Houston PetTalk August 2023

Houston Area VCA Animal Hospitals

Cypress

VCA Telge Road Animal Hospital 11430 Telge Road

Cypress, TX 77429

281-955-9797 vcatelgeroad.com

Houston

VCA Ashford Animal Hospital

12633 Whittington Houston, TX 77077

281-497-3917 vcaashford.com

VCA Countryside Animal Hospital

2211 FM 1960 East Houston, TX 77073

281-443-7297 vcacountryside.com

VCA Jones Road Animal Hospital 9570 Jones Road Houston, TX 77065

281-890-9525 vcajonesroad.com

VCA Prestonwood Animal Hospital 13720 Schroeder Rd. Houston, TX 77070

281-890-1960 vcaprestonwood.com

VCA Spring Branch Animal Hospital 10109 Long Point Road Houston, TX 77043 713-461-1121 vcaspringbranch.com

Katy

VCA Kelliwood Animal Hospital 960 S. Fry Road Katy, TX 77450 281-492-2780 vcakelliwood.com

Kingwood

VCA Kingwood Animal Hospital 2526 Green Oak Drive Kingwood, TX 77339

281-358-3146

vcakingwood.com

Lake Jackson

VCA Lake Jackson Animal Hospital 210 That Way Lake Jackson, TX 77566 979-297-3044 vcalakejackson.com

Pasadena

VCA Animal Medical Center of Pasadena 5018A Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77505 281-487-8233 vcapasadena.com

Pearland

VCA Westside Animal Clinic 9223 W. Broadway St., Ste. 107 Pearland, TX 77584 281-997-1044 vcawestsidevet.com

VCA Westside Animal Hospital 6034 Broadway Street Pearland, TX 77581 281-485-9840 vcawestsidetx.com

Spring

VCA Champions Northwest Animal Hospital 8901 Louetta Spring, TX 77379 281-370-0773 vcachampionsnorthwest.com

VCA Four Seasons Animal Hospital 3730 FM 2920, Suite 110 Spring, TX 77388 281-825-4994 vcafourseasons.com

VCA Woodlands Animal Hospital 428 Rayford Road Spring, TX 77386 281-367-7553 vcawoodlands.com

VCA Spring Animal Hospital 1811 Spring Cypress Spring, TX 77388 281-353-5167 vcaspring.com

2627 Cordes Dr. Sugar Land, TX 77479

281-980-3737

vcalexingtonblvd.com

VCA Southwest Freeway Animal Hospital 15575 SW Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-491-8387 vcaswfreeway.com

Tomball

VCA Tomball Veterinary Hospital 28800 Tomball Parkway Tomball, TX 77375

281-351-5441 vcatomball.com

Texas City

VCA Mainland Animal Hospital 7232 Medical Center Drive Texas City, TX 77591 409-948-8401

vcamainland.com

Letter from the Editor On the cover

In a world that is not only kinetic but also chaotic, it’s easy to lose focus on those activities and people that are working for the greater good. Our news cycle is filled with doom and gloom as well as divisiveness. This constant barrage of negativity often leaves us depressed or depleted. At times, it feels as though we are barely keeping up and surviving, which is exactly when we need a touch of light in our lives: a generous, positive-minded, hardworking example of the goodness in life. That reminder of the good, the giving, the best among us is the focus of this August Philanthropy & Heroes issue.

THE GIFT OF GIVING

What makes a city great is the people who call it home and Houston is fortunate to have many giving souls in our midst. In particular, stray, abused or neglected animals need a voice and compassion for survival. Without those caring people, many more animals would perish. In this issue, we are celebrating the philanthropists and heroes of the Houston pet community. Our cover couple, Tracy and Harry Faulkner, lead the way in the importance of giving to a cause. Meet them and other heroes nominated by the community beginning on page 26.

Setting the pace for generosity, kindness and a positive spirit is our cover couple Tracy and Harry Faulkner. This duo gives, gives, and gives some more of their time and treasure to many causes, some of which are animal welfare. They represent the ideal of giving back to humanity for the greater good, otherwise known as philanthropy. Learn all about their endeavors in our feature story.

We also highlight the many other heroes in our Houston community that have taken action to help animals in need or in the case of animal heroes, help humans! From transporting animals, saving them from the streets, fostering, vetting and more, to the animals that have assisted humans in lifethreatening missions, we celebrate them all on pages 30-37. Join us in a collective thank you to these heroes and perhaps it will inspire you to lend your time and love to a cause that is meaningful to you as well.

Next up in this issue, check out our product section on healthy products and cat-themed goodies. We always encourage you to shop locally with our pet supply retailers. It’s easy to just hit that buy now

button on Amazon, but once you set up an account with local retailers that sell online, it’s just as easy! I shop online for all of my pet needs at Hollywood Feed. There is not a location near me (otherwise I would shop there because I like taking my dog on shopping trips) so I order online and it arrives in just 2 days. They have every product and brand I need and I get to support a Houston store! I also should point out that the same philosophy goes for using services from all of our sponsors. Without our advertising partners, PetTalk is not possible. If you want our publication to continue, that’s the only way it can…by advertising partners getting a ROI on their expenditure. So PLEASE shop with them, use their services and be sure to tell them you found them in PetTalk!

As summer fun begins to wane in August, there is still time to have some last minute joy in our expansive city. My suggestion is to visit the Houston Zoo’s new Galápagos Island exhibit. Check out my story in the conservation section on the 290,000 gallon aquarium that is only one part of the overall exhibit. It’s so beautiful and mesmerizing! I love getting to be literally face to face with a shark, sea turtle and even a cute little puffer fish. And the best part? It’s 90% indoors and climate controlled. Very ideal in Houston! The zoo also does a great job of showing how plastics are literally killing our sea life and how we can change our behaviors to help in this global problem. Climate change typically gets the headlines, but plastics in the oceans is a horrific problem we must solve. It not only kills sea life, it affects birds that eat the fish and more. Read all about this topic at the exhibit and hopefully you will not only enjoy the beauty of the animals, but find ways to conserve their environment too.

HOUSTON PETTALK MAGAZINE

14781 Memorial Drive, Ste. 510, Houston, Texas 77079 281-556-6560

Art Director: ANDREW BURWELL

Cover: Allison Wilkins Photography

Where in the World is PetTalk?

MONGOLIA

Melissa Giilhart sent us this awesome submission from her bird watching trip in Mongolia. According to Melissa, “Mongolia has one native species of dog, Bankhar (aka mongolian dog). Traveling throughout the country, I would see

Send your Travel photos featuring PetTalk

You never know where on this planet you might find a PetTalk reader enjoying their copy! If you’ve snapped a travel pic of yourself or one of our readers, send your photo to info@houstonpettalk.com.

this dog several times a day, usually guarding livestock from wolves, bears, or freely roaming with nomad families. This photo was at a village gas stop, but the dogs were everywhere in the country. They are very loyal, social, smart, and

affectionate. All have distinctive coloring and markings and all look the same. I just wanted to take one home with me...a big, beautiful species!!!” We agree Melissa and we love your special and unique “share”!

Henrietta

It's not even the Presidential election year YET, and we are already being pummeled in the news with a seemingly never-ending, brutal attack on all candidates, from all sides. Very exhausting and as Aunt Hilda used to say, "downright ornery". However, one word I do like that keeps coming up is FREEfree healthcare, free college...but what about free hotdogs? And if all this stuff is free, whose gonna pay for it? I don't want to end up like Greece.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Gyros, Moussaka and Ouzo but then again, I love all food and beverages. It’s just that giving more stuff than you have to give usually ends up not so good. Math is not my thing but I do know that if mom promises me two free hot dogs that she doesn’t have and then borrows them from my cousin Harold’s mom who has to borrow them from their new neighbors, the Pitt family (yes, as in Bull, which means you better give back whatever you take), at some point someone ain’t gonna have any hot dogs and they are going to be "apawalled". Just sayin’ from experience.

Given my unabashed patriotism and deep desire for unity and civilized treatment of one another, I made it known last week at the Salty Dog that I would welcome the opportunity to be President. After the unhinged pandemonium of laughter subsided, Edwina Houndsman, the most intellectual of our group, decided to interview me.

Edwina: Henrietta, you seem to be a lady of conviction. What is your pawlitical position on immigration?

Henrietta: This is a delicate issue but my basic feeling is that our shelters are FULL. However, the problem is easily solved. Human beings have invented

On Running For President

Ziploc bags, found a way to travel to the moon, convince 3000 people to be stuffed on a ship sailing to Mexico for bad food and drinks while paying thousands of dollars for the privilege and developed meat that doesn’t need to be refrigerated so you would think they could take the simple step of spaying and neutering their pet to reduce the population; then there will be enough room, love and resources for all of my compadres!

Japanese Chin friend, Yakimoto.

Edwina: What's your biggest pet peeve?

Henrietta: First of all, the phrase “pet peeve” seems a bit harsh doesn’t it? But I guess I would have to say the archaic ordinance that dogs are not allowed in restaurants. Do they think we smell or something?

Edwina: What is the first thing you would do as President?

Henrietta: I would call Felicity Fancy Pants and gloat. Next, I would make Pig Skins the national snack, install a “watering hole” in the West Wing and put a 5 MPH speed limit on squirrels.

Edwina: What would you outlaw?

Henrietta: After serious consideration to outlawing cats, I recognize that would violate the very freedoms of our country that I am valiantly working to uphold; so, I would take this one step further for the benefit of Felines by outlawing the declawing of cats. It’s much more of a sport for us to catch them when it’s a fair fight.

