September 2013
Articles
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One-Eyed Jack
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Colt, the Story of a Black Dog
11 Ciao Bow Wow! 12 Couches and Beds 15 Save Our Animals, Save Our Children
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18 Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter 21 Flea Infestation 24 Do You Have an Arthritic Kitty? 26 German Shepherd’s Pie 27 Chip’s Next Adventure 30 Pawzzle 32 Spreading Awareness with a Little Help from Tilley
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34 Pet Services Directory
Happy Fall! A change of season is coming! For those people and pets who love Fall, this is our time. Time to get out and enjoy the weather with our pets! There are several awesome events for you and your pets to enjoy this Fall. First off – take your dog to dinner! You and your pup get pizza at SPIN! Pizza’s Ciao Bow Wow, see page 11. Have a tail-wagging good time! Then, take a stroll around the English Landing Park, Parkville, MO, and enjoy “Paws in the Park” on September 14, in support of the Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter. Run or walk with your mutt during “Strutt with Your Mutt” in support of Wayside Waifs on September 21, in Brookside, MO. Choose between the 5K Race and the 3K Walk. On October 5 walk with your dog to support human cancer research during the “Bark for Life.” On October 6 there is a human only “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” see page 32. In this issue, we have heartwarming, educational and breath-stopping articles. The heartwarming articles include: One-Eyed Jack; Colt: The Story of a Black Dog; and With A Little Help From Lizzy.
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
Learn more about fleas and dogs; arthritis in kittens; and teaching pets manners. Don’t miss out on Chip’s Adventures and this month’s Pawzzlle. Finally, please take time to read Save Our Pets, Save Our Children. Violence is everywhere. Being aware and taking steps to stop violence is important. The shelter group featured in this issue is Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter. This group does an incredible job fostering, adopting and helping pets in the Northland. If you have time, energy and money (of course) and love pets, this might be a great alternative for you to help others, including fourlegged ones. As cooler weather approaches and we begin preparations for winter, let us remember that our pets are also preparing for the change of seasons. This means they may want to eat more and exercise less. Fur may need extra brushing to keep it clean. Fall used to mean no more fleas, but this is no longer the case. So don’t stop giving your pet medication or treatment. Enjoy the change of seasons — make it fun! This can mean less stress for you and your pets!
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 Juliette Bradley Mike Deathe Pat Hennessy Pawlean Journe Heddie Leger Dennis McLaughlin Nancy Bush Piper Mary Sellaro Cheryl Waterman
Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration for publication to editor@metropetmag.com. All materials are subject to editorial review. © 2013 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Request reprint permissions at info@metropetmag.com. MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
One-Eyed Jack by Nancy Piper Jack came to us from a lady who worked at the bank. His name was BG then. She would let him outside at night and he would leave presents on her doorstep for her to find the next morning. Cat presents, like dead mice and birds. She had a hard time dealing with this, so asked me if I would take him. I told her to bring him up to Rolling Acres to meet me and I’d see. She brought him up one day; I took him out of his carrier. He was blind in one eye, as a result of being hit by a car three months earlier. I picked him up, put him on my lap; he took one look at me and lay down. It was probably the only time he laid on my lap! What a smart cat he was! I said, “Well, we’ll give him a try!” What a wonderful decision I made!
“Jack” As In One-Eyed Jack
It wasn’t long before his name was Jack as in OneEyed Jack. Jack worked at our pet memorial center, at Rolling Acres Memorial Gardens. He may not have been a “sit in your lap” cat, but he was everything else. He took his job very seriously. He supervised every project on the cemetery grounds. He very respectfully attended every funeral. He was also very mischievous and adventurous. He would hide around corners and jump out at you when you came by. Jack climbed in the rafters in the crematory and the maintenance building, as well as on top of the roof of the office. He was at every staff luncheon and every open house. We would fix him a plate, then he was happy and he never jumped on the table after he had his plate of food.
An Inside/Outside Cat
Jack was an inside/outside cat. We always did our best to make sure he was inside at night, though. He had his www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
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own room in the office, where he spent the night with his cat brother Nathan.
A Sad Day
One morning I went in his room to feed them and Jack was dragging his hind quarters. He was paralyzed. I knew instantly what the situation was; he had thrown a blood clot. I called my friend and associate Suzette. She came over quickly and we took Jack to the veterinarian. Unfortunately there isn’t anything they can do medically for a cat who has thrown a blood clot. But miraculously Jack recovered the use of his hindquarters! A few days later a veterinarian was at Rolling Acres and we started discussing Jack’s situation. He asked me “You know it will happen again, don’t you?” A month later it did. Jack threw another clot. I took him to the vet, but once again,
there was nothing that could be done. I took him home with me that time. He died later that evening, after having something else go wrong in his body. He was 11 years and 1 month old. We were blessed with his companionship for 10 years.
Money for the Toll
The next day we had the visitation for Jack. All of us who worked at Rolling Acres gathered around. I remembered the Greek myth about the dead being required to pay a toll to the ferryman at the River Styx in order to be ferried across the river to the afterlife. I reached in my pocket and came out with a brand new shiny penny. Beverly had a dime. These coins went with Jack when he was privately cremated so he would have money for the toll.
Money Coming Back to Me
A couple days later I was standing at a QuikTrip counter. I heard a coin fall on the floor. I looked down, it was a penny. I looked around and no one was scrambling for it like usual. So I picked it up and put it in my pocket. When I walked outside I Tell Us Your Story found a dime on the ground. I picked it up and I know some of you will think I am hallucinating or am put it in my pocket with the penny, not thinking just plain crazy. However I am sure I have struck a chord anything of it. The next day I was in the house with many of you! I invite those of you who have had at the cemetery, and saw a penny on the buffet. I contact with your companion animals after their death, picked it up and put it in my pocket. When I went to share your stories with me at Nancy.Piper@birch.net, back to the office, I went in the bathroom and or mail them to me, Nancy Piper, 12200 N. Crooked there was a dime on the floor. Then it hit me! I Road, Kansas City, MO 64152. Stories will be considered yelled at Beverly “Jack is throwing money at me!” for the book I am compiling of companion animals Jack had manifested a penny and a dime for me, contacting their person from the afterlife. not once but twice!
