• Veterinary emergency services 24/7/365
• Board certi ed veterinary specialty care
• Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Radiology, Surgery
• Physical Rehabilitation NOW AVAILABLE!
• Advanced diagnostic tools
• Compassionate approach to medicine
VERC is a 24-hour emergency/ critical care & specialty veterinary hospital dedicated to providing compassionate medical care to the dogs and cats entrusted to our care.
Our team works to ensure that patients receive the best care and follow-up treatment possible by communicating with your referring veterinarian.
We treat them like family because they are.
Dr. Jacob Brown is available to help diagnose and manage pets with painful or functionally limiting conditions, as well as post procedure rehabilitation, with the goals of decreasing pain, restoring function, increasing rates of recovery, and enhancing quality of life for your pet.
Publishers
John B. Harmon III
Carol R. Harmon Editor
John Harmon
Design
Carol Harmon
Cover Photo
Kelli Bullock Hergert
Printing
Journal Graphics
Island Dog Magazine is published quarterly in February, May, August and November and distributed on Oahu at select pet stores, veterinary clinics, and other retail establishments including:
Safeway: Beretania
Longs: Kahala, Kapolei, Pearlridge
Times Supermarket:
Aiea, Kahala, Kaimuki, Kalihi, King Street, Liliha, Mililani
Windward Mall: Upstairs
Don Quijote: Waipahu
Hardwae Hawaii: Kailua
Kailua,
Aloha!
We gotta say, we are really looking forward to Summer. So much daylight to delight in! And that means more outside time with our Best Buds. We here in the Island Doghouse are bringing you a batch of badass ways to celebrate and enjoy a seminal summertime season.
It all starts with our Cover Boys Pono and Bodhi, who look badass, but are actually the most courteous, calm, and collected fellows your pup will ever have the chance to work with. Until you throw a ball, that is! Fab photos by Kelli Bullock Hergert also adorn John’s accompanying interview with Sean Riley and how he uses B&P to help train both humans and their wayward pups.
We receive the snaps of you and your beloved besties with gratitude and joy in our annual Pups & Peeps Gallery, and the Da Kine Canine is a dazzling doggo display. Keep ‘em coming!
Then comes the fun!
Gifts & Sniffs is an extravaganza of pooch-perfect puffery that will have you swooning! A brief History of Dog Names (circa 2022) from the AKC, i.e., mainland; and our little dog rag, i.e., Da Kine Kamaaina! Summer petiquette tips to dispel the clouds of danger! The mob scene at the Pet Depot in Ewa Beach to open the Aloha Bullylaule‘a festivities!
All this, plus resident artist John Pritchett artistically opining on the perfect poodle coif, makes for a very warm and sunny edition, indeed!
As always, we are ever in your debt for perusing our pup-filled publication in this most digital of ages, and for barking to our advertisers that you see them: Right here!
Mahalo, John & Carol
We got our boys as puppies. Bodhi is a 5 year old Doberman Pinscher from Guam who embodies his breed—loyal and loving with a huge working drive. Even as a youngster, he was always playful, enjoying my company and looking to please. He’s a single-human dog who lives to be a working dog and runs, zooms, races, and wins! I’ve tried an electric skateboard and a bicycle, but the only time I can beat him is on my Harley.
Pono is a year older, and we were looking for a larger, mellow pup with guarding instincts. Bingo! He’s a big, goofy dog who just wants to carry around things in his mouth, play tug, and hang out with Mom.
And balls! They both are ball obsessed. Bodhi’s is small and blue, Pono’s is big and red. They can’t see the colors, of course, but they can tell by the smell! —
Sean Riley
At ‘A‘ala Park
Separate areas for small and large dogs
Open Daily 6am – 9pm
Ala Wai Dog Park
Near Ala Wai Elementary
Open daily – daylight hours
Closed Tuesday morning for maintenance
Bark Park
Diamond Head Rd & 18th Ave.
Open Daily – daylight hours
Hawai‘i Kai Dog Park
Makai end of Hawai‘i Kai
Park & Ride on Keahole St.
Open daily – daylight hours
Closed Tuesday 7am - Noon for maintenance
Kaka‘ako Dog Park
At Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park on Pohukaina Street
Open Daily 5am – 10 pm or as noted on signs.
