Your Pets
Northern Virginia Daily www.nvdaily.com/pets June 2015
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PETS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015
Recording data on Data Page 4
INDEX
Taking care of your pets Page 12
Demystifying your petʼs food Page 5
Puppy reunions a blast for humans Page 6 Birds are the best pet ever, say fans Page 8
Urban poultry Page 10
Sweet little sugar gliders Page 14
Wow! Whatʼs that smell? Page 15
Are you ready to become a foster family? Page 16 In-home euthanasia Page 18
The Northern Virginia Daily
A love affair Americans are serious about their pets
• Three-fourths of American households have pets • There are around 218 million pets in America • On average, American households spent about 1 percent of their income on their pets – or about $500 annually • $183 was spent on pet food annually • $141 was spent on purchase of pets,
supplies and medicines annually • $36 was spent on pet services annually • $143 was spent on veterinarian services annually • Americans age 55 to 64 spent the most money on pets – $636 for the year. • Households with just two people spent the most on pets at $656 in 2011. Households with five or more people spent $402. These facts are from the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013 article "Spending on pets: “Tails” from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. [Read it online here: http://tiny.cc/3p9jzx]
On the cover
Adopt a pet
According to data and surveys by the The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans are simply crazy in love with their pets. Thats why, in 2011, we all spent $61.4 billion on our critters. Here are a few other pet facts from data collected by the bureau in 2011:
Larry, an English bulldog owned by Stephen Truban, of Woodstock, poses for photographer Rich Cooley/Daily
Features on shelter pets for adoption can be found Wednesdays in the Northern Virginia Daily or www.nvdaily.com/pets.
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The Northern Virginia Daily
PETS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 3
Dr. Ray Grimm, owner of Warren County Veterinary Clinic, welcomes Dr. Edward Lo to the hospital staff. Dr. Lo practices small animal medicine and surgery and is looking forward to meeting local pets and their families. He is currently accepting appointments at the office phone number.
Warren County Veterinary Clinic 4310 Rivermont Dr., Front Royal, VA 22630 • 540-635-4176 • www.wcvet.com Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - noon
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Dr. Lo grew up in Wisconsin and earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin before spending a number of years in Chicago. During that time, he discovered his passion for helping animals and eventually moved to Kansas to attend veterinary school. Dr. Lo, his wife Andrea (a native of Charlottesville), and their young daughter recently relocated to the area along with their dog and two cats.
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The Northern Virginia Daily
Recording data on Data Golden retriever joins study for early detection, treatment of disease
Rachel Mahoney/Daily
Data takes a breather from romping in his backyard, which is filled with agility obstacles to keep him and retriever housemate Kenzie fit for competition.
By Rachel Mahoney WOODSTOCK – It’s been over a year since Rory and Carol Nansel enrolled their 2-year-old golden retriever Data in the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, and they’ve recorded every little detail since. The study began in 2012 as an initiative to collect extensive data from 3,000 purebred golden retrievers across the country on what ultimately causes cancer and other diseases in this much loved breed. Having fostered more than 30 golden retrievers through GRREAT, the Nansels were already looking to adopt Data when they learned about the study through the Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club. “Golden Retriever Club of America … they were really behind this and pushing it and asking all the member clubs to try to get people to sign up,” Carol Nansel said. The Nansels then approached Dr. Tom Truban at Shenandoah Animal Hospital, who looked into the study and signed on to be the approved attending veterinarian. The Nansels are the only participants in the study to check their dog into the Shenandoah Animal Hospital. Two of Data’s siblings are participating in the study from different states. Data attended his second annual checkup on May 27 as the 1,144th retriever in the study. Truban performed a full physical on the young, healthy dog and took various samples from him, including multiple vials of blood for different tests. After their analysis of the samples, Morris Foundation sent their results back to Truban for his own clinical use. In the yearly journal, Carol Nansel logged 34 pages of data on Data: his eating and sleeping habits, activity level, medications, sun exposure – all the way down to products used in the home and neighborhood like air fresheners and pesticides. “I find it very interesting that they’re looking at all this stuff,” she said, listing off some of the items. “You don’t think about it.” This meticulous recordkeeping will continue throughout Data’s life, but the Nansels were all too willing to contribute to a study that benefits veterinary science and dog owners everywhere. “For people it’s really self-motivated … we’ve heard of losing dogs as young as 4 to cancer,” Rory Nansel said.
You never know when and where a breakthrough will occur.” CAROL NANCEL,
ABOUT HOW THE STUDY CAN HELP OTHER DOG BREEDS.
on the net • More information online at
caninelifetimehealth.org The risks and benefits studied can also be applied to other dog breeds and even humans. “You never know when and where a breakthrough will occur,” Carol Nansel said. She said more than 60 percent of golden retrievers will develop cancer and out of the dogs she has lived with, all but one had cancer at some point. The Morris Foundation has already released some information – including the deaths of around seven dog “heroes” participating in the study. Truban said the findings of such a large-scale study will be invaluable for early detection and treatment of diseases in all dogs. “It’s a good idea, you can’t do that with every breed,” he said. “It’s one of the few breeds that have enough numbers and enough interest to do that. It’ll be good for the breed.” He suggested that in the future, other popular breeds might be the subjects of similar studies. The Morris Foundation sends dog care odds and ends to the participants’ owners and vets: the Nansels have a collar and leash from the study while Truban received a caliper to catalogue any lumps and bumps on Data further down the road. Data shows off his duds in agility competitions and dock diving with the Nansels – veterans of the dog sport scene with agility obstacles dotting their yard. His retriever housemate Kenzie competes in agility, dock diving and obedience, but 11-year-old Joey has retired from agility and dock diving because of a brain tumor. Contact staff writer Rachel Mahoney at 540-465-5137 ext. 164, or rmahoney@nvdaily.com.
