MetroPet Oct 2012 by ROI Marketing

October 2012

18 A REFLECTION OF MY ENERGY

ARTICLES

We Love Our Pets

Fleas in the Fall?

Why Do We Love Dogs?

Purrfect Trip to the Veterinarian

Oh Say Can You See...

We Love Our Pets

Tricks for Keeping Halloween a Treat!

A Reflection of My Energy!

Comparative Oncology

Learn About this Breed

Pawzelle

Pets and People Helping People

Hall-O-Ween Tricking Treats

Chips Adventures

28 www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

IT’S FALL!!!

MORE GREAT ARTICLES

If you are like me, I am excited about Fall. After this brutal summer, cooler weather and time outside is truly precious. If you are the same, get outside with your furry friends, even your cats. Everybody is tired of being cooped up, and the fresh air feels great. Take time to go play a game of fetch with Fido, let Kitty lay in the grass (just find a green patch) and then roll in it yourself! Enjoy this weather — it will refresh your soul. But before you do — take a minute to read the Fleas in the Fall story to protect Fido!

SHE REFLECTS MY ENERGY! The cover story for this issue is powerful. It tells the story of Sporting KC’s Kei Kamara who moved to this country from South Africa. His energy and zest for life are contagious, and his story of how he met Chelsea, are more powerful. I truly enjoyed meeting him and hope you can connect with him through this story.

Have you ever taken your cat to the veterinary? It can be a challenge! The great article on page 10 offers some great tips to make your next trip easier. There is also a great article about comparative oncology. In addition, find out about the two million puppy walk in November, see page 22-23. Halloween fun, and tips and tricks to stay safe are included in the great article on page 16 and a terrific treat recipe for Hall-O-Ween treats is shown on page 31.

WHY DO WE LOVE DOGS? We love dogs because of the unconditional love and their great perspective on life! Enjoy the clever articles on page 8 and 10, and laugh out loud!

ENJOY FALL! Barbara Riedel, Editor

THERAPY DOGS Are you and your dog interested in becoming a therapy team? The work done by these fine animals is incredible. See the article on page 28 for more information.

P.S. Support our advertisers — tell them “I saw your ad in MetroPet magazine.” 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. © 2012 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.

Staff & Contacts 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

MetroPet Magazine

Advertising Sales

Contributing Authors

Ad Sales: 913.548.1433

Mike Deathe Pat Hennessy Patty Homer Pawlean Journe Heddie Leger Cindy Pugh Mary Sellaro Cheryl Waterman, CVPM

Deals of the Week deals@metropetmag.com

Contact MetroPet PO Box 480065 Kansas City, MO 64148 Phone: 913.548.1433 Ad Sales: 913.548.1433 Fax: 913.387.4313

Photographer Dan O’Leary, ROI Marketing October 2012

ASK A VET

Fleas in the BY CINDY PUGH

Fall?

t seems like everyone is worried about fleas in the Spring and summer. While this is certainly a problem time of year, experience has proven that the Fall is actually one of the worst times for fleas. A flea can jump up to 8” high and 12” laterally. All it takes is your beloved Fi Fi to walk by and they have a mobile home. Within 15 minutes of that initial free ride, the fleas begin feeding.

FEED AND BREED They feed on the blood of your pet about once every 30 minutes. Within 24 hours on your pet, they begin to breed. Between feeding and breeding, those fleas live quite the high life. Each female flea will lay 28-50 eggs per day — over 2,000 in her life time! Those eggs are sticky and after a short time, they dry and fall off your pet into the environment and can hatch within 2-5 days. By environment, I mean your carpet, furniture, bed, lap, yard. Those eggs hatch into larva. A flea larva is basically a maggot. And, to make matters worse, their food source is the digested blood from the adult flea — flea poop! Larva do not like light. In fact, they will burrow down in the carpet www.metropetmag.com

and material fibers and remain quite comfortable for the next 7-14 days while they prepare for the next stage of their life, the Pupa stage. This stage can last for up to a year, nice and cozy in your home. Presently, there is no effective means of killing this stage of a flea’s lifecycle. Protected by the cocoon the larva spins, it sits and waits for the right circumstances. Stimulation causes them to hatch. Vibration (vacuuming, walking/running or any movement), light, carbon dioxide and ideal temperatures all lead to the next generation of fleas to emerge. High temperatures (temperatures above 85º) will keep the pupae in a dormant state. But when the temperatures drop MetroPet Magazine

and remain below 85º, such as we see in the early Fall, we begin to see numbers, very large numbers of fleas hatching at once. So all those fleas that fed, bred, and laid eggs all summer long, have left the next generation ready for their fall emergence. They emerge hungry, and the cycle begins again. That is why we see so many desperate and frustrated people in the Fall claiming massive numbers of fleas on their pets. Pets that have been treated with good, reputable flea products. So what can you do to prevent this? Can your pet survive a Fall without scratching itself to death? The answer is yes.

don’t see, the egg, larva and pupa stage. To only attack the adult stage will leave you with a future population of fleas that will soon infest your pet and keep your battle an on-going one. Products containing an IGR, or insect growth regulator are essential in fighting fleas. These products not only kill the adults, they also kill the eggs

EFFECTIVELY FIGHT FLEAS

REMEMBER THE INSIDE ENVIRONMENT

To effectively fight fleas, you need an all around assault plan. Simply putting a topical flea treatment on your pet isn’t enough. Only 5% of fleas you see are in the adult stages. The rest are in the stages you

MetroPet Magazine

where your pet goes, eggs are being shaken off. Love to sit with your pet on your lap? Or sleep in your bed? Well, the fleas on your pet have been busy. Busy breeding and laying eggs and feeding on your pet. And you guessed it; you are sleeping and sitting with, and probably on, all those eggs as a result.

To effectively fight fleas, you need an all around assault plan. and larva stages. Products that you use for your pet must contain an IGR.

