CincyPet Magazine Issue 4, Jan/Feb 2020 by wendy.ramble

Circle Tail: Training Service Dogs for Those in Need

YOur official lifestyle magazine for the modern pet parent January/february 2020 | issue No. 4

Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you be mine? Tips and treats for

spending Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with your furry friend

cincyPet would love to go home with you!

ContentS FEATURES 13 WINTER PET SAFETY

Protect your pet from the cold and snow

Help SPCA Cincinnati Save More Lives!

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SPCA Cincinnati announces K9 Expansion Project

18 22 26

Circle tail: serving dogs and people Promoting the human-canine bond through training

PROFILE Melinda Stenger, CEO of PetCakes

FULL-TIME TRAVEL DOG Adventures with Truffles

columns 3 FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 LOCAL EVENTS 6 LIFESTYLE: Valentine’s Day Treats 8 TRAINING: Keep It Simple 10 VET CORNER: Exercise Your Pet Safely 28 RESCUE PET SPOTLIGHT Circle Tail: Training Service Dogs for Those in Need

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YOur official lifestyle magazine for the modern pet parent January/february 2020 | issue No. 4

Won’t you be mine? Tips and treats for

spending Valentine’s Day with your furry friend

cincyPet would love to go home with you!

ON THE COVER: Mr. Bojangles, a rescue chihuahua/Cairn terrier, is the Director of Everyone at CincyPet Magazine. He’s also the official spokesdog model for Pet Love Photography. You can follow him on Instagram @official_mr_bojangles.

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LOCAL INSTADOGS WE LOVE TO FOLLOW

These are some of our favorite local dogs of Instagram. To get featured, tag @cincypetmag or use #cincypet or #cincypetmag.

Photos courtesy of account owners. 2 CINCYPET MAGAZINE | ISSUE 4

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 CincyPet.com PUBLISHER & FOUNDER Susannah Maynard EDITOR Stefanie Laufersweiler CONTRIBUTORS Emily Begley-Eilers Sarah Laubacher TRAVEL CONTRIBUTOR Shae Pepper, No Home Just Roam LIFESTYLE EXPERT Melinda Kirk Stenger PetCakes by Lucky Paws LLC TRAINING EXPERT Lisa Desatnik, So Much PETential CREATIVE DIRECTOR Wendy Dunning DIRECTOR OF SALES Jason Kenney CONTACT CincyPet Magazine PO Box 428686 Cincinnati, OH 45242 Phone: (513) 448-1724 Email: editor@cincypet.com We are Greater Cincinnati’s only dedicated pet magazine. We publish a print magazine distributed for free at locations around the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. Our magazine is published six times a year. Our website content is updated weekly.

appy New Year from all of us at CincyPet Magazine! We look forward to all that a new year has to offer, especially the opportunity to learn and grow with our readers. We are excited to start off the year with more than 100 distribution locations and the exciting news that as of 2020, everyone who adopts an animal from the SPCA Cincinnati will receive a copy of CincyPet Magazine in their adoption bag. The SPCA Cincinnati handles almost 8,000 adoptions each year. Our very own Director of Publick Relations, Lola, was adopted from the SPCA Cincinnati in 2018, so we’re happy to be a part of their efforts going forward. Love is in the air with our first issue of 2020, our official Valentine’s issue. We have a wonderful Valentine’s Day–themed doggy dinner from our lifestyle expert, Melinda, as well as a host of Valentine’s pet events on our online events calendar. We’re also hoping to make a love connection with Diego, our featured rescue pet, who has been looking for love for quite a while. And, of course, there is our cover model and the Boss of Everyone at CincyPet Magazine, Mr. Bojangles. As you may have noted, Mr. Bojangles has been the cover model for the first few issues of CincyPet Magazine while we’ve established ourselves. Going forward, we promise to have other cover models, including the opportunity for your dog to be featured on the cover with a cover contest we are doing later this year. More details on that will follow in a future issue. As always, we welcome feedback from our readers. You can find a contact form on our website, as well as all of our distribution locations, and additional content, so don’t be a stranger and check out CincyPet.com.

Susannah Maynard Publisher

local events SCOOP’S 14TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS EXTRAVANGANZA! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | 7:00pm–11:00pm KOLPING CENTER Please join us for Mardi Gras in Cincinnati to support a great cause—helping sick, injured and abused community cats. DJ, dancing, silent and chance auctions, split-the-pot, raffles, bake sale, games, wine pull, mystery boxes, gift boutique, craft sale, and more! And don’t miss as last year’s royalty winners pass on their crowns to the newly voted kings or queens. Included in your ticket will be unlimited snacks, hot appetizers, soft drinks, beer, and wine. Cash bar available. Casual dress; Mardi Gras costumes welcome too!

OH BEHAVE! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 | 7:00pm EVENDALE RECREATION CENTER Dogs having selective listening, poor manners and getting into trouble are complaints of many pet owners. Certified Dog Trainer Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, CPBC, is offering educational talks to help people have better behaved dogs. She will share information about motivation with tips for using positive reinforcement effectively to help pets (and their humans) succeed. While these are free, pre-registration is required for each talk. For more information on registration, please visit www. SoMuchPETential.com— the classes and events page.

VALENTINE’S PET PHOTOS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 | 12:00pm–4:00pm PET SUPPLIES PLUS, INDEPENDENCE Pet Love Photography will be raising money for Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue with Valentine’s pet photos at Pet Supplies Plus in Independence. Your $10 donation will get you a framed 4×6 print to take home. You also have the opportunity to order additional prints or products. Fifteen percent of any additional purchases will go to Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue to help with their mission of giving dogs (and, sometimes, cats) a second chance they might not otherwise get.

Check our calendar on CincyPet.com for more events and information.

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Pet and animal programs

at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County WINGS OF WONDER SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 | 2:00pm–3:00pm MADEIRA BRANCH Ed Annal from the Cincinnati Zoo will present the Wings of Wonder! No registration required.

