nancy@snazzyjazzypet.com - 603.498.3237
design Mrs. and Mr. Design
info@mrsandmrpublishing.com
publisher ’s note
publisher Nancy Dewar
At a lack of what to write about, I reached out to Walter Eugene Davis, Director of Security & Pet Relations at Senior Helpers of SE New Hampshire & the author of the Walter’s Words of Wisdom column. He suggested…that I suggest…Fall road trips, which he LOVES, as most dogs do. “I like to ride in the back seat with the window down. My nose enjoys the dazzling scents and my ears flap in the breeze!”
director of sales & marketing BlakeLee Greene bntgreene@comcast.net - 978.317.5846
thanks to our contributors… Gayle Davis - JoAnn Actis-Grande - Dawn Price cover photo By Jim Doherty
Photo of Layla (black Lab) & London (yellow Lab)
Cheers, Chow + With Love…
words of wisdom Senior Helpers
animal lover's profile 10. match.dog 6.
Francie’s Boutique
Interested in advertising with us? Have a good story idea or a suggestion on a great animal or person to feature? Please email Nancy Dewar/Publisher nancy@snazzyjazzypet.com (603) 498-3237
We’d love to have you start following us on Instagram! (Instagram.com/seacoastbarkmagazine)
Nancy
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Seacoast Bark is distributed at stores & businesses in: Portsmouth, Exeter, Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Greenland, Stratham, Seabrook, Kittery, Newburyport, Rowley, Ipswich & everywhere in between!
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food for thought 14. patriotic pups 16. fun things to bark about 18. local tails 12.
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20.
work like a dog
22.
let's pawty
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flips + flops
Charlee the Comfort Dog
Ristorante Massimo
contents
Walter at Work (responsibly)
Published by Bark Media Group LLC six times a year. Hampton, NH Copyright © 2020 Bark Media Group LLC
Asked if there’s anything else to add, he quickly barked, “If someone is looking for a great place to work, they should join our team! We’re looking for companion & personal caregivers and LNA’s. If you’re a compassionate person, our premier home care agency is hiring. And you’d get to work with me!” Thank you, Walter, for more good advice…and happy Fall to all! (Senior Helpers / (603) 583-4580)
words of wisdom
Walter’s Words of Wisdom By Walter Eugene Davis Senior Helpers – Stratham, NH
A Season of Change While I was walking on the rail trail with my Dad, the leaves were gently falling making a colorful carpet on the path. As they floated down in the crisp morning fall breeze, I knew that the lazy days of summer are now in the rear-view mirror. Fall in New England is a spectacular time. My nose gets busy with all of the new smells. I enjoy sitting in my back yard watching my forest friends scurry as they prepare for the days to become colder and shorter. You humans tend to have the same rituals. Putting the outdoor furniture away, closing the pool, getting the shovels and snow blowers ready and turning on the heat. Here are a few tips to make sure that you are ready for change that the coming months will bring.
Walter
Weather – With October comes warm days, cool nights and eventually frost on the pumpkins. This is the time of the year when you have a sweater or jacket on in the morning and by noon you are shedding it. Take all the opportunity that you can to get out to enjoy the sunshine and soak up that Vitamin D. Get out for a walk or take a ride, enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and with luck you will have the window down in the car. (I like to ride in the back seat with the window down. My nose enjoys the dazzling scents and my ears flap in the breeze.) Food – Oh my goodness…the scent of warm pumpkin bread, applesauce, roasted butternut squash soup – they are truly fall favorites. Not only do they smell fabulous, but they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, B, C and E can be found in them all, along with potassium and beta-carotene in pumpkin and potassium and magnesium in butternut squash. A great way to treat yourself, stomach and body at the same time. Exercise – Feel like doing something different? How about a corn maze? Not only is it exercise but it works your mind. Enjoy being outside; experience the twists and turns of corn stalks that rise some 12 feet above. My favorite spots are Coppal House Farm in Lee, NH, the Scamman Farm in Stratham (just across the street from my office at Senior Helpers) and Zach’s Corn Maze in York, ME. (I have even had the opportunity to do the maze at the Scamman Farm during Doggie Days – oh it was so fun, but I had to have a nap after!) The Clocks – On November 1st (the first Sunday of the month) it will be time to FALL BACK. The change to Daylight Savings Time allows us to have more light at the beginning of our day. It is also a great time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors, remote controls and light bulbs in the lights that luminate walkways and outside entries. A few facts about Daylight Savings Time you may not know: It first became law in Germany in 1916 in an effort to conserve coal, renewed popularity in the U.S. in the 1970’s during the energy crisis, and it goes into effect at 2:00 a.m. versus midnight based on the idea that most workers with early shifts are still sleeping and most restaurants and bars are closed (who thought of that one?). One drawback is the loss of one hour of sleep, which is attributed to the increased risk of heart attack, stroke and seasonal depression. On November 11th as a nation we honor and celebrate our Veterans. At Senior Helpers we are proud to serve many Veterans from all branches of our armed forces. Many proudly served during WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and during Operation Desert Shield. We salute you. We thank you for service and sacrifice. Words are not enough to express the gratitude we hold in our hearts for our veterans. THANK YOU FOR SERVING AND PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM. Remember to wear your MASK and wash your hands. Be safe my friends…Walter Eugene
A big thanks to Dwight & Gayle Davis,
owners of Senior Helpers, for encouraging Walter Eugene to write this new column! Walter is a 6-year-old Lab mix rescue. They all found each other via New England Lab Rescue. Walter came from Hartsville, SC, and ended up hitting the jackpot with his new family! He participates in the family business providing love and comfort to many, with his official title being “Director of Security & Pet Relations.” Walter is also an active member of the welcoming committee! Senior Helpers provides in-home, non-medical care offering tailored services ranging from companion care for those who need daily assistance to in-depth specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s and other chronic diseases. They’ve worked with clients ranging in age from 25 to 104. Senior Helpers was voted “Best of the Seacoast” in home health care and received the “Business Excellence Award” and “Top 200 Most Influential Business Leaders in New Hampshire” from the New Hampshire Business Review. Stratham, NH – (603) 583-4580 www.seniorhelpers.com/nh/se-new-hampshire
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Meet Ginger…
one of our loyal sponsors!
