Paw Prints Canada Issue #1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pet Food & Nutrition

04

07 08 10 12

Healthy Hearty Holiday Treats by Laura L. Benn Animal Health & Safety

Purrfect Celebrations by Toronto Cat Rescue Someone Fire the Pied Piper by Tiffany Maxwell Pet-Safe Ways to Deck the Halls by Claire Rowsell

Think Twice: the pros and cons of giving a pet as a gift by Emily Bain

Animal Rights

14 16

18 20

Pound Seizure by Animal Alliance of Canada Why I’m a Vegan by Samantha Najarro Working Together

New Lives by Joanne Wannan Are You Listening to Me? by Jan Morgan The Urban Jungle

22 24

A Pigeon in a Pear Tree by Trout Paved Paradise by Peter Fruchter ZOO–ology

26

Saving Lucy by Anthony Marcusa Pampered Pets

28 31

Cool Holiday Gifts Your Pets will Love... and so will you! by Miranda Rigby Pet Photographers Share Their Stories by Kiri Ipsen

Pet Food & Nutrition

Healthy Hearty Holiday Treats

by Laura L. Benn WHILE THE IRRESISTIBLE SCENTS of roasting turkey, warming shortbread and frothing eggnog linger in the air, so too does the perpetual worry of packing on a few too many holiday pounds. But what about the holiday weight put on by your pets? Although, ‘tis the season for splurging and spoiling, when it comes to dishing out decadent pet treats, a lot of owners are barking up the wrong Christmas tree.

Rather than feeding your beloved pooch treats containing unnatural preservatives and additives, which can be harmful to their digestion and general nutrition, why not consider going to an all-natural pet bakery and getting some healthy gourmet goodies instead?

8 Pet Treat Bakery

Founded by Carol Elliot in 2004, Pet Treat Bakery (pettreatbakery.ca), located on beautiful Vancouver Island, creates highquality, natural-ingredient, sweet treats fit for any furry friend.

To make a long story short, a little SPCA rescue dog called Spike is the reason behind Pet Treat Bakery. Spike refused to eat usual commercial treats, so one day Elliot’s daughter-in-law suggested baking

for the fussy little dog. The resulting banana biscotti was wolfed down in two seconds flat.

4

Elliot continued baking for Spike and a few canine chums, using only wholesome chemical-free ingredients, until something reminiscent of the “Twilight Bark” from Disney’s 101 Dalmatians happened. Demand for Elliot’s delicious pet-savvy treats skyrocketed, and before she knew it, a bakery was born. Today, Pet Treat Bakery’s products are sold in 35 different shops and five veterinary clinics – and Spike is the company’s president.

“A lot of junk goes into typical pet foods and treats,” says Elliot, sadly. “When you’ve got a dog or a cat, you have to look beyond the price point, as you would with your children, and take a real look at what you feed them. If you wouldn’t put it on the table for yourself, don’t put it in your dog’s bowl.”

The philosophy behind Pet Treat Bakery is threefold: 1. Treats have to be all natural. “Peanut butter has to be just peanut butter,” Elliot insists. “No chemicals that you can’t pronounce.”

2. Treats have to be tasty. Spike always lends a paw with this process, although sometimes a difference of opinion occurs between official taste tester and chief baker. “I hate liver pate, but he loves it,” chuckles Elliot, who guarantees Pet Treat Bakery’s products are safe for human consumption.

3. Treats have to be affordable.

Nowadays a lot of dogs have developed environmental and wheat allergies, so Elliot has modified several recipes to suit these otherwise treatdeprived pups. The sumptuous Sweet Potato Pie, for example, is made with no grains, no eggs and no dairy, so dogs with allergies can indulge. Dehy-

drated beef, bison and pork liver are also allergy friendly and contain no cholesterol.

Elliot warns, however, that although her pet products are safe for human consumption, not all human foods are safe for pets, like chocolate, for instance. Onions can also be lethal to dogs; while grapes, currants and raisins harm the canine kidneys, and some dogs have trouble digesting peppers.

“People should be especially careful about giving their dogs Christmas dips with an onion base or leaving chocolates on tables this time of year,” says Elliot. She recommends, instead, trying your hand at making some tasty Christmas Twisters [see sidebar].

8 Bon A-Pet-Treat! Pet Bakery

Emily Ho never dreamed she would start an all-natural pet bakery, but while attending university, a chocolate lab led her from paramedic studies down an entirely different path.

“This poor dog had every allergy in the book,” recalls Ho, “including horrific ear infections.” When it seemed that all hope was lost and the poor fellow was going to have to be put down, Ho switched his food over to a raw diet, and in just two weeks, she saw a significant change. “He used to have black tar leaking from his ear all the time because of the infections,” Ho says.

“But it cleared up after being on the raw food.”

A friend and Ho then came up with the idea to not only make dog treats look good, but to keep them healthy too. In 2006, Bon A-Pet-Treat! (bonapettreat.com) opened in Calgary, Alberta.

Everything is made from scratch with the freshest ingredients. “We try to keep our treats looking good, but we don’t slather things in yogurt or overdo it,” says Ho – a great believer in letting taste speak for itself. Entirely vet approved, Bon A-Pet-

Dedicated to the compassionate a r t s . c ucare l t u of r eall. lcreatures iving

Treats! products bring pet feeding back to basics. “It’s a whole-food concept,” reveals Ho. “People are always looking for better ways to eat for themselves, so it only makes sense that we do that for our pets too.”

Bon A-Pet-Treat! offers a wide range of unique canine products from the oh-so popular Cheese Hydrants, Peanut Butter Banana Bones and Honey Apple Bears to a variety of “pupcakes,” including mud pie, carrot, and brownie flavours. They also produce adorable specialty gift baskets for milestone events in a pooch’s life. For example, there’s the “Nuts I’ve Been Neutered” or “Congratulations on Your New Puppy” baskets – both filled with wholesome drool-worthy delicacies. And for kitties, they offer hard biscuits in Seafood Medley, Cheese Bites, and Liver Chunks.

When it comes to knowing what is good for your pet and what is harmful, Ho says, “just read the label. You should know what you’re getting and what you’re giving. You should be comfortable in knowing what is in a product, that cheese is actually cheese and not some flavour-filled chemical.”

Bon A-Pet-Treat! creates different novelty treats for every holiday and is sure to have an abundance of stocking stuffers in store this season.

8 Spoil the Dog Bakery

What is Rachelle Jandard’s secret to spoiling dogs rotten and keeping them healthy?

Slow baking.

“Every biscuit we make is baked slowly to retain the nutrition of the ingredients,” says Jandard, owner and founder of Spoil the Dog Bakery (spoilthedogbakery.com) in Guelph, Ontario. “Most large companies can’t take the time to bake slowly and, instead, blast their biscuits at about 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, which cooks a lot of the nutrition right out of the product.”

Jandard bakes at an even 300 degrees Fahrenheit, no higher, no lower. She also does not grind the flax seed she uses (an excellent source of Omega-3, which is great for the skin and coat) – once again, preserving as much of the fundamental nutrition and flavour as possible.

Jandard was inspired by her now nineyear-old dog Moka and a desire to give her canine companion only the best, after realizing she had no idea what the majority of ingredients were in typical dog treats.

A great deal of research and trial and error later, Jandard developed a few recipes and started giving them out amongst friends. A few months later, Global Pets caught a whiff of what was cooking and propositioned Jandard about wholesaling.

Spoil the Dog Bakery now supplies 100 locations with hand-made gourmet, nutrition-packed pet indulgences.

Spoil the Dog refuses to bake with corn, wheat, soy, salt, sugar or any artificial preservatives, preferring to use as many organic ingredients as possible for increased flavour and nutrition and to support farmers who are attempting to help the environment. The primary base in Jandard’s culinary concoctions is the humble chickpea, which is very high in calcium, low in calories, and safe to eat for wheat allergy sufferers.

Fashioned into cute little shapes, including stars, maple leaves, flowers and donuts, these gourmet treats pack quite the nutritional punch, winning praise from veterinarians, pet owners and, of course, the pets! Spoil the Dog also cooks for the fussy felines of the world and, as of this year, horses too!

There are even some simple, healthy snacks you can start feeding your dog to-

5

day right at home. Carrots are a terrific lowcalorie snack, as are apple slices. Oatmeal is easy enough to whip up and provides essential amino acids, while being a great source of fibre and iron. Even *garlic can be chopped up and given as a rewarding tidbit, to help cleanse the blood, prevent pesky fleas and boost the immune system.

So this holiday season, why not treat your pet the way you would want to be treated? With a delicious mouth-watering snack that also happens to be good for you. *Ed. Note: Some pets cannot tolerate garlic. Please check with your veterinarian or an animal nutritionist to be sure.

T a s t y T r e a t s f o r Yo u r C a n i n e C o m p a n i o n s 8 Christmas Twisters Courtesy of Pet Treat Bakery (Makes 100 canes and 50 knots) Ingredients: • 6 cups whole wheat white flour • 6 cups ordinary white flour • 3 ½ cups water • 1 cup vegetable oil • 1 tablespoon garlic granules (*see note regarding garlic) • 1 small beet Method: • Chop beet into small pieces. Boil in 1 ¾ cups water until very soft. Blend until smooth and allow to cool completely. Measure beets and liquid carefully to make sure you have 1 ¾ cups at the end.

• Mix 6 cups whole wheat white flour, 1 ¼ cups water, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 1 tbsp garlic granules until well blended. Divide dough into four sections and place in plastic bags. Set aside.

• Mix 6 cups flour, ½ cup vegetable oil, and cooled beet mixture. Divide this red–coloured dough into four balls and place in plastic bags.

• Roll one ball of the white mixture until ¼ inch thick. Roll one ball of the red mixture until ¼ inch thick. Place red dough on a non-stick cookie sheet and moisten lightly with water.

Place the rolled white dough directly on top of the red dough.

• Cut into strips ½ inch wide and 5 inches long.

• Twist dough into a corkscrew shape, then form into candy-cane shapes. Use left-over dough to make knots.

• Place on a stick-free cookie sheet, making certain the candy canes do not touch.

• Bake in a 350–degree F (180 °C) pre-heated oven for 30 minutes. Then turn off the oven and leave to cool in the oven overnight. Note: If you are using a convection oven, turn the heat down by 25 °F (20 °C).

