Peak Pets 2022 by Teton Media Works, Inc.

A Supplement to the Jackson Hole News&Guide

June 15, 2022

BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE

A good vet, special food and a family’s tender care help a senior furball thrive. See page 13.

Also Inside:

Is it an emergency?

Orgs work together to help Wind River pets

Psychic-for-hire will talk to your animals

2 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

was always that kid — the one who brought home stray dogs, at-large turtles, wiggly frogs, baby bunnies, caterpillars and other creatures. When I was a baby I crawled over to a mouse that had squirmed its way into our Iowa country house and kissed it. When I moved to Jackson in 1992, I set out from Kansas with two cats. My roommate, an ad rep for what was then just the Jackson Hole News, knew I was bringing one cat. I was going to surprise her with the second. He busted out of his crate somewhere on I-70 and catapulted himself to the front of my car, deciding to take up space on top of the gas pedal while making “The Exorcist” noises that scared the bejesus out of me, clawing my legs so violently he left a nail behind. That cat’s trip was cut short in Colorado, where he went to live with a family friend. I’d been a pet parent to several cats since then but in 2008 decided I was a Dog Person. First there was Lucy, a se-

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verely abused and neglected chocolate Lab. Then Scout, a stray border collie who was my canine soulmate. Then Boo Radley, a scruffy terrier mix left behind, chained to a tree, by his previous “family,” then Harper Lee, another border collie. (You might notice a theme in their names.) Animals have always been my favorite people. They make us more human. They teach us how to love, how to grieve and how to have fun. I couldn’t be more pleased that my first assignment for the Jackson Hole News&Guide, 27 years after I left the newspaper, is editing Peak Pets. Inside, you’ll find stories about a hedgehog named Gus, a profile of a pet psychic, the good that can come from people working together and much more. Our hope is that these stories will give you some respite from the news we wake up to these days. I know my dogs’ wet, sloppy kisses always do. — Deb Gruver

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Register with Pet Partners! Our programs put smiles on senior’s faces, ease hospital patients’ pain and help kids read. Go to www.tcpetpartners.org or call Kelly at 307.690.8532 for more information.

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Animals make us more human

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PUBLISHER Kevin Olson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Adam Meyer EDITOR IN CHIEF Johanna Love MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Huntington SECTION EDITOR Deb Gruver PHOTO EDITOR Bradly J. Boner Contributing photographers Bradly J. Boner, Kathryn Ziesig, Reed Mattison EDITORIAL DESIGN Andy Edwards, Samantha Nock

Providing a progressive environment for animals through rehabilitation, adoption, education and community outreach.

COPY EDITORS Jennifer Dorsey, Mark Huffman, Addie Henderson WRITERS Jeanette Boner, Sophia Boyd-Fliegel, Deb Gruver, Tibby Plasse Evan Robinson-Johnson, Kate Ready, Timothy J. Woods CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sarah Wilson ADVERTISING DESIGN Lydia Redzich, Luis F. Ortiz, Heather Haseltine, Chelsea Robinson ADVERTISING SALES Karen Brennan, Tom Hall, Megan LaTorre, Katie Brierley Digital Campaign Manager Tatum Mentzer

ONGOING EVENTS: Dog Behavior Workshop Second Friday of the Month • 5 p.m. – 7p.m.

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER: Chuck Pate PREPRESS MANAGER: Lewis Haddock PRESS SUPERVISOR: Dale Fjeldsted PRESSMEN Steve Livingston, Robert Heward, Nick Hoskins, Gunner Heller

Volunteer Orientation Second Saturday of the Month • 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

CIRCULATION MANAGER Lewis Haddock

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and support us as we add 2 more structures that will allow us to increase our capacity!

(646) 258-2512 | info@askasanimals.org

CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR Jayann Carlisle

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PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 3

KATHRYN ZIESIG / NEWS&GUIDE

Dr. Stephanie Ninnemann preps her feline patient for a cystotomy at the VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital. A cystotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the animal’s bladder, most commonly performed to remove urethral stones. However, this cat needed to have something a bit more foreign removed — a broken piece of a catheter from a previous surgery outside Jackson.

Ninnemann returns home

Veterinarian with Fear Free certification left valley after high school and earned three degrees.

away from the valley to get to see other things and to get to experience an area that wasn’t where my family was so I could be a little bit more of my own individual human,” Ninnemann said recently. “And then moving back home was something that I kind of always wanted to do, just because By Timothy J. Woods this has always been my home. I wanted to make sure that I was able to provide a hen Jackson Hole native Stephagood thing for the community.” nie Ninnemann left the valley Ninnemann is one of fewer than a after high school to attend Colo- handful of veterinarians, if not the only rado State University, she thought she’d be one, practicing in Jackson Hole who have back, knowing that Jackson Hole would attained a Fear Free certification. It proalways be home. vides “veterinary profesThree degrees later — sionals, pet professionals, a bachelor’s degree with animal welfare commuhonors and a master’s nities and pet owners degree, both in biomediwith the knowledge and cal sciences, and then tools to look after both a “I wanted to make her doctor of veterinary pet’s physical and emomedicine degree, all from sure that I was tional wellbeing,” the Colorado State UniversiFearFreePets.com webty in Fort Collins — Dr. able to provide a site states. Stephanie Ninnemann is As Ninnemann exgood thing for the plained, home again. the training While she did have a helps her and her staff to community.” brief layover here in Jackput animals at ease when son between her master’s — Stephanie Ninnemann they come into the veterdegree and DVM when inary clinic for anything VETERINARIAN she worked as the head ranging from a serious waitress at the Million surgical procedure down Dollar Cowboy Bar — to simple things such as “It’s helped me with benail trimmings, blood ing able to relate to clidraws or vaccinations. ents a lot more than many people who’ve Though some of those things might seem just stayed in academia,” she said — her benign and harmless, they often can stress pets to a degree that makes them panic time away served as valuable experience. After earning her DVM in 2017, the and could put the pets or Ninnemann and 34-year-old Ninnemann practiced in her staff in harm’s way without being able Cheyenne; Bozeman, Montana; and most to calm the animal. “I find it [the Fear Free training] to be recently Aspen, Colorado, before returning home to Jackson’s VCA Spring Creek incredibly valuable, and I do see that some of the different approaches work very well Animal Hospital last summer. “I wanted to have some years practicing See NINNEMANN on 4E

