December 2013
Articles 6
6
My Love of Animals
8 How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?
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11 From Rescue Dog to Therapy Dog 12 Meet the Breed 14 Home for the Holidays
16 Prairie Paws Animal Shelter 16
20 Holiday Shopping Guide for your Pet 22 Purrfect Trip to the Vet 24 Losing a Pet — How Do We Do It?
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26 Shelter Pets in C.L.A.S.S. 29 Chip’s Next Adventure 32 Pawzzle
Happy Holidays! The Holidays have arrived! This issue offers some wonderful stories and tips on how to celebrate the holidays with your animal companions. Take a moment to read the poem “Away in a Shelter” on page 5. This is a wonderful tale of a pet that finds his forever home! We are pleased to feature Prairie Paws Animal Shelter. This shelter, located in Ottawa, has a wonderful new facility and some great pets available for adoption. If you are thinking of adopting a pet this holiday season, check out the shelters and rescue groups. There are pets of all sizes, ages and breeds!
have to be a large monetary donation. These groups are always looking for towels, newspapers, dog toys and treats, etc. And, they will be very appreciative of any gift. Check out the great articles on holiday gift ideas for your pets – including dogs, cats and birds. Then, there is the wonderful article about a young girl’s love of animals, this will make you stop and think. Lastly there is the “Home for the Holidays” article about how to share the holidays with your animal companions. 2013 has been a very successful year and it is due to our writers and readers – thank you so much for your continued support. A special thanks to our advertisers! Remember to thank them during the holidays. They are the reason we are able to produce this wonderful magazine. Please tell them you saw their ad in the magazine so they know their advertising is working.
As the end of the year approaches, consider making a donation to a shelter or rescue group. Your donation can make a huge impact on many lives. And, it doesn’t
Publisher Barbara Riedel barbara@metropetmag.com Editor/Production Manager Dan O’Leary editor@metropetmag.com Magazine Layout ROI Marketing 816.942.1600 • roi@kc.rr.com
Happy Holidays,
Barbara Riedel, Publisher
Advertising Sales Ad Sales: 913.548.1433 Deals of the Week deals@metropetmag.com Contact MetroPet PO Box 480065 Kansas City, MO 64148 Phone: 913.548.1433 Fax: 913.387.4313
Contributing Authors Rachel A. Marsha Bjerkan Mike Deathe Ashley Flores Pat Hennessy Pawlean Journe Heddie Leger Mary Sellaro Cheryl Waterman
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. © 2013 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.
Away in a Shelter
Away in a shelter, no place for his head A little black Lab-mix, confused and misled No family to love him, where did they go He waits for them to come back, he misses them so The volunteers are rustling, the sacks with the food Up and down the aisles, feeding the brood The little Lab-mix, gets excited each time A person walks by, but he doesn’t whine He waits at the pen gate, just knowing they’ll come And hoping the next people, will be the ones From daylight to dark, each day the same Hoping and hoping, but they never came He saw others dogs come, and other dogs go Today has to be different, he knows it…he knows Then a bright shiny face, came down his aisle Turned to him sweetly, and said with a smile “I’m here to get you, you’re safe with me now. We’ll get you a family, somewhere, somehow.” The little Lab-mix, knew his angel had come And at least for tonight, a warm bed and some love His angel would walk him, and give him some treats He went out to places, and had meet-and-greets One day in the park, a family came by With their little girl and their older dog Ty The little Lab-mix, hit it off right away The little girl asked, “Can we take him today?” His angel care-taker had some work to do To make sure his placement, would be tried and true They met with the family, the very next day All checked out well – it was his place to stay Once abandoned, afraid, sad, and alone The little Lab-mix found his forever home. -- p.hennessy Please consider a donation to your local animal shelter/rescue organization. They work tirelessly to help save animals that are neglected, abandoned, or abused. Many animals that end up in animal control facilities or some shelters aren’t as lucky as the “little Lab-mix” in this story. You can make a monetary donation, items-needed donation, or volunteer your time — anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated (by the humans and the companion animals)! www.metropetmag.com | December 2013
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My Love of Animals
By Rachel A.
Since my freshman year, I have worked the night shift at an animal hospital. From six to eight Sundays and Tuesdays, I have the hospital clinic all to myself surrounded by the most amazing companions. I have cuddled with whole litters of four-week old kittens in my lap. I chased a pair of dachshunds that escaped the grounds and captured them in the nearby woods. I have broken up near-death dog fights. I have administered countless shots, received constant kisses, and endured plenty of scratches. Along with all of my experiences there, I have seen a fair amount of depressing sights. I saw a cocker spaniel with a tumor the size of its leg hanging on its chest. I watched as a perplexed golden retriever struggled to stand up and then collapsed. I have witnessed procedures to try and save animals’ lives, only later to stumble upon their remains in the refrigerator.
Looking for Forever Homes
But the most disturbing sights I have seen are the animals available for adoption. They are the most grateful animals in the world. Yet they are trapped in cages for 12 hours at a time. They are perfectly able pets, desperately
craving to be loved. I try to pay special attention to them. I provide them with special blankets and beds; I feed them extra treats, and I give them very long walks. I know that they are basically permanent residents. I know that it is highly unlikely that they will go to a forever home with a warm, caring family that will scratch them behind the ears and snuggle up to them by the fire on a snowy winter evening. Currently, I attend to a Chihuahua mix that would delight in the lavished affection of the company of a little girl, in attending tea parties, sleepovers and spa days. I walk a snow-white, blue-eyed, stunningly gorgeous husky that would be the perfect companion to accompany an explorer on travels, hikes and everyday adventures. I handle a Labrador mix and a shepherd, that would thrive in an atmosphere with a young and bustling family. I care for a beagle that would serve as a fabulous lap warmer to a grandpa and an entertainer to his fascinated grandchildren.
Be better together.
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Don’t Forget the Cats!
A surfeit of kittens and cats also inhabit the veterinary clinic. At the moment, I nurture five cats and eight kittens. Some of the cats have been there for over six months. The restless kittens frequently cry to be taken out of their cages, and although I allow them to be free for a moment, I know that their plea often goes unheard. I constantly envision the possibilities of these animals and the potential joy that they could provide to their owners. Sadly, I also am forced to
recognize the realistic improbabilities of them ever achieving these dreams of mine.