PETS
The Northern Virginia Daily
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 5
Demystifying your pet’s food By Hilary Legge Obesity is a huge problem for today’s domesticated cats and dogs. Part of the issue is the amount of unhealthy material added to mass-produced pet food. Due to this, many pet owners have started seriously looking at the food they buy for their animals, or making their own entirely. Either option can be daunting for those new to pet nutrition. “It’s very difficult to do a homemade diet and have it be wellbalanced,” said Meridith Holloman, licensed veterinary technician at Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital in Woodstock. Known as the “food guru” at Seven Bends, Holloman became interested in pet nutrition about 16 years ago due to a cat she had at the time. He had feline immunodeficiency virus and she was looking for food that would strengthen his immune system. “The more I looked the more I got interested and I realized it was this huge can of worms.” According to Holloman, making your own pet food is tricky because there are so many variables depending on age,
corn-free because rarely do they use the good parts • For more information on pet diet plans, Seven of the corn.” Bends Veterinary Hospital For cats espeoffers lists of premium MERIDITH HOLLOMAN, LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN KNOWN AS THE ‘FOOD GURU’ AT cially, the best food and food dos and option is food SEVEN BENDS VETERINARY HOSPITAL IN WOODSTOCK don’ts to the public. that is completely grainYou can obtain a copy by breed and lifestyle. “There’s lots more to However, this isn’t as simple as it seems. free. calling (540) 459-8387 or do than just throwing food in a pot.” Many different brands of pet food have Holloman visiting While animals need a certain amount of taken to advertising the protein in the says that dry http://tiny.cc/lp8gzxonline. fat and protein, there are different miner- food, while still including too many and wet food als also needed in their diet. Holloman unnecessary components. are both fine recommends adding some type of multivi- “You have to turn to the ingredient list for cats and tamin to any homemade meal plan. and read that part. Just because it’s dogs, just be sure to look at the quality of “The nice thing when you do a homeadvertised as well-balanced that doesn’t ingredients and measure how much you made diet is it’s not cookie-cutter. You can always correlate to what the actual ingre- are giving your pets. customize it more specifically. But, there’s dient list says.” “Canned is preferable for cats. They are not just one or two minerals that are When looking at the ingredient list, Hol- carnivores and canned foods typically more important than another,” she said. loman says to look at the amount of each have a lot fewer carbs,” she said. For those who may be apprehensive to part included. The better foods are preFor dogs, while they can have canned start making their own pet food, there are dominantly meat-based and the amount food, Holloman recommends giving them still healthy options available in stores. of meat will outweigh the rest of the plain, fat-free yogurt instead as a way to “Look for meat, especially with cats. ingredients. cut back on the amount of calories. They need a lot more meat than they do She also suggests avoiding chemical grain. Cats and carbs aren’t really a good preservatives, food coloring, sweeteners Contact staff writer Hilary Legge at 540combination.” and salts. “When I recommend foods I do 465-5137 ext. 184, or hlegge@nvdaily.com
The nice thing when you do a homemade diet is it’s not cookie-cutter. You can customize it more specifically. But, there’s not just one or two minerals that are more important than another.”
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PETS
The Northern Virginia Daily
Karen Schwartz via AP
Shown here are 5-week-old puppies in Fort Collins, Colo. Research indicates puppies can recognize their siblings’ scent at this age.
Puppy reunions a blast for humans By Karen Schwartz Associated Press
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – It wasn’t up to Guinness World Record standards, but I was pretty shocked when the rescue dog we were fostering had 13 puppies. And although it was a ton of work, I resisted when the vet told me they usually divided such large litters among multiple temporary homes until they were old enough for adoption. They were, after all, a family. None looked like their redheaded mother, Goldie, yet the pups were so similar I could only tell the brown fur-balls apart by their numbered collars. Besides, they had so much fun together. A couple would start to wrestle and the others would come running, to watch or join in. The largest and the smallest were inseparable, curling up together when they slept. They all spent countless hours playing their own versions of hide and seek and king of the castle. When it came time to send them to their
But that may not be the case for dogs – they may forget their siblings’ scent if kept apart forever homes, we tried to lessen our loneliness by adopting one. We named him Simcha, the Hebrew word for joy. Still, three months later, I was thrilled when an email arrived inviting us to a puppy reunion. “I was curious to see how they would do with each other,” said Elise Branson, who arranged the gathering that drew Goldie and five of her then-5-month-old pups. They ran and played like old times. “They definitely got along,” Branson recalled. “I don’t know that they would have done that in such a large group if they weren’t that well-bonded.” Once they leave the litter, however, reunions like this might be more for the owners than for the pups.
