Focus on Carlsbad Summer 2016

SUMMER 2016

We Love Our

Dogs & Cats Looking for Homes Life with Exotic Animals Service Dog Angels Living Off the Land Business News

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FROM THE EDITOR FOCUS ON ADOPTION

NOAH’S ARK DOGS AND CATS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD HOMES FOCUS ON EXOTIC PETS

GOING EXOTIC

FOCUS ON SERVICE DOGS

SERVICE DOGS: REMARKABLE ANGELS QUIETLY ON THE JOB TIDBITS AND TRIVIA

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ANIMAL TRIVIA

PHOTOS IN FOCUS FOCUS ON RESCUE

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS FOCUS ON MAINSTREET

BUSY SUMMER FOR MAINSTREET FOCUS ON PET THERAPY

PET PARTNERS SPREADING LOVE FOCUS ON SELF RELIANCE

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IT’S TIME TO MILK THE GOATS FOCUS ON ANIMAL PROGRAMS

C-PAWS: FOR OUR LOVE OF ANIMALS FOCUS ON BUSINESS PROFILES

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LET’S EAT! VEGAN FAJITAS & VEGAN PORTOBELLO STROGANOFF

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ABOUT THE COVER

Isabella Sanchez, 3, shows some love to the family dog, Zeus.

Photo by Brand Eye Photography Kyle Marksteiner, Editorial Director - Rachel Hughes, Advertising Photography by Kyle Marksteiner, Staci Guy, Special Contributors & submitted.

Special Contributors: Tarrant Blake, Staci Guy, Martha Mauritson, Karla Hamel & The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce FOCUS ON CARLSBAD IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY AD VENTURE MARKETING

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Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information provided.

The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions.

SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

3

F O C U S from the editor

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

If Even for Just a Few Hours W e were sitting on a bench at the park when a boy around ten years old came up, half dragging, half carrying a ragged white puppy. The dog, he explained, started following him a few blocks back.

He had knocked on a few doors but nobody claimed ownership.

KYLE MARKSTEINER Editorial Director

FOCUS ON CARLSBAD

Then the boy stood there looking at us, having completed his sacred kid duty of finding an adult who would (hopefully) assume responsibility.

So we did, as best we could. We walked around the neighborhood with the puppy for an hour or so hoping that someone would recognize the dog and claim him.

When that didn’t happen, we put a picture of the puppy on Facebook and invited everyone to share the photo in a quest to find the owner.

Our duplex has a no pets policy, but we decided a one-night emergency situation would just have to be OK. We built a little nest in the yard and purchased more toys and treats than one little puppy could reasonably need in a day.

See, by then, we’d pretty much already fallen in love with the little guy. He was immeasurably nicer than most humans, and softer, and considerably more understanding. And the look in his eyes basically said—and I’m paraphrasing here—“OMG, you guys are totally going to adopt me and that will be great since you have a kid and you look like the kind of guy who drops food a lot and I’m so excited and…”

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

And we couldn’t adopt him. Aside from the aforementioned no pets policy, there was still the chance that the puppy had a family out there somewhere, wondering where the little guy was. I didn’t have any responses on Facebook, but perhaps the family missing their dog was checking the local shelter.

The following day, our sad procession left to take the dog to Noah’s Ark. The puppy jumped into my car trustingly, and I felt like a combination of Benedict Arnold and Lord Voldemort. The folks at the shelter explained that they would put his picture up on their web page and not adopt him out for several days, in case his original family was looking for him. He was also treated for fleas and worms. To make myself feel better, I told them that if there was any chance the dog was going to be put down to please contact me and I’d figure something out.

That’s when things got weird. I received a Facebook message from a woman claiming the dog was hers. She calls him Sparky, she claimed, and he’s the love of her life. But when I informed her that the dog was at the

shelter, she contended she didn’t have the money to pick up the love of her life, and it sort of felt like she thought I should do so, since I was responsible for taking him to the shelter.

I passed this all on to Noah’s Ark, and they said they would wait a few days to see if he was claimed before attempting to find a family to adopt the puppy. The “owner” of “Sparky” never did claim him, but a nice family with children fell in love with him on the very first day he became eligible for adoption.

What I got out of this was that the folks at Noah’s Ark do a wonderful job taking care of animals and finding families for them.

They even patiently responded to my 1,000 emails and phone calls checking to make sure the puppy found a home.

And I realized that I really want a dog.

We’re in the process of finding a new house right now. There are other motivators, sure, but I’d be lying if I claimed that wanting a dog wasn’t my top priority.

Why do we love animals? Because they are awesome, that’s why.

A B O U T T H E E D IT O R

Kyle Marksteiner is the editorial director of Focus on Carlsbad. He can be reached by email at editor@ad-venturemarketing.com.

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F O C U S on adoption

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

Noah’s Ark Dogs and Cats Always Looking for Good Homes

by Kyle Marksteiner

T

hese days, most of the animals at the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter wind up being adopted, rescued or returned to their original owner, and that’s something to bark and purr about.

“Finally! After 12 years, we’re finally making a difference!” declared Lorraine Allen-Munoz, the shelter’s board chair. “The reason we’re making a difference is because we’ve increased the spay/neuter certificates to 150 a month.”

Noah’s Ark is a nonprofit agency contracted to run the City of Carlsbad’s animal shelter. The spay/neuter program is a big part of the overall effort by Noah’s Ark, and this program is primarily funded through Cat’s Meow, a thrift store in downtown Carlsbad.

Nobody is thrilled about having to euthanize animals, but Noah’s Ark is taking a long-term approach toward reducing the number of such sad occurrences. Over the past 15 years, thanks a great deal to the spay/ neuter assistance program, the annual percentage of impounded dogs and cats euthanized has dipped from 83% to less than 30%.

Allen-Munoz stated the organization recently increased the number of spay/neuter certificates given out each month from 100 a month to 150, thanks to funding provided by the Carlsbad National Bank Trust Department as trustee for the Benjamin P. Duke Trust. The purpose

of the trust is to benefit and improve the welfare of animals.

The certificates are given out for free, but a $20 dollar donation is requested for what has a value of $120 or more.

Noah’s Ark has been in its current location at 5217 Buena Vista Drive since 2006. Director Angela Cary, meanwhile, has been with the organization since 2001.

Years ago, Noah’s Ark (see sidebar) was a no-kill facility that operated separately from the city’s animal shelter. Hundreds of thousands of dollars a year were being spent to save only a small number of animals.

Seeking a better way to help Carlsbad and South Eddy County’s animals, the organization morphed into its current incarnation on advice from the humane association.

Where do the animals come from?

More than a third of the dogs and half the cats are brought in by the City of Carlsbad’s animal control. Eddy County and Loving also bring in a smaller number of dogs and cats along with a trickle of other animals. Lots of dogs and cats are turned over by their owner each year, and even more are brought to the shelter as strays. Added up, Noah’s Ark brought in 2,502 dogs, 1,147 cats and 15 “others” in 2015.

Of those, 72% of the dogs were either redeemed back to their original owners, found a new adopted family or were released to another rescue service. That means 28% were euthanized. While a sad number, it

Noah’s Ark Mission Statement

The mission of Noah’s Ark Animal Refuge, Inc. is to prevent cruelty to animals, to relieve suffering among animals and to extend humane education. Noah’s Ark seeks to prevent overpopulation by spaying or neutering all animals within its custody, providing for the adoption of said animals into loving, caring homes, issuing spay/neuter certificates for companion animals and conducting a spay/neuter feral cat program.

History

• April 1996 - Noah’s Ark Animal Refuge, Inc. created as a no kill animal refuge through an inheritance fund by the Volpato family • September 1995 - Cat’s Meow Thrift Store created to support Noah’s Ark Animal Refuge, Inc. • 2001 - determined that the ONLY solution to the City of Carlsbad’s euthanasia of 2,000 dogs and cats per year was an aggressive free or low cost spay/neuter program • October 1, 2001 - Noah’s Ark Animal Refuge, Inc. closed, which had saved and placed only 200 dogs and cats each year (at a cost of over $120,000 annually); redirected all funding to the Noah’s Ark Spay/Neuter Assistance Program • August 2006 - Noah’s Ark Animal Refuge contracts with the City of Carlsbad to operate the new City of Carlsbad/Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter

SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

7

A cat peers through its pen at the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter. Due to an aggressive spay/neuter program, the number of animals at the shelter has been in decline. • This special room at Noah’s Ark allows the cats staying at the facility an opportunity to explore.