Reasons To Adopt
Too often people make silly excuses for not adopting a pet. Too often people go with the trendy choice of purchasing pets from breeders or pet stores that contribute to the problem of an overwhelming mass of animals and not enough homes. Too often people change the channel when they watch the ASPCA commercials that display footage of miserable pets. Too often people have irrational fears, over-analyzed allergies, and inane misconceptions. Commonly, individuals fear the magnitude of a responsibility of a pet. Yes, they do require a commitment, but despite many claims, pets are not children. They do not require constant attention, and they are very manageable. Being allergic to fur has become almost popular. Many pets do not cause symptoms of allergies. Better yet, constant exposure to pets can cure these. Shelter dogs are not aggressive, dilapidated
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mongrels, and shelter cats are not feral, ravenous, monsters. In fact, many of the animals that I have encountered are pure-bred, perfectly tempered, angels.Â
Saving Lives is Important
This cannot continue. People need to act. They need to forget about themselves. They need to take it into their own hands to save lives. I believe in the power of adoption. I believe that this is one of the most heroic acts an individual can commit. Dedicating a portion of their time and money to enhance the life of another creature that will, with a wagging tail, wriggle into their hearts forever. Rachel A. is a senior in high school at Blue Valley North. She has loved animals all her life, and as she nears high-school graduation, she is considering a career as a veterinarian.
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How Much EXERCISE Does My DOG Need? By Mike Deathe “How much exercise does my dog get on our walk”? Look, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but walking your dog (at least the way most people do it) does not really do much for your pooch from an exercise standpoint. Let’s face it, in today’s world, most dogs are lucky to get a two-minute to 30-minute walk every other day. Or, they are the dogs who get walked seven days a week for 10 minutes each day just to make sure they go to the bathroom. Face it folks, walking has not evolved in a good way. Unless you are walking your dog several hours a day, he/ she is not getting any real exercise. This lack of exercise will affect his behavior (energy level), it is just that simple. It would be like one of us stretching for three minutes a day and calling it our workout. Now don’t get me wrong. Short walks are great for your dog, they just have more to do with leadership than with exercise. Walking your dog (the right way) can be a huge part of training your dog, teaching impulse control, and can effectively put you in the leader role without having to resort to being a butt-head.
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Let’s look at dog training in general: Walking a dog is the easiest way for someone (including yourself) to tell just how well trained a dog is. How many times have you felt you are being dragged by your dog, or seen someone else publicly in a similar scenario? Well, we all think the same things, either “I need to get control of this situation,” or “Gee, why doesn’t that person train their dog not to pull?” Impulse Control: Any dog that pulls has zero “Impulse Control.” Whatever the dog sees out in the real world is what it decides it wants. And, the fastest way to get what he want, is to just drag your butt along with him until he gets there. Dogs that pull have learned (or, in my opinion, have been taught) that the world around them is way more important than Mom or Dad. This leads to ignoring Mom and Dad on a walk. How much exercise does my dog get in the backyard? Oh boy, do I love this one, and the, “Don’t worry my dog gets plenty of exercise. I have a big back
yard.” Let me break this to you gently, backyards have about zero use whatsoever in exercising your dog, unless you are in the backyard with the dog playing fetch, Frisbee or some other game to aid in the exercise. Don’t believe me? Well, let me tell you a story. Way back when, in the days when I had a real job (the boring one where I did not get to play with dogs all day), I was a district manager and I had an office. I was so excited when I was presented with my new office. I went out and bought a desk calendar. I got a pencil cup. I even hung up pictures and decorated a bit. After a day or two it was truly my office. Oh it was such a stimulating environment. I loved it! Now fast forward three months and I was doing whatever I could to get out of that office. It was boring and constricting, and a very nonproductive place to spend time. So, I started hanging out by the coffee pot and went to other people’s offices. I even started taking long lunches, because I did not want to go back to
the “office.” In fact, the longer I had the office, the clearer it became the only time I could get work done was when I was not in the office. What, you might ask, do my failures within my own office walls have to do with dog training? Well, it is simple: Once a dog has smelled, seen, tasted, touched, and heard everything there is to hear in your backyard, they are going to get bored and start to entertain themselves. Chewing, digging, barking and, oh yeah, my personal favorite — escaping! Does this sound like a great exercise program or more like a prison of frustration?
Ironically, both scenarios are fixable. Call a trainer. Have them come out to your house. Let them help you and Fido get back on the same page and work on living together. Because as unfortunate as it sounds once the dog is tossed in the backyard it is only a matter of time before the next stop. Which is a shelter. Leadership: This is what every dog owner wants. A dog that considers what the owner wants before they consider what they want. In a way, we can consider leadership as a coin where the flip side is impulse control. Trust me, you
There is not enough time or page space to go over all of the solutions that are out there for this type of thinking, but suffice it to say it is probably our own human nature that is creating the problem, and it usually falls into one of these two areas: 1) “I don’t want to leave my dog at home (in a crate or loose) because it is cruel.” Look, dogs are den animals, and being left with fewer options they will do fewer damage and learn less problem behaviors. I am in no way condoning or encouraging 15-hour days in the crate, or raising a dog in isolation, but instead, short periods in a crate or with a pen with plenty of space. Even the idea of Doggy Daycare is an option. 2) “I have never really trained my dog, he/she is now a juvenile and destructive when left alone. So, I am throwing the dog outside to make my life easier because I am frustrated, and I just don’t know what to do.” www.metropetmag.com | December 2013
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can’t have one without the other: a trained dog without training. Dogs only do what is rewarding, PERIOD! If your dog pulls, you have taught him it is more rewarding to pull than to walk with you. Now some trainers would say the dog is the pack leader and dominating you. But I would simply say you have never taught your dog that to get what he/she wants you the leader have to get what you want. Some call this resource control. Others call it playing hard to get. But, in the end, Fido has to learn that for the walk to continue (what he/ she wants) you must get what you want (no pulling).
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This article was not really supposed to be about how to walk your dog. It was supposed to be about walks not really being exercise. However, I do want you to take away all of the good things you could get out of walking your dog correctly, and leave you with a simple idea. If Fido knew and really understood that when he/ she pulled on the leash the walk would end 100% of the time, do you think Fido would pull? The fact is you have never rewarded Fido for not pulling. If this sounds intriguing just call me or contact me through the site for more info. Have a great day, and remember Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.).
Mike Deathe is an avid pet lover who found his passion as a dog trainer. Since 2008 he has trained hundreds of pet parents on how to live with their companion animals. He writes the Keep It Simple Stupid dog blog (K.I.S.S.) and is a resident expert for Petocracy. Deathe has authored The Book of Pee and Poop, and Forever Home — Dog 101 and How to be a Better Shelter Volunteer. Follow Deathe’s blog at @http:// muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or the website at www.kissdogtraining.com
From Rescue Dog to Therapy Dog By Marsha Bjerkan
It was a cold, blustery day in February 2004, when I read an article about 44 puppies rescued from an Indian reservation. I was temporarily living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was simply perusing the newspaper when I read that headline about the rescue puppies. The only dog I had had in my adulthood had been a German shepherd named Greta. I had rescued her. Greta and I lived a marvelous life: playing together, loving each other, and eventually after 11 wonderful years together, holding each other until Greta crossed The Rainbow Bridge to wait for me in heaven. I thought there was no dog that could ever replace her.
