September/October 2013 Issue of Pet Me! Magazine by Pet Me! Magazine

September/October 2013

Your Guide To All Things Pets

Pee

Or Not To PLUS: The Hype Surrounding FIV Stem Cell Therapy for Pets Hello Kitty & Much More!

Pee

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Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Awesome

Adoptables

To meet any of these adorable adoptables call (661) 255-9979 or email castaiccats@aol.com

CHARLIE Charlie has completely evolved with her foster family where she was made to feel safe again. She gets along well with other cats, is up to date on her shots, spayed, has tested negative for FELV/FIV and has been micro-chipped. She is a one and half year old love bug! This was her shelter video….. Watch how Charlie’s personality unfolds when she feels safe. She would be an ideal pet. Her previous family described her as shy, social and playful. Her video tells her story. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FIqZMjCr9_w

HUNTER Our next needy clinger is the awesome, incredible, delightful and kissable HUNTER!!! Hunter is on the move to love you up and if you resist him…he will only be more tempted to convince you! Hunter was surrendered because his owner became allergic. He is declawed in the front and he is a super love bug! He is 7 yrs. old, neutered, up to date on his shots and has tested negative for FELV.

CALLIE PUMPKIN Poor little Pumpkin has recovered nicely and is now ready for a new home. His sad story is that he was dumped with his brother at the shelter when his humans decided that they didn’t want any cats around when the new baby was born (husband didn’t want to clean litter pans). The boys were very bonded, unfortunately Oreo never made it out and Pumpkin was left alone, sad and very confused. Despite the betrayal he is ready to trust someone new and start his life over again. This gorgeous orange tabby boy is a real sweetheart. He loves attention and rolls on his back and into your hand. Pumpkin craves affection and will never grow tired of his human. Pumpkin is very deserving of a loving home where he will never be abandoned him again. He would do best as an only child where he didn’t have to share his human. He is 10 yrs. old. Neutered, up to date on his shots, in good health, ready to start his life over again.

TENNY Hello my nick name is Tenny, because I am a 10! I’m looking for a new home. I was turned into the shelter as a stray. I’m a good girl. I use my litter pan. I love to eat ♥… I love to be petted and fussed over. I will fuss over you too. I’m quite communicative you know. My foster mom says I sound like a frog when I meow…I think I’m unique! I’m fun to hang out with. I like hanging watching TV, lounging on the couch, and I also like to play with toys! I like other cats, but I definitely need to be the boss. I would make a great addition to your home. I am 5 years old. I come with my all of my shots, I have tested negative for feline leukemia, and I am micro-chipped, and spayed. 2 Pet Me! Magazine™

Beautiful Callie is 1 yr. old. Sweet Callie found herself pregnant and dumped at the Castaic shelter. Her babies were aborted at the shelter…sad yes…but, we don’t need any more kittens that we can’t find homes for. She sat at the shelter for a week pregnant and feeling all of the feelings of motherhood only to then be put into surgery and have them removed which can be dangerous. Ordinarily, she and her kittens would have likely been euthanized. Shelters are not equipped or staffed to house mama cats and nursing infants. Luckily, the shelter manager was eager to work with us and get her to safety asap. She is currently in foster care and really needs her own human. Watch her video.. another ultimate love bug!! She gets along with other cats. She is very sweet and loving and beautiful. She is up to date on her shots, spayed, healthy and ready for her new forever human. This photo does not do this beautiful girl justice!! Watch her video!!! http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=VBwHE6s3Jbo

ROCKY Meet Rocky. He is 6 yrs. old. In excellent health. Up to date on his shots and has tested negative for FELV/FIV. He is neutered. Rocky was pulled from the Castaic Shelter where he was surrendered because his family after 8 years moved and could only have one cat (whatever that means….they declawed him front and back so he needs to be INDOOR ONLY, he is FURNITURE SAFE) He gets along with other cats, he is currently housed (in foster) with several. He is a sweet, loving lap cat who gives kisses and would love his own human to worship. This cat is AMAZING!! If you don’t want love 24/7 he is not the cat for you!

