Pawsitivley Austin (2)

Pawstivley Austin WINTER 2013 VOLUME 1

THOUGHTS OF A VOLUNTEER PAGE 26-27

THE

big PICTURE

LIFE AS A

Tripod PAGE 10-11

PAGE 13-15

THE DOG

TRANSLATOR PAGE 19-22

T CONTENTS able of

Photo by State Farm

Dog Translator The life of a dog trainer.

Pg. 19-22

Top 5 Doggy Destinations Places to play with your pet Pg. 6-7

Cat vs Cat Which one is better?

Pg.16-17

Photo by Takashi Hososhima

The Big Picture The life in a cat shelter.

Pg.13-15

Life as a Tripod The life without a leg Pg.8-9

Photo by Jeffreyw

Dog Shelter

The life of a volunteer Pg.26-27

6 Signs of Sickness The easiest ways to see and take action.

Pg.24-25

Pet Safari The Wild Side of Pets.

Pg.10-11

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Meet The

Crew Name: Tom Gilburg Tom Gilburg was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He first became interested in dogs when he was little and was forced to go to his mom’s friend’s apartment. In the apartment lived an old, crabby Chihuahua, that hated everyone and everyone hated it. The Chihuahua came up to where he was sitting and started to snuggle with him.

Ever since that day Tom’s favorite animal has been the dog that no one likes. He lives now in Austin, Texas and goes to LASA, where he plays tennis and builds robots. In Austin he lives with his father, mother, sister and a dog that no one likes.

This time it’s a Boston terrier French Bulldog mix named Leah. Tom’s family was sadly left with Leah when he last dog, Sandy, died from the Grim Reaper himself, the possum from outside.

Name : T’Ondre Minter T’Ondre is the stereotypical choirboy. Always singing at the wrong time during class, T’Ondre has become one of the most fun and lovable teammates in the group. He learned how to sing like a champ at his middle school Fulmore and now sings at LASA. Although T’ Ondre doesn’t have any pets in the real world he has tons of cute pets in his 3DS cartage of Pokemon X (Side Note Tom gave him that so um your welcome!!!) T’ Ondre is now looking forward for things ahead and trying T’ Ondre his dream of catching ‘em all.

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Name: Mara Eccles Mara Eccles was born and raised in Austin, Texas with her loving mother, father, and her rambunctious little brother. She also has a nannie that comes over to help her take care of all her ten pets, including her brother. Out of the ten she fosters three little pets two cute little kittens named Reese and Cashew and one not-so-adorable little brother named trouble. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up she responded, �I wanted to be a veterinarian so I can do my pets check-ups instead of spending A LOT and I mean A LOT of money.

Name: Adele Witt Adele Witt was born in Austin Texas as a Beagle Lover. Now on the Beagle Freedom Program, she loves to be part of any volunteering opertunites when there are dogs involved but cats are a whole other story. Being scared physically and mentally she is now has a strong hatred towards her cat, most cats are OK, and is now trying to find her cute little devil cat a home(Please Call 512-HELPME or go online to www.OMGmyCatisEvil.edu help_me_now) .

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Letter From The Editors

Photo by: Staff

Dear Reader, Our magazine Pawsitively Austin discusses things you need, want, or didn’t even know about animals. We are a team of animal lovers who transfer our love into makeing this magazine.We write about all sorts of animals: from the cute and cuddly to the scaly and scary. The Pawsitively Austin team hopes that you will read and love our magazine and learn something from it.

Sincerely, The Team

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Top 5 Doggy Destinations places to play with your pet Written by Adele Witt

Looking for an adventure for you and your dogs? Tired of “No Dogs Allowed” signs? This guide has alluring nature spots that welcome dogs of all sizes and personalities.

Barton Springs Greenbelt

This trail looks so picturesque and green that it won’t even feel like Earth. About seven miles of space, it has lots of trees and natural bodies of water. If your dog prefers to stay dry, then the trails offer lots of smells to entertain it. If your pet likes water, ponds and waterfalls dot the greenbelt at different intervals. The natural beauty of this area will take your breath away. Make sure to bring water, as no water fountains have availability on the trails. However, depending on the rain, your dog can most likely find water on the trail for itself but bring extra water just in case. You can find bathrooms located on spyglass trailhead. Many different trails run through the greenbelt, so make sure you know where to go.Go to http://bartoncreekhome.com to find a map of the trail you want to hike. All dogs must have a leash.

Barton Springs, the icon of Austin

By Timothy J

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Barton Springs Greenebelt (one of the few geen spots in Austin)

Photot By Todd Dywere

Barton Springs Spillway

Barton Springs, an icon to most Austinites, connects to the Barton Springs Spillway. You will find the water of the spillway refreshingly cool and clear. And the entrance fee? None! You will see tons of dogs here! Dogs don’t need a leash, but everyone must keep track of their dog at all times.

