Camp Bow Wow Olathe
Camp Bow Wow Lee’s Summit
October 2013
Articles 5 No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents
5
6
The Trials of Agility
9
Howl-O-Ween Tricking Treats
10 A Dig Box 12 What to do when you witness abuse or neglect 10
14 Communicating with Cats 18 Every Life Matters at Purrfect Pets 20 Trick or Treat 20
22 Meet the Breed 23 Grooming and Pet Allergies
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24 Vanished, Beyond Human Perception 26 Feline Dentistry... Do You Know Which Questions to Ask? 28 Chip’s Next Adventure 28
32 Pawzzle
It’s Officially Fall! The calendar says it, the trees say it and the pets are now saying it. How do we know? Because our pets want to get out and enjoy the weather and they want us to go with them. Why? Because it is great weather to get out and about with our furry friends. Where do you go? There is a lot happening in October. Let’s start with Dogtoberfest in Lawrence on October 5, then Dogtoberfest in Kansas City on October 20. Don’t miss out on the Pet Adoption Event at Lee’s Summit Subaru on October 19, from 11 am-2 pm. There are also many Halloween events at MetroPet advertisers — check out our Facebook posts for details. And, don’t miss the Howl-O-Ween tricking treat recipe on page 13. This is also the month we need to protect our pets from pranksters, and even worse, intended harm. Keep your pets safe and inside this month. Be especially careful on Halloween, see the safety tips on page 5.
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
This month, we are pleased to feature the Purrfect Pets Cat Adoption group. Celebrating 10 years of helping pets find perfect homes, Purrfect Pets is located in Metcalf South shopping center. Stop by and check out the wonderful boutique and the adorable felines for adoption. This group relies exclusively on generosity of animal lovers. We are also pleased to feature an article about Dixie, the three-legged dog, who taught her best twolegged friend how to handle adversity and win! See the agility article on page 10. Don’t miss the article on page 26 on cats and dentistry. It is important that cats, and dog, have their teeth cleaned on an annual basis. Don’t miss the Dig Box article on page 6. If your dog is bored, maybe this is the perfect solution! Enjoy this issue, and as always, please tell our advertisers that you saw their ad in MetroPet magazine. Happy Fall!
Barbara
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 Amy Cox Mike Deathe Pat Hennessy Pawlean Journe Tim McHenry Heddie Leger Kate Sidun Jerome Tonneson 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.
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MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents Attention, animal lovers, it’s almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying “trick or treat!” all the way to November 1.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trickor-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate— can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and
decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other
decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do
exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please
7. Take a closer look at your
pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
8. All but the most social
dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has
proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
Provided by http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/halloween-safety-tips
don’t put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume
isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale’ or donning a festive bandanna.
www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
5
The Trials of Agility by Tim McHenry
As a dog trainer and certified dog enthusiast, spending a day at the Kansas City Pet Expo is roughly the equivalent of a baseball fan getting tickets to the World Series. Back in 2007, the event was held at an indoor arena roughly the size of Cleveland. Besides the usual array of vendors, there were demonstrations of flyball, dock diving, and of the guys in rubber suits being subdued by canine cops. While I was intrigued by each performance, it was the agility demonstration that had me captivated. Maybe it was the teamwork between handler and dog or the almost telepathic way they were able to communicate. Perhaps it was the athleticism of the dogs as they maneuvered through each obstacle. At any rate, I was hooked.
I was convinced that my yellow Lab Dixie had some aptitude for the sport. While visiting my son Josh in Prescott, AZ, that year, we hiked a trail that wove through a quarry of ancient granite formations. The massive boulders had been etched into curious shapes over time by the forces of nature. I was concerned that Dixie couldn’t navigate such a challenging trail. There were steep climbs and treacherous descents. I had hiked this trail many times. For most dogs, it wouldn’t be a problem but Dixie clearly wasn’t just any dog. I adopted Dixie in October of 2005. Her left front leg had been amputated after an unfortunate encounter with a car. She was a maybe a year and a half at that time. Rehab was slow but steady. Walks became hikes and hikes became morning jogs. On this day, Dixie had already scaled rock faces as though she were a mountain goat on a sugar high. Josh stopped before a narrow passage. “I don’t think Dixie can
get through there Dad. We better turn back.” 6
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
Suddenly, Dixie pushed between us, jumped over the rocks that had closed off the trail. Having landed squarely on her remaining front leg, she turned towards us as if to say “are you two plodding hominids coming or not?” A short time later, Dixie and I visited a dog park that featured an agility tunnel and a couple of jumps. Without any prompting from me, Dixie charged through the tunnel, circled the hard plastic structure, and leaped on top of the apparatus to the astonishment of everyone around us. I immediately went home and enrolled her in an agility course. Dixie had just passed her Canine Good Citizenship test so was solid on her core commands. While some dogs were understandably skittish about tunnels, Dixie shot through them like eggs through a goose. Jumps were a breeze and the dog walk was like scaling a rock face back on the Arizona hiking trail. The dog walk took a little more time, however, and Dixie wanted nothing to do with the teeter.
Suddenly it was our turn to enter the tunnelers ring. The judge shouted “good luck” and I removed Dixie’s slip lead. A small crowd had gathered. Suffice it to say, they had never seen a tripawd run agility before. Dixie blew through the tunnels. At one point, I failed to commit her to a tunnel and she missed the entry point. I maneuvered her back into position but we lost valuable time. No matter. Dixie finished and earned a second place
ribbon. It was a non-qualifying run but her time was still
In fact, Dixie once fell off the dog walk. Though uninjured, the fall took her breath away and she was none too crazy about getting back on. Her confidence returned in time thanks to some shaping exercises and the dog walk became just another prance in the park. Fortunately, we had registered with NADAC and teeters were not used at their events. Despite missing a leg, NADAC welcomed Dixie to their competitions but would only allow her to enter runs that kept her grounded. More specifically, tunnelers, hoopers, and weavers. The dreaded weave poles had always been her nemesis. There was just no easy way for a “tripawd” to maneuver around poles spaced 24 inches apart. It took two years of training but one day Dixie just figured it out. I’m not sure how she does it but this dog with three legs slithers through the weaves like a desert sidewinder. We entered our first trial in the fall of 2008. Many of the contestants looked at Dixie and asked if we were there to watch the event. I smiled politely and explained that we were competing while under my breath I mumbled “we’re here to kick your butt!” Actually, I held no pretense about beating anybody. I just wanted to show people what this incredible dog could do. www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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better than several other competitors. In fact, I overheard one frustrated handler chastise her poor dog as they passed by, saying “I can’t believe you got beat by a three-legged dog!” My heart was racing and my eyes moist with tears as we were congratulated by one contestant after another. Four years later, Dixie is the proud owner of five novice titles. She has even earned a title in the pesky weavers competition. My girl turned nine years of age in February and is still actively competing. There is so much that Dixie has taught me during our years together. Perhaps the greatest lesson is, like all of our dogs, she is greater than the sum of her parts. Her status as a differently abled dog (after reading this, would you use the term “disabled?) has had no bearing on the quality of her life. I would even go so far as to say that her presence has enhanced the quality of my life.