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBEr 2013

Contents 4 To Pee Or Not To Pee 6 Los Angeles Prepares for ‘Strut Your Mutt’

7 The Hype Surrounding FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) 12 Stem Cell Therapy for Pets – An Introduction 14 The Protector of Life 16 Hello Kitty 22 Directory for All Things Pets

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

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Please Contact Us For A Subscription – Annual Subscription By Mail: $12 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Bridget Alves ART DIRECTOR Doug Conboy COVER PHOTO By Sarah Zing Cameron, info@szcphotography.com, www.szcphotography.com PUBLISHED BY Pet Me! Publications Find Us On Facebook and Twitter Pet Me! Magazine

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by the things in life that make me smile. In my world of rescue, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to foster and help so many pets into the ideal home situation. In my real estate career I get to help people, and their pets, find their perfect dream home. It’s a win win! There are so many exciting events happening over the next few months. The Bow-Wows & Meows Pet Fair is right around the corner. Don’t forget to stop by our booth and pick up a free gift bag! Check out all of these awesome happenings. Most are right here in our own backyard! Cinema Veterinary will celebrate their one year anniversary, the Pet Stop will host their annual open house and Fox Feed will be hosting their annual Big Sale Event. There are three different fundraisers helping both canines and felines. Strut Your Mutt will kick off with the first event, Bark for Life and Puss N Boots, a fundraiser for Save-A-Kitty, Inc. at the fabulous Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills, go back to back on Oct. 26th. So many wonderful opportunities to have fun and help animals. We hope to see you out and about at the many events. We look forward to saying hello to our old friends and meeting some new ones. Thank you for the wonderful emails and kind support. We appreciate the privilege of bringing you Pet Me! Magazine and, as always, look forward to your suggestions or fantastic ideas for future issues..

Bridget Alves Publisher & Editor

Pet Me! Magazine

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pee Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

By Kim Schumann

hy are toy breeds harder to housebreak? The problem is mostly human. Some people don’t have a clue how to housebreak ANY dog. They use “old fashioned” methods like hitting or “rubbing the nose in the mess”. This does NOT housebreak a dog. It only makes them fearful so that they hide somewhere in the house when they have to relieve themselves. A small dog can more easily hide a mess than a bigger dog, if a full-grown Chihuahua has an accident it’s easy to clean; if a full-grown German Shepherd has an accident it’s a huge mess. Toy dogs have more than a few special things about them, most good, some not so good. The upside: They’re adorable. They’re portable. They’re usually long-lived. On the downside, they seem to be exceptionally hard to house-train.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Or Not To

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People don’t have the same expectations of a toy dog that they would of a Labrador Retriever or Border Collie. A toy breed or a small dog is always perceived as a baby. It’s because of this and the difference in the amount left behind, people just don’t seem to care until they step in it at 3 in the morning, or until company’s coming and the house smells bad. Many toy breeds are raised in a big 4’ x 4’ whelping box, and they do not learn at a young age that there is a place to eat, sleep and a separate place to relieve themselves. When adopting a puppy, try to find one that hasn’t learned bad habits that you will have to correct. Larger breeds tend to be raised in a large kennel or outside. Large dog waste cannot be controlled in a kitchen whelping box after six weeks as it can for toy breeds or smaller dogs. There is just too much, and generally the large breed litters come in greater numbers. Many people, because toy breeds are so small, pick them up every hour or two, carry them to the door and carry them outside to the designated spot. If the owners always pick up the pup in various areas of the house, how is the pup to learn how to signal when it has to do its business? A pup that is constantly picked up and carried outside to pee will not know how to tell the owners when it needs to go outside. You should make them walk on their own, as you would do with a larger dog. Constantly carrying them doesn’t make them go to the area on their own. They need to walk to the door, walk out the door and walk to the designated area on their own as puppies, exactly as expected as an adult. Remember to always use the same door, always walk to the same spot, and give the command “Go Pee” or “Hurry up.” If you set a timer for every 1.5 hours, then pick your dog up, and carry him outside, what does that teach him? But if you hook a leash to his collar, take him to the door, and lead him to the spot, then he has done it himself. You have to let THEM do it themselves. The lack of consistency on the part of doting humans isn’t the only problem, many small dogs are in trouble from the moment they’re brought home as puppies. Many small dogs in the most popular breeds -- such as Yorkies, Maltese or toy poodles