to more than 100 pounds. One owner shared her pup’s genetic testing, which determined that Goldie is part American Staffordshire terrier and part Cardigan Welsh corgi, while the pups’ dad was a German shepherd. Other dog owners have similar pages, especially those who have adopted retired A study into kin recognition in dogs, con- racing greyhounds, since their lineage is ducted by Peter Hepper, a psychologist at more easily traceable. The site Queen’s University of Belfast in Ireland, www.facebook.com/Greyhound.Littermate found that puppies could recognize their s.List claims it has helped reconnect 1,500 siblings in the past 16 years. siblings’ smell for the first month or so, Of course, there is a difference between but by two years, if they were living reading about your pet’s siblings and apart, that was no longer true. [They could, however, still recognize their moth- watching them hang out together. So it’s especially exciting for me when we run er’s scent and vice versa.] He didn’t test into Simcha’s sisters, two of whom frefor recognition in the interim, so it’s unclear when the memory of their litter- quent the same dog park. Their owners met when they happened mates starts to fade. I had so much fun seeing the pups romp to adopt their puppies from Animal House Rescue in Fort Collins at the same together at the reunion that I started a Facebook page for the owners. Every few time just before Christmas 2013. Unbeknownst to each other, they named the months, someone posts a photo or an update. I know, for instance, that the pup- puppies June and Juna. Since then, pies now range in weight from 70 pounds REUNIONS, PAGE 7
PETS
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 7
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they’ve arranged get-togethers, often a few times a week. “They truly, truly love each other,” said June’s owner, Bonnie O’Brien, 32, a small-business owner. The dogs have a ritual greeting when they meet: They run a few laps and then settle down to play, never leaving the other’s side. “They play in a unique way too,” she said. “It’s strange to watch them. It’s more like they’re having a conversation. They will lie down and just pat each other. It’s really gentle when it’s the two of them. When she’s playing with other dogs, it more roughhouse. This is definitely different.” The research suggests that dogs who live with a sibling into adulthood seem to recognize their brother or sister’s scent, Hepper said. Because June and Juna have stayed in touch regularly since they AP photo
Two puppies from a litter of 13 play in this November 2013 photo taken in Fort Collins, Colo. Research suggests that dogs may not recognize their siblings’ smell if they’re apart for two years.
on the net • For photos of Goldie and her puppies, go to www.facebook.com/JPuppies
• Greyhound littermates: http://www.littermateslist.com moved to different homes at 8 weeks old, they might indeed know each other as siblings. Like humans, however, not every family relationship is a smooth one. “I’ve known dogs who were siblings and they wanted to kill one another,” said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, founder of the animal behavior clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, in Boston. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Goldie’s brood of 13 (nine fewer than the Guinness record.) So I don’t know about Simcha, but I can’t wait for the next reunion.
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Karen Schwartz via AP
Three of the puppies from a litter of 13 play at a reunion in Fort Collins, Colo., on March 30, 2014.
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PETS
The Northern Virginia Daily
Smart, social – and messy Each one has its own personality and they really want to hang out with you as much as possible. You can teach them tricks, and they eat a lot of the same food we do. They’re hilarious, and loads of fun.” ATINA COTE,
PET BIRD OWNER
Birds are the best pets ever, fans say By Katherine Roth Associated Press
Atina Cote’s three birds roam freely in her home, participate in making bird treats and bird toys, nibble playfully at her fingers as she types at her computer keyboard and even join her in the shower. When she walks in the front door, she says, her beloved Beeker, Schroeder and Charlie joyfully sing, “Hey Bird! Hey Bird!” “We’re one big happy flock,” says Cote, of Toronto, who has a tattoo of Beeker, her spectacled parrotlet, on one shoulder. [Schroeder is a cockatiel and Charlie a black-capped conure.] “Birds make great pets, but it’s important that you have plenty of time for them,” • More information she said. “Each online at American one has its own Federation of personality and Aviculture, which lists they really want bird breeders: to hang out with www.afabirds.org. you as much as possible. You can teach them tricks, and they eat a lot of the same food we do. They’re hilarious, and loads of fun.” “Particularly when you start out with a young hand-raised bird, it really becomes a part of the family,” she said. Of course, it’s not all pretty feathers and sweet songs. Cote admits her lifestyle “is not for clean freaks.” “They poop on you and throw their food around. I have to clean the splattered fruits and vegetables off the walls and floors. It’s a constant battle, but I love it,” she said. The birds tend to keep to a small area of her apartment, and she puts down towels there to make cleaning up easier. Although birds have never been as popu-
on the net
Barry McCann/Atina Cote via AP
Atina Cote’s pet bird, Beeker, a 6-year-old female spectacled parrotlet, perches on her shoulder lar a pet in the U.S. as dogs or cats, their fans say that’s a shame and that people just don’t know what they’re missing. “Birds are the best pets ever. They’re very smart, and while a dog will adore you no matter what you do, birds recognize you for who you are, and if you do something stupid a bird will look at you and kind of go, ‘Really?!,’” said Jamie Whittaker, a bird breeder, behavior consultant, pet shop owner and president of the Austin, Texas-based American Federation of Aviculture. And while pet birds do demand lots of time and attention, they don’t have to be walked. Cote periodically gives her birds’
wing feathers a light trim so they can fly around her home but can’t escape. If you’re thinking of buying a pet bird, make sure it hasn’t been imported, since trade in wild birds is illegal in many states, according to Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo, in New York City. “A pet bird bred in captivity and hand-fed by aviculturalists makes for a much happier, healthier pet,” he said. He also warned that even captive-bred and hand-fed larger parrots, such as cockatoos and macaws, can be noisy and destructive if they don’t get huge amounts of attention. They bond with their owners, and if they
are passed from one owner to another, their behavior grows even worse, Breheny said. “You need to be prepared to take on not only their physical care but also their emotional health. Larger parrots can live to be between 50 and 70 years old. It’s a demanding pet that you may have to make provisions for in your will,” he said. Beginners might want to consider smaller, more readily available birds like zebra finches, society finches, budgies, parakeets or cockatiels, which are domestically produced and have lifespans in the teens to 20 years, Breheny said, adding BIRDS, Page 9
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Birds Continued from Page 8
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This is Atina Cote’s pet bird Charlie, a 3-year-old black-capped conure. Cote’s three birds roam freely in her home.
