April 2010
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32 Feature Articles 6
It’s A New Sport: Feline Agility
In Every Issue 4
Feline agility was seen at the Cat Fancier’s Association competition in 2005.
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Training Terminology: Cues
Enjoy hundreds of vendors, demos and more!
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How to use cues in training your pet.
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Best Methods: Transitioning to a New Food and Preventing Overfeeding New food options can be good for your pet, but how do you transition?
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Thunderstorms: How Does Your Pet Respond? There are many ways to calm your pet.
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Pup My Ride: 2010 Car Picks for Your Pet Do you know the top choices for pet friendly vehicles?
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The Story of Fighting Fred This kitten was bound to live and we didn’t give up on him.
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Learning to Lead Again Getting past the shock of the new puppy!!
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Let’s Go...to the Pet Expo Dog Horoscopes How well do you really know your dog?
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Cat Horoscopes Do you know your cat? Check out its horoscope!
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Chip’s Corner Complete this pawzelle and learn about a breed!
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Ask the Vet Learn more about laser surgery.
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How Cute is Your Pet? The winners of this month’s contest.
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Upcoming Events Check out these upcoming events.
5th Annual KC Pet Expo Mark your calendar for the Pet Expo on April 17 & 18!
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What’s Your Doggy Doo Doing Observing Earth Day means taking care or your dog poo.
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Publisher’s Message
Publisher
SPRING IS HERE! It is official — Spring is here — and, I am ready! Even the latest snow only lasted 24 hours. So what do we do — now that we can go out without worrying about getting stuck in ice and snow? Let’s all go to the Pet Expo!
The Fifth Annual Pet Expo will be held at the American Royal Center on April 17 & 18, 2010. This year, the expo will feature close to 200 exhibitors, including many local businesses which specialize in providing products and services to pets and their human families. There will also be many local animal rescue and adoption organizations represented. This event also includes lots of entertainment: dock diving, acrocats, fly ball tournaments, reptiles, and more. It will also feature adoptable pets, but you don’t have to take one home. See details in the article on page 28. There are many other events coming in May, including the Annual Wayside Waifs “Caturday Night Fever,” the Wizard’s Kicks for Canine, the Lakewood Run for the Dogs, and more. If you are ready to play with your pet, get ready — because there are lots of fun adventures ahead!
METROPET IS GROWING! We are hearing from lots of readers — thanks for taking the time to call or write us. We encourage all of you to support our advertisers — remember to tell them, “I saw your ad in MetroPet.” This will help them grow and will support our growth. One question we get asked with regularity is “Where can I find a copy?” On page 29 is a short list of the racks where you can pick up your own copy of MetroPet. We are now in 100 “Free Magazine Racks.” You can also find copies at our advertisers and at over 250 other locations. Of course, you can also read it online!
YOUR
SPRING!
Please stop by and say hello at the upcoming events — we love to hear from you.
SEE Y OU
AT THE
Barbara Riedel barbara@metropetmag.com
Editor/Production Manager Dan O’Leary editor@metropetmag.com
KC PET EXPO
ENJOY
Staff & Contacts
PET EXPO
Barbara Riedel, Publisher
P.S. Looking for a great resource — groomer, trainer, pet food store, day care/boarding facility, veterinarian, etc.? Look no further than MetroPet. We have some great advertisers in our magazine — you won’t be disappointed!
Magazine Layout ROI Marketing 816.942.1600 • roi@kc.rr.com
Advertising Sales Eric Novak Ad Sales: 913.579.3815 eric@metropetmag.com
Contributing Authors Sean Delaney, DVM, MS Mike Deathe Pat Hennessy Jean Ingram Sally Perea, DVM, MS Heddie Leger Jill Reitz Pat Riha Jayne Sikyta Lori Stiles John Rowe, DVM
Photographers Eric Novak Dan O’Leary
Contact MetroPet PO Box 480065 Kansas City, MO 64148 Phone: 913.548.1433 Ad Sales: 913.579.3815 Fax: 816.941.4655 Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration for publication to editor@metropetmag.com. All materials are subject to editorial review. © 2010 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Request reprint permissions at info@metropetmag.com. MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.
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BELLA 39818475
CHEWS SHOES REPEAT OFFENDER
Its A New Sport:
Feline Agility by Jayne A. Sikyta
I
t’s 4 a.m. and that darn cat is at it again. He is walking across the papers carelessly thrown on the desk the night before, playing with a rogue pencil that just missed the pencil holder. Then the real fun begins; he’s over the chair, under the bed, down the stairs, and across the wood floor, sounding like a thousand pound elephant thumping around. It is hard to believe all this noise comes from a thirteen pound cat. He is probably a great candidate for Feline Agility.
FELINE AGILITY Feline Agility was first seen at the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) competition in Oregon in February, 2005. Attendees and participants raved about the competition where both pedigreed and non-pedigreed cats and kittens ran the course. What is most entertaining about this event was the effort put forth by both owner and cat, sometimes successfully completing the course, sometimes not. Some complete the course in a matter of seconds: others exhaust the three minute maximum and walk off the course anticipating success next time. It all depends on how the cat feels about competing that day.
THE FELINE COURSE The course for felines looks very much like one for their canine friends, but on a smaller scale. It consists of jumps, hoops, weave poles, ladders, tunnels, and other obstacles for cats to maneuver over, under, around, and through. Owners often use a toy to lure their cats through the course. 6
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Ring Masters are the agility officials who evaluate the competitors. They count the faults (i.e., mistakes), track the time, and, combining those two scores, determine the winner of the event. The time begins when the cat’s front feet break the plane by touching or passing through or over the first obstacle and ends when the cat’s front feet touch down after clearing the last obstacle. If the owner is not happy with the time of the first run, they may try again and keep the best time. Faults on the course can be
Faults on the course can be either against the owner/handler or the cat. These include knocking down an obstacle or jump, taking an obstacle out of sequence... either against the owner/handler or the cat. These include knocking down an obstacle or jump, taking an obstacle out of sequence, refusing to complete any obstacle (i.e., bypassing it or unsuccessful attempts to get through the obstacle), and stopping for more than ten seconds once the cat has started the course.
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Cat agility training can be done in a small space, inside the house and is inexpensive to set up.