AID ANIMAL HOSPITAL 816.363.4922
HELPING PETS LIVE
LONG
HEALTHY LIVES
• Full Service Veterinary Care • Stem Cell Therapy • Acupuncture • Laser Therapy • Surgery • Dental • Boarding
Last year I published a book called “A Leg To Stand On.” It is about my life with this extraordinary dog. While writing, I borrowed some song lyrics that seemed to fit the mood I was trying to create in each chapter. One such chapter was called “Clean Running” and featured the following lyric by Neil Young.
“We’ve been through some things together. With trunks of memories still to come We found things to do in stormy weather Long may you run…” With apologies to Mr. Young. This song was written about a car and not a dog but it so accurately describes our agility experience. I know the day will come when Dixie can no longer compete. Her remaining leg just wasn’t designed to bear the load of a high impact sport like agility. By her courage and unwavering loyalty, Dixie has given me a trunk of memories I will cherish forever.
Long may you run, Dixie girl. Long may you run!
Tim McHenry is a published author and Animal Behavior College certified pet trainer. He lives in Mission Kansas with Dixie and a Pointer mix named Oreo. There are additional pictures and video of Dixie’s agility performances on Tim’s Facebook site, www.facebook/alegtostandonthebook. Tim’s first book, “A Leg To Stand On,” is a memoir about his life with Dixie. Though a rescue dog, it was eventually Tim that was in need of rescuing. The book can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.
COMBINING WESTERN MEDICINE WITH A HOLISTIC VIEW
FOLLOW US ON
John E. Rowe, DVM, CVA
8343 Wornall Rd, KC, MO • aidanimalhospital.com 8
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
September 2013 Pawzzle Answers
Howl-O-Ween Tricking Treats Makes 14 bewitching treats - perfect for gobblin’ Ingredients 2 1/2 cups of water 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pie filling) 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1 Egg 4 cups whole-wheat flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • In a bowl, mix water, pumpkin, vanilla and egg thoroughly. • Combine flour, pecans, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon in a separate bowl, stirring well. • Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well, making sure no dry mixture is left.
1/4 cup chopped pecans 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup rolled oats
• Spoon into a greased muffin tin, filling each cup completely. • Sprinkle the top of each muffin with oats and bake for 1 1/4 hours. Cool completely and store in a sealed container.
C ake E E R t F a E Let Them
Recipe credit: Three Dog Bakery Cookbook by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff Over 50 wholesome, healthy, simple-tocook recipes for your pooch, from Hearty Hound Loaf and Banana Mutt Cookies to Hungry Mongrel Turkey Burgers and Fiesta Bones.
Our Annual Growl-O-Ween Parade Join us on Saturday, October 26th at 12:00 p.m. at Mill Creek Park
Ba ck By Po pu la r De m an d
(47th & Broadway)
• Tricks for Treats
at participating Plaza merchants
• Costume Contests! ••• Register at store (602 W. 48th St.)
Three Dog Bakery Bring this ad to thee of Boneyard Cake. for your FREE piecany purchase. Valid with
us at 816-753-3647 or by calling advance registration $10 per dog with $15 per dog the day of the event
Expires 10/31/13
www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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A Dig Box
by Mike Deathe
Does your dog chew up stuff? Does he dig holes all over your back yard? Well if he does, ask yourself these two very important questions. • How long each day does your dog spend outside in the backyard? AND • What activity have you provided your dog while he/she is in the backyard? How Does Destructive Behavior Start? Most destructive behavior starts because your pet is bored. The responsible party is the people not the dogs. Here is an example: when you got your first office, cubicle or individual workspace you were really excited. You went to the office supply store bought a pencil cup, a desk calendar, hung your diplomas and even put up family pictures. You loved your new space. It was yours and it was stimulating. Fast forward 4-6 months and now you are doing everything possible
to get out of that particular space because it has lost its luster and is now boring (sound familiar?). Chances are the first several months you left the dog out in the back yard there were no problems. Look at the back yard from a different perspective — backyards are not good places to leave dogs. Dogs are social animals. They want to be around their family. Some destructive behaviors might be coming from the fact that you have a “juvenile” dog that you have banished to the backyard due to problem behaviors you don’t want to address. Out of sight — out of mind. You did not have to deal with him. This can cause backyard mayhem. How To Stop Destructive Behavior? Let’s face it backyard time for a dog should really just be time to go out, do their business, and then to come back in and be with you, their family. If you leave the dog out any longer, the dog is going to get bored. When bored, he/she is going to look for something to do. So just how do we solve this problem? Here are two suggestions. • Doggy Day Care
OR
• A Dig Box
Doggy day care gives you a great option to not only wear out the dog, but to keep him managed and supervised by folks who know dogs and will monitor the pooches. For those pet parents who don’t like the option of Doggy Day Care, there is another option, but it is going to require time and effort on your end to make it work. Create a Dig Box. 10
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
Creating a Dig Box A Dig Box is a sandbox you build in your back yard out of landscape timbers. The size of the box depends on the size of your dog. Normal sizes are 3 x 3 to 5 x 5, unless you have a giant dog! Fill it with sand. Then make a trip to your local pet store and buy a bunch of toys, chew toys and doggy biscuits and bury them all in the sand. What you have done is create a treasure chest that once you train Fido (yes you will have to train the dog) is way more fun to dig in than it is in the flowerbed. You will have given him a choice of where to dig and where to get his chew toys. However if you plan on leaving the dog outside in the back yard more than a few (2-3) hours at a time, even the treasure chest is going to get boring. The Moral So the moral to this article — even with a lot of creativity and work the backyard is never going to be a great long-term confinement area for your dog. When your dog gets bored he is probably going to make bad decisions. It is up to us, as dog owners, to manage our dogs until they are 100% trustworthy in all situations. If we don’t, we are simply training them to make bad decisions, and saying these decisions are Ok. So, get out there, spend time with, and train your dogs. While you are at it, have fun! After all, isn’t that why you bought the dog?
