May/June 2015
Midsouth’s Community Pet Magazine
Featured Rescue: Tunica Humane Society
Understanding Pet Food Labels Bluff City Bark Magazine
Kids Helping Rescues www.bluffcitybark.com
contents features 8
Featured Rescue:
Tunica Humane Society
14 14 Kids Helping Rescues
Meet a mom and daughter who show how kids can help pets in rescues and shelters
20 Reading your Pets Food Labels
Dog
FOOD On the cover....
Anna Riley Pieroni and Juno (adoptable from Tunica Humane Society) “like” us on facebook @Bluff City Bark
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On Our Site
Bluff City Bark Creator
Katey McCabe
departments 4
My Letter
5
Pet Holidays
18
Ask A Trainer
24
Puperscopes
26 Pets of Instagram 27 DIY: Pet Sand Box
Contributing Writer Tiffany Warmbrod
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
Chipping Your Furry Loved Ones As pet parents, we want to do everything we can do ensure our pets safety and well being of our pets, but one of the most important ways we can ensure your pet doesn’t become a shelter statistic is to microchip them. So many times rescues and shelters get phone calls from owners looking for their lost pets. Many times when asked if the pet had a collar on, the answer is no because they just got a bath or their collar broke off. Collars and tags are not always a reelable way to ensure your pet gets back to you safely if ever lost. If a pet is ever found and taken to a shelter or rescue, one of the first things they do is scan for a chip. Having your pet chipped will ensure a quick return to the arms of their parents. With May being Chip Your Pet Month, I want to stress the importance of microchipping your pets. Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are painlessly injected between the shoulder blades of your pet. Similar process to vaccination. These chips never expire, never need replacing and will last a lifetime. Once chipped the most important thing to do as soon as you can is register your chip and include up to date information. If you move, it is important to update your information with the microchip database. The cost of microchipping can be as little as a lunch out for two. So think about skipping that lunch and save your pet from being another shelter statistic. Many rescues in our area do microchipping events for a lower cost. So this month, if you haven’t already chipped your pets, make an appointment to your vet or keep a look out on our facebook page for microchipping events. Keep your pet safe and their happy homes!
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Pet Holidays
May National Pet Month Pet Cancer Awareness Month Chip Your Pet Month National Service Dog Eye Examination Month May 4-10: Be Kind to Animals Week
This week-long event has been celebrated since 1915.
May 3-9: National Pet Week.
National Pet WeekÂŽ is dedicated to celebrating the more than 200 million pets that enrich our lives each and every day.
May 4-10: Puppy Mill Action Week.
Puppy mills contribute to pet overpopulation and cause countless dogs lifetimes of suffering in squalid wire cages. Help us stop this cycle of cruelty: Do your research before getting a puppy, and look into adopting a dog from your local shelter or rescue.
June Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month National Pet Preparedness Month.
This month, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster‌and that includes making plans for what you would do with your dog in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day. June 1-6: Pet Appreciation Week. June 9: World Pet Memorial Day.
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If you are looking to add a pet to your family, do not miss our 3rd Annual 36Hour Mega Adoptathon presented by Hollywood Feed! We'll stay open for 36 straight hours and offer greatly reduced adoption fees. Every animal adopted out by HSMSC is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on vaccinations.) Kay Manley and KIX 106 will be on site Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
from many different local rescue groups and shelters that will be on site. Each adoption group and shelter has its own unique adoption fees and application processes. If you are a rescue group or shelter interested in participating, please email or call Matt Womack at mwomack@ memphishumane.org or 901-937-3913.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mega Adoptathon “shoppers� can choose Bluff City Bark Magazine
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Tunica Humane Society
We met up with Sandy Williams from the Tunica Humane Society in Tunica, MS to spend an afternoon meeting some adorable adoptable pups and find out a little bit about this small humane with such a big name.
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How and when did Tunica Humane Society start? The Tunica Humane Society was organized in August of 2008. My sister Gail Johnson, our dear friend Debbie Pegram, who has since passed away from cancer and myself, Sandy Williams, started our group with absolutely no resources. Prior to our organization, Tunica County had no provisions for the stray animal population. When the calls came in, the dogs were killed by local law enforcement, without any chance of ever being adopted. We wanted to take Tunica County from being an all kill county to a No-Kill county and we have done that. The first few years, we operated on a prayer. We were saving dogs right and left in our primitive, makeshift shelter but because we worked so hard to save these animals, in all kinds of weather conditions, people began to take notice of the Tunica Humane Society. The local media in Memphis was very supportive of our plight early on and we owe much to them for our success, through the years.