ADVANTAGES OF FELINE AGILITY This idea may seem like an exercise in frustration, but there are many advantages to Feline Agility. The training and events are fun for the owner, the cat, and the audience. These events build a public awareness of how beautiful, intelligent, and trainable cats are, perhaps even causing some non-cat households to change their ways by adopting a cat. Cat owners, through training to compete, develop an even closer bond with their feline friends and develop skills that can be applied to their own fitness and training programs.
EASY SET-UP Agility training can be done in a small space, inside the house and is inexpensive to set up. A visit to the Web site of the International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT) group, www.catagility.com, will help prospective trainers get started. Not only does ICAT inform the public about types of obstacles in the course, they also provide low-cost alternatives for these obstacles, including a pop-up hamper from WalMart that can serve as a tunnel for training. There are also instructions to make some homemade fun obstacles to challenge any feline friend. Articles, videos, training ideas, rules, and other information will help any aspiring Feline Agility handler to get started in this sport. For more information on Feline Agility, check out CFA at www.cfa.org. Local cat shows in and around the area would be a great opportunity to witness Feline Agility. Jayne A. Sikyta is the owner of Fidos & Felines, LLC, a pet-sitting company serving Lee’s Summit, MO, and the surrounding community. Jayne and Larry, her husband, have been providing superior pet care for over five years. 8
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Canine Signs Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack. Most Aries dogs are completely intolerant of other dogs, constantly getting into scraps and trying to dominate every other pet.
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Strong Silent Type The owner must be prepared for the Taurus Dog to sit in front of the refrigerator and mournfully stare. Second only to this canine’s love of food is love of music.
Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper. Aquarius owners, being broad-minded enough to allow things to follow their natural course, will find the Gemini Dog to be a suitable pet.
Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Home-Lover. About once a month, the pull of the Moon will fill the Cancer Dog with a feeling of restlessness, urging him or her to spend the night in the garden, where he or she will howl until daybreak.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Boss-Dog. Fiercely loyal, this canine would rather die while protecting an owner than allow that owner to come to any harm.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper. Sheep and working dogs governed by Virgo thrive very nicely, working from dusk until dawn and content in the productive nature of its employment.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) The Shop-Steward This canine is remarkably persuasive... some might say even manipulative. They can also be ridiculously stubborn.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) The Paragon. Owners who keep on top of things and will discover that the Scorpio Dog is basically an affectionate canine... beneath its prickly exterior.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The Problem Dog. The Sagittarius Dog will either take to an owner or not, based purely and solely on that owner’s merits as a person.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) The Social Climber. Ideally, this canine would prefer to be in a favored position enjoyed by such dogs as the Queen of England’s Royal Corgis.
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Friend. The Aquarius canine must be calmed to some extent. Humans born under Gemini and Libra are a good match.
Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Interpreter. Forceful and pushy one minute, this dog is gentle, retiring and loving the next. A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Training Terminology: Cues Cues fall into two basic categories, verbal cues and hand signals. A cue is nothing more than how we ask a dog to do something
by Mike Deathe
O
kay, we know how to tell our dogs what they have done right and what they have done wrong. So now have to address how we tell our dogs to do something (cues).
CUES For me cues fall into two basic categories, verbal cues and hand signals. A cue is nothing more than how we ask a dog to do something. For example, I can ask Fido to put his rump on the ground by saying the word sit, or by flipping my hand upward, palm up (my hand signal for sit.) Both, if taught, will work.
ONE BETTER THAN THE OTHER? I don’t really think so, but I do think that you must first start by teaching hand cues or signals when training a dog to do something. Just so there is no confusion, the words cue, command and signals are all synonymous in dog training, they mean the same thing. I don’t care to argue subtleties or word meanings here; suffice it to say they all mean the same thing. So why do hand signals need to be taught first? Simple, DOGS DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH! If you have read any of my articles, you have noticed that this is a common theme in teaching dogs anything. I am here to tell you that making dog training easier for dogs is the best way to make dog training easier for people! I know this won’t be popular with all, but I have learned that if you insist on teaching a dog like a human, you will fail; but if you think like a dog as you teach, you will be much more successful with your dog. Remember, dogs have no ability at all with what English teachers call syntax (i.e. sentence structure, meaning or understanding with context.) So, speaking to our dogs is about as helpful for them as us understanding who is on the phone by the sound of the ring! (Cell phones with special ringers don’t count!) Instead of expecting the dog to conform to us, we need to conform to him. Dogs do understand body language and body position very well, so why not start there? 10
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HAND SIGNALS Walla — hand signals. Remember the following motto…Keep it Simple Stupid! I have basically 5 hand signals I use with my dogs. They are for watch me, sit, down, stay and come. What they are is not as important as consistency of use. Mine are pretty simple; Watch Me… pointing my index finger to my nose; Sit…bringing my hand upward, palm up; Down...bringing my hand downward palm down; Stay…showing the dog my hand palm foreward and Recall…my arm straight out from my side and bringing it down and slapping my leg. I will discuss each of these in detail in other blogs, visit http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/. In fact, recall or come when called has already been done! (see the posts on Recall). Once a dog is reliably responding to your hand signal (80% of the time) it is time to add the word or combine cues.
VERBAL CUES The trick to this is to always lead with the unknown cue or command…which in this case is the spoken word. Why? Because if I gave the dog the hand signal before saying the cue he/she would simply ignore it. Remember, the verbal cue has no bearing since the dog already knows what to do when they see the hand signal. After several repetitions of saying the verbal cue, such as sit, and then following immediately with the known cue or hand signal, something amazing happens; they begin to mean the same thing to the dog! Now I have two cues, verbal (command) and body language (hand signal), that are interchangeable to the dog. From my prospective, the word is simply to make us primates feel better, but the body language (hand signal) is really what facilitates communication between our two species! With enough practice we could say “pineapple sherbet” instead of “sit” and it would work as well! A fine example of how dogs don’t understand English.
SPEED UP THE TRAINING So remember that cues are simply how we ask our dog to do something. What we say is not nearly as important as how we relay the meaning. Training will go much faster if you start with A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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a hand signal then combine it with a word at a later stage. The goal here is to make training easier for the dog and you, so think less like a human and more like a dog!