Hi Ginger, so nice to meet you. Woof, woof, woof! Nice to meet you too! A bit about you? I’m a 3 ½ -year-old Golden with truly a golden life! My Dad’s, Jim Stott & Jonathon King, are the best in the world. Favorite past times? Well, since it’s fall I’d have to say chasing squirrels! They are everywhere right now. Boating is my summer thing & when the snow comes we love to snowshoe at Fort Foster in Kittery Point. Favorite song? JAMMIN by Bob Marley is one of my all-time favs!
Are you planning to vote? Woof, woof. Of course! I’m for the guy that wants to unite our country, as we’re all really one wonderful big pack! Anything else you’d like to add? I simply urge all of you humans to VOTE! I’m not that PAW-litical but do think our DOG-mocracy depends on it. Thank you, Ginger…a pleasure to meet you. Woof, woof. Thank you! I’m always happy to bark about things I love & find important.
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animal lover's profile
The Healing Power of Puppies By Nancy Dewar
When a precious little Aussiedoodle puppy (Australian Shepherd & Standard Poodle mix) came into the Verbeck family’s life 2 ½ years ago, none of them ever imagined the love, joy and healing that this little bundle of fluff would bring to so many. Emily Verbeck is tall, vivacious and beautiful with a bright infectious smile and displays a genuine warmth the minute one meets her. She is the mother of three handsome young sons; Nash, 9; Colt, 7 and Clark, 5. She is also an enormous dog lover and had promised to get her oldest son a puppy for his birthday. One day, while scrolling Facebook, a litter of therapy puppies from a reputable Colorado breeder caught her eye. “I decided to call the breeder and explain our situation,” she told me. Emily had found this litter while passing endless time at Dana Farber Cancer Institute where her middle son Colt was being treated for lymphoblastic lymphoma. That was the difficult situation, and Emily thought a therapy dog might be good for the whole family. Five-year-old Colt was in pre-school at Exeter Day School when they discovered a lump on his neck. “The next thing we know, we are at Children’s Hospital where Colt spent a month of testing and initial treatments.” Their lives were turned upside down, and it was the beginning of a long journey of fear, hope, faith and juggling of lives for Colt, Emily, his Dad Chad, siblings, grandparents and friends.
Colt & Lenni
When Emily spoke to the breeder, the wonderful woman said, “I know one of these dogs will be perfect for you.” Via Facetime, they met the first pup Juno, and thought she was precious. The breeder then said, “But you really should meet Lenni too.” A little black ball of fur appeared on the screen, and Emily immediately knew “She is it!” A week later they met their puppy at Logan, never imagining the heartwarming journey their little Lenni would take them on. And never imagining the number of lives that would be touched because of this precious pup.