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 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 @ www.kissdogtraining.com 11
What to do when you witness
By Amy Cox
abuse or neglect
There are two forms of animal cruelty:
Passive cruelty or neglect is caused by lack of action, such as inadequate shelter, starvation, dehydration, and failure to seek needed veterinary care. Active cruelty is an intentional act to harm an animal. Without concerned citizens reporting cruelty in their neighborhoods, most instances of animal abuse would go unnoticed. There is also a strong link between animal cruelty and domestic violence and other serious crimes. Reporting animal cruelty may alert authorities to other crimes being committed. If you are aware of an animal being neglected or abused, please do not hesitate to report it.
If you see abuse or neglect in your community, you should do the following:
Report: Immediately report what you have witnessed to the proper authorities. In cases where an animal is being actively abused and is in imminent danger, please call 911. In the City of Kansas City, dial 311 to report neglect. Document: In cases of abuse and neglect, documentation is very important in getting animals removed from the situation or to support later prosecution. IMPORTANT: Never trespass or put yourself in danger in documenting a situation. The best form of documentation of abuse and neglect is time/ date stamped photographs. Examples of photographs that support removal and prosecution would be photos showing an animal chained or restrained where they cannot access proper food, water or shelter over time through the production of several time/date stamped photos. Follow up: If the animal continues to be in the situation, follow up with law enforcement officials to find 12
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
out if a visit was made and abuse was documented. Ask if there is further information you may offer in support of your complaint. Remember, in an ongoing investigation, law enforcement may not be able to share all the details of their investigation with individuals that are not a part of that investigation. They should, however, be able to confirm if the complaint was assigned to an officer and if a visit to the property has been made. Resource: In some cases, neglect is a matter of education. An individual’s history and/or financial situation may play a role in their neglect. If you feel the person would be open to receiving information on resources, please feel free to share information with them. There are many great resources available to provide food and medical care for animals as well as educational resources on tethering, adequate food, adequate shelter and more.
Call your local Animal Control to report abuse or neglect occurring within city limits. Go to this URL for more information and a list of KC Metro animal control phone numbers. http://www.hsgkc.org/resources_ animalcontrol.html If your community does not have an Animal Control call the police or sheriff. State Health Departments: MO Animal Health Department 573-751-3377 KS Animal Health Department 785-296-2326
Resources:
In Missouri, you can learn more about the laws applicable to the state and report animal cruelty through the Missouri Attorney General’s office at www.ago.mo.gov/CanineCruelty/ In Kansas, the HS of Greater KC has information and links on their site. www.hsgkc.org/resources_animalcruelty.html Chain of Hope provides essential items for survival to neglected and abused cats and dogs in the urban core of Kansas City. They also provide education to pet owners, referrals for spay/neutering, adoptions. www.chainofhopekc.org/
Amy Cox serves as Outreach Coordinator and Kansas City Chairperson for the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. Ms. Cox is involved in fostering and rescue in the Kansas City community and has two rescued dogs of her own.
Animal Legal Defense Fund offers tips for many situations www.aldf.org/resources Dogs Deserve Better, no dog should live on a chain. Learn what you can do to help a chained dog. www.dogsdeservebetter.org Northland Pet Pantry: 816.272.8508, info@ NorthlandPetPantry.com Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Animal Welfare Directory: mail@maal.org
www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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Communicating
with Cats
by Jerome Tonneson
Living with multiple cats for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to observe them interact with each other and with me. It is fascinating how clearly they are able to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and desires, both verbally and non-verbally. There are many well known feline communication methods, for example purring for contentment (usually), and folding the ears back when feeling danger or aggression, but I’d like to concentrate on some lesser-known means.
Sign language
Buttercup, a domestic short-haired cat with beautiful brown and silver tabby markings, was a rather quiet kitty. Though she rarely said a word, she was an expert at getting her point across. Her favorite place for a nap was my lap, but obtaining that spot sometimes proved to be a challenge whenever I was busy taking care of things around the house. To communicate her desire for lap time, she would jump on to a table or counter, wait for me to walk by, and then politely extend a paw towards me while cocking her head to one side. Once I figured out that she was asked for lap time, she was able to procure my lap whenever she wanted. Generally the lap wasn’t enough for her; She wanted my left hand, too. While on my lap, she always liked to rest her chin on the back of my left hand. If I didn’t offer it to her, she would ask me for it by raising her front left paw to gently grab my front left paw and bring it down to my lap for her own use. While these techniques were used purely for her own enjoyment, there she had other ways of informing me of more serious problems.
A Cry for Help
Veterinarians say that changes in your pet’s behavior can be a sign of a medical condition that needs attention. Cats are experts at hiding their pain, so it’s important to watch for subtle changes. These changes can come in many forms—appetite, play, aggression, litter pan usage—but the message is the same: time to 14
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
see a doctor. Buttercup was a clean, happy kitty who always used her litter pans, so the very few times that she didn’t it was pretty clear that there was an issue that needed attention. Some cats may do that subtly, but Buttercup, one of the most intelligent cats I’ve ever known, decided to make her problem very clear to me. Rather than keeping her pain hidden, she located me, jumped on to the table where I was working, then proceeded to squat and strain while looking at me, letting me know in no uncertain terms that she was in pain and it was time to visit the vet. She seemed to know that there was something I could do to help her, and all she had to do was ask.