Edwina: So basically you are saying you could be the first woman President? You actually think you could handle all those men hounding you in a debate?

Having said that, I must also say that I love globalization and I’ve learned much from my worldly friends. The best kiss I ever had was from a French Poodle named Jaques, I learned to listen to my inner self from a Tibetan Terrier (and my inner self told me it would like more chicken), and my love for sushi would never have been realized without my

Henrietta: My life experience has taught me to never put down my gun to hug a grizzly bear. I would use this same rule of life when dealing with ALL pawliticians. It looks like my opponent would be between one person whose goal in life is to have a mental disorder named after him and another who'd likely be stuck in a corn maze during the entire campaign season so I think my odds are good.

Edwina: So what is your campaign slogan going to be?

Henrietta: Who Do You Want For President, The One Who TAKES A Poop or The One Who PICKS It Up?

Henrietta Illustration by Jim Tweedy, Colorizing by Desiree Lonsway

Offering designer canine accessories that are imported from countries all over the world and throughout the United States, including an exclusive collection of dog spa products that are free of genetically modified organisms and harsh chemicals. Other products include swarovski crystal collars, pet jewelry, designer style dog carriers, high-end clothing and more; all while donating a portion of the sales revenues to dog rescues in Katy and the Greater Houston area.

We offer high-quality third wave coffees, teas, specialty beers, wine, pastries, charcuterie (Italian Salumi) boards and other sharable options. Enjoy a snack while your furry friends indulge in tasty treats from the upscale dog “PUCCI Barkery”. The 2,000 square foot back features live music right on the LaCenterra Lake, as well as a fenced Bark Park for the puppies.

COME VISIT WITH YOUR PUP ON OUR BEAUTIFUL BACK PATIO WATERSIDE!

St. PAWtrick’s Day Bash With Houston Pets Alive

People and their pups went GREEN for Houston Pets Alive’s St. Pawtrick’s Day celebration held at Powder Keg. A treat toss was a big crowd pleaser, as local celebs judged the competition. Party goers enjoyed a DJ, local beer, Irish coffee, food trucks,

shopping with vendors and dog adoptions. Proceeds benefitted HPA, a Houston animal welfare organization that helps save lives of at-risk dogs and cats. Learn more about HPA at HoustonPetsAlive.org.

Photos provided by Houston Pets

Kittenpalooza: A Big Success

Best Friends Animal Society recently hosted Kittenpalooza on June 11 and July 2 to help find more kitties a forever home. Houstonians came out to not only support but to adopt, making the events a wild success. Between both Kittenpaloozas, 72 cats and kittens were adopted, with an additional 17 leaving as foster-to-adopts. If you are thinking of bringing home a new cat or kitten, the adop-

tion option is a great way to find the perfect furry friend. Plus, two kittens are better than one - consider bringing home not one but two kittens so they’ll never be alone (plus you'll have twice the love and purrs).

Best Friends is located at 901 Pinemont Drive, Houston, 77018. To learn more about adopting and fostering, visit BestFriends.org/ Houston for more information.

Photos by Valentina Costa, Best Friends Animal Society

Alfie

Georgie Lily

Poko

Chalupa Supreme

Jane

Onyx

Roxy (black) Remy (orange)

HealthySmiles Pet Dental Spa & Wellness Center Special Offer

It’s the Summer of Smiles at HealthySmiles Pet Dental Spa & Wellness Center in Cypress, TX! All non-anesthetic dental cleaning appointments scheduled from now until the end of August are 10% off when you use code SUMMERSMILES. Appointments can be booked online at HealthySmiles.pet/ locations/houston.

HealthySmiles has been transforming the pet dental industry by providing a gentle, whole-health approach to care since 2010. Each HealthySmiles Pet Dental Spa is thoughtfully designed to promote relaxation and provide the ultimate sense of comfort for pets and their parents. This stress-free environment allows the dental technicians at HealthySmiles to use calming techniques instead of anesthesia to deep clean your pet’s teeth and gums and help prevent periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is one of the most com-

mon health issues affecting adult pets. Studies show that almost 90% of dogs over the age of 3 show some signs of periodontal disease, which left untreated can lead to larger health complications. Periodontal disease is worse in smaller pets and becomes more common with age. The most common signs of dental disease in dogs and cats include chronic bad breath, yellow or brown plaque on the teeth, excessive drooling, and bright red or swollen gums.

HealthySmiles makes it their mission to keep the pet’s in their community healthy and happy by providing an affordable, low stress option for pet dental care. If it’s been more than 6 months since your dog or cat’s last professional dental cleaning, the Summer of Smiles is a great time to start a routine of keeping your pet’s mouth healthy and smile sparkling for life!

Houston Humane Society Needs Pantry Donations

If you are looking to help a pet in need, then Houston Humane Society needs your help! The shelter is seeking donations for their valuable pet pantry which supports Houston residents in caring for their pets by providing free pet food and supplies. The current needs include: puppy and dog food, cat and kitten food, small mammal food

and cat litter. In order to help as many pets as possible, Houston Humane Society partners with local organizations and officials to bring pet food to the community in Houston at various locations. To donate, scan the code on their AD on page 43 or visit HoustonHumane. org and visit the Pet Pantry page under the Programs tab.

Texas Passes Amendment Regarding "Fake" Assistance & Service Animals

The state of Texas has tightened its leash on people trying to pass their pets off as service animals. During the 88th legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 4164 amending HUMAN RESOURCES CODE TITLE 8. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CHAPTER 121. PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.  Sec. 121.006. PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE OF ASSISTANCE ANIMALS.

This new law on the IMPROPER USE OF ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE ANIMALS is described as follows: A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly represents that an animal is an assistance animal or a service animal when the animal is not specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability.

An offense under this subsection is a mis-

demeanor punishable by: (1) a fine of not more than $1,000.; and (2) 30 hours of community service to be performed for a governmental entity or nonprofit organization that primarily serves persons with visual impairments or other disabilities.

The bill received support from many groups including the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), the only Texas-based, Texasfunded animal protection advocacy group in the state. This amendment was brought about by the availability of "$25 registered emotional support dog" websites, resulting in untrained personal pets being brought into No Pets Allowed locations, utilizing public access under the provisions of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These false service animals have greatly impacted individuals with disabilities that rely on their service dog partner.  For example, a distracted medical alert dog places

the handler in danger of a medical emergency, injury, and even the possibility of death.  Individuals with psychiatric support dogs face increased anxiety and may even choose to withdraw from their routine lifestyle.  Service dogs have been injured and even forced to retire following an incident with an out of control pet.  Service dogs are quite expensive, with hundreds of hours of training.  The cost of a trained service dog ranges from $20,000 to $90,000, and availability is an issue, with often a waiting list of three years or longer.

The Texas Legislature has addressed the issue and imparted penalties and fines to help alleviate the danger of untrained animals being represented as trained and certified service animals. The law takes effect September 1.

Submitted by Sandra P. Stern, Executive

Director, PAWSabilities.org.

Small Animal Hydrotherapy Rehabilitation Business Expanding: K9 Health Center

dogs and cats treated at their facilities, but an unwavering approach to customer service excellence, which resulted in the 2022 Houston Small Animal Rehabilitation Award.

Of the countless conditions presented, arthritis, spinal injury, torn ligaments, pain relief and obesity are a few of the common ailments of the 16,000+ clients which K9 Health Center has successfully treated since opening in 2006.

water and evidence shows the benefits for all shapes and sizes and at all stages of their life whether it be fitness or recovery. That’s why K9 Health Center offers hydrotherapy sessions tailored to an animal’s individual needs. Pets are treated by trained and experienced rehabilitation staff with veterinary approval. Clients are seen by appointment only and K9 Health Center is fully insured. To learn more, visit K9HealthCenter.com.

K9 Health Center is celebrating their expansion to a second location in the Heights on August 26th and 27th from 12PM to 4PM at 1025 Yale Street.

Since its inception, K9 Health Center has developed a large client base and in response to customer demand has recently opened their second Houston facility. Their success is not only built on the positive impact Hydrotherapy has on the mental and physical well-being of

Sandra Wilson, a native of the UK, is Clinical Director and business owner. She is formally trained, has 20 years of experience and she is also a qualified Practical Training Educator for Students at one of the UK’s most prominent Animal Colleges. She notes, "The job can be very rewarding. Taking a dog with poor mobility, depression and injury to a waggy, bright eyed pet is amazing. Being at their side when they take their first steps after major trauma and ultimately the gratitude of their owners when we help a dog get back to its best is life-affirming.”

Most dogs love the

Save The Date: Barrio Dogs Fundraiser September 10

Barrio Dogs is kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with the inaugural “Let’s Play Loteria with Barrio Dogs” benefitting their work in the community at the beautiful Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas Avenue, 77002 on Sunday, September 10, from 1PM to 5PM.

Tickets are $50, which includes admission, a hearty and yummy tamale and nacho bar, one drink ticket and entry fee to the Loteria Costume Contest.  Additional cards will be available at $25 each as well as a cash bar.  Amazing prizes will be awarded for Loteria winners, raffles, and the Loteria costume contest.

The event benefits Barrio Dogs, a non-profit organization with a goal to create a better future for pets and the community.  They have been working in Houston’s East End for nearly 14 years by investing in youth at schools, speaking with families at their free spay neuter events and creating leaders through their neighborhood advocacy project. Rescue is not their core work, but with the increase in neglected and suffering animals on the streets, they feel they must assist with this problem.

