Paws feb17

PAWS mopolitan Celebrating Our 4-Legged Friends in the Golden Isles

Volume 1 - Issue 4

www.relayforlife.org/barkglynncountyga

www.facebook.com/barkglynncountyga

6.

When a dog follows you around it’s cute. Am I right? Pretty much nothing is better than being adored by a dog. If a date follows you around we call that little phenomenon stalking.

7.

Dogs don’t care if you are “presentable” or not. You don’t have to buy expensive shoes to hang out with your dog. You don’t even have to shower. Just head out on a couple of hikes, toss a ball around, dole out a healthy belly rub and you’re golden! No makeup, no ironing, no Spanx required. Amen.

8.

You will never have to dream up a way to gently/firmly/ sneakily “get rid” of a dog. Because you’d never want to get rid of a dog! Dogs are fun, and funny, and goofy, and handily clean food right off the kitchen floor for you when you drop it.

Dates seem to think that kind of thing is below them. Lame.

9.

PETFINDER.COM

Top

10 reasons why a

DOG makes a better date this Valentine’s Day 1.

Pup snuggles are the best. Okay, snuggles from a human can be pretty darn good too, but when Fido nuzzles into the nape of your neck and huffs a grumbly sigh, you’ll stay in that exact same position for ages so you don’t disrupt the little mutt’s comfort.

10.

Did I mention dogs don’t talk?

So if you don’t have a significant other or a pooch to share heart day with, check out your local shelter or rescue.

Dogs don’t talk. I could elaborate, but I think we can all agree this is a good thing.

2.

If you worry your dog will destroy your lovely home four seconds after you step out the door, you can put him in a crate. The authorities frown upon this when it comes to dates.

3.

4.

Dog slobber is cute. Date slobber is very not cute. Ever.

You don’t have to share your dessert with a dog (and probably shouldn’t). This is great because dessert is the best part about Valentine’s Day and all that stuff conveniently makes dogs sick. So you get your tempting torte all to yourself. Perfect!

5.

For the not-so-romantic folks out there, a dog won’t look hopefully, then desperately, and finally disdainfully into your eyes when the evening doesn’t end in a helicopter ride to Paris and a romantic marriage proposal. Won’t happen. Prolonged eye contact totally freaks dogs out.

Pawsmopolitan 3

PAWS mopolitan Save Lives Adopt/Spay/Neuter Publisher Stephanie Maeger Editor Charley Bland Contributing Writers Melissa Barnett, Charley Bland, Roger Kiser, Rene Knapp, Sheldon McDougall, Kari Obermeyer, DVM, Tommy Stark, Kimberly Williams Contributing Photographers Melissa Barnett, Elizabeth

Publisher’s Letter On Wednesday, I was tagged in a post on

them up?”. “Sure.”, we said. “But we are

Facebook by a local rescue group looking for

on our way to church. Can we pick them up

some help. The post read, “S.O.S. Bottle feeders

afterwards?”

needed ASAP!!! A momma dog passed away after delivering her 9 babies. They are at the vet

We came home that evening with 2 new

right now, but we need experienced bottle feeders

‘temporary’ additions to our home - one boy

immediately, as we must go get them in the

and one girl. And she is easily two times the

morning. If you can take two or three of these

size of the little boy. They almost look like

babies, please PM me. They will need around the

they could be Catahoula dogs. I just refer to

clock care. Bottle feeders can be from Jeff Davis,

them as my little cookies-n-cream.

Appling, Wayne, Long, Liberty, Bryan, or Glynn County. PLEASE SHARE, we have one day to

Now, we are 5 days in with little to no sleep;

get these babies moved into care.”

not to mention, I am on deadline for this magazine. I can now officially say that being

The first person I thought of to ask to help

a bottle feeder is hard work; and it is, in fact,

LaRoche Photography, Lindsay Erna Imagery, Karen Clark, Jeff Shi, Maxx Williams Cover Photo Karen Clark Rescue Liaison Kimberly Williams Digital Specialist Brannen Morton About the Cover Fancy is a full-blooded Oriental Shorthaired Cat who visits the Golden Isles often with her fur-family. She can be found strutting her lean body at cat shows. Both local, and across the Southeast. Fancy is a current Champion with The International Cat Association (TICA). This photo was shot on her wedding day.

To Advertise in Pawsmopolitan Magazine, Please call (386) 679-8415 or email us at pawsmag@gmail.com

these one-day-old pups, was my mother. This

a full time job. And on top of it all, I thought

experience would be very rewarding for her. Plus,

changing baby diapers was bad. Nope. This

I would be willing to help her in any way I could.

is a whole new level of NO THANK YOU!

So we chatted about it for a short period of time

I’LL PASS feeling I am dealing with. Haha!

Pawsmopolitan is published bi-monthy. reproduction of any photographs, artwork, or copy prepared by pawsmopolitan is strictly prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. all advertised properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal without notice. the advertisers and publisher are not responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. all electronic files submitted to pawsmopolitan become property of the magazine. ©2017 pawsmopolitan. all rights reserved.

way? And what would we do if they happened to

4 Pawsmopolitan

and decided that we wanted to help by offering to take on 3 pups to bottle feed for the next several

But when it’s all said and done, and feeding

weeks. As the night progressed, several fosters’

time is over, I look down upon my chest to

stepped up to lend their hand while knowing

see these sweet balls of fur nestled up in a

that free time is something hard to come by. It’s

little ball asleep. It’s all worth it - the time,

amazing, how in such a short period, the sense

the money, the poop, and stress. Because

of unity was alive and strong in the foster circuit.

these sweet babies will dedicate the rest of

We all knew that the pups had been dealt a hand

their lives being loyal companions to some

destined to flop. But if we had anything to say

loving home. And for that, I am ok.

about it, we all had a common goal - to see these puppies beat the odds and LIVE!