CONSISTENCY It is not as much about the time invested in training a dog, but more about the consistency of the training that is important. It would be better to spend 15 minutes a day, seven days a week rather than spending 2 hours a day, three days a week. Remember, having fun is vital to teaching anything to anyone so RELAX. Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who found his passion as a dog trainer in 2008. He enjoys identifying unique and useful “muttz” related products. He is the author of Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Pet Blog. Mike has had dogs since he was four years old and there are currently several dogs and cats living in his home! As an avid pet lover, he regularly sees the number of dogs and cats that never find a home. In 2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz “R” Us, a t-shirt company with a philanthropic motto of “Adopt a Pet, Save a Life.” Visit them at facebook or twitter or follow the blog at http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or check out the website at www.muttzrus.com!
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Feline Signs
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
The Stray Cat. Basically a loner, if forcibly confined to the lap of one who feels the need for company, the Aries Cat will quickly convert from a feline to a writhing bundle of needle-ridden fur.
The Copy-Cat. An inherent urge for unity with others will make it natural for this cat to create an atmosphere of harmonious relationships with home companions.
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)
The Cat’s Pajamas. The Scorpio Cat is always strangely drawn to those unfortunate humans who are not fond of cats.
The Earth Mother. It will be necessary to vacuum, dust and step around this feline. This cat sleeps most of time and during slumber, nothing will awaken it.
Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. This feline will cavort endlessly, sliding down banisters and climbing up curtains, but hardly ever sits still long enough for a cuddle.
Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Crazy Cat. The Cancer Cat has the uncanny ability to melt a human heart with its constant desire for affection.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Top Cat. This cat is intensely loyal (in its own way) and equally as faithful as it is self-opinionated. In fact, as cats go, this feline can be quite a friendly soul.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat. Outside, with nature at paw’s reach, this feline will forget all his or her problems and hangups.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The Stable Cat. The Sagittarius Cat is fond of feline companionship and delighted to allow another cat (or even more than one) to share home and family!
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) The Cat Burglar. The Capricorn Cat prefers city life to country living. They will be house-trained almost overnight.
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Hip Cat. Contact with humans (albeit from a distance) is more important to an Aquarius Cat than the time spent with other felines.
Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Ship’s Cat. Cancer subjects possess a big enough sense of humor to actually enjoy this feline’s many quirks and peculiarities.
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Best Methods: TRANSITIONING TO A
NEW
FOOD & PREVENTING OVERFEEDING by Sean Delaney, DVM, MS and Sally Perea, DVM, MS When bringing home a new bag of pet food, it can be tempting to quickly fill up your pet’s bowl in the excitement of having them enjoy a new food. However, it is important to remember that most dogs and cats are not accustomed to changes in their diets, and that sudden differences in dietary moisture, fat, fiber, and even total calories can result in stool changes, potentially leading to diarrhea. Similarly, this is one of the main reasons why human babies and young children also must be slowly introduced to new foods. Your pet may be enthusiastic about the new food, but it is important that you do not overfeed. Try these tips for transitioning your pet companion’s food over time.
FEEDING A NEW FOOD Three food nutrients — moisture, fat, and fiber — commonly have the largest effect on transition feeding and diarrhea, and must be carefully controlled during diet changes. If a new food is rapidly introduced, the result can be undesired stool changes, but this can be avoided or minimized by using a transition period in which the new food is slowly introduced while the old food is phased out. The transition period required will vary based on the degree of differences between the new and old foods as well as individual pet differences. In general, one week is a good minimum length of time to transition to a new food, as outlined in the table below. If at any step in the transition the pet experiences undesirable stool changes, the previous transition step should be extended for at least an additional two days. If the pet continues to have undesired stool changes, especially if poor appetite preceded the diet change, a veterinarian should be consulted to ensure that no underlying problems need to be addressed.
FEEDING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT In addition to affecting nutrients, feeding excessive calories can result in undesired stool changes. Therefore, it is important to adjust the amount of the new food to match the pet’s current caloric intake. For example, if the pet was previously fed two cups per day of a food providing 300 kcals/cup (for a total of 600 kcals/day)*, 14
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a new food providing 400 kcals/cup should be fed at 1 1⁄2 cups per day† to provide an equivalent amount of calories and prevent overfeeding. (See example in table at right).
SIGNS OF A HEALTHY PET So how do you know if your new pet food is working? Commercial pet food selection criteria are many, but the most important is how the food performs in your particular animal. Luckily, there are several noticeable indicators that can help pet parents know if their food is working. • Body Condition Maintenance — The number one criterion for selecting a dog food is whether or not it can maintain your pet with an ideal body condition. Just like humans, our animal companions need to maintain a healthy weight in order to maximize their quality and quantity of life. • Coat Luster — Many nutritional deficiencies manifest themselves in a pet’s fur, decreasing its luster. An overall healthy pet’s coat will have a nice sheen. • Volume and Form of Feces — Stools should be firm but more importantly the volume should be minimized. If volume increases significantly with a new food, then it might not be as digestible — costing you more money with less nutrient intake. With several premium brands you feed less because the formula contains more nutrients per cup or can, creating a cost-effective solution. • Palatability — Eating is one of the great joys in any life, including a pet’s. Your animal should enjoy its food and readily finish her meal. Most importantly, pet parents need to look beyond the label to verify that the ingredients on the back of the package offer the right balance for optimal nutrition. Whatever pet food you choose for your animal companion, make sure you make the most of your best friend’s dining experience. With the right food, transitional period, and amount to feed, any pet can happily and safely make the transition to a new food. Before changing your pet’s diet, always speak with your local retailer, your veterinarian, and your dog-loving friends.
California Natural, Innova, Karma, HealthWise, and Mother Nature natural pet foods and treats. Sally Perea, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, is a board certified veterinary nutritionist and Senior Nutritionist of Natura Pet Products.
Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, is a board certified veterinary nutritionist and Chief Nutrition Officer of Natura Pet Products, manufacturer of EVO, A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Thunderstorms: How does your
pet respond?
by Pat Hennessy
W
hy is it scary for Sophie when the thunder rolls in, but Max is oblivious to it? Storm phobia can be a tricky item to deal with, but each dog is different. It is the same reason one person loves to ride roller coasters, while another can’t bear it. Or some people aren’t bothered by the sight of blood, but others will faint. We all have ways in which we cope with things. Life experiences, whether good or bad, develop learned responses. And lack of experience can create a fear of the unknown. Sometimes our responses are genetic, which may explain why the dog you have had since she was a tiny puppy ended up having fears, even though you socialized her and she was never traumatized. Whether a fear response is based on environmental or genetic factors you can still help your animal companion cope with a fearful situation. When faced with fear, the body automatically goes into a “fight-or-flight” pattern. Heart rate increases, adrenalin levels go up, digestion shuts down and breathing becomes rapid. When exposed to that same situation again, your body will react the same way. If you can find a way to calm the body dur16
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ing a fearful situation, and offer that same calming technique again for the same fearful situation, then your body will adjust and become less sensitive to that stimulus. Over time your body will retain the calm response but it doesn’t mean you have forgotten what once frightened you; it means you have learned to cope and reduced or extinguished the fear response. When you were a child there was probably something that frightened you, like going down in a dark basement. Once you went down to the basement with your parents or an older sibling and realized nothing was going to happen, you got used to it and it no longer frightened you. As an adult you can go down into a dark basement and not think anything of it unless you hear a noise, then your fear response will kick in. The moment you turn on the light and look around to see nothing is wrong, you recover quickly; your heart rate goes down and your breathing slows down. What we would like to do for our animals is give them the experience of feeling “ok” during a storm and let that “ok” feeling build up over time. Then if they have a moment occasionally that startles them, they will recover quickly as well. It is a plus if you can find a way to learn to calm that does not involve drugs. Drugs provide an artificial reaction to a stimulus and what you want is to build a long term solution vs. something you have to use each time. Often times, depending on the drug, the animal may or may not really be calm but rather less reactive, and therefore appear to be calm. Some drugs just relax the muscles but not the mind. When you can, provide an influence over the nervous system that will build memory for the mind.
CALMING TECHNIQUES • TTouch™ — a method of very light gentle touch (much lighter than massage) that influences the nervous system and calms animals • Wraps — Body Wraps (another TTouch™ technique of applying stretch wraps in a crisscross configuration), Anxiety Wrap™ or Thundershirt™, are tools that apply consistent pressure and work like swaddling a baby • Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) diffusers — they come as a plug-in units or as a spray which can be used on bedding or added to a scarf around the neck
If you can find a way to calm the body during a fearful situation, and offer that same calming technique... • Supplements (non-pharmaceutical) • Flower Essences: a blend of flowers infused with water – used to help restore balance (such as Bach’s Rescue Remedy) • Calming supplements: such as ProQuiet® made with Ltryptophan, Chamomile and Ginger or Calmazon™ a blend of Chamomile and Passion Flower from the Amazon Rainforest. There are many ways to approach the storm phobia problem. You need to assess the level of anxiety and try a holistic (whole body systems) approach with a technique or a blend of tools. Let your dog practice the wise words of Louisa May Alcott, “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides companion animal attunement through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a certified TTouch practitioner 2, CPDT and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@n2paws.com, phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com
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Pup My Ride:
2010 Car Picks For Your Pet by Pat Hennessy
I
t was a long hard winter, and boy do we welcome spring! One way to break that cabin fever is to go for a ride. But you can’t go alone. Patches and Lucky want to go too. You love to take them (and they love to go), so you head out to the garage to get the car ready. As you are putting away the boots and ice scrapers and vacuuming out the grunge from slopping in and out during winter, you think about how nice it would be if you had more cargo space and wish it was easier to clean. Knowing that we are heading into spring and summer activities, you think about how you will take the dogs along more, and how nice it would be if there was enough room HONDA ELEMENT EX for them and your gear. As you are daydreaming of this new car you start thinking about all the other things that you will need to consider. Lucky is getting up there in years and she may have trouble getting in and out of an SUV. You have also been thinking that you might add another dog to your pack, so you need to make sure there will be enough room, especially since you are still undecided about what breed (therefore, what size). The good news is that there are choices for every life style. The top two utility picks for active canine companions. SUBARU OUTBACK 18
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BEST UTILITY VEHICLE FOR YOUR POOCH HONDA ELEMENT EX • This car was designed with your dog in mind: low to the ground, large cargo space, urethane flooring, dog restraint safety features, ventilation fans, spill resistant water bowls, extendable cargo ramp, and more. It is known as the alpha dog of pet travel. • The executive vice president of American Honda, John Mendel, was insightful when he said, “In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs.”
MOST SPORTY UTILITY VEHICLE FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND SUBARU OUTBACK • The Subaru Outback is the Motor Trend 2010 Car of the Year (with Subaru back-toback awards, as the Forester was the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 2009). Subaru models are all wheel drive, low to the ground, have large cargo space, dog restraint safety features, and more. Subaru owners say, “It rocks.” • Knowing that 60% of all Subaru owners have dogs, Subaru is pet friendly in more ways than one: Partnering with the ASPCA in the Subaru “Share the Love” promotion resulted in $1.2 million dollars in donations the first
year. Many dealerships throughout the country are set up with pet friendly service areas (visit Lee’s Summit Subaru with your canine companion where there is plenty of space and free dog treats).
ADDITIONAL AUTO FAVORITES
Some additional auto favorites from our four legged friends. • Best luxury car for the lovely little lap dog: Lexus LS (Lap-dog Style) • Best car for the pint sized pup: Yo quiero Mini Cooper • Best Minivan for your Dane and 4 of his friends: Chrysler Town & Country (with stow n’ go seats and a DVD player to watch Hotel for Dogs on their way to the park) • Best Police Cruiser: Dodge Charger Police Edition (voted #1 by the German Shepherd Dog Police Academy) • Best Pickup Truck for the hunting dog: anything with a king cab, because I like to stick my head out the window but I don’t like to be tossed around in the bed • Best Low Rider for the street cruising dog: Zip Zinger Skateboard (Tillman the Bulldog’s favorite, visit www.gotillman.com) • Best transportation for your feline friend: the back of a limousine with a can of caviar.
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Now that spring is here it’s time to get behind that wheel and go places, but remember, “Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.” • Best NASCAR: Greg Biffle #16 (sponsor of the Greg Biffle Foundation founded to raise awareness and serve as an advocate to improve the well-being of animals, check out www.gregbifflefoundation.com for fun products). No matter your pet companion’s breed or your life style, there is a car out there for you. If you want to learn more about the top two rated pet vehicles, visit www.leessummithonda.com or www.leessummitsubaru.com or come down to the Pet Expo the weekend of April 17-18 to see the cars on display. Now that spring is here it’s time to get behind that wheel and go places, but remember, “Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.” Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides companion animal attunement through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a certified TTouch practitioner 2, CPDT and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@n2paws.com, phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com.