Join the fun and festive time to benefit a great cause!  To purchase tickets or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, send an email to gloria@barriodogs.org.

Houston SPCA Will Host Clear the Shelters Adoption Event on Saturday, August 26

The Houston SPCA will host Clear the Shelters pet adoption event at their Campus for All Animals on Saturday, August 26 from 11AM to 6PM. All large dogs (at least 35 pounds) will have a $10 adoption package which includes spay or neuter surgery; up-to-date vaccinations, a microchip, free sample bags of Hill’s Science Diet pet food and free post-exam from any VCA Animal Hospital. In addition to adoptable pets, the campus will host free activities and giveaways throughout the day.

During the Clear the Shelters adoption event, every canine and feline adopter will receive a free Hill’s Pet Nutrition gift bag (while supplies last; one per family). The Houston SPCA is located near Memorial Park at 7007 Old Katy Road, Houston 77024 and is open Monday through Sunday from 11AM to 6PM. For additional information about Clear the Shelters and to view available pets, visit them online at HoustonSPCA.org.

Photos provided by Houston SPCA

WITH AGE, COMES WISDOM

Great insight about oral care and anesthesia for senior pets.

Aging is not a disease, however, there are anesthetic risks that occur in a geriatric patient. At VDS, we have a team of board-certified veterinary specialists in dentistry and anesthesia to ensure that each patient, young or young at heart, has a safe, appropriate, and comfortable experience.

Our anesthesia protocol for senior pets includes:

• A thorough history and pre-anesthetic evaluation, as studies report that 30% of the “senior” pet population has undiagnosed diseases.

• A close evaluation of co-existing conditions requiring particular attention including heart, liver, kidney, and endocrine metabolic disorders (e.g., Cushing’s disease).

• A personalized anesthesia plan for before, during, and after a procedure.

• Oral care treatment plan support to provide the best possible outcome and quality of life.

Here in Katy, you’ll find a Texas-style warm and welcoming environment, including state-of-the-art suites equipped with the latest veterinary imaging and monitoring equipment. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your pet’s oral health is in the very best hands.

To learn more about how we can help your senior pet receive the best advanced dental care, please call us at 346.257.6725. Appointments are available from Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am – 7 pm.

Chanda Miles, DVM, DAVDC | Bradley Simon, DVM, MSc, DACVAA | katy@vdsvets.com

Best Friends Animal Society Is Working To Increase Pet-Inclusive Housing

Keeping Houstonians and their pets together is essential to ease the overwhelming number of animals entering shelters here locally and across the country. Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization, and Michelson Found Animals are working together to increase pet-inclusive housing.

In 2023, affordable housing is hard to find and can become especially difficult with a large dog. Size, weight, and breed restrictions force many to make the heartbreaking decision to give up their pet which often results in them landing in already overcrowded public animal shelters.

Texans know that bigger is better, and dogs are no exception. However, current arbitrary housing barriers, most often regarding size or breed, are the number one reason dogs are surrendered by their family to a shelter. Sadly, big dogs wait in shelters much longer than small dogs. Additionally, they are at a signifi-

cantly higher risk of euthanasia because inaccurate stereotypes about the space and care they require cause many landlords to restrict dogs based on their size and/or breed.

The Pet Inclusive-Housing Report, conducted by Michaelson Found Animals and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), found that 33% of pet-owning residents would adopt another pet if restrictions on their rental housing were lifted. Additionally arbitrary pet policies caused nearly a quarter of respondents to move, and 14% of respondents surrendered their pet because of their housing situation. Through easing restrictions over time, up to 8.2 million more animals could find homes in pet-inclusive rental housing – saving countless animal lives and improving the lives of their owners.

Through empowering renters to educate owner/operators about why allowing all good dogs, regardless of their size or breed, is good for the owner/operators, the renters, and

animal shelters, more dogs can find or stay in their respective loving homes. Best Friends Animal Society and Michelson Found Animals are currently working together to increase pet-inclusive housing through research, policy and legislative change, and by providing tools, resources and education for dog owners, and rental owner/operators.

To learn more and access downloadable resources, visit BFAS.org/bigdogs.

#ShareWithUs!

SUMMER FUN!

1. @onecentween Happy #pride, furiends,, we love you just the same! Photo by @bldhtx

2. @libbygraceandmaggiemae Happy Pride Month Y'all & Happy Pride Parade Day Houston!! Love is Love...Be Kind!

3. @lida_rose_and_her_mom Happy Best Friends Day! My Mother is my best friend and I’m hers so we will celebrate together. I hope we will have a cupcake but I’m not holding my breath.

4. @Luna_atlas_huskies Luna was soo gentle this time and her face on the last slide gets to my heart. We got this cookie at a local store in HTX @dextreats and honestly it looked so pretty to be eaten!

5. @texas_airedoodles Couple of shady ladies #haveshadewillsit

6. @htownzoe | what this song says/We LOVE @memorialparkconservancy

7. @duke_and_darla It’s too hot to do anything but sit poolside with a cold one!!!

Cute cookie from @dextreats

8. @slowpokes_htx Happy National Donut Day! Come in and celebrate with our cinnamon churro donuts! #htxeats #donuts #nationaldonutday #htxdonuts #houstondonuts #htownfood

9. @bambamthemaltipoo

Ready for some summer time shine #bambam #maltipoo #pettalk #pettalkmagazine #bluehair #mowhawk #love #summertime #whatadude #pettalkmagazine #houstondogs

2 4 5

8

3

Let's have a sleepover!

First Boarding night FREE.

PETSUITES THE WOODLANDS

8531 Hufsmith Rd, Tomball, TX 77375

Call 832.559.2957 | Text 832.559.0337 thewoodlands.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES LONG MEADOW

5535 Meadow Ranch Pkwy Houston, Texas 77407 Call 346.439.1897 | Text 346.415.4500 longmeadow.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES ATASCOCITA

17730 West Lake Houston Pkwy Humble, TX 77346 Call 346.415.4906 | Text 346.415.5100 atascocita.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES PEARLAND

3205 Kirby Dr, Pearland, TX 77584 Call 832.856.0353 | Text 832.856.0455 pearland.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES SPRING RAYFORD

2825 Canyon Ranch Dr Spring, TX 77386 Call 346.220.6310| Text 346.808.4548 springrayford.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES SUGAR LAND

20430 SW Fwy, Richmond, TX 77469 Call 832.365.3159 | Text 832.945.1555 sugarland.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES SPRING KLEIN 6525 Louetta Rd, Spring, TX 77379 Call 346.220.6310 | Text 346.808.4548 Klein.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES CYPRESS

13010 Wortham Center Dr Houston, TX 77065 Call 832.497.4135| Text 281.640.0053 cypress.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES WESTHEIMER

13440 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 Call 3462972663 | Text 3466463700 westheimer.petsuitesofamerica.com

PETSUITES MISSOURI CITY

8320 Copper Creek Lane Missouri City, TX 77459

Call 346.257.2807 | Text 346.245.5531 missouricity.petsuitesofamerica.com

By Michelle Mantor

PHILANTHROPY &Heroes

By

Giving of one’s time and treasure may sound cliche or even “easy” for those blessed to have resources to give, but I’ve been around many benevolent souls in animal welfare that take giving to a huge level…and believe me, it’s not anywhere near easy! Taking on the endeavor of philanthropy, as well as volunteerism, requires enormous passion and a tireless commitment.

MEET THE FAULKNERS

“The best philanthropy is not just about giving money but giving leadership. The best philanthropists bring the gifts that made them successful – the drive, the determination, the refusal to accept that something can’t be done.” This famous quote from British Prime Minister Tony Blair is spot on when describing the philanthropic, dynamic duo of Tracy and Harry Faulkner. Together, their fundraising, leadership and participation in bringing solutions to displaced, abused or neglected women, children and animals belies their determination to impact the greater good. It’s this exhaustive yet passionate drive to help others that compelled PetTalk to share their story in our Philanthropy & Heroes issue.

Twelve years ago, a chance meeting at a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society event turned into a match of fairy-tale proportions, as both Tracy and Harry were there to support a mutual friend, Brenda Cheney, at her Annual “Sip n’ Sail" for a Cure. As they perused the silent auction items, they began chatting and as they say, the rest was history! They married over a decade ago and have gone on to fill their years since that fateful night with a mutual motivation to devote their lives to family and philanthropic endeavors to support the community.

It has been said that charity is just writing checks while philanthropy is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting yourself and others really involved and doing things

Some may say that those with abundant financial resources only have to “write a check” but for many like our cover couple, Tracy and Harry Faulkner, that could not be further from the truth. They are much more actively involved through hosting fundraisers, chairing galas, and promoting other activities that raise awareness, funds and action toward a cause.

In this feature, we highlight many hard working souls who give so generously to the animals. Although we couldn’t possibly thank the many people who support animal welfare in our city, we wanted give you a little sample of the types of things people do, quietly, in our pet community. We hope they inspire you to thank those around you that take the time to GIVE or that you are inspired to join in!

that haven’t been done before. There is no doubt that the Faulkners dive passionately into the many causes they support, as evidenced by the recognition bestowed upon them from the Houston community. Both Tracy & Harry were LLS Man & Woman of the Year Candidates, with Harry placing 2nd in the 6-week campaign, having raised $127,000 with Tracy as his campaign manager. Collectively, they have been honored by St. Jude’s Children’s Research and The Indo-Asian Society as “Families of Philanthropy.” Separately, Tracy has received many awards and honors, most notably as a Woman of Distinction for the Crohns & Colitis Foundation and a Woman of Substance from The Mission of Yahweh, two of the most prestigious awards in the Houston charitable scene.