Now, if you will excuse me, it is time to go feed the pups... again. Please enjoy this issue

Surely, after watching the feed of volunteers, I

as we are getting more and more excited

was certain we wouldn’t be selected to take on

about bringing our personal experiences with

this very demanding task. I mean, what exactly

these angels into your lives. Cheers and have

does bottle feeding entail? Do we need to go

a blessed day!

out and purchase bottles? Heating pads? Puppy pads? Formula? And assuming that we had all the supplies necessary to feed, how would we know that we are doing everything the right be in distress?

Hours went by and we had not heard anything.

Maybe fosters had already been placed. Night was beginning to show his face and we were getting ready to leave for church, when we received the phone call. “We have 2 puppies here for you to take on. Would you like to meet to pick

Stephanie Maeger

Find Your Best Friend at a Local Shelter or Rescue

Bowl of Pawtents In Loving Memory of Biggs Williams

Top 10 reasons why a dog makes a better Valentine’s Date . . . . . . 3 Bark About Town . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Domino and Fancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Pretty One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 The Word is Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Breeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

Most Expensive Cat Breeds .......20 True Vignettes ..............2 2 Yes, the dog really did eat my homework ...........2 4 TN R ( Tr ap , N eu t er , R et u r n)........26 Tip s and Tr ic ks........2 8 C ause fo r P aws P et R esc ue.. ......30

The February

9th - Puppy Love Party to benefit Cause for Paws presented by Certified Burgers and Pawsmopolitan Magazine, 5 pm to 7 pm, Certified Burgers on SSI. 10th - Superstars Animal Welfare Awards Gala, Dinner & Auction 6 pm, Hoboken Community Center in Hoboken.

11th - Coastal Animal Rescue Society Adoption and Donation drive 10 am to 2 pm, Sea Island Market on SSI. 12th - Dog Show Fundraising Event to benefit CARS and NKGC 3 pm, Registration at 2 pm, West Marigold neighborhood near East Beach on SSI. 16th - River City Community Animal Hospital Low Cost Mobile Unit By appointment only, 904.733.8123 in Brunswick.

17th - 19th - Castaways Pet Rescue National Adoption Weekend 3 Day Tent Event PetSmart in Brunswick.

18th - Glynn County Animal Control Mobile Pet Adoption and Donation drive 10 am to 2 pm, Pet Supplies Plus in Brunswick.

6 Pawsmopolitan

Bark About Town...

18th - Low Cost PetVet Vaccine Clinic 1 pm to 2:30 pm, Tractor Supply Company in Brunswick.

19th - HART’S Annual Meeting 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Clay’s Sapelo Station in Eulonia.

25th - Bark for Life’s Pup Crawl 11 am to 2 pm, Tickets are $20 Advanced/$25 Day of Event, Register at Island Dog at 10:30 am, the Pier Village on SSI.

4th and 18th - Glynn County Animal Control Mobile Pet Adoption and Donation drive 10 am to 2 pm, Pet Supplies Plus in Brunswick.

4th and 18th - Low Cost PetVet Vaccine Clinic 1 pm to 2:30 pm, Tractor Supply Company in Brunswick.

11th - Coastal Animal Rescue Society Adoption and Donation drive 12 pm to 4 pm, Sea Island Market on SSI.

25th - Chilly Dog Yappy Hour 2 pm to 4 pm, Tipsy McSway’s in Brunswick.

16th - The Farm St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser 7 pm to 10 pm, The Club at Bennie’s Red Barn on SSI.

Every Saturday - Castaways Pet Rescue Adoption and Donation drive 11 am to 4 pm, PetSmart in Brunswick.

18th and 19th - Cause for Paws Arts and Crafts Festival, 10 am to 5 pm, Postell Park on SSI.

Every Saturday - No Kill Glynn County Adoptions at Pet Supplies Plus 11 am to 3 pm in Brunswick.

25th - Bark for Life Glynn County 10 am to 1 pm, Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick.

All of February - Friends of Glynn Yankee Candle Fundraiser

Every Saturday - Castaways Pet Rescue Adoption and Donation drive 11 am to 4 pm, PetSmart in Brunswick.

3rd - No Kill Glynn County Adoption and Donation drive 5 pm to 8 pm.

First Friday, Downtown Brunswick.

Every Saturday - No Kill Glynn County Adoptions at Pet Supplies Plus 11 am to 3 pm in Brunswick.

March

Photos from Our Readers

Photography by Karen Clark

Newly married cat couple Domino, a Manx cat and Fancy, an Oriental Shorthaired cat are sharing their special day with us!

8 Pawsmopolitan

Domino and Fancy

Domino and Fancy met two years ago while sitting next to one another at a TICA cat show in Florida. Fancy, in all of her fierceness, was swept off of her feet by Domino’s silky smooth concrete black coat. Together they toyed with one another as they waited patiently to be judged for the next several weeks to come.

Their parents were so elated by their connection, that they felt it would be best to take their relationship to the next level..

On August 21, 2016, Domino and Fancy tied the knot with their closest friends and family present. Reverend Rene Knapp, judge (and fellow friend) offi“CAT”ed their union.

The ceremony, as seen on the left, is referred to as “Pawfasting”. Pawfasting is known for being the “furry” version of the Neopagan wedding ritual of handfasting, in which a couple’s clasped hands are ceremonially bound together by a cord or ribbon, as a form of relational commitment.

One may ask how their love never dies. Well, it’s because they are kept apart, LITERALLY, for weeks at a time. Domino and Fancy see each other when it’s time to go to work. Not a second more. Nothing seems to stimulate their marriage to one another more than a big dose of healthy competition!

Both cats are currently international champion cats that have been competing for years in The International Cat Association (TICA). They will be attending the next cat show on Jekyll Island, April 1-2. Feel free to come out and meet the newlyweds in person! I’m sure their fur-people will tell you all about their truly memorable day!