Mililani Dog Park
Mililani Mauka District Park at the Park & Ride 95-1069 Ukuwai Street
Open Daily – daylight hours
Closed Wednesday mornings for maintenance
Mo - ‘ili‘ili Dog Park
Kalo Place Mini Park
Separate areas for small and large dogs
Open Daily 5am – 10 pm
Closed Tuesday 7am – noon for maintenance
Moanalua Dog Park
Moanalua Community Park
Open Daily – daylight hours
Closed Tuesday mornings for maintenance
Waipahu Dog Park
At the Patsy Mink Central O‘ahu Regional Park, makai-end near Paiwa St.
Open Daily 7am – 7pm
Closed Wednesday mornings for maintenance
Kahua O Waikalua Dog Park
Near Bay View Golf in Kaneohe
Hamakua Dog Park
Parcel along Hamakua Drive in Kailua
To maintain a clean and safe environment, all dog parks require that users pick up after their dogs. Please kokua—bring your own doggie waste bags and dispose of them properly.
Sammy
Ahxeil Boy Kinako
May Day is Lei Day
❤ In Loving Memory Stewie Talia
❤ In Loving Memory - Kai Boy
Bear
Jazzy and the Sunset
Pomai Ellie Neko
Ella
Daisy Kona
Humphrey
Lilo
Layla
Keiko
Miso Thor
Posy
Zoe, rescue bait dog
Sugar Plum
Saki
Emi 18 yr & Yuki 7 yr
Kugiko & Geemo
Kona Nebula Rain
Denver
Koa Riveira
Cattleya & Valentina
Poochie & Shnoop
Riley
Charlie Behr Ekolu
Milo Hobbes
Miso Girl Georgie
Yuki
Zeus Jack
Lilo, Nama, Mika and Coco Bean
• Nature’s Logic is the first in the world and the only complete line of pet food whose vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential nutrients come from 100% real whole food.
• Ingredients sourced in the USA, New Zealand and Europe.
• All fruits and veggies are GMO-free and sourced in the USA.
• No ingredients from China
• Never had a recall.
• Complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages.
• Kibbles, Can, Raw, Treats. Beef, Chicken, Duck, Salmon, Lamb, Pork, Rabbit, Sardine, Turkey, and Venison Varieties
• Family owned in Lincoln Nebraska. Started in 2006.
We look forward to welcoming you and your pets! Our veterinarians, technicians and other pet-friendly personnel are trained to the highest standards to ensure that you and your pet will receive the best care and preventative medicine. All six of our locations are available for check-ups and vaccine packages, routine spays and neuters, dental cleaning, and more! Our Kaneohe, and Kapolei locations also offer walk-in and emergency services. Our Pearl City location offers Specialty Services with state-of-the-art equipment and board-certified veterinarians available by referral. Emergency services are available with a doctor and technician in-house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
98-1254 Kaahumanu Street, Suite 151 • Pearl City
484-9070
General Practice Services by Appointment • 24 Hour Walk-In and Emergency Hospital Specialty Referral Hospital
At VCA Animal Hospitals Hawai‘i, your pet’s health is our top priority, and excellent service is our goal.
BY JOHN HARMON | PHOTOS BY KELLI BULLOCK HERGERT
Working with Sean Riley and his wife/partner Kaimana to help one of our dogs offered the realization that he was teaching on a deeper level than other trainers I have worked with. Arthur wasn’t a bad dog really, he just didn’t always listen to “come” or “sit,” and he was often insecure and fearful. With Sean’s guidance, Arthur is a much more confident and well behaved dog! Actually, it’s because I learned to communicate with my dog more clearly and consistently. I found it enlightening to ask Sean some questions…
John: When did you first become interested in dogs and their psychology?
Sean: When I was at the University of Georgia I got my first dog, a Doberman Pinscher named Folsom who was handed off from home to home for his first three years. I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, studying psychology, and I realized that there had to be a bridge between human and dog psychology. So I took my human psychology degree and funneled that more into animal psychology to understand the behaviors and mental state of dogs.
I studied ethology and applied animal behavior studies and found a whole field of behavioral science when it comes to dogs. It’s an ongoing education process that includes seminars, classes, groups and ongoing study and understanding of the current research.
John: How does your training differ from most others?
Sean: The difference is that we take a holistic view of the dog’s entire life—its past, its experiences. We look at where the dog came from and the root of where those behaviors started so we can create a customized training plan that is directed toward the specific needs of that dog. This is very different from your typical training, which is a cookie cutter application that is applied to all dogs who come through.
I am also the only one that I know of who specializes in aggression, as many trainers don’t look at that as something that fits into their one size fits all training methods. And that’s what gives me the ability to treat these aggression cases so effectively.
