Houston PetTalk September 2020 by houstonpettalk10

September 2020

RE-TAIL THERAPY

Let's Shop ALSO INSIDE

• SMALL PETS: CHOOSING ONE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU • BACKYARD BEEKEEPING: A SWEET ENDEAVOR

• 5 THINGS TO ASK THE VET ABOUT YOUR SENIOR PET

Water-Based Pet Cremation and Memorial Services Earth-Conscious. Compassionate. Loving. Innovative. Clean. Green. Warm Water

Senior Paws

Gentle. Better.

Learn More At: https://seniorpaws.vet/gentlewater-based-cremation Founder/Owner Christie Cornelius, DVM CHPV Serving the Greater Houston Area Email Us at: wecare@seniorpaws.vet Call Us: 713-452-0474

Water-Based Cremation Memorial Services Witness Services Memorial Garden Stepping Stones Earthy Urns Clay Paw Prints Paw Print Paintings Ink Nose & Paw Prints

Our Promise to You No plastic bags. No freezers. Gentle handling & transport. Trust. Peace of mind. Empathy. Respect. Love. Honor. Time.

Houston PetTalk Magazine

15% OFF YOUR FIRST VISIT

We’ve been raising the bar since 2004 as Houston’s 1st completely cage-free facility for your dog! 24 HR STAFF CAGE FREE DAYCARE GROOMING TRAINING BAKERY JACKSON’S PLACE MONTROSE 1635 DUNLAVY ST. HOUSTON, TX 77006 MONTROSE@JACKSONSPLACE.COM @jacksons.place @jacksonshouston

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B OARDING

JACKSONSPLACE.COM 713.529.1200

JACKSON’S PLACE MIDTOWN 3511 MILAM ST. HOUSTON, TX 77002 MIDTOWN@JACKSONSPLACE.COM @jacksonsmidtown

Come Board with Us!

24/7 Staff on Site…..24/7 Onsite Cameras 5 OFF LEASH walks a day * last walk 9pm – 10pm No additional charge for Meds, Hugs or Kisses Discounted PLAYCARE rates with Boarding Weekends and Holiday Pick-Ups (till 8:30pm) (we do not hold pets hostage as we know how badly they are missed)

PLAYCARE & BOARDING

3663 S Dairy Ashford (between Westpark & WestparkTollway) www.roversromphouse.com 832-328-5844

Houston PetTalk Magazine

When A Virus Takes Over the World

The Power of Kindness and Treats!

Help children understand the impact a virus can have on them and their loved ones. Teach them how they can take preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus.

Help children discover the rewarding feeling of doing good deeds for others. Real happiness comes from not what you get but what you give.

The Dog Tales Collection are award-winning books that

help parents start conversations with their child regarding issues or concerns they may have about their pets. These books also teach children about issues of life, illness, or diversity within their own lives.

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Cont ac t information:

www.dogtalescollection.com O rd er at

Amazon.com

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CARE

FOR YOUR FAMILY PET With Coupon

FreeComprehensiveExam $55.00 Value Includes consult with doctor for NEW PATIENTS of Bingle Vet

FREE

PT0920

DENTAL CARE CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR PET'S HEALTH Dental Special extended thru September

OFFICE VISIT Expires: 10/31/20

Two Convenient Locations Spring Branch/Memorial

PT0920

2025 Bingle Rd. Houston, TX 77055

713-468-1676

Katy/Fulshear

20% OFF

DENTAL CLEANING

Special for dental cleaning only. Does not apply to dental extractions. Off ffeer for multiple pets if availabilit y exists.

5215 FM 1463, Ste. 400 Katy, TX 77494

713-468-3688

www.BingleVet.com

PROVIDED BY 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCED, POSITIVE REWARD, DOG LOVING STAFF.

DO YOU WANT TO WORK AS AN ANIMAL HYDROTHERAPIST?

Hydrotherapy • Physio Treadmill Spa and Massage • Laser Treatment Pre and Post Surgery Support - mental & physical Weight Management b|Ŋ o] $u-bmbm] ş -Ѵ -ঞom Race Approved Hydrotherapy Training & Taster Days

Contact Sandra: 832. 863. 9455 Email: sandra@k9healthcenter.com www.k9healthcenter.com

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Animal Jobs Direct oﬀers the Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Hydrotherapy • An Ofqual & Race regulated qualiﬁcation for working as an animal hydrotherapist • Providing treatments for a variety of small animals including dogs, cats, rabbits that the hydrotherapist may come across in day to day practice

Further information can be found www.animaljobsdirect.com/courses Contact Sandra: 832. 863. 9455

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ON THE COVER

SPOT ON!

ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING DOG BREEDS, THE DALMATIAN, WAS JUST THE RIGHT LOOK FOR OUR RE-TAIL THERAPY COVER. "CHASE" IS A HANDSOME BOY AND HE WAS REWARDED FOR HIS MODELING SESSION WITH A TASTY BAKERY TREAT FROM CARTER'S PET MARKET, OFFERED UP BY DAD, SHELBY KIBODEUX AND COVER MODEL, ADAIR MILLER SPINKS. CHECK OUT WHERE YOU TOO CAN SHOP WITH YOUR POOCH IN OUR FEATURE STORY. PHOTO BY PRUDENCE ALLWEIN PHOTOGRAPHYBYPRUDENCE.COM

HOUSTON PETTALK MAGAZINE 14781 Memorial Drive, Ste. 510, Houston, Texas 77079 281-556-6560 Art Director: ANDREW BURWELL

’m sure you’ve heard the tongue-incheek saying, “Shopping is better than a psychiatrist”, and during these wildly weird times, anything that can improve our mental state (and the economy) is welcome! Personally, my feeling about shopping is that it’s a treasure hunt. I like exploring to find something unusual more than I like shopping with a purpose (you know, the scenario where you have to have that dress for the party Friday night and of course you can’t find it). People have different opinions on shopping but for many of us, it is a type of therapy and can also be fun to do with friends and pets. Given the therapeutic nature of the “sport”, I thought it would be a fun, light topic for our September issue: ReTail Therapy. It’s nice to shop for ourselves but it can be quite fun to shop for our furry kids as well. There are SO many products to choose from and in many cases, you can even take your pup along with you for the adventure. Come along with us to seek out some of the best products for your pets or pet lovers in your life. Shopping “just because” is always on tap but the arrival of Fall is a good time to start thinking about holiday gifts, plus shopping LOCAL helps boost the H-Town entrepreneurs and economy and it’s a welcome diversion to other stresses in our life. I hope you enjoy a little Re-Tail Therapy and find something that inspires you to get out and shop! I have to give a shout out to everyone that helped create our cover shot and to Carter’s Pet Market for their sponsorship. My bestie Adair Miller Spinks is the gorgeous long-legged handler on our cover and “Chase” the Dalmatian is owned by

friends Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla. Photographer Prudence Allwein captured a great shot once again! Also in this issue, I know you’ll love the inspiring article from my friend Miranda Sevcik about her new adventure of beekeeping. She and her husband, David Paul, Chief Meteorologist at KHOU and our annual Doggy Party emcee, took on the task of helping the environment and being rewarded with some truly tasty honey. Check out what it takes to “raise bees” which is a much-needed activity for our food production. Next up, don’t miss the article on deciding if various species of small animals are the right pet for you. Given our “seclusion” these days, many families are tempted to add a furry friend which can be very rewarding, but the decision needs to be an informed one because every cute little creature typically requires more care than you might think! And finally, I want to send out a message of love, hope and resilience to our community. The pandemic has changed our lives so radically that it's tough to keep our chins up and focus on the positive. Personally, I have some bad days but I'm blessed with a great family, friends, faith and a terrific job and I turn my focus to those high points in my life and remind myself that my passion is saving animals and spreading the word of conservation and I hope you'll join me in that effort. If we each put our energies toward helping others (human, animal or planet), we will enjoy a better life. Let's strive to be more like our dogs...non-judgmental, loyal, happy to see our loved ones, on standby for a good play session and appreciative of good food!

© Copyright 2020. Reproduction or use without written permission of articles, editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. Houston PetTalk does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Houston PetTalk does not endorse any specific product or service contained herein; we do encourage you to support our advertisers whenever possible. All photos ©copyright depositphotos unless otherwise stated.