-- come from puppy mills or other large-scale breeders who simply don’t take the time to lay the groundwork that makes house-training easier. These puppies grow up on a paper, eat on the paper, sleep on the paper and go on the paper. Puppies raised under such conditions learn to live in their own filth. Mistakes are part of the learning process and should never be punished. If you see the dog starting to go in the house, pick him up and run him to that special spot and praise when the dog finishes up outside. Also remember it is best to avoid mistakes, so keep your toy breed or small dog 100% supervised, avoiding the mistakes works much better than disciplining the mistakes. Often a young puppy may mistake your discipline, as “Uh oh, I better not let my owner see me pooping on the floor, I better do it when he isn’t looking,” then you get a dog that poops in the house, but always behind your back, or the couch. So remember, rewarding correct behavior works tenfold over reprimanding incorrect behavior, as the puppy doesn’t always know what he did wrong. Limiting a dog’s range in the house helps, too. Become a firm believer in crate-training -- as a tool, not a punishment. A crate keeps a dog out of trouble when you can’t watch him. Even if the previous owner did everything right to give your dog a good start on where to pee and where not to, you could undo all the dog has learned by constantly carrying them outside in your arms rather than taking the dog on a leash and letting HIM walk there on his own. Even poorly raised dogs can usually be trained. You have to start by looking at things from a small dog’s point of view -- and that can be very hard for people who think their dogs are little people. You should make sure your dog can feel safe in the outdoor spot you’ve chosen for him. The act of elimination is one when a dog’s guard is down, and when you weigh 10 pounds or less, it’s important to feel you’re not going to be attacked. They feel vulnerable. You need to find that one very safe spot for them and keep the grass short so the dog doesn’t feel as if he’s walking through a jungle. Cold weather can also make house-training more difficult. Little dogs lose heat rapidly and would rather use a nice corner of a warm house than venture outside. Sweaters are not silly for the little dog and can help with house-training. Despite the special challenges the small dog presents, housetraining is possible. Once your dog has that safe spot outside, you can teach him to use it with the aid of a schedule, praise, and a dedication to consistency. Feed on a schedule and be aware of when they have to go. You must take your dog out after he eats, after play, after any kind of stimulation. Equip yourself with their favorite treat and your most positive voice to the selected “potty area”. The moment the puppy’s feet hit the ground, show some excitement. When they’ve finished the job, praise them and love them, then deliver the treat. Your biggest ally in the struggle to get your dog house-trained is the typical toy dog temperament. They want to please you. Because they bond so tightly with their owners, toy dogs want to do what you want. You just have to help gently steer them in the right direction. Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

A fun way to save animal lives

Los Angeles Prepares for ‘Strut Your Mutt’

ack in 1995, Best Friends Animal started a small dog walk event in its home state of Utah. Even the most optimistic animal lover could not have imagined that the community event would grow to a national, multimillion dollar fundraiser benefiting hundreds of shelters and rescue groups around the country. Eighteen years later, Best Friends, now the flagship organization for the no-kill movement in the United States, has established its “Strut Your Mutt® ” event in Los Angeles, New York City and nine other cities between Aug. 31 and Sept. 28. The first event Aug. 31 will be held at the Best Friends national headquarters in Kanab, Utah, home of the nation’s largest no-kill companion animal sanctuary, while the Los Angeles event will be held on Sept. 15 at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. “What makes Strut Your Mutt special in the world of non-profit organizations is that Best Friends Animal Society puts on the event to help other animal welfare organizations raise money,” said Marc Peralta, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society – Los Angeles.

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“It’s just one example of how we’re all working together in Los Angeles and across the country to Save Them All.” The “Strut Your Mutt” community dog walk and festival allows people to raise funds in advance, then celebrate together with fellow animal lovers and multiple rescue groups/shelters at the event. After the walk, registrants and their dogs can enjoy such activities as doggie yoga and massage, paw readings, and food. Sponsors include BarkBox,

Local Mini Cooper Dealers, Natural Balance, Petco Foundation and Petfinder.com. The Los Angeles “Strut Your Mutt” will include special celebrity appearances, as well as costume and agility contests, food trucks, Smooch Your Pooch photo booth, a pet communicator, NKLA and Save Them All informational booths and much more. “Strut Your Mutt is a fantastic way for L.A. dog lovers to come out and support their local rescue or shelter. It’s just a really fun day for everyone involved, human or canine,” Peralta said. For more information, visit http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm? fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=523

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

The Hype Surrounding FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) By Deborah Eskow, Save-A-Kitty, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Cole Lecoupt

eline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) could be called the feline equivalent to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and, like HIV, FIV is a virus that is not easily transmitted through casual contact. An exchange of bodily fluids is the only root of transmission. Unfortunately, FIV has garnered the reputation of being a premature death sentence for a cat. Like its human counterpart, HIV, individuals with a suppressed immune system can live long, happy, and healthy lives if looked after well. HIV and FIV can inhabit a body for many years before health issues arise, if at all So why do so many veterinarians and other “cat people” suggest FIV kitties be separated and/or isolated from other cats? Well, there are two answers to that question: The first answer is one that errs on the side of caution without considering variables. “Just to be safe, why expose other kitties to a potentially dangerous virus?” And who would really argue with that on the surface? That would be quite logical. Likewise, though, would it be logical to round up all the individuals who are HIV positive and sequester them together because of potential exposure to others? One conjures up visions of the leper colonies of yesteryear. Of course, that would be a ridiculous scenario.

