NEBRASKA/IOWA JANUARY 2012 PAEMagazine.com
NEW YEAR'S
Resolutions FOR OUR PETS
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Dear Animal Lovers,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I always welcome each new year with lots of excitement and enthusiasm. It's a time for releasing what isn't working any more and making room for new experiences and opportunities. With the launch of Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine last month we’re approaching 2012 with an additional burst of energy. Thank you to everyone who expressed their excitement and enthusiasm with the release of our inaugural issue. The response was overwhelming and extremely positive! It is with great pleasure that we present to you the second edition with a focus on (what else) resolutions! We all make resolutions for ourselves to be healthier, more active and happier, but what about Andrea & Sophie, adopted 6-25-2010
our animal companions? They too deserve the same kind of commitment. On page 6 we have a
great story about resolutions you can make with and for your pet. In looking ahead to our February issue, we are in search of "Love Stories". Not your typical “boy meets girl, live happily every after” love story but “boy/girl meets furry friend, falls in love and they become best friends, lifelong companions.” (I’ll go out on a limb and use the term soul mate.) I have certainly experienced that special kind of connection with my beloved Murphy who passed away at 20 years of age in July of 2009. She touched my heart in ways I never thought imaginable; after 2 years of forging ahead by myself a wonderful new "soul mate" came along, whom I love dearly…Sophie. That’s my “girl meets pet” story…we want to hear yours! Go to www.PAEMagazine.com and tell us your "Love Story.” Don’t forget to include a photo. The winner will appear on our February Cover. We will also include the top 10 entries inside the edition. While you are on our website we encourage you to sign up for our e-newsletter, which will launch this month, you can LIKE Pet & Animal Enthusiast on FACEBOOK and don't forget to enter our Pet of the Week contest. Winners will appear on our FACEBOOK page. Once again, all of us at PAEMagazine are looking forward to connecting with you. It’s our belief that 2012 is going to be a great year! Andrea L. Hoig
PUBLISHER
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6. Resolutions for our Little Rascals pet & ANIMAL enthusiast
JANUARY 2012
IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY
6 Resolutions for the Little Rascals in Our Lives
IN EVERY ISSUE
3 Letter From the Publisher
8 HEALTH & WELLNESS: Companion Animal Acupuncture
12 P ET OF THE MONTH: Guinea Pig
13 RECIPE: DIY Pine Cone Bird Feeder
19 PET LOSS: Tips for Coping with Pet Loss & Grief
Animal 8. Companion Acupuncture
NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
14 Nebraska Dachshund Rescue: Wild for Wieners (the Canine Version)
Bird 12. DIY Feeder
For 14. Wild Wieners
JANUARY ISSUE 2012 VOL. 1 NO. 2 www.PAEMagazine.com PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea L. Hoig ART DIRECTOR Vikki Reed ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Dawn Pieke Katie Fourney sales@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com ADMINISTRATION Francesca Peterson WEB CONTENT MANAGER Megan Olson PHOTOGRAPHERS Mona Kay Ashley Wall Dan Flanigan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Molly Garriott Melinda Brink CONTACT PET & ANIMAL ENTHUSIAST P.O. BOX 241611 / OMAHA, NE 68124 402-333-7499 ADVERTISING/SALES INQUIRIES sales@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com PRESS RELEASES/GENERAL INQUIRES info@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com
Subscribe NOW And Save! 2012 subscription special! 12 issues for only $12 40% Off Regular Subscription Rate
OUR MISSION: To serve as a local source of information, education and inspiration for pet guardians, animal welfare advocates, and animal lovers. OUR COMMITMENT: To make a positive difference for the pets & animals in our community by encouraging responsible pet guardianship and serving as a reliable and convenient pet & animal resource. We strive to better connect and unite our community of animal lovers, promote animal-friendly events throughout the greater Omaha area & Lincoln and support local rescue, adoption, wildlife and animal welfare efforts. Contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine in their entirety. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher. Copyright 2011 Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine All rights reserved
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COVER STORY
RESOLUTIONS
for the Little Rascals in Our Lives Make it a fantastic new year for you and the furry friend in your life with these pet-centered resolutions for 2012. WRITTEN BY Molly Garriott
L
ose weight. Eat healthier. Spend less time at work and more time at play. Sound like the stuff of standard New Year’s Resolution fare? Well, consider this twist: these are resolutions for our pets. Okay, maybe not for our pets themselves but for us, their owners. Either way, make 2012 a good year for you and your pet with one or more of these pet (and human) friendly suggestions. HEALTH AND FITNESS We all know the benefit of exercising daily. Walk your dog or play fetch for just five or ten minutes a day. “We all love our pets, but we’re so busy we forget our pets are often home alone a great deal of the day,” reminds Pam Wiese, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Nebraska Humane Society. It is especially important to avoid sedentary ways during the cold, winter months, she cautions. Get a yearly veterinary check, and make certain it includes a dental exam. A yearly wellness check will ensure you keep vaccinations up to date, another notable resolution. GOOD CITIZENSHIP Remember to license your pet by the March 15 deadline. And keep those I.D. tags on your pet in case she gets lost. The Nebraska Humane Society recommends having a microchip inserted in your cat or dog. When walking your dog, keep him on a leash. And be courteous of other pedestrians by cleaning up after him. Another good resolution is to spay and neuter your pets. Doing so will help keep unwanted animals out of area shelters.
