All About Pets

Ferreting Facts Pg. 8

Feline Friends Suffer Allegeries, Too Pg. 7

A LL A BO U T P ETS !

March 2010

Hamster Haven Pg. 11

Love is for the Birds

Wilson, Bomb Detection Dog

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Pg. 12

2 March 2010

ALL ABOUT PETS

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Remember pets when relocating

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The dip in the housing market has done much more than force many homeowners into foreclosure. It is has caused many pets to become homeless.

A foreclosure epidemic is sweeping the country. But reports of animals being left behind when the family moves out is unnerving to many animal rescue organizations and pet lovers everywhere. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) urges all pet owners faced with foreclosure to take their pets with them when they relocate.

"Abandoning pets, for any reason, is not only irresponsible -- it is illegal," says Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals at the HSUS. "Pet owners may feel financially unable to care for their pets or are overwhelmed by a sudden move, but there are many alternatives to leaving pets behind."

Abandoned pets face a grim future. Many pets trapped inside abandoned homes aren't found until they're on the brink of starvation.

Those lucky enough to reach a shelter have about a 50 percent chance of being adopted.

Shain says, "No one likes to think of leaving their pet at a shelter, but if you can't take him with you, it is by far more humane than leaving them in an apartment or

a house alone. Too many animals die alone this way every year.

If people are absolutely unable to care for their pet any longer, they should take him or her to their local animal shelter or animal control agency. The shelter can provide food and housing while they try and locate a new home."

Unfortunate outcomes for pets can be avoided by following some steps offered by the HSUS. Give yourself enough time. If possible, check ads and contact real estate agents and rental agencies at least six weeks before you plan to move or when you first learn that foreclosure and/or eviction march be in your future.

Make use of available resources. Contact the humane society or animal care and control agency serving the area into which you are moving; the agency may be able to provide you with a list of apartment communities that allow pets.

Gather proof that you're responsible. The more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal will be to your future landlord. This can include statements from current property managers and neighbors that you maintain your pet responsibly, as well as copies of veterinary

records showing ongoing pet care.

Get it in writing. Once you have permission from a landlord, manager, or condominium committee to have a pet, be sure to get it in writing. Comprehensive agreements protect people, property and the pets themselves.

Individuals facing financial hardships can reduce the cost of pet ownership in many ways. Some tips include: While buying expensive toys and accessories has become a popular way to demonstrate your attachment to your pet, your pet can be just as happy with less expensive toys or homemade toys. They need your love and attention more than a pricey product.

Tips for inexpensive toys can be found at humanesociety.org by searching for "dog toys" or "cat toys."

Keep your pets safe inside or on a leash while walking outside. Animals allowed to roam freely are more prone to accidents and resulting veterinary bills.

Let your veterinarian know that finances are tight and ask that he or she prescribe only the most vital vaccinations to keep your pet healthy.

Consider pet health insurance to minimize the shock of an expensive bill from the veterinarian in case of an unexpected illness or injury.

ALL ABOUT PETS

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Be kind to pets: It would seem that domesticated pets get to live the life of Riley. They're fed regular meals, get to sleep most of the day, and then have happy pet parents waiting to give them love and affection. Unfortunately for many would-be pets, they don't get to share in this happy home scenario.

The chief reason for that is the overpopulation problem pertaining to cats and dogs throughout the country. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates between three and four million cats and dogs are euthanized each year, which translates to nearly 10,000 cats and dogs being prematurely put to rest every day.

That pushes the problem to epidemic levels.

Part of the problem in addressing overpopulation is a failure of pet lovers to realize just how damaging it can be, and how quickly things can get out of hand.

Consider the following: in just six years, a female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. That means that unless your dog is already spayed, she could become the matriarch of a family that will be 67,000 strong by 2012. The numbers are even more staggering for cats, as one cat

March 2010 3

Prevent overpopulation

and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens within the next seven years.

While many people will truthfully admit to being dutiful pet owners and pet lovers, the very fact that one cat can see its lineage increase by nearly half a million in just seven years is an eye-opening prospect, one that may result in euthanization for many of those kittens.

But what to do? A mountain of misinformation exists that forces many people to see spaying or neutering as inhumane when in reality it's the most humane thing to do, lest a situation arise where animals are born solely to end up euthanized.

The HSUS points to legislation and education as an effective means for curing the overpopulation problem. Some legislation has already been enacted to do just that.