Now for the environment. Remember I said that eggs laid on the pet fall off in the pet’s environment? Consider if you will, your pet as a salt and pepper shaker. Every

So what should you use in your home? You need to use a product with that wonderful IGR in it. Vacuuming first floors and furniture will suck up some of the unwanted pests. Don’t forget to discard the vacuum bag after you do this. Remember vibration awakens the flea from its cocoon stage. Now use your indoor treatment according to label instructions. The IGR in the spray

October 2012

will affect any leftover eggs, larva and lay down a residue to kill any adults that emerge from the vibration process. Launder all bedding as well.

REMEMBER THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT Where do you think your pet gets it’s fleas from? Wildlife and other untreated domestic animals. Remember everywhere your pet goes, it’s like a salt and pepper shaker shaking off flea eggs. Under decks, in bushes, under the shade of your trees are favorite spots for wildlife. They don’t prefer the middle of your yard in the direct sun and neither do fleas. Focus your outdoor treatment in these areas as this is most likely where you will have your flea population lurking

www.metropetmag.com

in its various life stages. Use a product with an IGR here too. There are a lot of excellent products out there. And some not so excellent products. Knowing how to fight your flea problem (or prevent one) is the key to your success. Your veterinarian is the best place to start. They have researched the products and medications they carry and have the training to back up this knowledge. Fleas are not just a parasite problem, they are a medical problem. Who better than your veterinarian should instruct you on the best medication and

plan for fighting fleas? They also have trained staff that can answer any questions you may have as well so don’t hesitate to contact them. You CAN beat fleas. Knowledge is your key. Cindy Pugh is Office Manager at Aid Animal Hospital and loves her job. During her 19 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 currently 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 and Cindy can be reached at 816-363-4922.

MetroPet Magazine

Why We

Love Dogs

BY MIKE DEATHE ell for me, the answer is simple, “Unconditional Love!” Let’s face it…dogs are the only animal in the world that are honestly always happier to see us than we are to see them. They greet us at the door wanting nothing but our attention and affection. They never greet you with: • Man I have had a rotten day! • You know I could really use some space tonight! • What do you mean you forgot the milk? • Or my personal favorite…I could really use some me time tonight!

“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!” Nope, we own dogs because we are the center of their universe and we know that 8

MetroPet Magazine

Why is it we, as humans, have decided dog is man’s (or woman’s) best friend and just what is it that makes them a great pet? no matter how bad our day might have been, they are going to be happy to see us. They know when we are down, not feeling well, and they are there for us every time we need or want them. The problem is, in many cases we abuse this gift, sometimes on a small scale, other times on a much larger scale. Think about it, what animal do you know that someone can physically abuse, but turn right around and want affection from the same person just minutes later? Or willingly slink away when we rebuff them after a bad day and then take our

bad day out on them? As with many human conditions, we tend to take for granted the things that are right in front of us, and in many cases our dogs fall right into that category. When we need them we enjoy them, even begin to expect their attention, but when that attention comes at the wrong time, we fail our dogs. I’ve even been told that simply living with a dog makes us less likely to have allergies and that you can expect to live about seven years longer because of all this unconditional love!

October 2012

“WHO DESERVES WHOM?” So folks, as I sit here rambling on at my keyboard all I can really ask of you is to really consider what is happening the next time your furry four footed friend meets you at the door. And ask yourself a very simple question, is it me that deserves the dog or is it the dog who deserves me? All I can do is hope that if we begin to treat all the dogs out there better, maybe some of it will rub off on how we humans treat each other as well… Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who found his passion as a dog trainer in 2008. He is the author of Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Pet Blog, and has written several books on dogs and dog training. As an avid pet lover, he regularly sees dogs and cats that never find a home, so in 2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz “R” Us, a t-shirt and pet product company with the motto of “Saving Pets...One T-Shirt at a Time.” In 2010, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (KISS) DOG TRAINING was born. Since then Deathe has been teaching dogs and owners at Broadmore Kennels, located in Shawnee, KS. For more information about KISS or Muttz “R” Us visit us on Facebook, twitter or follow the blog @http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com. We can’t wait to help you speak dog as a second language.

www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

Purrfect Trip Guidelines For You and Your Cats BY CHERYL WATERMAN, CVPM

tudies 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. So, naturally it would seem to follow that the number of feline vet visits would also 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 10 MetroPet Magazine

to the Veterinarian 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, that the cat owner may feel the veterinary visit is too stressful for their cat and too much of an ordeal for them, is a real problem also. 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.). And things such as diabetes, thyroid disease and cancer are diseases of the individual feline systems, 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 regular wellness exams done. Vaccines are necessary; however, the real value in your cat’s veterinary visit should be the thorough examination your veterinarian performs. And by thorough I mean, 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 much less than thorough.

NEW GUIDELINES FOR 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. 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 October 2012

• 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, so that your cat doesn’t feed off your stress (cats are very perceptive and sensitive to their owners).

THE CAT CARRIER IS FURNITURE Make 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 tshirt 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. Another suggestion that I would make is that owners invest in a “top” loading carrier, so that their cat 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 patient, 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 EMOTIONS Last, but most important 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

Excerpts from this article came from the AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines.

www.metropetmag.com

environments or with unfamiliar people. Many owners find this embarrassing, but it’s only natural. It’s our job to make their veterinary visit 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. Cheryl Waterman is the Hospital Administrator at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County and a longtime cat lover. She has been with the Clinic for the past 13 years, and in 2007 received Certification in Veterinary Practice Management (CVPM) designation. She is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. You can contact her directed at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County, (913) 5410478.

MetroPet Magazine

Oh Say Can You See...