SHARKS! WITH THE WAVE FOUNDATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 | 6:30pm–7:30pm MARIEMONT BRANCH See and touch live sharks as we learn how important these creatures are to the ocean’s ecosystem at a special after-hours presentation! Presented by the WAVE Foundation of the Newport Aquarium. Made possible by the Friends of the Public Library. All ages welcome. Registration required.

TALES TO TAILS Read a story to a friendly certified therapy dog. A fun way for children to practice reading out loud and improve their reading skills! Times and branches below. Visit the Events & News page at www.cincinnatilibrary.org for more information.

PLEASANT RIDGE BRANCH | 4:00pm–5:00pm MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Read to Ruby, a standard poodle and trained reading therapy dog! No registration necessary.

MT. HEALTHY BRANCH | 4:00pm–5:00pm THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Children can read to our library therapy dog, Daisy. Ages 5–12. No registration required.

SCALES + TAILS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 | 11:00am–12:00pm MADISONVILLE BRANCH Join us as we explore the reptilian world and get up close and personal with a snake, turtle and lizard. Presented by the Newport Aquarium’s WAVE Foundation. Registration not required.

ANIMALS ALIVE! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 | 10:00am–11:00am GREENHILLS BRANCH See cool critters up close with a naturalist from Great Parks of Hamilton County. All ages. No registration required.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH | 6:30pm–7:30pm TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 & 25 Read a story to our furry friend, LE, a certified therapy dog. Children and families welcome! No registration required.

HARRISON BRANCH | 10:30am–11:30am SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Read a story to our furry friend Peaches, a certified therapy dog. Registration required; please call the branch at (513) 369-4442 to sign up for a 10-minute session with Peaches. For ages 5–12.

REcurring events around town DACHSHUND CLUB OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO

CINCINNATI CHIHUAHUAS MEETUP

EVERY 2ND SUNDAY 1:00pm–3:00pm BEST FRIENDS PET HOTEL

EVERY 3RD SUNDAY 12:00pm–1:30pm BEST FRIENDS PET HOTEL

Get together with other Doxies for up to two hours of play and socialization. There is an indoor room and a fenced-in outdoor yard area at Best Friends Pet Care with plenty of seating and toys for the dogs. Cost is $1.

Join the fun and meet up with other Chihuahuas for at least 90 minutes of playtime! Indoor and outdoor spaces. Cost is $2.

DOG-FRIENDLY NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY 4:00pm–11:00pm WEST SIDE BREWING Every Wednesday night is Dog-Friendly Night in the Taproom. Bring your fourlegged furry friend with you while you have a pint or two of our latest beer releases!

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LIFESTYLE

Some romantic evening Create a Lady and the Tramp–style evening for your pup!

o you believe in love at first sight and have you ever experienced it? Well if you said yes, like I did, then you must be a proud pet parent who has lost their heart to their four-legged soulmate—just like me! I remember the first time I laid eyes on Roxy the Weimaraner. I immediately fell head over tails in LOVE with her and her beautiful baby-blue eyes, soft crushedvelvetlike ears, and gorgeous taupe-gray coat. She was my first of many fur babies and I remember the day we met like it was yesterday, even though it was more than 24 years ago. Because we love our furry friends like family, I think it’s only appropriate to honor them this Valentine’s Day with something extra special. What’s more important to them than you? FOOD! Surprise your furry Valentine with a holiday dinner and dessert that is paired with dog-approved champagne. My inspiration came from the romantic dinner scene in the newly released remake of the classic film, Lady and the Tramp. I’ll guide you through preparing this romantic and healthy culinar y canine feast. The main course includes spaghetti squash with heart-shaped meatballs, and heart-shaped carob and peanut butter truffles for dessert. For those pet parents who want to make the extra splash, you can add a bottle of Dög Pawrignon from our friends at Pet Winery (www.petwinery.com). Make this dinner and dessert the day before, refrigerate, then serve either cold or slightly warmed in the microwave. Make the night even more special by creating your own spaghetti dinner

A romantic dinner for your pup that they will lap up! and eat together! Please don’t share because your tomato sauce with onions and garlic are a big no-no for all dogs. Please tell me what you think of our recipes and share your pictures with us for a chance to win a free gift. Just tag us both at @iLovePetCakes and @CincyPetMag for your chance to win a FREE PetCakes Brunch Box!

MELINDA KIRK STENGER is CEO of Lucky Paws, LLC and creator of the award-winning PetCakes & YumYum Bones, healthy cake and ice cream for dogs and cats. Melinda has been cooking for over 20 years for her fur babies and sells thousands of dog and cat birthday kits a month on Amazon. com and Chewy.com.

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Valentine’s Day Dinner Recipes Spaghetti Squash with Heart-Shaped Meatballs Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Serves 6–12, depending on size of meatballs You will need: • heart-shaped silicone mold or heart-shaped cookie cutter • 2-cup measuring cup Ingredients Spaghetti 1 spaghetti squash gourd Meatballs ½ pound turkey ½ pound grass-fed, lean ground beef 1 egg Sauce 3 oz. organic tomato paste ¾ cup broth (beef or chicken) 1 packet PetCakes Pizza mix Fresh chopped parsley for garnish Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350˚. 2. Cut the gourd in half lengthwise and place cut side up in a glass baking dish or pan. Bake for 45 minutes, then let cool. 3. To create the spaghetti-like noodles, use a fork to pull out the insides of the cooled squash. 4. To make the meatballs, combine both meats and the egg in a bowl and stir until well mixed. 5. Spray the heart-shaped silicone mold with nonstick coating and fill with the meat mixture, or spread the

meat mixture flat into a glass baking dish or pan, about ½-inch thick (then cut with a heart-shaped cookie cutter after the next step). 6. Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes. You can bake the squash and meat simultaneously. 7. For the sauce , whisk together the tomato paste, broth and pizza mix in a 2-cup measuring cup until there are no clumps. Refrigerate until ready to use. 8. To plate this dish, pile some squash noodles on the center of the plate, drizzle sauce over them, then add 2 meatballs. Top with a sprinkle of parsley.