I met Tracy while communicating with her about the Unity For A Solution Gala, which she Co-Chaired with Angelita Sampaio, their Executive Director. As we discussed promoting the animal welfare extravaganza in PetTalk Magazine, I was immediately taken by her big smile and big heart as most are when they meet Tracy. And, the “vibe” of her and Harry’s home is no different. For our photoshoot, we arrived at their beautiful home with an instant greeting from the rag-tag group of rescues offering us warm noses and wagging tails. This very same group of furry paws has welcomed scores of guests to their home, which they have generously opened up for hundreds of fundraising

events. It’s no surprise that Tracy’s hashtag, (long before there was #) has always been, #PartyWithaPurpose. Every holiday, birthday and event has always been devoted to a local charity or cause. One of their favorite fundraisers is their annual, “BEADS for BARC” benefitting The Friends of BARC. This annual Mardi Gras Party with a Purpose (10 years straight) has raised thousands of dollars and brought in enough pet food and supplies to help keep the Friends of BARC running for months. Their love of this group began with the adoption of their original rescue, Rex, the scared and abused Rhodesian Ridgeback. It was while making a delivery of donations after their Mardi Gras party that they met their most recent rescue, Seizure Scotty, a black and white Border Collie, just like their other border collie Bo who was rescued from BARC and then adopted by the Faulkners. Scotty was their “Covid Canine” that they agreed to foster for another favorite of the Faulkners, RPM (Rescued Pets Movement.) Once Scotty had his first seizure, they knew he could not transport to Colorado and he became their forever pet too.

On the day of our photoshoot, it was the eve of the Unity For A Solution gala and Tracy’s home was filled with tables and tables of auction items, (most of which she donated) and all of which still needed to be transported to Hotel ZaZa and set up for the big event. Just looking around the room, I could palpably feel the amount of time, the phone calls, the organiz-

Photography: Photos on page 26 & 29

Allison Wilkins Photography

ing….essentially the exhausting work of putting together such a significant fundraiser, all to work toward solving Houston’s homeless pet problem. Soon after I arrived, I spotted the cutest pup I think I’ve ever seen running around their house. Tracy introduced me to this adorable nugget (the black and white pup seen in the photo opposite page) and explained that she was temporarily housing this puppy while she and a local rescue were working to find her just the right home. As if the Faulkner house did not have “enough going on” with the upcoming gala, they were also fostering a puppy whom they found during a Pop Up Adoption Event by Houston PetSet. Kudos to Tracy, Harry and their son Robby for opening their home to both humans and animals many times over to promote a cause or save a pet in need.

During my visit I also discovered more details about her and Harry’s background. In addition to being a professional philanthropist offering her time, talents and treasures to help women, children and animals, she’s also a real estate investor managing multiple homes in Memorial, a “flipper” and designer, and the proprietor and managing partner of Willow Winery – A Faulkner Family Vineyard. The couple purchased the 5th oldest working winery and vineyard with the best views on the Leelanau Peninsula, named the #2 Wine Region in the U.S. by USA Today in 2021. Since then, they’ve auctioned stays at their Vineyard VRBO to raise over $65,000 for local Houston charities. Yes, the Faulkners are ALWAYS giving! Spending the summer in Michigan rather than Houston sounds quite tempting and fortunately for Tracy, Harry and Robby, they get to do just that due to Harry’s position as one of the Founding Partners and CEO of Lambda Energy LLC, the largest energy provider in the great state of Michigan, with corporate offices in Houston and Michigan.

Despite chairing many galas together and

spending untold hours working on charitable causes, the couple makes sure they also devote themselves to their son, cheering him on at his LaCrosse matches or traveling. As Tracy puts it, “We love to travel, especially with Robby as our adventures serve as a chance to see the world, experience amazing opportunities and make memories to last a lifetime.”

Most recently, Tracy took Robby to Miami for Art Basel and then Hollywood for the Academy Awards, mostly because of the documentary she and Harry were Executive Producers of that was being considered for an award. For the documentary, the two traveled to Budapest for the making of “Surviving Sex Trafficking” and they helped raise funds and awareness for the two film-making monks, Sadvi Anubhuti and Sadvi Siddhali Shree. These same two filmmakers also produced a recently released documentary, “For the Animals” in conjunction with Houston PetSet, of which Tracy and Harry serve as Advisory Board Members.

Houston is fortunate to have many people that give back to our city, making H-Town a vibrant, dynamic place to call home. The generosity of those like Tracy and Harry Faulkner is what makes a group of random people a community. Without caring souls to help both humans and animals in need, our existence would be devoid of love and connection. The closing words of Tracy, as shared by Harry are, “We do not know where life will take us, but we do know we can make a difference in the lives of many by showing kindness and sharing our many blessings.”

In this issue of PetTalk, we celebrate ALL of those that give, as well as the beautiful example the Faulkners represent. Their drive, determination and desire to find a solution are the hallmarks of great philanthropy. We applaud their relentless body of work in helping create the strong fabric that makes Houston proud!

Tracy and Harry, along with son Robby, enjoy the beautiful view at Willow Winery – A Faulkner Family Vineyard.

HOUSTON

The act of volunteerism or the desire to help others and the world around you is a character trait that is extraordinarily valuable to society. Those that make major sacrifices of their time, resources, emotions and even their safety deserve our gratitude and a public acknowledgment of their life-changing work. For this issue, we asked the public to

Heroes

nominate a person or animal that had gone above and beyond to help animals or animals that had heroically helped humans. We thank those that submitted nominations and we hope you enjoy meeting (and maybe even being inspired by) this group of brave and compassionate souls that we are blessed to have in the Bayou City.

LUPE CASAS

SUBMITTED BY ALEXANDREA I.

Lupe cares about animals. She owns a business that is dedicated to funding her support with animal rescue (Furrever Doggies). She frequently picks up dogs and helps them find a rescue group and foster. Her persistence is unmatched when it comes to helping dogs. Lupe was featured on “The Dodo” regarding a dog she was able to capture here in Houston. While it took a long while, she was committed to getting him to trust her.

At her shop in East Downtown, she hosts a variety of events to raise money for local rescues. For Valentines’ Day, she hosted an event that supported a Bunny Rescue here in Houston. She absolutely has the biggest heart for animals and is the kindest soul. Being around her, you instantly feel like you’ve known her your whole life. She is loving, welcoming, and is the definition of philanthropic.

ESTELLE MACK

SUBMITTED BY LIZ G.

I have known Estelle for about 30 years, since she worked with my dad in the oil and gas industry, and she never ceases to amaze me. In a city ravaged by an out of control homeless dog and cat population, Estelle continually powers through all of the sadness and negativity to bring a voice to the voiceless. She is CONSTANTLY rescuing animals in need from the streets, or helping people like me find solutions for an animal in need. She rarely lets the stress get to her, as she has a single mission: to help. No matter what her situation, which is usually a homeless dog or cat covering every square inch of her home and the stress that comes with that, Estelle is ALWAYS available to assist others who need help finding a place for a homeless pet or helping to market them on social media. I really don’t know how she does it!

JENNY MOORE

SUBMITTED BY KELLY R.

Jenn started My Chi & Me Rescue and has done so many amazing things for the animals of Harris/Montgomery County. This woman not only runs this rescue, she works full time, has 2 small kids and a husband. People really have no idea what Jenn does on a weekly basis. She takes care of very sick dogs if needed, manages a foster based program so the dogs she rescues have a home to decompress. She is up at 5am every Thursday doing a dog transport to her rescue partner in NY. There are so many things she does to amaze me that I’m proud to be her friend and helper in the rescue. She rarely ever asks for donations. She runs My Chi like a business and is honest, empathetic and does all she can to help thousands of dogs a year. There is no one more deserving than her of this recognition. I’m in awe of what she does!

CYNTHIA VASQUEZ LONG-PACE

SUBMITTED BY TERRY M.

I met Cynthia a few years ago when a feral cat in my neighborhood had kittens. I caught the mom and to my surprise, one of her kittens. Someone referred us to Cynthia and she helped me with the next steps. At that point she was just a woman with a passion.

From there, The Sunshine Fund (TheSunshineFund.net) developed from one woman's passion to a 501c3 rescue that has made a significant impact saving the lives of many cats and kittens. Of the many things Cynthia does for rescue, some of them include:

» Goes into cat communities to support TNR

» Takes in the cats that other's won't – the tiny, sick or injured cats

» Saves cats from shelters

» Took cats when another rescue had to close

» Finds homes for her “wards”

» Works with other rescue organizations

» Loves on each of the furbabies who have entered her rescue

She does all of this work for the felines as well as the fundraising necessary to pay for the work she does. And, the kitten she took from us, we ended up adopting him and the buddy he made at Cynthia's rescue!

EMILY DANIELS

SUBMITTED BY PAM A.