• Store in an open container or wrap in a cardboard gift box. It doesn’t have to be airtight.

8 Wheat-Free Canine Christmas Cookies Courtesy of Spoil the Dog Bakery Ingredients: • 3 cups brown rice flour • 3 cups oats • ½ cup peanut butter • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce • ¼ cup flaxseed • 2 cups purified water • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ginger • 1 teaspoon nutmeg • 1 teaspoon cloves Method: • With a whisk, mix together peanut butter and water in a large bowl.

• When smooth add applesauce, spices and flaxseed.

• Combine well and add brown rice flour and oats, one cup at a time. Mix well after each cup.

• Once the dough forms a ball, roll it out to desired thickness and cut into holiday shapes.

• Place the cut out shapes on a parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 45 minutes until hard.

6

PawPrintsCanada.com

Animal Health & Safety

CATS IN THE CITY a regular feature by the volunteers at Toronto Cat Rescue

PURRF ECT CELEBRATIONS • SHINY BALLS The festive season is a busy time for everyone, so please take a few moments to ensure it is safe for your beloved kitty as well.

• NO KISSING MISTLETOE

UNDER

THE

Popular plants like poinsettias, mistletoe and holly are extremely toxic if ingested by your cat and can cause anything from gastrointestinal upset to cardiac problems to comas to death. If you cannot avoid having them in your home, please be sure to keep them far out of reach. Also, make sure your Christmas tree is well anchored and do not add chemicals to the water.

• PUR R FEC T P R E S E N T S When wrapping gifts, please use cloth ribbon versus curling ribbon and bows. Cats are enticed by shiny ribbon, but if eaten it can wrap around their intestines or cause serve blockage in their bowels, leading to expensive surgery or death. After your wrapping is done, be sure to clean up carefully and put all your wrapping supplies away.

• TINSEL-FREE TREE Pretty, shiny tinsel icicles and garland are big no-nos on a cat-safe Christmas tree. Like curling ribbon, tinsel is very harmful to cats when ingested, so please do not place it on the tree. Use beaded garlands or long cloth ribbons instead.

• SAY NO TO FAUX SNOW AND HIDE THE WIRES There are a wide range of decorations used to brighten your home for the holidays and a wide range of hazards that accompany them.

From the toxic artificial snow on the windows to sharp staples and tacks that deck the halls, decorations should be used with caution.

All electrical wires should be taped down or placed behind heavy furniture. All of these items can be tempting for cats and are often mistaken for toys.

When decorating your tree, please remember to hang the glass ornaments out of reach of your cat. Cats can be tempted by shiny decorations that can easily break when they fall off the tree, leaving glass on the ground to step on or ingest.

• CHRISTMAS CHEER Christmas generally means a lot more guests visiting your home, and the air of excitement can cause people to be more carefree (and careless) than usual. Please enclose your cat in a safe, cozy room with food, water, toys and a litter box before the guests arrive. This will prevent kitty from slipping outside when the front door is opening and closing. Like anyone, your cats can become stressed by the crowds and noise at big gatherings and will appreciate the chance to be alone for a while.

After the guests have left, a cozy cuddle with your cat will be well received.

• TREATS, TREATS AND MORE TREATS Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without all the delicious treats that come with it.

Unfortunately, most of our favourite holiday snacks are also some of the most dangerous to cats. Chocolate is a potential hazard that can actually kill a cat depending on its size, the type of chocolate and the quantity consumed. It can lead to extreme hyperactivity or even seizures. Please be careful about the ways you include chocolate in your celebrations. For example, it’s important to keep chocolates away from easily accessible areas, such as hanging in stockings or on your tree.

If you feel you must give your pets a special treat on Christmas day, try making their regular diet more exciting by giving them extra kitty treats or some tuna.

Toronto Cat Rescue wishes you and your family a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and new year.

For adoption and fostering information, please visit torontocatrescue.ca.

PawPrintsCanada.com

7

Animal Health & Safety

Someone

Fire t h e

Pi ed Pi pe r

Astaroth

I SUPPOSE I WAS ASKING FOR IT the began to breed the most docile and attractive first time.

I was chatting with a British co-worker one day when I mentioned I was thinking about getting a pet again, having said goodbye to my beloved dog some six months earlier.

“That’s lovely! What will you get? Another dog?”

No, not another dog. I was a single lady working full time with a small apartment and a busy life outside of work – a lifestyle I felt was incompatible with the needs of a dog. No, I told my colleague, I had narrowed down my options to either a cat or a pair of rats.

“Rats?! But they bite! They spread disease!

Their tails are gross! Bubonic plague! Won’t someone think of the bubonic plague?!”

All right, to be fair, the British relationship with rats is one of mutual terrorism. Rats carried the fleas that spread the bubonic plague, and the Brits retaliated nicely by inventing the sport of rat baiting. Funnily enough, it was Queen Victoria’s official rat catcher, Jack Black, who noticed that rats were not all unsociable fur balls of disease. It was he who

8

ones, and ten minutes later, the world had a breed of rat suitably gentle and refined for Victoria herself to keep as a royal pet.

Also, my co-worker never actually said, “Won’t someone think of the bubonic plague?”or anything else in that sentence, but I do enjoy a nice bit of hyperbole to make my point. Really, she was a lovely woman and her disgust tastefully understated.

Her reaction, in spirit, was not unique.

Other co-workers, friends and family members from all walks of life balked at the notion of pet rats. As my aunt pointed out, I’ve never lived anywhere where rats have been a problem, and conversely, I don’t think I’d ever warm to the idea of an adorable pet earwig. But the domesticated rat is quite removed from the dumpster-diving variety seen gorging on week-old McDonald’s in a trash can.

8 Picking a Pet In my search for a new pet, I considered lots of common domestic rodents: hamsters, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs (but not rabbits; rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents), but everything

By Tiffany Maxwell I read kept leading me back to one inescapable conclusion: rats rule.

This belief was confirmed by Dr. Rick Axelson, an exotic animal vet in Toronto, who was kind enough to illustrate for me the differences between rats and a few other types of pet rodents.

Hamsters, he tells me, with very few exceptions, are not interested in human contact. They sleep during the day and object to being woken, mainly with their teeth. A few hundred years of human contact has not made much difference in their living habits, and to keep a hamster happy, your best bet is to recreate the environment of the Asian Steppes to which, psychologically, they are still accustomed. Namely, they need an environment with lots of places to burrow, somewhere to hoard their food, and for you to leave them alone. For someone who works full time and doesn’t own a TV, a hamster is a cute bit of slapstick to zone out to before bedtime.

Gerbils and mice fall across the spectrum between hamsters and rats. Both are a bit more personable, although still more likely to nip than a rat. Gerbils, Axelson says, are best left to more experienced owners. They can be impatient and jumpy and difficult to keep hold of. Mice are the nicer of the two, but still not as affectionate as rats, having more problems with odours and provoking allergies. Out of all four, mice also have the shortest life spans, living only a year or two.

In my research on guinea pigs, I’ll concede (even with my rampant prejudice) that they sound lovely. Sweet and affectionate, they are suitable pets for children over the age of six. However, the potential guinea pig owner should bear in mind that guinea pigs require more space, more grooming and also shed (unless you get a hairless one, but personally, I find the idea of putting the words cuddle, hairless and pig in the same sentence revolting, but then again, I am also shallow).

Despite their larger size, guinea pigs are very delicate, so great care needs to be taken in holding them or having them on furniture, since a fall can easily be fatal.

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

Charming as they may be, though, I think I would still take a rat. I’d take two rats, in fact, since they are happiest when kept with at least one same-sex buddy. Actually, they’re probably rapturously happy with an oppositesex buddy, but the same cannot be said for the inevitable several hundred ratlets and for the frazzled owner, who could not possibly keep or place them all, thereby dooming them to poor care and poor health. I went with two boys in the end, and I have to say, except for maybe getting a dog again in some far-off hypothetical future (and a pony), I don’t think I’d ever have any other pet.

8 Caring for Rats Rats are an absolute delight. Loving, intelligent, full of personality, they are also lowmaintenance, both in terms of work and wallet. A cage large enough for two set me back about fifty dollars, and toys can be free if you’re resourceful. A piece of ribbon, pompoms from the craft table, an old shirt with a few tissues and treats hidden in it, and they’re good to go. Other than that, your only ongoing cost is for food and bedding. The rats themselves were about eleven dollars each from the pet store.

In my initial research of rat ownership, nearly every source I found said, if possible, you should avoid getting a rat at a pet store.

Your best bet, I was told, was to get them from a rat breeder. Unfortunately, rat breeders in Ontario appear to be few and far between, and I was leery about getting a kind of animal I’d never taken care of before from a shelter, in case of health or behavioural issues. I asked the vet what he thought of pet stores in Canada for purchasing small rodents. In general, Axelson says the larger chains are okay. Not perfect, but okay. From my end, here are a few things to look for:

called porphyrin. Some rats will have spots of it under their nose fairly regularly, and although it won’t be an emergency, it can sometimes mean illness is looming on the horizon.

Overall, look for a rat that is curious and active with clear, bright eyes and a sleek coat.

so just out of spite. It’s much better to name them for comical juxtaposition. So I’d like to introduce you to Astaroth and Lord Humplebottom.

My future children won’t be thanking me either.

8 Respect Your Rodent Something I’ve come across repeatedly is the idea of rats and other rodents as “starter pets.” I find the concept irritating. Dogs and cats require clean shelter, food, water, exercise, healthcare, and attention. Pet rodents require clean shelter, food, water, exercise, healthcare, and attention (except for hamsters). Their quality of life requires the same amount of respect as would be offered to a puppy. Please do your research, and don’t buy them as placeholders for the dog your kid really wants.

To be passed from home to home or abandoned in the wild is traumatic for any living creature, and just because their bodies are toy sized does not mean their brains are.

My boys have been living with me a year now, and I wouldn’t give them up for the world. I was going to name them Bubonic and Streptococcus, just to annoy my detractors, but one look into their precious little faces, and I felt in my heart that it was wrong to do

Lord Humplebottom

4 Bedding: If the bedding looks like wood shavings, ask an employee what kind they are. If the answer is cedar or pine, walk away.