Houston PetTalk Magazine

If you’ve been following my column over the last several years, you’ll certainly remember my French cousin, Henrí. I mean, who can forget a Frenchman? That would be like forgetting French Fries…impossible! Henrí is a Michelin rated chef. Or is that Firestone rated? I can never remember, but anyway, he graduated from the famed French cooking school, Le Corgi Bleu, and this man knows how to put some chop lickin’ love in a pot! Now, like all good Frenchies, he also knows a thing or two about style and where to shop for the latest fashions. I called Henrí pleading for help after one of my “friends” asked me if I got my fashion advice from a Red Tick Coonhound. She’s the kind of friend I would like to lure to a garbage dumpster with promises of McDonald’s leftovers with the sole purpose of trapping her inside for the next trash pickup. I think we all have a “friend” like that. She’s a Chihuahua of course…small, cute and bitchy. However rude Taco Bellista’s comments were, I did take a double look in the mirror and made a note to self: Get help! So Henrí agreed to a Henríetta Fashion Makeover in exchange for me agreeing to taste his latest chocolate soufflé creation. Wow, that was a hard trade. Duh. First we perused fashion magazines including Dogue, DoggyStyle, Dogmapolitan and New York Canine Couture. My first realization was that

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I would need a stretching machine to reshape my body should I have any aspirations of wearing a single piece of clothing shown on those glossy pages. Henrí comforted me, “Dahrling, don’t be deezcouraged wheez your boody. Ve men luv a beet of a bump on zee rump.” I love Henrí even more now. Next, we headed to a

few boutiques to check out the real clothes, not the runway fashions that look like they were either brought to earth by aliens or are part of a scheme to slowly drive all fat women crazy. I’ve always been a fan of Ruff Lauren and I love his signature Polo styles or what I like to call “High On The Hog Ranch Style”, so we found the Ruff Lauren section at Neiman Barkus as our first stop. Henrí agreed that the classic Ruff Lauren blazer, tailored white shirt and wide-legged linen pant was a good look for me or in his own words, “Oui, Oui, that eez magnifique on you. Eet

makez you appear taller and sleemer.” I think I’m not going to be offended by that comment. After a day of shopping, we returned home with my classic Ruff Lauren outfit, an Yves Saint Bernard ball gown, a Furrberry tote, two incredible Roberto Pawvalli creations, a Vera Wag dress, endless pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes and a maxed-out credit card. You may recall that the last time Henrí helped me, we were selecting more “au naturel” foods for my diet in exchange for me promising to teach him to French kiss. Yes, it’s blasphemy that a French man cannot French kiss. Because I’m from West Virginia where kissing cousins is common place, I thought I would be able to handle it but when I saw Henrí open his mouth, close his eyes and drool, I just couldn’t do it. So we recruited Lilly the Labrador who has an enormous tongue and would not even need to get especially close to Henrí to kiss him. It worked out great because Lilly got to carve another name in her kissing tree and I was spared a fate worse than death. So today as we celebrated my fashion makeover with a glass of Dog Perignon, Lilly joined us so that she could kiss Henrí and make sure he learned his lessons. Let’s just say they both enjoyed the review session. As I was leaving, I heard Henrí say “On va chez toi ou chez moi?” For those of you that dress like you got your fashion advice from a Red Tick Coonhound, that’s French for “your place or mine?”

Illustration by Jim Tweedy, Colorized by Desiree Lonsway

Henríetta

SHOPPING…. DOGUE STYLE

TRAIN, PLAY, SLEEP, REPEAT.

Tour Our Modern Training Resort Today! We have expanded our home with a beautiful, one of a kind, new training resort. Your pup will love our new luxury suites, where our expert trainers will reinforce good manners and proper play throughout their stay. Stop by for a tour of our new state of the art boarding facility. We are accepting reservations now!

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CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY TRAINING CONSULTATION! Now offering Boarding School,

PEACELOVEDOGSHOUSTON.COM (713) 467-1177 | 9619 Yupondale Dr. Houston, TX 77080

Prep School, Group Classes, Puppy Training and more!

THE DISH NEWS

HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY SUPER PAWS FUN RUN

he 39th Annual K-9 & Kitty Fun Run benefiting the many dogs and cats that come to the Houston Humane Society for a second chance at life is back! Given the pandemic, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fun Run will be virtual. Now, you can be a SUPER PAWS HERO anywhere at any pace from October 24th to November 1st, 2020.Â Â REGISTRATION OPTIONS: Â

VIRTUAL JOG/WALK: $40 Âť

Your packet will automatically include a SUPER PAWS Fun Run T-shirt, bandana, and a fun custom medal that can be used as a pet tag or keychain! These are fun items you and your beloved pet can wear on your walk or run.Â

VIRTUAL SUPPORTER: $25 Includes Digital runner's bib & Fundraising Toolkit that will help you be the super paws hero you always wanted to be! Live in Houston? On October 24th, HHS will be hosting theirÂ Superpaw-Villion Âť

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eventÂ where you can remain safely in your car and pick up your runnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packet while having the option to do some shopping for your pet from the VIP vendors. Need something fun to do with your pet during quarantine? Join ourÂ Costumes for K9s & Kitties Contest and enter your dog or cat for a chance at supporting their homeless animals while winning special goodies for your pet! For more information on how to be part of the Fun Run & Contest, please visit houstonhumane.org.

HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY 39th al VIRTUAL K-9 & U RU OCTOBER 24TH - NOVEMBER 1ST annu

GRA

ESS

P. A

G ra . W .

RT UNITY

join our pack

You can join our pack in a few ways: Raise awareness for the PAW Grant. Share it with your friends, family, and coworkers Donate to the PAW Grant In-person. Ask our client care team to round up your bill to the nearest dollar when checking out. SLVS24EC saw almost 20,000 new pets in 2019. If every pet owner rounded up to the nearest dollar, those pennies would have generated more than $10,000 On-line. You can donate to the PAW Grant through the bit.ly link, then join our online Facebook Group for PAWtners to get updates on when grants are released, what the PAW Grant is doing, and insider information to all of SLVS24EC

A pack is an extended family group that you get to choose. When a pet is brought to SLVS24EC, we know it's one of the darkest days of their lives. When you choose SLVS24EC to help you at that time, you become part of our pack - part of our extended family group. Our goal is to get your pet well or to extend the time that your pet feels well until it’s time to say goodbye. For all of our diagnostic capabilities, talented specialists and emergency doctors, advanced veterinary nurses and support staff, we cannot achieve wellness for pets on our own. There are times that the cost to achieve wellness is higher than some pet parents who come to SLVS24EC can afford. In those cases, we offer payment plans through Scratch Pay and Care Credit, accept every single major credit or debit card, and take donations from family or friends over the phone to help cover the cost to achieve wellness. Sometimes, that’s still not enough and pet parents need additional help. Our dedicated team, tired of having their hands tied by these situations outside of their control, wanted to do more. They wanted to be a different kind of veterinary specialty and emergency hospital. That’s how the PAW (Packs Achieve Wellness) Grant was created, from our dedicated teams burning desire to do more- to be more. But we can’t do it alone.

Join our pack and donate to the PAW Grant by going here:

Henríetta’s Frightfully Fun Halloween Photo Contest Is Around The Corner In October…Save The Date!

halloween costume photo contest

oo! Scare ya? It’s that time of year…Henríetta’s Frightfully Fun Halloween Photo Contest is next month so start planning your costume early to win! Annual sponsor Sunset Animal Hospital invites you to enter your little goblin, dressed in their spookiest, funniest, cutest, goulish costume by submitting a photo. The link to enter will go live on PetTalk's Facebook Page and Website OCTOBER 15. Entry Date: Oct 15-31, Voting Nov 1-7. Winner and Finalists will be featured in the December issue, plus the winner will receive a Goulishly Great Gift Certificate to Sunset Animal Hospital.

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DON’T LET OSTEOARTHRITIS PAIN

KEEP YOUR DOG DOWN HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR DOG? Easily gets tired or lags behind on walks

Has trouble getting up from a resting position

Is reluctant to run, play or climb stairs

Has gained weight in the past year

Limps or appears stiff after exercise

Inflammation in the joints causes pain and cartilage damage which can lead to stiffness and decreased mobility.

Ask your veterinarian to evaluate your dog’s joints today.

Shop at our online store!

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Cypress VCA TELGE ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL 11430 Telge Road Cypress, TX 77429 281-955-9797 VCAtelgeroad.com store.VCAtelgeroad.com Houston VCA ASHFORD ANIMAL HOSPITAL 12633 Whittington Houston, TX 77077 281-497-3917 VCAashford.com store.VCAashford.com Houston VCA COUNTRYSIDE ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2211 FM 1960 East Houston, TX 77073 281-443-7297 VCAcountryside.com store.VCAcountryside.com

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Houston VCA SPRING BRANCH ANIMAL HOSPITAL 10109 Long Point Road Houston, TX 77043 713-461-1121 VCAspringbranch.com store.VCAspringbranch.com

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Katy VCA KELLIWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL 960 S. Fry Road Katy, TX 77450 281-492-2780 VCAkelliwood.com store.VCAkelliwood.com Kingwood VCA KINGWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2526 Green Oak Drive Kingwood, TX 77339 281-358-3146 VCAkingwood.com store.VCAkingwood.com

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Lake Jackson VCA LAKE JACKSON ANIMAL HOSPITAL 210 That Way Lake Jackson, TX 77566 979-297-3044 VCAlakejackson.com store.VCAlakejackson.com Pasadena VCA ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER OF PASADENA 5018A Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77505 281-487-8233 VCApasadena.com store.VCApasadena.com

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Spring VCA SPRING ANIMAL HOSPITAL 1811 Spring Cypress Spring, TX 77388 281-353-5167 VCAspring.com store.VCAspring.com

©2016 VCA Inc. VCA logo is registered trademarks of VCA Inc. or its affiliated entities. Management Services Provided by VCA Animal Hospitals • Animal Healthcare of Texas, P.C. Rocky McKelvey, DVM - owner