www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
Primitive (Human) Brains
When our pets try to tell us something, it must be frustrating for them when we don’t seem to get the message, but bless them for having the patience to keep trying. Once incident that comes to mind is the time that Buttercup informed me of an intruder in the house. At the time, Buttercup was my only feline roommate. One of the greatest joys of living with her was that she would always come to bed with me. Especially when I wasn’t feeling well, it was nice to know that someone was there by my side. We were both creatures of habit, so we had a regular bedtime routine. While getting ready for bed one
evening, I noticed she wasn’t in the room. That seemed a bit unusual, but I went to bed anyway. After all, she was an independent cat, so I thought maybe she was just doing cat stuff elsewhere in the house. After a few minutes, she still hadn’t shown up. The more I thought about it, the more something seemed out of place; she always came to bed with me. I decided to call her. “Buttercup!” “Merrrow!” came a muffled response from somewhere down the hallway. It wasn’t the first time I called her after getting in bed, but it was the first time she didn’t immediately come join me. “Buttercup!” I tried again. “Murrow.” she replied, telling me
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something that my brain was too primitive to comprehend. I waited a bit longer but still no cat appeared in my bedroom. Something wasn’t right. “Buttercup?” “Mprroww!” Alright, I finally got the message that something was wrong. She wasn’t a very talkative cat, and her meows sounded different than normal; She sounded as though she was concerned. The fact that she responded to me but didn’t come to bed was enough to get me to investigate. I crawled out of bed, flipped on various lights and made my way to the end of the hallway. Proceeding down the half flight of stairs to the front door, I turned on the foyer light and found her sitting on the top of the staircase that led to the basement. She was looking in my direction, but didn’t seem interested
in me. “What’s wrong?” I asked, as if I expected her to answer. Surprisingly, that’s exactly what she did. “Mreow,” she replied softly, as she jumped up to the main level and walked past me. She went over to where I had set my bag down after work and began pawing underneath it. I lifted the bag to find a rather large bug crawling around in circles. “Keep an eye on him, sweetie!” I said as I ran to the kitchen to get a flyswatter and some paper towels. The bug hustled about, looking for an escape route, but Buttercup was able to keep it in check. When I returned a few seconds later I said, “OK, step back.” Remarkably, she took a couple of steps back and I was able to whack the bug with the flyswatter. After disposing of it with the paper towel, I praised her for a job well done and
encouraged her to come to bed. I crawled into bed and waited for her, knowing full well that she’d let me know if anything else was wrong. Minutes later, with her job done, she checked in for the night, and stretched out next to me in bed.
Listen
Regardless of the species, the longer someone is with a pet, the more they and the pet will understand each other. Be sure to listen to what your pet is saying. Although they speak a different language, they have ways of communicating and might just have something important to say.
Jerome Tonneson is an engineer and an avid cat lover who has lived with cats most of his life. In 2009 he began volunteering at Purrfect Pets Cat Adoption, an all-feline, all volunteer, no-kill, non-profit shelter in Overland Park, KS. After Buttercup died in 2012, he authored the book Buttercup: The Legendary Charm and Love of a Domestic Short-Haired Tabby Cat to preserve the memory of her life and to show that even the simplest of shelter cat can provide immeasurable love and companionship on this journey of life. Tonneson can be reached at www.legendarybuttercup.com. 16
MetroPet Magazine | October 2013
Durvet, Inc.
MetroPet Resource
100 S.E. Magellan Drive Blue Springs, MO 64014 Phone: (816) 229-9101 www.durvet.com
How Long Have You Been in Business? Durvet opened for business in 1970. What Makes Your Business Different? Durvet was the first entity in the over the counter (OTC) animal health market to be involved with both manufacturing and distribution. This vision proved to be the model for the animal health supply chain business. From those modest beginnings, Durvet has grown to over $140 million in sales, while each of its 21 independent distributor shareholders sell in excess of $1 billion of animal health and agriculture products.
www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
What Are the Benefits of Your Business? Durvet’s team works closely with product developers to manufacture and distribute products ranging from companion animal (dog and cat) products to horse and livestock (cow and pig) products. Reasons Customers Buy Your Products? Durvet is committed to being a premier supplier of high-quality animal health products. Learn more about the products available from Durvet at durvet.com
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Every Life Matters at
Purrfect Pets
HISTORY / MISSION
Purrfect Pets is a non-profit humane cat rescue and adoption agency, dedicated to helping orphaned cats and kittens in need throughout the greater Kansas City area. Founder and President Elaine Doran started the organization in 2003, with the belief that every cat has the right to a caring, safe, loving, and permanent home. Each year, Purrfect Pets rescues and receives hundreds of cats from over-crowded shelters and the general public. The cats are then placed into foster homes or housed at the main adoption center, located at the Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland Park. There, potential adopters can view and visit the cats in a bright environment, ask questions of the volunteers, and get to know their potential new pet better in a special “get acquainted” room.
GOALS
• To rescue orphaned, neglected, or abused cats, giving them proper care and medical treatment and placing them into loving homes. • To embrace a zero euthanasia policy, which means no cat is put to sleep due to health, space, adoptability or age. • To promote the well being of cats by educating people about compassion towards animals and responsible pet guardianship. • To support other animal organizations, so that together we can help save lives and share the vision of no more homeless and unwanted animals. • To reduce pet overpopulation by promoting spaying and neutering.
VOLUNTEERING
Want to lend a paw? Donating your time is one of the best ways to help Purrfect Pets. Since we are an 18
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all-volunteer organization, we are always in need of additional help, and rely exclusively on the generosity of animal lovers. We are open seven days a week, so volunteering can accommodate a variety of schedules. We need dedicated volunteers to help with fundraising, cat socialization, web design, photography, handyman work, answering phones, and all aspects of in-house care. We also welcome anyone who wants to offer their professional services! Please contact us at 913-652-6677 or visit www.purrfectpets. org for more information on volunteering opportunities. “I moved here from Chicago in July and came upon Purrfect Pets while I was walking through the Metcalf South Mall. I have been volunteering for over a month and I love helping out! Seeing the kitties every day and helping them each find their ‘purr-fect’ home is a great thing to be a part of!” Amanda Day
FOSTERING
Fostering is an important aspect of Purrfect Pets. We rely heavily on volunteer foster homes to care for our cats and kittens. From special needs cats to healthy, well socialized cats, Purrfect Pets needs foster homes for every imaginable situation. Fostering is a fulfilling and satisfying experience for many people, and knowing that their involvement makes a direct impact on an animal’s life is very rewarding! We try to place our cats in foster homes that are most appropriate for their age, temperament and circumstances, so we ask that all potential foster parents fill out a questionnaire. If you would like to be one of our life saving foster heroes – please contact us today!