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animal lover's profile
Clark
Nash
Colt
“It was a very emotional time, his body was wrecked; and Lenni just knew when to snuggle with him and give him love and comfort,” Emily said. “Sometimes we couldn’t give Colt what he needed, but Lenni could.” Though technically Lenni is Nash’s pup, she is really a family dog who not only has completely bonded with Emily (as most dogs do with the Moms of the family), but she also immediately connected with Colt and seemed to sense his needs as he bravely faced 26 months of weekly chemotherapy. “It was a very emotional time, his body was wrecked; and Lenni just knew when to snuggle with him and give him love and comfort,” Emily said. “Sometimes we couldn’t give Colt what he needed, but Lenni could.” Colt is in remission, and they now visit Dana Farber only once a month for check-ups. But the Verbeck’s life hasn’t slowed down much as Emily and the boys decided they wanted to do something to raise funds for Dana Farber and help others fighting cancer. The path she chose isn’t necessarily easy; it’s actually been a lot of work! But it’s one that is filled with love, joy and experiences beyond imagination. What was Emily’s idea? PUPPIES!!! She decided to breed Lenni and donate the proceeds from each puppy to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
I asked Emily how she ever came up with this idea! “I love dogs. I love puppies. I love the joy Lenni brought to our family and I wanted others to have that too. I wanted my kids to have this experience.” Selecting Lenni’s mate was easy, as a few years ago
Emily had done research to figure out why she was so crazy about her special dog. “I knew right away that Lenni was my dream dog but wasn’t sure what part…the Poodle in her or the Aussie!” While exploring both breeds, she came across Ashleigh LaPointe, a breeder of Australian Shepherds in Barrington, New Hampshire (HT Aussies). “I went to Ashleigh’s about two years ago to meet her dogs with Lenni. Her dogs were great but seemed more active. Ashleigh fell in love with Lenni and decided to get a poodle to incorporate into her breeding program. That poodle, Kota, became Lenni’s mate two years later,” Emily explained. Though an experienced Mom, the world of puppyhood was a new experience for Emily. Lenni went into labor at 10:30 on a Friday night. Emily’s darling neighbor Lisa Massicotte came over to help with a bottle of Moet to celebrate! I happened to meet Lisa, who told me, “We never got to open the champagne. The night was just too busy!” It turned out to be a very long night too. They knew from an ultrasound
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that there were five puppies. Four came out over the course of hours but the fifth seemed to be stuck. At 5:00 a.m. Emily took Lenni, along with the four puppies in a laundry basket, to the emergency vet in Portsmouth while Lisa stayed at home with Emily’s boys. Being in the midst of COVID, Emily had to stay in the car while the vets examined Lenni. They phoned her with two options, as the puppy was stuck in the birth canal.
animal lover's profile
Emily & Lenni
Newborns
Neighborhood Kids
This wonderful puppy project will end up donating over $5,000 to Dana Farber. Though Emily laments the fact that she didn’t keep one of the precious pups, there may be a second chance as they hope to breed their other family dog, a Standard Poodle named Jazzy, this fall; again for the same great cause. They could perform a C-section or give her a shot to hopefully induce the final stage of labor. “When I learned that a C-section would cost $3,600, I just cried. That would wipe out almost all of the money I was trying to raise for Dana Farber.” Emily opted for the shot and thankfully puppy No. 5 was born while they were still in the vet’s parking lot. The exhausted duo of Mothers arrived back home at 8:00 AM, with their new grand adventure having just begun. The three black puppies are boys and looked so much alike that Emily placed a dab of different color nail polish on their heads to tell them apart. The two gals are varying shades of brown and all have adorable
AniMAILcares.com
names: Push-Pop-Peggy, Puppy, Milky Way, Expresso and Benny! The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” is certainly true. The puppies became the joy of the neighborhood and a community project, as well. After opening their eyes at three-weeks, the adorable little pack began to spend most of their days outside in their puppy pen… complete with an umbrella, toys and a Tupperware pool. “I take them out around 6:00 in the morning and bring them back in around 8:00. If I go out for a few hours, neighbors come by to check on them. When they were babies, it was easy because they didn’t do anything. But at the four-week mark it was like…oh boy…nothing but play time!”
The puppies were born on July 11th. I was lucky enough to meet them on September 1st, just a few days before they all head to their new homes. I knew it must be bittersweet to let them go. However, Emily said with love and pride, “There are many silver linings…for both the pups and their new parents.” One is going to Dennis, Colt’s long-time best friend who has been there for him through thick and thin. Push-Pop-Peggy is also going to a friend of Colt’s, a young girl who is also in remission; the two actually went through treatment together. Two puppies are going to college roommates of Emily’s; one who has battled breast cancer. And the fifth, Expresso, is off to the home of a neighbor’s daughter. This wonderful puppy project will end up donating over $5,000 to Dana Farber. Though Emily laments the fact that she didn’t keep one of the precious pups, there may be a second chance as they hope to breed their
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other family dog, a Standard Poodle named Jazzy, this fall; again for the same great cause. And again, I’m sure that puppy project No. 2 will be another neighborhood effort that transcends generations. While I was there, a family with two young boys stopped to visit, and Emily shared a photo of her 93-year-old Grandmother holding one of the pups. These puppies have impacted people ages three to 93! Her friend Lisa (who helped with the delivery) said to me, “In spite of COVID, 2020 became the best summer ever…the PUPPY SUMMER!”
Kudos to the entire Verbeck family, Lenni and all their wonderful neighbors and friends who made 2020 the best summer ever! You can see some precious puppy photos on their Facebook page, and please be sure to keep Dana Farber Cancer Institute in mind when considering donating to important causes. Also, check out another fundraising website and company that Emily created to raise funds to fight childhood cancer: aniMAILcares.com where one can order a witty animal Pun-Package to send to friends. Each gift box contains a note card and a wool-felted animal. As I left, Emily said, “Whenever I can, I give back to the organization that saved my son’s life.” She sure does. What an understatement!