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Spring/The Woodlands VCA WOODLANDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL 428 Rayford Road Spring, TX 77386 281-367-7553 VCAwoodlands.com store.VCAwoodlands.com

Texas City VCA MAINLAND ANIMAL HOSPITAL 3015 Palmer Highway Texas City, TX 77590 409-948-8401 VCAmainland.com Shop store.VCAmainland.com

Tomball Sugar Land VCA TOMBALL VCA SOUTHWEST FREEWAY VETERINARY HOSPITAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL 28800 Tomball Pkwy 15575 SW Freeway Tomball, TX 77375 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-351-5441 281-491-8387 VCAtomball.com VCAswfreeway.com Shop store.VCAswfreeway.com Shop store.VCAtomball.com

AT VCA ANIMAL HOSPITALS, WE CARE

THE DISH NEWS

LOCAL DOG WINS CONTEST

ADOPTIONS

ou may remember our super-special cover dog in the November 2019 issue, Bubbles? Well…we have some great news about Bubbles to share with you! Bubbles won a national contest to become Pibborafi’s next “Rescue Dog Hero” plushie. Pibborafi makes plush versions of real rescue dogs and donates to shelters or rescues that the owner chooses. Bubbles' mom has chosen Hot Mess Pooches in Houston, a small nonprofit that specializes in saving and placing Dalmatians as well as special needs dogs. A portion of the plushie sales will be donated to help them with this mission. Some of you may remember Bubbles' story... She was just six months old when her forever family, volunteering at Houston Pets

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Alive, found her with a shattered jaw unable to eat. X-rays revealed a 9mm shell was lodged in Bubbles' skull and the vet discovered the bullet had destroyed her right ear canal. Bubbles had part of her lower jaw removed in a threeand-a-half hour procedure and her ear canal removed and her right ear stitched closed. In a further round of surgery in August last year, the remains of her damaged eye were removed, and her right socket was sewn up. She is now in her forever home and so loved by her family! Her plushie is available to order at online at pibborafi.com. To see more of Bubbles' story and adventures, you can follow her on Instagram @kbubbles and to learn more about Pibborafi and what they do @pibborafi.

Nine Locations Proudly Serving the Greater Houston Area!

Full-Service Grooming • Healthy Pet Foods Gourmet Baked Treats • Stylish Essentials • Plush & Tough Toys Collars & Leashes • and Much More!

College Park • Conroe • Katy • Richmond • Sienna Spring • Sugar Land • The Woodlands • West U

A Treat of a Franchise Opportunity!

THE DISH Providing Compassionate Care to the Companions in your Life

NEWS

EMANCIPET: LOW-COST VET CLINICS WITH A BIG HEART

FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CLINIC Dr. Cynthia Aswad • Dr. Bryan Ping Dr. David Thurmond Dr. Sadie Bowling • Dr. Michelle Hessell

D FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

Free Dental Exams and 15% Oﬀ Canine/Feline Dental Cleaning Packages (can be used on multiple pet family members) valid 9/1/20 - 9/30/20

Dr. Michelle Now Seeing Pocket Pets (by appointment only)

5910 FM 1463 Katy, TX 77494

APPOINTMENTS

Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Saturday 8am-noon info@thewellpetcenter.com 281-394-2355 www.thewellpetcenter.com

www.houstonpettalk.com

uring times of crisis and difficulty, people often turn to family and friends for additional love and stability. For many Houstonians, pets play a vital role in their lives, providing comfort and companionship. As a veterinary service, Emancipet was deemed an essential business, allowing Emancipet’s clinic doors to remain open, continuing to offer low-cost, high-quality veterinary services to Houston pet families. Emancipet has a fundamental belief that people love their pets and will do what is best for their pets when given the opportunity to do so. Emancipet clients show this love through their actions, showing up daily to obtain the veterinary care and treatment for their beloved dogs and cats. On March 16th, 2020, Emancipet opened its second Houston clinic, located at 8533 Gulf Freeway, 77017 (Monroe Plaza). Although Emancipet Monroe had to postpone its grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, the opening of Emancipet Monroe was a huge celebration in and of itself, allowing Emancipet to begin running a two clinic model. During Emancipet Monroe’s initial ramp-up stage, March-July 2020, the two Houston Emancipet clinics (East End and Monroe) collectively performed approximately 4,500 spay/neuter surgeries, 16,000 wellness visits and 225 heartworm treatment procedures. Emancipet (Houston) recently celebrated its

FIVE year anniversary serving the community, with plans to expand locations and services in the near future. Emancipet continues to offer low-prices and high-quality veterinary services with $69 spay/neuter services, $15 vaccines, $9 office visit, low-cost heartworm treatment plans plus flea and heartworm preventative medications (emancipet.org/houston). Wellness visits are walk-in only and spay/neuter appointments can be made by calling 713-321-2713. By keeping prices low, Emancipet’s low-cost services help to increase the access to affordable veterinary care for Houston pet families, helping to keep pets healthy and home with the families who love them.

THE DISH

Winston

Denver

E N T E R T H E A N N U A L B E AC H B U M

Photo Contest — October 1st

ong walks on the beach followed by lazy afternoons on the deck are the best! Submit a photo of you & your pup enjoying a Galveston Island getaway and you could win a fabulous prize from our sponsor, Sand `N Sea Properties! » Upload entries October 1 through October 7 via the link on our Facebook page or website, houstonpettalk.com.

Public voting will be open from October 8 through October 14. Sand `N Sea will determine the grand prize winner. Winning photos will be published in the November issues of Houston PetTalk. Photo submissions must be high resolution (1MB or larger) and taken at a Galveston Island beach or beach house deck.

Galveston Island Vacation Rentals Since 1974 409.797.5500 | SANDNSEA.COM

NEWS

VIRTUAL LEARNING VIA HOUSTON SPCA

irtual learning opportunities for students and teachers, as well as a fun escape from “zoom meeting overload,” is just a click away as the Houston SPCA opens its campus virtually for some back-to-school learning and positivity. Opportunities to tune in and learn include a live weekly animal chat series with HPD’s GHPAL program; pet features on Houston Public Library’s Liftoff to Learning program, and a front-row seat inside the Houston SPCA via six live Campus Webcams featuring wild-

life rehabilitation, felines and canines napping and playing. » Take a never-seen-before look inside the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas’ outdoor flight complex with four webcams from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily to watch majestic native birds like the Red-shoulder Hawk or Bald Eagle exercise and strengthen muscles before released back into the wild. » Check in every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. for #Twitterlive from the Houston SPCA’s on-site dog park where the Houston Police Department’s GHPAL Program @hpdcentralpal will feature an adoptable pet and host a chat series with Houston SPCA team members. » Tune in for the Houston Public Library’s five-minute education segment, Liftoff to Learning that includes some furry friends from the Houston SPCA. It airs Monday through Thursday at 9:52 a.m. on KHOU, and recorded segments can be found on YouTube. Houston PetTalk Magazine

IS THERE ANYTHING CUTER THAN YOUR PET? OF COURSE NOT! WE AGREE, SO WE MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO PROVE IT...PLAY WITH US ON INSTAGRAM AND LOOK FOR OUR THEMED CONTESTS. YOU SHARE WITH US, WE SHARE WITH OUR READERS. EVERYBODY WINS!

#SHAREWITHUS! ASTROS ARE BACK!

1. @missykeo Go Stros! We’re ready for the Astro’s opening game tonight.Little throwback to one of our many lovely days at Levy Park, pre-COVID. Only a throwback because we just found out today that Missy grew out of her Astros collar and I need to make her a new one. 2. @jones_fids Opening Day for my Astros! Go Astros.....beat the Mariners! Who else is excited about baseball starting? Who are you cheering for? Happy FriYay, friends! Teddy, Timmy, & Tommy 3. @daisynduke_blueeyedcorgis Astros Home Opener!! So excited for baseball to start back up! This is me from last years @ astrosbaseball Dog Day! 4. @bailey_and_gracie_the_ tzus Play ball! It is Opening Day for our Astros @astrosbaseball and today we are flashing back to last August when we got to go to a Houston Astros game for Dog Day! Even though we can’t go to games this season, we are still excited to watch the games on TV! Happy Flashback Friday and happy weekend! 5. @jersey.the.goldengirl Let’s go boys….It’s finally baseball time Who’s your favorite baseball team? 6. @bakedbones GO ‘STROS!!

BEACH….IT’S MY LIFE

7. @journeysbestlife Beachin once again 8. @nillavanilla_leah Happy National Mutt Day!! Let’s celebrate those wonderful mixed dogs and their uniqueness that make our lives full just like our Leah does for us! And let’s not forget about the many more that are still in shelters across the country that are still looking for a forever home! 9. @tulucthulhu Go with the FLOW

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4 5

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY OWNED ALTERNATIVE TO THE BIG BOX STORES Flying M Pet Grocery is a little mom & pop that has won HUGE national awards. Owner Trace Menchaca has created a multi sensory environment that is inclusive of everyone.

r f the yea etailer o R e m ti ws Two duct Ne -Pet Pro r re winne Cool Sto e ’s a ic r e Am agazin -Pets+ M

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RE-TAIL THERAPY

Let's Shop

By Michelle Mantor Photos of Carterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pet Market by Prudence Allwein photographybyprudence.com A special thank you to models Alexis Buzzini and Adair Miller Spinks; Canine Models: Chase (Dalmatian) Bo (Doodle Puppy) Bogie and Bacall (Cocker Spaniel Puppies) Go to youtube.com/ houstonpettalk for our behind the scenes video.