Emily is 100% the #1 volunteer for every Houston shelter, mostly BARC, Rescued Pets Movement and the strays/lost dogs of Houston, primarily Northside.  I nominated Emily (superwoman,) because she is hands down the most empathetic human I’ve ever met. She drops everything in the middle of whatever she is doing to volunteer for whatever is needed. Once she has her eyes on an animal that needs saving, she follows through with not only trapping/ catching, but scooping strays off the streets following their cases all the way to a rescue, even fostering to save them from euthanasia. If your pet has gone astray, she is like Ace Ventura Pet Detective moving mountains to find them. I met her on Nextdoor years ago when we teamed up to help a neighbor who worked long hours in Houston's ER. They lost their small dog who had been missing for weeks. Emily printed out flyers, put them up everywhere, talked to several people in the area to find this dog. When she did, it was a days-long chase and when Emily finally cornered the dog, she was bitten and bleeding but shrugged it off. The dog was returned and her job was fulfilled. This is just ONE teeny example of how she spends literally every day since then. Many people see her in action DAILY helping so many. Every. Single. Day.

ERLINDA SHEN SUBMITTED BY JANET P.

I met Erlinda, a foster and bunny wrangler with Houston Rabbit Resource. through rabbit rescue and she is such an amazing caring person. She will drop everything and go out of her way to help an animal or person in need. She is the kind of person that needs to learn to say no LOL! But, this is what makes her so special and a huge asset to our community.

Erlinda is a US Army Veteran, she has had her share of interesting and fulfilling callings. However nothing has been quite as fulfilling as saving rabbits and educating people on their proper care.

Erlinda has 4 therapy rabbits that are heroes as well! Find them at HoustonRabbitResource.org. She takes her rabbits everywhere she can and helps those who could use some comfort.

After the Santa Fe shooting, Erlinda felt the pull to do something for the first responders and survivors. So she packed up her car and her rabbits, and made the drive. When she got there and unpacked, the rabbits became the center of attention almost immediately. You could feel the amount of joy and comfort she brought to an area that really needed it.

She also created a foster page where she posts about her foster buns on Facebook (The Hoppening)  and her personal Daily Bunny Memes to bring cheer and education.

GARY POON SUBMITTED BY ANGELINA S.

Gary Poon is a tireless advocate for animals and pet owners. He has spent the last 23 years at the Houston Humane Society (HHS) working to prevent cruelty and abuse of animals, to promote humane treatment, to reduce animal overpopulation and to keep pets and pet owners together for their mutual health and wellbeing. Before becoming CEO, Gary contributed to every department at HHS, including serving as finance director. He utilizes his skills in nonprofit management, financial management, strategic planning, and business strategy to position HHS for success.

Gary’s contributions to animals and pet owners in Houston are too numerous to list. For example, he led the development of a Pet Pantry food assistance program at HHS that has, since its inception in 2020, delivered more than 4.2 million nutritious meals to pet owners needing food assistance to keep their pets healthy. Some seniors, emotionally dependent on their pets, cannot afford to provide medical care such as vaccines, flea and heartworm treatment, spay/neuter, microchip, and general wellness exams. Gary forged a partnership with Meals on Wheels/ Animeals enabling HHS to provide full-service veterinary care for pets of homebound seniors. Committed to fighting the inhumane treatment of animals, Gary expanded partnerships with law enforcement in Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties to investigate and fight animal cruelty. Also under Gary’s guidance, HHS offers low-cost veterinary services and operates a successful pet adoption program. In 2022, HHS performed 9,424 spay/ neuter surgeries, provided veterinary and other services for more than 35,000 animals, and helped 3,000 animals find their forever homes through adoption.

KAPPY MUENZER SUBMITTED BY FREDDY C.

Kappy has worked in the field of animal protection for forty-one years. She began her work in 1974 as a volunteer and founded CAP’s adoption program in 1975. She was one of the four founders of the first CAP Shelter which opened in 1981. Kappy served as Board President for almost ten years. In 1985 the Board of Directors appointed her as Executive Director of CAP. She has also served as Coordinator and Co-Coordinator of CAP’s Celebrity Paws Gala since it’s inception in 1986. Additionally, she served for thirty years on the board of the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) and she served on the board of directors of the Texas Federation of Animal Care Services (TFACS) for two years.

In Houston's animal advocacy community, Kappy Muenzer needs no introduction. She's a legend. A pioneer in how we treat animals. Can you imagine how many lives this lady has saved through her actions and those of her colleagues? Or, that she and they had the foresight to create a place like Citizens for Animal Protection? When the homeless animal problem eventually dwindles down to nonexistent, she will have played a critical role.

In February, 2015, she was honored by her colleagues and peers from across the state with the Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the Texas Federation of Animal Care Services. There is no doubt she is a hero to the animals and the community!

KRISTA LABORDE SUBMITTED BY ALEXIS H.

Krista LaBorde is a PharmD Candidate at UH-College of Pharmacy currently in an internship program. The program is so rigorous and time consuming and financially hard on everyone, yet Krista still finds the time to foster dogs for local rescues! She fostered 4 dogs at one point, while on rotations and working. She’s helped to rehabilitate so many dogs and help them on their way to forever homes. She currently works with a small rescue in the little free time she has all WHILE fostering. The woman is incredible. She organizes fundraising and does social media campaigns for her current rescue organization and she’s known to spend her time walking her current foster dog at farmers markets and community events in pursuit of forever homes. She’s also known for creating TikTok’s about her foster dogs that has facilitated numerous out-of-state adoptions. She’s even rescued her own two pets as well! On top of all of this, Krista frequently volunteers in the community at health fairs. She’s a published researcher having completed and presented on many topics. As a Louisiana transplant, Krista has made a major impact in the lives of Houston’s pets and families in the short time she’s been here!

Photo by Gittings Photography

LAURA MCCONNELL SUBMITTED BY DAMARIS W.

Laura McConnell founded Lone Star Animal Welfare League in 2004, a nonprofit organization that initially focused on saving Labradors from shelters and the streets of Montgomery County and surrounding areas. However, throughout recent years, LSAWL saw the need to assist pet owners with finding resources to help them keep their pets instead of surrendering them to an overcrowded shelter. She found that people wanted to keep their pets but realized how costly vetting can be so LSAWL started providing vouchers in 2015 and since has started the “Fixing Montgomery County Program" which is now a 2-day event each month held to assist with spay and neuter, vaccinations, and microchips. Each year the number grows, just in 2021 a total of 911 pets were fixed and as of 2023, the number of pets is at 398. Not only does LSAWL assist with low cost spay and neuter for pet owners in Montgomery County but they also provide low-cost options to residents outside the county. LSAWL has also sponsored surgical supplies to Harris County Pets, donated or assisted with low cost spay and neuter with Laurel’s House, This is Houston, Meals on Wheels, and more.

MELISSA MELVIN

SUBMITTED BY PHYLLIS B.

Since 2012, Melissa Melvin has spearheaded a group of dedicated volunteers to tend to the dumped dogs at Melrose Park (a city of Houston park located across the street from the Harris County Animal Shelter). She runs a group called Melrose Park Neglected Dogs. These dogs are left there assuming the shelter across the street will pick them up. Because the park is city property, the county shelter won’t take those dogs as they fall outside their jurisdiction. Melissa relies on rescues to help take in these dogs to provide them safety, vetting and future homes. Melissa will also reach out to BARC to assist, but their abilities are limited by space available in the city shelter. Melissa does her best to post pictures of the dogs in a timely manner, while also working full time. Most of her time is spent with the dogs on the weekend. These dogs are all sizes and breeds and come with a variety of medical issues. She always gets them vetted, spayed/ neutered before going to a rescue or she will raise funds to send with the dog to the new rescue. She relies totally on donations.

VOLUNTEERS FOR BARC’S URGENT PETS

SUBMITTED BY HILARY K.

Rather than nominating just one person, I had to nominate the entire, hard-working group of dedicated volunteers that help network homeless pets on the euthanasia list at BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions. Euthanasia of healthy animals at our local shelters is, unfortunately, unavoidable due to the overpopulation crisis. At BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions, between 10 and 50 dogs and cats are on the euthanasia list each day. The Volunteers for BARC’s Urgent Pets visit these at-risk animals daily, taking photos and gathering biographical information to drum up interest for adopters, fosters, and rescues. They bring props for the dogs to pose in, like bandanas or bows, to help show off their personalities. They bring the dogs special treats to get those tails wagging. In just one day (June 1, 2023), their volunteer work saved 38 of 40 animals slotted for euthanasia. It is because of their efforts that BARC’s save rate is over 80% every month. In addition to their life-saving work, they raise money for rescues and collect pet essentials, like food and toys, for fosters who need supplies. Many of the volunteers have pets and fosters of their own, but they still show up every day for the animals who need humans most.

YUVAANH (YUVI) AGARWAL

SUBMITTED BY LAURA FD.

Yuvaanh (Yuvi) Agarwal, a soon-to-be fifth grader at The Village School, a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade private day and boarding school in Houston's Energy Corridor, loves music and dogs. He wanted to combine his passions, so he came up with the idea of launching "Wild Tunes," musical therapy for shelter animals.

After conducting some research, Yuvi learned about the soothing effect music can have on the anxiety level of animals. He discovered that music - especially classical, soft rock, jazz, and country - can reduce cortisol levels in animals, slowing their heartbeat and decreasing their stress levels, which is especially important for shelter animals who have been abandoned or rescued because of abusive owners.