A dogs’ eye view

BY SPUDS MACKENZIE The story you are about to read is in “jest” of the upcoming election and does not represent any specific candidate. This is Spuds Mackenzie and I approve this message. Old Red talking to Sarge: “In these uncertain times, you look for leadership in your candidates. Someone who you think will do the best job, not someone who is out there just sniffing butts. You need someone that will address the really important issues, like quality of food. There have been too many recalls in the last several years and we need someone who will crack down on the manufacturers that use toxic ingredients. And the economy — with these prices you hardly ever get the fancy canned food anymore and the kibble is starting to taste like meat flavored cereal. I’m all for cost cutting, but isn’t grain what cows are supposed to eat? Joe Weinstein pointed out, “My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That’s almost $7.00 in dog money.” Geez — that would make gas $27 a gallon, no wonder I don’t get to go for rides anymore.” Frieda (from her front yard) bats her eyelashes: “Boys — you should be out walking anyway. It’s better for you. And if you didn’t go on a walk you would never be able to admire my naturally curly hair. Eddy chimes in: One advantage of the higher costs is that Mom and Dad stay home a lot more with me. We play Frisbee in the backyard, and they even set up a small agility course. Odie (lifting an ear from his porch): Dude, I want a candidate who will support eating grass and 12 MetroPet Magazine

In these uncertain times, you look for leadership in your candidates. Someone who you think will do the best job, not someone who is out there just sniffing butts. October 2012

drinking out of the toilet. Frieda: “Odie, did they forget to give you your medicine again?” Sarge: “Blah, blah, blah...these candidates — if they can’t offer a solution they just knock the other guy. I was lying at the foot of the bed the other night listening to the late night talk shows and Chris Shoemaker said, “My dog is half pit-bull, half poodle. Not much of a watchdog, but a vicious gossip!” Old Red “Boy, isn’t that the truth? No offense, Frieda.” Frieda: “None taken, coming from you boys. You think you can solve the world’s problems with a sniff or a growl.”

Further down the block, Chico and Paco were commenting: Chico: “Mr. Wolff is going after the feline vote because he is promising clean litter boxes and tastier fur-ball formula. Well, that may be the “cat’s meow.” but I don’t think they will fall for it.” Paco: “Well, Mr. Lyon has my support because he says he will increase the range of patrol to keep the wild riff raff from coming into the neighborhoods and we’re even smaller than most of his fat cat supporters.” Scruffy finally piped up: “I have been walking this beat for a while, and I think you all have your focus on the wrong thing. The target is not cats vs. dogs; you have to look at the big picture. You need to get the attention of the two-legged ones (tough to do these

www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

19th Annual

'2*72%(5 )(67 and the

Tails for Trails Dog-Walk for Parks

Sunday, October 21, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kemper Outdoor Education Center Lake Jacomo/Fleming Park FOOD DRIVE: %HQH¿WV ORFDO DQLPDO VKHOWHUV GAMES: 6DFN 5DFHV %REELQJ IRU %LVFXLWV 0XVLFDO 'LVFV 5ROO RYHU 5DFHV %LVFXLW 7RVV CONTESTS: %HVW %LVFXLW (DWHU %HVW 7DLO :DJ JHU &RVWXPH &RQWHVW 'RJ 2ZQHU /RRN $OLNHV %HVW .LVVHU %HVW 7ULFN 2OGHVW 'RJ <RXQJHVW 'RJ DEMONSTRATIONS: 6HDUFK 5HVFXH &DUWLQJ 3ROLFH'RJV 6HUYLFH 'RJV +HUGLQJ 'RJV MATCHES/TESTS/WORKSHOPS: $JLOLW\ 2EHGLHQFH 5DOO\ &DQLQH *RRG &LWL]HQ 'RFN 'LYLQJ :HDYH 3ROH 5DFHV )ULVEHH 'UDIW BOOTHS: 5HVFXH *URXSV %RDUGLQJ $GRSW $ 3HW 3HW 6XSSOLHV 3HW 6LWWHUV

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

And once we get their attention we should demand more walks and better food! That is the message. days, with their noses buried in i-gadgets). It’s about slowing down, smelling the grass, being more respectful, building strong relationships — that is the message. The ones who figure that out are the ones who have riches.” Old Red: “And once we get their attention we should demand more walks and better food! That is the message.” Scruffy: “No, what I am saying is that we should come up to our two-legged family members, look at them with our puppy-dog eyes and give them kisses or crawl onto their laps and purr. Those are universal signs for good will and enlightenment. Jane Goodall said it best (and she knows how to talk to those two-legged types), “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide the difference you want to make.” And you can’t rely on politicians to do that for you. 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 the website www.n2paws.com.

3,000 to 5,000 dog-lovers attend this event! Call or Email for details!

FREE ADMISSION with dog food donation Contact us at:

816-229-8980 DogtoberFest@jacksongov.org Register online at MakeYourDayHere.com 14 MetroPet Magazine

Our Pets

Submit your favorite pet’s photo at www.metropetmag.com October 2012

Our Pet s

Submit your favorite pet’s photo at www.metropetmag.com

MOLLY

ELVIS LEE Elvis Lee is a a curious and outgoing Great Dane with a heart of gold and appetite for pretty much anything. He loves to run with his mom, nip at his chihuahua brother and sleep with his feet up against his dad. Submitted by Sarah D.

Celebrating Molly 4th birthday with a cake from Three Dog Bakery. Yum. Submitted by Sonya

WINNIE Winnie is a rescue dog we got in 2006. Her idea of playing ball is to chase the dog who is chasing the ball, she has no interest in the ball! She loves to ride in 69 caddy convertible with Doggles on! Submitted by Debbie B

PIPER LOU There’s nothing more fun than playing fetch. She’s got a huge personality for a little short-legged dog. She turned one year on Friday, June 15! Submitted by Krista L.

www.metropetmag.com

BUCKSHOT Meet Buckshot. Sitting at the park watching his kids play. Always loyal and always ready to play. Truly the best dog ever! Submitted by Niki B. MetroPet Magazine

s k c i tr for Keeping Halloween a BY MARY SELLARO lowing jack-o’-lanterns, chocolate candy, scary costumes and mysterious masks can only mean one thing-Halloween. The haunted holiday, which is a highly anticipated event for both children and adults alike, unfortunately has nightmare potential for our pets. If we can, for a moment, think about Halloween traditions from our pet’s point of view, it is easy to understand why they don’t share our enthusiasm.