Pawsmopolitan 9

THE PRETTY ONE

By Roger Kiser

It had been a very long night. Our black Cocker Spaniel, Precious, was having a difficult delivery. I lied on the floor beside her large four-foot square cage watching her every movement watching and waiting, just in case I had

and fifth were also spotted black and white. "One, two, three, four, five," I counted to myself. I walked down the hallway to wake my wife, Judy and tell her that everything was fine.

As we walked back down the hallway

to rush her to the veterinarian.

and into the spare bedroom, I noticed a sixth puppy had been born, but was lying all by itself over to the side of the cage. I picked it up and laid it on top of the large pile of puppies, which were whining and trying to nurse on the

After six hours, the puppies started to appear. The firstborn was black and white. The second and third puppies were tan and brown in color. The fourth 10 Pawsmopolitan

mother. Precious immediately pushed the small puppy away from rest of the group. She refused to recognize it as a member of her family.

"Something's wrong," said Judy.

I reached over and picked up the puppy.

My heart sank inside my chest when I saw it had a cleft lip and palate, and could not close its little mouth. I decided right then and there that if there

was any way to save this animal, I was going to give it my best shot.

I took the puppy to the vet and was told nothing could be done, unless we were willing to spend about $1,000 to try to correct the defect. He told us that the puppy would die mainly because it could not suckle. After returning home, Judy and I decided that we could not afford to spend that kind of money.

We at least needed to get some type of assurance from the vet that the puppy had a chance to live. However, that did not stop me from purchasing a syringe and feeding the puppy by hand. I did that every day and night, every two hours for more than 10 days. The little puppy survived and learned to eat on his own, as long as it was soft, canned food.

The fifth week, I placed an ad in the newspaper and within a week, we had people interested in all of the pups, except the one with the deformity. Late one afternoon, I went to the store to pick up a few groceries. Upon returning, I happened to see the old retired schoolteacher, who lived across the street from us waving at me. She had read in the paper that we had puppies, and wondered if she might get one for her grandson and his family. I told her all the puppies had found homes, but I would keep my eyes open for anyone else who might have an available Cocker Spaniel. I also mentioned that if anyone should change his or her mind, I would let her know. Within days, new families had picked up all but one of the puppies. I was left with one brown and tan pup, as well as the smaller puppy with the cleft lip and palate.

Two days passed without me hearing anything from the gentleman who had been promised the tan and brown pup.

I called the schoolteacher and told her I had one puppy left, and that she was welcome to come and look at it. She advised me that she was going to pick up her grandson and would come over at about 8 o'clock that evening.

That night at around 7:30 p.m., Judy and I were eating supper when we heard a knock on the front door. When I opened the door, the man who had wanted the tan and brown pup was standing there. We walked inside, took care of the adoption details and I handed him the puppy. Judy and I did not know what we would do or say when the teacher showed up with her grandson.

At exactly 8 p.m., the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and there was the schoolteacher with her grandson standing behind her. I explained to her the man had come for the puppy after all and there were no puppies left. "I'm sorry, Jeffery. They found homes for all the puppies," she told her grandson.

Just at that moment, the small puppy left in the bedroom began to yelp.

"My puppy! My puppy!" yelled the little boy as he ran out from behind his grandmother.

I just about fell over, as I noticed that small child also had a cleft lip and palate. The boy ran past me as fast as he could, down the hallway to where the puppy was still yelping. When the three of us made it to the bedroom, the small boy was holding the puppy in his arms. He looked up at his grandmother and said, "Look, grandma! They found homes for all the puppies except the pretty one and he looks just like me.”

The schoolteacher turned to us and asked, "Is this the puppy that’s

available?"

“Yes,” I answered. “That puppy is available.”

The little boy, who was now hugging the puppy chimed in, "My grandma told me these kinds of puppies are very expensive and that I have to take really good care of it."

The lady opened her purse, but I reached over and pushed her hand back down into her purse so she could not pull her wallet out. "How much do you think this puppy is worth?" I asked the boy. "About $1?"

"No. This puppy is very, very expensive," he replied.

"More than $1?" I asked.

"I'm afraid so," said his grandmother.

The boy stood there pressing the small puppy against his cheek. "We could not possibly take less than $2 for this puppy," Judy said squeezing my hand.

"Like you said, it's the pretty one."

The schoolteacher took out $2 and handed it to the young boy.

"It's your dog now, Jeffery. You pay the man."

Still holding the puppy tightly, the boy proudly handed me the money. Any worries I’d had about the puppy’s future were gone.

The image of the little boy and his matching pup stays with me still. I think it must be a wonderful feeling for any young person to look in the mirror and see nothing except "the pretty one."

Pawsmopolitan 11

The

Wordis CAT

By Rene Knapp, Judge The International Cat Association, Inc.

A t dinner the other night, my family and I decided to play a word game, all involving the word cat. We had so many words and phrases that I decided it would make a great bits and pieces column! Enjoy!

catty. When someone is toying with another person’s feelings, we say they are playing cat and mouse . I often called my daughter, when she was pouting a pickle puss and when she was all dressed up I called her a glamour puss! When my husband has had a hard day of physical labor outside I tell him he looks like something the cat dragged in and sometimes, when we argue, we “fight like cats and dogs .”

When a person is spiteful and mocking, we say they are

We ask shy children if the

cat’s got their tongue and refer to people who copy someone else’s persona, a

copycat. We also tend to use the word cat to describe men. For instance someone who sleeps around is known as a Tom cat and a lazy, immoral man is said to be catting around . cat’s meow, a coward is a scaredy cat . People who are afraid for no reason are Fraidy cats and rich people are Fat cats . A bad tempered woman is a She-cat or Hell-cat and a person who is on top of all the latest fads is a Hep cat . A person who always remains calm is a Cool cat and a thief who climbs through windows is a cat burglar . And a person who is one of a kind is often referred to as another breed of cat.