Tag us and WIN! Tag us on Facebook and Instagram with your pet party pictures and your pampered pets could win a $50 PetCakes gift basket! @iLovePetCakes or #iLovePetCakes AND @cincypetmag or #cincypetmag

Carob / Peanut Butter Truffles for Fido Prep time: 10 minutes Freeze time: 1 hour Serves 6–8, depending on size of hearts You will need: • 2-cup measuring cup (microwave safe) • heart-shaped silicone mold Ingredients ⅓ cup unsweetened carob chips ¼ cup creamy peanut butter Instructions 1. In the measuring cup, microwave the carob chips on medium-high heat for a minute at a time until almost melted (about 3 minutes total). Do not overheat them. 2. Stir in the peanut butter, mixing thoroughly. 3. Pour the mixture into the mold and freeze for at least an hour before serving. CP

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TRAINING

keep it simple for training success “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” —ALBERT EINSTEIN

from there by incrementally adding to the behavior as your pet can continue to succeed. How can you make your lesson plan as simple as possible but not simpler? Here are a few ways: • Begin teaching in an environment with minimal other distractions. It’s hard enough to focus on learning something new. With stimulus going on around you, it is that much more difficult to focus. • Break the behavior down into small steps or approximations, reinforcing your pet for doing those small steps toward the final behavior. Think of it as the hot-and-cold game you played as a child. This is known as shaping, and it is a lot of fun to practice. • Be aware of the importance of timing when it comes to teaching new

behaviors. Contiguity refers to the closeness in time between the behavior and its consequence, while contingency refers to the degree of correlation between the behavior and its consequence (‘if I do this behavior, then this is the consequence that will follow’). The less time there is between the behavior and its consequence, the quicker and easier the animal can build that relationship. • Use reinforcers that are of value to your learner. Remember, it is the learner that gets to decide what is of greatest value to him/her, and that can change throughout a day. Learners will always choose to do the behavior that offers a consequence of the greatest value to them, so plan ahead and make sure you’ve stacked the deck in your favor. CP

LISA DESATNIK, CPDT-KA, CPBC, is a certified dog trainer (and certified parrot behavior consultant) with So Much PETential who uses and teaches the most positive strategies for changing pet behaviors. She offers individualized dog and puppy training for manners and problem issues. Learn more about her at SoMuchPETential.com.

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PHOTO � Picsea, Unsplash.com

love this quote. In its great simplicity, it speaks volumes for both effective teaching and learning. This, from a brilliant, world-famous physicist known for his general theory of relativity and recognized with a 1921 Nobel Prize. I think about this often when I am doing dog training and behavior consulting. A question foremost in my mind is always, “How can I help my students (often it is both human AND nonhuman) succeed with this lesson?” If the lesson is too difficult, student frustration can lead to poor motivation, and with poor motivation, focus on the teacher can quickly evaporate. When that occurs, teaching—at least teaching what we WANT our students to learn—is often not effective. It is important to remember that in order for us to teach a behavior and strengthen its future rate, we first need to ‘get’ the behavior to occur so that we can follow that behavior with a reinforcing consequence. I remember observing in a two-day class with renowned trainer Dave Kroyer a session where he was coaching another trainer on teaching her dog to put his nose in a hole of a scent box. There was a moment when her dog was not ‘getting it’ and began pawing at the box. Dave’s response was to pick up the box and ask the trainer what she could do to help her dog understand. The answer was to put the box on its side. With that small change, her dog immediately went to the open hole and placed his nose inside. Once you and your pet have success, then you can build upon that success

New customers only. Not valid with any other offer. No cash value. Mention code CINCYPET.

Your & Your Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Training Coach Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, CPBC

513-262-6062 SoMuchPETential@gmail.com www.SoMuchPETential.com

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VET CORNER

Exercising Your Pet in a Healthy and Safe Way

ach new year we often set health goals for ourselves, and sometimes for our pets. Getting up, outside, and moving with your canine companion can be a great way for both of you to get and stay healthy, while simultaneously deepening your bond with each other.

Considerations for Exercising Your Dog

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accustomed to booties that can protect their feet in all conditions. Once you have figured out your dog’s tolerance to exercise, trail walking can be a great way to build even more strength and endurance. Start with easy, short trail walks, letting them wander on a longer leash into more challenging terrain, before working up to hills and rougher terrain. Giving them a warmup walk of five to 10 minutes around the parking lot or grassy area before starting the trail will help lessen the chance of injuries during the more challenging terrain. End the hike by taking them for a slow, five-minute walk around the parking lot to cool down, and offer plenty of water before heading back into the car. This will stave off sore muscles and soft tissue injuries.

Running with Your Dog The safest age to start running with your

dog is at about 12 months for breeds considered small to large and 18 months for giant breeds. At that time, their growth plates are closed, and their bodies can handle the impact of the run much better. Be sure that the weather is conducive to this kind of high activity and bring plenty of water for both of you.

Other Exercise Options Motion is lotion. Getting our older pets up and moving can help to keep their joints healthy and minds active. Shorter, more frequent basic walks, as far as terrain is concerned, are the best way to get senior dogs some much-needed movement. If more than basic walks are what you’re looking for and if your dog has joint issues or is overweight, the Greater Cincinnati area has a variety of options: • Hydrotherapy. Swimming helps mostly with forelimb and core

PHOTO � Matthew T. Rader, Unsplash.com

There are several considerations that come into play when deciding the best way to exercise your dog. Some shortlegged (chondrodystrophic) breeds like Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, and Basset Hounds may not be able to go as fast or for as long as some longer-legged breeds. Dogs with short noses and flat faces (brachycephalic) should be exercised with care, especially in warmer temperatures. Puppies of any breed should not be taken on long runs (more than one mile), as the impact can cause trauma to their growing bones. Basic walks are a great start to help you learn what your dog can tolerate. More than just helping with physical fitness, walks can be very mentally stimulating due to all the exciting smells, sights, and sounds encountered. Start with walks of 20 to 30 minutes and then gradually increase. Your four-legged friend may not be able to tell you they’ve had enough because they are having such a great time being out of the house. Remember, any of us who haven’t been doing regular exercise can’t be a marathon runner on the first day, and neither can our pets. When going on a long walk (longer than a mile), it’s definitely a good idea to bring some water for your pet. Use caution on hot pavement, as it can burn their feet. When the weather is cold, be sure to protect your pet’s paws from ice, snow, and salt. Paw salve or foot coverings are available at your local pet store to help protect their paws from the elements. Many dogs will tolerate and become