P.S. Prior to breeding Lenni with Kota, Emily and Ashleigh had all the DNA, veterinary and health testing done that’s required to ensure the greatest health of the puppies; a protocol she’ll follow with future litters. (Facebook.com/fourgoodcanines/)
match.dog
"How I Met My True Love" love stories about real dogs + their humans By Leslie Voss – Owner of Francie’s Boutique, Topsfield, Massachusetts
Beau came into our lives through our daughter Marlena. She had entered a recovery program near Asheville, North Carolina in August 2017. However, because she was 18, she could decide to leave the program and after one week she did. She wanted to do recovery her own way. It was very difficult for my husband and me to let go and let her figure it out on her own. In March 2018 I bought Francie’s Boutique in Topsfield, an upscale women’s clothing consignment store with gifts and home décor featuring local crafters and artisans. The store kept me occupied and not worrying about Marlena 24/7. I realized it was also a way to model resilience, teaching my daughter that you have to find a healthy way to carry on when things fall apart. Our contact was sporadic over the next 1 ½ years.
Leslie & Beau
Beau was four months old. He was small enough to fit on my lap, slept a lot and loved to cuddle. Needless to say, we fell in love at first sight! Ironically, we had just adopted a cat the month before Beau arrived. We named him Oscar because he is a tuxedo cat. Now we had two black and white pets, and it quickly became a full house! Marlena set about rebuilding her life beginning with an outpatient recovery program, and I brought
Beau at Work
In March of 2019, Marlena made a desperate call for us to pick her up and told us that she had to bring Beau too! He came from a trailer full of pit bull pups and was given to her at 2 months old. She said she realized how much we loved her like she loved Beau. She wanted a better life for him, and she was ready to come home and do recovery the right way. My husband flew down to pick them up and drove the three of them home together. In this way, I really consider Beau our rescue dog!
Marlena & Beau
Beau to Francie’s Boutique with me. We set up a pen for him and he quickly became a popular draw for the Boutique! I had grown up with a dog, but had not realized what a dog culture had developed until Beau entered our lives! Now I also carry dog themed gifts!
inspired her to think big and sharpen her business skills. Additionally, she was able to build a closer bond with her father as her finance mentor.
Marlena enrolled in Gordon College fall 2019. Close enough to home in Topsfield so that she could see Beau and us on weekends when she could, or we could visit her there too! She was also able to incorporate Beau into her course work. She took an entrepreneurial course called Social Venture Challenge and devised a business plan for “Beau’s Indoor Dog Park.” The idea was a hit and she made it to the final top 5 from a pool of 15 in this Shark Tank like competition. More than that though, Beau had
Beau has been my constant companion at the Boutique as I rebuild my business in the time of COVID. He’s had to get used to people wearing masks and has adapted pretty well. He’s happier harnessed next to me on a cushion by the check out counter than in his crate. When he is not in the Boutique, customers ask where he is! Beau is lucky to have many fans, including those that bring him treats and even those who offer to take him for a walk! Now the store’s unofficial name is Francie’s BEAU-tique!
Crate, potty training and puppy classes for Beau was also a helpful and positive focal point for us as a family as Marlena rebuilt her life as a young adult. Beau gave us all unconditional love and lots of laughs as we watched him explore his new world with us!
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Then COVID hit! We all hunkered down at home, but we looked forward to our daily walks in the woods with Beau. Despite all the upheaval this pandemic has caused, those walks made us more closely examine the change of the seasons and our connection with nature while experiencing the joy of watching Beau’s exuberant interaction with it too, especially off leash.
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(cat) Food for Thought
Diet Choices for Cats By Dawn Price, Registered Dietitian
Owner of The Natural Dog, Newburyport, MA and Hamilton, MA
food for thought
The natural diet of the feline consists of prey animals that are high in protein, have moderate amounts of fat and little if any carbohydrate. The typical prey animal for a housecat, usually a rat or mouse, consists of approximately 50 to 60% protein, 15 to 30% fat on a dry matter basis and 70 to 80% water.
Let’s compare the feline’s natural diet and nutrient needs to diet choices available today.
Protein:
Cats are obligate carnivores and they must consume primarily animal-based proteins coming from meat and organs in order to meet their nutritional needs. Felines lack the ability to digest plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins. Obligate carnivores are designed to eat meat/organs not grains/ vegetables. Not all protein is created equal. Plant proteins do not contain the full amino acid profile required by an obligate carnivore.
Some dry foods may contain high levels of plant protein compared to meat protein. Canned foods and raw diets which contain more meat and organs is a better choice than dry foods when selecting a diet optimal in protein. A note about kidney disease and protein: Research demonstrates that diets high in protein have no detrimental effect on the kidneys, and animals with mildly decreased kidney function do not benefit from reduced protein diets. There is evidence that restricting protein may actually slow down the filtering action of the kidneys.
Carbohydrates:
Nutritionally speaking, cats have no dietary need for carbohydrates. In addition, they have a physiological decrease in the ability to utilize carbohydrates due to the lack of specific enzymatic pathways that are present in other mammals, and they lack a salivary enzyme called amylase. A diet high in carbohydrates will predispose your cat to diabetes, obesity, and intestinal
disease. Note that “grain-free” does not always mean “low-carb” since potatoes and peas are often used instead of grains. The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrate calories. Some of the cheaper dry foods contain even higher levels. Many canned foods and raw diets, on the other hand, contain approximately less than 10 percent carbohydrates.