For instance, spaying and neutering fees are often expensive, leaving less incentive for pet owners to spay or neuter pets or their offspring, which in turn leads to more animals being euthanized. However, in communities where spay/neuter programs have been subsidized (hence lowering the costs), the number of animals euthanized has declined sharply. If your community

has yet to pass such legislation, pushing for it is a good idea.

Additional legislation can be passed as well that could greatly reduce the number of animals that are put down each year. For example, raising the licensing fee for animals that are not spayed or neutered is a good way to encourage pet owners to sterilize their pets. In lieu of plucking at the heart strings with tales of euthanized animals, such legislation would instead pluck at the purse strings, something that would likely grab more attention.

What's more, many animal shelters mandate that adopted animals must be spayed or neutered prior to leaving the facility.

This ensures that any adopted animals will not contribute to the overpopulation problem.

But as much as legislation is necessary, in the meantime the best thing pet owners can do is to spay or neuter their pets and adopt those pets from a shelter. Such actions are a key step in reducing overpopulation and ensuring a future where all pets can spend some quality time at your feet on the couch or lounging around in the backyard on a lazy summer day.

Ensure that pets get a happy home in which to live. Prevent overpopulation and time spent in a shelter.

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ALL ABOUT PETS

4 March 2010

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Get pests to bug off Flea and tick tips for pets and you

Fleas There are over 2,000 described species of fleas in the world. The most common domestic flea is the cat flea, which despite its name, is found on both cats and dogs.

According to the University of Florida, cat flea adults, unlike many other fleas, remain on their host. Females require a fresh blood meal in order to produce eggs, and they can lay up to one per hour. The smooth eggs easily fall from the pet onto the carpet, bedding, or lawn. The young fleas will hatch within two days and feed on dandruff, grain particles, and skin flakes found on the floor around them, in addition to the fecal matter provided by adult fleas, known as flea dirt. Fleas prefer to develop in areas protected from rainfall, irrigation, and sunlight, where the relative humidity is at least 75 percent and the temperature is 70 to 90 F. Fleas are not picky about their meals and they'll nip at anything warm-blooded in their paths -including people. Bites typically

cause minor itching, but those with sensitive skin may have more irritation. Some fleas can carry disease, but contracting something from a flea is very rare. However, cat fleas can serve as intermediate hosts for canine tapeworms, putting dogs at risk.

Ticks Ticks are another parasite that rarely show discrimination in their meal hosts. Unlike fleas, ticks are not insects but arachnids, like their cousins the spider and scorpion. Ticks will hop onto people and animals that cross their paths.

Female ticks need a blood meal to produce eggs. She will drop off after feeding to lay these eggs. To continue their life cycle ticks need humidity and shade. They prefer habitats of leaves, groundcover, weeds, and shady areas near woods and walls.

There are a variety of ticks as well (more than 200), most relatively innocuous except for the fact that they're unsightly bloodsuckers.

However, the Deer tick and the Lone Star tick are two ticks that can cause serious illness. The Deer tick is a carrier for Lyme disease, an inflammatory disease that causes rash, muscle aches, and arthritis-type pain.

The Lone Star tick carries Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a rickettsial disease.

Safeguarding the Family from Fleas and Ticks Treating pets alone against fleas is a relatively futile effort.

Effective control requires eradication of fleas from the pet, the home, the yard, and control of the flea life cycle.

There are a number of chemical products available that do a good job of ridding the home and yard of fleas. But there are also natural ways to simply make the environment less habitable for fleas.

Shampoo your pet with a flea shampoo: Shampooing removes fleas, eggs and residual dandruff and flea dirt that larvae feed upon.

Lather should remain on the pet for at least 15 minutes to be effective.

Most shampoos contain Pyrethrins, which are derived from the chrysanthemum plant and kill fleas on the animal quickly.

Vacuum frequently and thoroughly: Vacuuming removes eggs and fleas from carpeting and upholstery. Discard the vacuum bag immediately, however, as fleas can hatch inside of the bag.

Light traps: It seems fleas are drawn toward light, especially when the light is broken by a shadow (simulating prey moving by).

Fleas will jump toward the light. Sticky light traps can help

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Fire up the lawnmower: Mow the lawn so that the grass does not get too tall.

Be selective in greenery: Choose plants that do not attract deer, which are notable carriers of ticks.

A tick has barbed mouthparts that attach securely to a host. If you find a tick on yourself or a pet, remove the tick by pulling it out with tweezers.