Cedar and pine bedding contain irritants to rats’ lungs, setting them up for respiratory issues. Aspen or corn cob bedding is okay. Paper bedding, like CareFresh, is probably best.

4 The Rats: Pick them up (carefully) and look at them. Listen to their breathing. Is it harsh? Are they sneezing? Check for red tears around the eyes and nose. That is a substance

PawPrintsCanada.com

9

Animal Health & Safety

Pet-Safe Ways to Deck the Halls

By Claire Rowsell

DANIELLE WATERS quickly realized she

needed to do some major planning for her upcoming holiday parties after her new beagle, Kiki, managed to eat most of the goodies before a party she recently hosted. Waters had acquired Kiki only five days prior to her gettogether and hadn’t thought to puppy proof her apartment.

Things were going quite well – at first.

Wine was out, beer was chilling in the fridge, while a decadent chocolate cake, pâté, brie and crackers were sitting on the counter, ready to be enjoyed by her guests. But before even one guest had arrived, her eager beagle had slipped into the kitchen and devoured all of the pâté and cheese. Kiki was working her way through the chocolate cake when Waters walked in and caught her.

During the holiday season, many pet owners may be at risk of experiencing similar situations. Pet proofing your home is an easy and worthwhile endeavour to add to your holiday to-do list. Keeping your pets safe, your guests happy, and yourself stress free are three important reasons to plan the holidays with your pets in mind.

10

8 Toxic Chocolate Being a new dog owner, Waters was worried about Kiki’s health, especially since Kiki had chowed through a significant portion of the chocolate cake. Like most dog owners, Waters was aware that chocolate is harmful to dogs, so she called her vet to find out what to do.

According to Crystal Kirkwood, a veterinary technician with Bells Corners Animal Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, consuming chocolate is one of the most common reasons dogs are brought to the vet hospital during the holidays. Dark and baking chocolate are more dangerous than milk chocolate because they have higher concentrations of theobromine, a chemical substance that is poisonous for dogs and cats. Kirkwood stresses, “If they eat chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately and bring them in.”

8 Tinsel Trouble The most common danger facing felines at this time of year is the consumption of tinsel or anything resembling string. Ferrets are at

risk as well. “It may get stuck in their intestines and therefore need surgery to remove it,” says Kirkwood, who suggests not using tinsel around the house at all if you have either of these animals. “It is not worth the risk,” Kirkwood says.

8 Guilty Guests I consulted the experts at Bark & Fitz, Westboro, a health food store for dogs, for more pet proofing ideas. The manager, Dave Loney, stresses (as Waters learned) that fancy human food needs to be kept far out of reach. “Keep the dogs away from the food or the food away from the dogs,” he advises.

But keeping food out of reach is only half the battle. The other half is keeping people from feeding your pets. Ask your guests not to feed them, no matter what those puppy (or kitty) eyes seem to be saying. But if they’re determined to hand out tidbits, be sure to have some healthy treats on hand. Bark & Fitz offer several delicious pooch-friendly treats. Some look so good, you’ll be tempted to try them yourself. But don’t worry, they’re made with

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

human-grade ingredients, so indulge if you must – many Bark & Fitz employees already have! When asked which treats his three dogs like best, Loney answered without hesitation, “Liver treats. They all love the liver.” These healthy treats can double as presents for your pup as well.

8 Not So Pretty Mistletoe, ivy and poinsettias are common plants to have around during the winter holidays. However, these are best kept out of reach of pets – or better yet – out of your home. If consumed, mistletoe and ivy can irritate the mouth and digestive system. Poinsettias are very hard on the digestive tract and will likely cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Likewise, lilies (although more common in the spring) can be lethal to pets if ingested.

“If your pet eats lilies, take it to the animal hospital right away,” says Kirkwood.

8 Plan Ahead According to Katie Ratcliffe, a seasoned pet owner who currently lives with three furry friends, planning is key for a stress-free and harmonious holiday season. She has learned the following the hard way:

1. “Don’t leave presents under the tree, especially if there are food items in them,” says Ratcliffe. Instead, she recommends putting presents out of reach of the pet – which means up high for dogs and in closets or closed rooms for cats.

2. Dogs will often try to drink from the water bowl under the tree, eat the pine needles, and even consume some of the Christmas lights and decorations – all activities which are hazardous to your poor pup, as well as to your Christmas tree. Cats on the other hand may try to climb the tree, eat the tinsel, or lick the fake snow. None of these scenarios will end well. Either the tree falls over, or your pet has to go to emergency. “Put your tree in a room that has a door that shuts to keep the animals out,” Ratcliffe suggests. If this is not possible, put the decorations and lights up higher than your dog can reach, and get a really sturdy, covered tree stand so dogs aren’t tempted to drink the water. If all else fails, buy a fake tree.

3. If your pet doesn’t like having a lot of people around and is going to be a nuisance when you have guests, try to find someone who can pet sit for the evening. If you have

an indoor cat, inform your guests before they arrive, and remind them not to let it scoot out when they open the door. If possible, keep your cat in a separate room while guests come and go, to eliminate unnecessary stress and worry.

4. Know and plan for any animal visitors that might be accompanying guests to your party, just to be sure everyone – furry or not – gets along.

In the end Kiki was okay, other than her digestive system working overtime that evening. But this escapade has made Waters realize she needs to train her new dog before she has any more parties. So Waters has resolved to get a handle on her new pooch by enrolling her in obedience classes “to teach her how to listen and to not chew things!” She has also put up a gate to the kitchen, so Kiki can no longer steal food. Danielle is now confident she’ll be able to keep her new pup safe and her future parties running smoothly.

By implementing these easy tips, rest assured, you too can keep your pets content and your guests happy throughout the holiday season and beyond.

11

PawPrintsCanada.com

Animal Health & Safety

THINK TWICE the pros and cons of giving a pet as a gift

By Emily Bain AH, THE THRILL OF HOLIDAY SHOP- a delighted new owner. True, the new “moth- son. Canadian website petfriendly.ca cautions PING. For many of us, this endeavour is truly er” or “father” will definitely be surprised, or that even the most animal-friendly people a competitive sport, and the most memorable gift scores the winning goal. With that particular spirit of gift giving in mind, it stands to reason that some will decide to give his or her loved one the gift of a new pet. After all, it’s hard to beat the dramatic effect of a puppy or kitten bursting from a box into the arms of

even thrilled, but it’s difficult to guarantee that this initial excitement won’t dissipate with time, leaving the pet in a less-than-ideal situation. v The Cost Many animal lovers and advocates do not recommend giving pets as gifts for this very rea-

do not necessarily want to receive an animal companion as a gift, as there are many costs associated with taking on a new pet. With most pets requiring shots, vet visits, spaying, neutering and food, a new pet can truly be “the gift that keeps on taking.” It is rare that we are ever truly familiar with other people’s

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

finances, so it’s probably best the individual decide for him- or herself whether owning a pet is financially realistic. v The Commitment Animals that have not been properly planned for almost always suffer because of it. In less serious cases, a surprise animal may not receive as much affection as it might have otherwise received from a better-prepared family. In other instances, however, gifted animals are often taken to shelters, as the new owners are simply incapable of making a lifelong commitment to their new pet.

Animal-lover Martha Stewart’s pet website (dailywag.marthastewart.com) reminds us that “animals given as gifts (bad idea!) often end up at the shelter either because recipients are unable to keep them or the animals grew up and no one planned for them getting bigger.” The site goes on to note that some people who are not prepared to receive a pet aren’t always knowledgeable about necessary pet care and procedures. Failure to realize the importance of spaying or neutering your pet, for example, can lead to unwanted litters.

Few people, especially those living in cities where backyard space is at a premium, have the space or resources to accommodate further additions to their pet families, and these babies often end up in shelters. v The Stats A serious concern for animal lovers is that shelters regularly take in far more animals than they can find homes for. In 2008, the Toronto Humane Society (THS) rescued 10,278 animals, but found homes for only 4,693 cats and dogs.

While the THS is a valuable resource for animals in need, it is difficult to maintain a high level of quality care. In June 2009, CBC News reported that the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was launching an investigation into the THS, accusing them of allowing animals to suffer unnecessarily due to their strict euthanasia policy. The THS responded that they only euthanize terminally ill animals or those with behavioural problems. But this is difficult to police.

So it’s important to keep in mind that if a gifted animal ends up in a shelter, it could contract a disease, feel lonely, or can even be put down.

v Pets for Children The problem of inadvertently straining someone else’s wallet by giving them a pet can be avoided by giving a pet to your own child as a present.

Even this idea, though, should be carefully thought out as well. If your children are young, consider that you will in fact be responsible for the bulk of the animal’s care taking. All animals require contact, attention, and some degree of training, all of which may be too much for a child to handle. Dogs, in particular, require a great deal of attention to be trained properly and consistently.

Moreover, they must be taken for daily walks – another chore that will likely befall the parent to carry out. Pet presents are also more likely to fall out of favour with children once they outgrown their puppy/kitty/baby phase and become larger, older and “less cute.”

Still, if the gift of a pet seems too appealing an idea to pass up, petplace.com lists several pets that are relatively low cost and easy to care for. Pets that make the child-friendly and low-maintenance lists include guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, fish, and small birds such as budgies.

Fish are an especially appealing choice for a young child who longs for a pet or an adult who doesn’t have the time or space for a more demanding animal. Those thinking of adding a fish, or several, to the family should speak with a pet store employee to determine what type of fish are suitable for children or beginners. Hardier species of fish will not require careful monitoring of the water’s temperature, and they will thrive as long as the water in their tank or bowl is clean and properly pH balanced. Most species of fish will take flake food, which is inexpensive and easy to give.

Budgies are another great option for kids, as they can be kept happy with a proper diet, a wide, spacious cage and a number of toys and mirrors (or a loving owner to play with them). Budgies require a mix of storebought food and fresh fruits and vegetables, which makes them easy to feed. With a relatively long life of 15-18 years, budgies are companions for a child to grow up with, giving both animal and human ample time to form a special bond. Best of all, some budgies can be taught to speak!