KATHRYN ZIESIG / NEWS&GUIDE

Ninnemann made her return to Jackson last year to join VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital team after practicing off and on in Aspen, Colorado, the past few years. Ninnemann grew up in Jackson and graduated from Jackson Hole High School before heading to Colorado State University for schooling.

4 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

NINNEMANN Continued from 3E

with some patients and not so well with others, and having more tools in my back pocket to be able to implement and have that training I find to be a very useful thing for each different patient,” she said. Ninnemann also recommended FearFreeHappyHomes.com for pet owners to access information about things to work on with their pets at home. Whether it’s an older pet showing signs of cognitive dysfunction, learning how to introduce a puppy into a home, or even how to ease stress when traveling, there’s great information out there for pet owners, she said. “What fears and anxieties are there? These are all things that actually have kind of little buttons that can be pushed and there’s, you know, there’s accessible information online through this program and Fear Free, things that owners can access at any time,” she said. “And it’s good information. Because we all know that getting online and going down the rabbit hole of Dr. Google, we can find just about anything and that may not necessarily be reliable.” Though she works long hours at the Spring Creek Animal Hospital practice, primarily specializing in feline care, Ninnemann has many talents and community involvements outside of work. Included among those interests are playing trumpet with both the Community Band and the Jazz Foundation of Jackson Hole, along with being a coach with the Skating Club of Jack-

KATHRYN ZIESIG / NEWS&GUIDE

Shortly after beginning the cystotomy, Dr. Stephanie Ninnemann removes a length of catheter tubing from her feline patient’s bladder at VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital. Ninnemann guessed that the catheter had broken inside the cat following a previous surgery and remained in the animal’s bladder until its new owners brought it to the VCA.

son Hole following her experience as a professional figure skater, reaching some of the highest levels. She also likes to enjoy all of the valley’s outdoor offerings, from hiking to paddleboarding to golf. Ninnemann acknowledges that though she may not be terribly good at golf, she

loves to get out on the course. Ninnemann also hosts a weekly veterinary education radio show on KJAX 93.5 FM. “I just enjoy just exploring new things, or trying a new recipe on the grill, or spending time with friends,” she said. “It’s a really great quality of life that we’re able to have here.”

Ninnemann also loves to spend time with her parents, who still live in Jackson Hole, and her three cats at home. “My absolute ride-or-die is a three-legged kitty with about four teeth, but I do have some others that have kind of come along after needing medical treatments that their families

were not able to provide them,” she said. “They were either a surrender or a [candidate for] euthanasia, and we fixed them up and they ended up becoming part of my tribe.” Contact Tim Woods at 732-5911 or town@ jhnewsandguide.com.

Emergency services for pets will change

in Jackson, Wyoming

Monday – Thursday emergency services will be available for our established clients until 11 PM. Friday night from 6 PM to Monday 7 AM Starting July 1st there will be a rotating call share hosted by Jackson Animal Hospital, Fish Creek Veterinary Hospital, Driggs Veterinary Clinic and Victor Veterinary Hospital.

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 274 East Broadway | 307-201-5700 | JacksonAnimalHospital.com

*ALL PET OWNERS are welcome to use the Weekend Emergency Services and just need to call any one of these clinics to find out what Doctor/clinic is on call. 999999-999

PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 5

BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE

Melissa Thomasma and her daughter, Hazel Becker, 5, play with their permanent hedgehog guest, Gus, at their Teton Valley home. The family adopted Gus when the critter’s former owners moved and their new housing wouldn’t allow pets.

Sonic’s hedgehog cousin makes Victor his home Fruity snacks and show and tell are just a part of hedgehog home life. By Evan Robinson-Johnson

reelance writer Melissa Thomasma didn’t dream of becoming a hedgehog mom. Her Victor, Idaho, home was full enough with her husband, two children, two dogs, three cats and school of rescued fish. But when a close friend got the housing boot, Thomasma opened her home to one more critter: Gus the hedgehog. It’s only been a few months, but Gus is already besties with Thomasma’s 5-year-old daughter, Hazel. The pair delight at preschool show-and-tell, and Hazel is already learning to create meals for the eccentric critter. “Strawberries are his favorite,” she explained during a lazy Monday afternoon in May. Although hedgehogs are nocturnal, Gus is now a regular part of Hazel’s welcomehome committee. During the day, he holes up with Thomasma in her writing studio, scurrying around the floor while her fingers scurry across the keyboard. Gus was quite camera shy for the News&Guide visit. But after Hazel dutifully fetched him a bowl of water and his go-to lunch — dry cat food — he began to open up, unfurling from his spindly porcupine-like shell to start nibbling on the carpet. Then he put on a show: puking on himself and peeing a little puddle on the hardwood. There’s a reason Gus spends his nights in a hamster cage. Thomasma said she’s had to learn about hedgehog care mostly on her own: There’s not exactly a Facebook group for Erinaceidae moms. Early on she read somewhere online that you need to bond with your hedgehog. So they