KEEP PETS SAFE Consider the following points to keep your pet friends safe and stress free on the scariest night of the year. • Exercise and take your pets outside for bathroom time before the trick or treating or party begins. Keep pets away from the front door and in a secure, quiet area indoors to avoid stress and possible escapes. The constant ringing of the doorbell and loud noises of children (or adults) laughing and screaming can make a pet anxious. Make sure your pet is wear16 MetroPet Magazine

treat! ing a collar with an identification tag in case of an accidental escape. • If you are entertaining adults or having a party, keep the pets contained until the clean-up is done. Alcoholic beverages left sitting within reach can smell very inviting to taste but will hold a harmful reaction to your pet. • Keep the candy out of reach, both on the night of Halloween and after. Chocolate is toxic to pets and wrappers, if swallowed can cause an obstruction. Any amount of candy that is consumed by a dog or cat may cause stomach upsets which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. • People in costumes and masks are scary to pets. A dog reads a person’s body language and costumes can change or cause unnatural movement. The dog’s perception of a person can become distorted; even someone a dog is familiar with, which can cause the dog to react aggressively out of fear.

• Pets in costumes are cute and many people enjoy dressing their pets up. Many times the human is the only one that appreciates the effort. If you are planning to dress up your pet for Halloween, do not leave them unattended while in costume and make sure the costume fits appropriately and does not restrict movement. If the costume includes a mask, do not use, as the pet’s vision may become obstructed. Remove any small parts which can be ingested. • Monitor the pets carefully around decorations, especially lit candles. Tails, noses and ears are in serious danger of being burned. Cats and dogs both can easily become entangled in holiday lights as well. • Halloween night may invite people out with cruel intentions. Pets are often easy targets for cruel pranks. Be safe and keep your friend indoors and away from potential, intentional harm. October 2012

H ALLOWEEN C OSTUME T IPS For some dogs, wearing a Halloween costume can be a bit scary! The costume may feel strange or make noises as the dog moves. However, with a few helpful hints, wearing a costume can be a fun and positive experience! • Don’t rush home and put the costume on as soon as you buy it. Begin a slow introduction with treats a couple of weeks prior to wearing the costume. • Pet parents tend to treat their pets differently when they are wearing clothes, for example, staring and talking in a high-pitched tone about how cute their dog looks. This can be an uncomfortable experience for the dog as his human is “acting strange.” And he can associate this to the costume. Admire your dog, but be yourself, as this will help the dog to acclimate to his costume. • During the training period, the dog only receives treats and praise when he is in costume so he associates the costume with good things. • Begin by laying the costume gently across the dog’s back and give him treats and verbal praise. Do this several times a day, for several days, for a few minutes until he is comfortable. This process may take longer with headwear or footwear. • Once he is comfortable, fasten the costume and gradually increase the amount of time he wears the costume, continue treats and verbal praise. • When he is used to wearing the costume, encourage him to begin moving about, giving treats and praise as he walks. • After a few more days, put his leash on and take a walk, continue to use treats and verbal praise. • Finally, engage the help of a friend. Have the friend give the dog treats and praise in his costume. • Your dog should now be happy when he sees his Halloween costume, as his experience has been a positive one! Remember, by taking a few, simple precautions Halloween can be devilishly fun for all! Mary Sellaro has been training dogs since 1990. She has taught group and private lessons from puppy through advanced. Mary has also worked with dog owners on behavioral issues, including aggression. She developed and implemented a training class program for Retired Greyhounds as Pets. Mary has been the temperament test evaluator for the Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Pet Pal Program since 1997. Mary is now the Director of Training for Pooches Paradise Daycare and Resort in the Waldo area of Kansas City. Mary is a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

A Reflection of My who is energetic, happy, friendly, a fast runner and part of Sporting Kansas City? You might have guessed Kei Kamara — but that description was really written about Chelsea — Kei’s dog. When you ask Kei who is a love of his life, he answers Chelsea. After all, he tweets from the handle he created for his dog @ChelseaTheDog23. But how did Kei end up in Kansas City and how did Chelsea become a love of his life?

WHERE TO START? Kei was born in Kenema, Sierra Leone, Africa. He was an only child, but lived with extended family that he calls brothers. His home was filled with love, 18 MetroPet Magazine

Energy!

laughter and joy. That is until he was six. A civil war broke out and the rebels hit the school he was attending. He still remembers the terror of that first day. Bullets flying everywhere. He ran. He remembers bodies falling around him. He continued to run, even though he was told to stay at school. Then, he went back to find his brothers. He finally found them. But his life was forever changed. A short time later, his family moved to another country in Africa to escape the civil war. His mother realized she had to move

Kei out of Africa so he had a chance at peace and happiness. But she didn’t have enough money to move both of them. Even before the war started, she moved to the United States to earn enough money to bring Kei to the States. It wasn’t supposed to be for very long, but it ended up taking ten long years.

A MOVE TO THE STATES When he finally did move to the States, it wasn’t easy. Other kids made fun of him. He missed his brothers back home. His mother worked all the time. He October 2012

only had one consolation — soccer. When you ask him about soccer he will tell you that he wasn’t the best back home, but he saw playing soccer as a way to escape. So he practiced and played; practiced and played; and practiced and played some more. After graduating from high school, Kei played at California State University Dominguez Hills, where he was named third-team All-American. Then it was off to the big leagues. From 2004-2006, he spent two years with the Orange County Blue Star, a USL Premier Development League. In 2006, Kei was selected by the Columbus Crew in Columbus Ohio, as the ninth overall pick during the MLS SuperDraft. Life was starting to get a little www.metropetmag.com

better. Kei was traded twice before landing at Sporting Kansas City. He wasn’t very excited to move to Kansas City, but this wasn’t the first time in his life that life had been tough.