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The Story of
Fighting Fred by Jean Ingram
A
nother rushed morning, off to work. Following my usual routine, I yelled the word “treats”, there was one, two, but one was missing, Midnight. Quickly checking the usual hiding places, I decided to check down stairs in the basement. I saw him on the floor and I knew he was gone. He was only two years old. After my son Zachary got over the initial shock, he decided that he wanted an orange cat. So the hunt began. We looked at the Raytown Animal Control and they had one, but the orange cat they had was very scared and climbed up Zachary’s back. Needless to say, there was no bonding. We tried the animal shelter in Grandview later that evening. As we walked in, there were kittens running, playing, and jumping everywhere, but
So the hunt began. We visited shelter after shelter, until we found the right kitten. It was small, shy and buff colored and would now have a future in a loving home. no orange kitten. Our search continued and we visited the Lee’s Summit Animal Shelter. They only had four gray/white kittens that were available for adoption and one very shy buff colored kitten. My son asked to hold the buff colored kitten, even though we had been searching for an “orange” cat. When picked up he licked/kissed him on the finger. That was all it took, this very small, shy, and buff colored kitten would now have a future in a loving home. Two days later we took him to the vet because we had two other cats and didn’t want to pass on any ailments he might have. Fred passed his first set of tests. Since he was so small, less than 3 pounds, the vet suggested that we feed him canned kitten food along with kitten formula, but he seemed to be getting weaker, no energy, and had the most pathetic meow I have ever heard. Three days later he became much worse. Back to the vet, they gave him some fluids, antibiotics and sent us home. A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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A FRANTIC CALL One day later I received an urgent and frantic call from my son who had just gotten home from school stating that his kitten was dying. I told him that if it looked like he wasn’t breathing to cover his mouth and nose and gently breathe while I was in route. We made a mad dash to the Animal Hospital and rushed into an examining room to see the doctor. On his first examination, the doctor listened for his heartbeat, which should be every 5 to 10 seconds, but he found no heartbeat. He sadly looked up at us and stated that he was gone. In a desperate attempt to do something, I stated that just a block away he had cried and was breathing shallow, but he was breathing on his own. After hearing this, the doctor took his stethoscope and listened again… he found a heartbeat, but it was more like every 15 to 20 seconds. They rushed him to a back room where they gave him intravenous liquids, massaged his heart, and gave him more antibiotics. The doctor came back to the room and said that he couldn’t believe that he was still alive since his heartbeat was so slow. They wanted to keep him a couple hours but stated several times that his chances were not looking very good due to his size, heartbeat, and the fact that he was very dehydrated.
ALIVE AND FIGHTING Fred still had an IV but was still alive and fighting. The doctor gave me two options: leave him overnight but no one would be there to check on him, or feed him through the night every hour on the hour and bring him back first thing in the morning. Since my son had just lost his beloved Midnight, I chose the second option. What else could I do? Getting ready I made formula, syringes cleaned, clean towels, hair dryer, heating pad, pillow, and my area in the front room was ready for feeding him on the hour, every hour. He seemed to be getting a little better, but was still unable to walk or go to the bathroom in his kitty litter pan. As Zach left for school, he thanked me for taking care of his cat all night. I was to leave him and pick him up after 4:00 pm from the vets. The girls in the office couldn’t believe that he was still alive. I couldn’t believe that he was still alive. He was being such a fighter! After talking to the vet before leaving, he stated that his chances were better, but that we were not out of the woods yet and probably wouldn’t be for sometime. 22
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THE MIRACLE CAT After school was out we went to check on Fred, hoping that he continued his fight to live. One of the girls in the front office called Fred the “miracle” cat. As I talked with doctor he stated that he could not believe how well he was doing, but he was not out of the woods but was doing extremely better. I was to feed him every two hours. Making through another night of feedings, he was starting to get stronger. Just like the previous day, back to the animal hospital. The instructions given were to feed him formula and canned food every four hours and come back to the office the following morning. I took him back to the vet’s the next day, were given a few more instructions and he was given one last treatment of medicine. The doctor couldn’t believe that Fred had made it and was now on his way to recovering. We were to bring him back the next time the office was open, two days away.
NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP... We still extremely miss Midnight and he will always have a place in our hearts, but our little Fred, “Fighting Fred,” is doing wonderfully. I made the right decision by not leaving him overnight and making nightly feedings; three nights of little to no sleep was worth the effort since Fighting Fred was not about to give up, so neither was I. Jean Ingram grew up and lives in the Kansas City area. When growing up she had a variety of pets, including turtles, rabbits, and of course cats and dogs. As a pet lover, Jean has adopted cats and dogs from the local animal shelters, and hopes that others will do the same.