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continued from page 7 The second answer to the question of isolating FIV kitties is born out of fear and … can I say it? … yes, I can … IGNORANCE! Ignorance of the fact that FIV is not easily transmitted through casual contact. Sharing food bowls and sharing litter pans is not a direct route of transmission. In both the human and feline versions of this virus, miniscule amounts of the virus can be found in saliva. However, if the CDC considered this to be a real threat in HIV-infected individuals, no one would ever eat out in a restaurant again. That being said, a cat is a cat and we, the responsible caregivers, need to make informed decisions. Therefore, any kitty with an attitude, whether due to behavioral issues or alpha dominance issues, should never be placed with a kitty that is FIV positive. If the kitty with the attitude is FIV positive, he needs to be alone or in a home with other FIV-positive kitties. What we are trying to avoid is fighting of any kind because that would be, without a shadow of a doubt, an easy way for the virus to be transmitted. Again, like HIV, any direct route and exchange of bodily fluids entering the blood stream is a danger. An aggressive or unaltered FIV kitty should never be placed anywhere near your other kitties, period! I have a story that I would like to share with you. The story

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is about two FIV kitties that I rescued some years ago. One spring morning, my kitties all lined up against the French doors. Tails were furiously switching back and forth and the howling and yowling sounded like the soundtrack from a horror movie. They were swatting at the glass and were very agitated. At times like this, even the sweetest of kitties can be a little unpredictable; they get so incensed that they lose themselves in the moment. So, I stood back and tried to see what the commotion was all about. Sure enough, there on the back porch was a bedraggled black cat. He was hissing furiously back at my guys, back arched and tail puffed up, a classic Halloween stance. His eyes looked infected and the poor guy seemed to be toothless bar one front fang. It looked like his right ear had been tipped, meaning that he had probably been trapped and sterilized. Being a rescuer, my first instinct is to want to feed. “He must be hungry,” I thought, so I grabbed some food and went out through the front door of my house and around to the back porch. Of course, the intruder sped away at lightning speed; this I had expected, so I put the food and water at a safe distance from the French doors, out of sight from my disgruntled and growling kitties. Over the next few weeks, my visitor came every day to eat. Even though I fed him on the side of the house, he would deliberately tantalize my indoor cats by grooming himself in full view on the back porch.

My cats eventually got used to seeing this show of bravado and began to accept him. He began to thrive, and I named him Gus, from a character in Cats: The Musical. Eventually, after about three months, I was able to pet Gus, and shortly thereafter we took a trip to the vet. He was estimated to be around about 7 years old and yes, you guessed it: Gus was FIV positive. I tested him twice just to be sure; first time was the in-house snap test and the second time it was a lab test, the Western Blot/ELISA Test, which gets sent out. It was confirmed positive. Please note that especially with kittens you must always

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continued from page 9 retest any FIV positive result. Many kittens have antibodies from their mama and can test positive, but often it is a false positive. It is a good idea to always retest a positive result. Gus lived happily in the backyard, but when the winter came I was concerned. I made a comfortable spot for him on the porch and heated a warming disc every night for his bed, which was inside a big comfy igloo. However, when the rains came, I just could not leave him outside. My vet said that as long as he was neutered, not aggressive, and if my cats accepted him, things would be fine. So Gus came inside. Gus, I’m happy to say, was a really sweet kitty. He was always a perfect gentleman and respectful to all of my other but he had to have been 14 or 15 when he passed. cats. At one time he must have belonged to someone because During those years, I rescued another adult kitty; Miri was even though he seemed feral in the beginning, he turned into her name. I trapped her from a feral colony, had her fixed, an angel. I will say that because of being FIV positive, Gus did and was releasing her back to her colony. However, she did get his fair share of colds and many a course of antibiotics was not want to get out of the trap; she just sat in the trap purrprescribed. Also, he did have some tooth issues, or I should ing. “Oh my goodness,” I thought, “another kitty that’s been say mouth issues; he only had one front fang. He had stoma- dumped and I can’t just release her back in the wild.” So I titis, which is like kitty gingivitis, but he lived happily with took her back, took her to the vet for testing, and she tested us for another eight years. Gus became one of the gang and positive for FIV and again on the retest. Miri also lived with COLOR AD PRODUCED BY THE SIGNAL would sit and look out of the French doors at the back porch, us for about five years and finally kidney failure took her from ORDER NO.: 8376_4 CLIENT: 929 - ALL CREATURES EMERGENCY SIZE: 6 X 6 probably not believing how lucky he was to be on the other us at about 14 years of age. I know that Miri was not born SATURDAY • PUB DATE: 06-01-13 ARTIST: KP CRX: XX REP: MARIE side of the glass. Eventually, Gus succumbed to oral cancer, feral because she was so loving. Sadly, like so many kitties she AUTOMATED PATH: 2012/DEC