Attempt to get as close to the mouthparts as possible. Do not squeeze the tick while removing, as it could expel regurgitated blood and secretions into the wound.

Remove the entire tick and then disinfect the bite area.

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control the numbers of fleas.

Outdoors: Flea larvae develop in shaded, humid areas, but cannot survive in wet areas.

Rainfall is o f t e n enough to stop larval development.

The larvae will drown and the food provided by adult fleas is no longer available if the lawn is wet.

Simply taking out the hose and wetting down the lawn and yard frequently can be all that's needed to rid the yard of fleas.

Ticks, too, prefer certain optimal conditions for growth. While you cannot rearrange your landscape completely to prevent ticks from invading your space, there are some steps to take. Here's what the experts at Lowe’s suggest: Buffer the property: Create a "buffer" zone around your lawn and garden, especially if you are near a wooded area. An area at least three feet wide should be between your lawn and the wooded area. Fill the area with a band of bark or stone mulch.

Bright light: Ticks do not survive long in bright sunlight.

Attempt to increase the amount of sunlight that reaches your lawn and yard.

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When the weather warms, the trees sprout new growth, flowers bloom and bugs begin their annual assault on humans and animals.

Fleas and ticks thrive on warm weather, and these pests are most prevalent during times of rising temperatures. In North America, they can be a plague from March through October, depending upon how long temperatures stay moderate.

ALL ABOUT PETS

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

March 2010 5

Fleas don’t have to be frequent foes If you have a pet or are frequently around pets, chances are you will experience one or more brushes with fleas in your lifetime.

Fleas can quickly overrun your life, and knowing how to effectively and safely treat your pet and living spaces for fleas is essential.

While there are no concrete statistics indicating how many cats, dogs and other pets are afflicted by a flea infestation every year, there is research that indicates fleas account for more than half of all dermatological conditions requiring veterinary assistance in pets and people.

Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of warmblooded animals.

They are not finicky as to where they arrive at their warm meal. Consequently,

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it's not uncommon to find that anyone in a household where fleas are present can become game for the hungry flea.

The parasites use this blood meal to produce eggs -- as many as 50 per day. In general, fleas are more nuisance than nemesis. Their bites inflict itching and redness. In hypersensitive individuals and animals, the irritation can be very intense.

To understand how to win the war on fleas, it's important to learn about their behavior and preferences.

Warm, moist weather is a haven for fleas, which is why many people equate the summertime with flea season.

However, in areas where the mercury rises above 60 degrees earlier in the year, fleas may be more than just a summertime concern.

Adult fleas spend most of their time feeding on a host animal.

Eggs that are laid drop off into the surrounding areas, such as in carpeting or in a pet's bedding. These eggs hatch into larvae, which feed upon flea dirt (dried blood feces) and other organic matter (like shed skin cells) that are in their proximity.

The larvae then spin

themselves into a cocoon, where they are virtually protected from any insecticide.

They will remain there until they sense the heat of a passing animal or the carbon dioxide from an animal's expelled breath. Then the young flea hops onto its new target, restarting the cycle.

Treating both the animal and the environment is key to getting rid of fleas.

However, many products are geared at treating one or the other.

Typical flea carpet powders contain harsh, toxic chemicals, which cannot be used on animals and should be applied when people are not around.

Flea collars and other medicinal applications are good for keeping fleas off of animals, but don't address fleas in the environment. Plus, both of these types of products are virtually ineffective at tackling fleas outdoors.

There is one solution that can eradicate fleas and other pesky parasites on the pet and in and around the house. RESULTS Flea & Tick Killer is a contact killer comprised of pyrethrins (naturally occurring plant oils), diatomaceous earth (ground fossils of shelled sea algae, which

extracts moisture from the insects), and other organic oils. These ingredients are deadly to insects yet they have minimal impact on people and pets. In addition, RESULTS leaves no residual contamination, since the active ingredients break down quickly.

You don't have to apply it repeatedly -- once a week for five weeks is recommended for standard treatment -- to keep fleas, ticks and even lice at bay, and to halt their life cycle.

The product can also be mixed with water and sprayed outdoors to stop fleas where they begin.

To learn more about treating fleas and where to buy RESULTS products, visit www.diatect.com.

How Do I Know If I Have Fleas?

Pet is frequently scratching or biting at the same areas.

Visible sign of adult fleas or flea dirt. Fleas are a golden brown color and roughly the size of caraway seeds. Flea dirt resembles black pepper.

Noticeable raised red bumps on your ankles or legs.