We currently have 121 dogs at our facility and another 20 dogs in foster care. We also have 15 cats on property and 10 cats in foster care. What are the future plans for THS? Our future plans are to continue to save as many homeless and abused animals as we possibly can with the funding at hand. We depend solely on donations for our funding. We do not receive one penny of support from our county or our town. We provide the service of animal control, picking the animals up, housing and feeding them, treating their medical needs and then adopting them out. All of this done without any local support from our government officials.
Is there a board? We have a 5 member Board of Directors. How many animals does Tunica Humane Society have for adoption?
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How are you funded and do you have any upcoming events? We hold 2 major fundraisers each year, in the spring we have our golf tournament Putts for Mutts. In the fall we have our big gala, Puttin’ on the Dog. During the year we hold many other fundraisers on a smaller scale. THS also applies for spay/neuter grants and other foundation funding.
allows us to save another. Managing a NoKill Shelter takes huge dedication. You can never stop working the cause. You have to have animals going out to loving homes to allow you to rescue others in need. So it is a very challenging job.
Do you have a wish list? Our greatest wish is for loving forever homes. We are selective about our adoptive families and put much thought and prayer into every adoption from our shelter. Our shelter and foster homes stay at capacity, so for every animal that is adopted from THS, it
Juno - Pit Bull Terrier Mix - Female
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Juno is a one year old LOVABLE pit mix that has won our hearts here at Tunica Humane Society. Juno lived on the streets before we saved her from under a house during some very cold weather. Juno is so grateful and lets us know every day that she loves us back! When we sit on the sofa, Juno comes right over and lays as close as she can get. She would do wonderful in a home with an older person looking for companionship ~ she is that gentle! Juno must be an only dog.
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Harley is a GORGEOUS 13 yr old senior German Shepherd that is precious through and through! Her only request is that she be an "only dog". Through her years of fending for herself and being lonely and broken, she request ALL the attention. Harley ADORES people. Harley is full of spunk and plenty of downtime to spend with someone. Harley is at our shelter and she deserves to be in a HOME. If you are looking to save a senior, Harley could be your girl.
Harley - German Shepherd Mix- Female
Benji came to THS when the home he and his doggie friends lived in was destroyed in the great flood of May 2011. Before his Mom could rebuild her home, she became ill and passed away. We loved his Mom and she was a wonderful friend of Tunica Humane Society and so we have cared for her beloved pets, Benji, Callie, Sam and Spot. But they are all ready for a REAL home with a real family to love them and play with them. It is time to let Debbie’s Dogs go. Benji is good natured, gentle and wants to find a home he can find trust in.
Benji - Shepherd & Shiba Inu Mix - Male
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All shelter adoptions by appointment only. You must submit your application first and once approved, an appointment is made so we can spend time choosing the perfect pet for your home.
You can see THS adoptable pets on their website or each month at the Hollywood Feed Store in Southaven, MS. http://www.tunicahumanesociety.com/ Bluff City Bark Magazine
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Kids Helping Rescue
A
Written by:Angela Pieroni Photos by: Katey McCabe
nimal shelters and rescues rely on volunteers as much as donations. Many operate on tiny budgets so seeing a volunteer and especially a child wiling to help is a welcome sight. It teaches character concepts like kindness, citizenship, respect and responsibility. As a teacher, I feel it’s important to begin animal education at an early age.
Professor Paws is a group I’ve worked personally with over the past several years. We help students in school help shelter animals through humane education programs and activities.