Moisture:
As previously stated, the cat’s diet should be 70%-80% moisture. Feeding a diet low in moisture will predispose your cat to urinary tract diseases. Dry food only contains 8-10% moisture. Therefore, cats are only consuming 12-15% of their daily water intake if fed an exclusively dry food diet. It is important to note that felines have a low thirst drive so they do not make up for lack of moisture through their drinking water. Canned food and raw diets are very moisture rich and contain adequate moisture levels to help support urinary tract health. Interesting fact: A study of the urine of 198 feral cats eating a natural, raw diet found no evidence of urinary stones in any of the cats.
Dental Health:
Contrary to a popular myth, dry food has no beneficial effect on dental health and there is no scientific support for its use in preventing dental disease. It is often swallowed whole but even if it is chewed, it is brittle and easily breaks apart providing no abrasive force against the teeth. Canned food also does not provide any abrasive force and is no better (but no worse) for dental health when compared to dry food. Brushing your cats’ teeth daily is the best way to keep their mouth healthy.
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What is the best choice for feeding your cat?
When choosing the best diet for your cat, consider one that provides high quality protein coming from animal source, minimal carbohydrate and high moisture content. Raw diets and canned food are excellent diet choices for cats. These diets contain adequate moisture as well as appropriate amounts of protein and fat. Never feed an exclusively dry food diet. If feeding dry food, only use it supplemental with the primary diet containing either raw and/or canned food. Transitioning your cat off a dry diet to a moisture rich diet may be challenging at first. Cats are finicky and it takes many attempts to familiarize them with a new type of diet that is different in texture from what they are used to. Be patient and don’t give up. Eventually they will begin accepting the new diet. A helpful tip is to offer them the new food when they are hungriest. Offer the new food by itself. After a couple hours, you may offer their regular meal if they refuse the new food. Never allow a cat to go without eating. It is dangerous for a cat to go too long without food and can quickly lead to dangerous health issues. Dawn Price has a BS in Nutrition & is a Registered Dietitian. She worked for many years as a dietitian at Massachusetts General Hospital & Lawrence General Hospital. She decided to pursue her passion for animal nutrition & joined the sales team of a large pet food distributor. She was promoted to Sales Manager & was responsible for covering New England & Canadian territories providing nutrition seminars to retail stores & veterinarians. Dawn was also the instructor of Canine & Feline Nutrition at North Shore Community College for many years. She opened her store, The Natural Dog, in 2005.
By Nancy Dewar
Photographs from History Nebraska
Author Paul Kropp once said, “The joy of reading with our children doesn’t stop as they, as we, get older. It simply changes.” The book Major: A Soldier Dog is one that can be enjoyed by dog lovers of all ages; reading together or alone. Written by Trevor Jones, CEO of History Nebraska, the book tells the amazing story of war dogs from the perspective of Major, a real-life World War II soldier dog. Over 17,000 American dogs served overseas in the US military during World War II assisting our troops as guards, scouts, mine detectors and messengers. New York socialite Arlene Stern Erlanger, a premier breeder of Poodles, was key in bringing dogs into service. Knowing that other countries had employed them in their militaries for years, in early 1942 she made the following statement to a writer at the New York Sun, “The dog must play a game in this thing. Other countries have used dogs in their armies for years. Just think what dogs can do guarding forts, munition plants and other such places.”
A nation-wide program known as Dogs for Defense was initiated to obtain dogs for war service, with their training ultimately being turned over to the Armed Services. Who were these dogs? They were beloved members of thou-
sands of American families who patriotically surrendered their dogs to support the war effort. The need for service dogs got out through a robust PR campaign spearheaded by Ms. Erlanger. News reels featured headlines about Dogs for Defense, the Purina Company did ad campaigns and Hollywood icons became involved.
Fort Robinson, located in Crawford, Nebraska was the largest of the four dog training facilities and still has many training artifacts in their museum. I spoke to Trevor Jones recently to learn more about the historic training camp and his impetus to write this book. He explained, “Knowing all that was done here with the dogs, I kept thinking it would be cool to tell this story to kids and even cooler to tell it from the perspective of a dog. It could be a way to get the idea of patriotism and sacrifice through to children. Would you give up your dog to help your country? It’s a way to illustrate sacrificing something that matters for something else that matters."
Sid Moore & Major
patriotic pups
Canine Heroes
Dog in Training
relentless searching, Trevor eventually connected with Sid. Now 82, Sid recounted relinquishing Major at the train station and told Trevor that this moment from his childhood still stands out with crystal clarity. Major served from 1943 to 1945. He returned stateside and home to the joyful Moore’s complete with an Honorable Discharge certificate from the U.S. Army.