strengthening and endurance. The underwater treadmill works all limbs, the core, and builds endurance. Hydrotherapy, like swimming and underwater treadmill, helps to build strength and endurance with low impact. If your pet has special needs, having hydrotherapy with a trained professional can be more beneficial than just “free” swims. • Dog parks provide exercise and socialization for you and your dog. As with trail walking, warming your dog up for five to 10 minutes before entering the park and then doing a five-minute walk after leaving the park will reduce the likelihood of soft-tissue injuries and sore muscles. • What about taking a walk to your nearest brewery? There are many dog-friendly breweries in Greater Cincinnati. Call first to find out what their rules are for four-legged patrons.

Caring for Canine Athletes Like all athletes, canines who exercise frequently—or are involved in high-level training, agility, or hiking—are often prone to injury. The most common injuries in active dogs are simple soft-tissue injuries such as strains and sprains that cause limping and lameness just like in humans. Luckily, these injuries will heal with strict, proper rest and confinement, along with anti-inflammatory medications specifically for canines. Some injuries, however, persist and need more involved treatments. A common and potentially nagging athletic injury noted more and more by veterinarians is iliopsoas tendinopathy (groin strain). This affects a muscle that originates on the underside of the spine and inserts on the top of the thigh bone near the hip joint. Most cases do resolve with rest and medications; however, some require special platelet and/or stem cell injections into the tendon, and in rare instances, the tendon needs to be transected to alleviate the chronic pain. The biceps muscle is also a common location of chronic injury in athletic dogs. This injury is known as biceps tenosynovitis and results in forelimb lameness and pain in the shoulder. For dogs who do not respond to rest and anti-inflammatories, a steroid injection into the shoulder joint can be performed. Approximately 50 percent of dogs respond favorably to this treatment. Of those that do not yet still have persistent lameness, the tendon can be transected. Luckily, our dogs don’t need to show off their muscles, so transecting the biceps tendon has no negative long-term impact. Any dog can sustain a severe injury from high-intensity activity, and these can range from severe strains as described above, to complete tendon and ligament ruptures of the different joints, which typically will require surgical management for proper long-term function. Dog’s wrists and ankles are the most common sites of collateral ligament damage and will require surgical stabilization, or else the long-term function and arthritis can be debilitating.

For advertising information and rates please email us at sales@cincypet.com or call us at 513-448-1724 CINCYPET.COM 11

KARL C. MARITATO, DVM, DIPLOMATE, ACVS-SA, is a board-certified Veterinary Surgeon at MedVet Cincinnati, where he has been part of the medical team since 2010. Dr. Maritato attended the University of Florida, where he earned two Bachelor of Science degrees. At Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, graduating with highest honors and at the top of his class. After completing his residency and becoming a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Maritato played an integral role in the development and introduction of new surgical options for the Cincinnati community. Within months of opening the surgery department, he performed the first cement-less canine total hip replacement and minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures in Cincinnati. He has surgically repaired thousands of ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in dogs. Dr. Maritato is an active advocate of continued education for veterinary professionals and has lectured on a variety of small animal topics throughout the country at regional, state, and national venues, as well as in Europe. He has also been featured on NBC 4 News in Columbus, as well as AM 550 (WKRC), ABC 9 News, and Fox 19 News in Cincinnati.

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Injury Risks and Recovery Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (commonly called ACL in humans) is the most common surgical orthopedic condition in dogs. This is seen in all dogs, but particularly in those that are overweight and don’t receive much exercise, as well as in those that injure themselves during intense activities. There is a common myth that a dog can heal a cruciate ligament tear. This is false. The ligament does not have a healthy blood supply, and once it begins tearing, it will not heal itself. Therefore, surgery is indicated for the fastest and most complete recovery. Brachycephalic dogs are prone to respiratory events due to their poorly designed heads. Brachycephalic dogs have narrow nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and other anatomic abnormalities that make excessive exercise difficult for them, particularly in the heat. They are also prone to obesity, which only exacerbates their condition. Therefore, it is best that brachycephalic dogs be kept on strict diets and maintain low-grade activity to keep them fit and healthy, without overdoing it and causing them to go into a respiratory crisis. The chondrodystrophic breeds are all prone to intervertebral disc disease, which when severe enough, can result in paralysis of the limbs. While it is important for “a dog to be a dog” and have fun, it is not imperative to do certain activities to have fun. Chondrodystrophics should aim to live an “all four on the floor” lifestyle, i.e. enjoy playing, walking, and running on the ground, but limit jumping off and on furniture, decks, and beds, as that takes the most toll on their spines. Also, as with brachycephalics, these breeds are prone to obesity, which exacerbates their tendency for the disease and possible rupture of an intervertebral disc. Therefore, it is important they maintain their ideal weight to stay healthy. As animals get older, their joints become stiffer and less mobile. That is why low-grade healthy exercise is very important as these animals age.

Low-grade exercise allows for joint movement, which is the only source of nutrition for a joint. When the joints move, they suck in nutrition and push out metabolic waste, which hurts joints if not expelled. That is why it is important for pets to stay moving. Of particular importance in older dogs is the concept of “he’s just getting old.” Yes, dogs do slow down when they get older, but their version of slowing down is still quite active when allowed. If you notice your dog is really not as active as it was even just a year or so ago, it may not be simply from age, but from a condition that needs to be treated. Low-grade lower back problems in dogs lead to changes in function, most commonly manifested as not wanting to jump on the bed or couch, and reluctance to climb stairs or get in and out of cars. These can be signs of such back problems and not just “getting old.” Therefore, it is very important that as dogs get older, they see a veterinarian at least twice annually for a full physical exam.

