from the same cotton supplier in Sherman, MS that Hollywood Feed uses for their dog bed line.

“When we say Mississippi Made, we mean it through and through,” says Jean McGhee, buyer for Hollywood Feed. “We are committed to the regional areas that have supported our business over the years. We will continue to look for products that make a home both attractive, enjoyable and comfortable for pet lovers and their four-legged family members alike.”

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Pet Recipes

DIY

Spring Pups Muffs

Spring time muffins for you pups Treats

Ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 egg 2 tablespoons honey 2 bananas, mashed with a fork 1/4 cup peanut butter 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon Cooking spray

Directions: •

•

•

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees . In a bowl, whisk together the egg, honey, bananas and peanut butter. Stir in 3 cups water; whisk until smooth.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon; add to the egg mixture.

Spray two 12-cup muffin pans with cooking spray; fill each cup three quarters full. Bake until browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool.

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Visit our site for more articles and a directory of Memphis area pet services. www.BluffCityBark.com Bluff City Bark Magazine

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