November/Decembre 2015 Issue of Pet Me! Magazine by Pet Me! Magazine

November/December 2015

Your Guide To All Things Pets

Traveling With a Pet PLUS: LA Search Dogs A Green, Gentle Farewell Feline Granuloma Complex & Much More!

s! ay d oli H y pp a H

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

2 Pet Me! Magazine™

NOVEMBEr/DECEMBER 2015

Contents 4 LA Search Dogs 10 Giving Departed Pets A Green, Gentle Farewell 12 Something New

16 What is Feline Granuloma Complex? 19 Traveling With a Pet: A Few Tips to Help You Along 20 Dog Adoptables 22 Cat Adoptables 23 Directory for All Things Pets

Advertising Information Direct: 661.255.9979 Fax: 866.259.9201 29743 Seco Cyn. Rd. #518, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

email: petadv@petmemag.com Web: www.petmemag.com PUBLISHER Bridget Alves EDITOR Caroline Squires

Happy holidays from us to you! As we all look forward to time with our family and friends, don’t forget to keep your pet in mind during your holiday travels. If you are considering taking your pet with you on an airplane, check out our article featuring some tips to keep you and your pet stress free. Pet Me! writer, Caroline Squires, had the unique opportunity to spend the day with our local LA Search Dog team. Several handlers and their highly trained trailing, area, and cadaver dogs demonstrated their skills and gave her a firsthand look at their incredible abilities. The dedicated volunteers who train their personal dogs to help the Sheriff ’s Department when someone goes missing deserve the recognition afforded to them in our feature article. They are an inspiring group of people, and their dogs are a sight to see! Our community is fortunate to have this resource, and we’re excited to share her experience with you. Also included in this issue, is a closer look at all the people and organizations that make Furever Purr Rescue possible. It’s with great pride that I can announce 300 cats and kittens have been saved and placed into loving homes. I’m looking forward to another year of saving more lives with the help of so many caring individuals who have come to the aid of Furever Purr Rescue. As 2015 comes to a close, we look forward to another year filled with pets, press, and pawsitively representing SCV; thank you for your kind support.

Bridget Alves Publisher

Pet Me! Magazine

ART DIRECTOR Doug Conboy COVER PHOTO That Spunky Monkey PUBLISHED BY Pet Me! Publications Find Us On Facebook and Twitter Pet Me! Magazine

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

LA Search Dogs By Caroline Squires

4 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

t takes a special kind of dog and a special kind of person to become part of the LA Search Dog (LASD) Team. It’s not for everyone and definitely not for every dog. This volunteer-based program is reserved for those who are selfless, dedicated, and who aren’t afraid to work long hours and in challenging conditions. I had the opportunity to meet some of our local LA Search Dog Team members and their highly trained canine companions and experience their incredible abilities firsthand. One of the first team members I met was Michael Kaae. He began volunteering for the LA Search Dog Team 7 years ago because his German shepherd, Sirius, needed a job. Kaae said, “I primarily got into it because of the dog. Getting a dog from a working line meant he wasn’t going to be happy just going out for daily walks. Initially, we got into some agility and it wasn’t working out. I stumbled upon search and rescue and it’s been working out ever since.” When asked about the challenges and benefits of volunteering, Kaee remarked, “It is challenging putting in the hours and the traveling time, but it is also rewarding because you are spending time with your dog, getting out in the wilderness, and seeing places you never would see otherwise.”

In order for a team to be able to assist the Sheriff ’s Department, they have to be Mission Ready?a term used to describe a dog and handler who have passed all necessary tests and have secured all mandatory certifications in order to assist the Sheriff ’s Department on calls. But, in order to be Mission Ready, a dog and its handler must have completed 2-3 years of training. The background certifications needed to be Mission Ready include:

continued on page 6

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

continued from page 5 • Taking an approved Emergency Medical Response and CPR for the Professional Rescuer Course from the American Red Cross • Becoming proficient in use of map, compass, and GPS as well as radio communications • Knowing wilderness survival, scent theory, ropes, patient packaging, litter transport, low-angle rescue, mantracking, the incident command system, and helicopter safety In addition to training 2-3 times a week (including night training) for 2-3 years, it is also required that team members attend official California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) monthly workouts. When a handler and his/her dog becomes a certified Mission Ready team, they will still need to continue to train regularly to keep their basic skills sharp, and they have to recertify every 1 to 2 years, which includes passing a fitness test. The Fitness Test consists of an 8-mile hike with a 20 lb. search pack, exclusive of water, in 3.5 hours or less. Currently within LASD, there are eight dog teams and two technical search specialists who are Mission Ready to accompany handlers in the field. I saw the result of this high-level of training demonstrated as I shadowed several teams during their weekend training in Malibu. The first team I shadowed was Kaae and Sirius – a trail-