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Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

ended up homeless and reverted to a semi-feral state until I came along. Miri, I had been told, was the big mommy of the colony and had many, many litters. I was able to trap quite a number of her offspring and all of those kittens were FIVnegative. I adopted out many of them. However, 3 were a little older when they were trapped and were too feral to tame. I did not have the heart to put them back on the street and decided they would stay with their mommy, Miri, and me. Prince, Bizou, and Samantha are 10 years old now. Bizou and Samantha are still a little shy but Prince likes to snuggle on the bed with me and we reminisce about sweet Miri often. Over the years, whenever I take one of my kitties to the vet, I always retest for FIV just to be sure that no one contracted the virus. Even recently, I had a 20-year-old kitty that needed blood. I had them run the test for FIV and it came back negative. It is not fair and is clinically wrong to categorize these FIV kitties as contagious lepers. Quite simply, FIV is not an easy virus to transmit. Fortunately, new evidence and practical situations such as my own are paving the way for change. Please do not disqualify and FIV kitty from becoming a cherished pet in your home. Don’t fall prey to false information and scare tactics. Analyze your situation before just saying “no.” These kitties deserve a loving home and maybe that home is yours.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Stem Cell Therapy for Pets - An Introduction By Kimberly J. Caruso, DVM, DACVP

tem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available to veterinarians since 2004. Adult Stem Cells can be found dormant in tissues such as fat, skin, blood vessels, nerves, liver and bone marrow. However, adult stem cells are most abundant in adipose (fat) tissue and have the ability to differentiate into other cell types such as cartilage, bone, nerve, tendon, ligaments and muscle. Stem cells are harvested from fat tissue from the abdomen, isolated and activated using a procedure designed by Medivet America, and then injected at problem areas needing to be treated or can be given intravenously to localize to the damaged tissues. Stem cells then differentiate into new tissue to repair and replace damaged tissue. Both acute and chronic conditions are indications for stem cell therapy such as osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), soft tissue injuries (muscle, ligament, tendon, wounds), and acceleration of fracture healing. Other potential diseases where stem cell therapy may benefit include chronic pancreatitis, degenerative myelopathy, feline gingivitis, end-stage renal disease, liver and kidney failure, allergies, immune mediated diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and spinal trauma.

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What does this mean to pet owners? It is a viable alternative to giving pain medications and supplements used to treat injured areas and chronic conditions such as arthritis. These medications over time can be associated with side effects (i.e. gastric ulcers, acute renal failure, liver damage to name a few) and are aimed at treating symptoms. No side effects are seen in animals undergoing stem cell therapy as the stem cells are derived from the pet’s own tissue making it a safe procedure. What should owner’s expect the day of treatment? It is a simple one day procedure at the veterinary hospital . Your pet is put under general anesthesia for 10-15 minutes, the time it takes to harvest fat tissue (3-4 tablespoons) from the abdomen from a small incision, that is considered minimally invasive. For injection of the harvested stem cells, your pet may need light sedation depending on its temperment. The recovery period is about 10 days post procedure. What results should pet owners expect? With stem cell therapy, 95% of pet’s will show improvement as early as 10 days after the procedure and show a maximum effect in 8 weeks. Stem cell therapy repairs tissues rather than reducing symptoms. Results typically last for about 1-3 years after the initial treat-

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

ment. In addition, pet owners can chose to bank some of the stem cells originally harvested, so retreatment is easy and does not require any additional surgery. What is the anticipated cost? Cost is typically $1,800 for dogs and cats and $2,400 for horses. What is the benefit of stem cell therapy? It allows animals with acute injuries the chance to recover and return to normal function and in older animals provides them relief from chronic conditions allowing them to live a longer pain free and quality life.