A MOVE TO KANSAS CITY Back in those days, Sporting Kansas City played on “borrowed fields” as it worked to build its own field. Playing hard and working hard — this was what had created Kei, helped him to become the player we were soon to know. Soccer was his life. It made him a better person. He was starting to feel at home. But he wanted a dog. While in California, he told his mom he wanted a dog. But she was afraid of dogs and would

not let him have one. While in Africa, his family had lots of pets, including homing pigeons. He wanted a dog. He was ready. But he didn’t want a puppy. He knew he didn’t have enough time to spend with a puppy; he was on the road too much. In the spring of 2011, his girlfriend went to a Wayside Waifs shelter, but just to look. She spotted this lively one-year old dog. She fell in love with him. She took a photo, on her cell phone of course, and sent it to Kei. His response “Wait. Wait, until I can meet her.” But she didn’t want to lose this precious bundle, so she put down a deposit. An interesting point - Chelsea had been returned to the shelter by the previous owner because she was two energetic. Kei and his girlfriend took this information into consideration before they adopted this bundle of energy. But while she wasn’t a good fit for the previous family, her energy was a perfect fit for Kei! As soon as he was back in KC they went to the shelter together. When the volunteer brought her out — she went straight for Kei — it was love. When asked why — the answer is simple, “She is a reflection of my energy!” They named her Chelsea, after Chelsea F. C., the English Premier League football (soccer) club.

LIFE AT LIVESTRONG As a Striker on the Sporting Kansas City team, Kei has some incredible stats. Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas. The club is a member of the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. With five games remaining in the regular season, Sporting Kansas City is at the top of the Eastern Conference and second in the League behind Western Conference foe, the San Jose Earthquakes. MetroPet Magazine

Kei plays hard and his stats show. Kamara is 15th among all active MLS players with 45 goals scored to date during his MLS career. In a most recent winning game against the New York Red Bulls, Kei scored a goal. This makes 11 goals during the 2012 regular season — with five games remaining! This breaks Kei’s personal single season record of 10. Kei moves into 5th for goals scored on the team’s all-time chart with 31, tying Mo Johnston. While some MLS payers are hard to reach, Kei makes an effort to reach out to others and be touched in return. He is often out doing community events. He will always stop and sign autographs. Kei was a finalist for the 2011 MLS Humanitarian of the Year and earned Sporting Kansas City’s Humanitarian of the Year award, as voted on by media, coaches and fellow players.

20 MetroPet Magazine

He is also very active in helping his native Sierra Leone, both the soccer team and the children of the country. As a key member of the Sierra Leone National Team, he makes frequent trips to Sierra Leone and acts as an ambassador for the country by donating an enormous amount of personal soccer equipment, hosting fund raising events in the states and hosting charity soccer matches when in Sierra Leone.

ONE YEAR LATER These days, Kei has an easy laugh and effusive personality. He is the guy in the King Kong outfit scaring his teammates. He is the one goofing off after practice. Kei shows a spirit of hope and life that has been unbroken by years of war, sadness and hardship. He has learned the hard lessons of life early: life is for the living — get out and live it! These days everyone knows Kei, not just in Kansas City, but everywhere in the world. His #23 jersey ranks 21 in sales for MLS jerseys, as sold through MLSSoccer.com. And, of course

October 2012

they all know Chelsea — just check out Kei’s Twitter account!

TEAMMATES! Kei and Chelsea play together often. They run together. They go to the park — one of Chelsea’s favorite activities. He has taught Chelsea a few tricks including sit, shake, and roll over. Life with Chelsea is great. Kei misses her when he is traveling. He misses her when he goes out to lunch with the guys after practice. He just loves her. And she loves him. The love is unconditional. Everybody knows it. But what’s not to love. This small, Spaniel and Australian Shepard mix is a bundle of energy. She is a fast runner — doesn’t know a stranger — will talk to anyone who will talk with her. And, mostly she loves life. Maybe they are a reflection of each other!

www.metropetmag.com

GO SEE KEI! Sporting Kansas City has limited tickets available for the remaining regular season home game against the Philadelphia Union on October 24. You can purchase your tickets now on Ticketmaster.com or call 888-4KC-Goal for more information. Additionally, the LSP box offices are located near the northeast gate entrance and hours of operations are Monday thru Friday from 10am to 6 pm, Saturday from 10am to 1pm, closed Sunday and on game days from 10am until halftime.

MetroPet Magazine

COMPARATIVE ONCOLOGY

BY HEDDIE LEGER

he field of Comparative Oncology is sweeping across the country like wildfire “one paw at a time.”

When Luke Robinson’s dog contracted cancer, it was not the end of canine companion’s life, but the beginning of a new way of living. 2 Million Dogs is not just an organization, but a living testimony to a man and his two dogs who walked from Austin, TX to Boston, MA. The journey was inspired by the loss of his Great Pyrenees to cancer. They walked cross country, from home to home, city to city, sharing their story. They also educated people about cancer in dogs, building a nationwide grassroots movement. The visionary movement was born from a passion that Mr. Robinson had of two-million dogs walking simultaneously all across the county to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. If two dogs could walk over 2,000 miles, Mr. Robinson believed it to be possible to become a reality! The 2 Million Dogs Foundation was born and the legacy that started out with just a man who lost his beloved canine

22 MetroPet Magazine 22

One Paw at a Time companion continues... On November 4th, 2012 the 2 Million Dog March returns to Liberty, Missouri at the Belvoir Winery! This year there will be 30 Puppy Up! Walka-thons taking place across the country.

More information is available at: http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/oncol ogy/index.html http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cancer/research/programs/Animals/

The mission of 2 Million Dogs Foundation is to support research... The mission of 2 Million Dogs Foundation is to support research in order to discover the common links and causes between canine and human cancers through comparative oncology research.