6 Pet Me! Magazine™

ing team. Trailing dogs smell an article the missing person has worn or touched and then follow that scent, which leads the handler to the missing person. The dogs are generally worked on a 6 to 32 foot leash. Melody Ray, technical support for the handlers and LASD volunteer for 2 years, commented, “We look like pig pens to dogs. We have a trail of bacteria that follows us and it likes porous, moist conditions. In an environment like we are in today where it’s damp and there is grass, our scent is going to cling to it better than in a hot and dry environment like the desert. The bad days for us where it is dreary and raining are actually great days for our dogs. It’s a better working environment for them because they can work longer and the scent is easier to find.” Kaae presented a piece of clothing worn by Ray to Sirius, so he could begin tracking her scent. In preparation for their training day, Ray walked a trail 24 hours prior to the search dogs showing up so they would have a scent trail to follow. It took Sirius just a few seconds to become aware of her scent on the trail and with Kaae’s prompt of “get to work,” Sirius was off and trailing. Sometimes Sirius would lose the scent on the trail where it had burned off due to the sun’s heat, but he would pick it up again in the bushes that lined the path. As Sirius worked in a zigzag pattern, Kaae paid close attention to his dog. Handlers are supposed to notice every head pop and the nuances of body

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

language displayed in order to assess if their dog has become lost or is on track. We followed Sirius for a mile through fields and brush as he followed the scent. Eventually he came upon three women sitting at a park bench. Sirius approached and sniffed each one and sat in front of Ray, which is his signal for Kaae that she was the subject. Because Sirius had correctly identified the person he was tracking, Kaae gave Sirius a lot of praise and his favorite toy. Sirius knows when he succeeds he will be rewarded. The positive reinforcement and reward he receives for a job well done is what Sirius is looking forward to while he’s tracking but for Kaae and handlers like him, the pay off is finding a missing person. “We’ve been out on 100+ calls from the Sheriff ’s Department,” Kaae continued, “We have found 3 deceased and 2 live people.” The next dog I observed was a 6-year-old Australian shepherd cattle dog mix. After her handler witnessed 9-11, she began volunteering and learning about search and rescue. Her 5-yearold dog, Sky, is certified in a second type of search and rescue called area work. Area dogs work off leash and range out from the handler to search to a designated area. When the dog locates a person, it returns to the handler, does an alert, and then leads the handler back to the missing person. An area dog team can search a large area quickly with a high likelihood of success.

Alejandra Gonzalez, originally from Columbia, lives in downtown L.A. with her white German shepherd. “We usually travel to distant locations to do training on the weekends; we go to places like Long Beach and Malibu.” LASD team members buy their own uniforms and equipment and pay for their own gas. They also travel to and from training and searches, which can run over 10,000 miles a year. When mission ready, teams are expected to respond to a search equipped to be self-sufficient in the field for 3 days. Gonzalez doesn’t mind spending the time and money though because her dog is hyper and needs a job. Gonzalez said, “Before work, I run her for 30-40 minutes. I try to tire her out before I leave for work. I need to build her endurance because during a search a dog might be searching for 4 hours, so they need to be able to keep up. When I get home at night, I throw the ball for her for at least an hour. While I’m at work, she is usually sleeping. If there are some days that I’m not able to exercise her, she becomes really annoying. They say the more annoying your dog is, the better worker he is because he just needs an outlet.” The last dog I shadowed was Siegmund and his handler, Agneta Cohen. Siegmund is a 5-year-old, highly trained cadaver dog. When law enforcement believes a person may be deceased, they will often times call a cadaver dog to help locate the body. Working off leash, the dogs can locate a missing person’s remains above or below ground, in the snow, or under water. Cohen said, “I’m very proud of him. He recently had two clandestine grave finds. One was in Lomita, CA, where he alerted on the odor of human remains in an apartment closet. Skeletal remains were found behind the closet wall buried in the crawl space below. The second one was in Valinda, CA, where he alerted in a backyard next to a shed. After several hours of digging by the Coroner, skeletal remains were found 6 feet down in the soil. Both cold cases were 6 years old.” Siegmund is an exceptional dog because Cohen has been training him since she got him, “I would train him on old grave dirt, so he’s been imprinted on it since he was a puppy. I started training him at 13 weeks old, and we’ve been training ever since. He’s not cross-trained, so I can work on this constantly.” Beside grave dirt, a cadaver dog needs to be imprinted on many