Though this spillways hosts tons of dogs, families come here for entertainment, so all dogs brought to the spillway must be people and animal friendly. Water fountains surround the park, but you should definitely bring a water bottle because of the Austin weather, and you don’t want the heat to get to you! The spillway spills into Lady Bird Lake. The area between Barton Springs and the Spillway can have heavy canoe and kayak traffic, so watch out. However, the upper part of the spillway will always stay traffic free for human and dog use. The Austin Chronicle gave it a Best of Austin Award in 2012 ,(The Best Swimming Hole). If your dog loves water, then you and your dog will have fun here!

Zilker Botanical Gardens

Zilker Botanical Gardens, multiple gardens

Zilker Botanical Gardens spans over 30 acres of critter- in one! This is the dinosaur garden! rich land. The gardens contain many different species of plants and insects, including gorgeous butterflies. It’s often called “the jewel in the heart of Austin” on twitter and other websites, for many people visit and it’s considered a tourist destination.

It contains many different gardens with different spices. The operating hours: from seven a.m. to seven p.m. Strict dog rules exist, because it’s a public space, and dogs must be on leash.

These rules include dogs being people friendly. The admission fee: 1-2 dollars, depending on your age. Open year round and closed only on certain holidays, it’s the sort of place you will find you and your dog visiting often. Remember no food, but bring water for you and your dog! And keep an eye out for Photot by Heather Cowper exotic butterflies!

Lady Bird Lake, you can kayak to Redbud island across it!

Photo by Pixagen

Lady Bird Lake Trails

Lady Bird Lake, formerly known as Town Lake, represents classic entrainment. Trails, kayaking and other outdoor activities offer lots of amusement.The trails here have received many Best of Austin awards from the Austin Chronicle over the years. If your dog gets hot, dog rules allow dogs to swim in the lake and run around, on leash or off leash, depending on where you go. Recently built and opened; the new bathrooms stand at the trailhead, so use them before your hike! In order to walk on a trail just follow the signs. The trails of Lady Bird Lake aren’t as wonderful without a dog by your side so if you don’t have a dog, go to Austin Pets Alive (only if you’re 18 or older), you can take one of their dogs to walk on the trails with you. Many trails surround the lake and the area. To find a map, go to http://www.townlaketrail.org/.

Redbud Island

Surrounded by Lady Bird Lake and under Tom Miller Dam, this island contains it all: Dogs, a lake, and natural attractions. Redbud Island the mothership of dog parks, does not require leashes. The trails create a loop through islands interior. Some owners understandably worry about letting their dogs off leash due to busy roads, but Redbud Island sits far from any main road, so there’s no need to worry! Part of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Redbud Island stays well maintained.

Unfortunately, restrooms do not exist on Redbud island.

The island hosts a short hiking trail that circles the island and several places along the hike extend right into the water. These small coves and ponds are ideal for fishing or for your dog to swim. so Next time your looking for a dog park consider this one.

Congress Bidge, over Lady Bird Lake

Photot By Aka Heigh

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Pet Safari Everyone knows taking care of an exotic pet can drain you of your energy.. We are here to help with that. These animals range from scaly or scary to cute or furry, from savage orvicious to loyal or adorable. We’re going to not only going to help choose your new friend but also we’ll help take care of it too.

Ferret:

They have an avereage life span of six to eight years.

Males weigh two and a half lbs. while females weigh one and a half lbs. They have a very powerful personality and can be really playful creatures and play “hunt” which may frighten you if you don’t know their body language.

Ferrets tend to relieve themselves when they wake so be sure to have a litter box near a corner of its cage. If a ferret starts pawing the ground and semiprone ( a halfway crawling position) , it wants to wrestle. Take the same position and it will pounce and retreat, then it try to wrestle and “kill” your hand.

Ferrets playing area.

Photo by: Selbe B

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Salamanders:

Fun Fact: Never let your When you have salamander near a banana a salamamder be sure to keep it slug (A yellow colored slug in a moist, damp habitat with that looks like a banana). places to hide. This way they can They could try to eat it, feel at home. Be sure the tank is and the slugs have toxins kept cool at 55 to 65 degreees. inside their skin that glue Feed them slugs, earthworms and the mouth shut. wood lice. Handle the salamander as little as possible, because their moist skin should not be handled by human skin, due to the oil on human hands, which is harmful Banana Slug to them. Clean out the tank every two to three months and do not use any chlorine or disinfectants, (not even a little) or it will harm the salamander, in a way similar Photo by Vicki and Chuck Rog to that like the touch of a human ers hand.