And then there are lots of cat words to describe people. Gorgeous men and women are the

cat and dog life. Children play a game with string called Cat’s Cradle and if you can see well in the dark, you must have cat eyes , not to be confused with cat’s eyes, which are generally a person with vivid green eyes, not to be confused further with a cat’s eye which is a precious gem. Going from eyes to feet, if you are a hen pecked man, you are under the cat’s foot !

People who live together and argue all the time lead a

catnap and drinking weak tea and milk is a catlap! And if you are a nervous Nelly, you are like a cat on a hot tin roof ! I have one of my living room tables at an angle and it is said to be, kitty corner . A narrow walkway is a catwalk .

Spending a half hour dozing is referred to as a

Don’t forget the wonderful Pussy Willows that grow outside, and the flower bracts of trees such as willows

Catkins. And on the branches of these trees sit a bird whose call sound like a meow and they are, of course, called Catbirds . and birches are called

When attending a sports event or show that is disappointing, you may hear

catcalls. If it is pouring outside, it

raining cats and dogs. Now if you sat around and watched before you joined in any type of situation, you would be waiting to see which way the cat jumped ; or perhaps you were just being indecisive and in that case you would be pussy footing around . may be

rubbing their fur the wrong way, or actually start a fight which would be making the fur fly . Of course you could just start the trouble by putting the cat among the pigeons .

You could egg people on and irritate them by

Cats are very much a part of our everyday language; so much so we hardly realize just how many words are derived from our feline friends. They all tend to show the independent and affirmative nature of the cat. As far as this entire bits and pieces goes, it is pretty silly and just enough to

make a cat laugh!

Pawsmopolitan 13

14 Pawsmopolitan

By Melissa Barnett

BREEDERS the Good, the Bad, the Fury

It often seems the animal advocacy community and the breeding community is at odds with each other, and this is unfortunate. I firmly feel that anyone who loves animals is worth including in a group that benefits animals. We are fighting a battle to preserve lives and can use the help of anyone and everyone who is willing to lend a hand. Instead of ostracizing breeders, we need proper education, not only about rescue and No Kill efforts, but also about breeders.

Is there any topic that seems to draw more controversy amongst animal advocates and animal rescue folks until they hear the word “BREEDER�?

16 Pawsmopolitan

Most breeders are accused of making money breeding dogs while others are being killed in the shelters. But there are many other professions whose employees and founders make a living from animals (whether bred or rescued). These people include vets, pet stores, groomers, trainers, behaviorist, day care facilities and countless others. The high kill rates at our shelters are not the fault of reputable breeders, but rather the fault of careless and often thoughtless owners who dump their dogs. To imply that eliminating breeders would somehow eradicate the shelter crisis is just not logical. This makes as much sense as saying we can end dog bites through breed specific legislation. It is very easy to place blame on one group (breeders).

Consider this; some statistics show that around 30% of dogs in the shelters are purebreds. We can then assume that approximately 70% are mixed breeds. Since no licensed and reputable breeder is (in theory) breeding mixed breed dogs, the root of this problem lies in irresponsible pet ownership (including improper containment and giving up on their pets). Additionally, the lack of spay and neuter requirements in a community allows this continued irresponsible breeding. To elaborate a little further, we can also assume that a portion of this 30% (of purebreds in shelters) is a result of backyard breeders and puppy mills. In truth, a very small percentage of the dogs in the shelter can now be linked to responsible breeders.

Still, there are people who say that families will adopt a mixed breed dog (shelter dog) if we eliminate all breeders. Instead, I feel that we should focus on passing and enforcing legislation that sets higher standards to flush out backyard breeders and puppy mills and passing mandatory spay and neuter ordinances on a local

level. When we educate people about the difference between responsible breeders and back yard breeders and puppy mills, we can begin solving the problems that shelter pets have.

People who are looking to bring a dog (or a cat) into their home should be educated on ALL the resources available to them so they can make the best decision possible for their family and just as importantly, for the pet. My highest suggestion is for people to consider adoption; however, many who focus on rescue will state that rescue is the ONLY option. At times, they will even argue with or demean a person who wishes to purchase their next pet. By cutting off the conversation at this point, we then see people who end up buying dogs in an un-educated status from puppy-mills, pet stores and even backyard breeders. What we must focus on is what these people are looking for, what they are wanting in a pet and the type of commitment they are able to give. We should help everyone obtain the pet that suits them and all work together for the same end goal. The happiness and health of the pet is what truly matters. Where do we begin?

First, we must acknowledge the fact that not all breeders are responsible and reputable. I hope to outline some information in this article and future articles that will help you identify a good breeder and provide tools to help you make an informed decision when getting your new best furry friend. I hope you’ll

consider adopting first, IF that would be a suitable option for you. If you decide to get a dog from a breeder, maybe you will consider a second dog from a rescue as a best friend for your pet.

Another thing to consider is the fact that most all dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. If you cannot meet the parents of the dog or know how this pup was reared, then chances are you’ve got a problem or you will in the future.

Pet stores should be on your list of ABSOLUTE NO’s when considering a puppy. Of course they look cute in the window, but believe me, the suffering their parents went through should steer you clear of considering a dog from a pet store. The health of nearly every puppy for sale there is a huge concern.

We feel bad for them all and maybe you even think you are “saving one”, but instead you are funding the pockets of those stores and “BYB’s (backyard breeders)!

For those people that want a dog from a breeder, there should be information available from someone qualified to give it. It’s also important to point out puppies are a lot of work! For those that think puppies are cute and a good pet for children, think again. Puppies require a lot of work and you should think twice before making this commitment. There are six months in which you’ll be replacing shoes, socks, wires, carpets, remotes, furniture, wall-boards and a host of other things. I Pawsmopolitan 17

would tend to guess I might even be underestimating that time frame just a tad bit.