March Pawzelle Answer
A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Chip’s Corner
Pawzzle
by Heddie Leger
Chip’s Friends Chip would like to help you get to know his friends. The Doberman Pinscher Owners and lovers of the Doberman will tell you paws down the Doberman is the world’s Number One breed. However, with that said, the Doberman isn’t for everyone. Dobermans require a calm, stable, firm, and smart assertive owner that they can respect as their leader, or they will assume that role for you. They must also have plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They are highly intelligent and require stimulating mental challenges. Without these things, they can find destructive ways to entertain of themselves. The Doberman Pinscher is well known for its guarding qualities. Through years of careful, meticulous breeding they have become known as a fun-loving, exceptional athlete and a watchful, protective, and above all, discerning companion who has no trouble accurately distinguishing between friend and foe. The key word is discerning. A Doberman will anticipate a threat to you and or a family member, sometimes in uncanny ways. Properly trained and socialized, a Doberman will place itself between you and a visible threat. Considered one of the top smartest canine breeds in the world, the Doberman pinscher is breathtakingly perceptive, intuitive, and sensitive. One last thing: Dobermans are nick-named “Velcro dogs” because they stick to their people. Heaven for a Doberman is leaning into you for a prolonged head rub. Balancing that well-known guardian instinct is the world’s most loving heart and a sense of humor that will keep you laughing its whole life long. Credit: Information from the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. 24
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Across: 1. The Doberman is _____________ between friend and foe 4. Needs stimulating mental ____________________ 7. Well known for this quality 11. they need plenty of stimulating ____________ challenges 12. The Doberman has a good sense of _____________ 16. Plenty of vigorous daily ______________ is required 17. Can be ________________ of its family 19. It is one of the _______________ breeds 20. The doberman is _____-_______
Down: 1. Chip’s Friend of the month 2. requires a _________ owner 3. The Doberman is very ______________ _ 5. Will place itself between you and a visible _________ 6. Not challenged mental and physically can become ______________ 8. The Doberman needs to ______________ its owner 9. Dobermans require a calm, stable, firm, smart ______________ owner 10. It is important to ______________ your Doberman to help them be good neighbors 13. The Doberman is not for ______________ 14. Known to __________ on you for prolonged periods of time 15. Often called the __________ dog 18. It is very important to do this with your Doberman
Come See Us at the KC Pet Expo Booth #1419 A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Learning to lead again
…getting past the shock of the new puppy… by Jill Reitz My initial reaction was to just delete her from my Facebook page. Sure, she was my friend and neighbor, but after that phone call, I was ready to eliminate her from my life. Yes, my German Shepherd had cornered her in fear for the second time that week; but still. Everyone walked away unscathed. I assured her I’d take care of it. No dog of mine would have a black mark in the neighborhood. Especially when our former dogs had always been admired for their stellar qualities. We had become accustomed to the longing looks at our dogs. The compliments. The adoration. I had no idea how to maneuver this side of the fence.
A CHALLENGING PERSONALITY This dog’s personality had always been more “challenging” than any of the dogs we’d had before. He was cursed in my mind. I had taken him for all the wrong reasons. My Rhodesian ridgeback, Regan, had just passed, and my German Shepherd, Rosco, had sunk in to deep despair, or so I thought. I couldn’t erase the image of Little Ann on top of Old Dan’s grave, as I would pet my mourning dog.
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Irie My husband and I adopted the dogs when we first came together. Losing Regan signaled the end of an era to me. I thought that if Rosco had some youthful distraction, he would pull out of his slumber. Some sleuthing brought me into contact with a 6-weekold fur ball that would soon be called Irie.
A NEW ADDITION — IRIE I was uncomfortable taking a pup away from his pack at that age (we now know more about nip inhibition) but was assured it was normal. It had been 11 years since I had a puppy, and I felt Rosco slipping, so I said “yes.” As the days wore on, Rosco remained in mourning, and we could not even pet Irie because he nipped incessantly. We just let him roam about. When he would fall asleep, we would anxiously pat his soft fur and whisper sweet nothings in hopes of injecting something lovely into him. A month later, Rosco died — undetected cancer. I was trying to save my dog with a puppy, and he had been sick, not sad. My guilt mounted, and now we were stuck with Irie and had no desire to even figure him out. I contacted a trainer, who showed us how to teach Irie the basics, which he eagerly consumed. I could tell he was much smarter than any dog we ever had. He instantly learned every command. It was kind of frightening how I would show him something one time, and he would just do it. Our trainer, Eric, stressed how to make Irie see me as alpha, but I figured it would just happen. Obviously a dog could see the strong, Amazonian presence I encompassed, right? To counteract the lack of training we were giving him and to help wear Irie out, we tried doggie daycare. That backfired. He became aggressive around other dogs, hair standing on end and growling whenever one passed. And he continued gnawing on me like a chew toy. My arms were covered in bruises. My neighbors raised their eyebrows at my husband as a potential aggressor.
At home, he would follow me around, biting me in the rear and barking when I would not play. It was kind of entertaining for a bit. We would laugh, and my 4-year-old would say, “Go, Irie! Go, Irie! It’s your birthday!” or, “Don’t talk back, Irie!” My husband, whose travel schedule left him little time to bond with our new addition, would just shake his head and say, “He definitely doesn’t see you as his alpha.” Yeah, right. I knew that by now. It just didn’t make sense. I was the one home all the time. I was the one who walked him and fed him. I had done the training thus far. Didn’t I deserve the alpha role?
A CALL FOR HELP After the “incident(s)” with the neighbor, I called (in tears) one of the trainers we had worked with before, who suggested boarding Irie for a few weeks. Months of asking myself why he just couldn’t be naturally easy like my past dogs had to be pushed out of my brain if I ever wanted this new pack we were creating to work. I agreed. We did not have the money, (thank you credit card) but I wanted something to change. I felt funny dropping him off because it was so obvious that all his true problems rested in my rearing of him. I think our trainers were just too nice to tell me. Three weeks later, Ken delivered him back to my house – apparently, oblivious to the checklist of “issues” I had presented on Irie when I dropped him off. They never even took any “before” and “after” footage of him due to his well-behaved, highly responsive nature. He was essentially perfect. I felt like I had just taken my car to a mechanic complaining of a noise they could never find.
A NEW BEGINNING But it really wasn’t like that. Something had changed. He walked in a new dog. Calm. Submissive. There was this amazing, zen-like energy flowing between the two of them with no words ever really being spoken. Irie came back balanced. He was the star of some Dog Whisperer episode that I wished I had DVR’d. I was so transfixed at his energy transformation that I became consumed on how to maintain this sense of calm with help from our trainers. Their techniques weigh heavily on modifying the owners’ personal behavior – making the dog believe the owners are in charge. The method isn’t unique in dog training, but the way they put everything into a real-world perspective motivated my relationship with Irie. They believe in setting both dog and human “up to win.” I should have learned it earlier. But we are balanced now. Our pack is established. And my neighbor stayed on my friend list. Jill Reitz is freelance writer in Overland Park, Kansas. She is an avid pet lover. A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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5th Annual
KC Pet Expo April 17 & 18 by Pat Riha When the Kansas City Pet Expo debuted five years ago, the goal of the Expo was to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about both common and not-so-common animals that are found as pets, and the products and services that were available to provide optimal care for these animals. We felt education was key in assuring that animals kept as pets are healthy and treated humanely. Five years later, the goals of the Expo have not changed. Proper animal care is at the heart of the Expo. But the Expo has evolved into an entertaining family event that goes beyond education. Animals are showcased in a variety of events ranging from dockdogs®, to reptile programs to performing felines.