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ENRICHMENT Resolve to spend five minutes a day training your dog new commands or refreshing old ones. Enroll in a training class if your dog is a little rambunctious. Make sure toys are safe and don’t present a choking hazard. Introduce a new toy a month to engage your pet intellectually. Just a few minutes a day can make a huge difference in the lives of our pets, and by extension, our lives. Pets are wonderful stress-reducers. Where else can you get such enthusiastic, unconditional love by just walking through the door at the end of the day?
pet & ANIMAL enthusiast
readers' resolutions
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CHARLIE Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Age: 8 months Owner: Theresa F. “ Charlie is a lovable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He enjoys going for walks, playing with all of his toys, and meeting as many new people as he can. He also has an American Cocker Spaniel girlfriend named Katie who lives next door. They are the best of friends...they even have matching sweaters. Charlie is also a huge Creighton basketball fan. Charlie and his owner made a New Year's resolution to exercise more often, explore new trails to walk on, and spread joy to everyone they encounter! "
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GUNNY Manchester Terrier Age 3 Owner: Stacy Maddux “Gunny is an active little boy who's always looking for trouble. To keep him occupied we've done several classes at the Nebraska Humane Society and wanted a new challenge. Our resolution is for Gunny to start fly ball classes! Fly ball is a team relay sport where dogs run down a course while jumping hurdles. At the end of the course they retrieve a tennis ball from a specially designed box and race back to the starting line so the next dog can make the run. Promises to be exhausting for both of us! ”
pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Companion Animal
ACUPUNCTURE WRITTEN BY Melinda Brink
T
reating our pets with acupuncture is not a new idea. Some of the earliest records of veterinary acupuncture date to 3000 years ago in India and China. At that time, the only animal acupuncture patients consisted of elephants and livestock. This ancient practice remained obscure in Western cultures until the last 50 years. It is now estimated that 150,000 veterinarians worldwide practice acupuncture and it is a booming business. WHAT IS IT? If your pet has been suffering from a condition and other treatments just aren’t doing the trick, you may want to give acupuncture a try. It can treat almost any disease/ailment especially those involving pain and inflammation. Acupuncture can be used to target one specific area of the body or the body as a whole. It stimulates the body’s natural defense mechanisms and balances energy, thus assisting the body in healing disease and preventing injury. Small gauge needles are inserted into various areas of the animal’s skin known as “acupuncture points.” Many of these points are located over peripheral nerves and have electrical properties which distinguish them from the surrounding skin. In addition to stimulating nerves, acupuncture also increases blood circulation and releases hormones. In recent years, the use of electrical and laser stimulation has been added to increase effectiveness in certain cases. WILL THERE BE PAIN OR SIDE EFFECTS? You may think needles entering the skin would cause pain but acupuncture is virtually painless. In humans, treatment can sometimes cause numbness, 8 | pet & ANIMAL enthusiast
tingling or cramps so some pets may be uncomfortable. However, many pets become relaxed during a session, even sleepy. When administered by a properly trained veterinarian, acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment. Side effects are rare but do exist. Occasionally an animal’s condition may worsen during the first 24-48 hours after treatment but are most often followed by an improvement in the condition. HOW LONG ARE ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS? For most conditions, treatments typically last 30 minutes. Stimulating one individual acupuncture point can range from 10 seconds to 30 minutes depending on the ailment and method of stimulation. Simple problems such as strains or sprains may only require one treatment, but more severe/chronic conditions may take up to several dozen treatments. When several treatments are needed, the frequency of visits is intense at first, but then decreases. Some patients start with 1-3 treatments per week for the first 4-6 weeks, but reduce it down to a few visits per year. Most pet owners see quite an improvement in their pet’s condition within just 4-8 treatments!