Pet salamander on a plate.

Mouse on a keyboard

Photo by: Richard Masoner

Photo by: Pockafwye

Mice:

Cheese

Photo by JJ

Fun Fact: Even though it is comonly believed that all mice love cheese and eat it regularly, cheese is actually not good for their stomachs, and many mice do not like the taste of cheese.

They thrive in groups of 4-5 and need to be kept in a plastic terrarium, because they can easily squeeze out of a cage with bars.

Keep bucks (male mice) away from each other because they do not get along with each other. Feed them seeds and fresh fruits and veggies like apples and assorted lettuce.

Daily care of the mice is required, and it means cleaning the food bowl and drinking water bottle.

Clean out their terrarium at least once every two weeks. To play with them, you can give them treats and hide treats in places where they can search for them. If you are too busy to play with your mouse daily, you can buy it a running wheel.

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TRIDOG

H

ave you ever heard of a tripod? A tripod is an animal that has only three of its legs instead of all four. Reasons for this could be because of bone cancer or an accident that could have badly injured or cut off the animal’s leg. Although people may think of this as a burden it doesn’t really affect the animal too much. Rithi’s dog, Henna, was a tripod and she seemed to be doing pretty well for herself. Henna was Rithi’s German Shepherd and Collie mix, and she had a tumor on her front leg so it had to surgically removed. Some animals personality changes whenever something like this happens but, Rithi said,

Henna used to be a very social dog who loves kids.. “She is very fond of little kids and thinks that she is human! Other than that she has always been very delicate, girly and sweet dog. In fact many people informed us that Henna “walks” as if she still had had all four of her legs. Henna “hops” sorta more than she “walks”. I asked if they ever thought about giving Henna a prosthetic, and was replied to with “No, they are quite expensive and most tripods get along just fine with three legs.” Usually tripods get therapy after the loss of their leg but Henna didn’t, “Henna never went through any therapy after the surgery. The research we did actually about tripods,

“Henna’s personality remained the same after the surgery. Although she was always apprehensive about going to the vet, I think after the procedure it made her a little bit more anxious and apprehensive, but after the surgery Henna’s perseverance became stronger.”

Tripod that lost its back left leg

Photo by: Danger Ranger

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Tripod taking a break after its walk.

Photo by: e_monk

stated that dogs don’t need all four legs, the fourth one just ensures the dog stays balanced,” said Rithi.

Tripods usually have trouble a little trouble when it comes to walking, especially on slippery surfaces because, the fourth leg is to ensure their balance (explained by Rithi) but, since it’s gone they have a little trouble keeping balance. “Henna slipped a lot when she was on the tiles in our house, so we just added a rug where she eats her food and where she sits in the living room. We also adjusted the height of her food and water bowl higher, to make it easier for her,” Rithi explained. When I asked Rithi about the tumor she said, The doctors’ said that she seemed healthy and her other three legs were okay, so her quality of living should be intact and comfortable.

Tripods can easily start walking again after they lose their within 24 hours, but it took Henna two days.”

“Henna actually took a little longer to start walking after the surgery, so she was in the vet two days longer; the doctors’ said this was normal because of her anxiety and all. We visited her every day at the vet’s,” said Rithi. “Henna has been with us since my brothers and I were babies, and she was 15 years old.”

“Though it wasn’t cancerous or anything it did bleed constantly and effected her sitting and all.

Mulgaonker’s dog Henna, lost her front left leg.

Photo by: Rithi Mulgaonker

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N A T U E R S

Its only NATURAL to give your cat the best!

Buy it at Cosco today!

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D O M A I N

“I think we all are here for something, and I just feel like it’s the thing I can do to give back.”

Photo by Pieter Lanser

THE BIG PICTURE The life in a cat shelter.

-By Mara Eccles-

Foster’s are usually young, so people adopt as kittens.

Photo by Pieter Lanser

B

efore they get to your home, foster cats move around a lot, going from shelters, to foster homes and back. Many people don’t know how hard it is for the foster parents to say goodbye to the cats they fostered. Do you know anything about your cat’s background? For most pet owners, the answer is no. With every happy cat, there is a story of how it got to be a pet, but it isn’t known by anyone but the foster parents. Take a look at the inside information, on how stray cats become pets.

The Starfish Cat and Kitten Rescue is a company that tries to improve the lives of cats in the community by rescuing, fostering and adopting them out. Every cat that enters the rescue is fed, sheltered, and treated for illnesses. Volunteers reduce the population of strays and educate people about spaying and neutering their pets. But lots of foster parents have a hard time fitting fostering the cats into their daily lives. Many things go on in the foster parents’ day. And, for every cat that gets adopted, how do the volunteers let go?