DONATING As an all-volunteer based charity, we are so thankful for our financial supporters. We depend entirely on public donations and adoption fees for the success of our organization, and hold dear to our hearts those who donate and sponsor and adopt. Every dollar given goes directly towards the care of our animals! If you would like make a monetary donation, please use the PayPal link on our website, or stop by our adoption center in Overland Park. Want to help in other ways? You can also donate by purchasing special items for our animals! We are always in need of “wish list” items such as dry or wet cat food, towels and blankets, litter, cat and kitten toys, scratching posts, paper towels, trash bags, hand sanitizer, as well as office supplies. Donations keep us going!
ADOPTIONS
We strive to help you find the best new feline companion to fit your lifestyle and needs. Finding the right home is something that we take very seriously! Because of that, we do require an application questionnaire and an adoption fee. One of the most common reasons people give for surrendering their pet is financial issues. We realize that having a pet requires more than just love, so striving to find the right home makes www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
the adoption more successful. And that makes us happy! However, sometimes adoptions don’t work out, and we are unique in that we always take our cats back, if necessary. Over the last 10 years, we have found wonderful homes for over 2,500 animals.
SUCCESS STORY
One of our recent success stories involves Katie the Kitten. Katie was rescued from a storm drainage ditch when she was just a tiny baby. After coming to Purrfect Pets, we could tell she was very special. She wanted nothing more than to be held, petted and loved. Happily, a perfect match was found with a young girl named Ava. It was love at first sight for both of them!
TEN YEARS!
We are so thankful that we are able to provide a temporary landing place for homeless and unwanted cats. We will celebrate 10 years at the Metcalf South Shopping Center in
October – and we want to thank the community, our supporters, adopters, volunteers and foster families for their advocacy and generosity over the years. We’ve been able to achieve this special milestone because of your help!
Adopt a feline friend! You’ll be glad you did!
Visit http://www.purrfectpets.org/ Facebook link: www.facebook.com/ PurrfectPetsKC Twitter link: https://twitter.com/ PurrfectPets2
Be better together. Whether it’s promoting responsible pet care, working as a sales associate, or even managing one of our stores, you’ll be helping to create lasting relationships between pets and pet parents everywhere. And have some fun along the way.
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Pet Stylist/Grooming Sales Associate You’ll enjoy GREAT BENEFITS including: health coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, store discounts, competitive pay, 401(k)/savings plan, stock purchase plan and manager training program.
APPLY ONLINE AT PETSMARTJOBS.COM Equal opportunity employer m/f/d/v. PetSmart is a drug-free workplace.
www.petsmart.com
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Trick or
Treat by Pat Hennessy
You hear a howl in the distance and feel a chill in the air. You know that once night falls, the little ghosts and goblins will be out and about. Jack-o-lanterns, candy, costumes, and parties make up the festivities we know as Halloween. Halloween is a fun and light-hearted holiday that appeals to both children and adults. Often we include our four-legged family members in the celebration – by dressing Harley in costume or buying Ginger a special treat. Remember, never candy because it is a dangerous and potentially deadly to our animal companions, especially chocolate and items with xylitol – a sugar substitute found in gum and some hard candies. Our dogs are pretty good sports to tolerate being dressed up in anything from frilly tutus or devil horns to bulky costumes like hot dog buns or dragons. We may find it cute and amusing, but we should always be mindful of how it makes our best friend feel. You can
tell by body language if your haunted hound is enjoying the celebration or disdainfully giving you the cold shoulder. Your first clue will be if he is spinning in circles or chewing at the fabric, but he might be telling you in more subtle ways. Some stress signals to watch for would be yawning, licking (or tongue flicking), scratching, and reduced movement (shifting weight, frequent sitting, or complete freezing). Not all costumes will be bothersome to your party pooch. The idea of putting a wrap or shirt on animals has proven to be calming, when done appropriately (like the Thundershirt™). It must have flexibility for movement, yet make adequate contact to provide that soothing effect. Some costumes can be too heavy, restrictive, or irritating (like a scratchy wool sweater might be to us). Also, some animals (just like us), are sensitive to touch which could include the touch of fabric. Never fear, there is a great way to get your canine in the spirit. You can teach a trick and then offer a treat. It will most likely take a several treats to teach the trick in the beginning. After all, isn’t Halloween all about the treats? You can make it an annual endeavor to teach Bruno a new trick. Wouldn’t it be fun to have Bruno do a trick when the ghouls and zombies come ringing the doorbell and ask, “Trick or Treat?” No one expects you to response with a trick. Use caution to keep Bruno a safe distance from the door, so he won’t frighten the children or dart outside (you may consider having him on a long line or behind a gate). It would certainly be cute if Bruno could do the trick wearing his festive outfit. But if Bruno is one
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that can’t tolerate the more elaborate costume, then a simple t-shirt might work just as well. If a t-shirt is too overwhelming, then you could try a bandana. You can even make one yourself. There are plenty of autumn or scary theme fabric selections at the local discount or hobby stores. If you have a dog that goes a bit crazy when the doorbell rings, then the first “trick” you want to teach is for her to “settle” or “go to your mat” (something that calms and keeps her in one place until you give her a new cue). This one will take a bit of time and practice, so you will want to start on it immediately. You will have to ensure it works 100% before adding new steps to it. If your canine-kid is a challenge with this
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task, you may decide to make it your winter project. That’s great because it gives you a head start for next year and a goal to work on while you are house bound during the winter months. It’s an inside training task anyway. It’s not like you could practice the doorbell out in the back yard or on a walk. While the days get shorter, the nights get chillier, and the sounds of the season are upon us, don’t leave your furry family members out of the fun. They know how to have a howling good time. Find ways that are safe and enjoyable to bring them in to the main attraction. Don’t sit waiting in a pumpkin patch. Join your Snoopy in his quest to seek out the Red Baron.
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 816-522-7005, or visit www. n2paws.com.