continued on page 8 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

continued from page 7 different sources like blood, bone, body fluid etc. In addition, they have to be trained off animal remains and bones and pass a yearly certification test. According to Peter Tyson’s article, Dogs’ Dazzling Sense of Smell, a dog’s sense of smell is about 10,000 to 100,000 times as acute as a person’s sense of smell. “Let’s suppose they’re just 10,000 times better,” says James Walker, former director of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, who, with several colleagues, came up with that jaw-dropping estimate dur-

8 Pet Me! Magazine™

ing a rigorously designed, oft-cited study. “If you make the analogy to vision, what you and I can see at a third of a mile, a dog could see more than 3,000 miles away and still see as well.” Put another way, dogs can detect some odors in parts per trillion. What does that mean in terms we might understand? In her book Inside of a Dog, Alexandra Horowitz, a dogcognition researcher at Barnard College, writes that while we might notice if our coffee has had a teaspoon of sugar added to it, a dog could detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth. Another dog scientist likened their ability to catching a whiff of one rotten apple in two million barrels. What do dogs have that we don’t? For one thing, they possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in us. And the part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours. Scent-tracking dogs take such tracking to the extreme, routinely accomplishing remarkable feats in unfamiliar environments and on the trail of unfamiliar people such as missing persons. “It is a really big issue as to how the dogs are doing it, that is, how they are tracking a so-called gradient,” Walker says. “They’re able to come to a branch point in the woods and say, ‘Okay, I think little Sally ran this way. Something happened, and I need to make a decision.’ That’s pretty amazing if you

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

think about it because little Sally’s odors aren’t the only thing there. There’s changing wind, changing humidity. There are other odors – a deer walked over here, and over here there’s some urine from a rabbit. And somehow that dog is able to say, ‘Yeah, but I’m focusing on little Sally.’” Jodi Thomas, Park Ranger and LASD member, commented that search work is a team effort with many different types of resources in the field. Thomas has been part of LASD for many years and has had several search and rescue dogs. Even though LASD is big commitment and takes up a lot of her free time, Thomas said, “I get to form an incredible bond with my dog and give back to the community.” Thomas and her fellow LASD team and their dogs provide an important service for our community. Thomas explained, “The Sheriff of each county is responsible for search and rescue. We, Los Angeles Search Dogs, volunteer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Dept. Many counties do not have the funding needed to field SAR dogs and use volunteers or request volunteer teams from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.” It takes a special kind of person and a special kind of dog to do this work. There aren’t a lot of people who would sign up for a program that they don’t get paid for, yet they are on-call 24/7 and get woken up in the middle of the night to search for someone who may or may not be missing. Luckily for us, these people exist and are ready to help when the call comes.

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Giving Departed Pets A Green, Gentle Farewell:

Southern California Vets & Pet Owners Are Opting For An Eco-Friendly, More Humane Alternative To Pet Cremation the loss of one of his pets and the animal’s subsequent “disposal” method by the veterinarian. After huddling with a group of the area’s plentiful highprofile pet-lovers and environmentally active residents, spending months researching the somewhat arcane world of pet disposal and meeting with various Southland veterinary organizations, his company was born when he discovered a revolutionary water-based process – Aquamation. “We designed our company to treat pets the way we want ours treated – with the dignity and respect that a part of our family deserves,” Shevick said. “The fact that we can do it in an environmentally responsible way, and at essentially the same price as cremation, makes this the only choice for today’s pet The remains of the a beloved pet are treated with respect and dignity owners.” at Peaceful Pets, and are hand delivered to the grieving owner by a Peaceful Pets Aquamation uses alkaline hydrolysis, a member of the Peaceful Pets team. water-based process that is more like natural decomposition than any other method. It is a safe and widely used p until recently, pet owners had a single option for han- method of tissue disposition at many medical and educational dling the remains of a beloved dog or cat -- cremation, a process that spews toxic fumes into the atmosphere, requires a considerable amount of energy, and is often provided by operations akin to refuse removal services. Today, Southern California pet owners and veterinarians have an entirely better way to say goodbye to their animal companions. Peaceful Pets Aquamation is the nation’s first 100% green and gentle alternative to cremation and the “pet project” of an award-winning television executive and 20-year entertainment industry veteran, Jerry Shevick. Living on a remote ranch in the mountains above Malibu, surrounded by a gaggle of chickens, cats, canines and various random rescued creatures, Shevick was particularly pained by

DOGONE-IT!