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It’s designed to promote shelter animals. We talk to students about dog biting prevention, dog body language and what every pet needs to be happy and healthy. If your child has tried to volunteer in animal rescue, you might have been told they are too young. My daughter, Anna Riley, was born with a love for animals and started helping me in animal rescue when she was in 1st grade. Homewood Alabama Animal Shelter was where it all started for Anna Riley. She
helped me by taking dogs on long walks and played with the cats so they could get a break from their cages. She has worked with Meows and Bowwows in Memphis. www.bluffcitybark.com
Angie White has been a great mentor to Anna Riley. She assisted her in cleaning cages out by refreshing blankets and toys and cleaning out litter boxes while at adoption events. Professor Paws was excited to have Anna Riley help at St. Louis School in the preschool by passing out pamphlets on animal education and collecting donations. She has been a helping hand with one of our newest rescues in town, Alive Rescue. Anna Riley was a cat counselor at the cattery in PetSmart on Poplar Avenue with Memphis Pets Alive and was a wonderful helping hand to me. As I talked with people about adoptions, she socialized and played with the cats, showing their playful sides. I was happy to have her in Germantown with me to clean out the cat condos at PetSmart so the cats could have clean cages and fresh food and water. All of these little things add up to big things because it all counts. So as you can see, children can get first hand experience by shadowing an adult and getting the first hand experience of helping those in need. There are a number of other ways to plug in if these don’t work with your time: 1. Foster an animal Kids and pets do go well together. Fostering helps raise young animals or care for those that have to be quarantined from other animals. Other reasons might Bluff City Bark Magazine
include the shelter simply being too full. It helps an animal in need and teaches about animal care. It’s a good introduction to the joy of animals. 2. Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser It’s an excellent way to raise money for an animal shelter or rescue. Kids can harness their creative side and come up with fun ideas. From lemonade stands and bake sales to car washes and book sales. Anna Riley has helped me every year with our self proclaimed “Blankets for Barks” and we collect blankets throughout the year and choose a rescue to donate to every winter. It’s about learning a business and helping out a worthy cause. 3. Share Your Birthday Have your friends bring dog and cat food, toys and supplies for animals in need instead of bringing you a gift. Paying it forward to your new animal friends will give you a full heart in return.
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4. Donate to a Pet Food Bank Memphis Pets Alive is collecting food throughout the year. Funds are low in many rescues and will continue to be as our pet population rises. Pick your favorite rescue and help them out! 5. Get Social Support sites that support shelters. Children and computers go hand and hand these days so let’s get them on something educational! Dog and cat companies hold contests and provide donations to shelters regularly. The benefits of volunteering in animal rescue are endless, and we as parents can set an example for our children to understand why animals need our help. Be a responsible pet owner and have your pet spayed or neutered. Explain to your child why this is important and encourage others to do the same.
Their lives are in our hands. We are their guardians. We are their voice. Speak up and be heard.
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This issue of Ask the Trainer will feature each trainer’s thoughts on the number one training mistake that dog owners make when interacting with or training their dog. Imagine sitting at home watching your favorite movie. Your dog jumps on you, paws you, or barks to get attention. You look down, touch your dog, and tell him to go away. Direct communication works for humans, but not dogs. Consequences drive dog behavior. Eye contact, touching, and talking to your dog is exactly what he wanted. The dog’s actions obtained a consequence he desired, which will result in the dog performing this behavior again. But is this the behavior you want your dog to repeat? When you communicate with your dog, think about the consequences of your actions. Will the consequence be something he wants, thus increasing the probability the behavior will happen again? When teaching your dog to perform behaviors you want repeated, use consequences that he enjoys and the frequency of the behavior will increase. Teaching him to sit, stand or lie near you for attention is a winwin for both you and your dog.
I often encounter clients attributing human behaviors to their canines. Yes, dogs are like us in many ways. We share 95% of the same DNA, but that 5% makes all the difference. Our preferred way of communicating is verbal. Canines communicate by body language, and while there are some well-trained pooches that recognize over 1000 words, the vast majority of our pets have toddler-size vocabularies. In fact, their emotional maturity is equivalent to a two or three year old child in most cases. Dogs ransack the trash can, and we come home and find the mess. They hang their heads and look ashamed. No, they are not punishing us for leaving them; they are trying to appease an obviously angry owner. When in doubt, think failure to communicate rather than attributing human motives to dog behavior. Elta Woodliff, M.Ed, CPDT-KA The Dog Tutor www.dogtutoring.com
Ann Marie Easton, PhD, CPDT-KSA, PMCT Pawsitive Companionship, LLC www.pawscompanion.com
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Socialization is the process of helping your dog become comfortable with various types of people, animals, things, and experiences. Well-socialized dogs are generally happier, friendlier, and more predictable. Undersocialized dogs are often nervous, fearful, and can become fearaggressive. From 3-12 weeks, a puppy is extremely impressionable to positive and negative experiences that can affect her throughout adulthood. Accordingly, it is important that your puppy has many controlled, positive experiences with as many people, places, things, animals, and environments as possible. Socialization throughout adulthood is equally important. If your dog lives in the vacuum of your home or yard, she is likely to develop fear, anxiety, and related behavioral problems.