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Still Hanging Around Us
Jack is still hanging out with us, some days more frequently than other days. He used to sit in the bathroom and activate the motion activated towel dispenser! Since he died, the towel dispenser still activates when no one is in the bathroom. So we just holler “Hi Jack!” He would be outside in the mornings. I always backed my truck into my parking pace. I have a reverse sensing system on my truck which beeps if something is behind you. Now, periodically, my reverse sensor will beep when nothing is there. So I say “Hi Jack”. I have many more Jack stories, involving the manifestation of coins to let me know he is still around spiritually. Jack had a huge presence when he was on this earth, and continues to have one in spirit. Nancy Bush Piper has owned Rolling Acres Memorial Gardens for Pets, a pet cemetery, crematorium, and funeral home in Kansas City for over 34 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from Northwest Missouri State University. Nancy continued her education by attending the
International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association University for two years. She is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist, as certified as the Grief Recovery Institute, Sherman Oaks, CA. Contact Nancy at Rolling Acres Memorial Gardens, 816.891.8888
July/August Pawzzle Answers 1
T 3 H V W H E A R T W O R N L I 6 V K U T 8 F A Y E D H U N G E T U T 9 M E D I C A L E 10 R R E S 12 S I S T E R S R N A 13 W O R D S 14 I Q A U B A N D O N E D S 20 S A L T 21 T R U S T I 23 24 E H O M E 25 Y P L A N N 26 N E E D L E S S S 2
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EclipseCrossword.com
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Colt
The Story of a Black Dog by Mary Sellaro
In the Fall, 2012, I was asked by a client to keep an eye out for a young Labrador retriever or lab mix which would be a good fit for a family with children. After speaking with the interested family, I began reading through the bios of dogs available for adoption, sorting through the vast selection of labs and mixes to try and find possible candidates. I came across several who looked promising at Prairie Paws Animal Shelter in Ottawa, KS.
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There was Something About His Eyes
Among the dogs I had chosen, there was one which stood out: Walter — a large black dog of mixed parentage, a year and a half old, with long legs, floppy ears, and a small patch of white on his chest. There was something about his eyes and in his expression that made me feel like I had known him for years. I had the good fortune of knowing someone who worked at the shelter, was familiar with the dogs and whose opinion I valued and trusted explicitly. I described the family and asked her about the various dogs I had chosen and waited with particular interest to hear what she had to say about Walter. I remember her exact words — “Walter would
be awesome!” My initial reaction was excitement, then strangely, disappointment.
The logical question to ask at this point is why would I feel Disappointment? Unfortunately, there is no logical answer. While I was extremely happy that this dog could be adopted into a forever home, by a caring family, I secretly wanted to adopt Walter myself. I sorely needed a jolt of reality, I did not need another, I must get over my latest canine addiction.
Fast Forward
I quickly came to the realization that it was not possible to adopt Walter myself and my priority became to find a suitable dog for the family I was working with. I
contacted the potential owners only to find out they had decided on another dog. Fast forward, I could not stop thinking about Walter, so it became a mini obsession to help get him adopted. I did not need to wait long, I was soon contacted by another family who seemed to be a good match for Walter. We made plans to go to Prairie Paws to meet him. At the last minute the family was unable to go. I volunteered to go to the shelter by myself and let them know my thoughts. If I thought he was a good fit for the family, we would all go back together.
and outside. He was very intrigued by the cat, who was not in the least impressed with him. I left the shelter that day feeling this dog had the potential to be something special. It was a premature idea, but could Walter have a future as a therapy dog? I was excited to impart my impressions to the family interested in Walter, only to receive a message that they had decided not to add a dog to the family after all. It was at this point my secret wish to adopt Walter became a mission. A long series of obstacles began, but finally on November 2, 2012, I brought Walter home.
I Met Walter!
When I arrived at the shelter, I was asked to wait for a few minutes. They would bring Walter out and then he and I could visit. I sat down and glanced around. It was a pretty place with a very comfortable air. There was a mixture of people in the lobby, a woman in an electric wheelchair, a young mother with her children holding a very excited young dog with whom they had just been reunited and one very dog savvy cat. I wondered how Walter would react to what could be a very challenging environment. I received my answer a few minutes later, when a large black dog came into the lobby pulling on the leash and the person attached to it, just like a freight train! This was Walter. I spoke with the shelter worker for a few minutes and then started getting acquainted with this boy whose face I knew by heart from his pictures. He looked around with calm interest and a sense of confidence, happily wagging his tail at everything he encountered, both inside www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
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New Life, New Challenges
Walter became accustomed to the We Did It! challenge of his new life, the first being We began the journey by choosing a name change. With his long legs and and becoming affiliated with a greyhound type body, his movements and volunteer organization. There are gait resembled that of a young horse. He several steps to complete prior to quickly became known as “Colt.” receiving the chance to become a Colt was immersed into the life of being volunteer team. I visited the Moa dog trainer’s dog. He had a full schedule, Kan Pet Partners website, (www. playing in doggie daycare several times mo-kanpetpartners.org) completed Mary and Colt per week, meeting new people, going new and submitted the required paperwork places, learning to socialize, daily obedience training and attended a Handler’s Training Class for the human and attending training classes at night. He had plenty of half of the potential team. I was then able to reserve a down-time and quickly became accustomed to family space for Colt and I to be evaluated together at the Team life, dog friends and big comfortable dog beds. He was Evaluation. I am proud to say Colt and I passed the not impressed with, but did not object to being brushed, evaluation and became a registered Pet Partners Team bathed and having his nails trimmed on a regular basis. on June 28, 2013. Our initial goal has been met, but the As weeks turned into months, I began to look for ultimate reward will come when we begin visiting as a the potential I observed in Colt at the shelter to be a team. therapy dog. I have been evaluating dogs for therapy visits for over 15 years and certainly had the experience It Can be Tough Being a Black Dog to recognize the necessary characteristics. I summarily Colt was passed over in the shelter for months, he checked off Colt’s qualities: enjoys meeting and being was easy to overlook, just a big black dog and nothing handled by new people; comfortable around a wide exceptional. Was he really worth taking a second look variety of people; remains predictable in social situations; at? Black dogs have a harder time getting adopted seeks me out if he is uncomfortable and gives clear from shelters and rescue groups. If you are considering indications; remembers his training when distracted; and adopting a dog, take the time to look at each dog on an seems to have a certain “intuition” which drew me to him individual basis and do not simply dismiss them based on in the very beginning. the color of their fur. I decided Colt would indeed be a good candidate and Sometimes the best treasures are the ones you have to I was excited to begin the journey that would take him search the deepest for. from shelter dog to therapy dog. We continued to train and work towards the goal of one day becoming a visiting Mary Sellaro has been training dogs since 1990. team. 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. She can be reached at 816-361-3388. 10
MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
CIAO BOW WOW! We’re Unleashing the Fun as Pups and People Share Pizza to Benefit Wayside Waifs! Pups Have Own Printed Menus Plus Pizza, Breadsticks & Gelato for Dogs; People Eat Food from SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza! We’re unleashing the fun at CIAO BOW WOW as people and their pooches eat pizza together on a restaurant patio to raise money for Wayside Waifs. Three of SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza’s patios will take turns hosting CIAO BOW WOW events on Sundays in September, during which the patios will be exclusively reserved for dogs and their human companions to share dinner while benefiting the animal shelter. Man — and woman’s — best friend will receive their own CIAO BOW WOW menus and be served a box filled with a special three-course meal of breadstick appetizers, pizzas and gelato made by Three Dog Bakery. People will order food from the SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza menu. Pooches also will receive bandannas from Yelp. This is the seventh year for the PUPular fundraiser, where dogs frequently sit on their best friends’ laps at the tables and CIAO (or chow) down on their special pizzas. The cost is $25 per dog, plus human food ordered from the restaurant menu. Profits benefit Wayside Waifs. CIAO BOW WOW events will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. at three SPIN! locations on Sundays in September. On September 15 at the Olathe SPIN! (14230 W. 119th St.), on September 22 at the 4950 Main St. location in midtown Kansas City, and on September 29 at the Overland Park (6541 W. 119th St.) location.
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
Wayside Waifs is a charitable animal shelter that provides temporary shelter for homeless companion animals, with a goal of placing adoptable companion animals in responsible homes. Reservations are required. Please visit www. spinpizza.com/local-stuff to make a reservation. For questions, please call the SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza location where you and your dog would like to chow down together: Overland Park - 913-451-SPIN, Olathe - 913-764-SPIN, or Midtown Kansas City - 816-561SPIN. www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
COMBINING WESTERN MEDICINE WITH A HOLISTIC VIEW
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John E. Rowe, DVM, CVA
8343 Wornall Rd, KC, MO • aidanimalhospital.com 11
Couches and and
Beds
by Mike Deathe
Many people know that I recommend hand feeding so that you can train your dog via resource control. If you control all the good things in your dog’s life well, you are the leader. This way we can learn to become a leader without resorting to being a bad guy in the process! Many of you have complained: said it would take too long, be too much work, but end up calling me or emailing me and telling me that you cannot believe how well the hand feeding technique actually worked. Usually the next question is, “Are there other ways to work on resource control?” Well, sure there are, and today we are going to talk about two great ways to accomplish this: Beds and Furniture.
A Resource?
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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www.petsmart.com
To be a resource the dog simply has to enjoy the object or item. Trust me, next to food, beds and furniture come in a close second and third on Fido’s list of all-time favorite things. Resource Control is simple, it means that we the humans control the item or object. So, those of you who do not allow your dog on furniture or beds are using resource control. So how do you control this resource? It is simple. You require permission and manners before Fido is allowed to use the resource. I know many trainers say that dogs should never be allowed on furniture or beds. I don’t agree (there are some
cases in which I will remove this privilege but they are few and far between and not the norm). I figure that if my dog understands that I own and control the couch and/or bed then control is not an issue and words like alpha and dominant are not an issue I have to worry about.
Sit, Say Please
The basic idea is that of a “Sit, Say Please” technique where the dog must patiently give the behavior of a sit as a way of asking permission to get up. Then, and only then, will the human allow or give permission to the dog to join them on the coach or bed with them. The same holds true if you decide the pooch is not allowed up at that particular point in time. Either way, it is up to you,
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not the dog, when and if they are allowed to join you on the bed or couch. Now don’t expect this to be an overnight training session. This is something that will take a consistent routine to achieve, but the time you invest here will come back with dividends in a dog that has manners and impulse control.
Asking Permission First
What do you do if the dog just jumps up and “shares” the couch with you without asking permission? Well, I can tell what not to do! Don’t make a huge deal about it. Don’t draw attention to the mistake, rather focus on the solution. Quietly, and calmly put the dog on the floor. Then, ask for a sit. After a 5-10 second pause invite the
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dog back up on the couch. Do not yell, scream, or yank the dog. This only rewards an unwanted behavior.
Getting Off The Couch
Teach the dog the “off command.” Simply practice 10-15 minutes a day asking the dog up on the couch then luring the dog off the couch with a treat, saying the word “off.” As time goes on (within the week) start to only reward the dog with food for the correct response (getting off the couch) turning the lure into a reward. (Paychecks come after the work is done, not before). Eventually, you will fade the reward to the point it is not even necessary. A simple word of caution. If you allow your dog permission to get up on beds, couches, and other furniture (even with your permission), you should realize that the permission idea will only happen when you are around or using the resource. When you are not around, you must realize that the dog is probably going to be on the couch or the bed. So, before making this decision to use resource control, make sure you and everyone else in the family is on board with Fido being on the furniture!
Good Manners
Won’t it be nice to have a dog who says please before getting up on the couch or bed?