When dogs “enlisted,” they started with a basic training course. “If they flunked, they were sent home.” Basic training included learning verbal and non-verbal field commands such as “drop flat” and “shell fire.” They then proceeded to advanced training for their designated area of specialty. In addition to canine recruitment, the Armed Services also had to recruit people to train the dogs. “When soldiers were drafted and went to the induction center, they were asked if they had any experience with dogs. If they happened to say, ‘Yeah, I had a hunting dog,’ the next thing you know is they’re on their way to Fort Robinson with no basic training, as they were Major, the real dog in this wonderful book, was a desperate,” Trevor said with a chuckle. Border Collie from Wahpeton, North Dakota who belonged to the Moore family. Sid Moore was five Nearly all breeds were accepted initially. Evenwhen they gave Major up. About twenty years tually it was pared down to breeds with traits ago Sid sent a letter to the Fort Robinson Histori- that most aptly served the military’s needs. cal Society reflecting on his dog’s service. After “This was all new. Experience taught them that
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Great Danes ate too much. Dalmations stood out too much in the field. It was a learning process,” Trevor explained. Dogs were assigned one specific handler, and the duo worked together throughout their service. The lucky ones that came home at the end of the war had six weeks of de-training; they needed to learn how to be pets again. It’s inspiring that our Armed Services did not view these amazing canines as gifts to the government, but rather as loans. They did everything in their power to return them to their original families. If families couldn’t be located, the dogs stayed with their serviceman. A delve into Major: A Service Dog is an inspiring way to learn more about these amazing defense dogs. You can also hear from Trevor and Sid directly via their 2020 interview on NPR. This book is a treasure. And of course, the courageous defense dogs will always be national treasures. They served with dignity and returned home to a hero’s welcome.
(Note: Major: A Service Dog is available from Amazon & you can hear the NPR interview via this link: www.pri.org/file/2020-09-02/ world-war-ii-soldier-dog.)
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out and about
New England Equine Rescue – North
Fleece from Just Dogs & Ristorante Massimo
fun things to
bark
About NHSPCA Auction for the Animals
Help a Horse
New England Equine Rescue - North (NEER) needs extra support, and hopefully some of our readers can lend a hoof. Due to COVID-19 the non-profit, based in Andover, has experienced an increase in surrender inquiries as well as many calls from people looking for food assistance for their animals. As NEER has had to cancel several fundraising activities, the funds that normally keep them going this time of year are low. Visit their website to learn more about donating and to check out their horses and donkeys that are looking for their forever-greener-pastures. (NeerNorth.org)
Fleece for Pups & Peeps
Fall is when serious snuggle-in time begins, and we’ve got both pups and peeps covered! Just Dogs in downtown Newburyport offers luscious fleece blankets in a variety of designs. From dog bone prints to handsome
plaids, these baby-soft blankets are sure to make your pup’s tail wag. Ristorante Massimo will be offering outside dining through the end of October, and they’ve got your comfort covered! Each guest will receive a complimentary fleece blanket to keep them warm while dining and then take with them for snuggling in at home.
NHSPCA Auction for the Animals
This year’s annual Auction for the Animals fundraising event will be held virtually on Sunday, November 7. The theme is “There’s No Place Like Home,” and you can experience this unique, interactive online gala right from the comfort of your own home. The live-streamed auction will feature an array of incredible experiences, trips and other wonderful goods. You may also participate in their silent auction online from October 24th through November 24th. We hope you
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can lend a paw to help more pups find a new home. For more information, please visit their website. (NHSPCA.org)
A New Mamma
About two years ago Tahlequah, a killer whale from the Puget Sound area, made national news after carrying her dead calf for 17 days and nearly 1,000 miles before letting it go. Tahlequah was going through what researchers have deemed a grieving process that is not uncommon among orcas who are known for their strong family bond. Now we have wonderful news to share. Tahlequah is a mamma again! She gave birth to a new calf in early September…a boy! According to a press release from the Whale Research Center, "She was still capable of producing a live calf after an approximate eighteen-month gestation! Hooray! Her new calf appeared healthy and precocious, swimming vigorously alongside its mother in its second day of free-
out and about
Tahlequah's New Calf on the Right - Source Minn. Star Tribune Tahlequah Carrying Dead Calf - Source AP
2020 Winner
Stadium Pups
I Love You
Presidential Pets
swimming life." This brings the endangered orca whale population in this area to approximately 73.
Big Fat Bears
October 6th marked the end of voting for the annual “Fat Bear Week” 2020 contest. In this year’s eagerly awaited election, voters chose their favorite fattest bear waddling around the banks of the Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. And, the winner was Bear No. 747, Earl of Avoirdupois! The bears are so portly due to hyperphagia, a process they go through before hibernation. During this stage it’s impossible for the bears to feel full, meaning they put on a significant amount of weight from gorging on salmon and other foods. This extra weight is important because a bear can lose up to a third of its body mass during hibernation. Last year’s winner was a brown female named Holly, who was also a heavyweight contender in this year’s competition.
Presidential Pets
In this election year it probably is more fun and PAW-sitive to talk about presidential PETS! The AKC Museum of the Dog is open again and has a new exhibit that looks at the different dog breeds and pets that have lived in the White House, explores their history and highlights the dogs owned by previous presidents. The Presidential Dogs Exhibit runs through January 3rd. Why not take a road trip to NYC and learn more about Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog named “President” and Jimmy Carter’s dog named “Grits!” There are also a variety of interesting virtual tours one can take on their website. (MuseumOfTheDog.org)
Stadium Pups
How darn clever is this? Subaru Park, the stadium that’s home to Major League Soccer team The Philadelphia Union, won’t be empty this season…even with no fans attending. Cutouts of images of real, adoptable local dogs will fill the seats, compliments of Subaru of America.