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Meet the Breed October Pet of the Month –
Havanese Dog If there were a perfect breed of dog (which there is not), the Havanese might win the prize. It is a very old breed originating in Cuba and Spain. It is considered to be an ancestor of the Bichon family. It was once known as the Havana Silk Dog and/or the Spanish Silk Poodle. It is known to be a pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy and has developed into a great family companion. It can be a good watchdog and is a great playmate for children. The Havanese is a sturdy, healthy, dog that is small in size but large in
personality. It has a very friendly outlook on life. The Havanese is the country of Cuba’s only native breed and the National Dog of Cuba. The coat is silky, wavy, light, yet insulating which protects it from the harsh tropical heat. They come in all colors. The coat should remain natural and untrimmed. Popularity of the breed has grown steadily and quickly due to their desirable temperament, good health and easy upkeep. Regular grooming, like with any dog is all that is needed. They make great family pets as well as very attractive show dogs and have grown in demand in the show ring. Havanese are highly intelligent and trainable. They are considered a toy dog breed, but are energetic and require
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some form of daily exercise. The breed’s non-shedding coat makes it suitable for allergy sufferers, but regular grooming is necessary to keep the coat in top condition. They range in size from 8.5 to 11.5 inches at the shoulder. They have a plumed tail, and their slightly rounded skull is very broad. Their large eyes are in the shape of an almond, and the eye color is always dark brown; with the exception of chocolate dogs that have a light brown eye color. Little Known Facts: • The Havanese is AKC’s 142nd breed. • By the mid-eighteenth century, the Havanese was so popular that it was owned by such celebrities as Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens. It became known as the dog of the aristocratic class of sugar barons of Cuba. • This breed commonly suffers from luxating patella, liver and heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia. There are very few breeders thus the quality remains high, however, they can be difficult to obtain due to the high demand for this delightful, mischievous breed.
Grooming and Pet Allergies by Belle Wead
Congratulations on being a pet owner. A pet owner is a step-parent, pack leader, nanny, nurse, secretary, and politician, to our little (and some big) fur babies. Not very many puppies and kittens get to grow up with their original mom and dad or within their original pack. Pet owners get to make informative decisions for their fur kids. Decisions for food, housing, playmates, medical care, grooming and social skills are up to the pet parent. When you bath and groom your furry friend it is a good opportunity to examine your pet for potential health problems.
Allergies – a Common Issue
The most common health issue seen by groomers are allergies. Common signs of allergies are red irritated skin, rash, stinky swollen ears, weepy eyes, staining around the eyes and, stained feet from chewing, swollen pads and scooting. Your pet may have some or all of these symptoms. A very quick easy fix, before heading to the veterinarian, is a speedy trip to the food bag. Pick up the bag, flip it over to the back, and read the ingredients. The first ingredient should be meat.
We are What We Eat!
If you are what you eat, and especially if you eat industrial food, as 99% of Americans do, then you are grains (corn, wheat, rye,, etc.)! The same is true for pets. While some pets do fine on a grain diet, others are allergic to grains. If this is the case for your pet, check out the many grain free foods available. Penny Poodle and her friends dine grain free. Let your dog try this option too! Your pet may have allergies to other things such as grass. A proper diet will build a healthy immune system and reduce the allergic reaction from these as well. Dogs and cats have so much more fun playing when they aren’t bothered by the itching.
Belle Wead is the owner of Best Friends Pet with 2 locations: Peculiar Mo and Leawood KS. She is member of the IPG International Professional Groomers, Inc. Wead has over 30 years grooming experience, including grooming in an Overland Park, KS, veterinary practice for eight years. The grooming outgrew the practice so Wead expanded to Leawood. In addition to grooming, Best Friends Pet offers Pet Chiropractic, Pet Photography and the PetCab. For more information or to schedule an appointment call Leawood, KS 913-498-1397 or Peculiar MO 816-984-5481. www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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Chief of Police Barton, Gretchen, Kate Sidun
Vanished, Beyond Human Perception by Kate Sidun Can you put your nose to the ground after sniffing an article of clothing, a vehicle, or any item and pick out that particular scent from all others and track it to the end? Imagine being able to hear at five hundred times the magnification that you hear now.
That’s absurd, you think, but it is not impossible; that is the job of the SEARCH and RESCUE DOG! To help me stress how important the Search Dog is to Police Departments and other agencies I sat down with Ray Barton, the Chief of Police of Clarence, Missouri to ask his professional opinion. “The Search Dog is extremely important; especially when you have a location where the child was last seen. With a well trained Search K9 and Handler, a Tracking/Trailing dog can even tell
us if the child was taken in a vehicle or into a residence,” Police Chief Barton said. “It is my professional opinion (both as a Civilian Police Chief and a Retired Military Police Chief/Canine Handler and Supervisor) that every time Law Enforcement and other agencies can, they should not hesitate to utilize all Search and Rescue K-9 teams at their disposal. The sooner the search dogs are called the more chance you have of finding the child unharmed.” Search and Rescue K9s have come a long way over the centuries. Starting in the 17th century with the brave Saint Bernard dogs of Saint Bernard’s Hospice rescuing travelers from avalanches, to today’s courageous Search and Rescue Dogs that are trained to find the missing, lost and injured in any situation or terrain.
The Heart of the Search Dog The weather was cold with a dark ominous sky that day in March when Gretchen, my 2-year-old German Shepherd was called upon to put her skills to the test. A 16-year-old boy was “Missing” and last seen at the edge of the woods…7 ½ hours earlier. With night closing in on us, I opened up the bag containing a shirt that the young man had worn recently and let Gretchen sniff the article, then gave her the command to start searching. Five minutes into our search, severe weather began to claim the sky, but Gretchen pushed on taking no notice 24
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of the pouring rain, hail, lightning, and thunder. When two fallen tree trunks that were 5 ½ feet in diameter blocked our path, Gretchen leapt up on top of them and down the other side without hesitation. Soaked to the bone, tired and scraped up from the brush, Gretchen pushed on through the woods. FortyFive minutes and a mile into the search, Gretchen ran to a tall creek embankment, and began to bark wildly (which is her trained response). She was telling me that she had found him… alive!