Thinking About Another Dog
But after reading about the rescued puppies and being cajoled by a number of friends to think about another dog, I went to the shelter to have a look. As I wandered through the facility, looking at the many puppies crying for love and security, there was this one six-week-old black Labrador looked at me longingly. Her expression was so compelling and so gentle. She walked up to me in her cage and gently lay down. She stared at me in such a way that it was almost as if she was saying, “I like you, but I am really tired. I am just going to close my eyes, but I really hope I see you tomorrow.” I had not felt a tug at or love in my heart for any dog since Greta had died nine years earlier. I was amazed by the feeling that I had when I looked at her. I knew I was going back in the morning. Because these puppies were so well publicized, hundreds of people wanted to claim one. I decided to get up at the crack of dawn. I arrived five hours before the facility opened. There were six people ahead of me in line and I prayed that they weren’t there to claim that six-week old black Lab I had met the night before.
me she remembered me. I looked at her and said, “I came back! I told you I would.” I knew that this dog was different. She wasn’t Greta, but Greta and I had had our own love and life together. Nine years after Greta died, I understood and accepted that there can be more than one love in your life. I had finally found another dog that could provide me with as much love, devotion and life that I could provide to her. This exchange could make our lives a marvelous adventure.
Love at First Sight
I walked up to the director of the shelter and said,” I want that puppy,” as I pointed to the adorable black ball of fur staring me in the face! After I signed the release papers, I raced to her cage, opened it up, and she ran into my arms. Have you ever known what it feels like to fall in love at first sight? Well, I felt it immediately. We were destined to meet and begin our journey through life together. I picked her up and tucked her in my down jacket, strolled off to my car with this amazing smile on my face that lit up the world. My life was full again and it was all because of this little ball of fur that had looked at me with those longing eyes. Little did I know my little black furry rescue puppy would grow up to be Andie, the Therapy Dog!
Anxiously Waiting
I waited anxiously in line. After they finally opened the doors, the six people ahead of me pushed forward as I tried to inch my body through the group to reach the puppy I had fallen in love with the night before. I managed to escape the other six people and ran madly to that puppy’s cage. She was still there!! She saw me, and her tail started wagging. That was her signal that showed Editors Note: This story is an introduction to the article published in the November issue of MetroPet magazine titled Andie, My Therapy Dog. The article in November was missing a byline and bio for Marsha Bjerkan.
Marsha Bjerkan became involved in the Pets For Life Therapy Program in 2013 because of the experience she had visiting her mother at The Forum with Andie. She found it so rewarding getting to know the residents and most importantly being with her mom. After her mother died, Marsha decided to take it to another level. She certified her dog, Andie, through Pets For Life. Andie and Marsha began visiting the residents at The Forum once a week starting October, 2013 and are loving every minute of it! If you want to know more about their wonderful experience with Pets For Life, please e-mail Andie and Marsha at bjerkan@aol.com
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Meet the Breed December Pet of the Month The Gypsy Vanner horse is a relatively new breed of horse envisioned by the European Gypsies. These horses have been selectively bred over 60 years to create a kind of small Shire that was colorful enough to match their caravans. They are easily recognizable by their beautiful, long, flowing manes and tails, and the profusion of feathering on their legs. They actually make the horses look as if they fly when they run. All breeds are a result crossing or combining breeds by someone or some group of people that have a shared goal of creating a specific physical type of horse born from their desire to fulfill a dream or job. Their vision creates this ideal horse and through years of consistent procreation of their vision, a breed registry can be culminated. The purpose of a breed society is to protect, educate about, perpetuate,
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Gypsy Vanner
and promote any particular breed. It was not long after World War II that a vision was born by the Gypsies of Great Britain to create the perfect caravan horse; so to speak “a small Shire, with more feathering, more color and a sweeter head” was the desired end result. Through selective breeding almost unknown to the outside world for over half a century the Gypsy Vanner flourished. It was brought to the United States by Cindy and Dennis Thompson.
Facts About the Breed Development from Gypsy Vanner Horse Society: Official Registry for the Gypsy Vanner Horse, est. 1996 The overall impression of the body of the Gypsy Vanner’s is one of harmony and balanced muscular proportion. The breed strikes a stark resemblance in its stature as a small
draft horse. The general appearance and quality of the breed reflects a gentle, cooperative, and willing, attitude. Acceptable coat colors of the Gypsy Vanner horse include: Piebald – Black and White Tobiano Skewbald Combinations of Brown, Red and White including tri-colored Tobiano Blagdon*, Solid color with white splashed up from underneath. The Gypsy Vanner breed is not a breed based on color, although there are easily recognizable colors. However, some of the coat colors do set the breed apart from others. The height of the GV is measured as with other horses, at the withers. The normal range will be between 13.2 hands to 15.2 hands. There may be some individuals outside this range. The most unique characteristic is the body, mane and tail hair coat of the Gypsy Vanner. It may vary from smooth straight and silky to slight waves and curl yet fine. A unique characteristic of the breed is the abundance of feathering found on the rear of the fore and hind legs, starting from the knee
and hock, and extending down and over the hooves. They should have long natural flowing manes and tails, only trimmed or braided for neatness of appearance when being shown. The general temperament of the breed depending on gender is reflected in its personality and willingness to cooperate with man when given tasks. Coming from a cold blooded background, the breed should be relaxed, mannerly and respectful of its environment. Their willingness should be expressed in their innate attitude of being capable of serving as a riding and driving animal. Stallions may provide more of a challenge at times, but in general, possess the temperament common to this breed. The Gypsy Vanner has very distinct powerful gaits. The Gypsy Vanner horse is very intelligent. This horse is strong and kind, and works willingly and harmoniously with its handler. This horse is known to be mannerly and manageable, eager to please, confident, courageous, alert, and loyal with a genuine sociable outlook. The Gypsy Vanner horse is renowned for its gentle, tractable nature and sensible disposition.
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The Gypsy Vanner is prone to health issues common to draft horses with feathering. The most serious being chronic progressive lymphedema and a condition called “scratches,” which the moist environment under the feathering. This is an ideal place for the combination of fungus and mites which can thrive and grow. This can cause irritation and itching. It is important to remember that care of these beautiful horses is imperative. Like other horses, they require adequate housing, veterinary care, quality hay and feed, and appropriate exercise. They are not the horse for all people. It is important to study every aspect of the breed before considering adding one to your family. We would not recommend giving any horse a carbonated beverage, however, this is a nice video providing information on the breed. Being a large breed, the cost to feed and take care of a Gypsy Vanner horse will be high. In addition, you must provide housing, a place for grazing and good quality hay. Source: http://www.gypsymvp.com/Video-GypsyVanner-Sundance-Drinks-Coke.html
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Home for the Holidays by Pat Hennessy “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays,” and home is where you might want to consider incorporating your animal companion into your holiday festivities. If your cat is shy or your dog can be a bit over the top with guests, then you may not want them in the role of host or hostess at your party. An easy solution is to give them their own spot away from the activity, in a room with soft music or a TV on in the background, and have some tasty treats or a chew toy available. Your furry or feathered companions don’t have to be “party” animals to have holiday fun. Give your dog a special treat on one day, and a new toy on another day, as rewards throughout the season. This would be equivalent to buying a new sweater for a party or meeting friends at a holiday gathering.