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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
Save Our Animals, Save Our Children There is a disturbing trend sweeping our nation (including our community), that of rampant animal abuse. There are numerous documented cases correlating animal abuse with human violence and other crimes. As a society, we need to take serious and dedicated steps to turn this trend around. It seems we hear of these cases on a weekly basis – everything from hoarding and neglect (animals left to starve and living with no protection in filth and feces), to severe cases of abuse, mutilation, and death. Recent cases in the Kansas City area include the young German Shepherd thrown from a bridge, the Shih Tzu found beaten or shot and thrown in a dumpster, two malnourished pit bull carcasses found in a dumpster (April 2011), the list could go on. Our neighbors in St. Louis dealt with a current case where a woman burned her dog, and in Sikeston, Missouri, MODOT workers have found 6 dogs mutilated and left in ditches along the highway. This outrageous and frightening behavior seems to be on the rise. A very successful program was implemented in Chicago, Illinois, with an integrated approach across multiple organizations (both government and civilian). Terry Hillard from the Chicago Police Department headquarters feels that, “breaking animal abuse is essential to breaking the cycle of violence.” He went on to say, “Sometimes you need to change your tactics, change your strategy, change your mind-set and your culture.” Animal abuse has been considered the “tip of the iceberg” for several crimes such as gang activity www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
by Pat Hennessy including dog fighting, drugs, theft, and other crimes involving weapons. Often domestic violence is a lead-in to animal cruelty. By targeting animal abuse — if that will reduce other violent crimes, why would we not want it to be a higher priority? Even those who don’t have pets or are not involved in animal welfare should still see the
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benefit in, and support the focus on, stopping animal cruelty. The organization PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) founded in 1967 to reduce domestic animal overpopulation, promote education on animal welfare, and support wildlife rehabilitation (not to be confused with the animal rights group PETA), provides insightful information about the animal abuse/human violence connection. PAWS cited the following statistics: • Until the past 20 years, the connection between violence against animals and violence against humans went unrecognized. Now a growing research study has shown that people who abuse animals rarely stop there. • Increasingly, child protection and social service agencies, mental health professionals, and educators recognize that animal abuse is aggressive and antisocial behavior. It is also a reliable predictor of violence against people after the abuser grows up. • Children learn about abuse by being its victim. They often fail to develop empathy, and without this key quality they cannot recognize their victims’ pain. When they begin to “act out” their abuse trauma, children first target animals. As adults, they find new victims among the most vulnerable — children, partners, and the elderly. PAWS also cited the following statistics: • The FBI sees animal cruelty as a predictor of violence
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against people and considers past animal abuse when profiling serial killers. • National and state studies have established that from 54 to 71% of women seeking shelter from abuse reported that their partners had threatened, injured or killed one or more family pets. • In assessing youth at risk of becoming violent, the U.S. Department of Justice stresses a history of animal abuse. • More than 80% of family members being treated for child abuse also had abused animals. In two-thirds of these cases, an abusive parent had killed or injured a pet. In one-third of the cases, a child victim continued the cycle of violence by abusing a pet. This sobering issue needs to be addressed through an integrated approach: • Enforcing animal cruelty laws by educating and empowering law enforcement (police and animal control officers), prosecutors, judges, and enlisting citizen involvement (from reporting incidents to appearing in court to support the documentation and gain convictions). • Implementing community education in the most affected municipalities by offering activities and programs for children to promote healthy humane attitudes toward animals: • Th e AniCare Model, created in 1999, is the first professionally developed psychological intervention program for animal abusers over age 17 (and a sister program for those under 17). For more information on these programs visit www.animalsandsociety.org or the AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse. •A nthropologist Margaret Mead made the profound correlation, “One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it.” Implementing school programs or afterschool programs is one cost efficient way of offering improvement. R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog) is a great program where children read to therapy dogs to improve literacy, but it also allows them to have a positive association with animals. • Promoting education throughout the general population – even discussing it amongst ourselves as a grass roots movement, as well as contacting our state and local representatives in support of legislation and funding for these programs. Animal cruelty is a daunting issue. It is blight on our society and it is poisoning our communities as
the problem expands. We have to be the voice for these innocent victims (the animals being abused), and be the force of change to ensure that child victims get the help they need to end the cycle of violence and make the world a better place. You can make a difference, by talking to friends and family and encouraging them to reach out to their local government officials asking for more active law enforcement on animal crimes. You can support organizations that help defend animals (these organizations offer programs, education, donations toward prosecuting animal crimes,
www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
etc.). There are several to choose from (The Lantham Foundation, Animals and Society, Animal Legal Defense Fund, American Humane Association — to name a few), so finding one that you can support should not be difficult. We all want to reduce crime and pursuing animal abusers is a step closer to that goal. All 50 states have animal cruelty laws; they just need to get the support and funding to be enforced. In the words of philosopher Immanuel Kant, “If man is not to stifle his human feelings, he must practice kindness towards animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” We must link our hearts together to protect those without a voice.
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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Friends of
Parkville Animal Shelter This month we would like our readers to meet a highly motivated and active organization that saves lives and has a positive impact on the entire Northland and surrounding areas.
History
FOPAS was organized in 1999, and was both incorporated as a Missouri Nonprofit Corporation and granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service in 2000. Until October 2006 there was no permanent shelter. Instead FOPAS relied on volunteer foster homes,
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boarding facilities and 4 outside kennels provided by the City of Parkville for dogs and volunteer foster homes and a shed, also provided by the City of Parkville, for cats.. From the first year’s success of 35 adoptions, to 2012’s more than 400 adoptions, FOPAS has retained its focus of caring for and finding homes for abandoned animals. FOPAS provides food, shelter, foster homes when possible, and veterinarian services to each pet coming within our care. When adopted, all pets are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on all vaccinations, microchipped, and tested or treated for heart worm. In addition, once a pet comes under the care of FOPAS it is a FOPAS pet for life, and the adopting families must commit to return the pet to FOPAS rather than turn it out or place it in another shelter should they decide to give it up later. FOPAS also seeks to find opportunities to educate the community on the obligations of responsible pet ownership and neutering of pets. The number of homeless dogs and cats seems to grow daily, perhaps mirroring the growth of the Northland. The services we provide cannot be postponed or neglected because of a shortage of funds and these services, and the cost thereof, increase as the number of animals increases. Success for FOPAS is bringing a homeless, often suffering, perhaps injured or starving dog or cat from living on the street to being a permanent member of a loving family. For example, Hope, a Labrador mix dog, was picked up, starving and suffering from having been shot in the leg, with her 8 puppies. The volunteers of FOPAS nursed her and the puppies to health and placed them all in families. Or Lady Bug, who came to the
shelter when her owner had to move to a nursing home. FOPAS is a no-kill shelter, viewing all dogs and cats as equally valuable members of our society.