PHOTOS:

shows a considerable reduction in numbers from years prior.

A higher percentage of cats, some 38%, are euthanized, but that number deserves some clarification. The vast majority of that number are euthanized because they are sick, injured or otherwise can’t be adopted.

Only a very small percentage of the cats in the shelter are euthanized due to time or lack of space.

Some owners also bring in their pets to be put down because they can’t afford to do so themselves, which is added to the total. Incidentally, even “no kill” facilities may euthanize up to ten percent of the animals they process.

Allen-Munoz explained that both the adoption process and the spay/neuter process strive to meet the same goal, “to reduce the euthanasia rate at the shelter. What that means is placing them in good, adoptable homes or going through rescue. The goal of the spay/neuter program is to reduce the population at the shelter and therefore the euthanasia rate.”

To make certain the animals are cared for, local veterinarian Dr. Samantha Uhrig is the shelter’s contracted veterinarian. She performs surgeries at the Lynn Pitcaithly Center in the back of the shelter.

There’s a four day stray hold on all animals brought into the shelter, basically giving the previous owner time to check for the missing pet.

Noah’s Ark checks for microchips and posts pictures of the animal on the organization’s web page. Noah’s Ark can immediately recognize one of its own microchips and is able to quickly track down information for other chips.

Software pulls up the information about the dog or cat immediately, but it may take a day or two before the photo is loaded. Cary recommended that people who are missing a pet check with the shelter regularly.

Providing a detailed description—or even better, a photograph—allows

staff to check to see if the animal is present.

After that four day period, the animal becomes available for adoption or rescue. Noah’s Ark attempts to find a home for each animal. The local newspaper prints pictures of the animals up for adoption and some of the cats are placed at a local pet store to try to find an owner. Animals up for adoption are spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated.

Noah’s Ark includes several “play rooms” where families can visit with animals to see if they will be a good fit. You can bring other animals into the room to see how they interact with the potential newcomer. The cat room even features a maze of cat toys, and cats who display good behavior while still at the shelter are allowed to hang out.

Cary and her staff will usually talk with families interested in adoption to offer suggestions. For example, certain dogs are prone to digging through

PHOTOS: Dogs at the Carlsbad Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter await adoption.

Noah’s Ark is used for treatment.

•

A veterinary clinic behind

certain types of fences. Still, as a municipal city shelter, Noah’s Ark usually leaves the decision up to the family.

“We try to counsel more than flat out deny,” she insisted. “We may explain why a particular animal may not be a good fit and suggest another one.”

“Angela is extremely knowledgeable about animal temperament,” Allen-Munoz remarked. “She can evaluate the animals and determine what kind of family they should be in.

Placement is really important.”

Adopting a pet is an emotional experience, Cary counseled, and some visitors may want to try to adopt every animal they see, but rational thinking also helps in the long run.

Once you adopt an animal, your identity is confidential, so you don’t have to worry about an alleged former owner attempting to track you down.

In addition to the adoption process, Noah’s Ark’s employees also look for “rescues,” which are groups looking for specific breeds of dogs and often found in bigger cities like Albuquerque or Denver. Groups of a specific dog breed will be sent in bulk to the rescue, which reduces the number of animals at Noah’s Ark. “We’re in constant contact with rescue groups,” Cary shared.

“In some months, our transfers to rescue are higher than our adoption numbers.”

Cary and her staff judge adoptability on a case-by-case basis based on variables such as the animal’s personality and whether it has been returned multiple times. There’s no set date before euthanizing.

“We do have to make judgment calls, and they are not easy to make,” she admitted.

Working with Noah’s Ark is a unique challenge. The employee needs to love and care for animals but must also understand the reality that a percentage of the

animals may be put down due to issues such as overcrowding or illness.

“It’s one of the hardest parts of staffing,” Cary maintained. The issue is somewhat abated in a rural community, she noted, where people with a farming or ranching background are more able to blend caring for animals with making tough decisions.

“I’m not a person who could work out there,” revealed AllenMunoz, herself the owner of a pair of dogs and four cats.

The long-term goal is to continue to reduce the euthanization rate even more.

“We’d love to reach a point where all healthy, behaviorallysound, adoptable animals are not euthanized,” Cary added, but noted that it gets harder to make improvements the lower the percentage gets. Noah’s Ark has recently reinstated a trap and release program to continue to focus on the feral cat population.

It seems to be paying off as this spring, usually the busy season for baby animals, had greatlyreduced numbers.

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“When we first opened, by late February we were overwhelmed with puppies and kittens,” Cary recalled. “We had a capacity for 30 cats and had 70. But it hasn’t been like that.”

Noah’s Ark just completed a major renovation, courtesy of legislative funding through the City of Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Foundation and Eddy County also support the organization.

The real reason the project succeeds, however, is through its excellent corps of volunteers and employees.

“Angela has done an incredible job,” Allen-Munoz said about Cary. “We could not have accomplished this without her.”

Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter 5217 Buena Vista Drive Carlsbad, NM 88220 575-885-5769 noahsarkshelter.org Hours: Monday-Friday 12:005:30, Saturday 11:00-4:00

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F O C U S on exotic pets

Going Exotic Unique Animals Bring Unique Challenges

by Kyle Marksteiner

SO THERE ARE DOG PEOPLE AND CAT PEOPLE, SURE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LARGE NUMBER OF ANIMAL OWNERS WHO TAKE A THIRD PATH. YOU HAVE ALSO EMU PEOPLE, ZEBRA PEOPLE AND FLYING SQUIRREL PEOPLE. LOOK OUT FOR THOSE FLYING SQUIRREL PEOPLE. Camille Figueroa, who owns Runyan Ranch west of Artesia, knows all about exotic animals. The roadside petting zoo features camels, water buffalo and zebras (oh my!) and they’re even looking at getting a kangaroo.

“It actually started out just being orphan animals we had from the ranch, like lambs and goats and cows,” Figueroa explained. “Then we had some friends who brought a camel to us. When we got the water buffalo, they started thinking they were twins.”

Figueroa’s original background was in providing medical assistance to race horses, but the skill set rolls over well. Providing for exotic animals has been an interesting ride, she admitted, which requires completing a fairly strict permitting process with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.

Each state’s law varies depending on the animal, but in general New Mexico is quite a bit stricter on ownership than some neighboring states.

“You have to have it be approved and disease free,” she continued. “You have to make sure you are getting them (the Camel feeding at Runyan Ranch. The camel originally came from White’s Animal Kingdom in Carlsbad.

PHOTO:

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

animals) from a reputable place.”

But on the lighter side, animals are often like little kids, in that one of them is getting into some sort of trouble at any given moment, and exotic animals are fun and a good educational opportunity for children and adults alike, Figueroa declared.

“You don’t run into too many different things in New Mexico. I don’t know how many times our emu has been called a turkey, an ostrich or a peacock.” Even the owners of Runyon

Ranch continue to learn a lot about the uniqueness of different species.

You certainly don’t get rich running a petting zoo. It’s a day-long effort to feed all the animals, and the yearly cost for the exotics alone is more than $50,000. The folks at Runyan Ranch really appreciate every extra dollar left in the tip jar.

“When you are huddled inside with hot chocolate, we’re hauling water to animals and getting feed to them,” Figueroa countered. “We LOVE animals, and it is a choice we made, but these are long days.”

Before purchasing an exotic animal, Figueroa recommends doing a lot of research, including talking to people who own that animal. Some animals don’t do well in certain environments, she observed, and all of them have additional expenses that not everyone

remembers, such as dental care and shots.

on the other hand, are illegal to sell in New Mexico.

It’s a lot of work, but the families visiting the Runyan Ranch always appreciate the effort. That said, sometimes the more common animals are the true stars of the show.

Some of the brightly-colored snakes are especially popular, Lloyd acknowledged, but business has been very slow since oil prices went down.