Since 2007, she has been taking in cats from shelters they wouldn’t have been adopted in, with her colleague, Chandra Garrison, and her husband, Andrew Hosken. She takes the cats to her house and treats them as if they were her own pets.

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“I know them all by name. These are my kids,” Hosken confided. Helping the cats is not her job, but her passion. “I think we are all here for something,” she said. “And I just feel like [helping the cats is] the thing I can do.”

Hosken went into a detailed explanation of different ways she is alerted of another cat she is to foster.

Mostly, she is tagged on facebook with pictures of cats about to be put down in a nearby shelter.

“When I started this I was doing mostly TNR,” Hosken said, which she explained later to be “Trap Neuter Return” of feral cats she finds or receives. This gives the cat shelters she takes cats from less kittens. Also, if any kittens were found, Hosken would try to adopt them out. However, with the use of technology, the method of Trapping, Neutering and Returning has been decreasing at the same rate.

Hosken usually fosters kittens, rather than older cats. When it is time for her to neuter the kitten, (which happens when they are around three pounds) she takes them to the vet, who knows her on a more personal level.

“My vet has my number memorized,” Hosken laughed. “He is my speed dial 3. I’m in there usually 2 or 3 times a week.” When a cat has an illness and needs more treatment than Hosken can offer, she takes it immediately to her veterinarian’s office.

Even though she is very capable of helping the cats, more than just feeding and sheltering them, by giving them shots, force feeding them, she knows when the cat is beyond the treatment she can offer them, and when it is time to go to the vet.

Sometimes, though, the treatments don’t work.

“Chandra [Garrison] and I have a saying, ‘they knew love,’ so sometimes the kitties die,” Hosken said softly. “They’ve been put through a lot, or they are sick when we get them. But when they die, I call Chandra, and she says ‘You know Molly, they knew love.’” But Hosken has seen first hand how a little bit of love can make a cat’s life worth all the pain that they go through. “ I have a room for kitties with Feline Leukemia, it’s a disease that eventually they will die from... It’s contagious so they are separated and everything, but these are kitties that would have been put down because they have it and everything, these cats can’t be around other cats.” Hosken said that even though she cries when they are put down, at least “they have a little kitty sanctuary that they can just play in and be loved until you know its their time, and we put them down humanely.”

Even though Hosken never likes to let them go, she knows that the big picture, saving the cats from killshelters and setting them up for a life of happiness, is all that matters in the end, whether she has to put down a cat she fosters, or a cat that she knew would have to be put down eventually.

“We have to remember that we’re here to give them love even if its just for a short, short time.” Over her time of helping hundreds of cats, Hosken has learned that though an infected cat will die no matter what she does, the best thing to do is to make it’s life as happy as possible.

Not every cat has a happy ending the first time. If they do get adopted and returned, which Hosken said happens sometimes, it can take the cat some time to adjust. Hosken picks up an older-looking cat.

“This is Tootsie,” Hosken smiles sadly and said. “And she had been adopted and returned... She is not adapting very well. We’ve had her back for about a week now, and she’s still not really happy.” Hosken said that the amount of time it takes for a cat to adjust depends on the cat.

“I definitely don’t think it is the absolute best place for them, even though we take them out of shelters and save their lives, so we can take them to their permanent home,” Hosken said. The only reason why there are so many, she said, is because she can deal with a lot more than other people can. “We have to remember that it’s not something everybody could

handle, and fortunately or unfortunately, we can.”

Hosken sighed, aggravated on the subject of receiving new cats to foster.

“My rule is that I ask people not to tag me [on facebook] if I’m too full, because I have a very hard time saying no, and then it hurts me.” And with all that she does in a day, Hosken has neither the time nor the resources to take in more cats than she can handle, also knowing that some cats can be overwhelmed by the presence of others.

“I don’t feel like I should suffer, because I can’t help all of them. I want to help you know, we try to we make a difference for every cat.”

For every cat that Hosken can foster, it is hard to let them go when they get adopted. She smiled sadly as she remembers all of the cats that she has had to give away. But she knows that she has to be strong.

For the cats that it is especially hard to let go of, she has to remember not to give in to the temptation to make them all her pets.

“You can’t keep them all, and this is why we’re doing this, and [you] just have to [stay] happy.”

Hosken says. And it’s true, not any person off the street could take care of 35 to 40 cats at one time, as Hosken does, give them medical attention, learn to love them for the individuals they are, and then let go, as they leave to start a new life. Hosken knows that she is not immune to letting the cats go, but after adopting them out so often, (from what she says, over 600 times) she knows that even though it hurts, it is always about the big picture. Always.