PET SITTING – Your House or Mine Sl l Sleepovers welcome No Crates ~ Just Cuddles

Marlee (661) 251-3873 Dogone-it@hotmail.com

10 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

facilities including the MAYO Research Clinic, Duke University and UCLA. Using water flow, temperature and alkalinity, it accelerates the process of natural decomposition. Following Aquamation, only the animal’s bones remain in the form of a fine sand. At Peaceful Pets Aquamation, each step of the process is designed to reassure pet owners that their companion animal’s remains are being handled with dignity and that they have made a choice that is far better for the planet than cremation. From the customized refrigerated van used in transporting pets, the specially trained teams ready to comfort mourning pet owners and an office akin to a sanctuary featuring vivid colorful new age mosaics to the paw-print mementos and biodegradable urns — Shevick is revolutionizing after-life care for pets. While Peaceful Pets Aquamation offers higher quality and environmentally friendly services, its prices are comparable to traditional cremation services in the Southland. Peaceful Pets has affiliated with a network of veterinarians in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange Counties to provide services to their clients’ pets. “It offers more to our clients, and I think that’s always a nice thing for the end-of-life decisions we have to make for our pets”, said Dr. Janis Shinkawa of Ohana Pet Hospital in Ventura, CA. “People ask questions before it’s time for euthanasia, and by the time they do the euthanasia they already know they want aquamation as a service”

• Inter nal Medicine and Critical Care • Emergency and Trauma • In-House Laboratory • Digital X-Rays and CT Scanner • Class 4 Laser Therapy • Ultrasound/Endoscope • A c u p u n c t u re a n d Alternative Medicine • B i rd s , P o c k e t P e t s & Reptiles • Low cost Spay, Neuter and Dental

FREE

Surgical Consultations with Dr. Sandhu (Surgery Residency)

In addition, pet owners can contact Peaceful Pets directly to arrange for after-care for their animals. “Losing a pet in any circumstance is painful, but our experience with Peaceful Pets helped a great deal,” said Dianne D. of Pasadena. “ The remains of our beloved cat Gingko were delivered back to us yesterday...delivered not by mail or courier, but by hand by one of the owners. She was genuinely sympathetic, and even let us cry for a moment on her shoulder.” Client Jason D. of Antioch, CA, echoed that sentiment. “I feel like our dog was treated with care and the utmost respect. I highly recommend them as an alternative to cremation,” he said.

Hass Haus Dog Lodge & Spa Trish Hass Cohen

All Breed Boarding $30 for 1 guest daily $50 for 2 guests daily Text or email questions 24-7! Hass Haus Dog Lodge and Spa

661-618-6628

Last minute reservations welcome! www.hasshaus.com • honestgalpal@att.net

Call Us

24/7 For Emergency & e ge cy Care Ca e Non-Emergency -ins Welcome Walk-ins

Rehab Hydrotherapy & Accupuncturee

In-House Stem Cell Therapy

Fractures • Knees Hips • Spinal

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

www.WeCareVets.com

Orthopedic/Soft Tissue Surgeries

Vaccines Dogs & Cats

24 Hours / 7 Days A Week

661.291.1121

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Members of CVMA, AVMA & AAHA, IVECCS VECC CS

Dr. J. Cull • Dr. R. Gill • Dr. B. Sandhu an ndh d u

661.424.9900 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Something New By Jeanne Wray

verything has been peaceful and going sooo … well. I live here in a beautiful house with my brother and cousin. We do share it with one large male human and a medium-sized female human. We run and play and have the entire house to ourselves. I’m quite beautiful and charming. When the boys see me, they just drop at my feet. I give them a smart swat if they get too close; they know who is boss. We live in a house that is very roomy. We run on the stairs and play hide-and-seek among the furniture. Some days it can be just too much trouble to participate, so I lie on a velvet pillow and let them all admire me. Life has been good but now --- some cheeky creature out of nowhere has appeared downstairs. It stays in the kitchen, but its offenses can be heard and smelled from up here. I know it can’t be like one of us. My brother and cousin are cats and they have better manners than that creature. I am not a cat. I am a feline of the highest quality, (mighty cute if I must say so myself ). My name is Lililoo. I am the one who is in command here. I have heard my person call this creature Ginger. What is that? I thought ginger was a spice for cookies and cakes (mmmmm), not a living thing. Humans! Who can figure? I saw the creature downstairs yesterday. It was small and