“pine for a friendly gaze.” All the animals who have roamed, on their own or with help, and found their way into a shelter or rescue group, could really use a friendly face and a helping hand. Consider the animal community for your holiday giving list. Animal shelters and rescue organizations can use items, such as dog/ cat food, leashes/collars, treats, toys, blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, office supplies, etc. These hard working organizations always need volunteers. While you may not have time during the holiday season, consider giving a certificate/coupon with your contact information for a future volunteer activity, such as dog walking, fostering, transporting, etc. Last but not least, monetary donations are badly needed to cover veterinary care, food and
Let your cat help you wrap gifts by holding one end of the paper (i.e. laying down on it) while you roll it out to cut it. Cats are naturals at this. Or, wad up some wrapping paper scraps and toss it around for Whiskers. You could even sprinkle a bit of catnip on the paper before you wad it up. Be careful to keep your kitty from getting into the gift trimmings (ribbon or garland). You don’t want to spoil your holiday with a trip to the emergency room with Whiskers. When you are done with your gift wrapping, take the empty paper rolls and cut them into sections. Put some nuts and seeds in the center and squeeze each end shut, trapping the delicious treat inside. Offer this “package” to your feathered family member, and watch him forage for his prize. “Because no matter how far away you roam”, you do 14
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supplies, and are a gift which benefits you as well (at tax time). Sometimes we offer small gifts to our child’s teacher, our postal carrier, or a co-worker. Consider giving something to an animal rescue volunteer. They work hard caring for the animals that have been neglected, abandoned, or abused — nurturing them from health or fear issues
into family-ready companions. These volunteers work hard not only caretaking, but fundraising, transporting, and placing these furry friends into forever homes. It would be a lovely gesture to “pay it forward” to these dedicated rescue people. “For the holidays you can’t beat home, sweet home.” Speaking of sweets, look about your home and make sure you keep your fourlegged family members safe among the decorations and people treats. The following items should be out of paw-reach (or jaw-reach): candy such as chocolate and sugar-free varieties (many of which contain Xylitol — toxic to dogs), plants such as mistletoe, poinsettias and
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holly, and decorations such as garland, tinsel (if you have it from a Christmas past), ribbon, or spray snow. You want to enjoy the beauty and grace of the season and remain blessed with happy healthy pets. Whether you are lighting candles, drinking eggnog, eating fruitcake, watching football, or whatever your tradition - take some time to love and honor those adorable furry, whiskered, and feathered family members. As Roger Caras said (about dogs), they “are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole”, and there’s no place like home at the holidays to show our appreciation.
Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides a holistic approach to companion animal care through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT, ACDBC, and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@n2paws.com, phone 816522-7005, or visit the website www. n2paws.com.
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Prairie Paws Animal Shelter By Mary Sellaro
This is another in our series featuring shelters. This shelter is located in Ottawa, Kansas, and was formerly known as Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter. The shelter is rich in history as well as a vision for a bright future. This article was based on an interview with Jaron Asher, Director of Prairie Paws Animal Shelter. Getting Started Founder Beatrice Martin Peck began advocating for the welfare of Franklin County’s homeless animals in the early 1940s and continued to do so until her death in 1967. She founded the Franklin County Humane Society in 1946 and, through her own expense and effort, opened the Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter on the 19th of June 1949. At that time, it cost $60,000 to build what was considered a state-of-theart shelter including an apartment to house Founder Beatrice Martin Peck the Animal Control Officer and his family. Today, it would cost nearly $500,000 to build a similar facility. Today, the apartment is used to house animals awaiting permanent placement. Beatrice and her group of faithful supporters investigated reports of cruelty towards animals in the community, housed and cared for animals needing assistance, and established an adoption program for the community, while creating a living legacy that remains today. Prior to her efforts, the stray or otherwise unwanted animals were used for medical testing and had no voice. Beatrice’s efforts led to the enactment of many ordinances and regulations regarding animal care that remain in effect today. The Prairie Paws Animal Shelter, Inc., is still a private, 16
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non-profit shelter operating under the same philosophy with which it was established over 50 years ago through the tireless efforts of its staff and volunteers.
Mission Statement The mission as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit animal shelter is to aid unwanted, abandoned, lost, or mistreated companion animals, both domestic and feral, in our service area. The vision is for every adoptable animal to have a safe and loving home. The goal is to be a sustainable, ethical, compassionate, and fiscally responsible organization dedicated to giving aid and comfort to companion animals that have become homeless or unwanted; assisting qualified persons in the adoption of suitable pets; giving proper shelter to lost pets and do all that is reasonable to reunite them with their owner; and promoting public safety and animal welfare through education in responsible pet ownership and through sterilization programs as a stray companion animal population control measure. Prairie Paws Today Prairie Paws is a state-of-the-art shelter with heated floors, generously sized enclosures, and fully fenced play
Prarie Paws Animal Shelter state-of-the art play yards.
yards. Several additional play yard pens were donated this year for the purpose of exercise and socialization for the dogs in their care. The lobby boasts Bella’s Boutique, offering collars, leashes, toys, and beds. Although the shelter abounds with physical attributes, it is the hard working and dedicated staff and volunteers who its core, and enable this shelter to operate day to day. The care of the animals is of the utmost importance, and this is visible as we toured the shelter. The mental and physical comforts are not only met, but exceeded. The shelter has a registered veterinary technician on staff, and when an animal enters the facility, it is assessed and vaccinated upon intake. If there are any apparent health issues the animal is placed in the medical isolation area. The shelter maintains a separate “healthy hold” area and a “medical isolation” area, so the general population has every opportunity to stay healthy. The shelter’s goal is that every adoption be a lifetime placement. So making sure the pet is healthy and a good family fit is vital. Prairie Paws has established a
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The lobby at Prarie Paws Animal Shelter. working relationship with a certified trainer, and pets receive a behavioral evaluation using the ASPCA SAFER assessment. Interested adopters are given an honest and accurate assessment of their potential pet. The shelter’s commitment to the pets doesn’t end when they go home; Prairie Paws provides adopter education and support. A professional groomer is available by appointment the first Monday of every month and the donations are given to Prairie Paws.