The Smartest Way to Exercise Just like humans, dogs need exercise to get fit and stay healthy, but it should be undertaken cautiously, to minimize injuries. Learning about your dog’s tolerance to exercise, using the right gear such as booties, remaining hydrated, and allowing time for a sprain/strain injury to heal are all ways you can help your dog enjoy, and benefit most, from exercise. CP

DOG PHOTO � Marissa Deck, Unsplash.com SPCA GROUND BREAKING PHOTO �

SHAWN ZIMMERMANN, RVT, CCRP, is a Veterinary Technician and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner at MedVet Cincinnati, where she has been part of the medical team since 2012. Shawn attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned her Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) degree. Following her graduation from technical school in 2003, Shawn worked as a Veterinary Technician at a holistic veterinary practice where she developed a desire to improve the quality of life for dogs and cats through physical rehabilitation. Shawn then completed the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner program. At MedVet, Shawn works closely with the doctors in the other specialty departments to integrate the best rehabilitation therapy for each patient. Shawn’s professional interests include the use of low-level laser in rehabilitation therapy, pain management and water therapy. Shawn has presented rehabilitation lectures at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash and also for the Southern Ohio Veterinary Technician Lecture Series.

winter pet SAFETY

Protect your pet from the cold and snow. BY SUSANNAH MAYNARD

DOG PHOTO © Patrick Hendry Unsplash.com

hen it’s cold outside for you, it’s also cold outside for your pets. Even though they are covered in fur, that doesn’t mean they are any less susceptible to feeling the cold. Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe during cold, snowy, and wet weather. Whether your pet is old or young, long-haired or shorthaired, you need to know your pet’s limits when spending time outdoors. Pets that are thin or short-haired tend to feel the cold more, as well as those who are very young or very old. You need to carefully monitor your pet when spending time outdoors in cold weather and make sure to bring them inside before trouble hits. Sweaters and coats, as well as protective footwear, can help keep your pet warm while outdoors. Once temperatures are in the 20s or lower, it’s good to keep outdoor time to a minimum, even for cold-weather breeds. If it’s too cold for you, it’s definitely too cold for them! If there’s snow on the ground, that usually means there’s also salt or other chemicals used to melt snow and ice. Many of these

products are hazardous for pets, so it’s important to limit your pet’s exposure to them. Protective footwear comes in handy for navigating those salt-encrusted sidewalks. If your pet doesn’t wear protective footwear, make sure to wipe their paws as soon as you come in to remove any chemical residue. If your dog gets wet from the snow, make sure to remove any wet clothing articles and towel-dry them as soon as they are inside. Prior to starting your car on extremely cold days, make sure to check under the hood or in the wheel wells for cats. Cats stuck outdoors during extreme cold can seek shelter in warm spots, and car engines are one of the prime spots they have access to outside. Another hazard from cars is antifreeze, which can be attractive to dogs and cats looking for something to drink when water bowls and puddles are frozen over. Make sure to clean up any spills from antifreeze and keep containers tightly secured to avoid poisoning. The bottom line is to keep an eye on your pet and make sure to limit their exposure to extreme cold weather. CP

CincyPet Magazine publisher and founder, SUSANNAH MAYNARD, is a Cincinnati native. She is the owner of Pet Love Photography and the author of three books about rescue pets. She is the pet mom to her three rescue dogs and one rescue cat.

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PHOTO ï¿½ Ross Sokolovski, Unsplash.com

Help SPCA Cincinnati Save More Lives! SPCA Cincinnati announces K9 Expansion Project

ecently, the SPCA Cincinnati announced a $1.6 million K9 Expansion Project designed to meet the changing needs of our community and to provide a second chance for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals. The SPCA is committed to reÂhoming 100 percent of all adoptable pets. To continue meeting this goal, they need your help to improve and expand the facilities at their Sharonville location.

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SPCA Cincinnati 11900 Conrey Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249 (513) 541-6100 spcacincinnati.org SOCIAL MEDIA: @spcacincinnati The SPCA Cincinnati is the only Humane Society in Hamilton County, Ohio. The organization began in 1873 as The Ohio State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals. The SPCA Cincinnati operates with the Mission at the forefront of everything we do. We envision a community that embodies humane treatment for all animals. Therefore, the SPCA Cincinnati strives to establish a positive animal welfare community, provide humane education to the public, eliminate pet overpopulation, and strengthen the human-animal bond. We believe that how we treat animals is a reflection of how we treat each other. The SPCA Cincinnati’s main goal is to improve animal welfare in the Greater Cincinnati area. The SPCA Cincinnati offers a variety of services that make saving lives a community effort: adoptions, fostering, volunteering, licensing, obedience training, humane investigations, and education. These services enable pets to remain safe and achieve a better quality of life, with a touchpoint of positive human interaction at every turn. Nurturing, rehabilitating, and socializing each animal (every day) is of high importance to our team. The SPCA Cincinnati is a member of the Pet Coalition of Greater Cincinnati, a united pet resource for our community. The SPCA Cincinnati saves lives as an open admission animal shelter. From visiting schools to information via PSAs, education is key in saving more lives. More vital services: • 100 percent of adoptable dogs receive a rabies vaccination and heartworm preventative medication. • 100 percent of dogs and cats receive flea/tick prevention and microchips. • Reduced fees have dramatically increased the number of adoptions. • We provide dog training, a behavior hotline, and communicate with every adopter to ensure health and behavior are sound. • We are involved in humane issues at the local, state, and national level. The SPCA Cincinnati continues to build a culture of trust within our community and with local government by unceasingly demonstrating our expertise and leadership. Our organization positively affects the lives of more than 12,000 homeless pets each year. We develop key relationships with adopters, rescues, foster homes, and animal experts, which further our desire to make the lives of our pets the best possible.