looked like a shrunken dog to me. I have heard of dogs. Sometimes we can see them out of the upstairs window. Lanky things, no fur to speak of; beady eyes and ears that flop around. They have a gangly walk, and they make complete fools of themselves for their humans. This thing is ugly. It has hair that is all scrunched up like a permanent wave – not luxurious fur. I know all about those things. My human had a perm once and destroyed her hair inside of two hours. In my opinion, I do not need any beauty treatments; I am naturally gorgeous. I have flowing white fur, peach ears tail and feet, and blue eyes. They send us out for what they call a grooming, which means torture for a few hours, a bath, combing, clipping, and some sort of awful smelling stuff. Well, the poor thing, maybe it is a kitten-like dog. I did hear someone refer to baby dogs as puppies. Maybe that is what it is…Well, anyway I am on watch. You should see what has happened to our house, barriers everywhere. One can’t get through the doorways without jumping. Everything is blocked off, and I heard the persons say they were going to start ‘housebreaking’ anytime now. Are we moving? What does that mean? Do we have a chance? I have noticed piles of newspapers all over. Do they really think that pitiful thing can read? I don’t think they like it because I saw them take it outside and heard them to tell it to “go” repeatedly. It didn’t leave; it just stood there. I guess they gave up because they brought it back into the house. But instead of using

New Client first examinations are

FR EE Walk-in Vaccine Clinic Offered Tue. & Thurs. 3pm – 5pm and Sat. 10am – 12pm

Dr. Garha and Associates

24882 Apple St, Newhall, CA 91321 (Located behind the Carl’s Jr. on Lyons ave. next to Dogs Etc.)

Under new ownership

(661) 254-6680

Spay, Neuter, Dental and General Surgery, Laser Surgery, Ultrasound, Digital X-Ray, In-House Blood Machines, Prescription Diet, Flea and Heartworm Prevention

www.valleylyonspethospital.com Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm, Sat 8am -2pm (Dr’s Hours are by Appointment)

12 Pet Me! Magazine™

fax (661) 254-4099

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

the sandbox, it used the carpet for its private moment. What a mess! I got out of there fast. I didn’t want to be blamed. I think I shall go catch a mouse and snooze the rest of the day away on my velvet pillow. I’m getting a headache thinking about all of this. If this sort of thing is going to continue, I shall leave a hairball on the sofa. That’ll show them. Where’s my catnip? I’m in the kitchen on top of the tall cold box where my food is kept. I’m watching them all very carefully and trying to decide what is going on. I shall just lie here pretending to be asleep – that way I can keep one step ahead of them. Oh! Oh! That creature is coming near. It seems in distress. It’s crying and looks dejected. Oh, dear! It seems to have been left all alone. I must have dropped off for a few moments. I wonder where they’ve gone. I see it shivering. You don’t just abandon something as small as that. Look at the nose. It is much too long and the eyes are too close together. Isn’t there anyone to wash it? Kittens and puppies need mothers to clean them and keep them warm. Why, oh why, does everything around here fall on my shoulders? Oh well, here goes. “Come here sweetheart.” Authors note: Lililoo went to kitty heaven in 2007. I was at her side when she left me. She laid down in her favorite spot with me beside her until she left. I miss her so much and imagine I feel her presence at times. I have Dottie Mae now a rescue kitty who comforts me.

Don’t Miss Advertising in the Next Issue!

Your Guide

July/August 2015

To All Things

Pets

Deadlines: For The Jan./Feb. 2016 Issue Publishes Saturday, Jan. 2:

Carouse l

Advertorial, Space and Ad Copy must be submitted by

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 4pm Camera Ready Ads must be submitted by

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 5pm Need an ad designer? Let us help!

PLUS: Raw Food or No Raw Food? Why Do Cats Urinate in the House? Home Rem edies for Dog Hair & Much Mor Loss e! PetMeM

Ranch

Pet Me! is

always

FREE

ag0715.

indd 1

to good home

7/5/15

2:57:17

Submitted artwork must be a HI-Res 300 dpi CMYK pdf. Please allow 1/4” for bleed. Cancellations are charged 50% of the space rate. Ad files submitted must be press ready (camera ready) high resolution PDF format. PDFs from corporate sites which require editing must include embedded fonts. Ads submitted from Photoshop files should be layered native PSD files at 300 dpi.