Foster’s have companions so they aren’t lonely.

Photo by Takashi Hososhima

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Cat V. Cat Which is the Better?

-By: Tom GilburgGetting a new kitten or cat, owners have a lot of questions—Like what you should name your new companion or how you will train your new pet. But what type of lifestyles you want your cat to live ends up as a huge question.

Letting them patrolling the neighborhood like a tiger or ruling the inside like a prince. Both lifestyles have their benefits and disadvantages that will affect you and your cat, which can make your decision harder, but hopefully with this article it will make your decision easier showing you the ins and outs of the two types of cats.

Outdoor Cat Pros • Lets your cat use its natural instincts that makes it independent.

• Outdoor cats exercise their mind and body on a daily basis, from roaming outside.

• You, as an owner, will spend less money on toys because you will not need to entertain your cat because it roams the outside experiencing new things everyday.

Photo By: Susy Morris

Kitten Looking for Adventure

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Cons

• Outdoor cats may get diseases, like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that travels through bite wounds and Feline Leukemia a disease that passes between cats’ body product and fluids. This causes a lot of money out of your pocket to pay for monthly shots.

• Outdoor cats are in danger to cars, and other animals.

• • Outdoor cats also hunt birds and small rodents, which can create an imbalance in the ecosystem that your cat roams in.

Indoor Cats Pros

Cons

• Outdoor cats may get diseases, like Feline • Indoor cats tend to break things to get attention, Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that travels through or on accident when sneaking around your bite wounds and Feline Leukemia a disease that passes house. between cats’ body product and fluids. This causes a lot of money out of your pocket to pay for monthly • Your cat will be come dependent on you and shots. will become clingy and needy, which can cause your cat to do drastic things like scratch, or tear • Outdoor cats are in danger to cars, and other animals. furniture and/or persius objects.

• • Outdoor cats also hunt birds and small rodents, which • Indoor cats will exhaust a lot of time and money can create an imbalance in the ecosystem that your cat to keep them entertain. roams in.

Photo By: Susy Morris

Lamenting at the World Unknown

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Low Oder. Low Maintenance.

THE DOG

TRANSLATOR -By Adele Witt-

“I like to joke that dog training is 99% human training and 1% dog training. Dogs are so quick to give up things that don’t work for them so if they don’t get a treat for it or praise they ask“Why would I do that anymore?”

A

“Nothing comes easy. If learning was easy everyone would sign on the door reads, “You say crazy dog lady do [it] and not be watching TV,” Jourdan explains. like its a bad thing!”. Visitors walk in and see a Since Jourdan is no ordinary trainer, she doesn’t just do the Border Collie with one blue and one brown eye obsessively chasing his tail, next, a big white, Shepadoodle run-of-the-mill things that standard trainers do. Sure, she can train dogs in agility and obedience, but she also does more (Belgian Shepherd/Standard Poodle) who used to have reverse potty training issues. An Irish Wolfhound completes intense training for dogs with trust issues. Jourdan expands on her many routines: the eclectic collection of dogs in Jessica Jourdan’s house, a safe haven for dogs with behavioral issues. Jourdan’s love for “I don’t really have one routine that I do with all the same dogs doesn’t just mean owning a lot of them; it also means dogs because each dog is a unique individual and each problem is unique. But there are some general systems which working with them. Jourdan’s love for animals made her quit her original job of analyzing humans in a think tank, work quite well and generally they start with creating a safety and become a Behavioral Consultant Trainer for dogs. Now zone for dogs and letting them know they [can] feel safe and Jourdan is one of the trainers at the Canine Center in Austin.that they can escape anything that they are afraid of,” Jourdan Jourdan has now worked with dogs for seven years. She says expanding on her many routines. is now fully invested in her new job, working with dogs of all Of course, a safety zone is different for each dog in the same way that all dogs are different. Some general things in a safety sorts .

“I just kept moving in the direction I was interested in zone are the absence of things that may scare a dog, silence, and I kept reading and volunteering, and practicing and then and anything else that may calm a dog down.

I worked with people who did [dog training] and eventually A question owners may ask, “Is my dog trainable?” this is a weighted question seen everywhere. that turned into becoming a dog trainer,”Jourdan said.

“There are some dogs that can not be trained out of Jourdans not just your average dog trainer. Jourdan a problem that they have, possibly [because] it is caused by deals with the much darker aspects of dog nature: behavior something medical. Unless it is a medical issue or a severe problems. She deals with a variety of problems. behavior issue or temperament, all dogs are trainable. Some “Anything from severe fear – feral dogs who have dogs are just easier [to] work with,”Jourdan remarks. never been socialized so that they are terrified of people, “For me, Border Collies are the easiest [to train] because and to aggression and reactivity, dogs that bite people, that they are so bright. They are bred to be attentive to their bite other dogs, dogs that are afraid of people, all sorts of owner, hardworking and eager to please, so that makes them behaviors,” Jourdan clarifies.