Small rodents, such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and rats, round out the list of lower-maintenance pets. Hamsters and guinea pigs in particular may win immediate fascination for one strange reason: they sometimes need to eat their own feces in order to digest their food properly. If you would like a pet that is just as cute and easy to care for, but is less involved with their own excrement, gerbils are a good choice. Since they enjoy burrowing, ensure that your gerbil is kept in a cage or aquarium and line the bottom with a thick layer of burrowing material.

Although some of these small rodents, such as rats, require more cleaning of their habitats than others, all of these pets are easy to care for, inexpensive to feed, and enjoy gentle handling, making them satisfying pets for any age. v Give to the Animals If you find the thought of a pet you’ve gifted ending up in a shelter upsetting, why not nix the idea of giving the gift of an animal and give a gift to an animal instead?

Tail Wagging Gifts (tailwaggingifts.ca), a project started by the Toronto Humane Society, allows you to review wish lists and purchase gifts for animals at the shelter. Gift options include blankets, toys, vaccinations, temporary lodging, and bottles for feeding baby animals.

You can also send a card to a friend or loved one indicating that your gift to the animals was made in his or her honour (more thoughtful than an unexpected or unwanted pet).

All gifts of $20 and over qualify for a tax receipt, making this gift-giving opportunity truly painless.

13

PawPrintsCanada.com

Animal Rights

SPEAKING OUT a regular feature by Animal Alliance of Canada

Pound Seizure: Pets in Research

By Liz White and Lia Laskaris

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED what In 2007, 9,175 lost and abandoned dogs and happens to unclaimed dogs and cats who end up in municipally-funded pounds, shelters and animal control facilities?

While by-laws vary from city to city, all across Canada, municipal governments sell or give away some of these lost and homeless pets to research laboratories – a practice called “pound seizure.”

How Does it Work?

“Pound seizure” or “pound release” is a term commonly used to describe the practice of research facilities acquiring lost, homeless and abandoned dogs and cats for use in experimentation (research, teaching and testing). For example, if a companion animal is not claimed by its owner before the municipal mandatory holding period expires, that animal may be sold to a researcher unless the municipal by-law stipulates otherwise.

Opposition to pound seizure is shared by all Canadian humane societies and animal protection organizations. Ontario is the only province left in Canada where pound seizure is mandated under the Animals for Research Act. Under the Act, researchers pay a mere $6 for each dog and $2 for each cat.

Thankfully, some municipalities in Ontario have chosen to disregard the provincial laws requiring them to surrender animals to research facilities because of the pain and suffering it causes. And in provinces where the law is silent on the issue of pound seizure, but where researchers seek out lost pets for experimental purposes, some municipalities refuse to comply.

The Sobering Stats Despite this growing movement, Canadian research facilities still acquire lost pets for use in experimentation.

14

cats were used in laboratories across Canada.

According to the 2007 statistics from the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), of the 4,243 cats used in experiments, 3,170 came from pounds – a staggering 75 percent.

For the same year, 6,005 or 52 percent of the 11,483 dogs came from pounds.

Silence on pound seizure by municipal politicians is a rejection of their responsibility to more than 50 percent of their voters who share their homes with companion animals.

Animal Alliance of Canada (AAC) works with animal protection organizations across the country to stop the use of lost pets in research, teaching and testing. In 2007, Atlantic Canada used 585 dogs and cats or 4 percent of the 15,726 dogs and cats used in experimentation. Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC) used 1,662 dogs and cats or 11 percent of the total, and Ontario used 5,130 or 33 percent. Quebec was the largest user at 8,159 or 52 percent of the total. With Quebec and Ontario using more dogs and cats for experimental purposes than any other province in the country, Animal Alliance continues to work for province-wide bans against the practice.

In addition, Animal Alliance has a rescue program called Project Jessie, which was established in 1991. Every year AAC rescues 400 dogs and cats from shelters that sell to research facilities. While this is simply a band-aid measure, AAC provides sanctuary for many animals until legislative protection is achieved.

The Ultimate Betrayal Many of the animals chosen by researchers have been spayed or neutered, and some of the cats have been declawed – a clear indication that each of these animals was most certainly someone’s former pet.

Researchers intentionally select animals

who are healthy, well-socialized and trusting, as this makes it easier for laboratory personnel to transport and handle them. When they are no longer needed, these animals are either killed or re-sold to another lab. Experiments can range from non-invasive procedures to ones that cause severe pain – near, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized, conscious animals (see categories of invasiveness at ccac.ca).

Ironically, it is these friendly and docile companion animals who would be the easiest to place with new loving homes.

Liz White is the director and campaign spokesperson for Animal Alliance of Canada. Lia Laskaris is a member. To find out how you can help orphaned animals or AAC’s pound seizure campaign, please visit animalalliance.ca, projectjessie.ca, call 416-462-9541 or e-mail info@animalalliance.ca.

Dedicated to the compassionate a r t s . c ucare l t u of r eall. lcreatures iving

Kess was rescued and adopted in Montreal through Project Jessie and now lives in Toronto.

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

###15

PawPrintsCanada.com

By

Animal Rights

Why I’m a vegan I’M SAM AND I’M A VEGAN. I’m vegan

from head to toe and have been vegan since April 26, 2008.

Prior to my awakening, I never imagined I could ever become vegetarian – let alone vegan. The first vegan I ever met was in high school. She was a raver girl with Pippi Longstocking hair, and I immediately labeled her “Alien.” I pictured her with a green head and big eyes and vowed I would never be like her.

In fact, I proudly remarked on many occasions that I dreamt of big juicy steaks right off the barbecue.

It’s funny how things change.

Since becoming vegan, I’ve been committed to doing the best I can. I’m not perfect and don’t pretend to be. Last week, for instance, I had some cheezies. There are currently no vegan substitutions for cheezies, and they’re comfort food for me. According to my cookbook How it all Vegan! (Arsenal Pulp Press, 1999), comfort foods are the most important foods for vegans to learn to make themselves.

So I took up baking. As much as I love cheese, I knew I couldn’t live without cookies and pie.

I was astonished at how easy it is to bake vegan: no eggs, no cows milk, no butter, no gelatin – just fantastic treats. Everyone around me appreciates my new love of baking, and I enjoy sharing the food I make. The best part of baking vegan is eating the batter without having to worry about salmonella from uncooked eggs. I’ve made strawberryapple pie and homemade peanut-butter cups.

My hazelnut-almond-cashew-butter cups have become a huge hit, and I’ve expanded my palate with carob, a fruit that tastes like chocolate. I’ve also been propelled into a world of grains, rice and flour: brown rice, red rice, quinoa, buckwheat, couscous and spelt.

Truthfully, it took some experimentation and getting used to, but now I love it.

I am so thankful I’m not the first vegan.

I have communities to visit and there are brands and restaurants I can trust. There are stores that support my decision and more and more that are catching on. Bulk Barn is pure heaven, along with raw-food restaurants like

16

Live Organic Food Bar and Rawlicious in Toronto. I’m thankful to those who are creating a demand for healthy, cruelty-free food.

Manufacturers are even placing “Vs” on vegan food packaging to make it easier to spot.

Mind you, I usually find the “V” only after I’ve read all the ingredients, but still, it makes me smile and reminds me I’m not alone in this decision.

To be honest, I was in denial and went through a grief cycle when I first discovered that humans don’t need to consume animal products to be healthy. I scoured the internet looking for evidence to the contrary. I listened and looked for unhealthy vegans and actually hoped I’d find proof it wasn’t a good choice.

But the only unhealthy vegans I found were the “junk-food vegans” – which only serves to prove that anyone can succumb to a poor diet, whether they eat meat or not.

4 Factory Farming The next stage of my grief cycle kicked in when I realized that the animals humans breed for food do not live in the fairy-tale world I’d imagined. The ideal picture I’d envisioned can only be found on farm sanctuaries where rescued animals go.

John Robbins’ 1992 documentary Diet for a New America had a huge effect on me.

It forced me to ask, “Why do humans breed animals just to slaughter them, when all that food could be distributed so much more effectively and ethically?” In Robbins’ book of the same name he writes: “At the present time, when most of us sit down to eat, we aren’t very aware of how our food choices affect the world. We don’t realize that in every Big Mac there is a piece of the tropical rainforests, and with every billion burgers sold another hundred species become extinct. We don’t realize that in the sizzle of our steaks there is the suffering of animals, the mining of our topsoil, the slashing of our forests, the harming of our economy, and the eroding of our health. We don’t hear in the sizzle the cry of the hungry millions who might otherwise be fed. We don’t see the toxic poisons accumulating in the food chains, poisoning our

Sa m an th a

Na ja rr o

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

children and our earth for generations to come.”

When it all finally sank in, I became angry at the industry that produces our meat. My focus moved away from my own health to the mistreatment of the animals who end up on our plates. According to the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals (CCFA), “Canada’s anti-cruelty laws do not protect farm animals from suffering caused by factory farming systems.” In fact, “standard industry practices are responsible for some of the worst animal cruelty imaginable.” Animals are confined for extended periods “with insufficient room to turn around, lie down, groom, or express normal behaviours.” Horrific surgical practices such as de-beaking, tail docking, tooth cutting, de-horning and castration are performed without anesthesia, without pain management and without proper veterinary care (see humanfood.ca).

A Toronto Star article recently quoted Stephanie Brown, director of the CCFA, as saying that “an estimated three million animals die on their way to slaughterhouses every year and another 11 million arrive with diseases or are otherwise unfit for human consumption. They might be crushed to death because the density is too high. They may be stressed from high temperatures.

Animals sometimes freeze to the side of the trucks. The current standards are totally out of date and they are inhumane. They desperately need to be changed.”

But sometimes explaining these things to others can be an exhaustive task. Most people around me consume animals and animal products, so I’m careful not to offend them at the dinner table. I don’t talk about the cows who are artificially inseminated and forced to endure nine-month pregnancies just so humans can drink their milk. Or how their newborn calves are taken away, confined and tethered so they can become “good” veal. I don’t mention the chickens with seared beaks who are shoved five or more into stacked wire cages – never to see the light of day, never to dust bathe and never to fly (yes, chickens can fly).

Every loving pet owner knows their pets have unique personalities. But not everyone realizes that the animals humans eat – pigs, rabbits, cows, goats, birds – all have beautiful personalities and traits too.