Mission and Vision
FOPAS’s primary mission is to humanely house, care for, provide medical treatment for, and find permanent homes for the abandoned and stray dogs and cats from Platte, Clay and, to some extent, surrounding counties which have come under our care. The work of the organization is carried out almost exclusively by dedicated volunteers and is financed through donations and fund raising events. FOPAS believes that our entire community is benefited by the compassion and humanity shown in caring for animals which have been discarded. The animals cannot speak for themselves, so hopefully FOPAS speaks and acts for them.
About FOPAS Now
Currently located at 1356 N. Highway 9, Parkville, Missouri, FOPAS continues to explore options to construct a facility more suited to meet the needs of
www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
the animals in our care. The capital campaign has been slowed by situations beyond our control on several sites upon which we hoped to build, but our funds earmarked for that purpose continue to be available when needed. As we work toward that goal, we continue to focus on our primary responsibility—the daily care of the animals that depend upon us. We’re there at least twice a day, 365 days a year, just like the Post Office, neither rain nor snow stops us from meeting our responsibilities!
How to adopt/foster
1. Fill out the Electronic Pre-Adoption form found in the ADOPT section at www.parkvilleshelter.com OR download the pre-adoption application. Please return completed forms to FOPAS by fax: 816-5870929, or email friendsofparkville@hotmail.com or regular mail to: P.O. Box 29121 Parkville, MO 64152. 2. You can view adoptable pets by clicking on the ‘See Our Adoptable Dogs’ or ‘See our Adoptable Cats’ sections under the Adopt tab in this website. Or by going to www.petfinder.com and do a search using 64152 as the Zip Code.
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3. M ake an appointment to visit the shelter ato meet your new family member. Please call 816587-0918, then press 1 dogs, or 3 for cats. Please leave a message, so we may return your call to schedule a visit. 4. O nce all the adoption requirements have been met, including possible home visits (required for bully breeds), you will be on your way to taking your new friend home. The adoption fee for dogs is $125. For cats, it is normally $100 for the first cat and 50% off the second. Senior cats (8 years or older) adopted to a senior citizen (60 years or older) are half price. All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, heartworm tested, and up to date on prevention prior to adoption.
Mobile Adoptions
ome see us at the following C locations. (Please note, not all dogs
are taken to mobile adoptions) • Every Saturday at the Petco located at 600 NE Vivion Road (off Vivion Road and North Oak Twfy) in Kansas City from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. • Cat Adoptions at the shelter on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM • Not ready to adopt. We love foster families! • Can you help a friend in need? The FOPAS foster program plays an important role in our adoption success, providing socialization, training and an understanding of each animal’s needs to help us find a good match with potential families. Food and medical needs are covered by FOPAS, but we do ask that you are able to transport the cat or dog to Saturday adoptions. Of course, foster families also help us rescue more animals! With limited shelter space available, opening your home and
Events
•P aws in the Park – Saturday 9/14/13 from 9-noon at English Landing Park. •A nnual Reunion – Sunday, October 6th – Noon to 3:00 at English Landing Park •H oliday Mart – Nov 8-9 at First United Methodist Church, NKC, MO. Friday Nov 8 – 5-9 pm; Saturday Nov 9 – 9-4 pm. heart to a stray truly saves lives by allowing us to welcome more animals in need. YOU can help ensure our continuing success. • Sponsor a Pet • S ometimes it’s just not possible to adopt a pet, but you still want to help the many dogs and cats waiting for a forever home at the shelter. FOPAS’s dogs and cats need your help, and you can help one or more of them today! •C lick the online link on the webpage download the sponsorship form and send to FOPAS to begin your sponsorship! The dogs, cats and volunteers all THANK YOU!
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
Flea Infestation Getting Heavier In The Fall
No Off-Season For Fleas and Ticks Anymore by Dennis McLaughlin Fleas and ticks have a knack for survival. Paleontologists have dug up fossil evidence showing fleas and ticks go back to the Triassic Era 200 million years ago. Recent history notes they’ve been bugging dogs and cats for at least 10,000 years. Now modern technology is extending the life cycle and habitat of these hardy anthropod and insect species. Jet aircraft, automobiles, seamless highway routes and pet-friendly hotels allow people to travel with their pets long distances, bringing these parasite stowaways undetected to new destinations. Fleas and ticks continue to hone their survival instincts with the help of HVAC systems, humidifiers and other advanced climate control devices that let homeowners unsuspectingly create conditions ideal for fleas and ticks to breed and feed. Eco-friendly building materials and architectural designs also help replicate natural surroundings and blur seasonal distinctions between various regions of the country. “Less than 20 years ago ticks were mostly relegated to tick pockets around the U.S., particularly in the Northeast,” explains John Payne, chairman of the board of the American Humane Association and past president/CEO of the Banfield Pet Hospital system “and the situation was not as bad as it is today; fleas were the big problem.” But in the last two decades ticks have migrated to every part of the country. Essentially, there is no ‘non-flea season’ anymore, says Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, Ph.D, and the idea that flea and tick infestations lighten up in the fall and winter is a myth. “Late summer and fall are seeing some of the heaviest infestations,’ he notes. A veterinarian and professor of parasitology at Kansas State University, Dr. Dryden warns that pet owners should not stop www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
administering flea and tick control products once Labor Day has been observed. “Flea infestations are no longer seasonal events, and they can’t be taken lightly.” Since fleas feed on blood, they are vectors for infectious diseases and can cause lifethreatening anemia. Ingestion of an infected flea can transmit tapeworms. Some of the diseases carried by fleas are zoonotic: that is they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Fleas also deliver up to 300 bites per day that can result in flea allergy dermatitis characterized by severe itching and hair loss. Fleas are not just annoyances for animals and humans, they can be threats to public health.