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ALL ABOUT PETS

6 March 2010

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

Love is for the birds

By TESS GRUBER NELSON Staff Writer

There is a Chinese Proverb that states, “A bird does not sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song.”

If that’s the case, Shenandoah’s Earl May Garden Center is hosting a musical concert on a daily basis with the number of birds there for sale.

Garden Center Manager Mace Hensen said in addition to finches, Earl May has parakeets, cockatiels and his favorite, lovebirds, for sale.

Lovebirds, or scientifically known as Agapornis, are members of the parrot family and are native to Africa.

“They’re smaller and shorter than a parrot, but larger than a parakeet,” explained

Hensen. “They have a distinctive chirp or whistle that is high and shrill.”

Hensen said lovebirds are very intelligent and can be trained. He added they are also very social, enjoy interaction and are not aggressive.

“They don’t prefer to stay in the cage once they get acclimatized in a home,” he said. “They really need social interaction with another lovebird or a human.”

Lovebirds have a long life span for a domesticated pet bird, usually 30 to 40 years Hensen said. He added they are also very clean birds, preferring to have a small area of open water, like a bowl, where they can bathe.

There are nine different varieties of lovebirds, said Hensen, from the black-faced lovebird to the more rare

Madagascar.

“They’re all very colorful,” said Hensen.

Being extremely social and intelligent, Hensen said lovebirds like toys and mirrors in order to entertain themselves and excel in larger spaces.

However, since the lovebirds tend to snuggle up together most of the time, thus the name lovebird, they don’t necessarily need a large cage.

Somewhat similar to lovebirds, parakeets are intelligent, colorful, easily trainable and are easy to take care of.

“They are one of the more popular birds because they are so maintenance free.”

Additionally, Earl May has cockatiels, which is between a parrot and a parakeet.

“They are a little more aggressive of a bird and not as social, however, just as

smart.

Finally, finches are the smallest birds available at Earl May, with three different types to choose from – society, cinnamon and zebra.

“They don’t have the bright colors like the other birds here, and are not trainable, but they do like to be social and are very musical,” said Hensen. “With finches it’s best to get three or four together.”

Hensen was quick to add before purchasing any pet, including birds, research should be done to make sure the bird is right for you and your lifestyle.

“Some birds can be left alone and others need a lot of attention,” said Hensen. “It’s worth it in the long run to really think it through before you make your decision.”

Pets as Presents: Take a good look before you leap When holiday seasons draw close and kids of all ages begin working up their wish lists, parents are commonly greeted with requests for a family pet -- everything from lizards and rats to dogs and cats. There's no doubt that pets can be fantastic holiday gifts for children. In fact, research shows that having animals in the house reinforces children's selfesteem, promotes social skills and helps them to develop responsibility, nurturance and competence.

While animals can have a positive impact on the entire family, the decision to introduce a pet -even a single goldfish -- to the household requires careful thought and thoughtful planning.

In fact, many animal shelters and pet stores do not allow pets -- particularly cats and dogs -- to be adopted or purchased during the holiday season because so many of them end up being returned when the novelty wears off and the ongoing responsibilities become obvious.

If you're considering purchasing or adopting a pet for your children, start by asking yourself two basic, but essential questions: Are the children ready to have an animal in the household? And are the adult members of the household able and willing to provide for the animal's needs?

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), children under age 10 may love the idea of having a pet, but are too young to be given responsibility for their care and feeding.

Younger children tend to do better with smaller pets, such as guinea pigs, gerbils and goldfish -- animals that don't bite and require relatively little attention. Older children -- preteens and teens -are not only very interested in animals, but are ready to handle the responsibility of seeing that their needs are met.

However, parental oversight is still required to ensure that older children are following through on

their responsibilities and that pets have adequate food and water, and that their cages or litter boxes are clean.

It's important to remember that even when a pet "belongs" to a child, parents are the ones who buy the pet food, pay the veterinary bills and are ultimately responsible for the pet's wellbeing.

If your child has his or her heart set on a pet this holiday season, but you're not sure the timing is right, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States suggest a two-stage process.

First, purchase some of the supplies the pet will need (feeding bowls, toys, a pet bed, etc.) to give your child as gifts.

Then, when everyone is ready and there is a plan in place for the animal's care, the family can choose their new pet together.

For more information about children and pets, visit the ASPCA Web site at www.aspca.org.