These create a confrontational relationship and may result in a dog that fears his owner or pees when guests arrive or exhibits aggressive behavior. Dogs are NOT competing with us for status, and having control over our dogs is NOT the same as dominating our dogs. What to do instead? Think in terms of what you want your dog to do.
Say your dog jumps on people; instead of raising your knee to his chest when he jumps, teach your dog to do something else, like sitting or standing. Reinforce these alternate behaviors Use positive reinforcement to build good associations with strange people/things/places. with praise and/or treats consistently, and your dog will gladly repeat them in the future. And always let your dog determine the pace. Socialization teaches your dog the skills she needs to cope with new situations and is vital for the well-being of your four-legged friend.
Martha Bernal, ABCDT Wet Nose University www.wetnoseuniversity.com
Valerie Campbell, ABCDT Knick Knack Patty Whack Pet Services www.pattywhackdogs.com
Using dominance or “alpha� techniques is another mistake we make with our dogs. It comes from thinking of dogs as wolves and includes things like scruff shakes and flipping the dog onto his back until he stops resisting. Bluff City Bark Magazine
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Understanding Pet Food Labels By Brittany Gilliam, Hollywood Feed
W
ith dozens of pet food alerts and recalls making headlines each year, pet owners are striving to figure out how to know what foods are healthiest and safest for their four-legged friends. Knowing a few simple tips can be key to helping your pet avoid illness due to their diet.
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1. Flip the bag over: Remember, the front of the bag is just an advertisement. All of the nutritional information you seek is on the back of the bag. The front may have a few catch phrases that sound healthy for your pet such as “natural” or “specially formulated for your senior pet” – but the full nutritional makeup of the food you seek will be in smaller print on the ingredient panel on the back. 2. Ingredient order matters: The first ingredients listed in your pet’s food mean that those items make up more of that food than the items listed later in the ingredient panel. 3. Look for nutrient-rich food: Comparing two pet food labels recently, I found the first three ingredients in a nutrient-rich food listed as 1) whole salmon, 2) whole herring and 3) whole salmon meal. I found the first three ingredients in a less nutrient-rich food to be 1) ground yellow corn, 2) chicken byproduct meal and 3) corn gluten meal.
4. Our pet’s diet has a lot in common with ours: By looking at the labels and intuitively knowing what’s good for ourselves, we can – many times – identify the healthier choice for our pets. Look for whole proteins and buy foods with less gluten, corn and other fillers as this can mean a more healthy diet overall. 5. Check for artificial preservatives: Look closely at the label to see if the pet food contains artificial preservatives such as BHA and BHT. These particular items are known to be cancer causing and can also cause learning disabilities in pets (yes, pets can develop learning disabilities!). About Hollywood Feed: Hollywood Feed offers a wide selection of natural and holistic pet food and products, professional pet grooming, self-service dog washing stations, and training classes. Hollywood Feed serves customers in stores across the Southeast in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. For more information, visit www. hollywoodfeed.com.
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Did You Know: For Every $1 A Community Spends On Proactive Spay/ Neuter Efforts, It Saves Taxpayers $3-$5 In Animal Control & Sheltering Costs? Source: ASPCA
Consider Donating to Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services. Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services is a nonprofit clinic with a mission to reduce pet overpopulation by providing affordable spay and neuter surgeries to the pet owners in the Memphis area. Donate today at http://spaymemphis.org/
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The Savior Foundation and Sunny Meadows Fundriaser Night and Silent Auction at ECCO on Overton Square
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Puperscopes
Written by: Emily Anderson
What does your pups’ future hold? Taurus (earth) Apr 20th- May 20th- Your increase of friends has left you feeling as cozy as the cat is in your bed. Appreciate them, and the cat too. It’s always beneficial to share.
Gemini (air) May
21st-June 21st- The sun is getter warmer in Memphis, and you can’t help but notice all the new bugs. Instead of growing annoyed, play a game of chase! Some might taste funny, but others are delish and full of protein!
Cancer (water) June 22nd- July 22nd- Your owner
is going to be more dependent on you this month, so don’t hesitate to give as many lickings as possible. You could even try laying your head on their shoulder. This will make for much love and smiles from you both.