One of the hazards of this job is being bitten by one of easy to train, ” Jourdan explains, looking at Marble, her own her trainees. Since dogs can’t talk, they respond to fear with Border Collie, who sits at her feet. one of the only ways they can: biting. Jourdan has been bitten several times. Currently, her finger is red and the nail is a dark color from the blood drying underneath, one of the many battle scars she’s received through dog training.

“Sometimes you get bitten, but that rarely happens to me because I can sense what the dog is saying, stop, back up,” Jourdan explains.

Environments can also affect a dog and its behavior. If the dog is abused in some way, it may be fearful and prone to biting. “[A] dog is born with it’s temperament, and that’s just it’s ( a dog) DNA, so that’s not it’s ( a dog) fault. And then the humans are, you know, I say that we have the opposable thumbs and the prefrontal cortex so that we should be able to figure out life. So that if [you control the door, the leash, and the food] then you really are the person that has to be responsible for taking care of your dog,” Jourdan said, explaining the control and responsibility an owner has over a dog.

If a dog has problems, it can’t speak, therefore it can’t get help. Jourdan and other people with her profession deal with these dogs.

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The type of dog Jourdan works with

By State Farm

Sometimes people wonder why dog training isn’t sticking. This is because people fail to realize that it not just training their dog, but also the dog training the owner.

“I like to joke that dog training is 99% human training and 1% dog training, ’’ Jourdan says jokingly.

“Dogs are so quick to give up things that don’t work for them, so if they don’t get a treat for it or praise they ask, ‘Why would I do that anymore?,’’Jourdan says. “It’s hard for people to understand their dog is full of fear and not full of aggression. They misunderstand or don’t see their dogs signals,” she elaborates.

Being a dog trainer isn’t just Jourdan’s job, but also a hobby.

Jourdan, who has adopted several dogs with issues, spends lots of time training her own dogs. Aleia, a big white dog who licks visitors freely, had reverse potty training issues. Instead of going to the bathroom outside like a normal dog, she remained locked up in the house because her owner neglected her. Aleia obviously couldn’t hold it in forever and would eventually relieve herself inside. Her owner would then yell at her and possibly beat her for it. This lead to Aleia being in the habit of going to the bathroom in the house in dark corners.

“I had to teach her to go to the bathroom outside with me by her side and it was very hard to train her. Every morning I would be outside with her for like an hour just waiting for her to potty outside,” Jourdan said, looking at a drooling Aleia.

Aleia isn’t the only one of Jourdan’s dogs who has received training. Marble suffered from a disorder in people called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This disorder is when someone (or a dog) continually does the same behavior or action over and over again without any cognitive thought.

“When I first got him, he obsessively spun and snapped at his tail, that’s all he did, and it was a lot of work, and it was six months before he really could learn that he had other productive things he could do besides spin and snap at his tail,” Jourdan describes.

He does this, Jourdan explains, because he’s not thinking. Marble was a dog found tied up in someone’s backyard, ignored, not fed properly, or played with, and this lack of stimulation made Marble desperate to do something.

This is why he ran in circles and snapped at his tail.

“So what [I] have done is teach [Marble] other things to do and use up his mental energy,”Jourdan says. Even though Marbel still has his issues, Jourdan comments, “I never thought I would have a Border Collie, but he’s a good one.”

One of the most important things about a dog is its behavior. The behavior of a dog can determine whether or not it will have a home.

Marbel, a dog who snaps at his tail

By Adele Witt

Aleia, she has potty training issues

By Adele Witt

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“I try to describe that a good dog is a lack of poor Jourdan mentions, recalling Mojo’s grateful owners. behavior, so if you have [a] dog that doesn’t jump, doesn’t do “When he [Mojo] trusted me, that was very ‘x’, doesn’t run out the door, doesn’t bite, doesn’t steal food rewarding, and the owners were happy [and] that was very off the table, all of these things people say, that is a good rewarding,” Jourdans say explaining why she loves her low dog because it doesn’t do anything I don’t want,” Jourdan pay job. explains. However, Jourdan has her own opinion on dog

Jourdan continues to work hard at her job and train behavior. problematic dogs.

“I personally have defined my good dogs, for me,

In five years she will be a Certified Behaviorist, as dogs actively engaged with me and thinking what I which takes five hundred hours of specialized behavior need or want so that we have a very interactive, trust based training and also requires a doctorate (which she already has). relationship.” Jourdan say explaining her opinion.