“You know, we have all these different animals, but I think the most excited people get is with the goats,” Figueroa remarked. “Little baby goats are cute!”

Runyan Ranch, 50 miles west of Artesia on Highway 82, is usually open from 9:00 a.m. until dark. For more information, please visit Facebook. com/RunyanRanches/ or call 575405-8333.

However, you don’t have to travel far to visit exotic animals. Some varieties can be purchased at the Village Pet Shop located at 1503 S. Canal Street.

The shop’s phone number is 575887-5882. Owner Vickie Lloyd has operated the shop in Carlsbad for a dozen years now. Before that, she ran a similar shop in San Diego.

The store offers exotic birds, hedgehogs, ferrets, iguanas, bearded dragons and sugar gliders, a small marsupial that has been growing in popularity as a pet for the last 15 years.

“Everybody wants a puppy or kitten, but some people want something a little more exotic,” she noted. The store also sells less exotic animals, including fish, rabbits and, yes, dogs.

A parrot cries out “hello” when you enter the building. There’s a large collection of books against a back wall, and a sign indicates that the nearby caged boa constrictor is not for sale.

Lloyd shared she is considering getting a special license to sell monkeys as well. Like the daily work necessary at Runyon Ranch, running a pet shop for six days each week is an exhausting experience. She also pointed out that each state has its own laws. For example, she can sell ferrets if they are spayed and neutered, but California won’t allow their sale without a special permit. Prairie dogs,

Of course, you don’t have to be a sugar glider or a water buffalo to qualify as exotic. Take, for example, Valerie Murrill’s pet cat, Sir Je Protector, (say the name aloud, then take into consideration Murrill runs a company that does electrical work). Sir Je is a Sphynx, a somewhat-rare breed of hairless cat she picked up from a special location in Atlanta. The Sphynx, bred through a genetic birth defect, has a very distinct appearance that may not be for everyone.

The breed requires some special cleaning and treatment, but hairlessness certainly has its advantages when it comes to sofas and allergens. “I just didn’t want the hair. I thought it was messy,” Murrill confided. “I also loved the fact that what you see is what you get.”

Sir Je Protector is even famous, though less so than Grumpy Cat. He’s been used for much of Murrill Electric’s advertising campaign for years.

“I used to take him to work, and he was staring at the ceiling fan,” recalled Murrill. “I told the secretary it looked like he was trying to figure out how it worked. We took some pictures, and it flourished from there.”

Some of the ads, for example, play up the joke that the cat used to have hair until he tried to do his own electrical work instead of calling an expert.

Two years ago, a second Sphynx joined the Murrill household, this one named Sir Kit Breaker. Murrill said the older Sphynx looks out for the younger cat, which may someday have an advertising career of his own.

There’s an exotic pet for you out there somewhere, just make sure it is in compliance with state and local ordinances.

PHOTOS (TOP TO BOTTOM): One of the ferrets available at the Village Pet Shop, 1503 S. Canal Street • Valerie Murrill, owner of Murrill Electric, has used her rare Sphynx cat in a number of advertisements. • Sir Je Protector and Sir Kit Breaker, Murrill’s two Sphynx cats

SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

11

F O C U S on service dogs

remarkable angels quietly on the job

by Tarrant Blake

S

ome citizens of Carlsbad would be in real trouble without their service dogs.

Moreover, service dogs have become more common in our society over the last few decades.

By one estimate, there are now as many as 200,000 working service dogs in the United States alone that help mitigate more than just one or two disabilities.

Many people are familiar with service dogs that help the blind navigate, but nowadays service dogs are trained to assist individuals with many other disabilities as well. For example, some dogs help unsteady people keep their balance, others can sense when a diabetic’s blood sugar level is dangerously high or low. There are also service dogs that can detect oncoming seizures, alert the hard of hearing about a dangerous situation or provide an active, positive intervention for those who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

Melissa Washburn is such a citizen of Carlsbad who depends on her service dog. Rocky is a four-year-old male Boxer trained to help Washburn steady her gait by leaning against her to keep her upright, cushion falls or become a steady brace so she can push down on him to stand up.

Rocky was trained by Brenda and Lee Blevins of Artesia. Initially, Rocky was sent to the Blevinses for basic training and wasn’t intended to be a service dog. When Washburn began training with Rocky, it became apparent that he was trying to help her walk and cushion her occasional falls. It was then that she and the Blevinses decided to continue Rocky’s training to meet her specific service dog needs.

After completing training as an official service dog seven months later, she brought Rocky home and he has been with her ever since.

What defines a service dog, and what are the basic laws concerning these dogs?

Service dogs mitigate a disability.

12

FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

PHOTO:

Melissa Washburn and Rocky

Simply put, if the dog isn’t trained to ease an impairment, it isn’t considered a service dog. By their very definition, service dogs provide a necessary service for their handlers that enables those handlers to go about their daily activities safely. This requires the dog to be on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Service dogs are permitted anywhere the public can go, including grocery stores, hospitals, doctor’s offices, parks, buses, airplanes, restaurants, hotels, and the list goes on. In fact, sterile environments like an operating room or burn unit are some of the few public places where service dogs are not permitted.

Washburn addressed the concern some people have regarding dogs in public places, commenting, “A true service dog should never disrupt their environment; you should never know they are there.” The only time a service dog can be barred from a public area is if the dog is disruptive and the handler doesn’t take effective action to correct it or if the service dog isn’t house broken.

If the service dog is barred from a public area for such reasons, it is still the responsibility of the establishment to provide the handler some kind of alternate access to the establishment, such as providing a list of grocery items the business can gather and deliver to the handler’s vehicle.

The laws are very clear as to what two questions can be asked by gate keepers to ascertain service dog status: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? >>>

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Service dog handlers are not required to carry any documentation, license, certification or proof, nor are the dogs required to wear vests or other identifying items, although many do.

One exception to this law is that the City of Carlsbad requires all dogs, whether pet or service dog, to wear a city license tag.

Some dogs are considered working dogs, but not service dogs. For example, when asked what service his dog provided, one man claimed that it killed some 60-plus rattlesnakes while working in the oilfield. This dog apparently is very talented as a snake killer, but that ability does not qualify him to be called a service dog.

One legitimate service dog team in Carlsbad is Rob Clements and his seven-year-old black Labrador, Meade.

Meade was trained as a guide dog for the visually impaired, and he helps Clements navigate the world.

Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds their own puppies and then sends them to a puppy trainer for just under a year.

When they return, the dogs have been socialized and taught basic commands.

They then spend another year or so learning to be the eyes of someone who is visually challenged.

Clements has been teamed up with Meade for five and a half years now.

Among other tasks, Clements depends on Meade to help him traverse the traffic on the way to and from his

counseling business inside the offices of the Jeff Diamond Law Firm. If you walk in that area, you will see some of the traffic accommodations that help Clements and Meade and others stay safe during their commute.

etiquette suggests that you also greet the handler and ask his or her name as well. “It’s kind of funny,” Washburn confided with a smile. “They know Rocky’s name, but many don’t have a clue what mine is.”

Because they are together twentyfour hours a day every single day, service dogs and their handlers have a connection that is deeper than most any other relationship. Even parents take time away from their children.

When talking with Clements, this Focus writer noticed that he unconsciously reached for, petted or held Meade’s harness nearly the entire time. When the issue was brought to his attention, he smiled and remarked, “It’s just a way to say, ‘Here I am, and I know where you are.’”

Lynne Emerson agrees. She finds humor in the fact that her service dog is more well-known than she is.

It’s important for the average citizen to know the basics of service dog etiquette. Most dog owners enjoy meeting and greeting each other when out walking. However, service dogs need to concentrate on the task at hand. Just as it is distracting when people interrupt a person at work, the same can be said of a service dog at work.

Some handlers don’t mind you greeting their service dogs if you first ask permission and wait until the dog acknowledges you. In a case like Washburn and Rocky, she usually has no problem with Rocky saying hello as long as she is in a balanced position and is prepared. In other situations, it can be dangerous for the service dog’s attention to be drawn away, even for a second. If you do ask and receive permission to greet a service dog,

Willow, a four-year-old Great Dane, was trained in New England. She and Emerson have been together for about three years. Willow helps Emerson with mobility; Emerson, in turn, serves as a service dog activist, a person who works to educate others about service dogs, access laws and the laws that apply to service dog teams.