Beyond Human Perception As a Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 Handler I can safely say that I would rather be called out with Gretchen my trailing dog only hours after a child goes missing rather than being called out 3 days later with Roxy my Human Remains Detection dog. I also would rather be called out and not needed, than not called and be needed.
services, so make it a point to know what Search teams are in your area and what services they provide.
A child can vanish beyond human perception, but not beyond a K9’s. Gretchen
Kate Sidun has wanted to help people ever since she was a small child. In 2009, she started training Cotton, her 3 year old Lhasa Apso, to be a therapy dog. Cotton visits with Veterans every Thursday, and also with children at local hospitals. Since 2011, Sidun has been using her professionalism, love of animals and dedication to help find those in need in her position as Chief Financial Officer for Monroe City K9 Search & Rescue.
We see it so much on the news and facebook these days with people sharing information about children going missing or wandering away. We sit and read the updates from the time the search starts until the traumatic end, with no mention of calling out a search dog; the one variable in a search that could have made the life saving difference. The parent of a Missing Child may request Law Enforcement to call out a K9 Search Team. Many Search Teams do not charge for www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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Feline Dentistry… Do You Know Which Questions To Ask? by Cheryl Waterman, CVPM Periodontal disease is the most under diagnosed and untreated disease seen in veterinary medicine. And, unfortunately this disease affects 85% of all cats older than 3, according to the American Animal Veterinary Dental Society. Yet, only about 1% of these cats receive proper dental care according to the American Animal Hospital Association’s last compliance study. Unfortunately, the control of this disease is often the ONE BIG THING that can make a difference in your cat’s overall health and wellbeing. It is your responsibility as a good owner, to make sure that your veterinarian is doing a thorough oral assessment during your cat’s annual
or semi-annual (if your cat is over 8) exam. He or she should give you an assessment ranging from Grade 1 through Grade 4, as to the level of disease in your cat’s mouth. No. 1 being the mildest gingivitis to No. 4 being extreme periodontal disease. If your veterinarian is not giving you an assessment of this type, ask him to do it. You may wonder, “What’s the big deal?” The big deal is because periodontal disease plays a huge part in the overall health of your cat. It has a strong effect on your cat’s ability to eat pain-free and his breath and also on his/her essential organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Unchecked plaque in your
cat’s mouth (as in your own) allows harmful bacteria to flourish and overgrow, which causes periodontal disease. These harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream through lesions in your cat’s gums, and the worst thing about it is that it doesn’t always take “advanced” disease for this to happen. Once in the bloodstream, these bacteria travel throughout the body, and may have an extremely harmful impact on the essential organs. Kidney disease, heart disease and liver disease are all things you want to avoid, if possible. I would like to caution you, however, to make certain your veterinarian has certain capabilities and standards of care (best medicine) before you agree to any dentistry. You want to make sure that the dentistry is being done in the most thorough and safe way possible before you agree to have it done. If your veterinarian recommends a dentistry procedure, he/she should take a full mouth x-ray before the procedure. Without this essential information, he cannot see what may be lurking below the gum line, and
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is basically going in “blind.” They need to know about diseased roots, etc. so they can plan the procedure. That’s why your dentist takes annual x-rays of your mouth. Also, pre-anesthetic blood work is essential. Why? Simply because it’s good medicine to check the liver and kidney functions prior to proceeding with anesthesia. These are the organs that process the anesthesia out of the body. If these values are not what they should be, your veterinarian will postpone the dental procedure until the issues can be cleared up. It is also “best medicine” for your cat to be entubated and monitored closely during the procedure. Entubated simply means the placement of a tube down the kitty’s throat to protect the airway, so that no water or saliva is sucked down into the lungs. You may think that this is the “normal” way of doing things, however, it just isn’t necessarily so. Many veterinarians do not entubate, and do not always have someone monitoring the cat during the procedure.
I can’t stress the importance of good dental care enough. If your kitty hasn’t had a thorough oral exam in the past year, please do him or her a favor, and make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. You will thank yourself, and your faithful companion will be grateful that he or she is no longer in pain. And, most important, your cat will be living a much healthier and happy life. 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.
You also need to know that 1 in 7 cats with severe dental disease test positive for feline leukemia or FIV (feline immunodeficiency disease), which, of course, are eventually fatal. If you feel there’s any chance of this (your kitty is an outdoor cat or used to be), you may want to have him or her tested for these diseases prior to the dentistry. This information may be good to have before scheduling the procedure. Having stated all of the above, the number 1 reason you should make sure your cat gets the dental care he or she needs, is to be certain that he or she is not living a life of pain. Most of us know how painful a toothache can be, however, cats being the stoic little animals that they are, usually do not show symptoms of pain even when they may feel really bad. I could tell you many stories of kitties that we first believed to be just “grumpy” kitties. But following the dentistry became loving and docile cats. Why? They were no longer in pain! www.metropetmag.com | October 2013
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Chip’s
NEXT ADVENTURE
SETTING GOALS
by Heddie Leger
RECAP EPISODE 7 – 2013 - I could not quite figure out where we were located, but there was lots of green grass everywhere, and huge animals that kind of looked like dogs, except people sat on their backs. They called them horses. They were really pretty to watch as the hair on their necks, and tails flowed in the wind. I noticed that the bed and breakfast had a flag that had a blue background with two men shaking hands, and the words “united we stand, divided we fall.” I was trying to figure out where we were as there were mile upon mile of beautiful flowers called Goldenrod and the sky was filled with big bright red birds. MawMaw said she was born in this state and called it Kentucky. Stephanie said we deserved something special after all we had been through, but the best surprise was yet to come. We all went to bed feeling very happy, refreshed, and looking forward to the morning. What could she be saving, everything seemed pretty close to perfect. Things just kept getting better. We received news that MawMaw was in excellent health. We all were now taking heartworm medicine to keep us from getting that dreaded parasite. We learned a lot from this experience. What stood out in my mind was the importance of preventative medicine. Stephanie was very good at keeping all her fourfooted and two-footed members in good health. Making sure everyone had annual check-ups and were current on all immunizations, and had a good healthy diet to go along with preventative efforts for good health. The One-Eyed Dog bed and breakfast was like heaven or earth. Not only did they have the best food, but also the most comfortable beds we had ever slept in. They also had a really cool tree house for Penelope and Allen to sleep in. Everyone was having a really great time, but it was about to get even better. The owners of the One-Eyed Dog were hosting an annual special event called…what else, but “the One-Eyed Dog Specialty Event.” People and their dogs from all over the country would be coming in today for the two day event. There was a feeling of excitement in the air as the set up team was putting out what was called agility equipment; a big pool for dock diving, a flyball area, and what was called steeplechase 28