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Since pet over-population is a leading cause contributing to the large population of animals residing in shelters, Prairie Paws has established a Spay-Neuter Fund. It works with several vets in the area to provide the community with low cost spay and neuter assistance. The shelter’s rescue outreach program works with rescue groups to facilitate pets’ chances of becoming adopted. Prairie Paws has established a contract with a cremation service and is able to provide mourning families with the option of general cremation or being reunited with their pet’s ashes. How Can You Help? Adopt. Donate. Foster. Volunteer. Educate. Make a difference. The Future of Prairie Paws On a very positive note, adoptions have increased since last year, but the shelter has recently had to change their
hours of operation due to funding issues. The yearly cost of running a building this size alone costs hundreds of thousands of dollars; medical costs are expensive, and in the words of Jaron Asher: “What would happen to the animals if we weren’t here?” The shelter is busy planning for the future and looking into grants to help feral cats with Trap, Neuter, and Release. There is also a goal to establish an onsite surgery center to offer outside medical services. The space already exists and is partially ready; the funding is needed to make it a reality. Other revenue options are in the works, and negotiations to take over the licensing programs are being discussed. Closing Note When my visit came to an end, I stepped outside of the shelter as it was getting cold and starting to rain. I kept thinking of the animals inside the shelter, homeless for the moment, but because of the dedication and hard work of everyone involved with Prairie Paws, they have a chance at life. For more information about Prairie Paws Animal Shelter or to adopt one of their wonderful pets, please visit the website: www. prairiepaws.org or find them on Facebook.
PRAIRIE PAWS ANIMAL SHELTER 3173 Hwy K 68, Ottawa, Kansas, 66067 Phone: (785) 242-2967 Fax: (785) 242-7151 Email: info@prairiepaws.org Hours of Operation Mon, Wed, Thurs: 11am-6pm Tues, Fri, Sun: Closed Sat: 11am-4pm
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Fleas Navidad Nibblers Bakes 16 festive holidog muffins Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house, not a creature was stirring, except for the dog eating these off the counter… as quiet as a mouse. Merry Dogmas!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons honey 2 3/4 cups water 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/8 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1/2 cup chopped peanuts 4 cups whole-wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon nutmeg
Directions:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • In a bowl, mix together honey, water, applesauce, vanilla and egg. • In a separate bowl, mix peanuts, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. • Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir, mixing well. • Spoon into greased muffin tin, filling each cup two-thirds full. Bake for 35 minutes. Cool and store in sealed container. Recipe from Three Dog Bakery. www.threedog.com
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Holiday Shopping Guide for Your Pet by Pat Hennessy One of the greatest gifts you can give your animal companion is dedicated time with you! That could consist of: • Training class — puppy or family manners (if he has never been to a class), •F un class — agility, rally or tracking (something you do as a team), • Relaxing class — TTouch or Yoga (Doga for dogs, Meowoga for cats), • FREE — play dates, car rides, park visits, etc. (low cost commitment from you). The next greatest thing you can provide for your animal companion is environment enrichment (an environment full of sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes). While we go out and about in our daily lives, our furry and feathered companions are kept in areas that are
sometimes small and often isolated, or not very colorful. We can supplement their personal space for the times that we are away by using some of the following ideas.
Dog choices
•T reat dispensing toys — there are several products that are made for placing treats or kibble in them and when played with the treats will come out. They come in different sizes, shapes and difficulty levels. • Radio or television. • Colorful surroundings. •C hew toys — some are made such that a treat may be placed inside or around the edge to make the toys more interesting. Your dog should always be observed with these toys to monitor chewing habits
Cat choices
• Toys that they can be swatted around, with catnip if they like it. • I nteractive toys such as a ball inside a ring, or a feather on a spring. •T all stands/climbing trees — carpeted cylinders or boxes that are stacked where the cat can climb up them and gives them a place to hide. • FREE — ordinary household items that will please a cat include a paper sack, wadded up aluminum foil ball, tabs off of a milk jug, and orange juice cans. 20
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Bird choices
•H anging colorful toys — wood blocks on a chain. •T reat dispensing toys — there are several products that are made for placing nuts or fruit in them and when played with the treats will come out; foraging is an important part of bird culture. • Radio or television. • Textured toys — use supervision with rope or fabric as it can unravel and the bird can get tangled • FREE — ordinary household items can entertain a bird, such as plastic lids from milk or water bottles, hanging a key from a chain, etc. Last but not least, in the gift giving category, give your companion animal healthy snacks. When choosing that special holiday treat, select one that contains whole food ingredients such as meats and vegetables vs. cracker or biscuit type treats.
Dog choices
• Freeze dried meat, such as lamb, venison, liver, etc. • Meat chews, such as bully sticks, are natural meat products and a better choice than rawhides, but will need to be removed when chewed down into a small enough piece to be swallowed.
Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides a holistic approach to companion animal care through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT, ACDBC, and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@n2paws.com, phone 816522-7005, or visit the website www. n2paws.com.
Cat choices
• Freeze dried meat, such as salmon or liver. • Specialty canned food, especially if you usually feed dry only.
Bird choices
• In-shell mixed fancy nuts, which are frequently available during the holiday season in bulk at the grocery store, such as almonds, pecans, filberts, etc. • Dried fruit, which may be easier to find during the holiday season as well – avoid fruits that have added sugar. While you are out shopping, picking out that video game for your nephew, a bottle of wine for a party, or a special item for your mom, don’t forget your furry or feathered best friend. It is a small token for such a big heart. And while you are in the giving spirit, make a donation to your local animal shelter. There is a furry friend there waiting to be blessed with their forever family. www.metropetmag.com | December 2013
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Purrfect Trip to the Veterinarian Guidelines For You and Your Cats by Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
Studies prove that the number of cats in United States’ households now far exceeds the number of dogs, which is quite a change from just a few years ago. Naturally it would seem to follow that the number of feline vet visits would exceed those of dogs. Unfortunately, not so! Cats are far more likely to go without veterinary care than dogs.
Taking Your Cat to a Veterinarian According to the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, “The difficulties associated with taking a pet cat to a veterinarian is one cause for the low frequency of feline visits. From loading the cat in the carrier to the frightened or aggressive behavior the animal expresses at the clinic — just thinking about the ordeal is enough to stress out many cat owners.” This low number of feline veterinary visits is very concerning when you consider that cats are extremely good at hiding pain and signs of illness from their
owners. The reason being that this is an inherent instinct passed on to them from their ancestors, when it was kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, in the wild. Due to this ability to mask signs of disease or illness, the annual, or semi-annual wellness visit to a veterinarian becomes of utmost importance in diagnosing or identifying and treating certain diseases early enough to make a difference in the cat’s life.
Regular Wellness Exams Unfortunately, the other issue at play, is that the cat owner may feel the veterinary visit is too stressful for the cat and too much of an ordeal for owner. Because of this, owners may be less likely to pursue regular wellness care for their feline pets. Or, they erroneously believe that because their cat does not go outside, there are no health risks for — him/her. This couldn’t be more wrong, especially with regard to airborne viruses, and viruses that are transported by fomites (clothing, shoes, etc.). Diseases such as diabetes, thyroid and cancer of the individual feline systems are a problem, just as they are for you and me. The only way an owner may find out about these diseases early enough for treatment is to have a regular wellness exam done. Vaccines are also necessary. However, the real value in your cat’s veterinary visit should be the thorough examination that your veterinarian performs. It should be from the tip of the nose, to the tip of the tail. If he/she doesn’t check the ears, eyes, nose and mouth (very important), then the exam is not thorough.