She will also be a T-touch practitioner (T-touch is a special This sort of relationship is ideal for Jourdan. If the dog kind of working with a dog – reactivity and aggression) as trusts Jourdan, it makes her job (and life) a lot easier and the well in five years. training more likely to stick.

“I think that the biggest reward that I get is when I

Agility is one of the most common things to train a see a dog transformed and happy in life,” Jourdan says. dog for. When some people think about dogs and training, they think show dogs, but dogs can also be trained to do much greater tasks, such as search and rescue. Dogs can do work humans simply can’t accomplish. Search and rescue dogs have saved thousands of lives every year, finding people in all sorts of situations from terrorist attacks to natural disasters. Jourdan has trained Aleia her Shepadoodle to be a search and rescue dog.

“Search and rescue is where either I will go and hide, or at this point, I will have another person hide in the woods, A dog who can sniff out and I will hold onto my dog and I will send her (Aleia) in the people in a bulidings remains woods to find the person by scent and then[when the routine is over and she has found the person], she will come back to alert me. Her alert is to sit and bark, and I say ‘Show me’ and then she will lead me to the person missing in the woods.”

Jourdan says.

Jourdan works long hours and her day can be quite stressful, because of both the dogs and the owners. Just like many things, Jourdan has a favorite way to work.

“Sometimes I am just working with a dog and not the owner, and when I am just working with the dog and it is just me and the dog and I am working with severe behavior cases, those are the ones I like to do, just me and the dog,” Jourdan explains.

Working with just the dog can be more difficult, but Jourdan can often get more done with just the dog as the owner can add pressure to the dog to perform well.

While her job may be stressful, it’s also very rewarding. She has saved many dogs from being put down by training them how not to bite. Her skills with animals has helped improve Mojo’s (a dog she worked with) life, she helped him with his fear issues.

“I was the first person outside of their house, there

By Mashleymorgan were two people who could touch their dog. When they saw I could pet their dog, they started crying because they were so thrilled because they thought no one else could get close to him. They were so appreciative that he could have bigger life Search and Rescue Dog at collapsed Building than he had had and could move forward to another person

By Mashleymorgan to the point where he has a few people who can pet him, ”

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GREEINES PILL POCKETS BACK TO THE BASICS

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6 Signs to See if you Have a Sick Pet the easiest ways to recognize and take action -Articles

written

by

Mara

Eccles-

Every good pet owner wants to know how to make their pet’s life as happy as possible, and that includes with figuring out if your pet’s health suffers.

Sometimes sickness isn’t easy to see, and when it shows, deciding what to ignore and when to involve a vet proves hard. Find out some of the most common ways to identify an illness, and what the symptoms mean. * Make sure your pet gets excersize, such as hiking.

Vomiting: A pet could vomit due to eating lots of food, too fast.

Still, vomiting can also mean something far more serious; your dog may have swallowed a toxic substance, or may suffer from a condition that requires urgent veterinary attention.

Seek some veterinary help if the vomiting continues over multiple days, or if the amount starts to increase. *

Diarrhea: Diarrhea can happen because of new diets or a more serious illness. It could last for a short time, or continue for a longer time. Chandra Garrison, a volunteer for Starfish Cat and Kitten Rescue keeps a drug for diarrhea for the cats she fosters. She says if diarrhea occurs often, ask vets if drugs are an option.*

Coughing:

Photo By myfuture.com

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Coughing originates from the throat, airways or the lungs.

It has many causes, such as tracheal irritation or tracheal collapse. However, most of these causes are very serious.

When noticing the cough, look for details, such as “Moist or dry?” and “Hacking or choking?” Take into account the pet’s age and breed. *

Excersizing your pet can be very important to your pet’s health. Leaving them inside the house too long can make them do things they normally wouldnt, such as destroying posesions.

Dogs should get plenty of time outside.

When your pet goes outside to relieve itself, look at the waiste every so often to make sure that everything looks healthy. Make sure your pets goes outside at least once every day.

Photo By Sara Landvogt

Urine Levels: If your pet is having problems when it urinates every day, such as being in pain, frequent accidents after it has already been housetrained, if it has higher or lower levels of the normal urination levels, etc.

These could occur from the pet having dehydration, or there could be a real problem. Ask a vet for more advice on what to do if these problems occur more often. *

Mood Changes: A dog who outgoes usually, yet suddenly begins to sulk might feel down, but not necessarily sick. Also, a dog who usually stays friendly and gentle with children may attack if it becomes ill.

While emotions can often foreshadow illness, sometimes when a dog shows an emotion it can just be about needing more love and/or attention from

their

owner(s).