Not every handler of a service dog has a need that is obvious. Therefore, “one needs to be respectful when encountering a service dog team,” Emerson cautioned. “Bear in mind we’re trying to function and live our lives. Imagine, if you will, being stopped every 50 feet in a store” to be engaged in a conversation. “If you really want to comment about a service dog team, simply smile and say in passing, ‘Beautiful dog,’ or, ‘Great team.’”

Clements, Washburn and Emerson were all asked if their service dogs ever get to be just regular dogs. They each laughed and said, “Yes.” Apparently all three dogs have animal packs at home they romp around with. Moreover, Washburn added, her employer put up a fenced-in area at her work site where Rocky gets to enjoy his “two coffee breaks and lunch hour playing outside.” In addition, Clements admitted that while Meade does play with his fur siblings, the dog is much more interested in spending a lot of his off-time just sitting next to him.

The more we learn about dogs and their ability to grasp and understand our needs, the more likely it is there will be more service dog teams living and working around us. It’s important to keep in mind that while these dogs are beautiful and fun to watch, they are really remarkable angels doing necessary and important jobs.

Thus, as good citizens, it’s up to us to be respectful of the handlers and the crucial work their service dogs perform.

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

PHOTO LEFT: Rob Clements and Meade PHOTO RIGHT: Lynne Emerson’s service dog Willow

A NIM AL TRIV IA COMPILED FROM CORSINET.COM/TRIVIA/A-TRIV.HTML

A father sea catfish keeps the eggs of his young in his mouth until they are ready to hatch. He will not eat until his young are born, which may take several weeks.

A Holstein cow’s spots are like a fingerprint or a snowflake. No two cows have exactly the same pattern of spots.

The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat.

The giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus in the world, grows from the size of a pea to a 150 pound behemoth potentially 30 feet across in only two years, its entire life-span.

A chimpanzee can learn to recognize itself in a mirror, but a monkey can’t.

A quarter of the horses in the U.S. died of a vast virus epidemic in 1872.

All pet hamsters are descended from a single female wild golden hamster found with a litter of 12 young in Syria in 1930.

An albatross can sleep while it flies.

It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.

A zebra is white with black stripes.

All clams start out as males; some de-

cide to become females at some point in their lives.

Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.

Mockingbirds can imitate any sound from a squeaking door to a cat meowing.

Pet parrots can eat virtually any common “people food” except for chocolate and avocados. Both of these are highly toxic to the parrot and can be fatal.

Goldfish lose their color if they are kept in dim light or are placed in a body of running water, such as a stream.

Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.

Lassie was played by several male dogs, despite the female name, because male collies were thought to look better on camera. The main “actor” was named Pal. The fastest bird is the spine-tailed swift, clocked at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.

The name of the dog on the Cracker Jack box is Bingo.

The fastest moving land snail, the common garden

snail, has a speed of 0.0313 mph.

Sharks apparently are the only animals that never get sick. As far as is known, they are immune to every known disease including cancer.

The pigmy shrew, a relative of the mole, is the smallest mammal in North America. It weighs 1/14 ounce, less than a dime.

There are more than 100 million dogs and cats in the United States. Americans spend more than $5.4 billion on their pets each year.

When the Black Death swept across England, one theory was that cats caused the plague. Thousands were slaughtered. Ironically, those who kept their cats were less affected, because the cats kept their houses clear of the real culprits, rats.

A chameleon can move its eyes in two directions at the same time.

An electric eel can produce a shock of up to 650 volts.

Carnivorous animals will not eat another animal that has been hit by a lightning strike.

SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

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1 • Students watch a demonstration of the City of Carlsbad’s new glass pulverizer at the solid waste convenience station.

2 • Ribbon cutting at the City of Carlsbad’s new solid waste convenience station 3 • Music and poetry were part of this year’s annual celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 4 • Carlsbad historian Jed Howard was honored by Mayor Dale Janway for his efforts. Also pictured are Cheyenne Methola and Mike Antiporda.

5 • Carlsbad High School students were honored for their participation at this year’s annual MLK celebration.

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6 • Members of the Carlsbad Fire Department and others participated in a Well Control Incident Management course taught by instructors from Wild Well Control and sponsored by a coordinated effort from oil companies Apache, Chevron, Concho, ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Resolute Energy Corporation and Shell.

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7 • Former State Representative John Heaton spoke at an event honoring the naming of the Cave and Karst Research Institute building in his honor.

8 • Former Municipal Judge Jay Redford stood with his staff prior to his retirement.

9 • Students at Monterrey Elementary demonstrated their knowledge of robotics.

10 • New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, in pink, participated in a CASA/CYFD Rally Against Child Abuse in early April.

SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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F O C U S on rescue

Practice Makes Perfect for Search and Rescue Dogs

by Kyle Marksteiner

Dr. Kim Lark runs an active family medical practice in Carlsbad, but she’s always prepared to load her dogs up and travel to a rescue effort when the situation demands it.

Over the years, that has meant numerous Urban Search and Rescue efforts, including a 2010 deployment to Haiti and a 2001 assignment to the Pentagon following the tragedy of

September 11. However, it’s the day-to-day effort, the hours and hours of training, that is the true heroic effort.

Lark and her dogs do most of their training within a labyrinth of wooden pallets adjacent to a separate warren of concrete rubble that, when viewed together, look like the backdrop of every postapocalyptic movie ever made. The doctor built it (with some help) over the past six years or so on the back end of the Permian Basin Regional Training Center.

“A few weekends ago, I had people from Utah and Colorado out there training because it is such a wonderful site,” she declared.

“People don’t realize what a gem it is.”

Lark has been involved in dog rescue since she graduated from medical school in 1993. Over the years, she has served on a number of FEMA deployments to accidents and tragedies as well as countless other searches. She also works closely with local law enforcement agencies in cases where there is a search for

either survivors or human remains.

Carlsbad resident Doree Donovan also participates in dog rescue efforts around the country.

Currently, Lark has two dogs on active duty. Storm is a Border Collie who is currently training to find human remains. She’s just over a year old and hasn’t passed her test yet. Felony is a Dutch Shepherd who was certified last November to assist with live finds.

PHOTO LEFT: Dr. Kim Lark and Storm, who is being trained to search for human remains.

PHOTO ABOVE: Dr. Kim Lark with Felony, a trained Urban Search and Rescue dog

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

FOCUSNM.COM

Boot, Lark’s 15-year-old dog, is now retired. Another dog didn’t quite display the intensity needed for finds, so Lark uses him to visit people at nursing homes.

Lark noted that Storm is well on her way to passing her test to be a certified human remains dog.

“She’s good, but when I test her I want to be 100% sure she’s going to pass,” she added.

“Let’s say there was a pile and somebody was buried under it,” Lark offered. “With video equipment and listening devices, it might take hours to cover that.

Felony…could probably search that in 20-30 seconds.”

The two types of training are slightly different, and FEMA wants some differentiation in training, though many rescue efforts often involve a search for both survivors and human remains. Dogs bark when they find their target.

Sure enough, both Storm and Felony passed with flying colors during a training session in early April. Storm, a human remains dog, made a beeline for the first scent. She stopped in front of the correct wooden pallet (one of thousands) and barked.

She was rewarded with the opportunity to play with one of her toys before Lark indicated it was time to find the next scent.

This time, Storm dashed out to the perimeter of the property and immediately zoomed in on the empty metal tank where the source was located.

Lark explained that the dog understood after the first scent was located that it was time to pinpoint the second scent. Dogs have inventory lists, of sorts, of the different scents around them.

For Felony’s practice finding survivors, a volunteer hid inside a concrete culvert at the far end of the practice area. After she was released, Felony also circled the perimeter of the area briefly, before moving in to the exact spot for her acknowledging bark. Her reward was some time with her favorite chew toy.

Felony’s name, Lark explained, reflects how tough a dog she can be. Lark brought on Felony as an Urban Search and Rescue dog after a previous dog she was training didn’t work out.