New Guidelines for Veterinary Visits Due to the low number of feline veterinary visits in comparison to that of dogs, and still on the decline, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the international Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) have recently developed a set of guidelines that they hope will make trips to the veterinarian more comfortable for owners and much less stressful for cats. 22
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Some of their suggestions to owners for preparing their feline patient for a trip to their veterinarian include such things as: • Rehearsing visits to the veterinary practice. • Working on adapting cats to carriers. • Finding the cat well ahead of the time you need to leave for the clinic (this reduces your stress, thereby your cats’ stress). • Bringing items with a familiar scent with you for your cat. • Notifying the veterinary staff ahead of time, if your cat is easily upset. • Remaining calm yourself, so that your cat doesn’t feed off owner stress (cats are extremely perceptive and sensitive to their owners).
Good Veterinary Care I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Marty Becker this spring when he visited Kansas City on his bus tour (Healthy Pets – Visit Vets) across the country, in an effort to promote good veterinary care for all pets. In his presentation, he mentioned several other ideas for helping cats stay calm to, from and during visits to their veterinarian.
Make the Cat Carrier Part of the Furniture He actually suggested making the cat carrier part of the furniture. Don’t stick the carrier in the garage or storage area of the house, and bring it out all dusty and dirty when it’s time to visit the veterinarian. Make sure your cat is familiar with the carrier so that it in itself doesn’t create stress for your cat. An old t-shirt or towel with the owner’s scent can be placed in the carrier, so that the cat feels safe when inside. A towel or sheet may be placed over the carrier, which often seems to calm the cat because they can’t see possible stressors.
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Another suggestion that I would make is that owners invest in a “top” loading carrier, so that their cats can possibly remain inside during part of their examination at the practice. We are always looking for ways to make cats’ visits less stressful for them and for their owners, and usually things such as talking in a low, calm voice, avoiding eye contact with the patients, moving slowly and deliberately, and placing ourselves on the same level as the patient, instead of looming over them, whenever possible, are all things that we try to keep in mind during exams.
Be Aware Of Your Own Emotions Last, but most important (I believe), for both owners and veterinarian teams, is to be aware of your own emotions and their potential effect on the cat’s behavior. Remember that cats, according to the AAFP/ISFM guidelines, are both predator and prey animals, and as such will often demonstrate fear and/or defensiveness in unfamiliar environments or with unfamiliar people. Many owners find this embarrassing, but it’s only natural. It’s our job to make their veterinary visits as smooth and comfortable for them as possible. If you’re interested in learning more, a PDF of the AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines can be downloaded for free at www.catvets.com. Excerpts from this article came from the AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines. A long-time cat lover, Cheryl Waterman was the Hospital Administrator at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County. She was with the Clinic for over 13 years. In 2007, Waterman received the Certification of Veterinary Practice Management (CVPM) designation. She is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Questions may be directed to the Cat Clinic of Johnson County at 913.541.0478. 23
Losing a Pet -
How Do We Do It? By Cindy Pugh After having the true blessing of being at the same veterinary clinic for over 20 years, there aren’t many questions I have not been asked. Most recently, a client who’s beloved dog, Luis, was in a serious health crisis. He asked me, “how do you do this?” He was referring to having “the” discussion. The discussion that deals with when is it time to let your pet go. As he sat there trying his best to hold back his tears, I felt the familiar ache in my heart. Watching someone you have formed great friendships with hurting so deeply is terrible. Watching their beloved pets’ suffering is worse. It’s the only part of our job that we despise. But, it is a part we cannot avoid.
It Takes a Toll on Everyone The illness and subsequent passing of a pet takes such a toll on the entire family. By family, I refer to our clients as well as our staff. Knowing how to console, is as unique as the pet. Everyone grieves in their own ways. Some don’t want to be talked to or touched. Some need that heartfelt hug and words of comfort. Respecting their privacy and knowing when to give them space is of the utmost importance. After all, most of us here have experienced the same loss and the same emotions our clients have faced. It hurts. We feel cheated not to have
our pets for our lifetime. We feel the same way you do, or sadly may someday.
So How or Why Do We Do It? We do it because we do anything to make a situation even a tad easier for our clients. Letting you know what to expect before, during and after. Being honest even when we know it is going to cause you pain. Our experiences help us know how to prepare you for what is to come. Knowing ahead of time helps ease the fear of what to expect. Planning ahead helps control the situation, and also helps to minimize the feeling of helplessness in an emergency. No matter how many times you have gone through saying “goodbye,” the experience you are coping with at that moment is all you can focus on. As much as you despise the idea of having to make a decision, the fact is that you have to see the situation through the eyes of your pet.
But At What Cost? We all would love to keep them with us forever. But at what cost? There is a huge difference between living and simply existing. What about quality of life? Is he able to enjoy the things that made his life what it was? Is he in uncontrollable pain? Can he interact with you? When you view the situation through his eyes, is he speaking to you? One thing I have shared with countless friends, clients and even strangers when they find out I work at a veterinary clinic, is that our animals have an unspoken way of telling us when they’re tired. When they have no more fight in them. Maybe they know what is happening, I don’t know for sure. I know from my own personal experiences with my own pets, what they were telling me with their eyes. It’s like a peace comes over your heart that says
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“It’s okay, I’m ready.” I can’t really explain it, but the communication exists. Many, many of our clients share the very same thing, and then they are at peace with the decision. We didn’t know Luis for his entire life, only during his last month, when he came in for a second opinion. In that short month, not only did he make an impact on us, but his family did also. Their love and dedication to do whatever they could do to try and save him was nothing short of incredible. Every pet should be as lucky as he was. Luis passed away on November 6, 2013.
So Why Do We Do It? When Luis’s “Dad” stopped by to thank us for everything done to try to save Luis, the look of gratitude on his face answered the question. We had shared some good memories and stories that were meaningful to both our lives. Although the anguish of www.metropetmag.com | December 2013
Cindy Pugh is Office Manager at Aid Animal Hospital and loves her job. During her 20 years at the hospital, she has enjoyed the lives of many pets, from the first visit through the golden years. Aid Animal Hospital has been around for over 50 years, and offers a wide array of traditional and holistic veterinary care for dogs, cats, bunnies, etc. The hospital also offers boarding and dental care. The hospital is located at 8343 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO. Cindy can be reached at 816-363-4922. losing Luis was still in his eyes, the memories of that wonderful little dog shined through his tears, and made it perfectly clear how and why we do it.
AID ANIMAL HOSPITAL
We do it because it’s all part of the process. From that first visit to the last, our job is to improve the quality of life, prevent suffering, develop lasting relationships, and if there is no more we can do to help the animal, to end the suffering. It is the final gift you do for your pet. Your pet’s final gift is the memories it leaves behind. And, those are a gift to cherish every day.