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very time I walk into my friend’s house and see the sign hanging on her refrigerator that says, “My husband and I are doing a workshop. He works and I’ll shop," I giggle. For some of us (me included), shopping can be therapeutic and also a way to connect with friends or even take our pets along for the adventure. Whether you have specific items to purchase or you are just out for the “sport” of it, shopping is both fun and essential, so why not help out our local entrepreneurs and support their brick and mortar store or online business? I for one don’t want to see a day where we are only shopping online. I don’t shop with Chewys.com or other non-local retailers for my pet’s needs because I not only want to support the local stores and ensure they stay in business, but I like taking my dog along and I also like to talk to the owners, see and touch

ocated in the heart of 9333 Katy Freeway Memorial/ Houston 77024 Spring Branch, (346) 291-7018 Carter’s Pet carterspetmarket.com Market has been serving the Houston pet community since 2007, with high quality foods, a vast array of toys and accessories, the latest trends in pet products and the best brands on the market for your shopping pleasure! Owner Ken Carter has dedicated himself to providing the absolute best in both quality and variety on the

CARTER’S PET MARKET

Owner Ken Carter consults with a customer.

the products, learn what’s new and so forth. It’s about the experience… it’s Re-Tail Therapy! Given our weird pandemic lifestyle, getting out and about to shop can be done safely, it’s good for your mental state and it helps the H-Town economy so I thought it would be fun to check out some of the cool things you can purchase from our sponsors (who make PetTalk possible!). A special thank you to Carter’s Pet Market for sponsoring our shopping section. We had great fun at the photoshoot with cover boy CHASE the Dalmatian and a special thank you to everyone that pitched in as dog and human models. I hope you find some great products or even holiday gifts for the pet lovers in your life (December will be here before you know it). Happy Shopping!

shelves and admits that his passion is pets and getting them the absolute best in nutrition. Following this passion, he stocks the store with a large inventory of quality foods for every type of diet requirement or stage of a pet’s life. Not only are the shelves full of foods made with the best ingredients, the staff at Carter’s is knowledgeable and is happy to consult with customers about what foods are best for their pet. Ken notes, “We pride ourselves on being pet food experts and truly doing our best to provide the highest quality customer experience to every person that walks in our doors. We want to be here to answer questions and we want to get to know our customers and their pets to make sure they get what they need.” Ken also notes that he and his staff understand information can be confusing about what is and what is not good for your pet. He continues, “We want to be the store that educates our community about raw diets, what’s new, and what the truth is about pet foods. We want to consult with our customers, not just fill an order.”

Manager Jordan Herrera with “Bo”

In addition to educating about pet food and pet nutrition, Carter’s has so much more to offer including the newest (and toughest) toys, beautiful handmade collars, leashes, luxury pet beds, crates, and supplements. Beyond food and accessories, this local community gem also has a great doggie bakery, party supplies, travel accessories…the list goes on! While shopping for your pet’s needs, you can also drop your dog off for a grooming appointment at Carter’s salon that has been recently upgraded with new fixtures. The accomplished grooming staff will make sure your furry friend gets the spa day they deserve. “Community is one of the most important elements to us,” says Manager, Jordan Herrera. “Nothing beats getting to know all of the people that come in, and all of their pets and Houston PetTalk Magazine

really just doing everything we can to make sure that animal gets the best life possible. We really want to set the bar higher for what a pet store should do.” With the onset of the pandemic, Carter’s responded to the community’s needs and launched same day delivery service and an upgraded website to make the process of car-

ing for your pet safer and easier. Ken explains, “We wanted to make sure that even now, we’re still providing all that we can for our customers, and that ultimately no matter what happens, our community knows that we’re not going to stop researching foods and finding out better ways to serve you.” Visit Carter’s Pet Market to find great prices, products and service. The promise of “one-stop shopping for all your pet’s needs” is alluring so stop by (along with your pet) and indulge in a little re-tail therapy!

COZY & COMFY

Made with ultra-soft micro plush fabric, these luxury cat beds offer your pet cozy comfort! The fiber-filled cushion allows them to find the perfect sleeping position, ensuring they wake up refreshed, promoting better behavior during the day. Perfect for cats (or dogs) that like to burrow and feel sheltered. The bed cushion is removable for machine wash. The adorable design is whimsical and will be a fun addition to your home!

LET IT RAIN!

Houston weather isn’t always favorable at dog-walking time and this beautifully detailed jacket from Paco and Lucia is just the ticket. It’s waterproof making it great for rainy days and it is also lined and will be warm for the cooler months ahead. It’s easy on and off with velcro and is individually crafted by skilled artisans in Peru. Bright and beautiful!

GIFTS AND NOVELTY

From doggie spa essentials to animal-centric greeting cards, stylish ceramic feeding bowls and storage jars, shopping for unique gifts at Carter’s Pet Market is always fun and you’re sure to find just the right gift for the pet lover on your list.

IT’S PAWTY TIME!

Every pet deserves a little celebration on their birthday, whether it’s a full-blown party or a special birthday treat, Carter’s has colorful, tasty goodies to make your pet feel special. All are made with pet-safe ingredients.

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FURREVER DOGGIES

(713) 213-30076 furreverdoggies.com

f you cant find it, create it. That is the mantra from Furrever Doggies founder Lupe Casas who notes, "As a pet parent, I remember going to the big shops looking for something unique for my pet and the selection was limited so I founded Furrever Doggies," She adds, "I make a limited production of inventory that is as unique as your pet including custom itemsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;I love making something one-of-a-kind at my customer's request." With an online shop located here in Houston, Furrever Doggies hand crafts accessories from collars and matching leashes to apparel such as adorable dresses and boy shirts. There is a little bit of everything for all sizes and fashion tastes. Find fun bandanas, martingales, t-shirts, carrier slings and more created from colorful fabrics (including your favorite sports teams), or ask Lupe to create a custom item or gift. Shop online or follow them on social media to see all the new products and fabrics available. And once events return, you will often see Furrever Doggies as a vendor so watch their social media for future opportunities to shop in person!

ESQUIVEL & FEES

1907 Sabine St. #117 at Sawyer Yards Houston 77005 (713) 521-1544 efsterling.com

ulian Esquivel and Ted Fees have been creating quality jewelry designs for over 35 years. With a focus on animal-themed jewelry designs for men and women, this dynamic duo are true artists creating original designs. Their work is known for being substantial in weight, having amazing detail and dimensionality while also capturing the essence and personality of each piece. Once the piece is hand cast using the lost wax casting process, the order is hand

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finished and hand buffed to a perfect surface finish. You can choose from many metals including 14k yellow gold, 14k white gold, sterling silver and 14k gold vermeil. Creating quality hand made jewelry is no easy task and not easy to find but in addition to quality, the custom orders at Esquivel and Fees can be as unique as your very own pet. And, these talented artists are right here in Houston so you can shop by appointment or shop online.

FLYING M PET GROCERY 13225 FM 529 #107 Houston 77041 (832) 406-7580 flyingmpetgrocery.com

FOOD PANTRY

Always looking to help the community, Flying M Pet Grocery offers a “give and take” pet food pantry outside the doors of their unique store.

lying M Pet Grocery started as a very small show feed delivery company and has grown to the eclectic carefully curated collection of pet, bird, equine, boutique items their customers have come to know and

love. The store is considered by many to be a destination…from the rockabilly sounds in the coffee bar to the peaceful Backyard Bird Center to the Craft Collective, and even their indoor hydroponic farms, there is something at Flying M Pet Grocery for everyone. The staff participates in an in-house "M-University" where they continuously train, learn, and strive to provide the best customer service possible. Definitely a “must visit”, you’ll find unique products, nutritional counseling, whimsical gifts, organic produce in the hydroponic farm and you can even wash your pet while having a tasty cup of coffee. Flying M Pet Grocery is also known for giving back to the community by sponsoring high school bands, drama clubs, the arts in Houston, brain injury and cancer research and recently started a work program partnership with “The Hub” to provide support, training, and job opportunities for young adults with special needs. Very importantly, they also enjoy blessing local pet rescues with many tons of dog food donations and sponsoring events. Not your grandpa’s feed store, you’ll find everything you need for pets and egg laying poultry. Come visit this award-winning gem, located between Copperfield and Jersey Village.

THE YUMMY STATION

Bakery treats galore! Your pet will have tons of delicious, nutritious choices or you can find a great pup gift for a birthday dog in your life.