Felony was originally trained to be a police dog, and she can get pretty intense on searches, but she’s also extremely friendly.

“Her nickname was princess,” Lark laughed.

In the case of a practice search for a survivor, Lark relies on volunteers to pick hiding spots within her post-apocalyptic playground.

For the human remains scent, Lark keeps a special freezer with items such as knee joints removed during surgeries.

The donors all know that they are donating their joints for training, and the items are always kept in a sealed container.

“The dogs never get to the scent source,” she insisted.

New Mexico no longer has a FEMA team, and that’s a bit of a sore spot for Lark and the state’s other qualified participants.

Several years ago, the federal agency disbanded New Mexico’s FEMA squad because of mismanagement at the state administrative level.

“Right now, we’re on our own,” Lark declared. “There is the possibility of Texas adding a group to El Paso, but basically, I work with different police departments.”

While Lark has worked during hurricanes and the aftermaths of terrorist attacks across the globe, she is also more likely to take her dogs to work potential drownings or search for human remains at crime scenes closer to home. Her canine partners over the years, among them Felony, Storm, Boot, Sage, Hershey and Chance, have always been ready to help sniff out trouble.

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F O C U S on mainstreet

Busy Summer for MainStreet Greetings from Carlsbad MainStreet!

KARLA HAMEL Executive Director

CARLSBAD MAINSTREET

The Carlsbad MainStreet Project was formed in 1996. We are a non-profit organization working to bring stronger economic vitality to downtown by providing resources that make the overall downtown look more attractive and by encouraging more businesses to become a part of our downtown. One of our goals is to make downtown Carlsbad a place where families come to eat, be entertained and create a lifetime of memories. We want to provide activities that will engage families, community members and tourists to come together for a more cohesive connection for our town.

This year we are planning our first annual MAINSTREET CAVERNFEST that will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

The city will be partnering with Carlsbad MainStreet for this “free to the public” event that will bring thousands of people to our downtown. Even though the concert is free to the public, MainStreet’s hope is that this event will serve as a fundraiser for Carlsbad MainStreet.

Sponsorships for this event are still available.

The grand opening of our CARLSBAD DOWNTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET will be at 8:00 a.m. The market will be set up in the middle of a downtown street (Canyon) in front of retail businesses.

There will be a food truck with hot coffee and breakfast items available starting at 7:30 a.m. At 9:00 a.m. our mayor will declare June 11 to be Carlsbad MainStreet/Farmers’ Market Day.

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The Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from midJune until the end of September. This market is a venue that helps support our local farmers and crafters. The Farmers’ Market vendors reported almost $39,000 in revenue during the 2015 season.

FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

The Downtown Farmers’ Market portion will conclude at 11:00 a.m. at which time any crafters, artists and businesses that are not “regular” Farmers’ Market vendors will have an opportunity to join the street vendor portion of our day. We will have arts and crafts demonstrations and sales and information from local businesses so that the public is aware of what we have available right here in Carlsbad. Local musicians will be asked to perform at two different locations of the event venue starting around 9:00 a.m.

Our local downtown retail businesses will be encouraged to have sidewalk sales and adjust their business hours to coincide with this event. Carlsbad MainStreet will provide hamburgers and hot dogs, along with condiments, to be prepared and sold by local volunteers. The proceeds will benefit MainStreet.

A volleyball tournament will be held on the court house lawn with all proceeds being donated to Carlsbad MainStreet.

P.S.

Children will be given a chance to bounce in jump houses, have their faces painted and watch as balloon creatures are made right before their eyes. A sidewalk chalk art contest will take place with different age levels competing for a first place ribbon.

At 4:00 p.m., one block of our MainStreet district will be made up of food vendors where patrons may purchase food and sit in our outdoor food court. There will be a “beer garden” and a special VIP section available with the purchase of tickets.

While all of the early events are taking place during the day, a stage crew and construction crew will be setting up for the feature concert by the band Little Texas and opening band The Henningsens. The free concert will begin around 6:00 p.m.

For more information on how to be involved with CavernFest or Carlsbad MainStreet, please email us at carlsbadmainstreet@gmail.com or call 575-628-3768.

My fiancé and I both love animals, too, especially our little Shih Tzu, Yeti. Yeti is a rescue dog that came to us in the heat of the summer.

He was dirty, hungry and afraid, and his hair was so long he couldn’t even see. After feeding him some deli meat (that’s all we had that we felt he could eat) and giving him water, he decided he might stay. After a while we gained enough of his trust that he allowed us to trim the hair around his eyes, then the rest of his hair. His coat was so matted that we had to take him to the groomer and shave him completely. After he was shaved he was a new dog; he was bouncy and happy. He loves his life now. He has plenty of food and water, and he has learned how to sit, shake, pray, roll over and even play dead. He gets brushed regularly, gets a bath weekly and is spoiled rotten, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We love animals!

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F O C U S on pet therapy

by Kyle Marksteiner

Mya is the Maker of Smiles.

Strolling down the halls of Lakeview Christian Home, she causes heads to turn and hearts to race.

“I love you!” declares a woman from her wheelchair, awakening suddenly from her half doze just moments before. “I love you! I love you!”

lunch for three years now. They are one of Carlsbad’s Pet Partner teams through the Carlsbad Pet Therapy Association, a unique volunteer organization that believes animals boost morale and the connection between animal and human is very beneficial.

Mya is a seven-year-old yellow Lab/ Golden Retriever mix. She and her owner, Christine Svetich, have been visiting Lakeview once a week after

“I like going there and visiting,” explained Svetich. “It makes the residents happy, and sometimes we are the only people a resident might see

the whole week, because some don’t have families. Some of them have had to leave dogs or pets behind.”

A Carlsbad Pet Therapy Association brochure notes that the animals seem to know who needs special attention on any given day. “The smiles and interactions we get from the residents make every moment we spend getting prepared for this ‘job’ worthwhile,” the brochure reads. “Some of these reactions are from people who have not shown response to any therapy that has been tried before.”

Similar visits are taking place across Carlsbad throughout the week.

“Landsun Homes is thrilled to have Pet Therapy visitations,” added Marsha Drapala, administrator at Landsun. “Residents in all levels of care enjoy the interaction with the pets and their owners. We thank all of those who take the time to visit.”

During a weekly visit, Svetich and Mya will tour Lakeview’s main room and then conduct room-to-room visits. They are showstoppers to say the least, though Mya gets most of the attention. Although Mya’s visits may seem informal, pet therapy is actually a very important form of treatment for dementia, PTSD and many other psychological concerns.

Svetich recalled one woman stuck in a seemingly vegetative state who reacted

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

PHOTO: Christine Svetich and Mya visit Lakeview Christian Home’s Northgate Unit as part of the Carlsbad Pet Therapy Association’s voluntary effort.

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the counter, she (Golden) said, ‘I’ve been watching you, and would you like to make her a pet therapy dog?’”

After some hesitation, Svetich agreed.

“She passed with flying colors,” Svetich bragged of Mya, having breezed her way through the training process.

Mya is also certified as a service dog.

Svetich said her husband battles PTSD, and Mya provides him with tremendous assistance.

Nationally and internationally, Pet Therapy may be taking a more technological turn. A company named PARO, for example, markets an advanced interactive robot for patients who live in places where live animals can’t be used. The PARO Therapeutic Robot looks like a toy version of a baby harp seal and operates on sophisticated Artificial Intelligence.

It remembers previous actions and responds to touch. Classified as a Class 2 Medical Device, it is frequently used in treating dementia patients. positively after Mya performed a trick.

It was the first time the woman had responded in any fashion for a long time.

Mya also visits schools, where local youth read stories to her. It takes quite a bit of training to become a certified Pet Partner. Qualification includes obedience school, an observation period and a team evaluation. Scenarios including people in wheelchairs and people making sudden noises are set up to see how the dog will react. Becoming an official Pet Partner is a pretty big deal.

Mya was recruited by Florence Golden, another Carlsbad Pet Therapy Association member.