When I realized I could no longer participate in perpetuating such cruelty and suffering, I had to become vegan in order to live my truth.

4 Cruelty-free Living There is such a wealth of information and activism out there that I’m frustrated by how mainstream it is to romanticize meat. Consider this: When you see a squirrel lying dead on the side of the road, what goes through your mind? Do you start salivating? Do you have a strong desire to stop and smell that amazing piece of road kill? Have you ever pulled your car over just to take a bite? Or do you feel something else?

The biggest excuse for not being vegan is lack of choice. But the more people in alignment with being vegan, the more brain power will be devoted to creating animal-free substitutions, like vegan cheese. My favourite find recently was at supervegan.com where Canadian-based company Daiya is cracking the codes for cheese. They’re making vegan havarti, cheddar and mozzarella. And thanks to Road’s End Organics, you can even get vegan mac and cheese in a box. So if you’re transitioning now, you won’t have to feel any sting of sacrifice.

I remember standing at the corner of Brunswick and Bloor explaining my awakening to my friend Alex: “Simply put, I don’t want cruelty in the world – so I don’t want cruelty on my plate.”

And that, for me, is what it means to be vegan.

Vegan Resources For more information on being vegan, Samantha recommends the following: • Listings for vegan restaurants and health food stores all around the world: happycow.net • Vegetarian “Food for Thought” podcast: compassionatecooks.com • Cruelty-free products for you and your animal companions: karmavore.ca and veganessentials.com • Cruelty-free clothes: alternativeoutfitters.com • Tips on gaining muscle: veganbodybuilding.com • Vegan blog: supervegan.com • Other resources: ivu.org, peta.org and veg.ca

17

PawPrintsCanada.com

Working Together

New Lives

a regular feature By Joanne Wannan

ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO I moved into

my own condo after having lived in rental accommodation for years. I had a list of things to do at least a mile long, but the one at the top of the list was the one I was most excited about: I wanted to get my very first dog. Well, it wasn’t actually my first dog. I’d had pets while growing up and they were all important to me. But there is something special about making the decision yourself, knowing that you will be 100 percent responsible for the care, feeding, training and nurturing of your new best friend.

I originally intended to adopt a dog from a local shelter, but every time I went to visit there were only large dogs. I didn’t think it would be fair to have a big dog in a small, onebedroom apartment, and I wasn’t yet aware of all the other shelter and rescue organizations that assist in placing homeless dogs. So, rather reluctantly, I decided to contact breeders. But first, I did my research, asked a lot of questions and finally decided on getting a Schipperke. These dogs were used for ratting and keeping guard on boats in Belgium; the name means “Little Captain” or “skipper of the boat.”

Haida

Haida was truly my “forever” dog. All black, she weighed about 15 pounds when fully grown. I was surprised I could love this little bundle of fur so much, and she quickly became like an appendage to me. When she was young, she accompanied me on Sunday afternoon visits to an elderly friend. Seeing how much my friend looked forward to spending time with Haida made me realize the positive impact a non-judgmental, loving animal can have on someone’s life. So we soon began volunteering by visiting with seniors in the hospital, and that’s how Haida began her career as a therapy dog.

Haida was funny and smart, loyal and loving, the most incredible companion and

18

friend. I have many cherished memories of the 12 years we spent together: the countless walks and playing in the snow, the time she snuck away with a hot dog at a cookout, and when she stole a huge chocolate-chip cookie from the coffee table, ate the cookie part and spit out the chocolate bits, as if she knew they weren’t good for her.

When Haida developed cancer, I was devastated. Somehow I had expected her to live forever. Oh, how I wanted her to! Dealing with her illness and death was one of the most painful times of my life. But as so often happens, something positive came from this experience, and I was led in an unexpected direction.

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

On one of my final visits to the veterinary hospital with Haida, I encountered a woman who, upon seeing the distraught look on my face, intuitively reached out and hugged me without even knowing my name. This woman shared her story of how she had lost her beloved Rottweiler to cancer. She felt the most fitting way to honour the memory of her much-loved companion was to adopt another Rottweiler from a shelter, one that would otherwise not have a home.

I was very touched by this meeting and by the beauty of her gesture in memory of her dog. But I didn’t think this was something I’d be able to do. Haida was such an amazing companion, and I had fallen in love with Schipperkes. I wondered if it would be possible to find such an unusual breed at a shelter.

The Search

In my grief, I spent hours cruising the internet. That’s when I became aware of the countless animals searching for a home. Sites like petfinder.com link rescues and shelters all across Canada and the United States, and there are dogs of every age, temperament, size and breed. It seems that homelessness is truly indiscriminate in animals.

After doing extensive research, I contacted, then met, two wonderful people: Sam Ebbert and her husband, Bob Grove. Sam is the coordinator of the Schipperke Rescue of Oregon. When a “skip” lands in a nearby shelter or an owner needs to surrender a dog, Sam will often be contacted to assist in finding it a good home. In the meantime, the dogs are fostered at Sam and Bob’s, where they have the run of the house and the fenced-in acre of land. There is good food, plenty of treats, and an abundance of love, along with veterinary care, behavioural assessment and, if needed, re-socialization and retraining.

At any one time, Sam and Bob can have several foster dogs at their home – primarily purebred Schipperkes, occasional “skip” crosses, and sometimes what Sam calls “skip wannabes.” As she puts it, “If a dog is black and weighs less than 25 pounds, they give us a call.”

Sam and Bob are incredibly dedicated.

Sam’s days off from work are spent driving long distances to bring dogs into rescue, to meet potential adopters in their homes and, once the adopters are approved, to place a

dog. Bob holds down the fort while Sam is away. Like scores of others who are committed to animal rescue, they spend a significant amount of time and energy, and dig deep into their own pockets, to help and protect dogs that might not otherwise survive.

Emma

Through Sam, I adopted Emma, a gem of a dog. Emma is tiny, even for a Schipperke, and weighs only 10 pounds. She was found trotting down a busy highway in the pouring rain and was in deplorable condition, with scraggly, matted fur and a bad case of pneumonia.

Emma was picked up by Animal Control, taken to a shelter, and spent several months in foster care before she was ready to be “rehomed.”

Emma was very shy with people and not used to attention and love. But every day she has grown more secure and has blossomed.

Her fur has grown into a luscious, shiny coat, and people constantly tell me what a beautiful dog she is. Emma soon started to join me on my visits to a seniors’ centre. For some residents, a visit from her is the highlight of their week. Even though she is still somewhat reserved, it turns out that she is a wonderful therapy dog in her own right.

taking this step to consider adopting an animal from your local shelter or rescue. They have so much love to give – if they are only given the chance.

Emma has been a true blessing in my life.

She represents all that is good and true about the Christmas season: unconditional love, an open heart, and a testament to the power of miracles.

Joanne Wannan is the author of NEW LIVES: Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing and Giving Hope (see 3blackdogs. org). Joanne has also written numerous magazine articles and screenplays. Her movie-of-the-week, Obituary, has aired on Lifetime Television, the W Network, and Global TV.

New Lives

I wondered how many other unwanted, abandoned dogs are waiting for the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. What started as little more than a belief in the healing power of animals, led me to write a book called NEW LIVES: Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing and Giving Hope (3BlackDogs, November 2009). In the coming months, this column will introduce you to some of these amazing dogs – dogs who were once considered “throwaways” and who are now making a difference in someone’s life.

The dogs come in all shapes and sizes and from a variety of backgrounds. One, a Pit Bull, was rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation. Another was found on a highway, almost frozen to death from the cold. But the dogs all have one thing in common – very big hearts!

Adopting a dog should never be a spur-ofthe-moment decision. You are welcoming a companion who will share your life for many, many years. But I urge anyone thinking of

19

PawPrintsCanada.com

Working Together

Are You Listening to Me ?

Teaching your puppy to come when you call

by Jan Morgan

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING YOUR DOG TO COME WHEN YOU CALL? Does he come, but quickly dart away when you reach for him? Here are some suggestions to encourage your puppy to comply:

1. Practice “come” without distractions, and use a high–level food reward.

Find a treat your pup thinks is irresistible.

Semi-moist treats are a more powerful motivator than hard baked dog biscuits, and boiled liver is much more enticing than a piece of kibble. Your dog will take a split second to decide whether to come or go. He will be weighing the options. If you are offering a Milk–Bone versus the opportunity to chase a squirrel, which choice do you think he will make?

Start in a quiet environment with limited distractions, possibly your kitchen or hallway. Call your puppy unpredictably two or three times a day. Always use a happy, inviting tone. Never sound threatening or military with your vocal intonation when you are asking him to come. Also, squatting instead of standing when you call is a more welcoming body posture.

2. Never call your puppy and then deliver negative reinforcement when he arrives.

Positive reinforcement is the key to establishing good behaviour. Do not have your puppy approach only to be disciplined or scolded And never, ever hit, slap, spank or kick your dog.

It is also counterproductive to call your pup for the sole purpose of giving him his medication, cleaning his ears or clipping his nails. If you need to perform these chores, call your puppy, and when he arrives, take two minutes to play with him first. Make sure he associates his coming with fun, not hygiene or maintenance. If your dog discovers that something unpleasant happens whenever he goes to humans, he will decide, “Well that settles it, I’m not going to them ever again!”

20

3. Don’t play the “catch me” game.

This is a very common scenario: the dog secures a forbidden item in his mouth, flaunts it to his human and then runs away. The human

predictably chases after the pup, running helplessly behind a fleet–footed canine. This creates an automatic response: the dog will quickly flee in the opposite direction.

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

ing a sit position (head up, bum down). If you do this every time you call, your command “come” will translate to your dog as “move through space toward me; then sit upon arrival.” There is no need to issue the “sit” command if you teach your puppy this sequence.

Teaching your puppy to come when you call should be enjoyable for all participants. Just remember the ground rules: a) do not use negative reinforcement and b) make coming to humans a fun and rewarding experience!

In order to prevent this, make a consistent effort to puppy proof your house. What is your puppy stealing? Make sure dangerous items are inaccessible. It takes two to play “catch me,” so ignoring the attempts and refraining from following will significantly decrease the thrill. Instead, pick up one of his toys and begin to play with it loudly and enthusiastically.

A curious puppy will drop the stolen item and come to see what all the fuss is about.