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Fighting Back Fleas and ticks possess well-entrenched biological survival mechanisms. But that’s not to say pet owners can’t give fleas and ticks a survival challenge. Infestations can be prevented, controlled and sometimes eliminated with the right strategies and products. Development of advanced insecticide compounds and formulations help in the fight. “People tend to forget that up until the 1990s, flea and tick control was not effective, and some of the products were dangerous to pets, people and households,” Payne recalls. The solutions sometimes were not worth the risk. In 1996 when Payne was vice president of marketing of Bayer Healthcare’s North American Animal Health Division in Shawnee, Kansas, he spearheaded the launch of the Advantage spot-on product line with an aggressive direct-to-consumer marketing campaign to inform pet owners about flea and tick life cycle patterns, habitat and behavior. Bayer also reached out to veterinarians. “The strategy was to educate veterinarians about the products and the situation and have them inform pet owners as well,” says Payne, whose company used the veterinary
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
channel exclusively to sell the Advantage line. However, market opportunities (such as e-commerce and the emerging big box pet supply stores) influenced spot-on manufactures not only to promote their ethical flea and tick products directly to consumers but eventually make them available over-the-counter (OTC). This watershed moment in the companion animal health care marketing precipitated a deluge of new technically advanced flea and tick products introductions over the last 18 years. Some industry estimates forecast more than 50 percent of spot-on products will be purchased overthe-counter by 2015.
Learn More About Options
With a wider selection of effective flea and tick control products to choose from, pet owners now have an even bigger responsibility to learn as much as they can about them. Powerful new products containing different insecticides require a high level of consumer awareness. For example, spot-on, collars and medallions are labeled for specific weight ranges, and compliance to such specifications is critical. “The biggest mistake pet owners make when they purchase flea and tick products over the counter or via the Internet,” says Dr. Dryden, “is using them incorrectly.” The various spot-on products contain various powerful insecticides and growth inhibitors (IGRs). Label instructions provided by manufacturers have improved in the last 15 years, but Dr. Dryden maintains pet owners should talk with a veterinarian for guidance about which formulations should be used for their pet in response to particular infestation conditions and incidence locally. Then there are considerations of practicality and convenience. Pet owners have to determine which type of product works best for them, too. If they aren’t diligent enough to give their dog or cat the weekly dose of an oral product like Capstar, then pet owners might consider a flea and tick collar or a spot-on. The collars, however, take up to 24 hours before the insecticide kicks in, versus 30 minutes for oral doses. But orals are designed only for the quick kill of existing adult fleas. They don’t prevent or control flea populations like the
spot-on products with additional IGRs that interrupt the life cycle of fleas at every stage of growth. Sprays are obviously easy to use and can kill adult fleas quickly, but many of these products don’t have the IGR component. Pet owners are expected to spend $2 billion annually on flea and tick control over the next couple of years, and spot-ons remain the go-to product. Their efficacy and long lasting effectiveness — over 90 percent control for a month or more — justifiably account for their popularity. Consumers also appreciate the ease of application. Probably the most difficult aspect of using spot-ons is keeping track of the application dates so there is no lapse of protection if an owner loses track of time or skips a monthly dose completely. If that is the case, then relief is on the way. This fall another flea and tick control product will be available to protect dogs long into the winter. Durvet’s Spectra Shield™ Collar Attached Medallion is the latest alternative for dog owners looking for long-term protection and prevention with maximum effectiveness, not to mention ease of application. The medallion offers four months of control and is easy to apply without any mess. Simply clip ‘n go. This product just might be the contender that can go toe-to-toe with the world’s longest reigning pests.
Meet Durvet Established in 1970, Blue Springsbased Durvet Animal Health, Inc., was the first company in the OTC animal health care market to be involved in both the manufacturing and distribution segments of the industry. This business model has enabled Durvet to introduce each year 20 to 30 new high quality, high value products for livestock and companion animals. Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers Group, LLC, is the editor of Durvet Inc.’s ProfitBuilder magazine. He is a past publisher of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Economics magazines, and has held editorial and publishing positions at McGraw-Hill Publications, Chilton International and International Thomson (Thomson-Reuters). He has served on the editorial team for the Kansas Bioscience Authority’s 2010 Progress Report. www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
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Do You Have an Arthritic Kitty? by Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
As the weather turns cooler and autumn is upon us, some of us can, “feel it in our bones!” That is, some of us who are a bit more “mature” seem to feel a little stiffer and a little slower! Diagnosis: Arthritis Just as many people do, many older cats also suffer from arthritis. However, feline arthritis often goes undiagnosed due to difficulty in spotting our cats’ symptoms, as those signs can be extremely subtle. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage within a joint is either damaged or breaks down destroying the cushion that normally keeps the bones from rubbing together. When this happens, the bones rub together causing “arthritis.”
RISK FACTORS
• Middle aged or older cats (usually 7 yrs old and up) • Obesity (causes more pressure on joints) • Sustained prior injury to the joint in the past, becoming arthritic later in life • Congenital abnormality within joint(s) may cause arthritis
SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR
• Less active, sleeping more • Difficulty finding a comfortable position when resting or sleeping • Seems irritable and possibly painful when handled • Unkempt hair coat from a lack of grooming • Inappropriate urination/defecation due to difficulty accessing litter box
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
•D ecreased appetite (from pain) and subsequent loss in weight •L ameness or limping (difficult or impossible to notice sometimes due to cats’ tendencies to hide pain symptoms) The above symptoms may be very gradual, however, knowing your cat’s normal behavior and noting any changes, should give you a good idea as to whether your cat is in pain. If you are in doubt, it may be time for a thorough kitty checkup, where x-rays may help with a diagnosis.
TREATMENT
Once you’ve seen your veterinarian and a diagnosis of arthritis has been made, he or she will recommend a course of treatment. There are a number of treatment options that may keep your kitty comfortable and pain free. However, you may want to ask about one of the more advanced treatments, which is Low Level Laser Therapy or “LLLT.” The advantages with this type of therapy are many, the most impressive being that there are no known side effects with LLLT. This type of therapy has been used in human medicine for the past 25 years without side effects.