*

Energy Levels: If your dog sleeps more or less than it usualy does, acts lethargic, if it seems indifferent to activities it would normally enjoy, (ex: running, or playing fetch), or acts anxious, then the Bayer Health Care website would recommend that you contact your vet if your dog displays any of these characteristics over a period of several days. The pet could have a serious illness. *

Make sure your pet gets excersize, such as hiking.

Photo By HeartSpoon

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Family Finders

By Tom Gilburg Imagine a place where all the lost and mistreated things go and to take sanctuary. No, this is not the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but it is the City of Austin’s Pet Shelter. Here dogs and cats go when no one else has claimed them or when they have been outcasted. Here, they hope that they will soon find a home and a loving family. In this refuge for pets it has guardians, guardiens that try their best to find a home, and make their stay as pleasant as possible. But unlike the toys in Rudolph some of these pets do not get a home and may spend the rest of their lives at the Austin Pet Shelter.

“The responsible pet owners are the best part of my job.”

-Cindy B. and in the back and left sides there await doors that The workers at ASP can only do so much for all lead you to the sheltered adoptees waiting for a family. the pets, that it causes a lot of the pets to stay at Today at the shelter it was packed with many adopters, the shelter forever, never to be adopted. They need which caused the workers and volunteers unable to people to help them make Austin a pet friendlier answer any questions. place, where there are fewer Logo of The Austin Kelli Patrick, a three year volunteer pets that live there lives in Pet Center at ASP, works with difficult dogs a cage or on the streets, and and customer service. She also more pets in loving families. fosters nursing mothers and their These workers have there children so they can be adopted. own ideas and thoughts on Like all the volunteers at APS she the Austin pet community had to go through a two hour now and how they can make orientation where she learned it even better in the future. about the specific jobs and The Austin Pet Shelter is duties at the Austin Pet Shelter. located off of Ed Bluestein Then, after the first part of the Boulevard, on 7201 orientation, all the soon-to-be Levander Loop. The volunteer pick what they want facility has one dometo specialize in, and then they do shaped building, where hands on work with people in the all the workers, volunteer same field of work. and people wait for their Kelli believes that the Austin pet companion. At the back of community is compassionate and the facility, there lie several gives the example she says that long buildings filled with the passing of the No Kill Policy. dogs wanting to be adopted.

But with this new policy presents When you first enter into the Photo By Tom Gilburg a new problem. Kelli says this can main building, you will see become a problem because, “The counters with workers, who No Kill Policy only protects 90% of check over applications and answers phone calls. In the center there are two long pets. The ‘No Kill Policy’ makes owners feel less guilty for surrendering their pets. This causes us to have a lot benches parallel to each other for adopters to wait,

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The Entry to the New Austin Pet Facility

Photo By Tom Gilburg of pets that are perfectly fine.”

But when dogs that have been labeled un-adoptable.

“It’s always when dogs get adopted. It is bitter sweet ending,” Kelli says. Kelli explains that the formal difficult dogs being adopted fuels her and makes her job have meaning.

Two days later when it was more calm there Cindy B, a three year volunteer who works with small dogs, was taking a chihuahua on a walk. Cindy thinks that in order to change the Austin pet Community they need to help The Austin Pet Shelter by, “Increase the number of volunteers, because the dogs are not getting the recommended amount of exercise, the regular amount of going outside should be at least two, but the dogs at the shelter are one to zero times a day. Also a lot more adopters,” Cindy thinks that owners need to become more responsible for their pets because, “Seeing all the animals coming into intake, that you know have a home, the hardest part is wondering why their owners don’t come back and get them.” Some of the dogs are clearly were in a home. This becomes even worse when you see those types of dogs in a kennel for a couple of months just sitting there.” She says that it is an easy fix if the owners would just put a collar, or microchip on their pet that has basic info like their current address, phone number and name of the owner. When people

do this it makes Cindy very happy and seeing them coming to the shelter reuniting with their pet is even better.

Joshua K. was also there that day. Joshua is a dog behaviorist, which means that he trains dogs to have basic manners so they have more appeal to adopters.

He believes that people from Austin should take on more responsibility “Teach their dogs the basic mainers and that may help them find a family. Also pet owners need to become better with reclaiming their pets.” He believes this because when it all comes down to it, the owners need to be more responsible for their pets so there wouldn’t be as much pets at the shelter.

As the day was getting dark, families and couples were leaving but one little girl walked up to a pitbull with several scars from its past, “See you tomorrow big guy hope the night treats you well because tomorrow you’re coming with me.” The girl walked off. The little girl saying this, showed that some of the Austinites are ready for the next step in helping the guardians of the Austin Pet Shelter.

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Friskies

Keeping Your Cat Healthy and Happy.