Before shopping for a new pet, I first suggest visiting your local shelter and contacting breed specific rescue organizations. If you’re looking for a specific breed of dog, there are breed specific rescues for just about EVERY breed of dog there is. On the internet, type the breed and the word “rescue� into your search engine and see what comes up. Keep in mind that specific breeds of dogs have specific character traits that may or may not work out for specific families. I challenge you to research so that you can be certain that breed will be compatible with your family and lifestyle. Rescues are also a good resource to ask for breeder referrals. To me, one of the main criteria in considering whether a breeder is reputable is if they work with rescue organizations, particularly those of the breed that they are breeding.

In the next article, I will share with you some very specific things to consider before purchasing from a breeder.

With education and a positive dialog between the rescue community and reputable breeders, I believe that we can assist families in finding the best pet suited for them. By working together, we can have a positive effect on our communities and save lives!

18 Pawsmopolitan

16

Pawsmopolitan 19

16 Pawsmopolitan

M O S T E X P E N S I V E C AT B R E E D S A r o u n d

T h e

W o r l d

MAINE COON CAT Largest breed of domestic cat.

Known as the Gentle Giant.

Has dog-like characteristics.

Playful and affectionate.

Breed is around $2000.

BENGAL CAT Known as the Asian leopard cat.

Rosetted spots occur only on the back and sides, with stipes elsewhere.

Needs lots of attention to keep them happy.

Breed is hundreds to thousands of dollars.

SCOTTISH FOLD CAT Domestic cat with folding ears.

Known to have an owl-like appearance.

Sits with their legs stretched out and their paws on their belly.

(Buddha Position) Breed is hundreds to thousands of dollars.

RUSSIAN BLUE CAT Left: The Russian Blue has bright green eyes, pinkish lavender or mauve paws, two layers of short thick fur, and a blue-grey coat. They are known for their friendliness and intelligence. They play fetch and they can open doors. Breed is around $2000.

Pawsmopolitan 21

True Vignettes

By Charley Bland

We hear the term “rescue dog” (or any other rescue animal) often these days. As happily as some turn out, the very ones we enjoy reading about may have had gritty, scary, dangerous or heart-rending moments. Situations involving rescue of an animal can come with all sorts of hazards along with beauty. Realistically, love of animals should not be a blinding force. That love has to be smartly and safely administered, as rescue events are always cautionary love tales.

It Don’t Take a Pickup Truck

a fallen-in barn stand silently. So…“How’d you get out here by this big ole highway?”. Rescuer’s talking gently, stroking little guy’s matted fur, reassuring him with a lot of soft, “It’s OK, little one. It’s gonna be all right”. Questions not posed to tiny guy’s ears consist of…well…now what to do? What’s the next step? What…what…what? Hard to tell little fella’s real color for the dirt and matting, so before evening’s dark settles down on all of them, he’s got to be in a safe place.

Dog finders always face decisions, especially if out of their network of friendly kindred spirits. On the road again to a temporary destination…and little bitty dude has had the awful rope removed, been given a little soft food and water, lots of reassurance, and a warm blanket to sleep on in the traveler’s car.

Ever find a tiny dog dragging a long rope down the highway a

long way from nowhere? Itty bitty pup was dragging about 12 feet of white clothesline rope tied tightly around his neck. Most dog rescuers have come across at least similar situations. Itty bitty frightened guy can’t answer any of rescuer’s questions.

You know…like, “Where do you live, little fella?”. Or, “You got a name, little guy?”. Not a house in sight, just faded remnants of 22 Pawsmopolitan

Morning appears, but daylight doesn’t wake him, and no one’s sure if he’s still alive. He lays like a windblown candy wrapper in the back window shelf of the car. Is he dead? Oh, *#* that won’t smell good…then, opening of a car door, soothing greetings, and itty bitty guy is wagging himself awake!

One vet trip and one grooming trip later, then itty bitty has won the hearts of a brand new forever home. If only he knew, it’s not usually that easy or that beautiful. But these are happy ending stories. He need not know…after all, he is home.

Tall Tails in Trees

In the misty days that dance between Winter and Spring, rain showers and gentle dampness entice plants, roots, and seeds to stretch past their coats and sweaters. A little sun, then chilly rain, foggy mist, then sun, and more misting warmer rain.

But, there it was again. Not usually the sound made by a tall oak tree’s dripping leaves, a scratchy scronk sound sawed through evening’s damp grayness. What!? A bird in trouble?

Or worse, a raccoon? Oh great! Cats in trouble won’t elicit a wildlife rescuer to fix this situation. Smart cats, even ones with laryngitis, can find some way to put a human to work for them. The cat scronked once more and leapt to the ground, entwining itself around the wary rescuer’s ankles.

One overnight in the warm laundry room, one vet visit for a pneumonia checkup, one required FIV checkup (negative, thank goodness!), and then leaving the vet lobby snuggled in a blanket in her rescuer’s arms. Almost out the door…almost.

A young teen coming in the door stops suddenly, “Who’s cat is that? (A lost cat) Where’s it going? (To the Humane Society)”.

Rescuer asked if it were the teen’s lost cat. No, not that kind of miraculous meeting. Even as good, though. This teen wants cat to wait in the lobby a minute while teen confers with grandma out in the car. Jubilant teen returns shortly, “We’ll take her!”, is the exclamation. Overjoyed teen explained that grandma’s elderly kitty had passed away recently. And that the rescue cat just looked so beautiful to teen that teen knew grandma would love this cat. Teen wanted to know, “Does she have a name?”. Her name’s Wisteria”, rescuer explained.

“That’s because kitty had twined herself like a spring vine around rescuer’s ankles, and because she’s beautiful. And so it was, that teen, grandma, and Wisteria in her fluffy blanket began the snuggles of a new Spring and their new life together.

Some seasoned rescuers ride prepared. That

means they carry dog treats, pet first aid equipment, spare leash, blanket, water bowl and more. Car, truck, or minivan, any vehicle can mean life for a lost animal. It’s the driver (or maybe passenger) who makes all the difference.

Those humans who rescue lost creatures come in all sizes, shapes and life stories. Some rescue endings are happy, some are not, but they all are mercy and safety. The decision is personal every time. Human safety first, then animal safety.