Call to Reserve Your Space Today!

(661) 255-9979

CASTAIC

CANINE CAMP Castaic Canine Camp is literally a home away from home for dogs

Let’s face it, when it comes to your canine children, you want the best for them. A place where the love and attention they need and want is guaranteed. Castaic Canine Camp sits on 17 pristine acres of land adjacent Castaic Lake. Castaic Canine Camp offers boarding, daycare, training facilities, and services for all ages, breeds and sizes of canines. Castaic Canine Camp accepts furry guests for a day visit or extended stay, and offers interaction with other dogs or separate accommodations according to your pet’s special needs...and your needs for them. Pet P taxi is for those of you who know your pet

Castaic Canine Cam Camp O Offers: ers Boarding Daycare Pet Sittitng D lki Dog W Walking

Pet Taxi Training

Basic obedience and dogs with behavioral issues

Pet Parties And Much More

Pet Taxi isi well to stay at home while you're gone for the d But you know you can't make it on time to day. tta your pet out where they need to go. We take ppr provide transportation to vet's oﬃce, ggr groomer' s, friend or relative's house, and even tth airport. Wherever your pet may need to go the o be picked up we can transport him. This or sse is not only for dogs, we also provide service ttra transportation for livestock. Also we can pi pick-up and deliver any supply you may need fo your livestock and house pets. Rates depend for on mileage, please call for more details.

FREE

TRAINING when you ad animal controopt a dog from l or any resc ue.

(661) 257-0957 57 • ((661)) 257 257-1870 1870 36975 Ridge Route Rd. • Castaic, Ca 91384 www.castaiccaninecamp.com • email: ossaonyx@aol.com

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

661.505 . 6615 pacificpetsitters.com

Need a pet sitter? We offer an online customer portal, emails with notes after each visit, GPS check-in, and yes, we WILL sing “soft kitty” to your shy feline. Give us a try! certified • bonded • insured • background checked

14 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

FUREVER PURR RESCUE

It takes a

With your help this year, we have saved over 300 cats and kittens ranging from the young, the old, the injured, to nursing moms and un-weaned kittens. We did it, but it would not have been possible without your support. We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the amazing group of individuals who have taken the time to open their hearts and homes to kitties in need.

Village Our Foster Families Kimberly Blankenship Ensing Cheri Eubanks Young Kimberly Franklin Cole Nicole Marie Davey Amanda Taylor Palmieri Tammy Alleman Larissa & Mark Barnes Morag Christie Raquel Cockrell & Jason Chamberlin Lilie Di Paolo-Nekoukar Chandra Eubanks Carrie Eubanks Vallejo Nancy Helpinstill Cathy & Jerry Hosford Kathy Jelen Ann & David Johnson

Linda Kirkpatrick Miriam Kury Eileen Majors Amber Marie Santos Andrea Morley V and Rob Klein Sara Palos Wendy Polutanovich Tori Pulkka Jennifer Reed Williams Ginger Rice Layla Rios Leslie Rowen Julie Samuelson-Coleman Linda Schulz Erika Steck

Our Wheels To Safety

Our Donors

Tammy Alleman Cindy Chubbs Bob Haymond Ann Johnson

We often hear people say I don’t have time to help, but I can donate. Those donations allow us to do what we do. Thank you to those of you who generously donated to help us save so many little lives.

Debbie Jones Mike Madrigal Linda Schulz

Thank you to these very special indivi duals that took time out to transport our rescues from the shelter to safety.

Our Trusted Veterinarians All Creatures Veterinary Center Animal Medical CenterCanyon Country Veterinary Hospital Cinema Veterinary Centre Happy Pets Veterinary Center Little Paws Dog and Cat Hospital V.I.P. Veterinary Services Valencia Veterinary Center

We are so lucky to have Tanya Will-Jundt who donates her time taking stunning photos to help our kitties find homes. Thank you Spunky Monkey Photography. A special thank you to Forgotten Angels Cat Rescue, who has been an amazing ally in helping so many of our cats and kittens find homes. A heartfelt thank you from the kitties and team at Furever Purr Rescue. Thank you, An Amlotte, for designing and keeping our website updated to keep our kitties in the public eye.

The Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Centers have made every effort possible to help us save these hundreds of cats and kittens. Thank you, Chris Cirar, and the staff at the Lancaster Center, as well as Karen Stepp, and her team at the Castaic Center, for going the extra mile. Without the help of our local veterinarians, who help care for our sick kitties and get them well, we would be lost. Thank you to those on the left.

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

What is Feline Granuloma Complex? By Amy Schumaker

eline eosinophilic granuloma complex is made up of three different disease presentations. The first is feline indolent ulcer, also known as an eosinophilic ulcer or rodent ulcer. The second is feline eosinophilic plaque, and the third is feline eosinophilic granuloma, also known as a linear granuloma. The eosinophilic granuloma complex is not an actual disease but is a symptom of an underlying disorder. Usually there is an underlying hypersensitivity such as a food allergy, parasite hypersensitivity, or environmental allergies (pollen/dust allergies). In some cases, no underlying disease can be found, and in these rare cases the cause may be genetic. All three forms of the eosinophilic granuloma complex are common in cats. Cats can have one, two, or all three types of lesions at the same time. Females may be more commonly affected, but cats of any age, breed, or Eosinophilic plaque on the sex can be affected. abdomen of a cat. Clinical signs vary depending on the form seen: Feline indolent ulcer – the lesions occur most commonly on or around the upper lips. They start as small erosions, which may enlarge and become ulcerated, swollen and disfiguring but are not usually painful or itchy. However, with chronicity, these can become painful. Even with treatment, the ulcer can result in a scarring defect. Feline eosinophilic plaque – usually the lesions present on the abdomen or medial thighs. The lesions are raised, well circumscribed, red, and sometimes ulcerated and can vary in size, often becoming large. These lesions are commonly itchy and often secondarily infected with bacteria. Feline eosinophilic granuloma – the lesions usually occur on the thighs, face, or in the mouth. On the skin the lesions are raised, well circumscribed, nodular to linear, firm swellings, which may be pink or ulcerated. The lip lesions can give cats a pouty appearance from a swollen lower lip (fat lip). Oral granulomas Eosinophilic are raised, white to pink nodules or granuloma affecting plaques which may be on the tongue the hard palate of a cat.

16 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

or palate. The lesions are usually not itchy. Diagnosis is made based on clinical signs, skin scrapings with microscopic analysis to identify potential parasites or secondary skin infection, and possible biImproved indolent ulcer after identifyopsy of skin lesions. ing food allergy. Investigation of the underlying allergic cause is also essential and may include trial treatment for skin parasites, a hypoallergenic diet trial for possible food allergy, and/or intradermal allergy testing for pollen/dust allergies. Successful treatment depends on determining and treating the underlying disease or hypersensitivity. Steroids are often used and may be helpful in some cases to help the lesions regress while the underlying allergy is addressed. Other immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine may be used long-term in refractory cases of eosinophilic granuloma complex. Since this is not a specific disease but a reaction pattern, prognosis depends on the underlying cause. Most of the underlying hypersensitivity disorders carry a good prognosis with appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

www.dermatologyforanimals.com

DERMATOLOGY FOR ANIMALS

●Intradermal Allergy Testing ●Dermatohistopathology Service ●Otitis and Video-Otoscopy ●Carbon Dioxide Laser Therapy ●Dermatology at the Multi Specialty Facilities*

DERMATOLOGY FOR ANIMALS

Amy Shumaker, DVM, DACVD Valencia Veterinary Center 23928 Summerhill Lane Valencia, CA 91354 Phone: (661) 855-4870

V.I.P. Veterinary Services

Have w e se your p et for a en physic al this ye ar?

Dr. Pedro Cisneros

Cat Hotel • Dog Boarding • Internal Medicine e • Intensive Care • Orthopedics • Animal Dentistry

OPEN: M-F 8 to 6

• In-House Lab • Vaccinations • Spay & Neuter • Surgery

Se Habla Español We Carry Eukanuba & Science Diet

• Flea Control • Emergency Care • Rattlesnake Vaccine • Private Cremation • Microchip Low Cost Spay/Neuter Thursdays • Ultrasound Call for Appt.