that even finches and budgies will spread hulls, dander and feathers on the floor. “And if you want to hand-train a budgie or parrot, you almost have to clip its wing feathers occasionally, because if captive birds escape they can get hurt very badly,” he said. Novices should find a mentor, Whittaker said. “When you get that first bird, make sure you have someone who understands birds, who you can turn to for advice. That person can be anyone with a lot of experience with birds,” she said. Bird clubs and magazines are also great sources of information, she said. It’s best to let a bird have its own cage, Whittaker said, but if you have more than one in a cage, stick with the same species and gender. In selecting a first bird, look for one that truly interests you. “Honestly, if it’s a bird that fascinates you, that you just relate to and think is super neat, that’s the best bird for you,” Whittaker said
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PETS
The Northern Virginia Daily
Urban Poultry Chicken coops are not just for farms these days By Alex Bridges aising chickens for their eggs or meat in rural areas isn’t new, but agricultural experts say they are seeing an increase in the popularity of smaller operations for personal use in more densely populated residential areas. Woodstock resident Beth Rudy has been Rich Cooley/Daily raising chickens in her backyard for almost six years. Beth Rudy tends to her hens, Flossy, left, and Sally, right, in the “I had friends who had chickens and backyard of her home at Henry Drive and Ox Road in Woodstock. they were always giving me eggs and then I wanted my own chickens,” Rudy said. She harvests about four eggs a day from her six hens. The older chickens, she said, don’t always produce as many eggs as the younger birds. Rudy’s son Evan and his friend Michael By Alex Bridges “So we’re looking at kind of opening the Lansberry built her a henhouse and a door a little bit to allow for small chicken As backyard poultry operations grow yard for the birds. She got the chicks more popular, some localities might revis- coops and things of that nature on single- when they were a day old and raised family and duplex-type of lots,” Camp it their rules on keeping chickens but them inside until they were old enough to said. “Right now there is certainly a most counties and towns allow it. go outside. Rudy does not have any roostrestriction on anything with a lot size of Front Royal officials are in the midst of less than an acre.” ers because she said they make too much revisiting the town code pertaining to noise and are needed to breed chickens One part of the Front Royal code but not to harvest eggs, chickens and other fowl. Planning and appears to prohibit fowl from inside the Rudy spends about $20 a month on Zoning Director Jeremy Camp said officorporate limits. The section states that chicken feed, and she also provides cials are reviewing a draft of an urban “[e]xcept for duly authorized parades, agriculture ordinance that should clarify processions, zoos, circuses, rides, fairs and table scraps for her birds. She warned against feeding chickens too much bread the regulations on backyard poultry operbecause they can acquire an illness ations. REGULATIONS, PAGE 13
R
Growing popularity prompts changes in local regulations
Chickens have personality. You kind of don’t think so until you’re around them and if you spend some time with them each one’s a little bit different.” C. COREY CHILDS, EXTENSION AGENT WITH SHENANDOAH COUNTY OFFICE OF THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION known as sour crop. Bobby Clark, senior extension agent with at the Shenandoah County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, said there is an increasing trend for backyard poultry. “Some people just want to know where their food is coming from and I think there is also a contingency of people who do that especially when they have children so that their children are exposed to animal agriculture," he said. “It teaches a lot of important life lessons when you have some sort of animal that you care for.” C. Corey Childs, also an agent with the extension office, agreed that the trend is is growing both in rural and urban areas. People interested in urban poultry CHICKENS, PAGE 11
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 11
W O O D S T O C K D E N TA L C A R E
LAURA S. HERNANDEZ-DAUER, D.M.D.
We provide more than just a beautiful smile. We take great care to accommodate all of our patients.
Rich Cooley/Daily
farming face some challenges, Childs said. Homeowners or property owners associations might bar residents from keeping livestock or poultry in their yards, Childs said, noting that towns are reviewing their rules to either restrict or allow the practice. “The local food, the fresh food movement has now reached a large enough scale that people are going, ‘I’d like to have a few chickens in the backyard to have a few fresh eggs for my family,’” Childs said. “Then you also have the ability to kind of get back to nature and raise these animals, develop interaction with them.” In some cases, a person gains interest in urban farming even though his family has not been involved in agriculture for generations, Childs said. “Chickens have personality,” Childs said. “You kind of don’t think so until you’re around them and if you spend some time with them each one’s a little bit different.” Maggie and Steve Steiner have several dozen chickens on their property in the Fort Valley area outside Strasburg. Maggie Steiner works at Strasburg Farm & Home Service in the Southern States location in town. The Steiners grow the chickens for their eggs, and also have eaten the roosters. “We had the space and there’s something satisfying about growing your own food,” Maggie Steiner said. “You can tell a big difference between farm eggs and store eggs. A big difference.” Contact staff writer Alex Bridges at 540Raising chickens requires a good envi465-5137 ext. 125, or ronment, a coop with roosting perches abridges@nvdaily.com.
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Spay/Neuter Program: 540-421-4842 • HSSC Hotline: 540-984-7101 Email: info@hsscva.org • Website: www.hsscva.org To Donate: P.O. Box 173 Woodstock, VA 22664 266106
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and, if a person plans to raise laying hens, then laying boxes, Maggie Steiner said. Depending on the kind of chicken, an owner might need to make the living quarters warmer in the winter. Chickens also need a yard in which to run. Owners also should install poultry netting to not only keep chickens from roaming away but also to help prevent predators from getting to the birds, she advised. The Steiners fenced in their yard and placed netting across the top to protect the chickens from other predatory birds. Virginia state law requires that a person buy at least six chickens, Steiner noted. Backyard poultry can cost money up front, Clark said. A person would need to buy or build a chicken coop, then purchase the animals and the necessary food. “I’d be surprised if you could raise eggs cheaper than you could buy eggs,” Clark said. A homeowner keeping chickens for the eggs or as poultry should exercise basic safety, Clark advised. The extension agency offers publications and tips on food handling and safety through its family consumer science program. “Just because you’re doing it at home doesn’t mean you’re doing it safely,” Clark said. Chicken owners need to remain on guard and protect their flocks from the latest outbreak of avian flu, Childs said. The theory is that migrating birds and waterfowl are spreading the disease, putting small and large flocks at risk, he added.