Rescuers speak calmly and gently to animals.

Animals usually want human communication… just talking to the animal with genuine concern.

No one can tell others to rescue animals. It’s personal, personal, personal. Networking, volunteering, getting involved with animal rescue groups can help to safely bridge a potential rescuer from simply caring about animals to being a well prepared rescuer.

Pawsmopolitan 23

YES, the DOG really DID EAT my HOMEWORK!

By: Kimberly Williams In the fall of 2015, my husband Tim and I were up to our eyeballs preparing to move into a new home. Despite the fact we had yet to close, half of our home was packed and we had boxes stacked to the ceiling. Now, anyone who has purchased a home knows how challenging preparing for a closing can be. And in our experience, purchasing a second home was probably more complicated than purchasing our starter home! There were lots of emails and phone calls with the real estate agent, the bank, and the broker. Just when you think everything is in order and all paperwork has been submitted; you are asked for, “just one more thing”. So, in the middle of working, taking care of our animals, and packing for the move, we were also busy coordinating with everyone trying to get our ducks in a row for the upcoming closing.

At the time, our pack consisted of Zeus, our Great Dane, Sampson our Great Dane/pittie mix, June, our pittie foster dog (now foster failure), Jazz, our bulldog mix, and Solo, our Akita mix. Jazz and Solo were seniors approaching their 13th birthdays and were our little old men. Regardless of their age, 24 Pawsmopolitan

our boys played, snuggled, and groomed each other and were bonded as a family. One night, in the middle October, I was awakened by Solo having a seizure. The seizure was severe, but lasted less than a minute. It certainly felt like an eternity!

Over the next week, Solo’s seizures continued and his physical health deteriorated quickly. Mentally things just weren’t connecting for him. After a couple of trips to the vet, we knew it was time to say goodbye.

Tim and I took a day off from work and took Solo to Coastal Animal Hospital to see Dr. Tucker and his wonderful staff one last time. We said our goodbyes and returned home a blubbering mess. We spent the day watching movies and snuggling with our babies. What we didn’t understand is how deeply this loss would affect not only us, but the rest of the pack. The following week, Zeus came into the bathroom and literally pulled the shower curtain back and got in the shower with me looking for reassurance. (Any other time, we have to drag him in there to get a bath!) Jazz resolved himself to hiding in the closet in the dark. Lastly, because of his grief,

Sampson began acting out and being destructive! He chewed several pairs of shoes and literally consumed socks!

So back to the earlier part of my story... Our closing date was quickly approaching and our final closing packet was mailed to us from a bank out in Texas. Every day we would receive an email asking if we had received the packet in the mail and every day we would respond that we had not. We were getting dangerously close to the closing date, so the broker suggested that our packet be sent via FedEx to avoid further delay and surprisingly, the packet arrived the very next day. I opened the packet, thumbed through the pages, and laid the packet on our bedroom dresser. I continued with preparing dinner and doing all the other things I needed to do. I figured Tim and I would look over everything when he got home from work. Well, I finished up in the kitchen and headed back to the bedroom and my heart fell to my stomach. There was Sampson, in all his glory, standing in the middle of our bed, fiercely shredding our final closing packet!!! Of course I panicked. I screamed.

I grabbed the remnants and began attempting to piece it back together. My big 120 pound baby was grieving and dealing with his pain the very best way he knew how.

Well, you can imagine how much I dreaded making THAT phone call. I knew that there was no way they were going to believe this story! Fortunately, it all worked itself out.

We salvaged what we could and they sent additional forms that weren’t shredded, full of teeth marks, or covered with slobber. We successfully closed on our new beautiful home and completed our move. But we learned a very valuable lesson. Dogs have emotions. They cannot verbalize to us how they are feeling. It is our job to listen, be patient, and try to understand them. My pack grieved the loss of their brother, as we grieved the loss of our fur baby. And as a result, I had to make one of the hardest phone calls I’ve ever made. Yes, the dog really did eat my homework!

Pawsmopolitan 25

The Scratching Post

TNR

By: Kari Obermeyer, DVM, Island Animal Hospital

Trap Neuter Return

Anybody who loves pets and shares their home with

within 5 years if left unchecked. With limited resources

them is heartbroken by the reality that there are many

available to help care for these cats, including

animals that do not have homes and must live in less

volunteers who will provide food or medical care for

than ideal situations. One of these populations are the

them, it is necessary to help control the population.

feral cats that can be seen throughout neighborhoods

Regrettably, for many years it was thought the best

around Glynn county. Most of these cats were born

way to deal with feral cats was to trap and euthanize

feral, which means they have never been socialized

these animals. However, it was quickly learned that this

with people, which means most of them are very

only encouraged other cats to move into the area to

untrusting. Some cats will become friendly over time

take advantage of available resources, so this became

with their caretakers they see on a regular basis, but

known as the vacuum effect.

the majority will not allow themselves to be touched.

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Unfortunately, without intervention these cats will

Cruelty to Animals) endorses the control method called

continue to breed and produce more feral kittens,

Trap Neuter Release, or TNR, praising it as “the most

who in turn will grow into feral cats. One female cat

humane, effective and financially sustainable strategy

and her offspring can produce over 10,000 kittens

for controlling free-roaming cat populations�.

26 Pawsmopolitan

Fortunately, the introduction of TNR provided a

be vaccinated for rabies before being returned to their

practical, effective, humane alternative to the trap

cages for recovery. Typically, cats are held in their

and kill method. TNR programs date back to the

cages for 24 hours to monitor for any post-operative

1970’s, but became much more widespread in the

issues before being returned to the environment where

1990’s. One of the original TNR initiatives was on the

they were found.