Another great way to avoid chasing an excited puppy is to have a house line on your dog. The best house line is a thin nylon lead about six feet long and should be used only under supervision. If your dog does get something he shouldn’t, simply place your foot securely on the leash so the chase can’t begin.

Then calmly remove the item from his mouth.

readily, but dodges away when you extend your hands toward him).

Jan Morgan has been training dogs professionally since 1991 and currently teaches family-oriented puppy classes in Ajax and Oshawa. She also breeds champion Cairn Terriers and is on staff at the Oshawa Animal Hospital as their puppy specialist. For more information, please visit pawsitivepuppies.com.

5. Teaching Your Puppy How to Sit If you want your puppy to come and sit in front of you, be careful not to fall into the trap of nagging him when he reaches you. Shouting “sit, sit, sit!” is not very effective training for a puppy who has just left something very desirable only to be berated upon his arrival.

As your puppy happily approaches, extend your hand with the treat towards his head and slowly guide his nose up, tilting his head slightly skyward, thereby creat-

4. Training Basics To start your training, choose a time when your puppy is certain to come. There is no point in testing the response until you have taught it first. Don’t be too far from your pup when you do call. You can always add distance as he becomes more reliable.

When your puppy arrives, simultaneously bring both hands down toward him.

One hand will deliver a tasty morsel to his mouth while the other hand reaches behind his head and secures him by the collar. This will ensure your dog is comfortable with approaching hands and will prevent him from becoming a “head–shy” dog (one who comes

21

PawPrintsCanada.com

The Urban Jungle

A Pigeon in a Pear Tree

By Trout

ON THE PATIO at the rear of my apart-

ment, there is a pear tree. Despite the advent of the holiday season, I am not expecting to see a partridge in it any time soon, as partridges are not native to North America. However, even though it is located in the center of Canada’s most populous urban community, the tree does act as host to several other species: pigeons, squirrels and very bold raccoons. I don’t mind them out there, even though they tend to decimate a potential annual harvest of entirely edible fruit. But it’s a different story when they come into the house.

Pigeons, in particular, seem to take a keen interest in my premises. One pleasant summer morning, I was awakened by a peculiar noise. I was able to identify it correctly as a rather severe disturbance involving my chronically malfunctioning vertical blinds that cover the open window in the next room. Seconds later, a pigeon sailed gracefully into my bedroom and perched calmly at the bottom of my bed. I surmised it had likely lost a territorial dispute on the window sill overlooking Dundas St. W. and been forced inside by the battle’s victor.

Not sure what to do, I slid open the bedroom window. Unfortunately, the sec-

22

tion of the window accessible to the outside world is rather small, and what followed involved many ruffled feathers and a very confused bird attempting to exit through solid panes of glass. Eventually, access through the egress did occur. In all, it was a brief and not unpleasant little visit.

Several days later, I arrived home from running some errands to find I had company once again. Waiting outside my front door was a dilapidated-looking pigeon sitting in the corner against the glass with what appeared to be a broken wing. Grabbing a free newspaper from the mail box, I managed to move it over to the neighbours’ entrance. It could hobble about, but showed no inclination to leave the ground.

As I propped the door ajar to let myself in, the pigeon made a beeline for the foyer and immediately hopped most of the way up the stairs. I had a sinking feeling there was going to be trouble.

Several hours went by. Eventually I had to go out again. I managed to chase my uninvited guest down the stairs to the front door and thought perhaps it was ready to leave. However, as I opened the door, the pigeon took one look at the traffic on Dundas, quickly did an about-face and hopped

right back up the stairs. Clearly, it felt quite comfortable convalescing at my place.

Upon my return, I found that the bird had crawled all the way out onto a ledge that borders my stairwell and was now virtually out of human reach. In a desperate attempt to get help, I phoned a couple of friends. It was no use. There really wasn’t much to say, and of course, they simply expressed concern for the pigeon’s wellbeing.

At the time, I had a rather eccentric Hungarian friend staying with me. Late that night, he finally arrived home from one of his many part-time jobs, and I pointed out that we had a new resident. What he did then showed a rare eastern-European sensitivity of which I remain, to this day, slightly in awe.

Somehow he managed to get hold of the pigeon, which pecked him rather hard a few times, then calmed right down in his hands. “Aw, it’s just a little one,” he said, stroking its feathers as though it were a pet.

We gave it some water, then took it outside onto Dundas, which by that time was relatively quiet. My friend folded the injured wing back into place and began to massage it gently. “I don’t think it’s broken,” he said.

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

“I don’t think it’s that bad.” He placed the bird on top of the tall parking meter outside my front door, where it sat quietly for a while. And then it was gone.

We concluded that the pigeon was going to be all right, and went to the bar for a drink. Happy endings are always something to celebrate.

Pigeon Facts Pigeons tend to get a rather bad rap from some of us Anglo-Saxon folk, but we are the ones who brought them over to the new world in the first place (leaving the partridges at home, of course). We took them away from their natural predators, so if their populations are a little out of control in the major cities, you can’t blame them.

And not everybody does. In Spanish, the word paloma refers indiscriminately to both pigeons and doves, as if there is no useful distinction to be made. Many southern Europeans keep pigeons as pets. And of course, there is nothing quite like the famous carrier pigeon.

The next time you are beset by urban pigeon issues (such as the droppings I currently wear on my newly dry cleaned winter coat), please consider this: the Dickin Medal, instituted in 1943 “to honour the work of animals in war” (Wikipedia), has been awarded a total of 62 times as of 2008.

Of those medals (generally handed out, by the way, by the Lord Mayor of the City of London), 32 have gone to carrier pigeons.

Apparently highly reliable, these birds are capable of a one-day return journey of up to 160 kilometres. Excellent fliers and great at maneuvering, their wing muscles constitute 31 to 44 percent of their body weight. In recent times, pigeons have actually been used to transport urgent laboratory specimens between hospitals in both England and France.

Carrier pigeons, as it turns out, are no special breed. They are just well-trained versions of our usual rock pigeons, the sort that inhabit cities all over Europe and North America. Along with doves, they are members of the avian family Columbidae.

So it turns out the Spanish have been right all along – pigeons and doves are really the same bird. What brought the olive branch back to Noah on the ark? A pigeon.

Should you wish to empathize in a more basic human fashion with the feathered creatures discussed here, you may be curious to realize this: apart from flamingos, pigeons are the only birds that produce milk for their young. High in protein and fat, a cottage-cheese-like substance is secreted by the pigeon’s crop, an “expanded, muscular pouch near the gullet or throat” (Wikipedia). Both male and female pigeons are ca-

Finally, I should pay homage to another close relative of the rock pigeon and another severe casualty of human activity: the dodo.

Native to the island of Mauritius, rather remote from the east coast of Africa, the dodo managed to hang on until about 1700, when it succumbed, not so much to hunting (apparently the birds tasted rather bad), as to the hunters’ introduction of dogs, cats and crab-eating macaques (monkeys). As the

pable of producing crop milk, which is fed to litters of one or two during the first week after birth, after which it is intermingled with solid food until the young ones are ready to leave home. This is why you hardly ever see baby pigeons – they are still in the nest.

In sadder news, while there appears to be no immediate threat to the livelihood of the rock pigeon, we lost the last surviving passenger pigeon, Martha, in 1914. Passenger pigeons were by far the most populous critter in North America before the Europeans arrived, numbering in the billions.

As late as the 1800s, a single flock could obscure the sun from the sky, taking hours to pass. However, widely killed as food for slaves and the very poor, they were eventually hunted to extinction. The Toronto west end area Mimico actually means “the place of the passenger pigeon” in the language of the Mississauga Indians.

dodos had long ago given up the ability to fly and lived on an island entirely free of natural predators, they showed no fear of strange creatures. In other words, as the Dutch and Portuguese started to pull their ships toward the shore, the dodos stood no chance.

As a result, I think there is little chance I will be reporting a dodo in my pear tree to Bird Watchers Canada this Christmas. If I do, they will likely take me to hospital and check my medication schedule. And if I report a pigeon, they will certainly take no notice.

Credit to wikipedia.com, from a large variety of sources, for most of the factual information in the last half of this article.

Trout is a Toronto-based musician (recent album Karen’s Legs), producer, promoter, record vendor, and notorious fixture in various local bars.

23

PawPrintsCanada.com

The Urban Jungle

PAVED PARADISE a regular feature by Peter Fruchter

IT’S IMPORTANT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY. Absolutely critical. Be-

cause just knowing what I do isn’t enough.

If you can’t understand why, you’d never do the same. No way would you do anything remotely similar. You wouldn’t manage one inch in my shoes.

Trouble is, I can only tell you either what I do or why I do it – and why everyone must start doing it. Not both. There’s no time and space here, today, to tell you both. So I’ll start by telling you what I do when I’m up at York. I only ask you keep in mind, dear reader, that there’s serious reasoning behind it. Regardless of how much you might laugh, just try to remember that.

A couple days each week, for about an hour, I make my way from one bin to the next across York campus. One garbage bin to the next. And stopping each time, I delve into my pockets as if searching for rubbish to discard – surreptitiously gazing to watch and see if anyone’s looking. Then, whenever general ignorance of me seems complete, I reach down. Totally casual.

And grab whatever in there might prove edible.

Even when general ignorance of me seems complete – I know it isn’t because there’s surveillance pretty much everywhere on campus. Electronic surveillance.

The most ordinary walls have electronic ears and bristle with invisible eyes. And security could mistake me for some derelict. There could be confrontation. In a worst-case scenario, I could possibly lose my job. But even so, none of that bothers me the most.

What really bothers me is the stigma.

The social stigma. The sense of personal degradation. The absolute illegitimacies when going through garbage – when rummaging through garbage for food.

One time last winter, in one of the newer, shinier campus buildings, a member of faculty lunged right out. She charged

24

so fast from her office, I thought she was jumping me. Caught me by total surprise, too. I never perceived how she must have

been watching. The woman was stealthy.

Territorial. And fierce.

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

“Can I help you?” she demanded. Her trained, targeting stare never wavering, eyes flint locked at me.

While she waited, everything had to wait because I’d chosen that precise moment to be struck speechless. And the moment kept on stretching, silent like some sticky nightmare cobweb elastic.