COMMON HEALTH CONDITIONS WHICH RESPOND TO ACUPUNCTURE: n Skin Problems: licking granulomas and allergies n Neurological/Musculoskeletal Problems: nerve injuries, hip dysplasia, arthritis, intervertebral disk disease, paralysis and muscle spasms n Respiratory problems: asthma n Gastrointestinal Problems: diarrhea and vomiting n Some Reproductive Problems
Choosing an Acupuncturist:
In the U.S. only a licensed veterinarian can practice acupuncture because it is considered an invasive or surgical procedure. They should have formal training (certified) in acupuncture for animals through an organization such as The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Most large cities have at least one clinic with a veterinary acupuncturist. You can call get a reference from your regular veterinarian and even research practices online. Ask questions about the veterinarian’s training and philosophies regarding acupuncture. Many of these clinics also offer chiropractic and massage therapy so your furry friend can undergo a total Zen experience! pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |
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NON-PROFIT PROFILE
Nebraska Dachshund Rescue
Wild for
WIENERS (the Canine Version) Big-hearted dog lovers save countless dachshunds from euthanasia and maltreatment in the Nebraska Dachshund Rescue. WRITTEN BY Molly Garriott
T
he value of play cannot be underrated. This assertion is certainly true for neglected and abused dachshunds in Nebraska. What started out as an informal play group for dachshunds and their owners has developed into a full-fledged rescue organization, with a seven person executive board and over 100 volunteers, for the breed. Photos courtesy of Nebraska Dachschund Rescue
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Cheryl Wilson founded Nebraska Dachshund Rescue, which began as the Dachshund Anonymous Playgroup in 2007. As is most often the case, the organization started small, rescuing at-risk dachshunds and soliciting volunteer homes for dogs in need. Though the group has participated at area home shows and expositions, word of mouth advertising is primarily responsible for its impressive growth. “We were up to over 100 volunteers in a very short period of time,” attests Julie Siebler, NDR President and Treasurer. “We do not have a facility, so we depend on the generosity of foster homes to help us care for the dachshunds that come into our care,” she continues. The group hopes this will change, however; one of its goals is to raise enough money to open a facility to better achieve its primary purpose: to find forever families for its rescued dachshunds. Since its inception, Nebraska Dachshund Rescue has found forever families for over 800 dachshunds and dachshund-mixes.
A SURPRISINGLY DIVERSE BREED Dachshunds come in all sizes, ranging from miniatures weighing in at a mere five pounds, to “standards” that can top the scales at 30 pounds. Their coats vary from smooths, which tend to be more serious; wirehairs, which are the clowns of the breed; and longhairs, which are the lovers, say Noelle Buscher, Creative Director of NDR. Requests for rescues pour in every day. Area shelters refer rescues. Strays, abandoned or abused dachshunds, and owner surrenders are other sources. But perhaps the most prevalent as well as dramatic source of rescues is puppy mills. Working from a “glass is half-full” point-of-view, Bucsher says this is actually a good thing because it indicates that puppy millers are gradually going out of business, “which is a rescuer’s ultimate goal.”
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RESCUED DOGS VS. PUPPY MILLS “Puppy mill dogs are so abused and so mistreated that they require a lot of rehab and socialization once they get into rescue and out of the mill,” explains Siebler. The list of grievances against puppy mills is extensive. Dogs seldom, if ever, receive veterinary care. They live in cages sometimes up to ten years- never relishing the feeling of grass on their paws. There is no socialization or human to animal bond development. Dogs are often stuffed four to five to a cage and thus forced to fight it out for basic necessities like food and water. Forced mating, in order to increase profitability, is the norm. Says Siebler: “This is an absolute travesty, and no dog, or any living being for that matter, should ever have to live like that.” NDR works with other animal advocacy organizations to ensure just this. Like other rescue groups, NDR advocates “adopt, don’t shop.” “If there is a particular breed of dog you are looking for, a rescue group most likely exists that saves and re-homes that particular breed,” assures Buscher.
For more information about NDR, visit www.nebraskadachsundrescue.org. pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |
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PET OF THE MONTH
Guinea Pig
BACKGROUND Larger than hamsters, but smaller than rabbits, guinea pigs can weigh a couple of pounds and generally live for five to seven years. The three most common breeds of guinea pig are the Smooth-Coated, with short, glossy fur; the Abyssinian, whose hair grows in fluffy tufts all over the body, and the Peruvian, with long, silky hair that flows to the ground. Guinea pigs make wonderful companions. These docile members of the rodent family rarely bite and are known for squeaking with delight when their favorite humans enter the room. Guinea pigs are excellent starter pets for older children who have mastered proper handling techniques.