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Beth Rudy, of Woodstock, holds her hen Flossy.
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The Northern Virginia Daily
Photos by Rich Cooley/Daily
Above: Warren County Veterinary Clinic veterinary assistant Hannah Bement prepares a vaccination for a dog inside the Front Royal clinic. At left: Dr. Kristen Pence, left, gives Ivy, a German shepherd, a vaccination while veterinary assistant Hannah Bement assists.
Taking care of your pets
By Josette Keelor Adopting a pet can bring joy to an animal lover’s heart, but the commitment to care for a living being comes at a cost. To keep Boots or Buddy in tip-top shape, regular vet visits are a must, and there are certain vaccinations pet owners need to know about. The big one is the rabies vaccine, said Kristen Pence, a veterinarian at the Warren County Veterinary Clinic, 4310 Rivermont Drive, Front Royal. Virginia requires all pet owners to vaccinate their kittens and puppies against rabies by the age of 4 months. Requirements under the Virginia Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control’s December 2010 report are listed at the Virginia Department of Health’s website, http://www.vdh.state.va.us. Other recommended vaccines can depend on the type of animal, Pence said. For cats, the core “distemper” vaccine combines feline rhinotracheitis, calici and panleukopenia vaccines to prevent common respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in cats. A core distemper vaccine for dogs also prevents common respiratory and gas-
can cause kidney and liver disease, and is particularly recommended for dogs exposed to wildlife, hiking and water sports since the disease can be found in infected water, soil or vegetation Lyme is a disease prevalent in the trointestinal diseases and comprises dis- available to prevent bartonella, which can Northern Shenandoah Valley and transtemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza and cause cat scratch disease, Pence explained mitted by deer ticks. Lyme can cause parvovirus. it’s caused from an infection spread by lameness, fever, anorexia and lethargy in Both vaccines are given as a series, usu- bacteria from fleas or fights with other dogs. Quality monthly flea and tick preally starting when the animal is 8 weeks cats. A person scratched or bitten by an vention and regular tick checks are key to old. They need to be repeated the follow- infected cat can acquire the disease. Cat preventing the disease. ing year and then every three years. scratches should be washed well with Bordetella, though optional, is required Pet owners should have pets examined soap and water immediately, and any for dogs staying at most kennels and by a vet within the first few days after signs of illness or infection should be boarding facilities to prevent against adoption, Pence said. reported to a doctor. Newly adopted cats should be tested for “kennel cough.” Some vaccines include only certain varitoxoplasmosis, though Pence said the disations of bacteria or viruses, called Optional feline vaccine ease is more likely to be transmitted by serotypes or serovars, so there have been Feline leukemia is a serious disease that undercooked and raw meats or garden soil where parasites live than by a litter cases of vaccinated dogs or cats still conkills 85 percent of infected cats by the age box – particularly one maintained in a tracting diseases normally prevented in of 3. Recommended for indoor/outdoor clean household. Cat owners should wash core vaccines. cats and exclusively outdoor cats, it’s However, Pence assured, vaccinated dogs transmitted from a mother cat to kittens their hands thoroughly after cleaning a litter box. and cats have a much greater chance through mutual grooming, shared food than unvaccinated animals do of warding bowls and other close day-to-day contact between cats. Before vaccinating, cats Optional canine vaccines off disease. should be tested for feline leukemia. Though there is currently no vaccine Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that VACCINES, PAGE 13
Rabies shots are required, others will keep them safe
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Dr. Kristen Pence holds onto Ivy, a German shepherd, after giving her a vaccination at the Warren County Veterinary clinic in Front Royal.
Continued from Page 12
Pet Insurance
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ically will ask for all records.” However, she said it can be a lifesaver for owners of young pets that later could need emergency care. “We have a lot of owners that have really found it helpful,” she said. Vaccinations vary in cost depending on the veterinary office and are additional to the cost of an office visit. Call ahead for details and ask your area humane society about upcoming free or reduced cost vaccines and rabies clinics.
Becoming more popular in recent years, pet insurance has become part of some regular health care policies, though with exceptions to the usual human insurance policy. Pet insurance is paid on a reimbursement basis, Pence said. “Most won’t cover pre-existing disease,” Contact staff writer Josette Keelor at 540-465-5137 ext. 176, or Pence said. “It’ll be specific to each pet you’re carrying a policy on, and they typ- jkeelor@nvdaily.com
fowl on residentially zoned property. Strasburg’s town code does not appear to regulate chickens except to state “no person shall keep any livestock or fowl within the town to the disturbance of the town citizens after ten days’ notice by the town manager.” Woodstock town code does not include any language to regulate the keeping of chickens or other fowl on residentially zoned property. The town does prohibit owners from letting fowl roam at large and from allowing such animals from making or causing frequent noise. New Market also does not regulate the keeping of chickens on private property, according to town code. Mount Jackson’s code includes a requirement that all fowl remain sufficiently housed or fenced by the owner or the person who controls the animals. Likewise, Mount Jackson requires that the housing or fenced-in area remain kept clean and in sanitary conditions. Stephens City code does require that owners of coops or pens keep such enclosures safe, clean and in sanitary condition. The town code also includes a prohibition on noise.
exhibitions, licensed pet shops, animal shelters and veterinary offices and hospitals, it shall be unlawful to raise, house, or otherwise keep livestock, fowl or exotic animals within the limits of the Town of Front Royal.” However, the code also states that the article “shall not apply to domesticated household pets, as defined herein, nor to livestock, fowl and exotic animals in transit through the Town of Front Royal by a carrier” nor “to livestock or fowl on any operating farm of one acre in size [or] more located within the town limits.” Warren County code allows the owner of property in the rural residential zoning district to keep up to 12 fowl per acre. Warren County Planner Matt Wendling noted that Freezeland Manor, off Freezeland Road, is a subdivision zoned rural residential. The use is allowed by right and does not require the property owner to obtain a special- or conditional-use permit. Structures such as pens or coops for fowl shall be located no closer than 50 feet to any property line of a residentially zoned parcel. Shenandoah County code does not Contact staff writer Alex Bridges at 540include regulations for chickens and other 465-5137 ext. abridges@nvdaily.com.