THE HAPPY HUMPER FOOD TRUCK

Flying M Pet Grocery enjoys a bit of irreverence so if you have a good sense of humor, come check them out. The Happy Humper food truck is truly one of a kind! Houston PetTalk Magazine

PURRS N BARKS PET MARKET & BAKERY

7710 Cherry Park Drive Suite Q, Houston 77095 (832) 683-4885 purrsnbarkstx.com

ocated in Copperfield, Purrs N Barks Pet Market & Boutique offers high quality foods, pet supplies, gift items and more. Your pet's favorite will definitely be the in-house Urban Dog Barkery offering delicious fresh treats. Owner Teresa Bues prides herself on offering nutritional advice for pet parents as well as offering a healthy variety of unique food items including kibble, raw, can, food toppers, digestive supplements and more. Shopping at Purrs N Barks is a great place to find all of your pet supplies as well as trendy gift items for spe-

cial occasions. Some of the nutritional finds that we discovered were Fermented Raw Cow Milk Kefir (Fermentation provides ease of digestion and live enzymes for maximum nutrient absorption), Muenster Ancient Grains (sourced locally in Texas, not in China), and Kasiks canned food made with limited ingredients. Take your pup for a shopping excursion and visit Purrs N Barks as well as Urban Dog Barkery - you'll find just the right food and supplies as well as all of the nutritional information you’ll need!

GORILLA DOG BEDS 7011 Lozier St. Houston 77021 (855) 836-4233 gorilladogbeds.com

f you need a tough, durable, comfortable (even orthopedic) bed of any size with the best fabrics available, shop with local online purveyor, Gorilla Dog Beds. I can personally say their beds are the utmost of quality because I purchased a large bed for my Briard about a year ago and it looks like new. I wash the outer cover and it looks amazing! Owner Yoav Schroit notes, “All of our orthopedic dog beds, nesting dog beds, and crate/kennel pads are handcrafted in the USA. Our Gorilla Ballistic line

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of heavy-duty chew-proof dog beds feature extreme standards of quality, durability, comfort, and safety. Our choice of fabrics is proven and tested, most of which are used in military applications where failure is not an option.” Have a chewer? Purchase a bed from the Gorilla Ballistic line and they come with a chew proof warranty. The Gorilla Dog Beds have been so successful that Yoav and his team have recently launched a line of tough, durable leashes and

collars. Shop online with them to find beds, collars, and leashes for the active, rugged K9 or even a little princess who deserves the plushest bed ever! Shown here: 1. Gorilla K9 Gear’s Personalized Air Collar with bonded 1.5 military-grade nylon, Duraflex® Mojave HD buckle with a 200lb break strength, heavy-duty plastic adjuster, lightweight. 2. Gorilla K9 Gear’s Alpha 1 Nylon TAB designed to keep your dog close and can remain on your dog for training and off-leash control.

WOOF GANG BAKERY & GROOMING

9 Locations in Greater Houston & Growing! woofgangbakery.com

ith 9 locations in Greater Houston, national retailer Woof Gang Bakery is sure to have a store near you. Their bright and cheery stores are stocked with many food choices including raw, kibble, canned and dehydrated dog and cat foods that are free from artificial colors, flavors or

FLUFF & TUFF TOYS

If you are on a quest for a durable toy that is machine washable, Fluff & Tuff toys are both ultra plush and tough with their trademark TuffWeb inner liner that stands up to the pups that like to play hard! Concealed and double stitched seams, non-toxic fill.

preservatives. Known for their large variety of bakery treats, your pup will definitely love an excursion to "sniff out" their favorite gourmet delight while you shop for toys, supplies and accessories. Woof Gang Bakery also offers grooming salons designed to provide a calm and luxuri-

WOOF GANG BAKERY TREATS Made with all-natural ingredients, Woof Gang Bakery offers a huge variety of treats that contain no wheat, corn or soy and come in tons of great flavors. From Pumpkin & Cranberry to Chicken or Coconut, there is sure to be a flavor your dog will flip for. Bitesized, bag treats are great for training!

ous experience in which your pets can be groomed, indulged and revitalized. Services are offered for any dog breed or size. Houston area locations include West U, Sugar Land, Sienna, Richmond, Katy, Conroe, College Park, The Woodlands and Spring.

EARTH ANIMAL NO-HIDE CHEWS

No-Hide Stix are thin, stick shaped chews which are handmade and are formulated to provide dogs with a healthier, better alternative to Rawhide. They are super-tasty, easily digestible and come in a variety of flavors.

Houston PetTalk Magazine

HEALTH

f you are reading this, you are likely an animal lover. It seems that part of the reason we exist is to love our animals and for many of us, we also want to help those who have nobody to love them. At VERGI, we work with many rescue organizations. We see some of the worst cases come through our doors…animals who have been living on the streets hurt, ill, starving, alone. It is an honor to be a part of the rescue community and to give these animals the chance at life that they always deserved. We have so much respect for the organizations who make the choice to commit to these cats and dogs, animals who would often not live to see another day without their help.

RESCUES NEED PEOPLE WHO:

Share posts on social media Donate funds, and it doesn’t have to be much. It all adds up and is very much appreciated. » Donate supplies as needed » Foster animals » Volunteer for adoption events » Volunteer to take photos of animals » Transport animals to veterinarians, foster homes, etc. » Adopt All because somebody said something and somebody did something, animals find loving homes. “Nobody was coming for me at the shelter. I was deemed unadoptable due to my injuries and not looking "normal". Somebody begged for » »

RESCUING ANIMALS IN NEED How You Can Contribute It sounds like a huge undertaking, doesn’t it? It may seem like there is nothing that you can do. I want you to know that you can do something, and if animals are your passion, you should do something. You will help an animal and you will likely also help yourself. It is hard to beat the feeling of doing good for another soul and seeing their lives saved, seeing them being loved, seeing them adopted, safe, and snuggled up in a bed. The first thing you can do is simple, yet so many choose not to do it. If you see something, say something. Take photos. Reach out to rescues, share on social media, contact friends. These animals need us to be their voices. Without this first part of the equation, there will be nothing further.

byline Shana D Richardson, PhD Vergi 24/7 Animal Emergency Hospital

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me to be saved. They put my picture on Facebook and I was shared hundreds of times. Still...nobody stepped up, except for one person. She saved me. I am alive because of volunteers who took my picture and posted me. I am alive because of people who shared me and tagged a lot of people, and that’s how my human mom knew about me. A simple tag on Facebook told her I existed. I am alive because I had a wonderful lady and her son transport me. My human held me and fell in love, and I make her happy every single day. I bring joy to those who meet me and those who see my pictures on Facebook. I even have my own page. I was worth saving. We all are. I am Baxter. I am the face of rescue.”

HEALTH

pet is predisposed to based on his/her breed, you may choose to do personalized routine monitoring as your pet ages to detect any abnormalities. This would allow for the ability to institute therapies earlier in the disease process. Monitoring can be done via laboratory tests such as bloodwork, urine testing, aspirations of growths, abdominal or cardiac ultrasounds and x-rays based on your pet’s breed.

4) DOES MY PET HAVE ANY SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS AND IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD BE DOING? As pets age they will develop arthritis. Many pets, especially cats have significant arthritis with no outward signs such as crying or limping. Some may only show subtle changes such as hesitation with jumping, reluctance to go on walks, or unwillingness to go up and down stairs. There are

5 THINGS SENIOR PET OWNERS SHOULD KNOW Talking Points With Your Veterinarian

1) HOW IS MY PET’S WEIGHT AND BODY CONDITION?

Cats and dogs alike can lose and gain weight for a variety of reasons. Maintaining a healthy weight can help keep your pet’s joints and body functioning at its best. Weight gain can be linked to poor diet, lack of exercise and overeating, but it could also be attributed to medical conditions such as low thyroid function or hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease). Over time excess weight can lead to diabetes. As our pets age they can also lose weight for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it may be part of aging, but often it is linked to diseases such as kidney or heart disease, cancer and feline hyperthyroidism.

byline

2) WHAT IS THE BEST YEARLY PREVENTATIVE PLAN FOR MY PET? Julia Spade, DVM, cVMA, CHPV seniorpaws.vet

Preventative monthly medications are not one-size-fits-all. For instance, if your pet is a picky eater or difficult to medicate, an oral monthly preventative may be more difficult and you may opt for a topical application. Alternatively, topical medications may cause a reaction in some pets with sensitive skin. Discuss all the options with your veterinarian to determine the best for your pet. Yearly vaccine needs also change as a pet ages. They may not require vaccines against infectious diseases if their risk is lower based on lower exposure to places like dog parks or boarding facilities. Other vaccines, mainly the rabies vaccine, are required to be given due to public health risk and high fatality rates. Another option may be to provide appropriate vaccine titers to health officials. Your veterinarian will be able to tailor the vaccine protocol that is best for your pet.

3) IS MY DOG PREDISPOSED TO ANY CONDITIONS BASED ON THEIR BREED?

If there are certain diseases that your

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many supplements, pain medications, prescription diets and alternative therapies such as laser, acupuncture and physical therapy that can be started in all stages of arthritis. The sooner some of these are started the better long term effect they can have.

5) DISCUSS ANY CHANGES IN YOUR PET’S SLEEPING HABITS, URINATION & DEFECATION, AND ABNORMAL BEHAVIORS.

As pets age we can start to see changes in behaviors. Some can be associated with canine and feline cognitive dysfunction (“doggy/kitty” dementia) and while there is no cure for this disease, there are supplements and diets that can be used to slow the progression. Other times these changes can be attributed to pain, anxiety from loss of hearing or vision, or underlying medical conditions such as urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal diseases or organ dysfunction.