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The Protector of N

Life By Sylvia Hathaway, Acupressurist & Reiki Master josephinesplace@msn.com

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Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

othing gets your attention like pain. It alone can make you instantly stop whatever you’re doing and shift your attention to what hurts. Pain is a signal that harm is being done. It is a signal to pay attention; that something is not right. It is important to find out what, and why; respond appropriately and hopefully avoid further damage. If you merely numb the pain, you have in effect just ‘shot the messenger’ so to speak. Respecting its purpose can help you deal with it. There are many levels; many types and degrees of pain. It affects not only the physical but the mind, the emotions, and the spirit as well. This often occurs all at once; each intensifying the effect of the other. Therefore, pain is actually multifaceted; recognizing this and treating it accordingly will result in more complete relief. This is also true in regard to our animal companions. With them however, there is the additional challenge of realizing that they are suffering in the first place. Most often animals will try to hide pain. Have you noticed a change in their gait? Perhaps a limp? Have they become unusually quiet? Lost their appetite? Become irritable or snappish? Are they recovering from an injury or a surgical procedure? Consider the possibility that they might be in pain. We are thankfully (mercifully) moving away from the Descartian viewpoint that animals do not feel pain; the belief that they are a sort of ‘automaton’ in whom the appearance of

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

pain is no more than a reflex response and not actual pain at all. This belief was actually still prevalent in veterinary schools until relatively recently; which explains why some (mostly older) veterinarians seem to skimp on pain medication. If this is the case when you pick-up your companion pet after what you perceive must have been a painful procedure, don’t be shy! Ask for pain medication! You are their guardian. Look into their eyes and speak for them. Pain is not OK. Pain must be relieved because it slows healing, it forces the heart to work harder, it decreases the efficacy of breathing, it depresses the immune system, and it slows gut function; the list goes on... Many of the animals who come into our lives have endured a lot of pain on all levels. Treating the physical will command your attention first: the wounds, the broken bones, the infec-

tions, and the malnutrition. You attend to their emotional trauma at the same time through your caring touch, your concern and reassurance, your gentleness. But since effective pain relief needs to focus on the whole... to restore the whole... shouldn’t we also address the mental torment (pain) of apprehension and anxiety; the emotional emptiness of isolation and abandonment; the anguish of a broken spirit? To reach into these depths you may need to consider, being open to, those more esoteric therapies such as flower essences, therapeutic touch, Reiki, communication, etc. Consider too, that you have been drawn together for a reason; that in some way you are helping each other; that you are not alone. Together you will reach out to regain joy and life. And, in case you hadn’t recognized it, stress is again a factor. Because chronic stress depletes life. If ignored, the result is pain; which cannot be ignored. Pain. The protector of life.

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Kitty

Hello

n the wild, cats who are unable to recognize danger don’t survive. Savvy felines identify anything “new” to be a potential danger, until proven otherwise. Good early socialization – when kittens learn what to trust or fear – builds confidence and makes cats more accepting of changes. But most adult felines remain cautious, especially of new housemates. Although sometimes cats will get along swimmingly in just a couple of hours, you should not be surprised to have a battle on your hands if you try to introduce your new cat too quickly. The time you spend on this all-important process will be saved exponentially by not having to break up conflicts every day. Also, the first couple of weeks can set the tone for the relationship for a long time to come, so “getting it right” the first time will save a lot of hassles later on. Cats get their tails in a twist over anything strange, especially introducing a new feline into an established cat hierarchy. Put yourself in the cat’s paws – would you share your dinner plate, toilet, and pillow with a funny-smelling stranger off the street? Proper cat integration reduces kitty stress, prevents behavior problems, and strengthens your loving bond.

16 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

The Steps to Take Set up a comfortable “safe room” for your new cat. Put her food, water, litter box, scratching post, toys, and bed or other sleeping mat there. Felines hate strangers trespassing on their turf. Respect your resident cat’s prior claim to territory. Confine the new kitty in the “safe room” so the resident cat understands only part of his territory has been invaded. This soothes the new cat by providing a familiar retreat. Expect a great deal of “hissy-spitty” behavior through the closed door from both cats. This is natural and normal; they are just starting to explore their “pecking order.” Cats

continued on page 18

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 inter-action with other dogs or separate accommodations according to your pet’s special come see us needs...and your needs for them.