Stanford campus in California where they sterilized over 1500 cats and reduced the feral cat population

So, in the future if you see a cat that is missing it’s

on the campus to 85 cats in 15 years. Many studies

ear tip, you can know it has been sterilized and

show the effectiveness of TNR work, including a study

vaccinated, and is now a welcomed member of the

of multiple colonies in North Carolina, where a 36%

community cat population. Sterilized cats can no

reduction in the colony sizes was seen over the first

longer contribute to the cat overpopulation issue,

two years. This means is by no an overnight ‘fix’ for

and are much less likely to fight or engage in other

the situation, but with continued efforts by many local

disruptive behavior. With everyone helping (whether

organizations, the ‘community cat’ population can be

a call or computer contact, or volunteering to assist

humanely reduced.

in activities) we can greatly decrease the feral cat population, and work to keep these populations as

For people who are not familiar with how TNR works,

small and healthy as possible. In the ideal world, no

humane live traps are placed in areas where groups of

cats would be homeless, but until that time TNR will

feral cats, known as colonies, are known to populate.

help provide the best care possible for these cats

Food is placed in the traps to lure the cats in. When

and kittens, and bring about a huge reduction in any

they enter, the trap closes and the cat is unable to

annoyance to human neighborhoods.

escape, but there is room for the cat to move around comfortably within the trap. The following morning the

If you know of a group of feral cats that live in your

traps are checked to see if any cats have been caught.

neighborhood and need help with TNR services, please

Cats who are marked (ear tip clipped) as previously

contact islandtnr@outlook.com for more information.

sterilized will be released. All others will be transported to a local veterinary clinic for evaluation and surgery. When the cats arrive at the clinic they will be sedated to allow for safe handling by staff. Once sedated the animals are examined to ensure they appear healthy enough for surgery, and to see if they have been previously altered.

Once surgery is complete, or if it’s discovered they have already been sterilized, they are ‘marked’ by removing the tip of one of their ears to make them easily identifiable as a sterilized cat. They will also

Pawsmopolitan 27

Tips and Tricks

By Tommy Stark, Tailwaggers eventually, your dog will only respond when a treat bag is around. Instead, stick a couple treats in your pocket, and head out. Your dog should think that treats grow in your pocket and that you always have them. That will teach the dog to stay keyed on you, not on some bag. I like my dogs to think that I always have something for them, so I keep rewards hidden on me until it is time to give them out. I use food to reward accuracy, and a ball to reward speed. The ball, to my dog, is the ultimate reward because he associates it with play. This gets him wonderfully excited and really fast at his commands. I call that structured exercise; receiving a ball as a reward is a huge trigger for him.

When dog owners come to me for training, the first thing I

must convey is how dogs learn. The owners must understand that language itself is not important; it does not matter at all what you say to your pooch. Dogs respond to tone and pitch, and, therefore, all that matters is the tone of voice in which a command is given.

It is also vital that the tone of the command remains consistent. If a particular tone reaps a treat one time, for instance, the dog will likely repeat the behavior in response to that tone the next time, in hopes of another treat.

More important even than tone and pitch is body language.

Dogs respond to that even before a tone. If you speak the down command, for instance, but give the hand signal to sit, the dog will sit. I stress the following to all my clients: focus on your body language and your tone; move less and talk less. If your body is conveying several conflicting signals to your dog, you will simply confuse him or her. The key is to remain as physically still as possible and to convey only the hand signal you want the dog to understand. Talking to your dog too much during training will confuse them, too, as they are only listening for the tone that brought them the reward the last time.

Speaking commands only once is very important, also. I often hear owners give the stay command nine times, while the dog hasn't even moved. It is best to speak the command one time and allow the dog time to figure it out. It can take a minute for the dog to respond, so be patient, as that will pay off in the long run. Your dog will respond faster to your commands with time and reinforcement.

Dogs also learn from triggers. "A" leads to "B", which leads to "C". Anyone who has carried a treat bag knows this well. In fact, it is best NOT to have a treat bag during training because

28 Pawsmopolitan

Dogs have a strong desire to work and to please. All dogs were bred to perform some job for humans. That's the bottom line. A dog's only purpose on this earth is to help us in their amazing ways. What causes behavior issues in some dogs is having that sense of purpose taken away from them. If you do not make your dog work for what he wants, he will be very confused and will feel that he has no job. Having a purpose has been hardwired into their brains for thousands of years. All dogs must work and have some job to do.

Your having a positive state of mind and good energy will only benefit your dog. He or she needs to know he is doing his job, and if you get upset with your dog, he will experience that as having failed. If you've had a bad day or are not feeling well, you will notice your dog exhibiting a different behavior: She will become a bit more clingy because she is trying to comfort you. So when you are working with your dog, make sure you keep good energy, and try not to get nervous or frustrated. Your dog needs to know you are a stable leader, or he will not follow you. He will become his own leader and create his own jobs.

I hope some of these suggestions will ease your training experience or your dog's behavior issues. Stay focused and be a friend to your pooch. He is only trying to please you!

NKGC Fundraiser at the Copper Pig

Rescue

By Sheldon McDougall

Making a Difference One Animal at a Time

We began our fostering program on January 1st, 2016, with a handful of carefully-chosen foster parents to nurture our animals back to physical and emotional health, and to socialize and rehabilitate them until they were ready for adoption. We received our 501c3 nonprofit license in February retroactive to March of 2014. Just in 2016, we helped OVER 100 DOGS AND CATS to safety, to good veterinary health, and either to good adoptive homes or on their way to being adopted to good, thoroughly-checked-out homes!

Cause For Paws In September of 2014, I was moved to start a Facebook

page called "Saving the Animals of Glynn", designed to network rescue animals, post community events, and provide education and advice, plus a bit of comic relief, for those with pets. From day one, however, the sad calls came in!

I referred them to whichever rescue group I felt was most appropriate, but all too often they had already contacted all of the local rescues only to be turned down because their fosters were full, their coffers were bare, they don't take cats...or whatever legitimate reasons made my phone number the end of the line. It was heartbreaking!