COMPARATIVE ONCOLOGY Comparative Oncology is relatively new field. The organization accomplishes this mission to support the field of comparative oncology in several ways. 2 Million Dogs educates people regarding the tremendous potential through strategic partnerships, seminars, speaking engagements, social media, events, broadcasts, and other forms of media, including partnering with the University of Missouri and UCDAVIS in California in supporting research.

http://syndicate.missouri.edu/tags/c omparative_oncology Through a nationwide network of Puppy Up! Walks, the organization is building the largest pet and people cancer community in the world, connecting parents, business people, artists, scientists and humanitarians all seeking to rid our species of its deadliest disease. 2 Million Dogs does this by investing in research supporting scientific objectives and broadening our understanding of the links between human and companion animal cancer, creating a cross institutional collaborative platform, developing new approaches to research, and funding translational cancer studies that benefit both pets and people. October 2012

A local Kansas City family had a dog, Hero, who contracted Lymphosarcoma, a form of cancer and was admitted to participate in the Comparative Oncology Research at the University of Missouri. The treatment was a huge success gaining the family close to two more years with their beloved canine companion. The Promise Walk on November 4th, 2012, commemorates all family pets that have contracted cancer and provides hope for humans that a cure can be found through comparative oncology. Heddie Leger is a Certified Humane Educator. She is recipient of the 2011 Excellence Award from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is the Director of Community Programs and Volunteers for Great Plains SPCA. She is also a Community Training Partner for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and the local Kansas City Area Representative for the Animals and Society Institute. Her compassion for animals extends to all species. You can reach her at the PawZone In-Home PetSitting www.thepawzone.

September Pawzzle Answers

www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BREED

The

SHIH TZU

BY HEDDIE LEGER

f you are looking for the perfect companion animal, the Shih Tzu might be the dog for you. By definition, Shih Tzu means “lion.” This sweet, playful dog is not afraid to stand up for himself and lives up to the name “lion.”

BREED CHARACTERISTICS According to the AKC the Shih Tzu is one of the most popular dogs in the United States of America. The Shih Tzu is compact and solid in structure, with a long, flowing double coat. The coat is its most distinctive feature. The Shih Tzu has a distinctive assertive attitude that can border on arrogant with the carriage of his head held high and tail curved over the back. The Shih Tzu comes in many different colors and color combinations. The Shih Tzu is susceptible to heat stroke, because flat shape of the face, the air going into the lungs isn’t cooled as efficiently as it is among longer-nosed breeds. They also tend to wheeze and snore, and can be prone to dental problems due to the shape of their face and jaw. This breed does much better if kept in airconditioning rooms during hot weather. They are not outdoor dogs, and thrive best with their family in the house. They require daily brushing and grooming.

This breed is prone to (coprophagia), eating their own or other animals’ feces. The best way to handle the problem is never let it become a habit. They must be watched closely and droppings should be picked up immediately to avoid developing this problem. Shih Tzus can be difficult to housebreak. It is very important to be consistent, and not allow a puppy to roam the house unsupervised until completely trained. The most appropriate manner to housetrain a pup is with crate training. Generally speaking, the Shih Tzu can be trustworthy with children. However, this breed is not the best choice for families with toddlers or very young children because their small size puts them at risk for unintentional injury. No dog should be left unattended with any child regardless of the breed or size. Even though naturally docile, and friendly, like any dog, the Shih Tzu needs early socialization and training. The Shih Tzu can become timid if not properly socialized when young.

SOCIALIZATION Early socialization helps ensure that your puppy will grow up to be a well-rounded dog. All dog breeds have been designed by humans with a purpose in mind to do a job. The purpose of the Shih Tzu is to only be a companion dog to 24 MetroPet Magazine

October 2012

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BREED humans. This dog only wants to be with you. It is not interested in hunting, guarding, or retrieving. Affection is the dominant characteristic, and a person’s lap is their favorite place. The Shih Tzu is happiest when with the family, giving and receiving love and attention. However, the Shih Tzu is not a total couch potato. This breed is lively and alert and will often bark in warning at newcomers to your home. However, will make friends with your guests the minute they walk inside.

Chinese royal families kept Shih Tzu-type dogs, and the “little lion dogs” or “chrysanthemum-faced” dogs have been drawn and mentioned in documents from that period. They were written and recorded to be small, intelligent, docile dogs that strongly resembled lions. Heddie Leger is a Certified Humane Educator. She is recipient of the 2011 Excellence Award from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is the Director of

Community Programs and Volunteers for Great Plains SPCA. She is also a Community Training Partner for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and the local Kansas City Area Representative for the Animals and Society Institute. Her compassion for animals extends to all species. You can reach her at the PawZone In-Home PetSitting www.thepawzone.

HISTORY OF THE BREED This breed has a varied and interesting origin and history. It is believed the origin is ancient, steeped in mystery and controversy. Recently a study revealed that the Shih Tzu is one of the 14 oldest dog breeds. Bones believed to be those of the Shih Tzu were discovered in China indicating that these little dogs were present there as early as 8,000 B.C. There are some who believe the breed was developed by Tibetan Monks and given as gifts to Chinese royalty. Another theory presents that the Shih Tzu was developed in China by crossing the LhasaApso and/or Pekinese. Regardless of where the breed was developed — Tibet or China — it’s clear that the Shih Tzu was a treasured companion from the earliest times. Paintings, art, and writings from the China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) portray small dogs similar to the Shih Tzu. It has also been reported that in the 13th century, Marco Polo, and the Mongolian Emperor Kubla Khan kept small “lion” dogs with trained hunting lions-not as prey, but to keep the lions calm. Some believe these dogs were the Shih Tzu. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

Chipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner 26 MetroPet Magazine

PAWZZLE

BY PAWLEAN JOURNE

For tips on the answers to this pawzzle, read the story about the Shih Tzu breed on page 24.