tried a movie night. It was going well, Thomasma said, until Gus got his spines tangled in her hair. Worse than bubblegum? You betcha. Not exactly the sort of attachment she was shooting for. For the most part, though, Gus is quite endearing. He’s a curiosity to the household cats and a show and tell celebrity at Teton Science Schools. Thomasma also hopes the spiky superstar is teaching her children values such as compassion and patience. The daughter of Kelly schoolteachers, Thomasma grew up with dogs, cats and rats — which she said are actually “very smart.” She is also the author of “Cinder: Rescue Cat,” a children’s book featuring a wildland firefighter’s trusty sidekick. “When I grew up there weren’t a ton of kids in my neighborhood. So I really valued that time playing with animals and bonding with my pets,” Thomasma said. “It teaches a level of responsibility … and I think it also really fosters a level of compassion, when you can have an actual relationship with an animal, instead of just seeing one in passing. “Ultimately, it’s a lesson in impermanence for kids — learning to value loved ones while they’re around,” she said. Gus has made a few appearances on the family Instagram, but he’s certainly not a petfluencer like some other hedgehogs (see @ mr.pokee, with 1.8 million followers on Instagram, or @lionelthehog, who poses bathing in a sink or with miniature Harry Potter glasses. One day Gus too could swim in his own sea of bathtime bubbles. But, Thomasma said, “we have not got that mastered yet.” Contact Evan Robinson-Johnson at 732-5901 or ERJ@jhnewsandguide.com.

BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE

Gus is shy at first, but when he’s finally unfurled, he likes to explore his surroundings and hangs out with his owner, Melissa Thomasma, as she writes in her office.

6 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Veterinarians lend a hand on reservation Grants and partnerships help curb pet overpopulation. By Evan Robinson-Johnson

hen they’re not helping Jackson locals fall in love with a future furry friend, staff members at the Animal Adoption Center are helping neighbors across the state live in better harmony with their fourlegged companions. In May the Adoption Center and its partners served a record number of tribal pets on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The mostly volunteer team successfully spayed or neutered 257 pets over during a two-day visit, and the surgeries were free for registered tribal members. Team members also vaccinated 675 cats and dogs, removed dozens of rotting teeth, dealt with multiple tumors and de-quilled dogs while they were there. They brought about 15 puppies back to Jackson for adoption. Petco Love and Indian Health Service grants sponsored the vaccines, and partner veterinarians such as Dr. Amy Stockton in Riverton and Dr. Lannie Hamilton in Lander donated their time. Financial support also came through the Cross Charitable Foundation and Lulu’s Fund. When people come together from across Wyoming — vets, techs and volunteers — to support the clinics, they are often joined by locals who are equally eager to help out. “They’re so generous with their time and their willingness to help,” Carrie Boynton, executive director of the Animal Adoption Center, said of their indigenous partners. Wind River does not have a full-time veterinarian.The 2.2 million-acre reservation also lacks formalized animal control or an organized shelter, meaning uncared-for animals often run wild. Deadly attacks by feral dogs have prompted calls for stronger enforcement. In the meantime, programs such as a statewide spay and neuter program — started by Jackson veterinarian Dr. Heather Carleton in 2009 — target the root problem by curbing overpopulation and reducing the number of unwanted pets. Visiting vets are hosted by Wind River schools, which serve as a convenient gathering place for local families. Boynton said they reach capacity at every clinic. She is working to make the surgeries more convenient and accessible for indigenous families by visiting individual neighborhoods. Using the same vans that tribal health leaders used for mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics, vets can

COURTESY PHOTO

Jackson veterinarian Dr. Heather Carleton, who founded a statewide spay and neuter program in 2009, continues to provide low-cost assistance to indigenous families on the Wind River Reservation. Existing partnerships and new grant support allowed Carleton and her peers to perform a record number of pet surgeries and vaccinations in May.

now serve families where they live, cutting out the need for planning or a commute. “After meeting with a lot of tribal leadership, we’ve identified that access to care — even if we’re hosting the clinic on the reservation — is still challenging for folks that don’t have a car or can’t get there early enough,” Boynton said. During the first trial run in mid-May, veterinarians spayed or neutered 49 pets and administered 100 vaccinations. Here too, partnerships with Indian Health Services and other local agencies such as the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority are critical to the program’s success. Their support also makes it feel like less of a parachute support mission. “The reason that we have such a good relationship and so

much trust is because we always come with an open mind and open heart,” Boynton said. Forging relationships with indigenous families has taught Boynton values such as gratitude, patience and love of family. Ultimately, the Adoption Center is just one small nonprofit in a sea of need. But it helps a growing number of families find the care they need to keep their pets safe and alive. “Maybe we can’t solve this problem,” Boynton said. “But it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to try to help as many as we can.” Contact Evan Robinson-Johnson at 732-5901 or ERJ@jhnewsandguide.com.

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PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 7

Emergency options dwindle for pet care Many pet owners now have to go to Idaho Falls. By Deb Gruver

Jackson Hole has never had a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic, but until recently, three clinics worked together to provide after-hours care. VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital stopped providing after-hours on-call services June 1, citing workload and work/life balance issues. The vet clinic is sending its clients who are experiencing emergencies to Idaho Falls but also has extended its hours to try to make the change less problematic. Jackson Animal Hospital, which participated in on-call rotation with Spring Creek and VCA Animal Care Hospital, will see its established clients for emergencies until 11 p.m. weekdays. The key word there is “established.” It is also working on an emergency weekend call rotation, Dr. Heather Carleton said in a message to clients. VCA Animal Care Hospital is also sending its small-animal patients to Idaho Falls for emergencies and large animals to Dr. Ernie Patterson, practice manager Kate McGowan said. When VCA bought Animal Care Hospital it did not include Patterson’s equine practice. “We let people know in advance, which has taken some of the panic out of it,” McGowan said. “A lot of stuff can wait, and we’re leaving [scheduled appointments on] Mondays light in anticipation of seeing more patients after the weekend.” Dr. Robert Dyke, medical director at Spring Creek, said there were a “multitude of factors that led to this very difficult decision” to end that hospital’s after-hours care. A big reason? Many calls weren’t an actual emergency. “So often, the calls we receive as after-