His goal is to help animals be less anxious and help them re-adapt to humans. Each week, his mom, Priyanka, takes him to Houston Pets Alive, where Yuvi plays soft, rhythmic music on his keyboard or kalimba, for dogs at the shelter. She credits The Village School with teaching Yuvi the importance of coming up with an idea, developing a plan to make it happen, and then putting it into action.

Yuvi’s vision for “Wild Tunes” is to take it to as many shelters as possible and get more children on board with the initiative.

K9 KARL

SUBMITTED BY SERGEANT LEBRITTON WINGARD

As a Sergeant with the Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct assigned to the K-9 and Patrol Division, I am an active K-9 handler. For over 3 years, I’ve had the absolute pleasure to be paired with K9 Karo, a 7-year-old male Belgium Malinois. K9 Karo is a dual-purpose canine certified in Narcotic Detection and trained for Tracking.

He enjoys his training time, and he loves performing at school demonstrations for the kids. He is not camera

shy and actually poses for pictures. Although K9 Karo does not wear a superhero cape, he is definitely a hero to me. I recall a traffic stop on a SUV that made a few traffic infractions while exiting the highway onto a service road. K9 Karo knows when the emergency lights and sirens are initiated, and his excitement level rises because he knows it is an opportunity that he’ll get to work.

The SUV was occupied by two individuals. After further investigation, it was determined I would be deploying Karo. We exited the patrol vehicle and Karo was vocally excited, barking loudly and announcing his arrival. I deployed K9 Karo on an open-air sniff around the SUV and Karo gave an alert to the odor of narcotics. He was rewarded with his Kong and put away into the patrol vehicle. During the PC (probable cause) search of the vehicle, a medium sized cardboard box covered with brown tape was located inside of the SUV. The cardboard box was taken out of the vehicle and placed on the ground away from the SUV and K9 Karo was deployed on the box alone. Karo alerted to the cardboard as well for the odor of narcotics.

The contents of the cardboard box revealed a large heavily taped block of compressed white powder and a smaller taped package with small light blue pills inside. The two individuals admitted to deputies that the large heavily taped block was a kilo of the deadly narcotic Fentanyl and the package of pills (412 grams) were in fact Fentanyl as well in the quantity of 5000.

The two individuals were arrested and charged with Felony PCS – Possession Control Substance with Intent to Manufacture and Delivery. This case is significant for K9 Karo because the narcotics were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for testing. The results of the narcotics testing were the narcotics submitted was NOT Fentanyl. It was confirmed as Carfentanil, which by definition is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and large mammals. It is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than Fentanyl. It is often mixed in with other drugs such as Heroin, Cocaine, or Crystal Meth. K9 Karo saved many lives that day by getting those dangerous drugs off the streets all while doing what he loves to do, with many more drug busts that followed.

SUBMITTED BY DEPUTY ANDREW BLAUSER

On November 23rd 2017, Trooper Damon Allen was working Interstate 45 near Fairfield Texas on Thanksgiving Day when he spotted a Blue Chevrolet Malibu that contained the coward Dabbrett Black. After initiating a traffic stop, Trooper Allen then returned to his patrol vehicle. Black then produced a AK-47 style rifle and shot Trooper Allen in his patrol car and then fled from the scene.

A statewide “Be On The Lookout” (BOLO) advisory was transmitted and although the car containing Black was a different color, Waller County Sergeant Stephen Tucker spotted the license plate matching the BOLO information. A military veteran and a seasoned Patrol supervisor, Sgt. Tucker knew, more than likely Dabrett Black was still armed.

Next, Black exited US 290 and proceeded to a rural area north of Prairie View. Sgt. Tucker followed and called for back up. Suddenly, Black brought his vehicle to a stop on a gravel driveway and produced the same AK-47 style rifle and pointed it at Sgt. Tucker and squeezed the trigger. Sgt. Tucker returned fire on Dabrett Black at the driver side of his patrol vehicle.

Unbeknownst to Sgt. Tucker at the time, Black had received a wound to the shin and had fled to the tree line. Soon after, State Trooper Mike Mathes arrived to assist and also returned fire on Black.

Sgt. Tucker and Trooper Mathes quickly figured out that Black was no longer in the vehicle. While all this was occurring, I was off work awaiting my newborn to arrive any day, while also enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with family. I had heard of the murder of Trooper Allen earlier in the afternoon. I then got a call from an individual who didn’t even work at my Sheriff’s Office and asked if I was okay because they had heard about shots being fired in Waller County. I immediately turned on my radio and heard Sgt. Tucker requesting a K9. At the time K9 Odin was the only K9 in

Waller County. I quickly got my things together and loaded Odin up.

Prairie View is some 25 miles away from my home and by now, the scene had an estimated 500 officers creating a containment perimeter, providing additional K9s, Tac Units etc. I was quickly briefed that Dabrett Black had been spotted hiding between some haybales. It was also unclear if Black still possessed any weapons on his person. It was then determined to challenge Dabrett Black with a squad of officers to prevent him from heading further into the brush. There was about 100 yards and a barbed wire fence between the team

of officers and Black. K9 Odin had found a hole under the barbed wire fence. I released him and he immediately engaged Black on his right forearm. Black didn’t scream or make a sound. Odin held the bite until SWAT Operators could detain him. When Black was questioned he admitted that the only reason he stopped shooting at the police is because his gun jammed.

Afterward, we left the scene and returned home to a very anxious but relieved family.

Odin attended Trooper Allen’s funeral and was a great comfort to the grieving widow and children. He continues to be heroic each and every day.

"The BEST Way yo Find Yourself Is To Lose Yourself In The Service of Others."

Mahatma Ghandi

"A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” Jack London

"A HeroIs Someone Who Voluntarily Walks Into The Unkown."

Tom Hanks

Volunteering Is A Work Of Heart

"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace."

“Nobody was born a hero and no one can inherit heroism; but you become a hero when your whole life has been a sacrifice for others.”

Bruce Mbanzabugabo

"It’s not how much we give, but how much we put into giving."

Mother Teresa

Albert Schweitzer

HOLLYWOOD FEED: PURR-FECTION!

In the last lazy days of summer, why not get indoors and shop for your kitty? Your feline friend will love you even more when you bring home these purr-fectly awesome products from Hollywood Feed. Shop at one of their Houston stores, or if you prefer to shop at home with your kitty purring away in your lap, shop online at HollywoodFeed.com.

TREAT ME LIKE ROYALTY

Fussie Cat Tuna with Shrimp Purée is love at first lick!

Creamy in texture and rich in taste, this indulgent, flavorsome puree will make even the fussiest of cats demand more. Easy to feed, this cat treat offers essential vitamin E for your cat’s diet to support healthy skin and coat.

LET'S GO FOR A SPIN

Spin About features a spontaneous spinning feather wand, laser beam that randomly blinks on and off, and it holds and erratically dispenses treats. Keeps cats entertained…it’s a ball of fun, all in one!

LITTER-ALLY NO SCOOPING!

Never scoop again® with Litter-Robot 4, the newest, quietest, self-cleaning litter box for cats. Litter-Robot 4 features advanced litter-sifting technology, real-time monitoring and health insights, and odor neutralization, alongside a sleek, compact design.

LET IT FLOW

The PetSafe® Drinkwell® 2 Gallon Pet Fountain uses a carbon and foam filter to remove bad tastes and odors from your pet’s water, keeping it fresh. Kitties will enjoy free-falling water with adjustable flow control. Choose from nearly silent circulation to a tranquil stream.

Photography By Prudence

HealthyHounds

DOG BREATH DENTAL CHEWS & POWDER

Fight bad breath and tartar build-up for immediate and long-term support for your dog with this vet-formulated innovation for a simple (and delicious) daily dental routine. No hassle. No stress. A real treat. . Freshens breath, helps kill bacteria and supports the oral microbiome. Simply add to water or add to food. Get yours at Herbsmithinc.com.

ONLY THE BEST FOR YOUR PUP

Treat your dog like Royalty! These luxury artisan treats are made from the finest all-natural ingredients, making them a healthy indulgence. Handmade in small batches in the USA, 100% natural, corn-free, wheat-free, non-GMO ingredients with no artificial coloring or preservatives. Find an assortment of flavors at PUCCICafe.com or visit them in LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch.

SOFT N' SILKY

Spoil your pooch with a spa day! This pH-balanced conditioner combines fresh cucumber with sun-ripened melon and a blend of soothing aloe and oatmeal extract. Specialty formulated with hydrolyzed collagen, wheat amino acids and soybean oil to help leave your pup’s coat healthy, shiny and soft. Find conditioners, shampoo and more at PUCCICafe.com.

JOINT VENTURE

SquarePet® VFS Active Joints has been designed by SquarePet’s team of veterinary professionals to support joint health.  VFS Active Joints is a high protein diet made with natural and bioavailable sources of glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate, enhanced levels of the omega 3 fatty acids DHA & EPA and fortified with antioxidants to combat oxidative stress.  SqaurePet is a Texas company! Purchase yours at MySquarePet.com.

Crazy Times In Animal ER

6 Weird Things That Dogs Have Swallowed

Many dogs consider anything that looks or smells enticing to be a tasty treat. As emergency veterinarians, we have found that in some dogs, practically everything is on the menu. Whether motivated by curiosity, hunger or an insatiable need to chew, some dogs manage to swallow some bizarre things. Probably because dogs explore their world by mouthing, tasting, and chewing, as a result, some swallowed objects that got them into trouble. If an inedible object is small enough and somewhat round, it will often pass through the pet’s system, while others need surgical intervention. These six canines have taken the art of eating to a whole new level.