“I took her (Mya) to Cat’s Meow, and this lady looked like she was following me,” Svetich shared. “When I reached PHOTOS: Mya, a yellow Lab/Golden Retriever mix, is awarded with another smile during a visit to Lakeview Christian Home.

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

But when it comes to love, it is going to be hard to beat a real dog, and the men and women at Lakeview seem to agree. Mya spreads a lot of cheer in a short visit.

Most of the residents Mya visits want to pet her, of course, and Svetich and Mya have a growing list of visitors to see during each weekly visit.

“There are some residents who forget me every

time,” Svetich noted, “but they always light up and remember the dog. They get so excited when we show up, and I just love it. It feels really good inside to make people feel like they are loved.”

“There are not enough teams to go around,” she concluded. “I never thought I’d enjoy it as much as I do.

Mya loves it, too. She gets to get out and see other people.”

Carlsbad needs more pet therapy dogs, and anyone interested in joining should email Svetich at momdukes1359@yahoo.com, Golden at frpgolden@aol.com, Joyce Bird at cjbird61@gmail.com or Jennifer Donner at jtdonner@gmail.com.

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F O C U S on self reliance

It’s Time to

Milk the Goats!

by Staci Guy

W

hether it’s a fear of the apocalypse (zombie or otherwise!), or simply a desire to have a better connection to one’s food, a growing trend is emerging in which people are working to become more self-reliant. Generally speaking, the term used to describe the trend, or lifestyle, would be homesteading. For one local pastor and his family, it has become a way of life.

“I didn’t grow up on a farm or anything,” explained Pastor Philip Huston, “but when we were living in North Carolina, we decided to plant a garden, and we really liked it. There’s something fulfilling about…raising your own food.”

Their flourishing garden in North Carolina would prove to be only the beginning of their journey to become more self-sufficient. After moving to Carlsbad from Rio Rancho several years ago, the Hustons decided to continue their gardening endeavors and eventually added animals to the mix. “It started with just a few quail, and now it’s obviously more than that!” he joked as he peered out into his field full of hogs and goats, geese and chickens.

The Hustons’ “homestead” is actually separated into two different locations.

At their home on Mountain View Drive is where they do their gardening and other self-reliant activities like canning and pasteurizing; a friend’s property east of town houses their eclectic herd of animals, ranging from rare sheep and hogs to chickens, geese and turkeys.

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

PHOTO:

Pastor Philip Huston holds one of his baby goats.

Gardening

At first glance, Huston’s front yard might appear to be nothing more than an overgrown bed of weeds or random plants and flowers sprouting up out of nowhere. It’s a far cry from the more common sight of manicured lawns full of grass, trees and flowers. In reality though, he has made ample use of just about every square inch of outside space available on the lot, including front, back and side yards and the alley. They even grow things vertically. “I built these trellises on the west side of the house for two reasons: one, because it provides more space for growing. If you can go vertical you make better use of your space,” Huston noted, “and two, it helps cool the house off in the summer.”

While meandering through the front yard, it is not uncommon to find things like borage, an edible flower that tastes like a cucumber (It really does!), or Aztec spinach, which has a top with texture similar to quinoa and edible leaves. There are different varieties of artichokes and berries and more herbs than one could possibly know what to do with! The side of the house provides space for experimental berry growing while the backyard fence has the perfect climbing space for passion fruit vines. The Hustons also grow calendula, a yellow flower that can be used as an immune booster (they used it to make tea and gave it away as Christmas gifts), and horehound, a plant that can be used to treat a cough.

The countless varieties of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers seem to coexist beautifully with little need for pesticides or other harsh chemicals. “I don’t really spray for insects,” he admitted.

“When you spray you kill everything. Most bugs are good, so when you spray for aphids you also kill ladybugs. I mostly just let

nature balance itself out.” In the rare instance that he does need to spray, he will usually just take some Ivory soap, dilute it with water and spray the plants lightly.

Huston’s apparent green thumb and his relentless quest for knowledge means his gardens have flourished and his family is often rewarded with a healthy and abundant harvest. They are able to eat fresh vegetables throughout most of the year and fresh fruit in the warmer months. In addition to eating it fresh from the garden, they also can their own salsas and jams, make fresh apple cider with a cider press, pasteurize their own milk and enjoy homemade applesauce with apples straight from the tree. What they do not eat or compost they sell at the local Farmer’s Market.

Animals

The second part of becoming self-reliant has been adding animals to the mix. Not only do the Hustons raise their own animals to butcher, but they also enjoy fresh milk and eggs as well.

“We don’t buy chicken or turkey at all,” he proclaimed. “I butcher them myself, as well as the quail.

And I mostly just hunt for our red meat.” Having spent most of his life in Ohio and Texas, Huston said he loves New Mexico for various reasons, number one being the hunting opportunities.

Though rewarding, living off the land in a self-reliant manner does come at a price. It’s physical, time-consuming work that doesn’t break for weekends or holidays. “I come out and milk every day, twice a day,” he shared.

“It’s quite a commitment, but to me it’s worth it to have real, fresh ingredients and milk and eggs.

Plus, I find it relaxing.”

The animals, much like the plants in his garden, all seem to coexist and live amongst one another SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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with few problems. He goes out twice a day and feeds, but they also have free rein to graze and laze as they so desire.

After disappearing off to the side of the property momentarily, he returned with a couple of eggs. “Free range chickens are a good idea in theory,” he admitted, “but they lay their eggs all over the place. I just found some in a hole way over by that fence.”

Raising animals and tending to a garden might be a lot of work, but it’s

a labor of love for the Huston family.

Huston immerses himself in books and online research and said a lot of what he has learned has been through experience and through sharing ideas with others. “People want to raise their own food but they don’t realize how much work and money it takes,” he confessed.

Huston is the senior pastor at Epworth United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Diana, have two daughters,

Hannah and Abby. While many children might not understand that their hamburger once had eyes and a nose or that their French fries grew in the dirt, the Huston girls get it. They have seen first-hand the hard work their parents have put into growing their food and they’re excited to get first dibs at the fresh carrots and strawberries plucked from their own backyard.

PHOTOS (ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT): Phil Huston drives out to the property where he keeps his animals twice a day to milk his goats and sheep. The Hustons pasteurize the milk for drinking and also use it to make cheese. • Huston enjoys adding rare animals to his herd, including this Navajo Churro sheep. The sheep, with their long staple of protective top coat and soft undercoat, are well suited to extremes of climate. Some rams have multiple fully developed horns, a trait shared by few other breeds of the world. The flavor of the meat is incomparably superior, with a surprisingly low fat content. Their wool is used to make Navajo rugs. • Huston milks a Friesian sheep, a German sheep known for producing the highest yield of milk per ewe.

PHOTOS (BELOW LEFT TO RIGHT): Geese on the property. • The most distinctive feature of the American Mulefoot hog is the solid hoof which resembles that of a mule. Pigs with solid hooves have attracted the interest of writers over the centuries, including Aristotle and Darwin. Yet of all the mulefooted hogs described, the American Mulefoot is the only documented population with a breed standard and a long history of agricultural use. This breed is unique to the United States and is critically rare. • These Silkie chickens are named for their atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk or satin. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. Hens are also exceptionally broody and make good mothers. Though they are fair layers themselves, laying about three eggs a week, they are commonly used to hatch eggs from other breeds and bird species. Photos by Staci Guy

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

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F O C U S on animal programs

C-PAWS

by Martha Mauritson

For more than 400 Carlsbad pets, the group known as C-PAWS has made a nutritious change in the menu when their feeding time rolls around.

On the last Saturday of every month, pet owners who find it difficult to stretch the family budget to include pet food can get what they need for their cats or dogs, free of charge, from C-PAWS—the Carlsbad Progressive Animal Welfare Society.

“It’s the best thing that we’ve ever done,” proclaimed founding member Darya Ramirez.

As the most recent initiative for the group, the feeding program was started after members learned of families that sometimes skipped their own meal in order to feed their pets. Other pets received only table scraps such as beans, bread or tortillas.

“We had a benefactor who also saw the need,” revealed C-PAWS President Susan Hathon. That benefactor, who wished to remain anonymous, gave $1,000 to get the feeding program started.