KAYLA RENIE / NEWS&GUIDE FILE

Area vets have cited population explosion, a rise in calls that are not true emergencies and staff who cannot afford local housing as contributors to the strain on after-hours calls.

hours emergencies are for issues that have been happening for several days or longer,” Dyke said. Twenty years ago, he said, “emergencies were much less frequent and we were able to accommodate both our day practice and be available on call for emergencies. With the population explosion and tourists, our doctors and nurses can be up almost the whole night with calls that are not truly emergent and have to work the next day. These long hours put a strain on our employees that can potentially affect the care that is provided. We need our doctors and nurses to be well rested so we can be there for your pet during the day.” Lack of affordable housing has led many doctors and staff to live outside the valley, Dyke said. “To be ‘on call,’ they need to stay here at the hospital for their entire shift, which can

be a full weekend away from their families. We simply do not have the staff that live locally to accommodate being on call anymore,” he said. Sumayah Holden, Spring Creek’s practice manager, said the clinic was previously open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Spring Creek will now be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. The clinic is making more doctors available Fridays and Saturdays. The changes in availability bring to light the differences between emergencies and care that can wait. Asked what constitutes a true emergency, Dyke listed: • Trauma such as a car accident or severe animal attack. • Severe bleeding or bleeding that does not stop within five minutes of applying

pressure to the wound. • Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing or gagging. • Nonproductive dry heaving and/or acute abdominal distention in dogs. • Straining or inability to urinate or pass feces or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool. • Seizures and/or staggering. • Severe and sudden lameness or inability to move leg(s). • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety. • Severe vomiting. • Unconsciousness. • Poisoning or possible toxic ingestion (Dyke advised clients to call the Pet Poison Hotline 800-213-6680 or Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435 immediately and follow their advice as to whether the pet should be seen as an emergency.) • Difficult labor for pregnant pets exceeding three hours. What doesn’t constitute a true emergency and can wait? • Diarrhea or vomiting, unless the pet is also having any other signs of illness. • Blood in stool. (A small amount of bright red blood and mucous is not abnormal when pets are having any intestinal distress, Dyke said.) • Intestinal parasites. • Coughing, unless pet is having difficulty breathing. • Lameness, unless you know a traumatic event has occurred such as being hit by or falling out of a car. • Decreased appetite. • Ear or skin infections. • Broken nails. Spring Creek advises that clients with emergencies go to Idaho Falls Veterinary Emergency Clinic and call that clinic on the way at 208-552-0662. Contact Deb wordscout.biz.

Gruver

deb@

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8 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE PHOTOS

Dr. Abby Matthaeus, right, works with a horse owned by Katie Carr, left, that had been experiencing a lame hind leg in May at the Carrs’ residence east of Hoback. Matthaeus spent four years specializing in equine medicine and surgery in Idaho Falls before founding Teton Equine mobile veterinary services.

Going mobile

gets pets moving Teton Equine is among the many Jackson Hole businesses to serve pets by van. By Sophia Boyd-Fliegel and Timothy J. Woods

omething is wrong with Hustler the horse. She just hasn’t been her lively self, owner Katie Carr says as she walks a veterinarian to Hustler’s corral overlooking the hills of Hoback. Nothing looks immediately wrong with a still image of the breakaway horse. At 20 years old she’s the equivalent of a 60-yearold human. But Carr says Hustler’s distress is obvious by her attitude, her limp and the way she lifts her hind left leg back when she stands. Carr explains this as she guides the Teton Equine team to the corrals on her ranch. Instead of white coats, Dr. Abby Matthaeus and veterinary technician Hilary Nelson are dressed for the job site in jeans and cowboy boots. They guide Hustler in tight circles, and Matthaeus notices the horse is holding her tail off to the side, too. For Matthaeus, assessing a patient who can’t talk doesn’t mean the two can’t communicate. Pressing methodically into her neck and back, Matthaeus narrates Hustler’s body language to narrow the possibilities. It’s all about interpreting the response of an animal, Matthaeus says, so it’s important to be on the horse’s home turf. When horses — or any pets, for that mat-

Matthaeus hands Carr medication for her horse during the veterinarian’s visit to Carr’s home.

ter — have to travel in a trailer or car to a brick and mortar office and spend time away from their owner, it’s likely they’ll be stressed on top of sick. That throws off vitals such as heart rate and behavior, muddling signals with noise

and making any issue harder to diagnose. Put simply, owner Katie Carr says, it’s difficult to haul horses. Rob and Katie Carr have eight other horses on a ranch in Hoback. They call on Matthaeus for their three dogs, too.

Empowering owners to best help their animals was Matthaeus’ mission when she founded Teton Equine last year. The idea is nothing new. As the American Association of Equine See MOBILE on 9E

PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 9

L O C A L LY ENGAGING. Dr. Abby Matthaeus works on her computer from her mobile veterinary van during a visit to a Hoback ranch last month.