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for dogs. I can never remember what the real name is. I am sure it will come to me later on. People and dogs started to arrive. Some had reservations at the OneEyed Dog, and some were staying at other locations. Some even brought in their own homes on wheels called trailers or Recreational Vehicles (RVs) and some even set up tents in a camping area. As people arrived, and evening approached, you could smell the campfires as people made dinner. It was one of the most perfect days ever. I loved the sounds and smells. The next day, as soon as the sun came up, you could hear the place come to life. Dogs barking, people singing, yelling and cheering. I never heard such a ruckus. Boy, they sure did enjoy this event. I learned so
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WORD OF THE MONTH Good Sportsmanship: Conduct (as fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning (or losing) becoming to one participating in an activity or sport. much the first day. I ran from event to event watching and barking. I wanted to do it all. It was so exciting. Penelope and Allen went with me and we were all exhausted that night. We were so tired, we just had dinner and fell right to sleep. Day two was another story. Penelope and Allen wanted to do it all also. They asked Stephanie and Robert, if they could enter me in some of the events, but they said NO, I was not trained. They begged and
begged, and I did too, and finally Penelope and Allen said, “Well, I guess so, but do it just for fun, don’t worry about winning.” Penelope and Allen agreed and we were off and running. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a girl with a dog that looked kind of like me, except she (the dog) had black markings and had a different kind of coat. You could definitely tell we had something in common, but I could not tell what. I saw her do the flyball and lure coursing (steeplechase)…as I remembered. The flyball was where a machine tossed a ball out, you caught it and ran to the other side as fast as you could and dropped a ball. It was a team effort and there were two dogs per team. That knocked
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me out, as I did not have a teammate, but then I noticed the other girl dog like me did not either. The steeplechase really looked like fun. They had this furry thing that you chased and while you were chasing it, you jumped over little jumps. The dock diving and agility looked like fun too, but I had never swum before, only in the ocean and I did not know how to dive. The agility had some funny looking things that scared me since you disappeared in them. We decided to do the steeplechase and the flyball, since I loved chasing balls and jumping. We practiced and I heard someone say, “That little dog is a natural.” I did not know that they were talking about me. Penelope and Allen did not hear them, but my sense of hearing is so keen, I could hear everything and smell
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “True sportsmanship is…Knowing that you need your opponent because without him or her, there is no game. Acknowledging that your opponent holds the same deep-rooted aspirations and expectations as you. Knowing that, win or lose, you will walk off the course with pride. Always taking the high road. And always, always, always being a good sport.” Lori Myers everything…thousands of new smells, new dogs, and all kinds of things like cotton candy, boy that really smelled good. Penelope and Allen saw the girl with the dog that looked like me and went over to her. They invited her to form a flyball team and to go in the steeplechase with
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them. Since it was all for fun, she agreed, and off we went to sign up as a team. Boy, did we have a cheering squad…Penelope, Allen, Robert, Stephanie, Hero, MawMaw, the owners of the One-Eyed Dog, the new girl (her name is Alice), and her dad. She did not have a mom. There were three elimination tries for the flyball. We called our team “Lost and Found” and off we went. Oh, by the way, the little girl’s dog’s name is Stormy. We went up to the starting block together. Heard the person with the starter gun say, “On your marks, get set,” and then a loud ‘bang’…and I was off. You could hear all the cheering, then I caught the ball, ran up and back, then Stormy did the same thing. Then came a roar from the crowd. We did not know why, but then found out … we had won! We won, and Penelope and Allen were carrying us on their backs. They were being very good sports and going and shaking hands of all the people in the race, some of the people were smiling and happy, but some were not, they walked off mad and pouting. I learned today what it meant to be a good sport and what sportsmanship was all about. Some people were mad because they practiced, and practiced and practiced and did not win. They were mad because they were beat by a team that was new that no one knew, we were called “dark horse” winners, but it had nothing to do with horses, and everything to do with something they called natural talent. All I knew was that it was a really good feeling to win, I had never won anything, but that it was also even better to be a good sport and be nice to everyone, whether you won or not. I cannot wait until we do the steeplechase… oops, I mean lure coursing. Learning something new all the time.
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HUMANE EDUCATION POINT Activity: Have you ever been part of team? If so, did you win?….Lose? • S hare how it felt when you won and how you acted. Share how it felt when you lost. What did you do? • I f you have not been on a team, join one. It does not have to be a sport. Learn first hand what it means to be a good sport. STORY DISCUSSION TIPS: • What does it mean to be a good sport? • How did Chip form a team? • What was the event Chip entered? • What was the little girl’s dog’s name? • What was the girl’s name that owned her? • How did Chip feel about winning?
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Chip’s Corner Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in Chip’s Adventure beginning on page 28 and the Breed of the Month story on page 22.
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PAWZZLE
ACROSS 2. Name of the girl that owned Stormy 6. They are known to have a ____________________ personality. 8. The Havanese is considered a __________ breed. 9. The Havanese is the _________________ dog of Cuba. 11. C hip liked the smell of the _________________. 12. The Havanese has a _________________ outlook on life. 13. Another word for Lure Coursing. 18. The Havanese coat is __________________. 20. Topic for Chip’s Adventure in October. 22. The Havanese comes from what country? 23. The coat _______________ the Havanese from the harsh heat of Cuba. 24. N ame of the Bed and Breakfast where the family stayed.
DOWN 1. The Havanese breed was owned by Queen _______________. 3. Sport Chip participated in the story. 4. The eye shape is _____________________. 5. Most Havanese have which eye color? 7. Name of little girl dog in the story. 8. They are also highly _____________. 10. H avanese are very ____________________. 14. The coat is known to be ____-____________. 15. O ther animal species that Chip met in his adventure. 16. Havanese can suffer from _________________. 17. The Havanese makes a great family ____________________. 19. The Havanese was also known as the Spanish Silk ___________. 21. Breed of the month.
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