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Sugar gliders These sweet little marsupials are a rising exotic pet option
By Kevin Green From Winchester native Christine Renner’s standpoint, sugar gliders are becoming a popular option in the pet world. Renner is part of the versatile sales staff at the Winchester Aquarium and Pet Center and, by all accounts, is the shop’s expert on sugar gliders. Jeff Nethers, owner of the pet center, said they sell around two dozen gliders every year. Renner said she has seen the demand and interest for exotic pets – especially sugar gliders – increase in the last couple of years. “People, I guess, are kind of getting bored with your normal small animals. A lot of people don’t want the responsibility of a dog or a cat that don’t live in a cage,” Renner said. Sugar gliders are small nocturnal marsupials that are in same genetic family as kangaroos. According to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, gliders have a lifespan of 10-15 years and are native to portions of Australia, Indonesia and parts of New Guinea. For businesses like the Winchester Aquarium and Pet Store to sell exotic options like sugar gliders, the U. S. Department of Agriculture requires a license. Virginia is one of 10 states in the country that has a partial ban on the private ownership of certain exotic animals, including barred tiger salamanders and piranhas. However, the sale of sugar gliders is legal in Virginia, as it is with most areas nationwide. Prior to joining the sales team, for about a year and a half Renner noted that she independently took care of and found new homes for sugar gliders that previous owners had surrendered. She explained that she would “rescue” the gliders and take them home to her apartment to socialize them until she could find new homes by working with the store. She noted that she tried to get the gliders to a calm state by socializing with them as much as possible, without actually bonding to them. “They weren’t staying with me,” she said, “I was purely just kind of making them realize that all humans aren’t going to ignore them.”
They’re unique ... They’re really very cool little odd creatures.” CHRISTINE RENNER, SALES STAFF MEMBER AT WINCHESTER AQUARIUM AND PET CENTER AND OWNER OF THREE SUGAR GLIDERS Renner explained, adding that it allows the glider to get more comfortable with its owner. Once the glider and owner have become bonded, the owner can take the glider out of its cage and carry it in a bonding pouch, Nethers said. On the whole, Renner said that gliders are relatively affordable to take care of, especially considering a diet that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as yogurt. While caring for gliders is not expensive, Nethers said that the initial set-up can cost several hundred dollars, with everything from the glider to a cage. Nethers said this limits the number of people who can adopt a glider. “They wouldn’t be an animal that you would just take, stick in a cage and treat like a hamster.” He added, “Parents usually say they are buying them for their kids, but in effect, they are buying them for themselves as well.” Renner said that she does not rescue gliders anymore, but she does own three gliders – including a 1 1/2-year-old female named Clementine, who spends time in the store with her. Kevin Green/Daily Renner noted that the store has eight Christine Renner, of the Winchester Aquarium and Pet Center, holds her gliders available and stressed that they pet sugar glider, Clementine. are a pretty popular option at the moment. “We definitely notice [the demand] more She said this approach was effective in the family.” He added that this process is whenever we don’t have them in,” Renner helping the gliders find a new home. mandatory and can take “anywhere from said, adding that the store puts together Eventually, this partnership with the several days to several months.” store turned into a job for Renner. The initial bonding between a glider and lists of people who have requested sugar According to Renner, taking care of a its owner is unique since gliders are scent gliders. “They’re unique,” she said. “They’re realglider is not like taking care of a dog. bonders that imprint themselves on to a ly very cool little odd creatures.” Sugar gliders, she said, can learn rounew owner by way of smell. tines, but cannot learn commands. “You can actually take a shirt you wear Contact staff writer Kevin Green at 540Nethers noted, “They’re a social bonding or a pillow case … and you put in [the creature, so they really want to be part of cage] and you let them sleep with it,” 465-5137 ext. 155, or kgreen@nvdaily.com
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 15
Wow! What’s that smell? By Beth J. Harpaz Associated Press
Buddy is a New York City dog, accustomed to bedtime walks around the block on a leash. But on family vacations in rural Maine, I let her out the back door each night unaccompanied. One night last summer, she was gone awhile. I called to her and when she finally stumbled back, she seemed stunned. Her fur and face glistened in the dark. Then the sickening, unmistakable odor hit. She’d been sprayed by a skunk. It was late and we were miles from stores that sell dog shampoo or even tomato juice, which I vaguely recalled hearing was a remedy. But my sister found a simple recipe online using ingredients we had: a quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, a quarter-cup baking soda, and a teaspoon or two of liquid soap. We kept Buddy outside while applying the solution to her fur. The smell immediately dissipated. I became curious about this miraculous antidote for one of the most unbearable smells on earth. Here’s what I learned.
on the net
Did your dog just get skunked? A chemist’s tale
He gave Krebaum credit, but got nearly a half-million pageviews. In 1993, chemist Paul Krebaum was In an interview, Krebaum said he never working for Molex, a manufacturer head- patented or sold the formula, partly quartered in Illinois, when he developed a because the solution can’t be stored; it substance with odors that were “not must be fresh to work. He could have appreciated by others in the building,” as developed a solid version, but wasn’t in he recounts on his website. Krebaum marketing. “I like inventing things,” he devised a compound to neutralize the said. smell, and created a gentler version – the skunk remedy – when a colleague’s cat was skunked. Skunk spray science He sent the story to Chemical & EngiSkunk stink comes from a family of sulneering News. It was later reported by fur molecules called thiols. Hydrogen perthe Chicago Tribune. He’s been getting oxide or bleach changes the molecule "to thank-you letters ever since, along with something that does not stink” by oxidizthousands of pageviews on his website. ing it, said Theodore Stankowich, assisHe’s rightly proud of the formula: It’s tant professor at California State Univercheap, biodegradable and ecofriendly. A sity, Long Beach, who runs a lab that “Mythbusters” show even confirmed its studies skunk behavior. effectiveness. Krebaum’s “hydrogen peroxide formula William F. Wood, emeritus professor of chemistry at Humboldt State University is the best one that I’ve ever seen,” said Stankowich. “I’ve used it on my hands in Arcata, California, helped popularize after I’d been sprayed. It immediately the recipe by posting it on another site.