John: How do your dogs fit into all this?
Sean: My two dogs, Bodhi and Pono, are my two primary employees at this point! My other dogs, Valkyrie and Whiskey are still “interns.” Bodhi and Pono help me with other dogs that are reactive by having that calm, solid energy. They also help train our humans by modeling how to effectively handle a dog, because this is human as well as dog training. So our already well-trained pack helps humans experience how they will be behaving with their dogs.
John: What are some examples for aggression and reactivity?
Sean: Often the client dog encounters other dogs behind fences and in close quarters, and they get very reactive. In Bodhi or Pono, we have a dog who is solid and non-reactive, allowing and teaching that dog to approach with a calm energy. This helps them to learn
the art of dog-to-dog meetings with another dog that already knows the appropriate etiquette.
John: How did you train your dogs to be calm?
Sean: That’s a really good question. That behavior of being calm around other dogs comes from years and years of repetitive exposure, training and daily work with other dogs. And really treating it like a job.
John: And do you work with a largely treat-based reward system?
Sean: It’s more positive reinforcement based. We use many, many methods, but none of them include any aversive or pain tools. We are called LIMA trainers—Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. So we do not use any prong, E-, or shock collars. But the thing is, yes, we use treats as in the case of your dog, Arthur. But in many cases we don’t use treats. We can employ lots of other forms of positive and functional reinforcement.
John: What about modeling?
Sean: In training people, there are many high-end behaviors such as a “Heel!” where a lot of handler training needs to be in place: leash handling, cue delivery, reward delivery and functional movement. We don’t want those people to work on those techniques with their own dogs, who have not yet learned the behavior. Here’s where we will use one of our dogs. For example, we will model a heel with Bodhi, and I’ll show the client how that’s done. Then we will put the client into the handler position with Bodhi and coach them through all the nuances of the handler’s learning and training with our dog. Then we can walk them through the education process with their dog. With the handler already knowing how and what to do ahead of time, it makes the learning process for their dog a lot clearer.
If you need help with your dog, contact Sean Riley at A Pet Perspective: (808) 202-0897/sean@apetperspective.com.
PATIENT: Maui – a 4 year old rescue Pit Bull, used as a “Bait Dog” in a local dog fighting ring.
SYMPTOMS: Owner states that Maui is completely deaf and since losing his old friend and pack-mate is increasingly nervous, fearful and is getting attacked by his housemates.
DIAGNOSIS: Living in a house of 4-5 rescue dogs with different backgrounds and histories can be challenging, especially when dynamics shift, such as one dog passing.
Maui is a deaf Pit Bull who came from a local dog fighting ring and was used as a Bait Dog. He had all his teeth filed down to nothing so he couldn’t injure the other dogs. Still, he had the biggest, sweetest personality I’ve ever encountered! Which is probably why he was used as a Bait Dog. He was rescued and brought into a loving home where he quickly became best dog-friends with an older, confident, and strong member of the pack. Maui started loving life!
But his friend passed, and Maui began showing signs of anxiety and nervousness, and was targeted and attacked by his pack mate, Mano. He developed a sense of helplessness.
With his hearing impairment, history of being attacked, losing his best dog-friend, and no clear means of communication with dogs or humans, it was Maui’s helplessness and behavior change that made him a target for Mano. Mano was seeking to establish his own status in the shifting pack dynamics by picking on the perceived weakest link (Maui being seen as weak without his teeth to defend himself, though he was physically bigger and stronger than Mano).
SOLUTION: After conducting an In-Home Initial Evaluation, our first priority was safety. We
acclimated Mano to wearing a muzzle and set up baby gates in the house to dedicate specific spaces for each dog. Then we utilized a remote controlled, Vibration-Only collar and taught Maui that a vibration means “look to owner for instruction.” We established a clear sign-language dictionary of cues for communication and taught the owner how to read their dogs’ body language and chaperone the new pack dynamic. Maui’s confidence soared! Both Maui and Mano settled into a happy life with each other and their pack mates (No muzzles needed)!
If you have a multi-dog household and are experiencing behavioral challenges, or you’re looking to introduce a new dog into the pack there is absolutely a right way to do that. And we can help! We specialize in problem-behavior rehabilitation, and love helping dog owners understand how to teach and communicate with their dogs for a better, happier, more enriching life together!
Give us a call (808) 202-0897, shoot us an email Sean@APetPerspective.com, or connect with us on social media @APetPerspective!