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Fundraising Events

24TH ANNUAL ADOPT-A-PET FUND LIVE TELETHON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 STAR 64/LOCAL 12

18TH ANNUAL FUR BALL GALA—THE GREAT CATSBY SATURDAY, APRIL 25 SHARONVILLE CONVENTION CENTER

TAILS ON THE TRAIL WALK OCTOBER

Improvements will include: • Expanded kennel capacity. We’re adding 50 percent more kennels to house additional dogs and to provide more individual space for dogs per kennel, giving these dogs the comfort they deserve. • More Meet-N-Greet areas. This will allow for more oneon-one time for potential fosters and adoptions and outdoor playtime for each dog. This also helps to fulfill the SPCA Cincinnati dog-walker’s motto: “Every Dog, Every Day.” • A volunteer services department. This will help effectively manage the 350+ volunteers and give them a workspace for special projects, and also serve as a safe place for volunteers to store personal property while volunteering with our pets. • A behavioral department. This is where we can train dogs with behavioral challenges to reduce their risk of euthanasia. All dogs deserve a second chance and we’re partnering with the next generation of behaviorists at local universities to make this happen.

24-Hour Emergency & Specialty Care for Pets

Key Points to Ponder • The current facility in Sharonville, Ohio, was built with an expected expansion for the canine center. • The usable build-out area is approximately 8,500 square feet. • The current Meet-N-Greet/exercise yard is insufficient for independent family use and is exposed to weather and elements. The new Meet-N-Greet is located under a shelter with segmented enclosed areas. Added bonus: it also doubles as additional areas for behavioral training. • The new kennel space is designed to reduce noise, reduce odor, be more sterile, and help canine containment. • It surpasses the industry standards for HVAC, air circulation, air sterilization, and cleaning.

PhotoS courtesy of SPCA Cincinnati

How You Can Help Please consider making a donation of your time, talent, and treasure to help our adoptable pets at the SPCA Cincinnati. Your financial contribution, volunteer time, and personal adoption of a new furry family member will contribute to making the lives of all our pets better.

• SPCA Cincinnati volunteerism has increased and has grown out of their offices. • The dog behaviorist needs increased space for proper training and for the increased volume of dogs which will need to go through the training. The increase in well-trained dogs ready for adoptions means more lives saved! The SPCA has the plans and are ready to make a lasting impact on our community, but they need your help. Please consider donating to the SPCA expansion project. The money that you donate will DIRECTLY improve the lives of all the adoptable pets in their care. The SPCA will ensure that your gift will make lives better, shorten the time animals stay in SPCA shelters, and find more furever homes. For more information, contact Jake White, president and CEO, and donate today at spcacincinnati.org. CP

When your veterinarian recommends Emergency or Specialty care for your pet, we’re here to help. Anesthesia Cardiology Critical Care Dermatology Emergency Medicine Internal Medicine Medical Oncology Neurology Ophthalmology Radiology Radiation Oncology Rehabilitation Surgery 3964 Red Bank Rd. Fairfax, OH 45227 513.561.0069 medvet.com

Leading Specialty Healthcare for Pets

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Circle tail serving dogs and people Promoting the human-canine bond through training BY SUSANNAH MAYNARD

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Chiaki, a Circle Tail trainer, teaches Braxton how to walk with a wheelchair-bound handler. BELOW: The Circle Tail complex in Warren County.

bout 30 miles outside of Cincinnati, nestled in the Warren County countryside, is the sprawling 17-acre complex that encompasses Circle Tail. Founded in 1997 by Marlys Staley, Circle Tail is a nonprofit organization that is on a mission to provide service and hearing dogs to people with disabilities at no cost to them. In addition to providing service and hearing dogs to individuals with physical disabilities, diabetes, or those who are hard of hearing, Circle Tail also promotes the humancanine bond by providing low-cost dog training services, educational programs, and first-aid classes for people and their pets. Classes offered by Circle Tail vary from individual and group obedience training classes to nosework training. Nosework training teaches dogs how to search for a specific odor and find the source. AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing is also periodically offered throughout the year. Staley, a physical therapist by profession, was inspired to change careers after visiting a guide dog training center in Florida and learning of the need for more assistance dogs. She started the facility on her Pleasant Plain property where she still lives today and serves as the organization’s executive director. Over the years, the organization has grown both in size and service, physically outgrowing the original facility—Staley’s barn—and

its current 7,200-square-foot facility. Today, Circle Tail is building for the future. Their new, approximately 10,500-square-foot facility will house their adult dogs in 36 kennel spaces, as well as provide a comfortable space for their staff and volunteers. The new building will also increase their capacity for training more dogs and thus helping more people. Dogs in the training program are trained on site at Circle Tail’s facility and through the prison dog training program in partnership with the Ohio Reformatory for Women and the Dayton Correctional Institution. The Inmate/Canine Educational Training Program began in 1998 at the Marion Correctional Institution. Inmates are provided regular instruction by Circle Tail trainers on caring for and training the puppies/dogs. Inmates tend to both the physical and emotional needs of the dogs under their care and are with the dogs 24/7 except for meal times. While the dogs are in the prison training program, all of their care is performed by the inmates, from feeding, grooming, and exercise to training in basic manners and advanced obedience. Dogs in training are then placed with foster families where they are socialized around everyday experiences that they don’t get through the prison program. The foster families work with the dogs in their homes and out in public to make sure they are CINCYPET.COM 19

TOP: Construction is underway on a new facility. ABOVE: Caden awaiting training.

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using their advanced service skills. When the dogs arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in foster care they are housed on site at the Circle Tail facility, where they are cared for on a daily basis by staff members and volunteers. They participate in daily training activities and frequently go on outings to gain exposure to real-world situations. Circle Tailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dogs come from donations from families or breeders or may come from shelters or rescues, provided they have the temperament to be a service dog. Recently, Circle Tail has started their own breeding program with stud Braxton, a 2-year-old black lab. Several of the puppies he sired are in the early stages of their training program. In order to be a service dog in training, dogs must get along with people of all ages, as well as other dogs and cats. Each dog is rigorously evaluated prior to entering the training program. While Labs, Goldens, and German Shepherds often make the best service dogs, Circle Tail doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus on the specific breed as much as they do on making sure the individual dog has the right temperament to be a service dog. Puppies are evaluated at an early age and can generally be weeded out very quickly depending on how they react to different situations they are presented with. If a puppy is a good fit for the program, their training starts with socialization activities and progresses to short snippets of training time prior to entering the prison training program and foster care. Jocko and Caden are just two puppies in training that were sired by Braxton. They are both 3 months old and just starting out on their training journey, which will take several years to complete. Their mom, Jaylah, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever, is