ONGOING EVENTS Dockdogs has a national championship at the Pet Expo. Big Air Wave, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve events are performed in a 5,000 gallon pool inside Hale Arena. Canines compete by hurling themselves down a ramp into the pool. A continuous Flyball Tournament takes place involving thirty canine teams who compete in a high pitched and exciting elimination. If you’ve never witnessed Flyball, you’re in for a treat! The Acro-Cats are performing felines that perform a series of amazing feats. David Nieves, herpetologist and author, will give multiple presentations daily using his live reptiles and those of the Kansas City Herp Society.
BENEFACTORS
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No More Homeless Pets KC, Animal Haven, Half Way Home Pet Adoptions, The Greater Kansas City Humane Society and Wayside Waifs, all share in the ticket sales to the Kansas City Pet Expo. New to the Kansas City Pet Expo in 2010 is the Super Adoption, instituted by No More Homeless Pets KC. The goal of Super Adoption is to have more than 500 pets adopted as a result of the
Expo. Paramount to Super Adoption is finding suitable and What: 5th Annual Kansas City Pet Expo permanent homes for pets. Sponsors are Who: The KC Pet Expo was founded in being sought to sup2005 by consumer tradeshow proport the Super ducers Patrick and Kate Riha. Adoption marketing When: April 17 & 18, 2010 effort and any person Where: American Royal Center or organization that is a Super Adoption Cost: $8.50 for adults, $6.00 for children sponsor will be fea6 — 12 years of age; children 5 and tured prominently under are free. throughout the expo. Details: Visit www.kcpetexpo.com or call The KC Pet Expo 816-931-4686 takes place on April 17-18 at the American A $1 discount per ticket is available Royal Center. with a Price Chopper Shopper Card. On Saturday, the Pet Expo is open 10 am - 7 pm and Sunday the Expo is open 10 am - 5 pm. Come early and stay for the day – let us entertain you!
Wanna Go?
NOTE: For health and safety reasons the public will not be allowed to bring any animals into the The Kansas City Pet Expo except for animals assisting the disabled.
METROPET PICK-UP LOCATIONS MetroPet Magazine can be found in 100 FREE Magazines racks in the KC metro area. Here is a short list of these locations. Blockbuster Stores: Sears/K-Mart Stores: CVS Stores: Grocery Stores: Gladstone, MO • Hy-Vee, 71st & N Prospect • Balls Price Chopper, 500 NE Barry Road • Balls Price Chopper, 5820 N. Oak Trafficway • Balls Price Chopper, 6475 N. Prospect Kansas City, MO • Hy-Vee, 207 NW Engelwood Parkville, MO • Mckeever’s Price Chopper Platte City, MO • Price Chopper Riverside, MO • Red X
All KC area locations Most KC area locations Most CVS locations See list below Kansas City, MO • Hy-Vee at 207 NW Engelwood Merriam, KS • Balls Hen House, 5800 Antioch Overland Park, KS • Queens Price Chopper, 86th & Antioch • Queens Price Chopper, 151st St Shawnee Mission, KS • Hy-Vee, 13650 W 63rd St • Ball’s Price Chopper, 63rd St • Ball’s Hen House • Costentino’s, W. 66th St
A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Ask the Vet Laser Therapy:
The Future of Healing by John Rowe, DVM
QUESTION I’ve heard about laser therapy, but I haven’t used it yet because I don’t know enough about it. For starters, what exactly is a laser? Dr. Rowe: A laser is photon energy, or light energy, that uses focused light to treat tissue.
QUESTION Aren’t lasers used in surgery? Dr. Rowe: Yes, lasers are used in surgical procedures but therapy lasers use less power. Instead of cutting or sealing, the laser light is used to stimulate tissue.
QUESTION How long has this therapy been around? Dr. Rowe: Laser therapy has been used in human medicine for decades but is relatively new on the veterinary side, about 2-5 years.
QUESTION So how exactly does it work? Dr. Rowe: Focused light working in parallel beams puts energy into tissue that is painful, swollen, or needs to heal. These lasers have less energy than those used in surgical procedures. The wave length of the light governs the depth of penetration and the power of the laser governs how fast it gets to that depth. While the laser has one head, it works with two wave lengths continuously and is able to penetrate about three centimeters into the tissue.
QUESTION I know how acupuncture works. Is it similar to that? Dr. Rowe: Often I use acupuncture in conjunction with laser therapy. Acupuncture also stimulates healing but it uses your own body to increase
circulation. With the laser, an outside source of energy is used, light energy, which is applied to small areas of tissue (about the size of a business card) to increase healing.
QUESTION Is the therapy painful? Dr. Rowe: Laser therapy is not painful. The patient feels no discomfort. The most we see is an increase in temperature in the treated area tissue.
QUESTION In what types of treatments is laser therapy used? Is it just for wound healing? Dr. Rowe: Laser treatment is highly beneficial to decrease wound healing time for post surgery or sores. I also use it regularly on my arthritic patients. In fact, the most common everyday uses for the laser are arthritis, back pain, ear problems, degenerative joint disease, neurological pain, gingivitis, and hot spots. The laser blocks pain transmitted by nerve cells and generates healing and when treating ligaments and muscles, the laser has anti-inflammatory effects.
QUESTION So is the laser “curative” or do I need to keep bringing my pet for treatments? Dr. Rowe: We shouldn’t use the word “cure” but laser therapy aids in healing and, depending upon the condition being treated, can resolve a problem over time. Most patient conditions respond well after 3-6 treatments.
QUESTION How fast does it work? Will I see an immediate change in my pet? Dr. Rowe: Each patient and their condition is unique. If the injury is acute, patients will feel relief a few hours after treatment. If we are treating a chronic condition such as arthritis or disk problems, three to six treatments is the norm before the patient sees relief. The most immediate response is a reduction in pain and an increase in circulation. Healing is what takes time.
QUESTION Can I expect Shooter, my German Shepard to have some inflammation after a laser treatment? Dr. Rowe: No. The laser treatment itself will reduce inflammation. 30
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QUESTION What’s the downside to laser therapy? Dr. Rowe: The only time we don’t recommend laser therapy is on a thyroid or on/around a malignancy.
QUESTION Can you use this therapy on pets of all weights? Dr. Rowe: Laser therapy can be used on most pets that are five pounds or more.