ALL ABOUT PETS

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

March 2010 7

Feline friends can suffer from allergies too With the onset of spring, people across the country begin to feel the effects of outdoor seasonal allergens.

Sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy nose and even serious respiratory difficulties are all symptoms allergy sufferers know all to well.

But did you know that like people, our feline friends can suffer from allergies?

Much like in the human population, the occurrence of allergies in pets seems to be on the rise. Cats show comparable allergy symptoms to humans, even to the point of developing asthma.

Pet allergies fall into three main categories: food allergy, an allergic reaction to an ingredient in a pet's food; flea allergic dermatitis, or "flea bite hypersensitivity"; and lastly, atopy, an environmental allergy.

Atopy in pets is the most

unfamiliar type of pet allergy.

Just like humans, cats can suffer an allergic reaction to airborne substances such as dust, pollen or molds.

Depending on the allergen, or agent causing the allergic reaction, your cat may demonstrate symptoms seasonally, such as in the case of pollen, or year-round, as in the case of dust or molds.

More information is available online at www.kittyallergies.com.

Many people have long blamed pets, particularly cats, for causing allergies and breathing problems in people.

However, in the past few years, scientists have found that humans may be introducing agents triggering asthma in cats.

Dusty houses, human dandruff, chemicals, artificial fragrances, and certain types of cat litter can all create serious

inflammation in the airways and worsen cats' asthma.

With a rising number of cats suffering from feline asthma, which causes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, the condition is fairly common.

Once your cat is diagnosed with feline asthma, you have several treatment options depending on the severity of the case.

The first step is to try and eliminate any environmental allergens that are causing respiratory distress in your cat.

Look closely at your current cat litter.

The dust that rises from clay litters as well as the artificial fragrances used in silica litter, can wreak havoc on a cat with allergies or feline asthma.

Also eliminate firewood smoke, clean up mildew and mold, and vacuum often.

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ALL ABOUT PETS

8 March 2010

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

Ferreting out the facts about a popular pet Are you thinking of adding a pet to the family?

While cats, dogs and birds are certainly popular companions, have you ever considered a ferret?

Domesticated ferrets can make wonderful pets.

However, due to misinformation and general lack of knowledge about these animals, they're often passed up at the pet store.

Here we debunk the myths about ferrets, leaving you to discover whether these furry creatures might be just what you're looking for.

Myth: Ferrets are rodents like rats and mice.

Truth: Ferrets are not rodents. They're related to minks, weasels, skunks, and otters.

They're actually scientifically classified somewhere

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between dogs and cats.

Myth: Ferrets are entirely independent and do not interact well with people.

Fact: Ferrets range in disposition just like any pet.

Some can be very friendly and provide great companionship. Others may be more aloof. Generally speaking, ferrets like to spend time with their human friends, travel with them and play together.

Myth: Ferrets pose a serious rabies danger.

Fact: Studies have indicated that it is very difficult for ferrets to catch rabies. If they do, they tend to die rather quickly, reducing the risk for infecting someone.

Also, there are ferret rabies vaccinations available.

Myth: Ferrets attack babies often and are terrible pets for children.

Fact: There are far fewer reports of ferret attacks on children than dog or cat bites/scratches. Children excite more easily and generally exhibit fluctuating behavior patterns that could make any pet uneasy.

Therefore, children should always be supervised with any pet. If a child is responsible, careful, not too rough, and old enough, a ferret could be a good pet.

Ferret Care Now that some of the misconceptions about ferrets have been cleared up, it's time to learn about ferret care.

Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box, so they require less maintenance than a dog. Experiment with the type of litter box your ferret likes as well as litter.

You will need to ferretproof the home because ferrets are active explorers and love to squeeze into small holes and crevices.

They are also known for "stealing" small items and hiding them around the house. Ferrets are also good climbers and jumpers.

Ferrets have a natural musky odor to them. Scent glands by the tail can be removed to avoid "spraying" when frightened, but the ferret will always excrete natural oils on the skin that smell musky.

Resist the urge to wash a ferret frequently to remove the scent. This will only cause the ferret to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. Rather, change bedding and other cage items frequently to reduce the smell if bothersome.

Ferrets have bursts of energy followed by long resting periods. They generally will be content to

stay in a cage most of the day and allowed roaming time if you don't want your ferret to constantly have run of the house. Put some sort of bedding (old T-shirts or towels) into the cage because the animal won't want to sleep on the floor of the cage.

Don't put in wood shavings or chips because they can cause respiratory problems or allergies. Ferrets will also need food and water bowls in the cage.