“No,” I replied. Eventually.

“Are you lost?” She insisted – implacably unfazed by my denial.

Must hand it to her. She made it sound like it wasn’t a question. All concerned. As if it would be for my own good when security came to help. To help locate me. To relocate me.

So I smiled, my most patronizing smile, and said, “No. I work here.”

And just like that, from one breath to the next, right between blinking eyes, her mental furniture was rearranged. The tables were turned. Stumbling in full retreat and unconditional re-treatment, stammering some submissive apology, she shrank and vanished back into her office. Her defeatist tone signifying how potentially inconsistent accosting institutionally legitimate others outside her office was. How inconsistent with her own supposedly manifest career path.

But it doesn’t always turn out so well.

Even when it doesn’t turn out too badly – as it did a couple of times – it can become humiliating. Like the next time it happened. Early on two winters back. When intercepted by two students.

“We’ve been watching you,” declared one.

“Are you lost?” asked the other. “Are you in some kind of trouble? Can we help you?”

I felt, again, like deer do in headlights.

Or in human terms, like the least legitimate of red-headed stepchildren. Except I was the only one there. Deer me. Yet recalling myself somewhat, I replied, “Sure you can help – want to help feed the animals?”

Blinking, they glanced at each other.

Gamely struggling with consuming preconceptions. Their preconceptions of proper consumption.

“Maybe,” ventured one; while the other nodded, just barely. Both hesitant, like I’d offered them candy. From the garbage.

“See,” I elaborated, “those hotdog buns you’re about to toss? Why send what you don’t finish so far away? Why contribute to more emissions and, worse, landfill issues?

Winter’s here, and the way we humans demolish every natural habitat, it’s much too hard for many animals. So why not share at least what’s left over from demolishing everything natural? Why throw perfectly good food in the garbage, when birds and

seagull. Cold is cold. Lee side to the wind must be better. So I crossed to the other side – the lee side. And there they were. In the open, yet somewhat sheltered in the spaces between Stedman Lecture Halls and Vanier. Squirrels digging. Seagulls winging low.

The best part? There were two. The seagulls replied to my pidgin “foundsomething-outta-the-way!” whistles and came wheeling, skimming, feet touching snow, beaks snagging the apple cores I spilled.

It’s hard times in winter. There’s no turning beaks up at apple cores. And the way they snagged those apple cores? Balanced on transparent breaths of air, curving perfect asymptotes against the snow.

There can be no grace more pure.

That’s what I do up at York campus.

And in future time and space, I’ll gladly account why I do it. No matter how humiliating it can become. And regardless of how – wrongly – they say not to feed the animals.

Peter Fruchter feeds wildlife and teaches in the Division of Humanities at York University.

animals right outside go without?”

“Yeah,” they agreed, just about in unison. Almost enthused.

And we had plenty to share. They with unfinished lunches. Me with ten pounds of rescued organics. Trouble was, we couldn’t find any animals to share with. None. Every place where birds and animals had clustered was deserted since bitter, cold winter had arrived.

The longer we searched, the more chirping, whistling and clacking come-hither sounds I made, the more suspicious the students got. I was glad when they finally left. Relieved. Grateful they’d contained most of their giggling at the garbage-digging loser. At me.

It doesn’t always go well. Not when surrounded by consuming human preconceptions. But relating to animals? If one keeps trying, in best faith, it goes far better.

So where had they gone since winter arrived? I got to thinking what it’s like to be a

25

PawPrintsCanada.com

ZOO–ology

Saving Lucy Lucy

WINTER TECHNICALLY ARRIVES on

the solstice of December 21st. However, the chilly weather is already here and it is time to bundle up.

Some may seek escape in warmer climates, while others will brave the gray and cold of a Canadian winter. But in Edmonton, where the weather is most fierce, one who is in the greatest need of a hot vacation may not get one. This, of course, would be Lucy, the 34-year-old Asian elephant who, as the lone pachyderm resident at the Valley Zoo, has been at the center of a debate that has been going on for years.

As the temperature continues to drop, another chapter is being added to the already lengthy story of the tug-of-war for Lucy’s health and safety. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Zoocheck Canada have said they will file a lawsuit unless the Edmonton zoo identifies the specific health issues that prevent Lucy from being moved to a zoo in the United States. Continued health problems, including obesity and arthritis, have led many animal activists, among others, to call for Lucy’s transfer from the cold of Alberta to the warmth of Tennessee. This southern state has a vast elephant sanctuary and is one of two warmer and larger environments that Zoocheck is urging Lucy to be moved to.

Just prior to this statement, Valley Zoo officials said that Lucy would receive new treatment for her ailments and put on a program to nurse her back to health.

26

Animal activists first raised a hand to Lucy’s living conditions in September 2007.

It was then when Samantha, a young African elephant who had been living with Lucy, was moved to a sanctuary in North Carolina. At that time, advocates contended that Lucy should not be left on her own as elephants are social creatures. It should be noted that Lucy had lived alone for quite some time before Samantha joined her. In fact, much of her life has been spent in isolation.

Celebrities Speak Out The clash has been heating up since the early spring with many notable people getting involved. As Lucy’s condition worsened, several celebrities joined the side of PETA and Zoocheck to make public the plight of this popular elephant.

One of the first was Bob Barker, the former Price is Right host, who ended every show with the sign off, “Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered.” It was Zoocheck Canada that brought the plight of Lucy to the attention of this famous American persona.

In May 2009, a group of over 30 Canadian authors led by Margaret Atwood, Barbara Gowdy and Nino Ricci, among others, wrote a strongly worded letter to the Edmonton authorities to move Lucy from the Valley Zoo. And in September, joining this list was Canadian actor William Shatner, who wrote a letter to Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel urging similar action. “I humbly ask you to allow Lucy to retire to better circumstances than at the Edmonton Zoo,” wrote Shatner.

“She’s old, feeble and many of us know how that feels. I hope you don’t mind my intruding, but the cause is just.”

And so the debate continues to rise.

Who Decides?

It is for specific people, however, to decide the fate of the elephant. It is for doctors and veterinarians, not for lawyers and actors. Not to discount the influence of famous voices who have proven their intellect or passion, but it

becomes so easy to join their side, almost too easy. There are undoubtedly many animals in the country and around the world who are enduring poor environments due to human influence. However, when one is given a name and a face, it easily helps people to identify with the animal. It is very easy to take the side of a cute, common animal who is well known to everyone from a young age. Would the same attention be paid to the same situation if the animal in question did not have a popular female name, was unattractive, aggressive or uncommon?

A Universal Problem

Lucy’s problems are real, but they are not isolated, and the fight for her safety should also be a fight for the greater good of all animals.

The solution to her problems shouldn’t just address her situation, but the situation of all animals in zoos. The best outcome of this debacle is not only that Lucy is safe, but that this problem never arises again.

Perhaps the saddest part to this story is that it somehow could have been avoided.

Although Lucy has been in the news for the last couple of years, she’s been a resident of Edmonton’s Valley Zoo since 1977 – that’s over thirty years. The issue, now, is clearly whether or not to relocate Lucy. But surely these problems could have been anticipated.

What should be discussed is why she was there in the first place. Some aspects of this ordeal were easily foreseeable. Firstly, Edmonton is cold, especially in the winter. Secondly, a zoo in Edmonton is not like a jungle in Sri Lanka (the country in which Lucy was captured) in a myriad of ways that are obvious to anyone. Thirdly, if it is the absolute truth that elephants should not be alone, then Lucy should not have been adopted if there wasn’t another elephant to adopt with her at the same time.

On a much smaller scale, many animal shelters recommend, and some only allow, the adoption of two cats instead of one, so as to avoid the loneliness that may arise when an animal is in a new habitat.

sa u c ar

B

th n yA

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

yM n o

Being Proactive It is important to be proactive, however, and not let situations rise to this level. It shouldn’t take an animal being sick to realize that he or she does not belong in a particular zoo – or a zoo at all.

Zoocheck Canada was influential in starting and continuing to pursue this cause.

They obtained medical records, monitored the situation and strove to promote the issue to the public. The organization has done an impressive job following this story and pressuring people to do what they feel is best for

Lucy, as they continue to do with other issues and for other zoos. The organization is now in its 25th year of existence, and in addition to trying to “free Lucy,” the group has worked to reshape laws surrounding Ontario zoos and regulate the use of circus animals. Their many campaigns can be found on their website zoocheck.com.

Indeed, their position is not simple and naïve, but instead nuanced. They do not simply aim to abolish all zoos. Part of the statement on their website declares, “The entire zoo concept needs to be reexamined, restructured, and reinvented.”

Situations such as the one Lucy has endured should never have to come to such a head. Instead, preventative measures need to be taken, and the public and those passionate about animals should strive not to be reactive, but proactive. The question shouldn’t be whether or not Lucy can survive a cold Alberta winter. The question should be why are we forcing her to?

For more information, please visit savelucy.ca.

27

PawPrintsCanada.com

Pampered Pets

Cool Holiday Gifts Your Pets will Love..

...and so will you!

By Mi ra n d a Ri gby WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON UPON US, we suddenly realize just how many people we need to buy for. Sure, there’s your brother

in Alberta who never calls anymore and your uncle in Phoenix who sends a lotto scratcher every year, but who is more deserving than your ever-loyal pet? Although some may argue that your animal companions won’t notice if you forget to put their presents under the tree, we can all agree that they do appreciate receiving gifts any time of the year.

Other great presents for a cat or cat lover Here are some cool ideas to make your pets’ holiday bright: Omega Deluxe Window Seat for Cats$19.95 CAD v For Your Cat In the pet world, cats in general are seen as rather mellow creatures, but what most owners do not know is that cats can become bored, and because of this, they need stimulation. This holiday season look for a present your feline friends can use to fend off boredom, even when you aren’t home to amuse. I recommend the Smart Cat Peek-A-Prize Toy Box ($29.99$36.99 CAD).