Other mobile pet services also are available in the Jackson area. RedRover and ClasContinued from 8E sic K9 Design are two mobile grooming serPractitioners notes, equine veterinary prac- vices, along with Dr. Dave Hunt’s mobile vet. tices tend to differ greatly from a typical vetOn top of having more relaxed patients, erinary clinic or animal hospital where people putting your business on wheels can become bring their ailing dogs and cats for treatment. a necessity with the impossibly tight local Most equine veterinarians’ practices are quite real estate market, said Melissa Morbee of literally “an office on wheels,” the association The LaundryMutt groomer. says, as vets travel to clients’ homes, farms and The LaundryMutt was notified that its ranches to see their patients. lease at 1300 Carol Lane would be termiIn Jackson Hole and all across Wyoming nated in August. — just like much of the rest of the MounMorbee said in May that she was in the tain West and other swaths of the country — equine and large-animal veterinarians process of ordering a van for her family play a critical role. There are more than 9 business. “I cannot believe I can’t find brick and million horses in the United States, the association says. Whether caring for working mortar,” Morbee said. While she’s still hoping a storefront will horses, equine athletes or simply a pet horse, equine vets work long, hard hours, with spe- pop up, Morbee didn’t want to leave her 500 cific training to perclients out to dry. fect their skills and To continue to be techniques. able to serve the comBeyond that, there munity, going mobile are specialized pracwas the only option, tices. Dr. Timothy “Oh yeah, she said. Rutar of Wind River Matthaeus, meanEquine Sports Mediour job’s while, said she never cine has one such looked for a lease. practice. He’s quick pretty From the beginning, to point out, though, she knew the busithat while he does dangerous.” ness out of Idaho work with plenty of equine athlete pa— Dr. Timothy Rutar Falls needed mobile service flexibility tients, his practice’s WIND RIVER EQUINE SPORTS MEDICINE for horse owners in name “is a bit of a Teton Valley, Idaho, misnomer” because and Jackson Hole. he deals with all sorts Back on the Carrs’ of horses, from the farm, everyone, inathletes to the workcluding the dogs and chickens, has gathered ers to the pets. Picture an orthopedic doctor who treats as if to add their 2 cents on Hustler’s health. When Matthaeus runs her hands along everyone with a joint injury, from world-class Hustler’s spine, she says the problem isn’t clear. athletes to the weekend warrior. Her sacroiliac joint could be strained, but Rutar has an undergraduate degree in human sports medicine, a master’s degree she has neurological issues as well and arthriin clinical biomechanics and a doctorate in tis. Hustler’s hips and neck would be espeveterinary medicine. cially difficult to X-ray, even in an office. However, his doctorate and his specialty Luckily, the nearby Mercedes Sprinter in equine sports medicine don’t limit Rutar van also holds some steroid and shock wave to that field. therapy — good starting options in the pro“I have a doctorate in veterinary medicine cess of diagnosis. with an emphasis in sports medicine, but it Hustler might never get back to perforreally covers all areas of practice, from general mance level, the Carrs say, but they at least medicine to surgery,” he said. want Hustler to be comfortable. Each patient he sees is a crapshoot. Some They’ll have to treat one hypothesis at a might be antsy, some calm, others upset and time and see if the treatment helps. still others used to being examined. But Ru“These cases are tough because it’s a protar says his and other equine specialists’ expe- cess of elimination,” Matthaeus says. rience being around horses and understandBefore Matthaeus and Nelson depart in ing their behaviors makes all the difference. their clinic on wheels, they check on another “The truth is, some horses, there are no horse, Holly, who they’re treating for sarcoids, calming techniques, right?” he said. “I mean, a common skin tumor in horses. One of the you can’t do X, Y or Z and it’s going to work Carrs’ dogs, Nala, also needs some medicine. for this horse or that horse or the other one. Nelson climbs into the van, and though You kind of have to, you definitely have to it’s a tight squeeze, there’s no delay to fill the have seen a bunch and learned. And, you prescriptions. know, a 2-year-old horse isn’t going to reMagnetic wood cabinets, custom built by spond most of the time the same way as a Matthaeus’ father, hold all the treatments. An 22-year-old horse.” array of scissors, a microwave, a centrifuge Rutar says he loves what he does, work- and a microscope are also affixed in place on ing with large animals, but admits his job hip-high counters. Matthaeus’ framed diplohas an element of danger, dealing on a daily mas are stuck on the van’s back wall. basis with equines that weigh several hunAnd when Hustler, Holly or Nala are dred pounds. ready to be seen again, they’ll stay where they “Oh yeah, our job’s pretty dangerous,” are comfortable. he said with a humble chuckle. “I’d imagine that’s why there’s very few folks that do some Contact Sophia Boyd-Fliegel at county@ of this and that’s, well, that’s reasonable.” jhnewsandguide or 307-732-7063.

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12 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Can old dogs learn new tricks? How you train your dog matters less than its age. By Tibby Plasse