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HEALTH

FELINE URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION When the Pressure is on!

I byline

f an obstruction blocks the outflow of urine in our feline friend, an emergency ensues. The inability to pass urine is a life-threatening situation and veterinary care should be sought as soon as possible. The urethra is the tube that connects the urinary bladder to the external genitalia. The majority of obstructed cats (or “blocked Toms”, as they are often referred to) are male cats, inherently because their urethra is longer and narrower in nature when compared to their female friends, making it more prone to obstruction. When urine cannot be passed appropriately, waste products build up in the body and can lead to irreversible kidney damage and even death. The actual blockage can be from a number of things: bladder stones, a mucus “plug”, crystals, or even a tumor. Multiple factors play a role in the predisposition for blockage. These include infections,

Elizabeth Free, DVM, Medical Director, Kingsland Blvd. Animal Clinic

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decreased access to water, and stress. Sometimes, we never find the real answer as to why a blockage occurred. Worrisome signs that owners should be aware of leading up to and including blocking, are straining to urinate, going into and out of the litterbox constantly, urinating in unusual places, bloody urine, a firm, painful belly, licking at the genital area and hiding. If your cat has been blocked for more than 24 hours, more systemic signs such as vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy can be seen. Lifethreatening heart arrhythmias can also develop. If the blockage lasts 3-6 days, this build-up of toxins will result in death. Treatment for a urethral blockage at the veterinary clinic starts with stabilizing the patient based on bloodwork and physical exam findings and removing the blockage. Anesthesia is usually needed to place a urinary catheter, which is often kept in place for several days. Electrolyte abnormalities, kidney damage and dehydration are addressed over the next few days while being hospitalized. When kidney values improve, electrolyte abnor-

malities and dehydration are corrected and our feline friend is able to urinate on their own, they will be discharged from the hospital for home care. This often involves a change in diet, medications, and followup visits. It is important to note that there is a risk for re-blockage in the weeks following discharge. Many cats recover uneventfully and do not need to continue medications although some, especially if they have blocked in the past, will require life-long treatment. If the blockages begin to become a repetitive event, a perineal urethrostomy (PU surgery) can be considered. This involves reconstruction of the male genitalia to create a larger urethral opening, making it less likely to obstruct. This is a serious surgery and one to be discussed in detail with your veterinarian should the need arise. The big take home: if there’s no flow, off to the vet you go!

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UNIQUE PETS

By: Michelle Mantor Photos By: Prudence Allwein www.photographybyprudence.com

The Pros & Cons S

o cute! But so wild! Yes, these adorable little critters that we call small animals or exotics are the "other" pets beyond cat and dog ownership. Often gotten to quell the pleas of young children, the lure of "something different" beckons. However, these creatures come with both good and bad elements of ownership. Recently, a friend asked me if I knew anyone that would like two sugar gliders along with all of their accessories. I responded by asking why, since I knew they had just gotten the sugar gliders and I thought her kids were enjoying their new pets. She replied, "Well, they liked them at first but now the novelty has worn off. Plus, they play all night and sleep during the day so the kids are sleeping when the sugar gliders are awake, which doesn't work out very well." I thought to myself, "Duh, they are nocturnal of course they sleep during the day." A little research prior to getting these wild animals would have possibly prevented this scenario which plays out all too often. Too many people get a pet they aren't prepared to own. Each species comes with pros and cons and if you are not ready for the responsibility, don't get the pet. For the story, we chose a few of the popular exotics to give you an inside look at what it's like to own them. All of these pets can be rewarding to play with and take care of but be sure to do your research. And, if possible, talk to people who own the same species for the real inside scoop on ownership!

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LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITALS THAT TREAT EXOTICS: » » »

Veterinary Medical Center of the Woodlands Kingsland Blvd. Animal Clinic Animal Medical Center of the Village

FERRET

f all the animals featured in this story, I am most tempted to own a ferret but I also know a few people that have been ferret owners and sadly, none of them still have their pet today. As cute and entertaining as they are, there are also some drawbacks you need to consider, especially the smell. Personally, I have a terrible sense of smell so I could probably get through that part (although the rest of the family might not) but I also have a dog with a huge prey drive and I would have to keep the ferret and dog 100% separate, which is too difficult to do. Ferrets have a natural musky smell which is one factor but they are meat eaters and we all know what that means...stinky poop. And they poop a lot. Which simply means you have to clean their cage everyday and wash bedding daily. If you are ok with the time required to clean and play with a ferret and you don't have a dog that would harm the little critter, they can be tons of fun! I loved the ferret in the Jennifer Aniston movie, Along Came Polly. Just like the movie, it's true they will steal your keys and shiny objects and hide them, but to me, that's the allure...their intelligence and curiosity! If you are looking to adopt a ferret, check out txferretrescue.org/ferrets. They have several for adoption and they are knowledgeable in matching owner to ferret.

DID YOU KNOW: FERRET FACTS » »

» »

rom gerbils, lizards, and snails to spiders, fish, and frogs, this is the coolest guide for kids to learn how to take care of the coolest pets! With 39 pet profiles that describe origins, behaviors, cage installation plans, food, maintenance, and more, this book con-

Expected life span is 7-10 years Ferrets are known to suffer from several distinct health problems. Among the most common are cancers affecting the adrenal glands, pancreas, and lymphatic system. Viral diseases include canine distemper and influenza. Domesticated form of the European polecat, a mammal belonging to the same genus as the weasel. Often used to hunt rabbits but more recently have become common household pets. Spends 14-18 hours a day asleep and are most active around the hours of dawn and dusk, meaning they are crepuscular. They poop many times per day because their digestive tract is so short. The smell is bad because they are meat eaters. They are prone to biting so they may not be the best pet for young children. An experienced pet owner is best for ferrets. They are intelligent animals with high energy and need lots of playtime. Otherwise, they can be very destructive, messing up litter trays, food, water, and even chipping their teeth through constant biting of their cages. In addition to being prepared to spend several hours per day playing with your ferret and cleaning their cage daily, you might need to be prepared to have two - ferrets do better when they live with a buddy.

The Small Pets Guide tains all the general and fun information for a variety of easy-to-care-for animals that kids will love. Also included are the author’s observations based on his very own pet collection throughout, as well as anatomical diagrams, high-quality photography, helpful illustrations,

and easy-to-read informational tips. It is available wherever books are sold including Barnes and Noble, BAM, BookShop, and FoxChapelPublishing.com.

Houston PetTalk Magazine

CHINCHILLA K

nown for their incredibly soft fur, chinchillas can make a great pet but preferably for older children or adults. They are naturally shy and skittish so for small children, they will not have the "cuddle factor". One of the reasons they make a good pet is they are fairly low don't clean the cage as often as necessary). Once you have a cage set up, all they need is refilled water, food, hay every day, cage cleanings and new things to chew. Like guinea pigs, their teeth continue to grow so they need to chew on things to file their teeth down. Like ferrets, they love to explore and need lots of time outside their cage with supervision...so if you plan on adding a chinchilla to your household, also plan to spend a good deal of time playing with your new friend and/or watching over them while they get exercise.

DID YOU KNOW: CHINCHILLA FACTS » »

Lifespan is 10 years Currently listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Human hunting for the fur trade has caused the severe population decline. One full length coat requires 150 pelts. Please DO NOT purchase a chinchilla coat! Native to the Andes mountains in South America, they instinctively clean their fur by taking dust baths, in which they roll around in special dust made of fine pumice a few times a week. They need extensive exercise and dental care, due to their teeth continually growing; temperatures must be carefully controlled. A chinchilla's diet should consist of 30% fibre, 14-16% protein, 35% carbohydrate, 3.5% fat and oil, 4% sugar, 6% minerals and 10% moisture/trace element, 32.400 Vitamin D, 14.000 Vitamin A, 80 Vitamin E. (Kennedy 1970). Anything other than this will have effects on a chinchilla's health.

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REX RABBIT

nfortunately, once again we have a small animal that is often raised for its fur and is unduly punished for having a luxurious soft coat. Grrrr! Totally unnecessary cruelty because we have warm synthetic fabrics. That soft coat, however, makes them fun to pet! Rabbits make great little companions and you might be surprised at what personalities they have. They are happiest when they have some space to their own to escape the hustle and bustle but they don't want to be secluded from the family. They do need play time outside the cage and need to be kept indoors. They enjoy enrichment activities which gives you some fun interaction with your rabbit as you watch them play and figure things out. They are basically clean animals but with any caged pet, you will need to clean the cage and provide fresh bedding, food, water, and toys. There are many breeds of rabbits so you have a huge variety of choices when selecting your little friend. And remember, if you are looking to get a rabbit as a pet, be sure to check with Houston Humane Society, Houston SPCA and CAP - all of these shelters have rescue rabbits most of the time.