Because ferrets have a tendency to play in water bowls, consider a drip water supplier used for rabbits and hamsters instead.

These frisky animals like to play and should be kept amused. Cat toys work well for ferrets, provided there are no small pieces that can be swallowed.

Most people feed their ferrets high-quality cat food, such as Iams, Science Diet, or ProPlan. Choose the dry variety of foods because they contain more protein and can help remove plaque from the ferret's teeth.

Ferrets require a lot of protein, so choose "kitten or growth" formulas. Ferret experts say there is food marketed specifically for ferrets, but most is just slightly modified cat food that's priced higher.

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U PCOMING TABS March and April Spring College Preview -

College information for students and their parents as they decide on the colleges they will be applying to.

SW Iowa Pride Edition -

Highlight of the towns in Fremont, Montgomery and Page

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Spring Sports Preview - SW Iowa High School Sports.

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ALL ABOUT PETS

10 March 2010

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

Anxiety a common problem for man's best friend The bond between a pet owner and pet is a strong one. Before leaving for work each morning, most pet owners make sure to say goodbye to their pet, especially if the family pet is a dog.

These devoted dog owners typically miss their dog while at work, and the feeling is mutual. In fact, some dogs even suffer from separation anxiety. Oftentimes, the behavior that results from separation anxiety is misunderstood, leading dog owners to think their dog is being disruptive or just has a bad temperament. That couldn't be further from the truth for most dogs -- and only highlights the importance of understanding and recognizing separation anxiety in dogs to avoid misdiagnosis.

This occurs even in dogs that are house trained and otherwise well-behaved.

Many dog owners assume these negative responses are a dog's attempt at punishing the owner for leaving. Instead, these responses are the result of a panic attack the dog suffers when the owner leaves.

Why Does a Dog Suffer from Separation Anxiety?

Many dogs experience anxiety issues when their owners leave for work each day.

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety in dogs occurs when dogs are left alone. In a typical case, a dog will have a dramatic anxiety response within 20 to 45 minutes after their

owners leave them. These responses can include digging, chewing or scratching at doors in an attempt to reunite with their owners, or howling or barking to get their owners to return.

Dogs may even grow so distressed they urinate or defecate inside the house.

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) notes that the exact reasons for why some dogs experience anxiety while others are perfectly fine when left alone is unknown. For some dogs, these anxiety attacks can be triggered by a number of circumstances: a dog accustomed to constant human companionship is left alone for the first time a traumatic event, such as being left at a kennel during a family vacation (Note: The traumatic event likely won't seem traumatic to the pet owner, but could be very traumatic to the pet.) a change in routine, such as a shift in work schedule or even moving to a new home

The signs of separation anxiety are rather easy to detect and include the following: the behavior occurs primarily when the dog is left alone the dog seems especially excited or frantic when greeting the negative behavior always occurs when the dog is left alone, be it for 8 minutes or 8 hours the dog grows excited or even depressed when you are preparing to leave the house the dog doesn't like being outside alone

What Can I Do to Help?

problems: Don't make a big spectacle when coming and going. When you get home from work, ignore your dog for a few minutes, then calmly pet him or her. Of course this will be difficult, but it will help the situation.

Leave your dog a reminder of you during the day. This can be an article of clothing you recently wore or something else that has your scent attached to it.

Keep a radio or television on in the house so your dog can hear comforting voices and not just silence.

For dogs who exhibit more severe or advanced symptoms of separation anxiety, visit the HSUS Web site at www.hsus.org.

While it's important to consult a veterinarian if you suspect your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, the HSUS suggests the following techniques for dealing with dogs with mild or moderate anxiety

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ALL ABOUT PETS

The Valley News/Herald-Journal

Hamster Haven:

One of the most popular pets around the world.

Types of Hamsters

Hamsters, which belong to rodent family, are one of the most popular and tinywiny pets around the world.

Hamsters are cute, clean and easy to take care of, which makes them favorite pet for people of all ages.

The only sad thing about hamsters is that they live only up to 1000-1100 days (i.e. about 1-3.5 years.

Hamsters are very sociable and love to entertain themselves going round and round in a wheel. While they do well as an only pet, hamsters do like to have companions.

Be careful though, some types of hamsters are not compatible. Do your homework before picking out your little companions.

March 2010 11

There are mainly three type of hamsters found: Syrian Hamsters: This type of hamsters are also called black bear hamster, golden hamster, teddy bear hamster, fancy hamster etc.