hough training methods vary based on a dog’s age, you certainly can teach an old dog new tricks. Pet training, regardless of age, is not just about following directions. It’s about cultivating good behavior. “I think it may be for many folks, training means just teaching a dog to be ‘obedient,’ or to reliably respond to certain verbal cues. Believe it or not, obedience does not translate necessarily to well-behaved or happy dogs,” said Krissi Goetz of Jackson Hole Positive Training, a self-declared “dog dork.” Goetz has been in the area since the early 1990s, and she’s been in one form of pet care or another since then. She was a shelter volunteer, helped start the Animal Adoption Center and then founded its training and behavior program in 2006. Two years later she came on board as a trainer at Positive Training. She’s also a volunteer and coordinator for Western Border Collie Rescue and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She said it’s important to realize the many aspects influencing a dog’s behavior: genetics, learning history, environment, age and stage of development, health and physiology, stress and pain levels. “And who they are as an individual, the emotional states of the people and dogs around them. We should consider all of these when we are working with dogs,” Goetz said. “It’s what makes working in the field of behavior so interesting to me, but it also makes things much more complex,” She also recognizes that dogs have personalities and that needs to be considered. “Some challenges stem from unrealistic expectations [in training], trying to fit a square peg of a dog into a round hole,” she said. “Dogs are as individual and varied as people. They are not all just the same creature/set of behaviors in different packaging that we can quickly ‘program’ to behave in a certain way.” One example of how personality and training intersect is where you take your dog for exercise. Not every dog needs to be with other dogs. “It’s a common misconception that all dogs should enjoy playing with other dogs,” she said. “Not all dogs are social butterflies and enjoy playing and interacting with dogs they have only just met, while for some the dog park is a lifesaver.” It really depends on the dog’s needs, not the pet owner’s expectations, Goetz said. “For puppies the primary focus should be on teaching the world is a good, safe place at whatever pace they need, and that they share their lives with trustworthy people who can read their signs of discomfort, intervene, and keep them feeling safe,” she said. At “teenagerdom,” she said, facilitating positive experiences should continue but teenage dogs are undergoing lots of brain changes, which translates to having stronger emotional reactions that can result in being less attentive to their people and regressing in skills. “They are just like their human counterparts, so more understanding, patience, and increased management is usually required for teenaged dogs,” Goetz said. “Once dogs reach the adult stage doesn’t mean learning ends. Learning is lifelong, just like with people. “Like us, dogs learn from each experience and interaction that they have, so sometimes new undesirable behaviors develop, or old desirable habits become less solid, or we just want to teach something new. The brain is much more plastic than we originally thought, so yes, adult dogs can absolutely learn new skills and ways of being.” When it comes to adoption, Goetz feels there’s nothing different about a “rescued” dog than any other dog when it comes to training. They learn the same way and their behavior depends on influences just as a dog that is not a rescue.

COURTESY PHOTO

People think that only puppies can be trained, but older dogs can learn new tricks too.

“The focus would depend on what phase of life they are in and how confident they are in general, what they struggle with and what they excel at, and what will be beneficial for them to learn in their new life. But all newly adopted dogs need time to get their feet back under them. Transitions are hard on even the most confident of them,” she said. Goetz explained that the best thing you can do for a newly adopted dog is to let it quietly adjust to life and get to know it, without the additional pressure of taking the dog to complex social circumstances. “Cache Creek, the dike, barbecues, Home Depot, the dog wash, unnecessary vet visits. Newly adopted dogs already have enough stress in their upended lives with whatever happened to land them in rescue,” she said. They are getting to know the new humans in their lives and their new routine. Taking it slowly is imperative and that can take a few weeks, or longer. As with all dogs, patience is the most important tool a pet owner can have. “The best thing for a newly adopted dog — provided it’s over 12 weeks old — is to keep things quiet for several weeks or more. Walk in quiet places and don’t have a lot of people over. It’s a priority to help a dog feel

safe, learn about who he is, and work on skills like house training, confinement training, and time alone,” she said. At Jackson Hole Positive Training the philosophy is to integrate an understanding of behavioral influences, and then use the gentlest force-free tactics to enact behavior change, Goetz said. “Since habits are neural pathways formed in the brain through repetition, allowing your dog to practice things you don’t want is basically ‘training’ them to do exactly those things — whether it be jumping up on people, chasing cars or barking wildly when someone passes by the house,” she said. “Management means using tools and foresight to prevent our dogs from having the opportunity to practice undesirable behaviors, and it’s just as important, if not more important than teaching the dog an alternative behavior.” Many of the tactics used in the “positive reinforcement training” toolbox mirror the science behind the “learning quadrant.” Goetz said the best place to begin learning about positive reinforcement is on the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s website. “For many dogs you can just use the kibble or whatever you’d be feeding them anyway if

food motivates them, and you can spice up that kibble in a variety of ways if you need to. It’s a common misconception that positive reinforcement training is all about food,” she said. “Many different things motivate dogs — toys, access to other dogs, attention from people, feeling safe.” For all stages of training, Goetz recommends a front-clip, no-pull harness, which she said can dramatically decrease pulling on a leash, making walking the dog more enjoyable and facilitating more opportunities for regular exercise. Goetz is piloting a new initiative with Aska’s Animals Foundation in Victor, Idaho, for pet owners who are not able to meet the financial commitment of regularly offered training programs. “We recently launched the Canine Behavior Support Program for those in need of financial support to attain behavioral services with their dogs,” she said. “No matter where the dog came from, they can now access those services for free.” There is also a monthly behavior workshop at Aska’s Animals. Registration is online at AskasAnimals.org. Contact Deb Gruver at deb@wordscout.biz.

PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 13

Lessons learned from an old cat A good vet, special food and a family’s tender care help a senior furball thrive. By Jeannette Boner