DID YOU KNOW: REX RABBIT FACTS »

Lifespan is 5-6 years; Neutering can extend this life span. The Rex is a variety of rabbit that has plush fur and is often described as having a velvety texture. Should be fed high-quality hay and rabbit pellets, as well as fibrous green vegetables (cabbage, kale, dandelions and nettles, all of which will help keep teeth worn down). Keep fresh water available at all times. Easy to litter train and as such make excellent house rabbits. Avoid cedar-based litter because it can be harmful. Houston PetTalk Magazine

BEARDED DRAGON

he bearded dragon is the perfect pet for people who do not have as much time for play and watch over a small animal that needs significant "out of the cage" time like ferrets and chinchillas. And speaking of "chill", the bearded dragon is certainly all about hanging out and relaxing! This particular bearded dragon, "Cooper", belongs to a friend and every time I visit, I take him out of the cage and walk around with him on my shoulder. I don't worry about him running off like many other small animals which in itself is relaxing. Reptiles like bearded dragons eat live mealworms and crickets, so for me, I'm out. I don't like feeding live animals to animals but that's an individual preference. Feeding is perhaps the toughest part of ownership... they have fairly complex nutritional and environmental needs. Special equipment and a fair amount of time are needed to care for bearded dragons from a health perspective. But once you have the cage, lighting and so forth set up and you understand their nutritional needs, they are fairly easy keepers (but keep them safe from other household pets, especially cats).

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DID YOU KNOW: BEARDED DRAGON FACTS »

Lifespan is 8-12 years in captivity with good care. The name "bearded dragon" refers to the "beard" of the lizard, the underside of the throat which turns black if they are stressed. They are found throughout much of Australia. Require UVB light to help enable D3 synthesis and prevent metabolic bone disease. They also require UVA light.

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LEASH REACTIVITY Are You A Member Of Leash Lungers Anonymous?

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ou are most likely a member of LLA (Leash Lunger’s Anonymous), if while walking your dog on a leash, and he sees another dog, he proceeds to do any of the following: lunge, jump, whine, growl, bark, thrash about, and go berserk. Leash reactivity is a dog behavior issue that is extremely common. It is interesting to note that a very

high percentage of dogs that react while on leash, are not in fact, dog aggressive. Many leash-reactive dogs can successfully socialize when they are OFF leash. The boundary and restraint of the leash often exacerbates the reasons that cause this type of reactivity: »

By: Stephanie Bennett, CPDT-KSA Michelle Mantor believeindogtraining.com

» » »

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Fear- Go Away, Go Away! Please give me space! Frustration- Hey, come back here! I’m DYING to play with you! Past Experience- Other dogs= Bad Punishment- Other dogs= Pain Genetics- All dogs have some reactivity

due to their natural survival instincts and territoriality. For owners, it is embarrassing, scary, and stressful to see their dogs behave in such a crazy, aggressive looking way. For many people the walk eventually becomes so stressful and unpleasant, they stop walking their dogs altogether. When dealing with leash reactivity, it is important to remember that this is behavior modification and there is no quick fix or magic pill. It is imperative to understand and remember that your leash reactive dog is not giving you a hard time. On the contrary, your dog is having a very hard time. Just like people, dogs can have extreme anxieties, fears, panic attacks, etc. Most people can empathize with these emotions and disorders, and like anxiety in people, leash-reactivity is not something that typically completely extinguishes. However, with management and training, it can get a whole lot better and we can give up our Midnight Dog Walkers Club membership. Here’s the deal: Leash reactivity is always progressive and the more we practice anything, the better we get at it. There

is a good chance your dog has practiced reacting to other dogs so much that he has become an expert! Not only that, but now it’s his habit. We all know It can take months to make or break a habit. Your goal is to prevent your dog from practicing the undesired behavior and introduce a desired behavior! Stop concentrating on what you don't want and start teaching your dog alternative behaviors and games so you can communicate what you DO want. It is possible to teach your dog to make different choices and change stress cue to calm cues.

TEACH YOUR DOG: »

SIT & DOWN Defaults - Keep attention on you while another dog walks by. As long as eyes stay on you, the treats keep coming. It’s an OPEN BAR! Name Recognition-Turn his head and check in with you. Look at That! – Looking at the other dog results in delicious things! Emergency U-turn/ Get Out of DodgeMake this a super fun game! Go Find It!- “Bowl” treats on the ground to re-direct attention

WHAT YOU NEED: »

» »

A hungry dog that has ideally gotten out some energy with a game of tug, fetch, or Flirt Pole. A head collar (Gentle Leader or Comfort Trainer) or front connecting harness (Freedom). 6 ft leash (No Flexi leads) Super-duper delicious treats that your dog never gets except during the walk. As much as possible, feed all meals during the walk.

DURING THE WALK: »

Never, ever allow dog to dog on-leash greetings! Creating distance will always help. Figure out your dog’s critical distance. How

far away from the other dog must he be in order to keep under threshold? Create or find barriers to put between your dog and the other dog, such as your body, bushes, cars, etc. Don’t wait for your dog to start reacting before redirecting him. Know the triggers, anticipate that your dog will react, and constantly be aware of your surroundings. Interrupt before he irrupts! If you get caught off guard and your dog goes over threshold, don’t try to redirect, just get out of there and create distance as quickly as possible. Stay positive, practice calm persistence, and understand that this process is a marathon, not a sprint. Give your dog tons of positive feedback and encouragement. If you don’t feel like a happy, jolly, fool, you’re not doing it right! Finally, it is important for owners to be

aware of their own behavior when their dog is reacting on leash. Are you tensing up on the leash, yelling, yanking, punishing? Has this become your habit? If I could interview your dog, would he tell me that you were a great owner except for the fact that you freak out every time you see another dog on leash? If we want our dogs to be calm, we must learn to be calm and know that with leash reactivity, punishment methods will only make things worse, never better. With a plan that includes patience, consistency, management, and training, leash reactivity can and will get better. Will it get perfect? No. Our dogs are not robots and none of us will ever do anything perfectly. However, you will reach a point where you don’t have to dread the walk anymore. Don’t give up and remember to BREATHE!

Houston PetTalk Magazine

TAIL END

WATER, SAFETY AND FUN The Perfect Combo For Dogs

o Dunham, owner of Joasis, has always loved to entertain and loves all dogs. After one of her dogs, Goose, went away to hunt training and was training daily in lakes across America, it became apparent she needed to put in a pool for her spoiled dogs. With a pool on her property, Jo and her two Golden Retrievers could swim anytime without waiting for an invitation from a friend with a pool. After seeing Dock Diving on TV, Jo decided to add a dock for her pups, too. One evening while talking to her mom about how other dogs and their owners would really enjoy sharing her space and learning to swim and Dock Dive, Jo got the idea for Joasis. A friend of hers always referred to her home as “the Joasis”, so the name stuck.

byline Submitted by Joasis-Houston.com

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Joasis opened in March 2020 in the Greater Heights area. Technically they are in G.O.O.F. (Garden Oaks/ Oak Forest) and are proud to be one of the eclectic businesses in the 900 block of Wakefield. Joasis has quickly grown into a place where dogs, both young and old, learn to love the water. Some dogs already love the water while others come to be introduced to water in a safe way. Many dogs come to Joasis to face long-time fears.

Many people bring their dogs to Joasis seeking gentle exercise for an elderly or recovering dog or a special needs dog (3-legged, deaf, partially blind). Joasis is also the a fabulously fun place for birthday parties! Once a client and they know your dog, the staff can combine your dog with other dogs who are a similar age, breed and activity level for doggy play dates. Dogs need to socialize and Joasis is a place they can meet and play safely. Joasis teamed up with Marcia Morgan to create 2 one-of-a-kind classes. Socialization for EVERY Dog and Water Sports and Pool Games for Dogs. Check out Joasis-Houston.com for details on both of these original classes. Classes are kept small in size and are a safe activity during this pandemic. Joasis is also a great place to learn and train in the sport of Dock Diving. Jo Dunham has two Golden Retrievers who are nationally ranked in Distance, Air Retrieve and Hydro Dash, and she understands the ins and outs of the sport. Clients describe coming to Joasis like coming over to a good friend’s backyard to have fun with their dog. Jo and her sister Lainie, who also sees clients, love what they do. Come experience their hospitality and see what they can inspire your dog to do!