Castaic Canine Camp Offers: Boarding Daycare Training

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at the Bow-Wows & Meows Pet Fair! When you adopt a dog from the Bow Wows & Meows Pet Fair you receive a

free

training session! The American Cancer Society Bark For Life honors the caregiving qualities of canine companions and is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. By supporting Bark For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives and help us move closer to a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Bring your best canine friends and join us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk, and then continuing with demos, contests, games, and more!. (Please note: All Dogs must be on a leash, have current rabies immunization, and be at least 6 months old.)



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

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

continued from page 17 get hissy when sensory overload exceeds their tolerance level. The sight, sound, and smell of a strange cat can be emotionally arousing and push one or both into a “fight or flight” mode. But blocking the sight of each other reduces arousal, and can allow strange cats to tolerate each other. A cornerstone of cat-to-cat introductions includes initially separating the cats. Keep the solid door closed for at least a week, but two or three weeks may be necessary before the first nose-tonose meeting. Monitor the cats’ interaction of sniffing and paw pats underneath the door. The cats should “know” each other by scent before they ever set eyes on each other. Scent is very important for cats. Let each of them smell the other indirectly, by rubbing a towel on one and letting the other smell it. Felines identify their family group by a communal scent, shared when they groom each other and sleep together. So feed the cats at the same time, but on opposite sides of the door, to associate each other’s smell with good things. After each cat has had a meal, switch out the plates temporarily so that they can sniff the bowls and become even more familiar with each other. It’s even better when a bit of food is left, because that helps the cats identify good stuff – food – with the other animal. They will soon accept the scent as a normal part ual 13th Ann

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BowWowsAndMeows.org 18 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

of the house. Expect normal posturing, fluffed fur and hissing and when that begins to fade, you’re ready for the next step. Once or twice, switch roles. Put New Cat in the normal living quarters, and let your resident cat sniff out the new cat’s Safe Room. After a day or so, let the two cats sniff each other through a baby-gate or through a barely-opened door. Gauge the rate at which they seem to be acclimating to each other. When you think they’re ready, let them mingle under your supervision. Ignore hissing and growling, but you may have to intervene if a physical battle breaks out. Again, take this step slowly, depending on how quickly they get along. If they do seem to tolerate each other, even begrudgingly, praise both of them profusely. After several days, give the new cat a chance to explore the rest of the house for a couple of hours on their own. Kitties have no interest in meeting new people or other pets unless they feel comfortable with their new environment. Put any other cats in another room, then open the door so the new cat has private time to cheek rub furniture, find good hiding and sleeping places, and otherwise become familiar with her new home. The best way to reduce cat controversy is to provide all your cats with so much good stuff, there’s no need to fight

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continued on page 21

Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Photo courtesy of Cole Lecoupt Birds • Supplies • Grooming • Cages • Fresh Food • Boarding

The Bird Bungalow has gone mobile! Daily deliveries of all products and goods AND grooming. Serving the SCV. Deliveries monthly to Lancaster, Palmdale, Acton & Agua Dulce. Looking forward to meeting all of the feathered friends we sometimes missed with a storefront location!

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

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20 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

continued from page 19 over it. Place multiple litter boxes and feeding stations in different locations so that one cat can’t own and “guard” the facilities. Increase territory with cat trees, shelves to lounge, tunnels and boxes to hide, and toys galore. Make their first activities together enjoyable ones so they will learn to associate pleasure with the presence of the other cat, feeding with their own separate dishes, playing, and petting. Finally, you’re ready for a meeting. Don’t make a big deal of this. Simply open the “safe room” door, stand back, and watch what happens. Allow the cats to ignore each other, meet, or otherwise interact at their own pace. Remember, the first face-toface between cats should be one pair at a time, so if you have more than one resident cat, confine the others until a private meeting is possible. Introduce the friendliest resident cat to the newcomer first, so they have a chance to form a bond and can offer a positive example to the others. Be prepared to stop any all-out alterca-

tions by tossing a towel or blanket over top of the wrangling cats. But allow hissing as long as the cats keep their distance. Distract them by feeding or playing a game at the same time, but on opposite sides of the room. It can be love at first sight, or may take weeks or months to accept somebody new into the family. Some cats may never accept each other. Until you are satisfied no fur will fly, keep the new cat in her safe room whenever you can’t supervise. A baby gate in the doorway allows interactions but keeps them safely separated. If things start to go badly, separate them again and then start where you left off. If one cat seems to consistently be the aggressor, give her some “time out,” then try again a little bit later. The introduction can take from two hours to six months, so don’t be discouraged if your cats don’t seem to get along well at first. Often the case is that they will eventually be “best buddies.”