“The Big,” as he is affectionately referred to in our house, is an 18-pound fierce vole hunter with the heart rate of a resting Olympic athlete. We believe this to be true, though unverified — the resting heart rate part that is. He’s an almost mythical creature, and the kids are convinced he’s a descendant of a puma or mountain lion. Probably both. My son calls the cat’s claws, “killing machines,” and my daughter loves his soft belly and deep, guttural purr. The Big came to us in a cardboard box. He weighed 9 pounds soaking wet, was frostbitten and angry. I don’t know why I put him in the back of my car and drove him home. We didn’t like him right away, and he didn’t like us. That was more than 11 years ago. The Big has healed, his lopsided ears a reminder of the frostbite that was trimmed JEANNETTE BONER away and that now give him The Big folds himself into the Boner family’s life, splitting his more character than aesthetic nighttime hours between snoozing with the kids and keeping the yard value. We gave him medicine, and gardens free of voles. shelter and food. In return he has eradicated the voles from wrapping him up and nursing lined and not as ... well ... fat. our gardens and cuddles with him back to health. And now his He was eating the same, stealthe kids when they have had a regular vet sees him twice a year ing food from the kids when for checkups. Sometimes more they weren’t looking, but this hard day or don’t feel well. I can’t explain it. The Big just because The Big still defends his weight loss wasn’t right. I took territory and him to the vet. Turns out he was knows. o c c a s i on a l l y diabetic and was weeks from When he comes home succumbing to the disease. came into our — Be prepared to pay. At a with a deep lives, the vet “Our cat flesh wound. certain point you are going to told us The He’s alive to- have to ask yourself: How much is old now. Big was beday because money is too much money to tween 3 and The vole hunting good profes- maintain or increase care for an 5 years old. sionals have old pet? For our family, making Our cat is old has slowed. cleansed and the decision was not easy. Dianow. The vole repaired in- betes requires periodic blood hunting has The naps juries from draws, insulin and needles. We slowed. The argued with our vet and tried to Fight Club. naps are lonare longer. Our vet has cut corners about cat care. Our ger. The bills always been vet pushed back, and rightly so. are higher. The bills upfront and We’re not experts. We settled in H e r e ’s honest with us and looked at the budget. We what I’ve are higher.” too, especially moved forward. We took on learned about when we want more freelance work too. growing old— Supplements and food are to hear someer with a cool more important than ever now. thing different from her. cat such as The Big: — Keeping a close eye on Like most of us who are getting — Having a good veterinarchanging habits is important. A older, getting up in the mornian is essential. We’ve had the good fortune of working with year ago The Big started losing ing — or getting up at all, retwo great vets for The Big. The weight. Everyone remarked on ally — comes with a few more first one helped us rescue him, how good he looked, so stream- aches and pains. This is true for

JEANNETTE BONER

Since developing diabetes about two years ago, The Big requires twice-daily insulin injections. The Boners give him the pokes while he’s distracted during mealtime.

our aging cat. The Big is on a joint support supplement. We use GlycoFlex III, which is the high-level “geriatric” dose. Our vet has made good recommendations to us for more suitable cat food. We don’t buy the most expensive brand, but because of his diabetes, we now buy kitten food because it’s high in protein and low in carbs. Who knew? Two years ago we said goodbye to our 16-year-old heeler dog. In these moments it’s important to seek outside counsel on what is in the best interest of your pet. It’s difficult to arrive at that moment where we selfishly want him to stay with us but know that perhaps his body needs to go. Finding a trusted friend or talking to your vet well in advance can bring a more objec-

tive opinion should you be faced with that decision. I get it: We’re talking about a cat. An old cat who has no history — just a battered and bruised beginning with our family. But how funny to think that this grumpy, big, gray lump of an animal has curled up around our hearts, remained patient with our little kids pulling at his soft fur, sits quietly by while we stress about our daily lives only to wander over and give a nudge and reminder that we’re all part of the same family pack. (For incredibly ferocious and cute pictures of The Big, follow him on Instagram at #legendofelgrande.) Contact Deb Gruver at deb@ wordscout.biz.

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14 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

What do chickens dream of? Ask Grengg Animal communicator helps people understand what it is that their pets need and want. By Kate Ready

s an animal communicator Heidi Grengg takes consultations to communicate telepathically with animals — mostly dogs, cats and horses. Grengg moved to Jackson Hole in 1988 for the community and the mountains and started waitressing at The Lame Duck. A few years later she saw a book about animal communication in a catalog. Her curiosity piqued, she ordered it. “I was a single mom; I was learning about it slowly,” Grengg said. She attended three workshops over a period of time starting in 1992. One workshop was in Boise, Idaho, and two were in California. “There was an exercise we did at one of the workshops and one person pretended to be the animal,” Grengg said. “We couldn’t speak, but we had to try to get our point across. I was the animal, and it was so frustrating.” Grengg said she sees her job as “pretty much being an interpreter or a translator.” She has been consulting for Teton pet owners since 2000. Common issues pet owners seek her out for are to determine the motivation behind behavior issues, whether their pet wants another pet in the family and whether it’s time to put their pet down. A session typically lasts 30 minutes, all from the comfort of Grengg’s home. “I usually get a picture of the pet from the person, and I liken it to tuning into a radio station the way I can tune into an animal,” Grengg said. “Knowing their name, their person’s name and what they look like allows me to hone in on them.” She tunes in with the animal through “shutting up and listening,” Grengg said. This allows her to establish a connection with the animal that feels like inhabiting their body. “It feels like a coherence, I guess you’d say, when I do make that connection,” Grengg said. “I’m seeing through their eyes and hearing what they’re hearing, feeling what they’re feeling.” Briley Pickerill relied on Grengg’s help when her thoroughbred horse, Allie, experienced a downturn in health. “She had an injury that we were rehabbing for three or four years,” Pickerill said. “She was doing well for a year or two, and then it just got really bad and really quick. She wasn’t comfortable standing or walking.” A bone in one of Allie’s hooves was rotating, causing the horse pain. Pickerill wanted to know “if she was miserable and needed to be put down.” Grengg suggested doing so after communicating with Allie. “It was the best thing, unfortunately, for everybody,” Pickerill said. “She was in a lot of pain and ended up saying it was really sweet and thoughtful for me to think about that for her.” Christy Fox has called on Grengg three times, each time involving a dog. Once was when one of the family cats had died. “One of our dogs looked really sad, and one of them looked really guilty,” Fox said. Grengg told Fox that the dog had accidentally thrown the cat off the bed when surprised by the feline. “It was an accident,” Fox said. “That gave me a lot of peace.” Grengg has even communicated with a chicken once, and contrary to popular opinion, there’s a lot going on in the psyche of a fowl. It ain’t all laying eggs. “When I was at one of those workshops, the instructor had chickens at her house,” Grengg said. “So this chicken just started blabbing on and on to me about his dreams, telling me how he would go to the stars. I didn’t realize chickens could do that.” Grengg said this chicken was particularly chatty because he was used to being talked to.