Circle Tail’s on-site training facility with a variety of equipment to train the dogs to navigate steps, doors, and drawers.

also in training to be a service dog. Typically, dogs are placed into service with an individual at around 2 years of age, but Jaylah is older because she had her litter of puppies to tend to. A lot of training takes place at Circle Tail’s on-site training facility. The dogs learn various commands and are trained to complete tasks that they might need to perform to assist their handler. The training center has a variety of mobility equipment and even a set with steps, doors, and drawers. The set helps dogs learn how to navigate steps with their handlers, as well as how to open and close doors and drawers. Jaylah demonstrated her skill at retrieving a pill bottle from a drawer, a task a service dog may have to perform regularly for their handler. Dogs that are ready to go to a handler are matched up with a handler based on skills and need and then work with the handler for a period of time before finally being placed. This is to make sure that the handler and the dog are a good match and so the handler has the knowledge to work with the dog and maintain their training standards. Not all dogs that enter the training program end up being fully trained service dogs for a variety of reasons, from medical conditions to behavioral or temperament issues that make them not suitable as service dogs. Dogs with a short attention span or dogs that are easily distracted end up not being good service dogs, as service dogs need to be fully attentive to their handler and focused on the tasks they need to perform. These “career

change” dogs as they are called are available for adoption to the general public, but you’ll need to add your name to a waiting list, as they are in high demand. Last year Circle Tail adopted out around 45 career change dogs. At any given time they have approximately 50 dogs in training, with about half of those in the prison program, another 10 or so in foster homes, and the remaining being housed at Circle Tail’s facility. Circle Tail has approximately 50 active volunteers, from fosters to board members to those who walk dogs at the facility or help out at fundraising events. Volunteers who handle or foster dogs go through a training program prior to working with the dogs. While Circle Tail provides dogs to recipients at no cost to the recipient, the fully trained dogs cost Circle Tail around $17,000 each. As a nonprofit organization, Circle Tail is funded by donations from the public, grants, adoption fees from career change dogs, public training class fees, and monies raised from fundraising events. The organization’s largest fundraising event, “Dinner, Art, and Wine for Canines,” takes place on Saturday, March 21, at Receptions in Loveland. This year marks the 10th year for this event and it’s all about new beginnings, with keynote speeches from inmate dog handlers on how participating in the inmate/canine program has changed their lives. Tickets to the event include wine-tasting, a dinner buffet, open bar for beer and wine, silent and live auctions, puppy meet-and-greets, and raffle prizes. Tickets for the event are $70 each or $130 for two. For more information or to order tickets, visit Circle Tail’s website: circletail.org. CP

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Passion, Purpose, and Partnerships

are Key for PetCakes’ CEO BY SUSANNAH MAYNARD

fter ten years in business, Melinda Stenger isn’t stopping anytime soon. Stenger is the founder and CEO of Lucky Paws, LLC, a company she started a decade ago with the launch of her PetCakes products. PetCakes are healthy, microwaveable treats you can make at home for your dog or cat. Stenger launched PetCakes at the Global Pet Expo in 2010 and won best new product of the year. She won again in 2016 for her PetCakes Celebration line. Today, Stenger sells thousands of dog and cat birthday kits each month at Amazon.com and Chewy.com. Even though PetCakes has been a tremendous success, Stenger isn’t resting on her laurels. She recently launched a new product that features new ways to use her treat mixes with the PetCakes Brunch Box Club, a quarterly subscription service. Each Brunch Box contains three unique, monthly themed recipe cards and pouches of ingredients to make brunch-inspired dishes for your dog. Subscriptions also include access to how-to videos of Stenger making each meal, including helpful tips and tricks. Over two years in the making, the Brunch Box Club was inspired by Stenger’s dog, Bella, and her “Date Night, Dog Night” videos. Stenger was spending a lot of time in the kitchen with her dog while Bella recovered from an accident and was on limited activity. As she was cooking for her family, Stenger thought about the quality time she was spending with Bella, and her series of “Date Night, Dog Night” videos of cooking human-inspired dishes with and for

her dog was born. From there Stenger expanded into putting on fabulous dog parties featuring healthy and tasty dishes for canines and their human parents, including the wedding of CincyPet Magazine’s own, Mr. Bojangles, and his bride, Coco. Next up was a series of dog brunches at local restaurants from Hotel Covington to Keystone. Finally, Stenger decided to take her business up a notch with the launch of the PetCakes Brunch Box Club. A quarterly subscription to the Brunch Box Club is $45 for one box with three months of recipes or $138 for four boxes with 12 months of recipes. If you sign up for a year, you also get free shipping on your first box, a calendar, and two extra months of recipes. If you’re not sure about committing to a full subscription, you can try out a special one-month brunch box for only $20. As part of Stenger’s commitment to helping others, 10 percent of sales from her website (ilovepetcakes.com) will be donated to a partner pet charity of the month. When Stenger is not cooking or throwing parties for pets, you might find her creating fun activities for the residents at Ronald McDonald House to help the therapy dogs at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Stenger is also the Pet Lifestyle columnist for CincyPet Magazine and contributes recipes to our magazine, as well as monthly on our website. CP

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FULL-TIME

TRAVEL DOG

Truffles now has a lot more adventure, which she loves. BY SHAE PEPPER

Typical Day Here’s what an average day in the life of a full-time travel dog looks like. Morning 8–9am: Truffles wakes up and is taken out to the bathroom. She’s provided a small offering of breakfast meat from the hotel breakfast (by her dad) for going into her den nicely while we are out of the room. 26 CINCYPET MAGAZINE | ISSUE 4

9–11am: She may have some breakfast. Truffles free-feeds. She doesn’t have a set food time—we provide her with food when she’s hungry and she stops when she’s full. When she was a puppy she was on a schedule, but as she self-regulates we allow her to guide feeding times as an adult. She plays ball in the hotel and barks at the housekeeping staff that walks by the room with the vacuum. Afternoon 11am–5pm: We go out and do something. She’s an avid hiker and has been known to do up to 10 miles on her little paws. Our average hike is 3–6 miles. We pack a picnic lunch for us all and eat during the day. Sometimes she has to stay behind in her den, but we try to do outdoor and dog-friendly things whenever possible. If she stays in we try to take her to a dog park, a longer walk at a local park, or even out to the pet or home improvement store to get sniffs on cold or rainy days. She gets out at least once a day or every other day depending on the weather and our workload. Two days a week we work from the hotel. Stephen is a travel writer and I’m an online teacher. Truffles naps and plays like most any dog on those days and gets her 2–3 walks in depending on the weather.