Syrian hamsters are generally golden brown colored with dark colored markings on parts like jaws, cheeks etc. of their body.

Syrian hamsters are the largest in all the type of hamsters and are very easy to tame and take care of, which make them most commonly accepted hamster as a pet.

They grow about 6-8 inches in length, and their lifespan is around 2 to 3 years. Syrian hamsters are strongly territorial animals

and cannot tolerate presence of other hamsters in their territory, which makes it very important to keep them alone in a cage/home.

Syrian hamsters are mainly nocturnal and are quite active from the early hours in evening and night.

Dwarf Hamsters: They are also called Campbell’s Russian Hamsters, Winter White Russian Hamsters, Roborovski Hamsters.

Dwarf Campbell’s Russian Hamsters are the most common type of hamsters people like to keep as pet.

They grow about 4-5 inches in length and have almost same lifespan as other type of hamsters.

Dwarf hamsters prove to be good mates for hamsters of the same species rather than

of other species (given they are introduced to each other from young age).

Chinese Hamsters: These type of hamsters are often misinterpreted to be Dwarf Hamsters as they exhibit similar physical characteristics as of Dwarf Hamsters but they are actually different.

They grow same in length as Dwarf Hamsters, and have lifespan of about 2.5 to 3 years.

Chinese Hamsters are also nocturnal but are not as lazy as Syrian hamsters during day time. Female Chinese hamsters generally are not comfortable with the other hamsters and so should be kept alone or with the hamster they get along easily.

Keeping pets safe from poisons When it comes to poisonproofing a home, lots of people might assume it's only necessary for homes with young children. But homes that have pets, be it a friendly feline or man's best friend, need to be safe as well.

Keeping pets safe from poisons is especially important since many pets spend much time at home alone. While you're at work, for example, a pet likely has free reign over the home, leaving open the possibility of all sorts of unsupervised trouble. To poison-proof your home for pets, consider the following tips.

Know your poisonous plants. Plants are a major poison hazard for pets, be it cats or dogs. For dogs, poisonous plants can include azaleas, morning glory, oleander, and even daffodils. For cats, the list includes geraniums, primrose, iris, and marigold.

Consult a veterinarian for a complete listing of potentially poisonous plants. If you have any of these plants in your home, be sure they are elevated to a height that a dog cannot reach and away from a anything that a cat could climb onto.

Lock all kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Typically, cleaners are kept in the cabinets below the sink in bathrooms and kitchens. A resourceful pet can get into such cabinets if they're not locked. Unfortunately, many cleaning products can be lethal to pets if ingested. Be sure to lock all cabinets where cleaning products are kept.

In addition, whenever you use these products, close the door and keep pets out while doing so. Don't spray any product into the air while a pet is in the room.

Keep the toilet lid closed.

While it can be comical to imagine a dog drinking from the toilet, it can also be very dangerous. That's because automatic toilet cleaners contain chemicals that can make pets very sick. Always close the toilet lid whenever you've finished using the bathroom.

Keep intentional poisons away from pets. Sometimes, homes with pets get unwanted guests. If your home has mice or other rodents, be sure to keep all rodenticides out of a pet's reach. Also, even if you do place a rodenticide in a location your cat or dog can't reach, that doesn't mean they won't necessarily be exposed to it. That's because rodents can transport these poisons to a different location in your home. Before deciding on a rodenticide, first determine if it's worth the risk

you're putting your pets at should they be exposed.

The same rules apply to insecticides as well. If you suspect an insecticide could be harmful to your pet, consult your veterinarian.

Do not leave batteries lying around. Pets, especially dogs, love to chew on household items. Batteries left out can be very harmful and even lethal to pets if they chew on them. Keep batteries in closed drawers and make sure any batteries that have been discarded are not placed in trash cans that don't have a closeable lid.

Keep your garage and driveway clean. A car that leaks fluids is not only bad for your wallet, but can be very harmful to your pet as well.

Keep your driveway and garage as clean as possible, and thoroughly and immedi-

ately clean up after any leaks.

Products such as windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, and motor o i l should be stored high on shelves in the garage.

Keep lawn products away from pets.

Many dogs love to eat lawn fertilizer, oddly enough. Keep bags tightlysealed and stored in a place that's difficult for dogs to get to. In addition, keep dogs away from the yard after herbicides have been applied.

Allow time for the herbicides to dry before sending your pet out in the backyard.