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The automaker has a long-standing tradition of using pets in its marketing and supporting local pet adoptions. And this unique idea is certainly worth woofing about! (PhiladelphiaUnion.com/Subaru)
I Love You
Some interesting research from Canine Cottages, a dog-travel website based in the United Kingdom, revealed the importance of three simple words: I LOVE YOU. In a recent study they discovered that hearing “I love you” increased pups’ heart rates by 46%. They fitted four dogs with special heart rate monitors to find out what got their tails wagging most when interacting with their human. The study also found that cuddling calms a dog when they're feeling anxious (or when they're frightened by bad weather). When cuddled, the dogs' heart rates decreased by 23%. So be sure to say these three words to your pups as often as possible, as they deserve it.
local tails
Meet Some Special Seacoast Pups… Here are some of our readers’ adorable dogs. If you’d like your pup’s picture in an upcoming issue, send an email with “Local Tails” in the subject line to: nancy@SnazzyJazzyPet.com. All breeds welcome!
Olive & Oscar - Rye
Tilly - New Castle
Spike - Seabrook
Jack Daniel - Newburyport
Rudi - Greenland
Cairo - Hampton
Daisy - Portsmouth
Jasper - Stratham
Dean - Seabrook
Apollo - Newmarket
Murphy - Dover
Spock - Merrimac
Lola - Dover
Remy - Rye
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Willa - Hampton
Blaze & Rocko - North Hampton
work like a dog
Charlee
the Campus Comfort Dog By Nancy Dewar
It was a beautiful end-of-summer day when I had the pleasure of meeting Cal Cochran, an officer with the University of New Hampshire’s Police Department, and his sidekick Charlee, a one-year-old yellow Lab with a very important job. Students had returned to campus the previous week. As they approached me, Cal and Charlee were sidetracked by two female students. “Oh, can we pet your dog? She is adorable!” “Of course,” Cal exclaimed. “That’s her job.”
Charlee is an emotional therapy service dog. While many service dogs are responsible for sniffing out drugs, low insulin levels or physically assisting humans, Charlee’s primary responsibility is to provide comfort to students and faculty members as well as strengthen the bond between the police department and campus members. Her “job description” focuses on three key areas: community relations, mental health and victims of crime. And she certainly possesses the qualifications to do her job well…a loving heart, an endlessly wagging tail and a love for love-pats!
Nine police departments in New Hampshire currently have comfort dogs. Charlee is the university’s first, and she arrived on campus last February from Hero Pups, a Stratham-based non-profit that provides service dogs to veterans and first respondents. UNH Police Chief Paul Dean reached out to Laura Barker, Hero Pups founder, last summer to explore the possibility of getting a campus
Her “job description” focuses on three key areas: community relations, mental health and victims of crime. And she certainly possesses the qualifications to do her job well…a loving heart, an endlessly wagging tail and a love for love-pats!
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work like a dog
Snuggling at Work
Welcoming Freshmen
Charlee also is an enormous ice breaker in dealing with victims of crime. When a victim calls for help, they are very vulnerable. Cal explained how Charlee helps ease these difficult situations. pup. “Our Chief is big on mental health and knew how successful other comfort programs have been,” Cal said. The department was promised one of two dogs, a girl and a boy. So, when they had students at the Child Development Center select names, they had to be non-gender specific. They came up with three – Charlee, Harley and Bailey – and Charlee won. Cal was also a winner, as he applied and was selected to be the dog’s handler.
Charlee lives with Cal and his rescue dog Roscoe, and they are together 24/7. In addition to his standard professional duties, Cal schedules events for Charlee to attend such as dorm visits and a variety of others. “Charlee is an awesome way for us to bridge the gap. We are here for the students to keep them safe, and she makes us way more approachable.” Charlee is a natural when it comes to community relations and PR! She also is an expert when it comes to reducing anxiety, which is common among new students and more prevalent now with COVID. “When the freshman arrive, everything is all new; and they are excited to see a dog. The relationship between dogs and people is one you can’t describe in words,” Cal said from the heart. Charlee also is an enormous ice breaker in dealing with victims of crime. When a victim calls for help, they are very vulnerable. Cal explained how Charlee helps ease these difficult situations. “When a 6-foot tall male walks in the room to get them to open up, it’s not that easy. We see people
in the worst moment of their life, and those first moments can make or break the healing process. Charlee immediately bridges the gap and turns it into a positive interaction. I don’t have to work as hard anymore to get them to talk.” Interactions with the police can be frightening. Add a dog to the mix, and it is much less confrontational. Exploring police interaction more with Cal was interesting. I laughed when he told me, “Even I, when I’m off duty, get a bit nervous when I see a cop. I’ve had people tell me that they never thought of a policeman as a regular person until they met Charlee; and we just started talking about dogs.” Charlee also plays an important role in making the police more approachable. “The kids think OMG there’s a dog in the car, and they come over to us just to say hi.”