SAT. 8 to 1 Appts Preferred

222-PETS(7387)

HOUSE CALLS AVAILABLE

50% OFF

26111 Bouquet Cyn. Rd. • Suite D-5 • Saugus Physical Exam (Just South of Cinema Dr. by IHOP) New Clients Only. Good w/coupon only. www.VIPVETERINARYSERVICES.com Expires 12/31/15

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

18 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Traveling With a Pet: A Few Tips to Help You Along

magine traveling on vacation. You need to make sure you get to the airport early, go through invasive security, then get to the gate only to be crammed into an airplane that, as time goes on, seemingly provide less and less room for its passengers. Now, imagine doing all that with a pet in tow. Sound stressful? Traveling with a pet can add an incredible amount of difficulty to your trip if you don’t plan ahead. Here are a few tips to consider if you plan to travel with your animal: • Carefully choose your timing. Some airlines won’t allow pets to travel if the temperature outside is too hot or too cold. Additionally, traveling during busy periods, like holidays, can make things rough because not only will the airports be full of people, but the staff will likely be overwhelmed and find it difficult, if not impossible, to assist you should you require it. • Make sure to tell the airline ahead of time. Only so many pets can be taken onboard or travel in the cargo hold at once, and if you don’t make sure you reserve a place for your pet, Fido may not be able to travel with you. • Don’t forget their papers! If you’re leaving the country or

you plan to have your dog fly in the cargo hold, you will need a certificate from your vet that details the pet’s health and vaccinations. • Check with your vet about medications. Sometimes, sedatives and anti-nausea medications can be a wise option for traveling with pets. Asking the vet which medications, if any, as well as the proper dosage and procedure can help keep an otherwise frisky animal calm and cool during travel. Ultimately, the level of ease or difficulty you encounter when traveling with your pet will be determined by how well you’re prepared. Just like when you travel alone, do as much as you can beforehand so that when the time to travel comes, it will go as smooth as possible.

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Awesome

Adoptables

To adopt one of these pets contact Shelter Hope Pet Shop at (661) 855-4716 Located in the Westfield Town Center by Red Robin, 24201 Valencia Blvd, #1371, Valencia. http://www.shelterhopepetshop.org

JUJU

Stu

This sweet little girl is 3 years old.

Charlie

9-week-old darling boy Chihuahua mix.

Lenny

Little Charlie needs someone willing to take the time needed to train this special boy. He is only a year old and would prefer to be the only pet.

This precious Lhasa Apsa is just 4 yrs. old.

Spicey

STAR

Adorable little boy Spicey is just 9 weeks old. 20 Pet Me! Magazineâ&#x201E;˘

Female chihuahua mix. 9 weeks old. Looks like a teacup golden retriever.

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Furever Purr Rescue To adopt one of these pets, please contact us at (661) 255-9979 or (818) 635-6473. All of our kitties are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots, micro-chipped, de-wormed, treated for fleas, and have been tested for FeLV/FIV. Several of our cats and kittens are showcased locally at the Shelter Hope Pet Shop in the Valencia Town Center Mall. Photos courtesy of That Spunky Monkey Photography.

Willie – My name is Willie.

I was born in the shelter and my mom decided she didn’t want to care for me and my brothers. A nice foster lady fed us with a bottle. We were all very sick. I have been through so much already! Life has been tough and I’m just 2 mos. old. I’m doing well now. I’m missing just one thing…my very own human to give me kisses.

Biggie – Doesn’t anyone

want me? I’ve been waiting so long for a home of my own. I was dumped at the shelter when my family didn’t want me anymore. I love to be held and will rest my head on your shoulder. My foster mom says I’m a lap cat. I’m a big boy and weigh 17 lbs. I am ok with other cats but would prefer to spoil you all by myself.

Eli – My name is Eli, and I was is Penelope. I was once a mom. My babies were born at the shelter and only one survived. I even took on a kitten that had lost his mom so he wouldn’t be lonely. I get along with everyone and other cats and dogs too. I’m gentle and would love a human to snuggle up with.

saved from the shelter right before my life was almost ended. Geez, it had just begun and I thought someone nice would help me get out of the shelter, but then I caught a cold and was put in the room where the public couldn’t see me. Thank goodness the rescue lady saw me and got me out of there. I am 4 mos. old, and I love everyone and everything.

Cinder – My name is Cinder, and I am 4 mos. old. I was saved from the shelter with my brother Eli. We became sick at the shelter and were put in the isolation area where the public is not allowed. The rescue ladies can go in there, and they saw us, took us out, and got us well. I can’t wait to meet my forever family. I’m so excited!

Kitty Purry –I’m absolutely stunning and a total snuggler. I’m quite the catch you know! I love to spend time together. I’m five years old. I have no claws on my front paws. I would prefer to be the only feline in the house. My name is Kitty Purry, and I can’t wait to have a family of my own.

Penelope – My name

22 Pet Me! Magazine™