12 March 2010

ALL ABOUT PETS

Wilson and handler Officer Ben Raymer

The story of Wilson, bomb detection dog

By KENT DINNEBIER Staff Writer

Found homeless on the mean streets of Clarinda, Wilson spent part of his youth living at a shelter before discovering a skill that would change his life forever.

Today Wilson, a two-year-old yellow Labrador mix, serves as a bomb detection dog with the Department of Homeland Security and is stationed at the University of Wyoming along with his handler, Officer Ben Raymer.

Wilson was brought to the Clarinda Animal Shelter on may 7, 2009, after he was found running loose near the former Wilson Meat Packing Plant, hence his name, by a construction worker making repairs at a nearby church.

“The construction worker saw how thin he was and gave it him food,” Karen Switzer of the Southwest Iowa Humane Society said. “But it took him three days to catch Wilson.”

Just a young pup, Wilson displayed behavioral problems while staying at the Clarinda Animal Shelter as he would bark, jump and grab at people.

Those issues eventually led Switzer to take Wilson home with her so he would be around her trained dogs and she could spend more time working with him directly.

After spending approximately a month with Switzer, Wilson was given to the Iowa Golden Retriever Rescue League.

Although Wilson’s behavioral issues quickly led to Wilson being returned to Clarinda, Switzer said that experience proved to be a turning point in his life.

“The day I took him up I discovered he loved to retrieve tennis balls,” Switzer said.

“He would rather retrieve a tennis ball than eat.”

Soon after Wilson was returned to Switzer, she was contacted by Matt Skogen, the owner of Iron Heart Training Center in Shawnee, Kansas. Skogen trains dogs to serve as protection dogs, police service dogs, detection dogs, bomb dogs and drug dogs.

Skogen said he had been searching the Midwest for a Labrador retriever to train for the University of Wyoming and found an on-line listing that Wilson was available for adoption.

“We look for a certain kind of dog that has a high energy level and is obsessed about their ball or toy and will really hunt for it,” Skogen said. “Karen was very adamant that Wilson was every bit of that.”

Therefore, Skogen met Switzer in St. Joseph, Mo., to test Wilson on his retrieving skills.

During the test Skogen said he threw a tennis ball into a field high grass, wedged the ball tightly into a fence, hid the ball under a laundry basket and even hid the ball under the basket and held it down to determine how persistent Wilson would be in finding and retrieving his tennis ball.

The Valley News/Herald-Journal “Most of the dogs we test do not have what it takes. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack to find a dog with the right characteristics to be a bomb dog,” Skogen said.

“But Wilson scored very high on every test.”

In fact, Switzer said Skogen told her Wilson scored higher than an entire kennel of dogs he had just tested in Missouri.

Skogen officially adopted Wilson on Sept. 10, 2009, and immediately started him in the 10-week training program at his center.

During the first eight weeks of the course Wilson was trained to sniff and recognize 15 base types of explosives like TNT, plastic explosives (c-4), primer cord, detonation cord, black powder, sodium chlorate and potassium chlorate as well as hundreds of derivatives.

“The dogs learn to associate their toy with the odor of the explosive,” Skogen said. “At first we set up the bomb with the toy and then when we take the toy away they still associate the odor with the toy.”

Skogen said the training also focuses on the flushing behavior of the retriever and teaching them to go to a sitting position, called a passive alert, when the odor of a bomb is detected.

During the final two weeks of the training program Officer Raymer worked directly with Wilson to become a certified bomb dog detection team.

“We don’t force things because we want the dog to enjoy his work, but there was really good chemistry between the two of them and they formed an immediate bond,” Skogen said.

As members of the Department of Homeland Security Officer Raymer and Wilson perform bomb sweeps of various areas when dignitaries visit Wyoming and also present demonstrations at schools.

“They are very pleased with Wilson and the zeal he has for the tasks he performs,” Skogen said. “He is treated almost like a celebrity and to me there could be no better job than to go work for eight hours a day and do what you love.”

Skogen and Switzer agreed Wilson is a great example of how valuable shelter animals can be if they are given a second chance and receive the proper training.

“It’s really a neat story,” Skogen said.

“Here was a dog that was sitting in a shelter and had every bit as much drive for this kind of work as a purebred that you would pay thousands of dollars for. He has really made the grade.”

“Just because a dog comes from a shelter doesn’t mean he’s a bad dog,” Switzer said.

“I am very proud of him and I am very grateful they have given him this opportunity.”