PHOTOS � Shae Pepper

“D

oes she like to travel?” That’s always the first question we’re asked when people find out we travel full-time with our dog, Truffles. The answer is yes and no. Truffles spent the first four years of her life with a fairly normal dog routine—three walks a day (average 1–2 miles each) with her dad, who worked from home, plenty of space and time to play ball, couch snuggles, and treats. That all changed on January 1, 2018, when we left on our five-year, 50-state road trip. While there are a few predictable things in her life, Truffles now has a lot more adventure, which she loves. But she’s not a big fan of moving day—when we pack up and move to a new hotel or location between 2–6 hours away. We do this about every seven days. We have some strategies in place for moving day, but it’s still a more stressful day for her than the others.

Here are Truffles’ travel items: • • • • •

• • • •

Vet records Leash and harness Insta-worthy suitcase Actual suitcase with all her toys, meds, shampoo, and outfits Wet and dry food with sprinkles (FortiFlora, which enhances the flavor of her food and helps with digestion) Food and water dishes (and her portable versions for hikes) Bed with a towel that smells like us, for when we are out of the hotel room Den, a canvas crate that folds up flat and fits nicely in our car (the best investment of the trip) Backpack for longer hikes or to go into some locations like the Luray Caverns, the OZ Museum, or the National Mustard Museum

Evening 5–6pm: She goes out for a walk and may have some dinner. 6–11pm: She plays ball or wrestles with her dad or snuggles with me while we watch TV or work in the evenings. Some evenings we go out to a dog-friendly bar or brewery where she gets ample pets. 11pm–midnight: She goes out a final time with her dad for another walk before bed. Midnight–8am: Playing, itching, licking, snuggling with me, standing on my hair, barking at the occasional hotel sound in the hallway, grabbing a drink or a nibble of food, and, at some point, sleeping.

Moving Day As I’ve mentioned, once or twice a week we move locations. We try to cover as much of a state as possible and average about 5 weeks per state. As such, we move every 5–10 days depending on the number of activities in the area, our budget, and the season (we stay longer sometimes at Christmas and other holidays). Evening The stress of moving day for Truffles starts the night before when the suitcases are packed. She plays ball during this time and we oblige her to help alleviate her anxiety. Morning She has her typical morning routine. Then we spend an hour loading the cart, getting final photos for hotel reviews, packing the car, and checking out.

For more about Truffles, go to cincypet.com/ lifestyle/travel/ Afternoon We try to keep our drives to four hours or less for everyone’s sake. Truffles sits on the floorboards but doesn’t sleep during our travels. She also doesn’t eat a lot on moving day. She does drink water and usually has a small lunch. We always try to visit a dog park or find something fun and dog-friendly to break up the drive and stretch our legs. Roadside America (RoadsideAmerica.com) is our favorite resource for finding funny and quirky things to see on our drives. Evening We arrive and it takes about an hour to unload the car, check in, get pictures for hotel reviews, and unpack. The first thing we unpack at our new hotel is Truffles’ food and water dishes, bed, and toys. She makes herself at home by rolling on the bed and floor and does a perimeter check of the room. We all check to see if she can get under the bed. She loves that. We do not. She may eat more food and play for a while, but without a nap during the day she usually snuggles in early on moving day. This is often when we get the cute puppy snores and dreaming. Sometimes she sleeps through the night, other times she wakes up after a few hours to play and resume her nighttime routine. Overall, Truffles has a very good life for a dog. The slight upset of moving day is outweighed by all the hikes, pets, and experiences she has a full-time travel dog. If you’d like, you can follow Truffles Travels on Facebook and Instagram. CP

Full-time dog mom and traveler SHAE PEPPER is on a five-year, 50-state road trip with her husband, Stephen Pepper, and their dog, Truffles. You can follow their adventures on their website, No Home Just Roam.

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RESCUE PET SPOTLIGHT

diego from Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue

Diego is neutered, microchipped, heartworm negative, and up-to-date on vaccines and flea and tick meds. If you’d like to add this well-behaved boy to your family, contact Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue via email at saveourshelterdogs4@yahoo.com to get an application.

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LEXI & JACE PHOTO � PetLove Photography

iego, a sweet senior Shepherd mix with Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue in Northern Kentucky, has been looking for a home of his own for over two years. Once upon a time, Diego had a family, but a Good Samaritan found him wandering the streets. She found Diego’s family, but they no longer wanted him even though they’d had him since he was a puppy. The family said he was a mess and that they were going to have him euthanized. The Good Samaritan asked if she could take Diego and the family agreed. After Diego was rescued by the Good Samaritan, she contacted a friend with a rescue and they had him seen at the vet. Diego was in bad shape with an ear infection and itchy skin. The rescue contacted Save Our Shelter Dogs Rescue and Diego was nursed back to health. How this handsome fellow hasn’t found a home yet is a complete mystery. He is house-trained, likes other dogs, and is good with kids. Basically, he likes everyone. He is good on a leash and he loves car rides. You would never know that Diego is 15 years old by looking at him nor by the way he acts, as he behaves like a much younger dog. CP

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to see you in the next issue! Contact us at sales@cincypet.com to advertise

CincyPet Magazine Issue 4, Jan/Feb 2020

Articles inside

Help SPCA Cincinnati Save More Lives

FULL-TIME TRAVEL DOG

PROFILE

WINTER PET SAFETY

Circle tail: serving dogs and people