Patient (both human and feline) benefits are many, those being: • Relief of discomfort due to the antiinflammatory effect • Only the affected area (or joint) is treated, no drugs are used that may cause systemic side effects • Drug free therapy is ideal for older or otherwise compromised kitties • If used with “drug” therapy, no risk of drug interaction • Results are often observed following just two or three treatments
EASILY TREATED
So, arthritis may be inevitable in some cases, but it is easily treated! Don’t hesitate to take your older kitty in for a thorough checkup if he or she is moving a little slower these days. He or she could be in pain, and with all the options available, there’s no reason for them to suffer just because they’re “getting older.”
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.
look no further than The PawZone!
Pawzitively Passionate About Your Pet
www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
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German Shepherd’s Pie Bakes up into an incredibly tasty 10-inch pie. We haven’t found a dog yet who doesn’t love to gobble, gobble, gobble this tantalizing turkey pie.
Ingredients
1 cup cooked ground turkey 1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese 1 clove garlic, minced 3 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper 3 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper 1 cup skim milk 1/4 cup white flour 2 eggs
Directions
•P reheat oven to 375 degrees. • In a 10-inch pie pan, layer the ground turkey, cheese, garlic and peppers. • In a separate bowl, stir together milk, flour and eggs. • Pour over meat and cheese layers, but do not stir. • Bake for 30 minutes. When pie is cooled, cut into wedges and serve. Store in the refrigerator. Recipe Credit:
Three Dog Bakery Cookbook
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
Chip’s
NEXT ADVENTURE
SETTING GOALS by Heddie Leger
Recap of Episode 6, 2013 — The first time I saw those needles, I was FREAKED OUT! I was so scared I almost went potty right there. But, my MawMaw was so calm and trusting. Almost everything checked out great, except she had worms and needed medicine. The doctor said that was pretty normal for a dog living on the streets and was not concerned. What she was concerned about was a slight abnormal noise she heard when she listened to MawMaw’s heart. She drew some blood, ewwwww, more needles!!! And said she had to send the bloodwork to a laboratory. She was checking for heartworms. That had an awful sound to it. Round worms, hookworms, tapeworms, all those did not sound that scary, but Heartworms, now that sounded serious. But it would take a few days to find out. There was a problem, though as we were leaving the next day to go back home. How would we get the results? Would MawMaw have to stay there? We had to make some decisions soon. www.metropetmag.com | September 2013
Well, it is settled, everyone decided to keep her name MawMaw. The whole family fell in love with her and her name, and did not want to change anything about her. We had given the veterinary clinic our home address and phone number. The clinic would call us with the blood work results. The next day we were on our way. It was a done deal. The family decided to keep MawMaw and we were all reunited, but were we? As we learned more about that stormy day, MawMaw said there were two other siblings, one looked like me, and another one had brown spots rather than the black ones that I had. She said I was the nice calm pup, my brother was the ornery one and little sis was just cute and cuddly. She was all white. I had given up hope of ever finding any of my family, but here I was sitting right next to my own MawMaw, part of our family reunited. It was a great feeling and I could feel myself get all proud and bossy, like I was better than anyone else since I had set goals, worked hard, had faith and followed through with my dream. Just then MawMaw, gave me a little scowl and corrected me. She said, “it is just by the grace of God, good people and a bit of luck that we have been reunited. It is nothing short of a miracle. Of course, we have something to be very happy and proud about, but don’t you dare go getting an attitude like you are better than everyone else. We all have dreams and wishes. We all hope they will come true someday, and it does take hard work and dedication, but you had a lot of help too. Look at how nice Penelope, Allen, Robert and Stephanie have been to you. They went out of their way to help. And look at how nice the family dogs have been to you. By the looks of one of them, you could have been eaten alive! You have A LOT to be thankful for. We all have A LOT to be thankful for. Now let’s just be thankful and leave the attitude at the next corner.” At that point, Robert stopped driving. He let me get out and pretend to set my attitude down on the side of the street. I got back in the car and we were on our way.
A Big Surprise
I will tell you right now I was in for one big surprise. What I did not know is that Stephanie had been searching for my brother and she thought she 27
had found him. She had to have listened to MawMaw tell us about our MawMaw with us, so we were lucky, original family. Turns out there were as I was too young and would not very nice people who did care about have remembered my us, but got caught in a brother. MawMaw, she Humility — The state bad situation. They had would never forget one of being humble, not taken very good care of of her children. So off we us, but just could not proud or arrogant went on the road again, keep us safe during the to a destination that I did not know storm, in fact, hardly anyone was anything about. I could hear Allen safe. We sure did get lucky. and Penelope whispering in the back A Long Drive seat. As good as my hearing was, I We drove for what seemed like an could not hear or see what they were eternity. This time we did not camp looking at or talking about. I found out. We stayed in a really nice bed out later it was a photo of my brother. and breakfast that was pet friendly. We drove all day long. It was Stephanie had researched a long boring, and fun at the same time. I
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Do You Know the Risks?
time to plan on finding a place that would allow pets, but she would stay any place else. I found out that a bed and breakfast is a place where people welcome you into their home, you sleep in their rooms, use their “Humility leads to strength and not to weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.” — John J. McCloy food, water and furniture and they treat you just like family and provide everything, including entertainment.