• Paul Krebaum’s skunk remedy: home.earthlink.net/~ skunkremedy/home • Stankowich Lab: www.facebook.com StankowichLab • William Wood’s “Deodorize Skunk Spray”: users.humboldt. edu/wfwood/deodorize.shtm
took away the scent.” And don’t bother with tomato juice. “The reason people use [tomato juice] is because the nose is suffering from olfactory fatigue,” Jerry Dragoo, who studies skunks in his work as a mephitologist at the University of New Mexico, explained, citing research by Wood. “Tomato juice will temporarily overwhelm the skunk smell. However, when you go outside to get a breath of fresh air and then come back in, all you smell is skunk.” SKUNK, PAGE 16
AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz
If your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, mix a quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid detergent and apply to the fur. The recipe was developed in the 1990s by chemist Paul Krebaum and remains the most effective remedy available.
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Saying goodbye? Just part of the job Associated Press
Ask anyone who fosters dogs and they’ll tell you that everyone says it. “I hear it almost every time I adopt out a dog: ‘I don’t know how you do this, I wouldn’t be able to let them go,’” says Anne Auditore of Richmond, Virginia, intake coordinator for Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue. But many people who foster dogs have pretty much the same reply: Sure, you sometimes feel that way – but not as much as you might think. Says Auditore, “You can love them all, but they’re still not a good fit for your family.” The kids wouldn’t be able to stand it, though, right? Forming an attachment
Skunk
Stankowich said. “They do not want to spray you.” But dogs – clueless as they can sometimes be – just “aren’t receptive” to skunk sigContinued from Page 15 nals, he said. Whatever instincts their wolf ancestors Skunk behavior had to avoid skunks have been lost over "Skunks are nocturnal, but more likely to generations of domestication. Stankowich’s be out in the evening and early morning," lab is researching whether different dog said Dragoo.They like “edge habitat,” with breeds respond differently to skunks. brush, vegetation and burrows next to open “Some dogs get sprayed once,” he said. space, said Stankowich. “Some never learn.” Skunks are omnivores. They’ll dig for beetles, worms and grubs, but also love human trash – including dog and cat food Warnings and advice in bowls left outside, Stankowich said. Hydrogen peroxide may bleach your dog’s Leashing your dog in places and at times fur. Also, use a washcloth to apply the of day when skunks are active – dawn, magic formula to your dog’s face, being dusk, after dark – can reduce the risk of careful to keep it away from the eyes. encounters. Hydrogen peroxide “can cause corneal ulcers,” said Dragoo. Dog behavior Bleach also removes skunk odor, but don’t use it on dogs – just on porches, lawn furniStankowich says many predator mamture and other things skunks might spray. mals avoid skunks. Coyotes, wolves and mountain lions have been known to retreat Hydrogen peroxide decomposes over time. Buy a new bottle periodically, and don’t if they encounter one. Skunks typically make Krebaum’s formula in advance. issue warnings before spraying. For big or long-haired dogs, Krebaum rec“They will charge you, hiss at you, stick ommends diluting the formula with warm their tail in the air – a whole suite of behaviors warning you not to come near,” water so you can apply it more thoroughly.
ests tend toward behavioral rehabilitation. “I’m really big on positive training to get them socialized and more adoptable,” she says. “I’m a sucker for the hard cases.” Shelters in particular are often looking for foster homes for animals that need special attention. But many private rescue groups have all their animals in foster homes, and many of these are normal, healthy dogs. What Auditore’s group is looking for in a foster home is simply a responsible dog owner, and they need a lot of them: Last year, they found homes for around 450 pugs. So you don’t need to live on a big ranch or be home all day to foster an animal. “Most of us work full time. A lot of people have kids and families,” she says. Volunteering with her group involves basically the same process as adopting an animal: filling out a form with basic information about your home, family, and schedule, and vet and personal references. Then there’s a home visit, to see which dogs will fit your situation. FOSTERING, A17
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days, she came to her senses and realized we were not looking for another member of our family, we’re looking to help find this dog a home.” OK, so maybe the kids are good with it, but what about the dog you already have? First impressions are important. “You have to understand that each animal is going to change the dynamic of your household in a different way,” says Carrie Santiago of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, who fosters for The Southern Dog. “I always introduce them in a neutral area. I don’t bring a dog into my home and say, ‘Have a free-for-all.’” Supervise all early encounters, separatCourtesy of Amy Breckenridge Smith/AKBS Photo ing the dogs with crates, baby gates or Robin Young holds Faith the pug, a securely closed doors when you go out. foster dog at The Promenade in “From there, we slowly integrate them all Charlotte, N.C. together – let them be together for short amounts of time – and then if that goes and then saying goodbye? well we leave them out with our guys In fact, in Denise Dunn’s case, fostering during the day,” says Auditore. was her daughter’s idea. Still, aren’t these going to be dogs with “We had the dog for one day and she was big problems? Sure, some of them. Audiall, ‘We can never give this dog back,’” tore often fosters dogs who need surgery, says Dunn, who fosters for the Southside and others in her group specialize in SPCA in Virginia. “However, after several blind, deaf or old dogs. Santiago’s inter-
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The Value of a loyal friend
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Continued from A16