RYAN DORGAN / NEWS&GUIDE

Heidi Grengg is an animal communicator, helping people better understand their pets.

Grengg also recently tapped into a dog whose owner was curious whether he wanted another dog in the house. Grengg saw a picture in her mind of a cat. The owner confirmed her dog loved cats. Another dog owner contacted Grengg because his dog was declining rapidly. Grengg confirmed his pet was dying, but both Grengg and the owner witnessed a remarkable comeback. “I got this picture of a gray, shimmery curtain that was moving and flowing,” Grengg said. “That’s what [the dog] was. It didn’t feel like he was in his body. He is getting better, though. In fact, he just took his dog on a road trip. So I don’t know what that near-death experience was.” Grengg said she even called a communicator herself to help her decide whether it was time to put her cat down. “We had a cat that I was pretty sure was dying, but I didn’t have enough emotional

distance to be sure I was getting it clear enough,” Grengg said. Grengg said it’s validating for both her work as a communicator and for the pet owners when she tells them whether their pet is ready to pass on. “People usually know when their animal is ready to go,” Grengg said. “Ten times out of 10 the person sighs and says ‘That’s what I thought.’ It always meshes. People actually know. They’re just frightened of it.” Communicating with animals isn’t reserved just for Grengg or Eliza Thornberry, the main character of Nickelodeon’s show “The Wild Thornberrys.” In fact, Grengg said, you’re probably already doing it. “People are doing this all the time; they just don’t put this name on it,” Grengg said. “You know their body language, their different barks. You know your animal pretty well. You’re getting nonverbal messages all

the time.” If you want to improve your communication, Grengg gives a simple tip: Quiet down. “It’s really just listening,” she said. “You have to quiet down your mental chatter. Get into a meditative state and just receive. Be open and receptive and just accept what you get, knowing that maybe it’s not right. And that’s OK. Just get into the habit of receiving things.” One big takeaway for Grengg in communicating with people’s deceased pets has been her own relationship to the afterlife. “Their energy is different because it’s super expansive, super joyful,” Grengg said. “We’re souls, whether we’re in bodies or out. That changed my view of how life works. Now I don’t wonder if there’s something after death. I know there is.” Contact Kate Ready at 732-7076 or kready@jhnewsandguide.com.

PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 15

Pandemic expands veterinary care options Tech advances include an in-house virtual care team, live chats.‌ By Tibby Plasse

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how veterinarians work and how some pet parents dealt with their animals. In some cases, being home made pet parents more diligent about their animals’ care. Others may have skipped wellness checks and vaccinations. “We have a lot of wellness checks coming in that are overdue from COVID,” Kate McGowan, practice manager at VCA Animal Care Hospital, said recently. The Animal Care Hospital stayed open during the pandemic, offering curbside visits and telehealth appointments. Spring Creek Animal Hospital said it saw more new patients in 2020 than it had in the previous three years. Millions of animals have been adopted since the start of the pandemic, which means millions of new patients for veterinary clinics. The pandemic changed how vet clinics were able to see patients, but Dr. Stephanie Ninnemann at Spring Creek Animal Hospital said many hospitals have embraced the technology adopted in the pandemic. “We offer video visits for existing clients, text messaging to answer questions, and more,” Ninnemann said. Last year Spring Creek established an in-house virtual care team, staffed by VCA’s own certified veterinary technicians. The team of licensed veterinary professionals now handles more than 15,000 chats each month, addressing general medical questions and advising pet owners on how to handle concerns about their pets. Additionally, the MyVCA mobile app is available to all clients so they can access care 24/7. “These innovations have streamlined VCA’s care process and will remain in place moving forward,” Ninnemann said. Though the number of pet adoptions is stabilizing, Ninnemann said the influx of new residents has also increased traffic. “We are also seeing many new residents coming to the valley, and with that comes additional pets,” she said. “Many seasonal employees/residents are arriving for the summer need care for their pets too.” Normal is still finding its calibration in a post-pandemic

KATHRYN ZIESIG / NEWS&GUIDE

After removing a broken catheter from a cat’s bladder, Dr. Stephanie Ninnemann begins stitching the incision closed to complete the cystotomy operation at VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital. The feline had been suffering from painful and bloody urination. Ninnemann guessed the catheter had broken during a previous surgery and remained there until the new owners brought the cat to Spring Creek.

world, even at the veterinarian’s office with all the protocols and technology. Ninnemann said that for the most part dayto-day life has returned to the more traditional approach of in-person visits and regular surgeries. “But we have also been able to maintain helpful changes. We can offer drop-off exams, virtual visits, and can adapt to the needs of clients in many ways,” she said. “It’s certainly not back to normal, largely because veterinary clinics are often not able to support the demand of the community, but many of the changes are for the better.” As in all sectors, supply chain issues and staffing issues are bottlenecking animal care as well. Ninnemann pointed

out there are many types of foods, prescription diets, medications, and supplements, that are difficult to source due to high demand. She said, though, that for the most part, veterinary professionals are able to offer alternative solutions to help bridge the gap. Vets urge pet parents to keep tabs on annual exams or more regular senior exams and shots. Make appointments in advance, communicate through the digital channels provided and don’t ignore symptoms or changes in behavior. Diligent observation will always be the first pillar of better pet care. Contact Tibby Plasse via deb@wordscout.biz.

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16 - PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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