Quick Facts
s. me: Cavia porcellu Name: Latin na ). vy ca is r ula ng (si Also called cavies inches Approximately 10 Appearance: . Variety dy bo ut sto Rounded long, 2-3 pounds. and color ferent coat types of breeds with dif patterns. Span:5-7 years Average Life rvous at t: They may be ne Temperamen me very co be ly ral ne ge d e an first but rarely bit t handling. tame with frequen
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COST When you first get your pet, you’ll need to spend about $35 for a cage. Food runs about $75 a year, plus $25 annually for toys and treats, $50 for an annual veterinary check-up and $400 per year for litter and bedding material. HOUSING Guinea pigs are social animals who prefer to live in small groups. If you keep two or more females together, they will become great friends. If you want two males, it’s smart to choose two babies from the same litter. Since guinea pigs, like all rodents, multiply rapidly, keeping males and females together is not recommended. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to provide a minimum of four square feet of cage space per guinea pig—but please try to get as large a cage as possible.
Line the bottom of the cage with aspen or hardwood shavings or some other form of safe bedding. Guinea pigs love to hide when they play and all guinea pigs need a cave for sleeping and resting, so please provide a medium-sized flower pot or covered sleeping box, readily available at pet supply stores. DIET Commercial guinea pig pellets should make up the bulk of your pet’s diet. The ASPCA recommends offering small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to your guinea pigs every day. Unlike other animals, guinea pigs cannot manufacture Vitamin C, so you’ll need to ensure that your pets get enough of this essential nutrient every day. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, and change the water daily. GENERAL CARE Remove soiled bedding, droppings and stale food from the cage daily. Clean the cage completely once a week by replacing dirty bedding and scrubbing the bottom of the cage with warm water. Be sure everything’s dry before adding fresh bedding. Guinea pigs are very conscientious about grooming themselves, but brushing them on a regular basis will help keep their coat clean and remove any loose hairs. Long-haired guinea pigs should be brushed daily in order to prevent tangles and knots from forming.
recipe card DIY Pine Cone Bird Feeder WHAT YOU NEED: • Pine Cone • Yarn or Twine • Peanut Butter • Margarine • Honey • Your Favorite Bird Seed Mixture • Dried Fruits or Nuts (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Find a large pine cone. 2. Tie a three to four foot piece of yarn or twine throughout the pine cone and around the top to serve as the hanger. 3. Mix two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of margarine. 4. Spread the peanut butter and margarine mixture onto the pine cone. 5. Pour your bird seed dried fruits or nuts onto a plate or shallow dish and roll the pine cone in it. 7. Drizzle honey and roll in the seeds one more time. 8. Place the seed-covered pine cones in the freezer for about an hour oruntil it is firm. 7. Hang it outside in a tree and enjoy watching the birds!
TIPS: 1. Hang your pine cone at the end of a smaller branch so squirrels don't get it. 2. Work with the bird seed over newspaper to help make clean up time easier.
pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |
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SAYING GOOD-BYE
TIPS FOR COPING WITH PET LOSS & GRIEF
S
orrow and grief are normal and natural responses to death. Like grief for humans, grief for animal companions can only be dealt with over time, but there are healthy ways to cope with the pain. Here are some suggestions:
Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either. Your grief is your own, and no one else can tell you when it’s time to “move on” or “get over it.” Let yourself feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment. It’s okay to be angry, to cry or not to cry. It’s also okay to laugh, to find moments of joy, and to let go when you’re ready.
Reach out to others who have lost pets. Check out online message boards, pet loss hot lines, and pet loss support groups. If your own friends, family members, therapist, or clergy do not work well with the grief of pet loss, find someone who does.
Rituals can help healing. A funeral can help you and your family members openly express your feelings. Ignore people who think it’s inappropriate to hold a funeral for a pet, and do what feels right for you.
Create a legacy. Preparing a memorial, planting a tree in memory of your pet, compiling a photo album or scrapbook, or otherwise sharing the memories you enjoyed with your pet, can create a legacy to celebrate the life of your animal companion.
Look after yourself. The stress of losing a pet can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves. Looking after your physical and emotional needs will help you get through this difficult time. Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly to release endorphins and help boost your mood.
If you have other pets, try to maintain your normal routine. Surviving pets can also experience loss when a pet dies, or they may become distressed by your sorrow. Maintaining their daily routines, or even increasing exercise and play times, will not only benefit the surviving pets but may also help to elevate your outlook too.
Reprinted with permission from Helpguide.org © 2001-2010. All rights reserved. For more information, visit www.Helpguide.org.
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