October 2012

Across: 1 This is a very sweet ________________ dog. 5. This breed is the perfect ______________ dog. 7. The Shih Tzu is usually very _____________ with children. 8. It comes in many different colors and color _____________. 12. They tend to wheeze and _____________ when they breathe due to their flat face and short nose. 13. This dog is solid and __________ in structure. 14. It is susceptible to _________________ due to its flat face. 15. Just like any dog, they need to be ________. 18. They are prone to ________________ better known as eating feces. 21. They are naturally docile and ____________. 22. The breed is not a total __________ potato. 23. They require daily _____________ due to their long coat. 24. The best way to housetrain any puppy or dog is with _____________ training. 25. They can be prone to ___________ problems due to the shape of the face. Down: 1. They may not be a good choice for families with small children due to the danger of __________________ injury. 3. No dog should be left __________________ with a child. 4. It has a long ______________, double coat. 6. The word “Shih Tzu” means _____________. 9. _____________ is the dominant characteristic of the breed. 10. They are not ________________ dogs. 11. This breed does better if kept _____________. 13. The Shih Tzu’s tail will usually ____________ up over its back. 16. Their favorite place is in your ____________. 17. They will give a ____________ bark when strangers approach your home. 19. It is one of the most _____________ dog breeds according to the AKC. 20. It has a distinctive and ____________ attitude. www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

Pets and People Helping People!

BY PATTY HOMER

Animal Assisted Therapy

he benefits of animal assisted therapy (AAT) are plentiful. AAT started about 60 years ago, started growing in the early 1990’s and steadily grew in popularity after seeing the incredible results it produced. In 2005, The American Heart Association released results of a study that shows that a 12 minute visit with a therapy dog improved heart and lung function, reduced blood pressure, diminished harmful hormones and decreased anxiety in heart patients. Not only do people who are visited by therapy pets benefit physically, they benefit emotionally as well. Therapy pet teams regularly visit people in hospitals, schools, day care centers, special needs schools, nursing homes, correctional institutes, hospice, juvenile correctional facilities and more. Horses are used to help with the disabled and recovering stroke/trauma victims with balance, confidence and strength. Therapy pets are often used in psycho therapy helping to build a rapport between patient and therapist and helping the patient to trust. Not only do the AAT visits make an amazing impact for the recipient, they make an amazing impact for the volunteer. It is heartwarming and inspirational to see the joy and life a visiting pet brings forth for all involved.

28 MetroPet Magazine • J ULY / AUGUST 2012

Not only do the AAT visits make an amazing impact for the recipient, they make an amazing impact for the volunteer. SERVICE ANIMALS VS. THERAPY PETS Therapy pets are not service animals. Service animals are protected by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and therapy pets are not. Service animals live with and aid a person with disabilities - they are working animals. A therapy pet is someone’s pet that has a calm demeanor, good manners and social skills. The animal’s guardian volunteers their time by taking their pet to visit the elderly, young, ill, hospitalized, traumatized and incarcerated. Therapy pets are not just dogs — they are also cats, horses, rabbits, birds, pot bellied pigs, llamas, ferrets to name a few. October 2012

THE JOB OF A THERAPY PET There are many ways therapy pets are utilized. Visiting facilities just so the client can interact with a pet, visiting schools to have children read to the pet, aiding in psycho therapy, helping people with disabilities to regain balance, helping traumatized patients open up and start to cope with their trauma, teaching prisoners the meaning of unconditional love and teaching children how to interact and humanely treat animals are just a few of the ways therapy pets help.

CALM IN ALL ENVIRONMENTS A good therapy pet should be calm in many environments and around people and other pets, enjoy attention, they should not jump, lick, paw, hiss, scratch, growl or shy away from people. Therapy dogs should have a solid obedience foundation including sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking and leave it. Big or small, long hair or no hair, dog, cat, horse or rabbit, Maltese or Pit Bull â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if you have a pet like this and would like to positively impact peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives, AAT may be right for you.

www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

Most facilities that desire AAT only allow volunteer teams (guardian and pet) that have been certified through an AAT organization. Pets for Life, Inc is a local non-profit organization that has been certifying and providing AAT to the KC area for over 25 years — their website is www.kcpetsforlife.com.

In fact, the founders of Pets for Life, William D. and Harriett M. Snyder saw the benefits and needs for this service in 1984 — years before AAT went main stream. Their volunteers are carefully screened and evaluated, certified and then scheduled to visit facilities throughout greater KC. They also offer R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) helping and giving confidence to young readers.

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE I have seen first hand the effect that a pet can have on the ailing. My soul dog, Buddy, single handedly revived my Grandmother when she had given up. Having a living being that takes and gives unconditional love and depends on you for their survival can motivate and give someone who is ailing a reason to get up, get moving and start to look forward to and enjoy living.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Interested in becoming an AAT certified volunteer team? The way to get started is to either contact a certified positive reinforcement trainer that can assess your pet’s potential or to contact Pets for Life and sign up for an orientation which is held monthly. Providing confidence, joy and health to those who need it fulfills your heart and soul like nothing else can. Seeing someone smile, speak for the first time in years, remember their youth or see the light and life return to someone’s face is a gift like no other that you will ever give or receive. Patty Homer has worked as a vet tech for 10 years and has been training pets for over 20 years. She offers in home training, behavior consulting and private obedience classes for dogs and cats as well as Pet First Aid and CPR classes. Patty is certified through the Certification Counsel of Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) and is the founder and president of HEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance. Her experience in the veterinary field as well as training gives her a unique approach to dog training, considering the mind, body and spirit of each pet she works with. You can find her at www.goodpupkc.com, pattythepuppypro@gmail.com, 816.699.2260 and follow her on facebook.