Pull No More
The veterinary industry faces a more informed, more demanding client than ever before. Today’s practice cannot afford to assume that the pet owner will understand that side effects and interactions are “just going to happen.” Pet owners are willing to spend more than ever before and expect the same level of service and care that is given by human doctors and pharmacists. Veterinary Pharmacy Reference can help your practice proactively reduce your liability and improve your customer service. Details at www.vpronline.com 28
MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
L
eash RUN-Devue leashes hav e helped tho of dog own usands ers gain better contr ol over their pulling dogs. By being in control of your dog , you enjoy an im proved relationship and have more ti me for Pawsitive T raining! Sto p being frustrated a nd stressed. T ry a RUN-Devue leash. We h a ve THOUSA satisfied cu NDS of stomers — m oney back g Not sure it uarantee! will work fo r you? See th and after on e before line video a t www.run-d Order onlin evue.com. e at http://w ww.run-dev ue.com/
The One-Eyed Dog
The bed and breakfast was called the “One-Eyed Dog.” Stephanie had fallen in love with the name and we drove out of our way to get to it. Boy was it worth it. The “One-Eyed Dog” had everything your heart desires, including a huge play room for the dogs, and a special yard with a sand pit where we could dig and play to our hearts’ content. They had tennis balls, large things to jump on, a swimming pool for the dogs and another one for the humans, AND BONES! All kinds of bones to chew on to your hearts content. It was a dream come true. 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?
Humane Education Point: Go to the link below with an adult and discuss ways you can show humility. Discuss each of the points together. http:// www.allprodad.com/top10/ parenting/10-ways-to-teachyour-children-humility/
Story Discussion Tips:
• Why is humility a good thing? •W as MawMaw happy with Chip when he was not humble? What did she do? •W hat did Robert do to help Chip learn how to change his attitude? •W hat was the name of the bed and breakfast? •W hy do you think Chip liked the bed and breakfast?
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Chip’s Corner 30
MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
PAWZZLE
Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in the story beginning on page 27
ACROSS 2. MawMaw thought Chip should be more __________________. 5. Chip has what color spots? 7. What color is the flag? 8. Chip was a ________ pup. 10. What is the state bird? 12. In what state was the bed and breakfast located? 13. The family decided to_____ MawMaw.
15. Name of the place they stayed ____________ dog. 16. What color did MawMaw say Chip’s sister was? 18. The vet clinic took their address and phone ____________. 21. What is the state flower of Kentucky? 22. Worms that affect the heart of a dog. 23. Chip’s brother has what color spots?
DOWN 1. Chip’s original family was __________. 3. Word of the month 4. To find out if a pet has heartworms, a ______ must be performed. 6. MawMaw thought Chip needed to change his ________. 9. Place where the family stayed was a bed and ___________. 11. What freaked out Chip in the story. 14. What did Chip like best about the place they were staying? 17. What kinds of animals did they see in Kentucky? 19. The words on the flag are ________ we stand, divided we fall. 20. Chip’s MawMaw was calm and ___________.
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Spreading Awareness
with a Little Help from Tilley
by Juliette Bradley
Cheryl Miller and her husband, Jonathan, shared 13 years with their beloved Tilley, a springer spaniel. Jonathan and Tilley had a special bond. She followed him everywhere. That’s why Cheryl knew something was wrong when Tilley seemed dazed and confused when she couldn’t find Jonathan, and he was sitting just a few feet away. Cheryl took Tilley to the veterinarian for sight and hearing tests. Tilley had small cataracts, but the veterinarian said for a dog Tilley’s age, those cataracts should not be causing her to be disoriented and unable to locate someone in a room. After a complete exam, the veterinarian suggested that Tilley had cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), similar to Alzheimer’s disease in people. Disorientation is one of the main symptoms of CDS. A dog can appear lost in what should be a familiar area, get stuck in a corner of a room or behind furniture. The master’s face is no longer familiar and at the calling of their name, the dog may walk away. Other signs of CDS
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MetroPet Magazine | September 2013
include decreased interaction with owner and family, increased sleep during the day and forgetting housetraining manners. According to Psychology Today, physical evidence, found only in autopsies, reveals the same sort of degenerative brain lesions in dogs and humans. With age, dogs, like humans, naturally accumulate deposits of beta amyloids. This starch-like protein builds up, becomes waxy, and forms plaque. As plaque builds up, it clogs the brain and inhibits the transmission of signals from the brain. In both Alzheimer’s and CDS, the level of this accumulated plaque predicts the severity of the mental or cognitive impairment. Unfortunately, just like Alzheimer’s disease in humans, there is no cure for CDS. It is a progressive degenerative disease and it gets worse over time. However, there is medical treatment available. L-Deprenyl (Anipryl) may help improve CDS. Studies have shown some 2823 Main Street in Union Hill dogs have improved while taking Kansas City, MO • 816-753-4188 L-Deprenyl, but there can be side www.katescanineresort.com effects. Taking Reservations This was not Cheryl’s first experience with cognitive for Boarding & Daycare!
impairment. She was a caregiver for her grandmother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Although one experience was human and one was canine, there were eerie comparisons. “The disease parallels were amazing,” Cheryl says. “People thought I was a little crazy for seeing it that way, but it was very clear.” After Cheryl’s grandmother passed away, she wanted to help spread awareness about Alzheimer’s and the Alzheimer’s Association. First, she participated in Walk to End Alzheimer’s (see sidebar), the signature fundraiser of the Alzheimer’s Association. Most recently she became a member of the committee to help spread Alzheimer’s awareness in the Kansas City metro area for September, World Alzheimer’s Month. Cheryl states, “I don’t think people are aware of how quickly Alzheimer’s is becoming an epidemic. Awareness is getting better, but until it happens in your family, it is difficult to acknowledge how devastating this disease is.” Cheryl has helped set up several community activities across the Kansas City metro to help spread Alzheimer’s awareness. Those activities include providing participating dog groomers, veterinarians and dog kennels with purple (the color of Alzheimer’s awareness) doggie bandannas that feature the World Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association —Heart of America Chapter serves 66 counties in Kansas and Missouri and provides supportive programs and services to people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. For more information, please call 913.831.3888 or visit to alz.org/kansascity. Month logo. When their four-legged clients head for home donning a stylish bandanna, their owners will be sure to notice! In addition to the doggie bandannas, the Alzheimer’s Association — Heart of America Chapter is launching minicampaigns to help spread awareness during World Alzheimer’s Month. Visit alz.org/kansascity for details. Although Cheryl and Jonathan miss Tilley terribly, she will always be in their hearts. We wish them the best as they search for a new four-legged companion. Juliette B. Bradley is the Director of Communications, Alzheimer’s Association — Heart of America Chapter.
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