In Charlee’s first six months on the job, she’s had over 2,000 interactions with students and the community. That’s pretty darn good considering the campus was shut down for months due to COVID. This summer the town of Durham had a police cruiser parade to boost community morale, and Charlee received numerous “Hi Charlee’s” along the route. She has over 800 followers on her Instagram page (UNHPDK9Charlee) and welcomes more! All in all, Charlee loves her job and the PAWSitve impact she is having on so many. Hey, who wouldn’t love a job where they get nothing but an outpouring of love and where they literally can sleep on the job in their crate in the cruiser!
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Officer Cal Cochran feels the same. “I have the best job in the department. Before getting Charlee, I thought it was kind of funny. I’ll just ride around with a dog… never realizing the amazing effect this dog would have on so many. How lucky am I? I get paid to hang out with a goofy, yellow Lab. She’s here to be loved, give love and doesn’t judge.”
(www.HeroPups.com)
Charlee at Home with Roscoe
let's pawty
Doggone Grrrrr…eat Entertaining Sponsored by Ristorante Massimo “Authentic Italian Food Is More Than Our Passion… It’s Our Life’s Work.” Photography by Jasmine Inglesmith Photography
Dine-In or Dine-Out
Mia
Logan
Easy Pumpkin DOG Ice Cream Ingredients 1 Can Pumpkin Puree (not pie filler)
1 C Plain Low-Fat Yogurt ½ C Organic Peanut Butter Directions Combine all ingredients in blender. Place in ice cube trays. Freeze & serve frozen. Photo & Recipe Credit: Dogtipper.com
World Class Cuisine
59 Penhallow – Portsmouth (603) 436-4000 www.RistoranteMassimo.com
While Massimo has been busy continually “reinventing” the restaurants…new takeout menus, pasta kits, new outside dining, revamped inside dining…Mia & Logan have been busy enjoying the beauty of Fall. Though they love doggy daycare, romping in the leaves and bobbing for apples, the favorite part of their day is when their Dad gets home!
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Mia & Massimo
Mia
Mia
Logan
Massimo’s has taken all the necessary safety precautions so you can now dine INSIDE…both upstairs & down! If you’d prefer to simply snuggle in & enjoy fabulous comfort food at home, they offer Curbside Cuisine! You may order from the dinner takeout menu…or prepare pasta dinners at home with their Prep-At-Home Pasta Kits! Select from a variety of fresh sauces and ready-to-cook pastas. For complete info visit: RistoranteMassimo.com/takeout.
doggy thoughts
flips + flops By Flip-Flop
Editor’s Note: These are simply musings from Flip-Flop, an exuberant & opinionated shaggy dog. They are not any sort of product endorsement or “dis” by this publication or any member of our editorial team. Just a bit about stuff she likes (Flips) and stuff she doesn’t (Flops)!
Funny Holiday Product
This Christmas tree made me chuckle! Talk about driving treeclimbing cats crazy, this one will do it. Designed with curious cats (and toddlers) in mind, the branches start at about 36” from the ground, thus making it challenging for them to reach the enticing ornaments & tinsel. Another bonus? Decorating is faster with only a half of tree to adorn. I think this product is a real FLIP! (Argos.Co.Uk)
Flip -Flop Silly Holiday Product
Though I hate to admit it, Halloween costumes for canines have become pretty mainstream, though I thank DOG my Mom doesn’t make me wear one. But costumes for hamsters??? Yikes! What a crazy idea…and who would see these furry little creatures in their costumes anyway? They really don’t leave home, i.e. their cages. What will people think of next?
Big Balls
I’m not a ball chaser, though my favorite thing in the world is to chase dogs…that chase balls. So, when I came across this giant tennis ball for pups (that measures 9 ½” in diameter), I was so excited for my beach ball-chasing friends! And I strongly suggest you get one for your ballfocused canine. I guarantee they will FLIP over it! You can find it on Amazon, of course!
Little Balls
As you might know, I find cats intriguing and also a bit odd. And I find these small cardboard balls for cats a bit odd too. Made of recycled cardboard & non-toxic glue, I guess they keep furry felines entertained for hours with their spins & wobbles. Little cardboard balls…who would have thunk it??? (AmericatCompany.com)
Exploding Kittens Card Game
OMG…I’m not even sure what to say about this one. This game is described as a “strategic card game about cats and destruction...a game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams.” I didn’t go any further after reading these words. A game? I thought games were supposed to be fun…not prey on evil instincts. I don’t know. It raised over $8 million on Kickstarter, but I find it kind of creepy! (ExpldingKittens.com)
Dog Lover’s Puzzle
What a great way to totally unplug and have some good old-fashioned fun…with a jigsaw puzzle…all about DOGS! Snuggle in with friends & family and after all the pieces are put together, you’ll see 54 of your most favorite breeds & learn about their special characteristics. This puzzle is sure to get everyone’s tail wagging! (LLBean.com)
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