30 MetroPet Magazine

October 2012

Howl-O-Ween Tricking Treats Makes 14 bewitching treats - perfect for gobblin’ Ingredients 2 1/2 cups of water 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups whole-wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pie filling) 1 Egg 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 cup rolled oats

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. • 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. Recipe credit: Three Dog Bakery Cookbook by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff Over 50 wholesome, healthy, simple-to-cook recipes for your pooch, from Hearty Hound Loaf and Banana Mutt Cookies to Hungry Mongrel Turkey Burgers and Fiesta Bones.

www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

Chips Adventure RECAP FROM CHAPTER 7 Boy, did I get a good lesson in respect with my old and new friends. Funny thing, respect is something that no one can really make up or force, it is something that has to be earned. I guess I had never really known what that meant and really had not had the opportunity to learn about respect of myself or anyone else. I found new respect for Sarah the more I got to know her. Turns out she has two tripod dogs. Her one dog, Amber, is very sweet. Her other dog, was very scared and not too friendly at first. Sarah called him a “work in progress.” He seemed okay with Sarah, Amber and Hero, but he was nervous around other people and dogs. It seemed he had never had a friend and did not really know how to make friends. We all decided to show him respect and not try to force ourselves on him and give him the space and time he needed to heal, both mentally, emotionally and physically.

Responsibility — The quality or state of being reliable, trustworthy and hold moral, legal, mental or emotional accountability. 32 MetroPet Magazine • J ULY / AUGUST 2012

new friend, (I am going to call him friend, as I know someday he will be my friend), obviously is very different from Amber and Hero. It is going to take some time to get to know him.

HIS STORY

LET DOWN BY PEOPLE Well, right off the bat, I never realized how difficult it would be to become friends with Sarah’s other dog. She said his name, but it escapes me now. What has really made a huge impression is how much he has been let down by others he has trusted. Trust is something that cannot be bought, but has to be earned. My

Sarah told me his story and I understand why he does not trust anyone. She said, the shelter staff found him wandering the streets (kind of like me), but he had not been as lucky. I had been found by nice people who took good care of me and were responsible. My new friend was found dirty, skinny and with a broken leg. They said he was very difficult to get along with, probably because he was in so much pain. No one really knew how long he had been in pain, but his front right leg was so badly mangled that it could not be fixed. It looked like someone had done that to him on purpose, but of course, since he cannot talk, no one will ever know.

RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP If his original owner had been responsible and given him proper care and treatment he would not have suffered October 2012

so much. He must have been limping for a long time, as when they did xrays of his leg, it looked like it had healed, but since he had never gotten medical treatment the bones had healed all crooked and he could not walk on it. The shelter could not fix it so found a place that had a vet that would fix his leg, but the vet said, it could not be fixed. That is how and why his leg was amputated. It just could not be fixed properly.

FROM THE DOGS EYES My new friend had gone from home to home and was very depressed. Each time a shelter dog goes to a home, he is very hopeful this is going to be his forever home and family to love. When it does not work out, or the family returns him to the shelter, it is very sad for the dog. This poor dog had been returned four times and each time he had made a mistake that many dogs make, but for some reason, no one wanted to be responsible for helping him. He was found as a puppy and lived his entire life in a kennel and had not learned to properly interact with other dogs or humans.

had a very hard time getting around on three legs. Dogs with missing hind legs have it a bit easier as the hind leg is not a balancing leg, it is a supporting and driving leg. A dog can do quite well with a missing hind leg, but will often be off-balanced and fall over a lot with a missing front leg, as

MAKING NEW FRIENDS With Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help, I am certain my new friend is going to do well, but it is going to take time. We all decided we wanted to take responsibility for being his friend. So now he has five friends who are going to be responsible to help him and are not going to give up on him. Our first decision was where to go so Sarah, Amber and her other dog could have fun with us. We decided the beach was a good place to be, but decided to go very early in the morning before other people and dogs would show up. I have never seen anything so beautiful as the sunrise over the sand and water at the beach. It became a regular morning activity for all of us and little by little you could see our new friend start to relax.

He was found as a puppy and lived his entire life in a kennel and had not learned to properly interact with other dogs or humans. the front legs carry most of the weight and balance for the entire body, including the head, which weighs a lot.

SADNESS AND SORROW Now he was withdrawn, depressed and very nervous around everyone. Although the shelter people are very caring, it is still a shelter with lots and lots of barking and sometimes angry dogs. My new friend was not only scared and depressed, but confused about what was the proper way to act around others. So he made lots of mistakes. He also

ACTIVITY Visit a local shelter. Ask about how you can help. Find a way to demonstrate responsibility to help shelter dogs either by conducting a donation drive, food drive, or bringing in items like towels, blankets, or something to make life better for a shelter animal. www.metropetmag.com

MetroPet Magazine

We had a real scare today, when a boat came to close to the shore and our new friend spooked, but instead of running away, he ran towards the boat barking and ran right into the water chasing the boat. He went in over his head, and was trying to swim, but with only one front leg to paddle with he started to sink. His head went under and he would pop back up, it went under again and popped back up.

HERO TO THE RESCUE We thought for sure he was going to turn around and come back, but he went under one more time and we did not see him for a few seconds, then he popped back up. Then Hero jumped into action, and swam out and grabbed him by the collar and swam back with him, just like he had done with me. The dog laid on the beach on his side, but he was not breathing. We were all very upset and then Sarah remembered the pet

34 MetroPet Magazine

CPR class she had taken and decided to do showing us that he was fine and actually puppy CPR on him. She did her compreslooked very thankful. sions, slightly breathed into his nostrils, He did not get up and we wondered if then repeated. I had never seen anyone he was trying to say goodbye for the last take such responsibility for saving a life time, when all of a sudden a huge pelican and was actually experiencing a flashback came walking over and dropped a fish by from my own experience when Amber his side and was flapping its wings. None came along and pawed at the dogs side and of us were sure what to do, so we just sat barked. real still by his side…….. He suddenly coughed up some water and started to whine. His eyes looked all white and wild and we did not know what he was going to do next. We could not have stopped him anyway. STORY DISCUSSION TIPS He just laid there for the longest time • How could the new dog’s original owners and finally started to wag his tail, been more responsible in caring for him? then he started to pant and smile. • How did Sarah help in this story? What would you have done? SEEING A DOG SMILE! • Have you ever adopted a dog or cat from a If you have never seen a dog shelter? How did you take responsibility for smile, you are missing a treat. A helping the dog or cat? dog’s smile is one of the most genuine things you will ever see. He was

October 2012