816.363.4922
HELPING PETS LIVE
LONG
HEALTHY LIVES
• Full Service Veterinary Care • Stem Cell Therapy • Acupuncture • Laser Therapy • Surgery • Dental • Boarding
COMBINING WESTERN MEDICINE WITH A HOLISTIC VIEW
FOLLOW US ON
John E. Rowe, DVM, CVA
8343 Wornall Rd, KC, MO • aidanimalhospital.com 25
Shelter Pets in C.L.A.S.S. by Ashley Flores
Canine behavior problems can be difficult on everyone in a household, especially the dog, but imagine what stress these challenges can cause for a major animal shelter. All of the homeless dogs at a shelter need to put their best paw forward to be seen and appreciated by adoptive families, and some need a little more help than others to become ready for a home. That’s why we’re here to help. Three common reasons that dogs display behavioral issues are boredom, stress, and excess energy, all of which can be an enormous problem for many homes and shelters around the nation. There are many types of training, training programs and animal enrichment programs that can help animals in a shelter environment, and can also be applied at home. C.L.A.S.S. (Canine Life and Social Skills) is a program created by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (ADPT) to help strengthen the bond between humans and their canine companions (learn more at www.mydoghasclass.com). ADPT created this program with the input of dog owners, non-dog owners, shelter workers, and professional dog trainers to help give dog owners and shelter workers the tools they need to teach dogs the skills they will need to live in a home. Adoption is a vital part of animal welfare, but equally important is retention – matching the pet with the right family and making it a successful forever home. At Great Plains SPCA, we have a three-pronged approach to animal welfare – prevention, adoption, retention, and C.L.A.S.S. is a new, vital part of retention. Some of the skills that are taught in C.L.A.S.S. are sit, stay, down, leave it, wait, loose leash walking, and 26
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many more. These indoor and outdoor manners are important skills for any dog to learn to ensure their safety. “Wait” and “leave it” are particularly important commands. Wait is a great tool to utilize when you’re opening the door as many dogs love to go outside, and will take whatever opportunity they can to dash out and escape to the glorious outside. Unfortunately, this can be very hazardous to your dog if you live on a busy street with cars driving by, or if you have a dog that doesn’t necessarily like other dogs or is selective of his human friends. Another wonderful command that is taught in this program is “Leave It” which can save your dog from swallowing a pill that might have been dropped on the floor accidentally, or something that could be dangerous for them to ingest outside the home while on a walk. You can also use the “Leave it” command for the dogs that get nervous around bicycles, skateboards and strollers. This is an ideal program for not only pet owners but also for shelters that are teaching dogs how to function in a home environment. Volunteers absolutely love working with dogs that are harder to adopt and giving them the skills they need to increase their chances for adoption. A prime example of the benefits to instituting C.L.A.S.S. is Hoss. He was a high-energy, strong dog with little to no manners when he entered the shelter in July 2013. He got adopted to a family and was later returned because he was too challenging for the family to manage. Hoss then joined the C.L.A.S.S. program to learn the skills and manners he would need to live with a new family. He was an incredibly quick learner and exceeded expectations with his weekly homework, thanks in part to the help of two fabulous volunteers. This dog sat in the shelter for
four months with little interest from visitors due to his behavior, but after he joined the class he was adopted 3 weeks later, and he’s still living with his forever family. Shelter stress is a huge concern for animal shelters and this program will thankfully help to increase retention for newly adopted dogs. At the shelter we implement various enrichments to help keep stress levels down for all the animals. You can also use some of these tools at home for your own pets. Here are some enrichment tools. Many animals like to work for their food, making food dispensing toys is a perfect way for pets to exercise their brains to work for their food. You can even hide small piles of food around your home and watch your dog learn to hunt for his food, or soak your dog’s favorite rope toy in a non-onion (onions are toxic to dogs) meat-based broth.
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Dogs love to smell and that’s one of their favorite ways to learn! You can make scent sprays with a bottle of water, and then add some scented extracts to give your dog something to sniff at. At the shelter we use a wide variety of scents, such as vanilla, pomegranate, spices, herbs, cinnamon, and many more. You can spray these new scents in your home (or in a kennel in a shelter’s case) once a day and your dogs will love you for it, just be careful not to use flora scents that are too potent. Sounds are an important enrichment to animals as well. You can use chimes or various noisemakers with different tonal registers to give your dog something to listen to. However, it’s important to not use chimes around doorways or any place that can positivity reinforce your dog to bark. You can also play different types of music in your house every once in a while.
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Fun games such as chase, hide and seek and tug-of-war (when played appropriately) are a superb way to release endorphins and burn off excess energy. Remember excess energy and boredom are two of the most common reasons that dogs display behavior problems.
for your dog to gain the social skills your dog will need to be around other dogs. Make sure the dogs that you let play with your canine companion are dog friendly, healthy, vaccinated, and have good canine communication skills to ensure the best play groups possible.
A variety of toys is the best way to keep your dog busy for those times that you can’t play with your furry friend. Try letting your dog play with a few different types of toys one week, and then switching to different toys the next week, so that your dog gets excited about their “new” toys each week. Don’t forget to get some chewing items for your dog, because dogs learn by putting things in their mouths. Some dogs chew when they’re nervous, fearful, or have different types of anxiety, and toys teach them how to appropriately pick things on which they can chew.
Get back to the basics, training basics! Refresh your dog’s memory of all those tricks that you taught your pup or things that you’ve worked on in the past. Training can be a positive and relationship-building process for you and your dog.
Play groups are a wonderful way
Remember, always leave on a positive note and try to make sure the training sessions aren’t too long (no more than 20-30 minute at a time). Ask your dog to do a simple command, one he already knows, at the end of the training session and rewarding him with treats. Treats and praise will result in your dog wanting to do more at the next training
session. A dog that is well exercised, mentally and physically stimulated and has lower stress is a happy and well behaved dog. Likewise, a shelter dog that also has these traits has an easier time getting adopted, which is why these enrichment programs are vital to our shelter work.
Ashley Flores, Director of Volunteers and Staff Development at Great Plains SPCA is a certified dog trainer. She has her CPDT-KA,is a member of the Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance, and is an avid animal advocate for homeless animals in the Kansas City region. Her passion is working with dogs with behavioral problems and rehabilitating shy and fearful canines. She can be reached at 913831-7722.
November Pawzzle Answers
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Chip’s
NEXT ADVENTURE SERVICE Recap November – 2013 - We did not
know where we were going, or where we would land. The driver laid on his back, barely breathing and still moaning. Then I remembered he had a phone, and we dialed for emergency. Thank goodness I have a very smart MawMaw. She knew the numbers 911. Someone answered and we started to bark. We barked and barked, hoping someone would track the phone and realize we were in trouble, and connect with the emergency crews. The crew could track us down, even though we were way UP in the air. It was getting dark and we were getting cold. We did have a blanket and some treats on board, so we huddled on the floor of the hot air balloon basket, ate a snack, closed our eyes, and hoped for the best. We had acted in a team effort to try to get help for the man. We kept licking his face, and pawing at his chest, like trying to keep him awake and massage his chest, as that seemed to be what was bothering him. All we could do was hope for the best, and hope he would wake up, and that we would get down safely.