Since August 2015, cat and dog food has been distributed from a space at Tractor Supply Company on National Parks Highway.

According to Hathon, recipients must verify need by showing proof that they are on Social Security or some public Darya Ramirez holds Killer Rabbit, a lop rabbit that she adopted after it spent several months in Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter. PHOTO RIGHT: Ramirez is greeted by some of the 13 dogs she has adopted after finding each in need of a home.

PHOTO TOP:

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

For Our Love of Animals

assistance program or that the family’s household income is under $30,000 per year.

Ramirez’s red T-shirt say it all: “Caring for animals isn’t what I do, it’s who I am.”

To remain in the program, owners must get their pets the rabies vaccine and have them spayed or neutered within three months of entering the program, Ramirez said.

Ramirez has been looking out for animals since she was just eight years old. Her first rescue was a litter of baby possums whose mother was killed on the highway.

She stashed them in a shed and cared for them without telling her mother. She was found out, however, when she took the little ones to school for show-and-tell.

Contacts made through the food program help C-PAWS learn of other needs, such as vaccinations.

Thanks to local veterinarian Dr. Samantha Uhrig at Desert Willow Veterinary Services, C-PAWS can offer help with rabies vaccines for low-income pet owners.

“Every month it’s free to the pet owners,” Hathon disclosed, while C-PAWS pays a discounted price to Uhrig. As many as 50 vaccinations may be provided each month.

The group also finds people who need help having their pets spayed or neutered, and it gives out certificates for the procedures as it is able to obtain them. The county’s main spay and neuter effort is run through Cat’s Meow, a Canyon Street thrift store that helps fund Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter.

“Our very first real initiative was the dog house program,” explained Hathon.

With donated materials and work by the Carlsbad High School building trades class, a couple of different sizes of dog houses were built and given to those who could not provide one for their pet.

If group members see a dog tied up with no shelter from the elements, they can knock on the door and offer a dog house free of charge.

Low-income owners can also contact the group to get a house to fit their dog.

C-PAWS can always use donations of money or materials for the program. Needed materials include T-11 siding, three-quarter-inch plywood, 2x4s, nails and shingles.

The group is a registered 501(c) (3) corporation, so donations are tax-deductible.

For the small group of big-hearted C-PAWS members, the words on

Now her home south of town is filled with a small herd of animals that, for one reason or other, were homeless. There are 13 dogs and 15 cats, and every one of them is an indoor pet.

A front room in the house is full of cages for nine chinchillas, one guinea pig, two rabbits, eight parakeets and two finches. Three fish, colorful betas, sit on the end of the kitchen cabinet; Ramirez admitted she buys them when she finds them flopping in near-empty water bowls at the store. And in a coop out back lives a chicken with no feet that wound up in the animal shelter after it was found frozen to the pavement during a snow storm.

Ramirez is also proud of some tougher city animal ordinances that C-PAWS worked hard to get passed. Among the new provisions is a ban on single-point ties. The tie or chain to which a dog is tethered must have a sliding attachment so that it can move about and seek shelter from sun or storm.

“God gave us these animals for companions,” she remarked in closing. Down to the smallest creature, she knows and loves her animals and receives love in return.

THE GOALS OF C-PAWS: • To promote the development and implementation of progressive animal welfare ordinances • To aid and educate the community with regard to responsible pet care • To support Noah’s Ark in its efforts to care for the animals in our community

MEETINGS: 6:00-9:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Public Library Annex on Halagueno Street. carlsbadpaws@gmail.com

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F O C U S business profiles

Architectural Firm

by Kyle Marksteiner

This year, Carlsbad’s Durham Mackay Architects will celebrate 50 years of having a Durham in the title.

The firm’s history in Carlsbad actually began in 1951, when Kern Smith first opened his architectural firm here. Beryl Durham joined in 1956.

According to his wife, Wanda, he’d originally just planned to stay a couple years, but things went well, and he became a partner a decade later.

Kern retired in 1983, and the firm became Beryl Durham & Associates, Frank Mackay and Wanda Durham, partners at Durham Mackay Architects

PHOTO:

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

P.A. the following year. That’s also when the firm moved its office to its present location at 102 N. Canyon Street.

Wanda Durham first began working with the firm as a subcontracted interior designer and then later as an employee. She and Beryl were married in 1993. She’d actually known Kern prior to meeting Beryl, when she was an affiliate of the firm.

After Beryl’s death in 2006, the

firm was reorganized as Durham & Associates Architects, Inc.

“I had been instructed (by Beryl) to lock the door and get someone to help me,” Durham reflected. “The reason I went against his wishes was because of the employees who had been here for a long time and to keep that legacy going that began with Kern and then Beryl.”

Frank Mackay, who has more than 30 years of architectural experience, joined the firm as the Architect in Responsible Charge in the summer of 2013. Two years later the firm became Durham Mackay Architects, Inc. The firm now operates through a

Turns 50 partnership between Durham and Mackay, with Durham also serving as marketing manager.

Mackay originally began his professional career in jewelry sculpture, but he returned to the UNM School of Architecture, graduating in 1980. The two fields are similar in that they both involve 3D design, he noted.

Rounding out the firm’s staff are Beau Barker, who serves as project manager out of the Albuquerque suboffice; Juan Dorado, project manager in Carlsbad; Francelia (Sally) Carrasco, who is Carlsbad’s production specialist; and Janice Pope, Carlsbad’s office manager.

Jessica Charland serves as the CAD designer consultant.

Durham Mackay Architects still spends a significant amount of time designing Southeastern New Mexico municipalities and school districts along with some industrial and commercial projects.

Mackay noted it is an industry that has seen a large number of technological changes over his career. “I was a draftsman, and we only worked on paper,” he observed. “After that, it was AutoCAD. Now it is all technology driven. It is quite astounding what we’ve come to.”

Still, the principles are the same, and plenty of sketches can still be spotted around the firm.

Architecture is a heavily-regulated industry, and each assignment includes a well-defined step-by-

step process. Mackay noted the firm is popular for its policy of closely collaborating with the customer throughout each phase.

One of the firm’s projects of interest is the effort to restore the Cavern Theatre.

Regular updates are posted at durhamarchitectsnm.com.

Fridays are special days at the firm. “Our office makes it a rule that everybody gets to work on the design,” Mackay stated. “We’ll close off the front of the office and stop calls for a bit, and we’ll all work together.”

“We’ve gone through some changes, but they have been pretty good changes,” Durham concluded. “I’m very excited about this team that [has been] put together and the service they are going to give Southeastern New Mexico.”

Durham Mackay Architects, Inc. Main Office: 102 N. Canyon Street Carlsbad, New Mexico Other Office: 812 La Charles Drive NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 575-885-5545 durhamarchitectsnm.com

New Physical Therapy in Town NEW ERA PHYSICAL THERAPY New Era Physical Therapy (NEPT) is a one-of-a-kind facility in the southeast region of New Mexico that combines Gait Analysis (Objective Functional Evaluation) with traditional physical and neurorehabilitation for a guided therapy. NEPT provides comprehensive physical and industrial health services to meet the needs of the community. Their existing 10,000 square foot facility is located less than a mile from downtown Carlsbad and across from the Carlsbad Police Department. It was designed to support efficient patient, client and work flow and has the capacity to accommodate any volume of services and clients. Each work area is selfcontained with the equipment and tools necessary to perform any service.

objective, real-time data and can track a patient progressively.

The objective evaluations and reports for pre-employment testing, post-offer employment testing (POET), return-towork physicals and functional capacity evaluations (FCE) are done efficiently and without any guesswork. The unique combination of the systems that they have—facility, equipment, objective evaluations and protocols and staff experience— is what sets them apart.

According to the company, the value generated by their systems does not increase their price, but does enhance the services they provide.

We encourage you to come tour our facility at your earliest convenience. We are located at 615 W. Mermod in Carlsbad • 575-200-3465.

NEPT has invested in modern, state-ofthe-art equipment for both physical and industrial healthcare services that can generate

PHOTOS: The New Era Physical Therapy center, a 10,000 square foot facility, has invested heavily in modern equipment for physical and industrial healthcare services. • Gain Analysis (Objective Functional Evaluation) is an important part of the services offered.