This gift is completely interactive, as cats enjoy hunting for toys just out of sight. You can use any existing toys your cat has (my cat prefers rattling mice), or simply use the two wooden balls included. If your cats adore cat nip, they will love finding cat-nip-covered toys to sniff!

available at petacular.com

If you are concerned about your cat not getting as much TLC during this busy holiday season, a great anytime gift is a self-groomer. Available at petacular.com This adorable Arch Groomer with a mouse-shaped cat mat retails for only $14.99 CAD and is treated with catnap oil in order to encourage self-grooming behaviour. Your cat will love the massage, and you can enjoy the daily brushing your cat will receive. Brushing not only removes your cat’s loose undercoat but also helps rid your cat of hairballs.

available at petacular.com

For cats who have everything, why not give them more? Show your kitties they have the run of the household with Crazy Cats Wall Systems. These systems come in many shapes and sizes and attach to your walls to create a jungle gym for your frisky friends.

Prices per wall piece start at $46 USD, or you can buy wall sets of three or more pieces at a time. Outdoor sets are also available. The outdoor version is made of cedar, which is insect and rot resistant. So whether indoors or out, your cats can perch, play and climb all day.

28

available at catsplay.com

available at canadianpetessentials.com

Retro Modern Pet Bed from Etsy-$74.00 USD

available at etsy.com

Jingle Cats CD from amazon.ca-$13.95 CAD

Dedicated to the compassionate care of all creatures

v

Other great presents for a dog or dog lover:

For Your Dog

As the popular mantra goes, “It’s a dog’s world,” and most humans will agree. However, dogs are quite sensitive creatures and holiday times can be hard on them too. This holiday season, pamper your pooch with a pair of Doggie Slippers. These slippers aren’t like your grandfather’s and may not replace the ones your dog ruined, but they sure are cute and come adorned with either pink bunnies or ducks.

Customizable pet clothing from Zazzle - $18.95 USD

Sizes range from XS-XL for small or large dogs ($49.99 CAD), and besides being super cute, they will keep your pup’s tootsies toasty warm on those cold winter mornings.

available at dogsbeds4usbybr.com

available at zazzle.com

Pet’s Eye View Digital Camera from Think Geek - $49.99 USD

Our dogs are part of our families, so let them know how important they are with their very own stockings. These customizable paw-shaped Stockings from Etsy are timeless and well crafted. But don’t hang them until Christmas morning if they are loaded with treats! Selling for $14.50 USD, they come in red or green.

available at etsy.com

Another consideration for the holidays is travel arrangements. If you’d rather not leave your precious pooch behind, consider the Back Seat Sling Hammock for those long trips in the car. Retailing for only $35.75 CAD, it keeps your dog’s fur off the back seat and your dog out of the front.

available at thinkgeek.com

Additionally, if you have one or more human passengers travelling in the back, the hammock can easily fold over to keep the seat fur free and is easily removable when your pooch no longer needs a ride.

available at dogsuppliessite.com

PawPrintsCanada.com

29

For Smaller Creatures

There are always many toy choices for pet birds, but not all serve a purpose. However, this Sandy Perch Arbour Swing does.

Even though I don’t speak fluent hamster, I can tell you that this present is something unique.

available at gigaweb.com

The Critter Cruiser (which also comes in a motorcycle version) is an exciting way for restless rodents to get out of their cage. They are not as dangerous as hamster balls, as there are no right or left turns in these vehicles. Just be sure to set your pets in the right direction and let them explore to their hearts’ content.

Critter Cruisers come in four vibrant colours and are only $16.16 CAD each.

available at canadianbirdtoys.com Just like other Sandy Perch products, the perch portion of this swing is made of a sandpaper-like compound to help keep your bird’s sharp nails trimmed. The colourful blocks and hoops will keep your feathered friend entertained while he or she enjoys the swing.

The cost of this item is $24.71 CAD and is suitable for small or large birds.

available at gigaweb.com The cost of this item is $21.02 and it comes in assorted prints for you and your ferret to enjoy.

Penn-Plax Sponge Bob Aquarium Kit -$88.99 CAD

Other ideas for small creatures: Fleece Bird Bunker (comes in three sizes) - $7.99-$9.59 USD

available at drsfostersmith.com

I just love the Polar Fleece Hanging Lodge. Surprise your ferret with this adorable habitat. Great for in the cage or around the house, it’s made of comfy fleece for those cold winter nights and has four entry points for easy accessibility.

available at bigalsonline.ca

Magnaturals Mojave Red Rock Ledge from Pet Tech-$15.50-$22.99 USD

available at herpsupplies.com

May your holiday shopping worries be tame and your pets wild for the gifts you choose!

30

PawPrintsCanada.com

Pampered Pets

Picture Purrfect Pet Photographers Share Their Stories

By Kiri Ipsen YOU’VE HEARD IT BEFORE – a picture

is worth a thousand words. But which words?

Animals do not express themselves the way humans do. Their communication comes in the form of a swished tail, a batted eyelid, a sideways glance or a slightly cocked head. Our pets’ communication is expressed through their body language, and our only way to capture these expressions is on film.

Each beautiful moment we share with our pets is different from the last.

We’ve all tried to capture these moments, yet only rarely do our efforts yield the desired result. Consider the ratio between absolutely stunning photographs taken with our pointand-click cameras and those that fail to capture the complex essence of our four-legged friends. What is our success rate?

Perhaps this is why one should call a professional.

Building Bonds Photographing pets has been a popular amateur pastime since the widespread production and availability of personal cameras. It wasn’t until the last twenty years or so that it has become a growing profession. According to ehow.com, one of pet photography’s initial uses was to increase public interest in animals for adoption. Many groups such as the Humane Society offer adorable photos of pets who are in need of new homes, in hopes of encouraging people to open their hearts to a new family member. Pet photography is also extremely popular for use in calendars and greeting cards. The common theme around the initiation and popularity of pet photography is based on the emotional bond between human and animal.

The Art of Pet Photography Angie McKaig and Holly Sisson are two professional pet photographers based in Toronto. They specialize in capturing moments and developing them into works of art. “If this job were easy, everyone would want to

31

do it!” says McKaig. “Some of the fun is taking a challenging situation and making it into a beautiful reflection of a pet’s personality.”

Artists often couple their talent with their passions, something to which McKaig and Sisson can attest. “You see so many quality portraits and photographs of people,” says McKaig. “Pet photography is not as common. I want to provide human quality portraits for pets, who are such big parts of our lives and provide great amounts of emotional fulfillment.”

The process of pet photography “is very similar to a family shoot,” says Sisson. “A pet is a member of the family, and my job is to catch your pet’s emotion.” And your own home is the best place to capture these expressions. When an animal is photographed in front of a white backdrop, it seems to remove some of the emotion and meaning of the photograph. The studio makes the animal uncomfortable, and the resulting photographs can seem cold and unnatural.

“I usually go to clients homes for our sessions, at least to start,” McKaig explains.

“Some people like an urban setting, such as downtown Toronto beside a particularly graphic work of graffiti or in one of their favourite spots in the city. However, the vast majority of my clients choose [to have] the photographs ... taken in their homes. This adds much more emotional value to the photos. It serves as a snapshot of how life was at the time of the photo and gives much more detail about the environment of the animal.”

As photographers, McKaig and Sisson are able to observe the correlation between an animal and its environment. This relationship is reciprocal: our pet adds to our environment, and our environment contributes to our pet’s personality. Sisson fondly recalls a maternity shoot with a young couple and their Havanese puppy. Although the dog was quite unsure of Sisson, she was able to take many beautiful shots. One in particular was of the dog in the foreground with the couple sitting together (out of focus) on the floor in the background. When Sisson returned for a second photo shoot after the baby was born, she noticed a tremendous change in the dog’s personality. He was hardly fazed at all by her presence or the camera. Sisson and the young couple hypothesized that the dog’s drastically changed environment was the source

32

of his newfound calmness. Sisson witnessed a marked growth within this family and was able to capture this transition in beautiful photos reflecting moments “before” the baby and “after.”

McKaig believes there is an important similarity between owners and their pets.

However, this is not usually physical. “A more laid back owner will have a much more relaxed pet,” says McKaig. “Animals pick up on the environment that they are raised in, and this usually reflects in their outlook. I have seen the whole gamut of pet personalities, from shy, reserved pets to boisterous pets who love attention and just want to play and have fun”.

McKaig also says it is quite common for the pet to be unsure of the photographer at the beginning of the session. However, she feels this is largely due to the anxieties of the owner. The session is exciting for the owner, and the pet is able to sense this increase in highly charged emotion. The investment of time and money often causes the owner to hope that things go just right. “In the beginning, owners can get flustered when their pet is not behaving like they had hoped, or if they think the shots will not turn out as they planned,” says McKaig. However, there is an easy solution to this common situation. She often suggests that the owner welcome her into the room or space by engaging in comforting and fun activities with the pet. After the owner has encouraged the pet to become comfortable with the photographer, she politely asks the owner to leave the room. The result is a much more relaxed animal. “I try to very quietly and calmly observe and photograph the animal, and I find that it quickly becomes more relaxed.”

Napoleon, in his tiny tuxedo. During the ceremony, the bride and groom exchanged necklace collars, and afterward, everyone enjoyed a piece of the lavish wedding cake. “The whole ceremony was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it was a lot of fun, and I am really glad that I was able to be involved in it,” says McKaig.

As you can imagine, working with pets is an extremely rewarding experience. “The magic of photography is to capture a moment in time,” reflects Sisson. “Every time you look at that photograph, it takes you back to that exact moment when the photo was taken.”

McKaig says the most rewarding aspect of her job is seeing the look on her clients’ faces when they see their prints. “A lot of times my clients have me photograph a pet who is older or who may not be with them for much longer,” she says. “It is so rewarding to know that they can look back at these pictures twenty or thirty years from now and be able to reflect upon their beloved pet.”

This mixture of natural beauty and art could be exactly what you and your family need this holiday season: a photograph to forever fix you and your animal companion in time during Christmas 2009.

To book a session with Angie McKaig visit angiemckaigphotography.com.

To book a session with Holly Sisson visit hollysissonphotography.com.

Magical Moments In their work, both women have encountered fascinating and endearing animals and many new situations.

One in particular was McKaig’s involvement in a pet wedding she was hired to photograph. Canadian chef and television personality Ken Kostick married off his two Chihuahuas in June of this year. The entire production was quite elaborate. Approximately 60 guests witnessed the nuptials between the two canines: lovely Josephine wearing a petite white gown and handsome

PawPrintsCanada.com