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by Heddie Leger
MawMaw always says, “One never knows what the day will bring, we can only do our best in each moment and hope it is good enough.” My MawMaw had a lot of caring in her heart. I hope to be like her when I grow up. It makes people feel good when someone cares about them. In this instance, the man was very thankful. He was very quiet and calm. Somehow MawMaw had that effect on everyone. She nuzzled in next to him and he seemed to be better. She told me to lay on his feet to help keep him warm, so I did. It was very dark, and it started to rain. The only light was from the little flicker of flame that was left in the motor thing that ran the balloon. The balloon was so big it kept us dry, but the lightning really had us worried. “What if lightning struck the balloon,” I asked. MawMaw said, “Shhhh, let’s just not think about things that might happen; let’s just take care of what we know about right now.” We all fell asleep. The rain, wind and rocking motion of the balloon lulled us to sleep. When we woke up, the sun was starting to rise. It was a beautiful morning. We noticed the beautiful colors of the leaves. They were bright orange, yellow, crimson, and red. It truly was beautiful. The balloon seemed to just float effortlessly, as if it was being guided by a kind, gentle hand taking us to a safe place. We saw police cars and an ambulance below following us. We were beginning to have some hope. “The police and EMTs served the public in caring about safety and keeping the peace,” MawMaw said. She said that it was very important to serve others and to take care of them. I guess we got a good dose of that yesterday. The man’s color looked better and his breathing was much smoother. He sat up and had a small drink of water, but he was very weak.
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SERVICE: The function or action of helping others in contributing to their welfare, can be paid or unpaid
The balloon was doing something very strange as it floated, it just slowly went lower and lower, until it actually landed in some trees upright in the branches, and slowly kept deflating. We were wondering how we were going to get down from the tree, when the fire truck and police car caught up with us, with the ambulance following them. The fire truck parked under the tree and a ladder started coming up towards us. Everyone looked stressed and a bit worried, but they were all calm and were telling us to stay calm and to stay where we were. They said they were coming up to get us, so we followed their directions. Slowly, the ladder got closer and closer, until it leaned up against the basket where we were sitting. Then our rescuers sent up a little sling thing with a harness and a bed like thing. Very last, I could see a person climbing up the ladder. I could not tell if it was a man or a woman, since the person had on goggles, a hat and a suit. We did not know who these people were. We did not
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know who this man was. We did not know where we were or what was going to happen next. But what we did know was we were going to be safe. The person finally reached the basket. It was a woman. I could tell once she was close up. She was very kind, and instructed us to wait. She had to tend to the man first. So we did. She talked to him, did a few simple tests to see if he was okay, or if he needed treatment or oxygen. He seemed fine, so she helped him to the little bed thing, strapped him in, and as she walked down the ladder guiding the bed thing with the pulley, she said that we should stay where we were and she would be back. Half way down, the bed thing started to tip. It was very scary, but she was very calm, and quickly got the pulley adjusted and straightened things out, then down they went. He was whisked away in an ambulance. She started back up for us. Once she got to us, she gave us a drink and a treat, and talked nicely to us. We could tell she was happy with us, and we heard her say good job.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
thing we knew to help the man. They said that is what heroes do — they serve others in their “ Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. time of need with no thought of themselves. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You The man told them how we kept him warm, don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to breathing, and what we had done. I have never serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul much thought of myself as a hero or one to generated by love.” serve others, but on that day everything Martin Luther King Jr. changed. Penelope, Allen, “ You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” Stephanie, and C.G. Jung Robert decided that if we could do She put us in the harness things and down we went these things naturally, on the pulley thing, just like the man. It felt so good to we were pretty smart dogs and have our paws on the ground. We could see our family could continue to serve others, if car speeding up the road, as the police had let them we wanted to. The police, EMTs, know were had been found. They got there just as the firefighters, veterinarian — veterinarian was checking us out. We heard them talking. everyone involved agreed. The vet said we were fine. The police said we did great service in helping the man, as he had told them how we Check out Chip’s next had pushed on his chest with our paws, kept him warm, adventure in January 2014 to and licked his face to keep him awake and breathing. find out happened to the man, and They said we were heroes, but it did not feel as if it we where Chip’s next adventure will take him. were heroes. We had been very scared and did the only
HUMANE EDUCATION ACTIVITY:
Every community has programs and organizations in which you can volunteer and serve others. Find out what opportunities are in your community this holiday season and find a place to serve others. It could be at the Salvation Army (ringing a bell), at the mayor’s Christmas tree, serving dinner at a homeless center, adopting a family to provide items to make their holiday happy, or a variety of other opportunities.
STORY DISCUSSION TIPS:
What happened during the balloon ride? How did Chip and MawMaw demonstrate service? What did they do? How do you think Chip and MawMaw felt while they were helping the man? Who came to help Chip and MawMaw? How did they help Chip and MawMaw?
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Heddie is a Certified Humane Educator and member of APDT, APLB, APHE and NHES sharing a lifelong passion of helping children and the elderly learn manners reinforcement with their pets through the PawZone In-Home PetSitting. You can reach her at 816.820.5829.
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Chip’s Corner
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25 26 27 EclipseCrossword.com
Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in Chip’s Adventure beginning on page 29 and the Breed of the Month story on page 12. 32
MetroPet Magazine | December 2013
ACROSS
3. Unique trait of this breed is the _____ on their legs. 6. One type of vehicle that came to the rescue. 9. This item was on board and helped keep everyone warm. 11. Irritation of the skin caused by fungus and mites in a moist environment. 12. Chip and MawMaw went for a ride in a hot air ______________. 17. This breed is a combination of the Shire, Dales Pony, Friesian, and ___________________. 18. What did they call Chip and MawMaw? 20. Color of the leaves? 21. Who were the originators of the breed Gypsy Vanner? 22. Chip and MawMaw did this to help the man stay awake. 24. Known for their long, ___________ beautiful mane and tail. 25. The breed was created to provide the perfect ________ horse. 26. Meet the horse breed of the month is the _________. 27. Web-like item wrapped around Chip to get him down from the tree.
DOWN 1. MawMaw told Chip to lie on the man’s _______ to help keep him warm. 2. The Gypsy horse is known for its _________. 4. What is the word of the month? 5. What did the emergency worker wear on her face? 7. This breed is known to be very __________. 8. The breed works willingly and __________ with its handler/owner. 10. What did MawMaw do to make the man feel better? 13. What part of the man was in pain? 14. What did emergency workers use to reach Chip and save him? 15. The Gypsy horse has a very sensible ________. 16. Serious chronic progressive disease affecting the Gypsy horse. 17. The emergency workers told Chip to stay _________. 19. Another word for combining breeds to create a new breed. 23. Where did the hot air balloon finally land?
Product Showcase
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