Learning never stops, and there’s no such thing as a “Bad Dog.”
Bully-worthy collars and leads at The Pet Depot in Ewa Beach; 808-689-7387.
Pawesome O-Guava that is. Dis-and-Bark plush doggie toy with squeaker; made in Hawaii. At The Pubic Pet in Kaimuki; 808-737-8887.
Enchanted Lake Pets in Kailua; 808-262-2219.
Hats to cut the glare or just because!
Baseball Cap and Bucket Hat made with recycled materials by Reddy. Beanie by YOULY. XS-XL. At Petco stores or petco.com.
King Arthur Baking Company, a favorite among serious bakers, has introduced their Dog Biscuit Mix featuring a blend of ancient grains. Roll out and use a cookie cutter or cut into small squares (perfect for training). Beef Bone Broth & Carrot or Pumpkin & Apple. At Amazon.com.
Spleash is a patented Spray Leash Attachment, and becomes the new functional end of your leash, adding the ability to Walk-Protect-Refresh. Water reservoir holds 12 oz. of fresh drinking water with a flip-open cup. Handy finger trigger can dispense a refreshing spray on your dog or deflect an offleash animal with its 14 ft. spray distance! Order from spleash.com.
The Other Family Doctor is a heart-warming memoir by Karen Fine, DVM. An intimate look into the life work of a dedicated veterinarian committed to the animalhuman bond. If you love James Herriot, read this!
Spencer Quinn continues the Chet & Bernie mystery series with Book #13: Bark to the Future. Follow PI Bernie Little and his canine sidekick, Chet as they look into the disappearance of a homeless man from Bernie’s past. All told from Chet’s unique canine perspective.
Available at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Handy grooming wipes for paws, fur and bums. Non-medicated with aloe vera and witch hazel. Gently minimizes odor and soothes. Biodegradable. Made by Natural Dog Company. At Petco stores or petco.com.
Voyage Softer Walk Harness by Zee Dog is great for dogs that pull. Two options for leash attachment—one on top and one in front. Padded control handle on top. Adjustable, soft and comfortable. Pick one up at Belly Rub Kitchen, 111 Sand Island Access Rd, Unit R10; 808-294-2681.
Instead of digging around for training treats, try this squeezeable grab and go pouch. 1 squeeze = 1 treat. Great for young puppies and food-motivated dogs. Reward your dog during grooming, vet visits or training. By Bark Pouch. Made in the USA. Assorted flavors: Beef & Liverwurst, Turkey & Chicken, Peanut Butter & Blueberry, Salmon & Ricotta and Sardine & Cream Cheese. Order at barkpouch.com.
Does your dog occasionally need a little lift on a long hike?
The Carrier Backpack features padded straps, and a doggie lumbar support strap for a comfy, secure ride. Zippered closure for easy in and out. For high nighttime visibility hook up Fido to a Glow in the Dark Leash. Waterproof, no stink! By Arcadia Trail at Petsmart stores or petsmart.com.
A real boredom buster with 3 tiers and 12 compartments for hiding tasty treats. Your dog spins and sniffs out goodies; 3 bone shaped covers can level up the challenge. An ideal large dog puzzle. At Paw Hana Supply in Aiea; 808-485-9663.
Ewa Beach was awash in canine cuteness on April 22 as The Pet Depot hosted the preamble to the Aloha Bullylaule‘a with a Meet & Greet, preregistration, and the Bully Stack-Off. A sponsor since the first show 12 years ago, owner Tish Rothwell provided publicity and prizes with the help of Victor and Nutrisource dog foods. Registration by IBKC was only $10 for the family-friendly event, and kids were
encouraged to get involved with the training and showing of their pups.
Pet Depot employee Brook Greer won big with her dog Koa, despite it being her first time in the ring: Best Owner/ Handler, Best in Breed, and Best Male were among the accolades bestowed. Bully aficionados and judges attended from Boston, Las Vegas, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Russia. And also Hawaii, of course!
Left: Koa scored big under the loving tutelage of his owner/handler, Brooke Greer. His wins included Best Owner/Handler, Best in Breed, and Best Male.
Below: After the Meet & Greet and Bully Stack-Off, the Aloha Bullylaule‘a kicked off at Ewa Beach Golf Course and continued into the evening.
The Oahu SPCA was founded to save the lives of companion animals across the islands. For more than 13 years, we have improved the lives of homeless, feral, abandoned, and surrendered dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies throughout Hawai’i, becoming much more than the first no-kill animal shelter in the state.