1. MAKING A WISH…

A 5-month old Whippet kept gulping like she was trying to dislodge something in her throat. Her family noticed this and brought her in. Upon diagnosing, we found a long and narrow fairy wand belonging to their child running across the dogs entire frame. In surgery the wand was removed and their beloved pet "magically" had a full recovery.

2. CHANNEL CHANGING EXPERIENCE

A family brought in their Bull Mastiff with an unusual problem: they were concerned that this hungry giant was not eating any dinner. After an X-Ray, we discovered why...he had eaten their TV’s remote control. It was successfully removed and as a result, he lost his TV privileges.

3. RUBBER DUCKY YOUR THE ONE…OR FIVE!

A family kept replacing the baby’s bath time rubber ducky until Mom watched their dog steal the latest duck right out of the bathtub and swallow it! After a trip to the emergency room, the family was shocked to find not one, but five, rubber duckies in their pet’s stomach.

4. WHO’S CALLING?

Today technology is all around us, but a few years back, we had a family come in with an alarming situation: their pup had eaten an iPhone. After X-Rays revealed the problem, we had to make the call for surgery and remove the obstruction. Luckily we were able to remove the phone with little problem, but, without help, it could have been a close call.

5. DOG PROOF PILL BOTTLE

One adventurous pup stole an entire bottle of pain pills that had been sitting on a bathroom counter. The owners were frantic thinking so much medication would certainly be fatal. After removing the bottle, we found that the bottle with a child proof cap had remained intact and all of the pills were safe and untouched in the bottle.

6. NOT SO HAPPY HOLIDAY

A Golden Retriever was brought in around the holidays. Turns out that she had swallowed a holiday ornament. Fortunately it was a hallmark Grinch figurine and not a glass bulb. We were able to remove the Grinch just in time to save Christmas for the family.

Luckily, all of these pups made a full recovery from their gastronomic adventures, but it’s a good reminder that if your dog swallows dangerous materials, get them to a vet! The best course in preventing your dog from swallowing dangerous items is to choose dog-safe toys that can’t be chewed into tiny pieces. Obstructions can become a medical emergency that costs you money and could even cost your pet its life.

Feline Pain

How Do I Know If My Cat Is Hurting?

Pain is the number one condition that families want to avoid for their pets. The hard part for many people is knowing when their pet is in pain. This is especially true for cats. Although there are differences between species, mammals all have the same basic nervous system. Therefore, if something were to cause pain to a human being, then it is going to cause pain in our cats and dogs as well. However, how they exhibit that pain can be harder to differentiate.

Cats are notoriously good at hiding pain. Even though our cat friends are domesticated, they still have a strong instinct to hide pain so that they are not perceived as weak by predators. So, if this is the case, then how are their human family members going to know when their cat is in pain?

Cats tell us a lot about themselves based on how they move in their environment, how they interact with other animals, and how they interact with their human family. Most importantly, cats give us hints

Erica Sandberg, DVM, CHPV BluePearl Pet Hospice PetHospice.BluePearlVet.com

about pain with their facial expressions.    Environment: Watching your cat walk around the house can tell you a lot about their comfort. Is your cat playing with toys? Are they stretching and grooming themselves? Are they jumping up to their favorite spot on the windowsill or piece of furniture? If they are not doing these things, then they may be in pain.

Interactions with other animals: Some cats really like their housemates, while other cats would rather be alone. Knowing your cat’s normal behavior with the other animal housemates is important. If some of these interactions are changing, then it is time to consider that your cat is not feeling well.

Interactions with human family: The same goes for how your kitty spends time with you. Are they still seeking affection? Are they hiding or spending more time in new areas of your home? Are they avoiding touch in certain areas of their body? Are they being more affectionate than usual? Changes in behavior with human family members can be a sign of illness or pain in cats.

Facial expression and posture: A cat’s facial expression and body posture can reveal a lot about their level of pain. The Feline Grimace Scale (felinegrimaces-

cale.com) is an incredibly helpful tool that families, and their veterinary teams, can use to determine whether a cat is in pain. Cats that are comfortable will have perky, forward-facing ears, circular eyes, a relaxed muzzle and/or their head extended away from their body. Cats that are in pain will have flattened ears pointing more towards the side of their head, squinted eyes, a tense muzzle and/or their chin downwards toward their chest.

It is important for the cat’s human family to look at their cat’s facial expression when they are at home since some of these characteristics may change when they are taken to their veterinarian. The car ride and the smells and sounds of the veterinary office can cause enough of an adrenaline rush that subtle signs of pain in cats may not be present when the veterinarian examines your cat. Taking photos and videos of your cat at home can be very beneficial for the veterinary team when it may be difficult to assess what is happening with your kitty.

Resource: Feline Grimace Scale website FelineGrimaceScale.com.

CALLING ALL SPOILED FELINES

Houston’s Newest Cattery At Premier Pet Resort: Prestonwood Kennels Opens “Kitty Cottage”

By Michelle Mantor, Photos: Photography By Prudence

If you’ve been wishing for a unique, cozy, well-designed cattery to board your precious feline while you’re away, then your wish has come true! As with all things at Prestonwood Kennels, this latest addition to their premier pet resort once again belies the thorough and imaginative extent to which owner Guinnette Peebles will go to provide the best for pets at her facility.

Dubbed the "Kitty Cottage", this may very well be the only indoor-outdoor cattery with access doors and an expertly designed enclosed catio for individual kitty use in the Bayou City. No doubt this place is feline nirvana offering the best of both worlds: a safe place to rest for an afternoon nap in their own suite replete with a climbing structure, a window sill for gazing outdoors, circulating drinking water and a cozy bed for snoozing, OR, the option of investigating their exterior enclosure via a self-opening door to enjoy the outdoors. Taking the experience one step further, boarding guests can

also explore the large outdoor play area with multiple climbing and nesting opportunities on an individual basis. Cats that are not from the same household are never mixed together and proper veterinary protocol for vaccinations are required. Staff will take cats separately to the catio play area and let them enjoy the spacious area filled with enrichment opportunities. This amazing amenity is currently offered at no extra cost for boarding clients as an introductory offer. Yes, for just a mere $35 per night, your cat can live in absolute luxury with a caring and friendly staff watching over them.

Of the 11 suites to choose from, the largest suite not only has a climbing structure, but also boasts a large oak branch for extra options to perch and climb. Every detail is impressive in Kitty Cottage, from the suites to the climbing ladders and “jungle” atmosphere of the catio.

When it comes to boarding cats, too often cats are left alone during vacations or a business trip with nothing more than an untrained

neighbor checking on them once per day. While cats may seem to be stressed when not at home, they are much better off with trained professionals keeping an eye on them and alleviating the many problems that could occur including escape from the house, not getting enough food or water, not getting medical attention in a timely manner, and most of all, not being stimulated and having no ability to socialize.

Thankfully, Prestonwood Kennels has created a great option for discerning cat owners to board their pet in a safe, fun, yet peaceful environment. And, if you have dogs as well, Prestonwood Kennels has been boarding, grooming, and delighting dogs in their stateof-the-art facility for 20 years. So next time you need to leave town and your furry friends can’t come along, give Prestonwood Kennels a call… because they truly have it all!

PRESTONWOOD KENNELS LUXURY FACILITY OFFERS:

» 5-acre Campus with owner living onsite

» Indoor/Outdoor Dog Boarding; separate for Small & Large dogs

» Dog Daycare

» Palapa Covered Swimming Pool

» Full-Service Grooming Spa

» Back-up Generator

» 24-Hour Security

» Strict Sanitation Protocol

Located at 13302 Schroeder Rd, Houston, TX 77070 near Willowbrook Mall, just off HWY. 249. 281-890-9090

PrestonwoodKennels.com

Pool photo by Evin Thayer Studios

Dogslife Charity

Helping Ease The Financial Burden of Canine Cancer

Mary has lived alone in a retirement community since her husband died four years ago. Heidi, her loyal canine companion, keeps her company. “She makes it fun to come home and she helps to keep me more active. I can’t imagine life without her and I love her dearly.”

Christina’s sister asked her to care for Bones a few months before she succumbed to Lupus. “Bones is like a child to me and a brother to my girls. While he’s here, it’s like a part of [my sister] is still here with us.”

Whispy met Pierre when he was eight weeks old and they have been inseparable ever since. “We’ve been through good and bad times together. He goes everywhere I go. I am a single mother of two daughters who have never lived a life without him.”

Patrick was diagnosed with advanced heart failure in 2017 at the age of 34 and,

byline

By Matt Stone, Dogslife Board Chair Dogslife.org, contactus@dogslife.org

in 2020, was told he only had six to eight more months to live. Through everything, Leo, Patrick’s beagle, remained at his side. “Leo nuzzled up close comforting me when I feel too sick to get out of bed and encouraging me to get up and take him on his walk. I am convinced the only reason I will be able to celebrate my 39th birthday is in large part due to my partner and best friend, Leo.”

To many, including these pup parents, a dog is not just a pet, but a cherished member of the family who provides comfort, companionship, and unconditional love. However, as each of these families found out, canine cancer, a very common diagnosis, costs on average between six and eight thousand dollars to treat. Unfortunately, this is a price tag that many families and individuals, including Mary, Christina, Whispy, and Patrick, simply are unable to afford.

Dogslife gives families in this situation somewhere to turn.