F O C U S on the chamber

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUMMER EVENTS The Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament will be Saturday, June 18 at the Lake Carlsbad Golf Course. Please visit our website (carlsbadchamber.com) or contact Robert at 575-887-6516 for more information on this fun event.

The Annual Banquet & Meeting is on Thursday evening, July 14 at the Pecos River Village. 20162017 officers will be recognized: Robert Baldridge, Chairman of the Board; Dr. John Gratton, incoming Chairman of the Board; Donavan

Mager, Treasurer; Lisa Sexton, Immediate Past Chairman of the Board.

Retiring Board members Todd Hyden, Ben Jaime, and Debe Wagner will be honored at the event. The Ambassador of the Year, Business of the Year, and Presidential Award will also be named that evening. Please contact the Chamber at 575887-6516 or visit our website for tickets for the event or more information.

CARLSBAD/EDDY COUNTY AGE-FRIENDLY – PET FRIENDLY?

WE ARE WORKING ON IT! Josh Billings once said, “The dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

When the City of Carlsbad’s long term plan was completed, it was obvious that the public wanted a dog park. Today, Carlsbad has a

wonderful dog park along the river with mixed dirt and grass areas.

There is water in the middle of the park, along with trash fixtures and rules posted for all to obey.

C-PAWS sponsors Bark in the Park, which is a fun annual event complete with vendors. Volunteers are always needed, and there are no better volunteers than retirees. Pets are a powerful influence in many people’s lives.

We often see homeless people passing through town with their dogs.

They have said that their pets provide unconditional love and PHOTOS:

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FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SUMMER 2016

keep them from being lonely.

Pets provide social support and companionship to older people also. They tend to reduce stress, and most cancer patients say their pet helped them during their treatment. Pets help to fill a void that the “emptiness” syndrome creates. Even the smallest dog offers protection against burglars. Wouldbe robbers retreat when they hear a dog bark. When a retiree moves to a new community, pets help a newcomer meet other people.

Owning a pet does come with responsibility and expense, however, so before you adopt, stop! Think of the responsibilities, then check out Noah’s Ark at 5217 Buena Vista.

These local pet lovers show off some of their beloved family members.

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F O C U S on the chamber

YOUR CHAMBER STAFF ROBERT DEFER, Chief Executive Officer director@carlsbadchamber.com

DONNA CASS, Senior Admin. Assistant carlsbadnm@carlsbadchamber.com

BRENDA WHITEAKER, Director of Operations operations@carlsbadchamber.com

DOROTHY RIDGEWAY, Admin. Assistant temp@carlsbadchamber.com

LISA BOEKE, Director of Tourism & Marketing tourism@carlsbadchamber.com

RANDY BAKER, Director of Facility Maintenance facility@carlsbadchamber.com

JANELL WHITLOCK, Director of Retirement retire@carlsbadchamber.com

JESUS TORRES, Facility Maintenance

Carlsbad 40

UNDER

40

The Carlsbad 40 Under 40 Class of 2016 was announced at a banquet in their honor on Thursday, April 21, 2016. This annual event honored forty dynamic young leaders for both their occupational and community leadership. Each nominee was required to meet certain criteria to be considered.

A special thank you to our corporate sponsors: Carlsbad Current-Argus, Carlsbad Medical Center, Mosaic Potash, Nuclear Waste Partnership, Garden Mart, Western Commerce Bank and Xcel Energy.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2016: Lisa Aguilar (Lakeview Christian Home) Thomas Anciso (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Dr. Pradip Aryal (NMSU-Carlsbad) Lee Austin (MSI, Inc. & LA Services, LLC) Francisca Bishop (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Wesley Boatwright (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Cory Bock (Bock Electric, LLC) Dr. Eric Campos (Rio Pecos Chiropractic) Francelia Carrasco (Durham & Associates) Jeremy Creen (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Bertha Duenez (ERA Montgomery Agency) Anthony Foreman (A.R. Foreman Construction) Alana Gregory-Carreon (Faith, Hope & Love Foundation)

Amy Hui (Intrepid Potash) Fernando Ibarra (Raging Bull, LLC) Michael Ingram (Eddy Co. Detention Center) Shilah Jordan (Carlsbad Battered Family Shelter) Nathan Jurva ( J&J Farms/Skeen Farms) Wesley Kincaid (Celtech Corporation) Martin LeBrun (Raging Bull, LLC) Ashlyn Lujan (Eddy County DWI Program)

Andrea Molina (Carlsbad Municipal School) Pennie Morton (Carlsbad Medical Center) Morgan Najar (Western Commerce Bank) Jennie Nichols (NMSU-Carlsbad) Ryan Parrish (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Tiffany Pascal (NMSU-Carlsbad) Bryan Rayroux

(Carlsbad Medical Center/Eddy County Detention Center)

Oswaldo Rivera-Sanchez (Carlsbad Municipal Schools)

Deana Rogers (Carlsbad Medical Center) Bonnie Sanders (Livingston Hearing Center) Crystal Smith (Golden Services Counseling ) Louriz Soto (NMSU-Carlsbad) Shannon Summers (Carlsbad Department of Development)

Greg Thompson (Carlsbad National Bank) Mindy Toothman (AECOM Professional Services, LLC)

Valerie Waddle

(United Way of Carlsbad & South Eddy County)

WELCOME NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS! Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome the following businesses as new members:

AT&T 1223 W. Pierce 575-885-1092

BRAD HERNDON FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH 1502 W. Mermod 575-885-4389

OLIVIAN EXPERIENCE 806-620-2628

PHILLIPS RUGGED TRADE 802 W. Mermod 575-885-2568

THE CARLSBAD SLEEP CENTER 1410 N. 8th Street, Unit C 575-263-2789

For more information or to join the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce call 575-887-6516 or visit carlsbadchamber.com.

James Wheeler (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Ryan Williamson (Nuclear Waste Partnership) Stephanie Ybaben (self-employed) SUMMER 2016 | A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

37

F O C U S on recipes

In the spirit of this edition, here are a few vegan recipes designed to appeal to carnivores, herbivores and omnivores alike. (And don’t worry, we’re not trying to make you a vegan!)

RECIPES COMPILED FROM ALLRECIPES.COM

Vegan Fajitas

Vegan Portobello Stroganoff

• 1/4 cup olive oil • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1 teaspoon chili powder • Garlic salt to taste • Salt and pepper to taste • 1 teaspoon white sugar • 2 small zucchini, julienned • 2 medium yellow squash, julienned • 1 large onion, sliced • 1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips • 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips • 2 Tablespoons olive oil • 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained

• 8 ounces vegan sour cream (such as Tofutti) • 1/2 cup water • 3 Tablespoons dried minced onion • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons vegan no-beef bouillon • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper • 1/2 cup dry red wine • 1 Tablespoon olive oil • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 large portobello mushroom caps (stems and gills removed) • cooking spray • 1/4 cup water, or as needed (optional)

Ingredients:

Directions: 1. In a large bowl combine olive oil, vinegar, oregano, chili powder, garlic salt, salt, pepper and sugar. To the marinade add the zucchini, yellow squash, onion, green pepper and red pepper.

Marinate vegetables in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, but not more than 24 hours.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the vegetables and saute until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the corn and beans; increase the heat to high for 5 minutes, to brown vegetables.

Ingredients:

Directions: 1. Whisk vegan sour cream, 1/2 cup water, minced onion, flour, vegan bouillon, garlic powder, basil, and black pepper in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

2. Preheat oven to 400°.

3. Whisk red wine, olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and garlic in another bowl.

4. Arrange mushroom caps with gill sides up in a baking dish and pour red wine mixture on top. Marinate for 20 minutes, then cover baking dish with aluminum foil.

5. Bake mushrooms in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil, flip mushrooms, and continue baking until very tender, about 10 minutes more.

Set aside to cool; dice mushrooms.

6. Heat a saucepan sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat. Cook and stir mushrooms in sauce pan until lightly browned, about 5 minutes; reduce heat to low.

7. Stir sour cream sauce into mushrooms. Continue to cook and stir until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes more. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in 1/4 cup water.

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