I helped where I could with funds I didn't have, began fostering for a local rescue...and KNEW in my heart of hearts that Glynn County needed more rescues! In March of 2015, two friends in animal welfare and I decided to form a nonprofit corporation and call it Cause for Paws, Inc. We shared many common beliefs and goals, and planned to discuss how we would best express our beliefs and reach our goals, but when we met next, we found that two of our members realized that their careers prohibited them from committing to a rescue, while I was obsessed with forging ahead. Both guys graciously stepped aside, and I became Chairman of Cause for Paws, Glynn County's newest rescue group!

30 Pawsmopolitan

Cause for Paws primarily focuses on animals on death row in kill shelters; abused, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats; animals that are injured or ill with no one to foot the bill; and animals that belong to indigent families who cannot afford to pay for their food, wheelchairs or medical care.

In October, we moved to our rescue to our dream property off 341 in Glynn County. Due to unforeseen ‘weather’ conditions, we have yet to build out our kennels, cattery, and runs. Once everything is back in place and we can get our kennels built, we expect to have an equal number of large and small dogs on the premises. Our indoor/outdoor, heated and air-conditioned cattery will hold lots of kitties too, replacing the 4 stations we have set up around the place now for our 23 kitties (including a mama cat who was surrendered 4 days before giving birth to 7 beautiful kittens)! We will also have a run where the big dogs can be turned loose to exercise. Quarantine areas for small dogs will be located in the house; large dogs will be in the big garage; and cats will be in the small garage.

When all of the building is complete, we will be having a huge Grand Opening Party under the stars. Entertainment will be provided by Michael Leonard Hulett.

But you don’t have to wait until then to come see us. You are welcome anytime to come on out and say "hello"!

If you would like to contribute to the building of this wonderful property, please contact us by phone at 912-2237770 or visit us online at: https://www.youcaring.com/causefor-paws-inc-505443. Every $$ counts!

IF YOU CAN'T DONATE MONEY BUT WANT TO HELP CAUSE FOR PAWS, OUR DOGS AND CATS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: Dry Cat, Dog, Kitten and Puppy Food Cat and Dog Toys Treats Wet Kitten and Puppy Formula Collars and Leashes Heartguard Plus Washable Bedding Towels Revolution for dogs and cats Paper Towels Cat litter / Litter boxes Crates and Carriers Puppy Pee Pads Bleach and Wipes Please call Sheldon at 912-223-7770 to arrange delivery or pickup! Thanks.

YOU CAN ALSO BE A VOLUNTEER! Paint, Landscape or Build!

Teach Dogs Skills!

Walk Dogs!

Play with Kittens!

Socialize Cats!

Office / Computer Work!

Help with Fundraising Events!

Clean Inside or Out! Foster!

Book events!

CALL ME ANYTIME TO JOIN IN THE CAUSE FOR PAWS VENTURE: Sheldon, 912-223-7770.

You'll be glad you did!

We have FUN saving lives together...

Nothing could be more rewarding!

GOLDEN ISLES

&

Area Shelters Rescue Organizations Angel’s Helping Hands 13760 Post Road Hortense, GA 31543 (912) 409-7389 angelshelpinghandsorg.weebly.com FB: Angels Helping Hands Brantley Animal Rescue Coalition (BARC) Brantleyanimalrescuecoalition.weebly. com Donation link is located on website FB: Brantley Animal Rescue Coalition Castaways Pet Rescue, Inc. 11659 GA Hwy 99 Darien, GA 31305 / (912) 270-0119 FB: Castaways Pet Rescue Cause for Paws, Inc. 2001 Sea Palms West Drive St. Simons Island, GA 31522 www.causeforpawsga.com FB: Cause for Paws, Inc. Coastal Animal Rescue Society, Inc. 117 Shore Rush Circle St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 230-9125 www.carsga.org FB: Coastal Animal Rescue Society Friends of Glynn Animals Brunswick, GA Inc. 114 Fantail Court Brunswick, GA 31525 www.friendsofglynnanimals.org Donation link is www.gofundme.com/ glynnanimals FB: Friends of Glynn Animals Georgia Sea Turtle Center 214 Stable Road Jekyll Island, GA 31527 (912) 635-4444 www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org Glynn County Animal Control 4765 Hwy 17 North Brunswick, GA 31525 (912) 554-7500 www.glynncountyanimals.org

Greatful Goldens Rescue of the Low Country 24 Bridgewater Way Brunswick, GA 31525 Phone or fax: (912) 264-6975 www.ggrlc.org FB: Grateful Golden Retriever Rescue of the Low Country Humane Animal Resource Team, Inc. (HART) P.O. Box 936 Darien, GA 31305 (912) 437-2033 www.hartofmcintosh.com FB: Humane Animal Resource Team, Inc. Humane Society of So Coastal GA 4627 Hwy 17 North Brunswick, GA 31525 (912) 264-6246 www.hsscg.org FB: Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia Max’s Animal Rescue, Inc. 2320 Saddle Club Road Hoboken, Georgia 31542 912-816-3776 www.maxsanimalrescue.com FB: Max’s Animal Rescue McIntosh County Animal Control 1184 Animal Shelter Drive Darien, GA 31305 (912) 437-4242 FB: McIntosh County Animal Services Nahunta Kitties www.nahuntakitties.com Paypal: KeepBrantleyBeautiful@gmail. com FB: Nahunta Kitties Group No Kill Glynn County 241 Florida Street St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 223-5997 www.nokillgynncounty.org FB: No Kill Glynn County Safehollow P.O. Box 732 Ludowici, GA 31316 (912) 545-9743 email: safehollow@aol.com www.yourcause.com/safehollow The Farm at Oatland North 3370 Lawrence Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 580-6774 FB: The Farm at Oatland North The List - 48 Hours of Hope Networks death row animals at Glynn County Animal Control (912) 258-0058 or (912) 223-7770 Donations accepted via link on FB FB: The List - 48 Hours of Hope