Dogslife’s mission is to help families with financial challenges afford critical cancer treatment for their beloved dogs. In just over four years, Dogslife has awarded

approximately $500,000 in grants for canine cancer treatment to Texas families. Grant recipients are selected through an application and interview process, which involves the applicant, the dog’s primary veterinarian, and the diagnosing boardcertified veterinary oncologist. Dogslife gathers information about the applicant’s financial situation, as well as information related to his or her dog’s medical history, cancer diagnosis, and treatment recommendation/quoted cost. All applications are reviewed via a standardized review process, and a determination of funding is made. Once a grant is awarded, payments are made directly to the treating veterinary provider(s).

Dogslife was founded in Dallas, but recently expanded to Houston! On June 22nd, Dogslife hosted its inaugural Houston fundraising event, Paws for Applause – a giving dinner and live auction at Hotel Zaza, Museum District. The event raised over $100,000 that will go directly toward saving dogs’ lives!

To learn more about Dogslife, go to dogslife.org or follow @dogslifeorg on Facebook or Instagram.

Photo provided by Sand N Sea

The most visible impacts of plastic debris are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles mistake plastic waste for prey; most then die of starvation as their stomachs become filled with plastic.

Why I Love

By: Michelle Mantor

By Prudence

By: Photography

WHY I LOVE ANIMALS

JOURNEY UNDER THE SEA AT HOUSTON ZOO’S GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS EXHIBIT

If you’ve not heard about the remarkable new exhibit, Galápagos Islands, that recently opened at the Houston Zoo, then let me be the first to tell you that it’s well worth your time to see the amazing wildlife and beautifully designed landscapes. The first major exhibit of its kind, visitors are immersed in a place that evokes the environment of the one place on earth where unique species reside in a delicately balanced ecosystem. And, one that has a pressing need for conservation! By showcasing such an environment, visitors will hopefully come away in awe of the archipelago’s wonders that need our protection (primarily due to plastic waste). Not all animals in the exhibit hail from the Galápagos Islands, which are just off the coast of Ecuador, but they are similar and therefore great “ambassadors”.

Of major importance to Houstonians is the fact the exhibit is more than 90% temperature controlled, making it the perfect spot to view wildlife in comfort. On this particular trip, we photographed and learned about the aquatic life residing in One Ocean Aquarium. In future issues, we will also highlight some of the other species in the exhibit includ-

ing California sea lions and Humboldt penguins (which I am so excited to meet!). The aquarium viewing area spans 40 ft. of clear acrylic revealing the coral reef structures and a tumble of volcanic boulders. Nearly 600 individually fabricated corals representing eight different species found in the ocean surrounding the Galápagos Islands provide niches within the 290,000-gallon habitat where green sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks, cownose stingrays, bonehead sharks and colorful fish swim. I was particularly enamored with Bobby the sea turtle and a cute little puffer fish that kept swimming by as if to say, “look at me”…which was so cool!

While waiting for our photographer to set up, I was able to just stand in awe of the beauty of these marine animals. The array of colors on the fish was beautiful to see but the real joy was the peacefulness of watching the seemingly effortless way the animals move and float in the water. It’s a great place to come sit, stay and decompress if you need a stress reliever!

To learn more about the Galápagos Islands exhibit, visit HoustonZoo.org for ticket information and schedule. Zoo staff is on hand at various times throughout the day to offer “mini lessons” on a variety of species and topics.

Animals is a monthly feature written by our Editor with the mission of educating the public on the value of all species.

Photos

Conservation Corner

Rare Endangered Bird Hatches at Houston Zoo

By: Jessica Reyes HoustonZoo.org

As appreciative supporters of nature and wildlife, we at Houston PetTalk want to promote education and conservation of the world’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. This issue, we highlight endangered bird conservation at the zoo. Look for other upcoming conservation stories so that you too can help save a species.

The Houston Zoo is thrilled to announce the hatching of a rare curassow chick and its important significance. This is the first time in almost 30 years that a wattled curassow hatchling is being raised by its parents at the Zoo. Wattled curassows are an endangered species, and each hatch is significant. The current zoo population consists of only 25 birds across five organizations within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and six of those birds live at Houston Zoo. Guests can see the rare new hatchling staying close to its parents in the Savanna Aviary inside South America’s Pantanal.

Wattled curassows are a very rare bird from the Amazon rainforest and can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Their numbers in the wild are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, hunting, and predation. Parent-rearing this curassow species is not common within AZA organizations but has become more common in the past three to four years. Keepers were happy to observe the father of this hatchling sitting by the nest as the hen incubated without any signs of aggression and attributed that to the successful hatching. For the past 20 years, Houston Zoo has been one of the top zoos to successfully breed wattled curassow chicks and increase the numbers of the endangered spe-

cies in human care.

The last time Houston Zoo had a parentreared wattled curassow chick was in 1994. At the time she was the only parent-reared wattled curassow, and the egg was removed from the parents and hatched in a hatcher before being put back under parents. That bird is retired as she is the second oldest living bird in this population at almost 29 years old and currently lives off exhibit.

With this species the males have white feathers and the iconic wattles and knobs, indicative of their name. It’s easiest tell females apart from the males by red, brown coloration on their feathers. Wattled curassows are distinct vocally

By:

Photos

Houston Zoo

and produce a whistling that can be easily identified. By visiting Houston Zoo, guests are helping to save wild birds, like the curassows in South America. A portion of each Zoo membership and ticket helps the Zoo provide support for replanting trees in South America. The Zoo is also helping birds by serving Bird Friendly® coffee. Bird Friendly coffees are grown in a way that provides shelter and a variety of foods for birds and other wildlife. Bird Friendly® coffee farms rank just beneath virgin rainforest in terms of their importance as habitat for wild birds.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

At PetTalk, we value our sponsors who make our publication possible. Without them, PetTalk would not exist as a FREE resource to our pet community. We want to give our readers an opportunity to know them a bit better. Each issue, we highlight a Q&A with a sponsor and in this issue, we introduce you to:

Club Canine Houston, 4703 Rose St, Houston, TX 77007 281-389-8175 ClubCanineHouston.com

hunt retriever work. We offer both private and group instruction.

We are experts with puppies and early development to help owners prevent undesirable behavior from being learned as well as rehabbing some of the most severe aggression and anxiety cases the city and surrounding states have brought to us.

3. What is your training philosophy?

with the ones who started off with social limitations. Again, training skills of good decision making and self control is an absolute.

5. What makes Club Canine unique?

Many things but certainly our depth of experience in this area of canine behavior and obedience and what we've achieved over 60+yrs.of family history and serving the city of Houston since 1999.

1. Tell us a little history about how Club Canine came to be.

Club Canine materialized in 2010 and opened in 2011. The Thinking Dog Training system brand and services had already been established since 2000 in the Houston area. Operating our training services out of the first and largest dog daycare in Houston, we quickly experienced many dogs failing out of the traditional daycare setting for behavior issues.

We began enrolling these dogs and owners into our behavior and obedience program to help them with their various challenges and it was at this point the concept came to be. Why not take the collection of failing dogs, train them and then re-introduce social settings with trained dogs, where continuity of rules and protocols created self control and stability, and let these dogs socialize together under the guidance of a qualified trainer. The older trained dogs function as models and the training becomes the stabilizing vehicle for healthy social enrichment while maintaining cooperative and safe dogs.

2. What type of training do you offer?

We offer behavior therapy and obedience training that begins with the teaching of fundamentals, as if you were training an actual working dog. Our courses range from a minimum standard of the AKC Canine Good Citizen all the way to competition level obedience and

Our philosophy would be best described as holistic working dogs. You have to make the time and effort to build the relationship properly. And since our dogs genetically were purposed for work, maintaining working purpose standards in our day to day companion dogs is essential.

We first consider the comprehensive training of the dog owner. We're essentially teaching owners to be coaches/leaders for their dogs, for long term success. We educate on the significance environment plays in a dog's attitude and willingness to learn. You can't train in conflict. The daily interactions and relationship boundaries weigh heavily into that equation. If you're sending confusing and mixed messages, not realizing it, you won't have much success. You're building or re-building a relationship where the dog must have real purpose that requires clarity and trust in order to truly meet the dogs overall mental health and wellness.

Nutrition is another aspect we address. You've heard the old saying, Garbage in, Garbage out! It's true. Dogs require quality nutrition to sustain emotional and physical wellness while enduring the stresses of life. And that includes training, like going to the gym.

4. In addition to training class, do you offer daycare and if so, what does that entail?

Yes, we offer our version of day camp. It's offered in a couple of ways but it all maintains the same rules, structure and boundaries of home rules. Consistency is key. It uses adult, trained dogs (as well as qualified humans) to act as teachers to the youngsters and to help

6. Do your trainers have certifications?

All of our trainers have been evaluated and scored in their training skills, trust, confidence and positive attitude of their dog(s) by official AKC obedience judges as well as the teaching and preparation of students to be evaluated.

I hear you compete in dog sports and also work with students to do the same. What sport do you compete or instruct in?

We sure do! We compete and instruct for all levels of AKC Rally/Obedience, Traditional Obedience and Retriever Hunt Tests, plus a little Field Trial training.

Do you offer boarding services?

We do overnights for our training clients only. This way the dog gets the consistency in the change of environment. Under specific circumstances, we might do some board and prep for dog owners who haven't gotten started yet, but have fully committed to a program.

Courtney Larwa and Animal ER owner, Dr. Jennifer Hennessey