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TAIL END

David Paul

BACKYARD BEEKEEPING

A Sweet Way to Save the Planet

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’ll never forget the first day I decided to become a beekeeperI had just attended a half day Beekeeping 101 seminar given by James and Cheri Elam of Bluebonnet Beekeeping in Conroe. I came home brimming with knowledge and excitement about these tiny insects that had always fascinated, but mostly frightened me my whole life. “We’re gonna get bees!" I told my incredulous husband, KHOU Meteorologist David Paul, who had probably hoped the half day seminar would only serve to overwhelm my growing curiosity. “Where in the world are we going to put them?” he asked. “How are we going to take care of them? We live in a subdivision with kids and dogs and cats!” The reality is, I quickly learned, backyard beekeeping is not only possible, it is a very natural and an efficient place to

nurture bees. Our backyard is particularly suited as our property backs up to the White Oak bayou water shed which is really just a ravine with shallow water that runs year-round. Something is always blooming in the creek and the bees love the sloping shoreline for gathering water to bring back to the hive. Because bees forage for pollen and nectar in a 3-5 mile radius around their hive, our neighbor-

By: Miranda Sevcik Michelle Mantor

Miranda Sevcik

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hood’s landscaped yards help provide a constant flow of resources. The bees would leave their little home and immediately fly about twenty feet high over the fence and were gone. Bees don’t swarm around their hive so there is no danger to kids or dogs as long as they don’t hang out by the hive swinging sticks. We placed our bee hive about two feet from a backyard fence facing east so the warm sun would hit the hive first thing and they could start their foraging day. The fence acts as a wind break and a nearby tree keeps the hive cool in the hot summer months. The day I picked up my nucleus box from Bluebonnet Beekeeping felt like bringing a newborn home from the hospital, a newborn that if unsealed, could kill you. The cardboard box sat like a caged tiger in the backseat of my truck and I drove home more carefully than I ever have driven anywhere. The nucleus, or nuc, is a small version of a normal beehive containing five frames with a mated queen and enough worker bees in various stages of their life cycle to cover the frames. Beekeepers install the nuc into a larger ten frame hive. I placed the nuc box on the lid of the hive I had already set up at home and opened the entrance expecting a cloud of bees to attack me. I had suited up and lit my smoker but instead they lazily poked their little heads out and buzzed around the box in slow figure 8 patterns, calibrating their internal GPS so after foraging they could find their way into their home again. Bees are amazingly exact with their ability to find their home. If you move a hive 3 feet in any direction during the day, bees returning from foraging will circle the original location until they starve to death. I installed the frames into the wood hive box and said a little prayer that my baby hive would like its new surroundings.

One of my favorite activities became taking my morning coffee out to the hive and watching bees fly in and out with their pollen baskets on their hind legs filled with pollen of every color... white, red, orange, yellow, even black. When you see that amount of pollen going into a hive it’s a good sign because it means the hive is “queen right”; the queen is happily laying her 2,000 eggs a day and the workers are using that pollen to feed baby bees "bee bread". In other words, your hive is growing and you are about to need another brood box on top to grow the worker population to an optimal double brood box hive containing 25,00040,000 bees per box. That’s when the magic happens, because a filled double brood box hive is ready for a honey super box to be put on top. A honey super isn’t as deep as a brood box and it basically serves as a warehouse for honey bees to store honey in the ten frames after they have already filled the vital brood box honey frames that will keep the hive alive over the winter months. I needn’t have worried. Apparently, my yard is bee nirvana. The first year we harvested 80 pounds of the most amazing honey and honeycomb I ever tasted and we experienced very few stings. In fact, the only time my ladies stung me (workers are all female and only they have stingers) was when I had screwed up in some way, skipped the smoke, poked my nose too close when they were agitated or allowed their sugar water to run dry when they were really hungry in the spring. Honey bees visit and pollinate 5,000 flowers per day. Bees are so important–some crops like watermelon require seven visits by bees to properly pollinate. A one-pound jar of honey requires bees to visit 2 million flowers. So what are you waiting for? Buzz into beekeeping this year and enjoy a pet that finally pays you back and helps the planet at the same time!

BEE FACTOIDS: THE HEROES OF OUR PLANET » »

» »

One in every three bites of food depends on bees for pollination. The value of bee pollination worldwide is estimated at over $125 billion. In the United States, pollination contributes $20–$30 billion in agricultural production annually. Bees fly an average of 55,000 miles to produce one pound of honey, but they don’t know how to make honey when they are born. They learn it in the hive. Honey is the only foodstuff that contains all of the necessary nutrients to sustain life Bee honeycombs are perfect hexagons, each angle at 120 degrees.

RESOURCES: » » »

Take classes: bluebonnetbeekeeping.com Find your local bee club: texasbeekeepers.org/local-beekeeper-associations Outfit your apiary: texasbeesupply.com

COST TO GET STARTED: » » » »

Classes and books: $150 Beehive @ $250 Bee suit/gloves: $240 Smoker/tools: @ $120

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Conservation Corner Saving Giraffes in the Wild

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Photo credit, Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo

As appreciative supporters of nature and wildlife, we at Houston PetTalk want to promote education and conservation of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s animal population. Each month we bring you information on conservation efforts that are of special interest or have some connection to Houston through the Houston Zoo or other local organizers such as the TWRC Wildlife Center. This issue, we highlight giraffe conservation. Look for other upcoming conservation stories so that you too can help save a species.

By: Taylor Rhoades and Lauren Wappler, Houston Zoo

he Houston Zoo is home to five Masai giraffes: Joshua, Kamili, Asali, Gigi, and Bobbie, who turns one year old this month! Guests to the Zoo can meet these incredible animals

up-close when they hand feed lettuce to them during the daily giraffe feedings. All five of these giraffes are ambassadors to their counterparts roaming the African plains. With wild giraffe popula-

tions decreasing, due to human activities, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an urgent need for local African communities to protect these beautiful species from harm. The Houston Zoo provides support for a locally led giraffe protection program in Kenya that protects them from hunting and harm and creates a healthy and safe habitat for giraffe and other wildlife. One of the most impactful ways the Zoo supports their conservation partners on the ground in Kenya is providing opportunities for further training through the Wildlife Warrior Program, which helps to further strengthen their superb wildlife-saving skills. In 2015, the Zoo established the Wildlife Warrior award program. Carefully chosen by Zoo staff, this award recognizes exceptional individuals from their wildlife conservation partner programs and provides them with an experience that will increase their abilities and knowledge and strengthen them as future conser-

vation leaders. Two of these wildlife warriors are wildlife protection rangers Aden Elmi Ali and Aden Ibrahim. Aden Ibrahim leads a team of 12 local wildlife protection rangers and encourages youth to join conservation and has recruited a dozen of them so far who would otherwise be vulnerable to drugs, terrorism and poaching. Aden is hopeful about the future where he aims to empower youth and expand safe area for wildlife. Aden Elmi Ali works as a com-

munity scout tasked with carrying out wildlife protecting patrols and community education. In the two years that Aden has been with the program, he has shown exemplary skills which helped him quickly rise to a lead scout and field research assistant. He helps the team conduct giraffe and wildlife protection patrols daily, installing and monitoring camera traps and helping with environmental data collection. He loves nature, the outdoors, and especially the wildlife in the area.

Thanks to the incredible wildlife-saving work of these wildlife warriors and their teams, daily patrols in the field last year resulted in four arrests of illegal hunters and the removal of 120 wire traps set out for animals, pro-

tecting giraffe and other wildlife. Visitors to the Houston Zoo are also helping to save giraffes in the wild. A portion of every admission ticket, membership, and giraffe feeding is helping to protect wild giraffes in Africa.

Houston PetTalk Magazine

Wild about Animals By: Michelle Mantor Photos: PhotographyByPrudence.com

Houston Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Giraffe "Joshua"

ith your arm outstretched and grasping a fresh, crisp leaf of lettuce, you watch as a long black tongue deftly wraps around the greens and plucks it from your hand. You giggle and can't believe you've just put food in the mouth of an African artiodactyl mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant, more commonly known as a giraffe. At the Houston Zoo giraffe feeding platform, you have most likely just fed Joshua, the only male among the giraffe herd. Known for his affinity for food, Joshua is ever-present for the daily public feeding encounter that offers an incredible opportunity to experience these majestic animals up close and personal. True to his reputation, Joshua bellied right up to the lettuce bar as soon as we appeared on the platform. He was nearly joined by another female but she changed her mind and wondered off, leaving Joshua to have all of the lettuce in the bucket. He was more than happy to be the sole model for our photoshoot! He is quite striking in his good looks and very friendlyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;traits he will likely pass down to his offspring, Bobbie, who turns one year old this month. Joshua himself is just 5 years old, having come to the Houston Zoo in 2016 from the Virginia Zoo. If it's not lettuce feeding time and you want to spot Joshua, he's easy to recognize as the only male. Both sexes have prominent horn-like structures called ossicones, but the ossicones of females and young are thin and display tufts of hair on top, whereas those of adult males end in knobs and tend to be bald on top. Males are also taller reaching up to 17-18 ft. on average (the tallest on record is 19.3 ft.) while females are typically between 14-16 ft. Classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as

Editor Michelle Manto r having fun with "Joshu a" at the Houston Zoo.

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vulnerable to extinction, giraffes are well known for their unusually long neck which results from a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, not from the addition of more vertebrae. The lengthening takes place after birth, a fact which I'm sure giraffe mothers are very happy about! Reproductively, males will detect an oestrous female and attempt to court her. When courting, dominant males will keep subordinate ones away. A courting male may lick a female's tail, rest his head and neck on her body or nudge her with his horns. Who knew giraffes were so romantic LOL! But to be the dominant male, it involves "necking" which is not the kind of necking you are used to hearing about! Male giraffes use their necks as weapons in combat to establish dominance and males that win necking bouts have greater reproductive success. I could go on and on about the fascinating facts regarding the giraffe, including that they are "cousins" to the Okapi, which was featured in our April 2020 issue, but I encourage you to experience and learn about giraffes for yourself at the Houston Zoo. Feeding the giraffes, probably Joshua, only costs a few dollars and it is sure to make you smile and giggle. It's a rare experience that should not be missed!