Pet Me! Magazine™

Animal Aftercare

Cal Pet Crematory (310) 278-0633 (818) 983-2313 (323) 875-0633 www.calpet.com Guardian Animal Aftercare (818) 768-6465 www.guardianaftercare.com Great Groomers Kitty’s Spa In-home Grooming (661) 505-0397 www.kittysSpa.com Precious Pets 27737 Bouquet Cyn. Rd. Saugus, CA 91350 (661) 296-2020 Purrfect Paw Prints Mobile Pet Grooming (661) 313-2803 So Cal Grooming 28011 Seco Cyn. Rd. Santa Clarita, 91390 (661) 513-0778 www.socalgrooming.com Pawpular Pet Suppliers Bird Bungalow 21021 Soledad Canyon Rd Canyon Country, CA 91351 (661) 284-6200 www.thebirdbungalow.com Fox Feed 17028 Sierra Highway Canyon Country, 91387 (661) 252-9790 www.foxfeed.com Pet Stop 26870 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA (661) 251-3867 www.petstopsantaclarita.com Pet Supply Santa Clarita 26831 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, 91350-2372 (661) 296-2654 www.petsupplysantaclarita.com Dermatology for Pets Amy Shumaker, DVM, DACVD Valencia Veterinary Center 23928 Summerhill Lane Valencia, CA 91354 (661) 855-4870 www.dermatologyforanimals.com 22 Pet Me! Magazine™

Animal Control Centers

Trusted Vets In and Around SCV

Castaic Animal Shelter 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Rd. Castaic (661) 257-3191 www.animalcare.lacounty.gov

Advanced Care Animal Hospital 19406 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 263-4334 www.advancedcareanimalhospital.com

Lancaster Animal Shelter 5210 W. Ave. I Lancaster, CA 93536 (661) 940-4191 www.animalcare.lacounty.gov

All Creatures Emergency Center 22722 Lyons Ave # 5 Newhall, 91321-2876 (661) 291-1121 www.wecarevets.com

Rescue Organizations Best Friends Pet Adoption Center 15321 Brand Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91354 (818) 643-3989 Bestfriends.org Brittany Foundation Agua Dulce (661) 713-5240 www.brittanyfoundationonline.org Citizens for Sheltered Animals, Inc. 26893 Bouquet Canyon Rd. C-318 (661) 513-9288 www.citizensforshelteredanimals.com Forgotten Angels Cat Rescue (661) 273-9822 www.forgottenangelsrescue.org New Leash On Life Animal Rescue adopt@nlol.org (661) 255-0097 Ratz Nest Rescue (661) 303-7872 www.ratznest.weebly.com Saffyre Sanctuary (Horse Rescue) Sylmar, CA www.saffyresanctuary.org Save A Kitty, Inc. (818) 825-3096 www.SaveaKittyCA.org PetSave Foundation Bunny Rescue (661) 478-7360 www.petsave.org St. Bonnie’s Sanctuary/ Lange Foundation 27567 Oak Spring Canyon Rd. Canyon Country, CA 91387 (661) 251.5590 http://langefoundation.com www.PetConnect.us

Animal Medical Center 25848 McBean Parkway Valencia, 91355 (661) 255-5555 www.AMCValencia.com Canyon Country Veterinary Hospital 18840 Soledad Canyon Road Canyon Country, 91351-3772 (661) 424-9900 www.wecarevets.com Cinema Veterinary Centre 23460 Cinema Drive, Unit L Valencia, 91355 (661) 253-9300 www.cinemavet.com Happy Pets Veterinary 27550 Newhall Ranch Road Valencia, 91355 (661) 295-9972 www.happypetsveterinary.com Peaceful Pets In-Home Euthanasia Services (661) 621-3750 peacefulpetsinhome@gmail.com www.peacefulpetsservices.com Valencia Veterinary Center 24036 Summerhill Ln. Santa Clarita, 91354 (661) 263-9000 www.bestvalenciavet.com VIP Veterinary Services 26111 Bouquet Cyn. Rd. Suite D-5, Saugus, CA 91350 (661) 222-PETS www.VIPVeterinaryServices.com Best Boarding Facilities Canine Country Club 20341 Blue Cloud Road Santa Clarita, 91390-1259 (661) 296-0566 www.cccofscv.com

Pets

for all things

Castaic Canine Camp 36975 Ridge Route Road Castaic, 91384 (661) 257-0957 www.castaiccaninecamp.com Santa Clarita’s Premier Dog Lodge Trish Cohen (661) 618-6628 honestgalpal@att.net www.hasshaus.com

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