Sterilization saves lives! We provide affordable veterinary services and the lowest cost sterilization available to the public. This eliminates animal overpopulation and abandonment due to the high costs of veterinary care. The number of homeless animals has been reduced by more than
50% since 2010. We also provide community services by rescuing and rehabilitating stray, abandoned, or relinquished pets. We provide adoption services and volunteer opportunities. Our sterilization program helps protect the islands by spaying and neutering animals, dramatically reducing the number of stray animals.
Now, more than ever, is the time to save the lives of cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies and give support to the families who love and care for them. Our Clinic’s services proceeds go to our rescued animals, and you can donate at: oahuspca.org/donate.
Inspired by reading the American Kennel Club’s yearly reporting of the most popular names in their massive database of purebreds, we decided to produce our own list. We distilled the names of the roughly 500 furry faces to grace our galleries last year and were stunned by the results. Though small in numbers, Hawaii’s dog owners rule the pack with monikers that demonstrate our diversity, whimsy, love, and fun! Gentle readers, the results:
GIRL NAMES
1. Luna
2. Bella
3. Daisy
4. Lucy
5. Willow
6. Penny
7. Sadie
8. Maggie
9. Rosie
10. Ruby
BOY NAMES
1. Max
2. Milo
3. Cooper
GIRL NAMES
1. Lilikoi/Lili/Lily
2. Lilo
3. Mochi
4. Miso
5. Zoe/Zoey
6. Bella
7. Coco
8. Honey Girl
9. Ginger
10. Angel
BOY NAMES
1. Bear
2. Bailey
3. Bruno
4. Peanut
5. Zeus
6. Kona
7. Buddy
8. Bear 9. Rocky
10. Leo
7. Koa
8. Bentley
9. Hachi
10. Kai
What better way to spend a glorious day in Hawaii than with your four-legged friend? Long summer days allow for adventures in the neighborhood, dog parks, beaches and trails. Take a moment to brush up on some basic pet etiquette to make your day enjoyable.
These are standard rules for the 9 Oahu Off-Leash dog parks listed on page 21.
• No food in the park for humans or animals. Dogs may beg, steal or fight for food.
• Your dog must be vaccinated and in good health.
• Have a leash with you at all times and be prepared to step in and leash your dog at the first sign of aggression.
• Follow park procedures for entering and exiting the park and unleashing the dog. Always make sure to close each gate.
• While everyone enjoys chatting with other dog owners, watch your dog at all times. Be ready to intervene to stop inappropriate behavior and conflict.
• Does your dog come when called? Reliable and consistent off-leash recall is essential in the park. If you need help with basic obedience, aggression or other issues, seek help from a trainer or behaviorist.
• Always remove and dispose of your pet’s waste properly.
• Enter the park at your own risk. The City is not liable to any person or dog for any injury incurred or caused by another person or dog entering or remaining in the dog park.
• Each owner is responsible for monitoring and keeping their dog under control.
• High value toys should be left at home
to avoid guarding and protection.
• Do not bring your dog to the park if she is in heat.
• Children: Think Dog Park, not playground. If you must bring children, watch them! Teach your child to always ask the owner’s permission before touching someone else’s dog. Some dogs live with kids and are used to playful chase and bear hugs. Other dogs have only been around adults and prefer a little space.
• Puppies are welcome once they have completed their full set of puppy vaccinations. It’s a great start to socialization under supervision.
Many of the Dog Park rules make sense at the beach too. Keep in mind rules about dogs on beaches vary. Some are strictly on-leash only while some don’t allow dogs at all, like Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park. Others only allow dogs below the high tide mark or, retaining/sea walls. Check hawaiianhumane.
org for a complete list of dog-friendly beaches on Oahu. And don’t let your dog drink seawater!
While hiking, you should keep your pup on a leash at all times. But if you choose to go commando, be hyper aware of the environment: Is someone coming from the opposite direction on the trail? If he senses wildlife, will your hound bound into the brush? Does he have a surefire recall? If you’re unsure, it’s best to keep him tethered. Consider dog booties or paw protectors if your trek will take you through hot or rough terrain, and zincfree sunblock on the nose and ears.
The National Park Service has developed “The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace” for users, and the AKC has suggestions for safe travels, and we add these highlights:
Plan Ahead. Know the route you are taking, get the weather report, and let someone know when you‘ll be back.