Leo (fire) July 22nd- Aug 22nd- You’ve been a little
dogmatic lately and have annoyed a few fellow creatures! Perk up your ears and shut your trap. You’ll be surprised at what you learn!
Virgo (earth) Aug 23rd-Sept 22nd-As your
Libra (air) Sept 23rd-
Oct 23rd- Those puppy eyes of yours have attracted a new lover! Soon you’ll be sharing spaghetti and wind up in an accidental kiss!
Scorpio (water) Oct 24th- Nov 21st- You’ll be feeling extra powerful this month. Run as fast as you can through the new flowers and howl loudly at the moon late every night! YOLO.
Sagittarius (fire) Nov 22nd-Dec 21st- Pondering
common philosophies like why the cat stares at the upper left corner of the room are useful ways to spend your time. However, now it’s spring! So if you can’t find an answer, just go run around and come back to these important questions later.
Capricorn (earth) Dec 22nd-Jan 19th- Make a
spring to-do list. Some useful ideas: keep head out of understanding of humans increases, they’ll begin car window in 70 mph wind, dig weeds out of garden, seeing your intelligent side as well. The noises they make outside bed with fresh dirt, pee on each car tire make will begin to have meaning, and soon an entire in neighborhood. world will open up to you! Bluff City Bark Magazine
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Aquarius (air) Jan 20th-Feb18th- With BBQ Fest
around the corner, it’s time to dig up your creative side! Find some old toys in the backyard to create a new game to play when your parents bring over some new pup friends during the festivities. Just remember sharing is caring.
Pisces (water) Feb 19th- Mar 20th- Doggy
naps are ok, but cat naps aren’t. Make sure you’re barking at each passerby and chewing on bones daily.
Aries (fire) Mar 21-Apr 19- You’ve been running
circles around your master! This probably caused at least one or two scoldings. Slow your paws and breathe in deeply through your snout. Take some time to sniff the roses without necessarily having to mark your territory.
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Pet Recipes
DIY
Doggy Sand Box
Let your dog dig a little into life with their very own Doggy Sand Box! Lots of dogs love to dig and if given a proper area to dig, you can keep your yard nice and also have a happy puppy. Building your own doggy sand box is a simple DIY project for any frustrated digging pet owner.
Things You’ll Need • • • • • • • •
Measuring tape Wooden stakes Rubber mallet Twine Garden spade Garden shovel Staple Gun
• Twelve 4x4 untreated timbers, 8ft in length • Medium grade sandpaper • Landscape fabric • Power screwdriver • 6-inch timber screws • Play sand sufficient to fill 64 square feet
1. Find a good location. Area should be level, part shade and part sun, a few feet away from gardens and property boundaries in case your dogs enjoy a running start when hitting the sand. 2. Measure your area using the measuring tape. Measure an 8-foot square, which will allow 64 square feet of play area for your dogs. 3. Mark the corners of your square using the stakes. and string the twine around the stakes, defining your sandbox area. 5. Remove the sod. Spare sod can be used to fill in any holes in your yard from your dog’s previous digging sessions. 6. Dig a trench in a square shape along the outline of your sandbox. Your trench should be 4 inches wide by 4 inches deep so you can sink your first four timbers. 7. Remove stakes and twine. 8. Add 1-inch layer of sand in the entire square where you’ve removed your sod. Rake to level your sand. 9. Place your first four timbers into the trenches you dug in step 6. All four timbers should meet at the corners. Bluff City Bark Magazine
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10. Connect the timbers together using 6-inch timber screws and the screwdriver. Sink your screws at an angle to fasten your timbers at the corners. 11. Lay the landscape fabric over the square. Make sure it lays flat against your layer of sand. If it doesn’t, add more sand. Staple it to the timbers to hold the fabric in place while you finish building your sandbox. 12. Add your next four timbers in a square on top of your existing timbers. 13. Connect the second layer of timbers to the layer of timbers beneath using the timber screws. Add a screw every 6 inches for maximum stability. 14. Connect the third layer of timbers to the second layer of timbers beneath using the timber screws. Add a screw every 6 inches for maximum stability. 15. Sand any rough areas using the sandpaper.
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Pets of Instagram
Pets of Instagram #bluffcitybarkpets
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Thank you for supporting Bluff City Bark and your local animal rescues, shelters and welfare organizations.
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