Dr. John Rowe received his veterinary degree from Kansas State University in 1990, and has been the proud owner of Aid Animal Hospital for over a decade. Today, Dr. Rowe is an accomplished surgeon, certified veterinary acupuncturist, and medical practitioner. He can be reached at 816-363-4922 or aidanimalhospital.com.
QUESTION How long does it take? Will my pet have to be put under or restrained? Dr. Rowe: Each treatment lasts three to eight minutes and there is no need to anesthetize. The patient does need to be immobilized since small areas are treated.
QUESTION Is it expensive to have these laser treatments? Dr. Rowe: The cost varies depending upon how it is used: post surgery, allergies, chronic back pain, etc.
QUESTION You said before that you use the laser with other treatments like acupuncture. Is that the only other treatment you use it with? Dr. Rowe: Acupuncture is one other treatment we use with the laser but certainly not the only one. Each patient’s diagnosis and treatment is individualized. Some of the other treatments used in conjunction with the laser include medications such as anti-inflammatory and pain reducers.
QUESTION What’s the difference between using medication to treat inflammation and using the laser? Dr. Rowe: The laser had several benefits over the traditional pain and mobility treatments including the very rapid disappearance of pain, even neuralgic (pain coursing along the nerve).
QUESTION What’s the difference between a laser treatment and a heating pad or hot pack? Dr. Rowe: Thermal heat absorbs and radiates into the body while laser treatments actually penetrates the tissue and focuses heat energy 1-3 cm into the body.
QUESTION Is laser therapy safe? Dr. Rowe: Yes. Extensive research proves its safety and efficacy in the reduction of pain, increase in the release of endorphins from the brain, increase in circulation, the stimulation of the immune system cells, the healing of nerve endings, and the stimulated production of new cells in wound healing. A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Observing Earth Day:
What’s Your Doggy Doo Doing?
by Lori Stiles
It’s out there in our yards ready to be stepped on by us or our dogs, but did you know dog waste is a pollutant? April 22, 2010 represents the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, was created by Senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to raise public awareness of pollution affecting the air, soil, forest, and water. So let’s take a look at how Rover’s leftovers are polluting our earth.
HOW DOG WASTE AFFECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT Leaving an accumulation of dog waste on the ground is the main contributor of water pollution. Each time snow melts or it rains the bacteria run-off from dog waste washes into storm drains. This water is untreated and moves directly from storm drains into rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. Approximately 15 years ago scientist perfected methods of tracking bacteria levels relating to dog waste. A single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria. Unfortunately, for the Kansas City Metropolitan area, most of our local waterways do not meet state water quality bacteria standards for recreational use. In a recent study of streams and creeks, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) determined pet waste was the source of approximately 25% of the bacteria in Kansas City waterways. A devastating future of increased bacteria could kill fish and wildlife such as birds, deer, etc. that depend on streams and lakes for their natural survival
HOW QUICKLY DOG WASTE ACCUMULATES The American Pet Association released an interesting statistic. There are approximately 71 million dogs in the United States that eliminate approximately 4.4 billion pounds of dog waste each year (nearly 6,000 tons of waste daily)! This is enough to cover 900 football fields 12” thick of dog waste! Fact: Dogs eliminate waste up to two times per day. Three dogs can generate up to 168 dog piles in one month! Remember, dog waste does not: (1) decompose in your yard; (2) the lawn mower does not remove it; (3) it is not fertilizer; and (4) it is a health hazard to you and your pet. Referring to the above numbers — how much waste is collecting in your yard?
HOW YOU CAN HELP PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS The level of dog waste bacteria has been an issue for 15 years. Considering the (USGS) determined pet waste was the source of approximately 25% of the bacteria in Kansas City waterways we might consider our contribution to this staggering percentage. Another 15 years could raise our bacteria levels to 50%, and at that point it would kill fish and wildlife and discontinue all recreational use. Our earth only has so many resources. Let’s consider the message from the 1970’s, “Give a Hoot – Don’t Pollute.” In relationship to our waterways we might modernize this message 40 years later to “Give a Hoot – Pick Up your Dog PoopSM!” Lori and Alan Stiles founded Scoopy the PooTM in 2005. Scoopy the Poo provides professional dog waste removal services. They have also designed equipment used by professional pooper scoopers. This equipment is sold directly to the public. For information about services and equipment go to scoopythepoo.com or contact Lori or Alan at 816-412-9000.
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Is Your Pet the in KC?
Cutest
Snap a photo of your pet and submit it at metropetmag.com.
Gizmo (cat) and Muffin (dog) — Gizmo, a stray cat, had been welcomed into our home a few months prior to this picture. She was still getting used to my English Pointer, Muffin. When I saw them laying together on the couch, I knew they had accepted each other. Fortunately, my camera was nearby. Submitted by Jennifer Tiffany
Alexa — Alexa loves Pancakes. She will wait and enjoy her pancake together with us at our breakfast table! Submitted by Debby Liwang
Brody — Brody is a sweet golden baby..He loves to run and play in the snow. Submitted by Angie Flinn A PRIL 2010 • MetroPetMag.com
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Upcoming Events
Spring Garage Sale Sat, April 24 • 9 am - 4 pm Benefits: Animals Best Friends Details: animalsbestfriends.org
Pets for Life —Open House Learn about Pet Therapy Work at Sun, April 25 • 1-3 pm Details: kcpetsforlife.com
Lakewood Run for the Dogs Benefits: Heart of Humane Society Lake Village Park, Lee’s Summit Sat, May 15, 7 - 11 am Details: heartofamericahs.org
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KA
N S AS
C
Y IT
at the American Royal Sat & Sun, April 17 - 18 Details: kcpetexpo.com
THE
KC Pet Expo
Caturday Night Fever Benefits: Wayside Waifs Sat, May 8 • 6 pm Overland Park Convention Center Benefits: Wayside Waifs Details: waysidewaifs.org
Northland Animal Welfare Society General Volunteer meeting Friday, April 2 • 6 pm • at Paul & Jack’s Details: pcnaws.org
Spay-ghetti and No Balls Benefits: Animal Haven & NMHPKC Sun, Apr 10 • 5:30 - 7:30 pm Details: nmhpkc.org
Night at the Cabaret Sun, April 24 • 6 - 9 pm at Fabulous Flo’s Benefits: No More Homeless Pets Details: nmhpkc.org
Olathe