Dispose of Waste Properly and Be Prepared. If you packed it in, pack it out—including dog doody. Bring poop bags; pet wipes to clean feet and fur; a pet first aid kit (check Amazon); leash and collar with tags; and be sure your dog’s microchip is registered and up-todate. Leave what you find and respect wildlife. Just get the IG pic and leave it for others.
Bring Plenty of Water. Take shade and water breaks. Dogs don’t sweat, so they stay cool by panting. Better to pour some out at the bottom of the trip than run out at the top!
Be Considerate and Courteous. Remember that you are responsible for your dog’s actions as well as your own. Plus your kids, but that’s a story for another publication!
Yup, poop stinks. But you are the dog owner and you pick up after your dog— in your neighborhood, at the park, at the beach, and on the trail. Whether it’s bagged or not, it’s not cool to leave it behind. And please don’t drop a hot, steaming bag of doo in someone’s residential trash bin just because you don’t want to carry it back to your own bin. Social media is full of complaints by nondog owners about smelly trash bins. So here are a couple of inexpensive solutions for transporting full bags so that YOU can dispose of them responsibly and properly. Mahalo!
Wag & Wander Dog Poop Carrier holds full bags in a ODOR-PROOF bag that clips onto pack or leash. Okydoky Dog Poop Bag Holder secures full bags; attach it to bikes/stroller handles, or backpack. Order from Amazon.com
• Replace your old hard drive with latest solid state drive—6-8x faster and no moving parts!
• New Mac Setups: I’ll shop for, or with you, for your new MAChine.
• RAM Upgrade—more power and speed!
• System Software updates and upgrades
• Slow computer diagnostics and repair
• Email challenges? I can help!
“Whatever Macintosh, iPad or iPhone service you may need I can help. Victoria and I look forward to working with you to make your Macintosh and Apple products the best that they can be.”
—Rolf Nordahl, Head Cheese
Since 2008, Island Dog Magazine is published quarterly in February, May, August and November. Our distribution of 17,500 reaches more than 35,000 Island Dog owners— pet parents who seek out our magazine at select Safeway, Don Quixote, Times and Longs stores, as well as from veterinarians, pet retailers, and other dog-loving establishments. A digital edition is also posted on our website: IslandDogMagazine.com. For info on advertising, please call John Harmon at (808) 254-2992.
e, as people, often assume that if something is safe for us, it should be safe for our pets. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Other species (such as cats and dogs) are built differently, and can develop serious or fatal reactions to substances that are safe for us. Young animals are more likely to be curious or food motivated and therefore more likely to eat something they shouldn’t. And while the culprits are usually dogs, cats can also ingest harmful substances. Some surprising toxins for our pets live in our kitchens, bathroom cabinets, and refrigerators. These include:
Grapes, raisins and currants
Macadamia nuts
Xylitol
Acetaminophen and Tylenol
WChocolate
Onions
Garlic
Ibuprofen
These are some of the most commonly reported toxins ingested by animals according to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Prevention is the best solution, but it’s best to contact a veterinarian or the ASPCA pet poison control hotline or take them in to your local veterinary emergency room to determine the best course of action. Sooner is better! Sometimes we can give specific medications in the hospital to cause them to vomit it up. Fortunately, if treated early, most pets survive and do well after eating something they shouldn’t.
At VCA, your pet’s health is our top priority and excellent service is our goal. We provide the very best medicine by offering a full range of services including primary, emergency, surgical and specialty all in one building. Our veterinarians and team treat your pet with the same level of care they would give to their own pet.
SPECIALTY CARE
Critical Care
Julie Pfeifer, DVM, DACVECC
Jessica Sun, DVM, DACVECC
Internal Medicine
Justin Wakayama, DVM, DACVIM
Carrie White, DVM, DACVIM
Medical Oncology
Lucy Teddy, DVM Practice limited to Oncology
Ophthalmology
Doris Wu, BVM&S, MRCVS, DACVO
Surgery
Nathaniel Lam, DVM, DACVS
Emergency
Lydia Lam, DVM
Nandini Mudelier, BVSc, MANZCVS
Alize Rodriguez, DVM
Katie Samuelson, DVM
Loren Schmidt, DVM
Whitney Sia, DVM
Deana Sin, VMD
Anna Steele, DVM
PRIMARY CARE
Sheryl Doi, DVM
Luis Ho, DVM
Rayne Johnson, DVM
Lauren Kishimoto, DVM
Christine Miyasaki, DVM
Angelo Torres, DVM
Specialty Care
We