“For example, our house has a lot of stairs, so we’re not going to be a good fit for a blind dog or a dog with mobility issues,” says Auditore. If you’re interested in fostering, research how your local rescue groups work. Ask how they place dogs in foster homes – you shouldn’t be pressed to take on issues you’re not comfortable with. Find out what expenses are covered and whether you need to use a particular vet. How long you end up having a foster pet depends on many factors – puppies, for instance, tend to go faster – including how expeditiously paperwork is processed, so ask about the group’s average. Find out how you’ll participate in finding your foster pet a home. Your input should be valued since you know the dog’s behavior in a home. Policies differ on who makes the final decision. At shelters, it may be largely up to staff; Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue is at the other extreme. “We leave it up to the fosters because they’re the ones that know these dogs,” says Auditore.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 17
More information online: • http://www.southsidespca.org • http://www.thesoutherndog.com • http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org
OK, but what if you really DON’T want to give them up? Some people do end up adopting their foster pet, and while that’s jokingly called a “foster failure,” it’s not necessarily bad. Make sure you know the organization’s policies here as well – you may get priority, but not at the expense of putting off other applicants indefinitely. In the end though, the idea is to let most foster pets go, and yes, it can be bittersweet to say goodbye. “It gets easier over time. The first one is the hardest,” says Auditore. But that’s where the real reward lies, as Santiago learned when she saw her first foster pet, whom she had nursed through illness, at the dog park a few months later. “It was so awesome to see him with his new family,” she says. “That sealed the deal – it’s worth every bit of energy you put in.”
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The last breath - at home In-home euthanasia a popular option for pet owners Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. – When Dr. Meg McNabb, a veterinarian, arrived at our front door, I knew where I would find Echo, our dying tabby cat: upstairs in her favorite bedroom, beneath the chaise lounge. I climbed the stairs first while McNabb and my wife waited downstairs. I peeked beneath the chaise. Echo peeked back. I carefully pulled her out, sat on a bed and put her on my lap. She lay there, spent. She looked me in the eyes. I assured her everything was OK. I told Echo that her humans were going to miss her. My wife, Christina, brought Meg McNabb upstairs. The veterinarian let the events unfold as naturally as they could. Echo stayed on my lap. “What a sweet little peanut,” McNabb said before injecting Echo first with a sedative and then with an overdose of barbiturates. While my hand rested on Echo’s soft, tiger-striped flank, I felt her last breath. As we humans become closer to our pets, our ways of parting with them are evolving. Many people are now choosing to have their animal companions put down at home, reflecting a heightened sensitivity to what pets might be thinking and feeling. “Doing this at home creates much less stress,” says McNabb, a veterinarian with Compassionate Care Home Pet Euthanasia Service in Portland. “It’s also a way to make it a more meaningful process.” Kathleen Cooney runs an online directory of veterinarians who perform in-home euthanasia services. Over the past five years, the directory has grown to more than 350 services nationwide. “Five years ago we were struggling to find people to put on our directory. Now it’s growing by maybe five a month,” said Cooney, a Colorado veterinarian who specializes in pet euthanasia. Vets who perform this service need patience. And compassion. When they show up at someone’s home to put down their pet, the owner often doesn’t know what to expect. “We like to let the family shape and mold the experience,” said Cooney. As grim as the deed is, performing this service can be rewarding for veterinarians. They get to see a more intimate side of humans’ relationship with their pets than
they would at a clinic. Some humans send off their beloved pet with a party. “It might be like an Irish wake, with people laughing and telling stories,” says Cooney. Rituals are not uncommon. McNabb, who euthanizes perhaps 70 pets each month, has witnessed Wiccan and Buddhist ceremonies during house calls. My wife and I had previously had two cats put down, both times at a clinic. As Echo became sicker, as she lost interest in food and water, and after an overnight stay at an emergency hospital failed to stop the downward spiral, we talked seriously about when and how to have her euthanized. Echo was an exceptionally timid cat. When someone visited, she’d scamper beneath the chaise upstairs. Trips to the clinic were a torment for her – the pet carrier, the half-hour drive, alien hands groping her. We decided Echo’s final moments should be as dignified and calm as possible. Inhome euthanasia costs more than having it done at a clinic. But for us, it was the best way. When McNabb arrived, she explained the procedure’s technical aspects and we talked about how we wanted it done. McNabb told me to take my time talking with Echo. She would be ready when we were. Echo gazed at my face as I soothed her. We humans have no idea what our pets are thinking when we speak to them, especially cats, with their supposed indifference. But living with cats has made me suspect that our words mean a lot to them. When Echo was healthy, nearly every morning she’d come to me when I was sleeping and pat my mouth with her paw, until I spoke to her. As I held Echo that last time, all kinds of thoughts and feelings rushed through my brain: sadness, of course, but also a sense of wonder, of a heightened connection. Echo’s death left two cats in our household. One of them, Gatteau, also became grievously ill. When the time was right, we again called McNabb to our home. Our remaining cat is a beautiful, black long-hair named Miranda who likes to strike grand poses whenever she favors us with her presence, as if she were Nefertiti’s reincarnation. Miranda is 16. She aced her last physical. But when the time comes, we know how to reach Meg McNabb. And we’ll probably have a party, one that is appropriate for a feline queen.
AP Photo/Don Ryan
Meg McNabb, who has been doing pet home euthanasias for two years, leans down to give her dog Ruby a kiss. As we humans become closer to our pets, our ways of parting with them are going through an evolution. An increasing number of people are choosing to have their animal companions put down at home.
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