Precious Pets Vol 1, Issue 11 by PreciousPets

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners

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VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca #33ccff logo (web color)

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In this issue:

4 Reptiles are pets too

Picture Perfect

14 Farm Paradise Lizards of Cancun, Mexico - 2008

Credit Bram D. Eisenthal

Hardly Godzilla, but still animals requiring our mental adjustments

t’s quite uncanny that as I started preparing this issue, devoted to animals that many people consider pets, while others are deadly afraid of them (reptiles), the latest film version about the legendary, larger-than-life action star Godzilla opened in theatres North America-wide. A devoted fan of horror, s.f. and fantasy films and literature, I saw this flick and I can tell you that it is remarkably good, far, far removed from the hokey Japanese and American versions of the past. In fact, if you enjoy a good action film, albeit one that stretches the imagination a whole lot, I heartily recommend Godzilla. And I passionately look forward to a sequel. Now, the notion for an issue of Precious Pets devoted to reptilian life was inspired by a young man I know and his passion for a fairly recent houseguest, a baby Columbian boa that Alessandro Biello named Demon (an article on Biello and his baby can be found further on, this issue). The fact that he chose this particular moniker for his pet, however, may be rooted in the general consensus that reptiles are evil… or at the very least, scary. Yet when my associate Tina Disalvia and I bravely ventured forth and attended the latest incarnation of Reptile Expo, held here on Sunday, June 8, 2014, which also happened to be the birthday of my late, great mom (coincidence?), we were extremely impressed and interested, not to mention educated, by the experience. What a group of animals! Snakes, spi-

ders (Tarantulas… and here is where I state again that I was the companion to Mexican tarantula Judah some 30 years ago), geckos (yup, every bit as cute as the one on the insurance commercials) and such, considered precious pets by those who care for them. True, dogs, cats and rabbits are certainly cuter and cuddlier, but that doesn’t mean snakes can’t elicit love from humans, just as well. Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Right?

Animal lover / City Councilor Cohen apparently attractive to bees, as well

So, my buddy Mike Cohen (yes the same Mike Cohen who appears more and more in Precious Pets, as he takes on animal protection as one of his duties as a Cote Saint-Luc city councilor), was indeed “beehiving,” apparently (his joke, not mine), after he parked his car downtown. He returned to find that The Queen Mother (the bee queen, not the actual late Queen Mother) had colonized his car and that an estimated 5,000 bees were swarming the back trunk of his automobile, down to the license plate. To read more about Mike’s fascinating experience, go to his blog, at https:// news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/ bees-overtake-parked-car--make-ittheir-hive--with-video--203639276. html. Hope he isn’t stung (my joke, not his) by my spreading this story

Barking Bram with Bram D. Elsenthal even farther than it has already gone, making it one of the hottest tales in Montreal news these days.

You’re all invited….

Clear the date on your calendars Wednesday, September 10, 2014, because that is when Precious Pets will hold its first anniversary bash, at Dollar Cinema (Decarie Square, 6900 Decarie, 2nd floor) starting at 7 p.m. Attendance is free, there will be snacks and refreshments, entertainment and, yup, door prizes, too. But if you wish to tender a donation, we will distribute the money amongst various pet organizations much in need of financial assistance. Dollar Cinema’s website is at www.dollarcinema.ca...

Finally, a new addition to PP

Sincerest greetings to our new new head of Creative Design, James McCafferty, responsible for layout and other duties. James handled the layout of our last issue and did a wonderful job. Mark Lehberg worked on issues 2 – 9, but had to leave for personal reasons. Thank you, Mark, for your hard work and creative enthusiasm!

No Grief Group next month

The Little Bear Grief Group, organized by Precious Pets and Pet Friends of Vaudreuil, will not take place in July, as we are taking a bit of a summer break at a time when many of you are away. The group will meet again on Thursday, August 28, 2014, starting at 7 p.m. We now meet at the Cote Saint-Luc ACC (Aquatic and

Community Centre), 5794 Parkhaven (corner Mackle), CSL H4W 1A6

Like cats much?

If you do, the City of Cote SaintLuc is inviting you to their third annual concert to benefit their unique Cats Committee. I attended last year’s event and was blown away. Funds raised from The Music We Love: Best of the Classics - The Cat’s Meow will go toward the committee’s Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt program and Educhat (www.educhat. ca). You will really enjoy the show put on at the former Wagar High School (5785 Parkhaven) by the Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra (http://www.musiciansoftheworld.ca), conducted by Joseph Milo. Soprano Brigitte O’Halleran, who is herself a scintillating talent, will also perform. So hold the date: Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 7:30 p.m. The event, a mere $10 per ticket, will be held in memory of former CSL mayor Bernard Lang, who passed away recently. More info at 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or at www. cotesaintluc.org/cats. CSL’s first cat licensing bylaw was adopted last fall.

One moment please?

silence,

We at Precious Pets ask you all to share in a moment of silence for the dear dog my partner, Tina DiSalvia, was companion to for 11 years. Rocco took the leap to the Other Side this morning and we all wish Tina and her family our sincerest condolences and, to Rocco, happy new beginnings. From this issue forth, Rocco will be the Official Mascot here at Precious Pets. Rest in Peace, Rocco.

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Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Media Group Inc. Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013. Copyright 2013. Precious Pets does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not presumed to be the opinions and statements of Precious Pets Group Inc.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Splish splash Although he’s part Lab, Artie is not a fan of water. He’s especially not keen about baths. He endures it, though. He stands there – stock still, not moving a muscle -- in the walk-in shower while I put him through the five-minute TORTURE, and if there was a thought bubble over his head, it would say “Is this over yet? Are we done yet? What about now? Finished? HURRY IT UP, LADY!” Then, when it is actually over with, he bolts out of the shower, runs in circles – yes, the full “zoomies” act: Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about – bouncing off everything in the room, only taking breathers to

shake off the dreaded water. But he smells fantastic. However, as much “fun” as it is to give him a bath, you should know that bathing your pup too frequently is really not a good thing, regardless of how great they look and smell afterwards (Artie just cheered. Complete with pom-poms. Rah! Rah! Rah!). This is because too-frequent bathing depletes the oils from their skin and leaves it dry and itchy. Unless your dog has skin problems and your vet has recommended otherwise, you should only bathe your dog when he really, REALLY needs it. In the summertime, Artie gets a bath every month or so. In the winter, it’s much less often. The

Dogged Pursuits with Dawn Mirsky grand total of baths per year rarely exceeds six, unless he’s spent a lot of time outside, getting into icky things (like dirt and rolling in dead animals… GAH!). Also, make sure that you use dog shampoo. Your own shampoo, no matter how gentle, has a pH level that’s not suitable for your dog. One last thing: Rinse out all of the shampoo. Yeah, it makes the

TORTURE last a little longer, but you must get all the shampoo out of their coat. “Artie? Bath time?” “You’re looking for some manual labour? Roast a chicken for me while I take a nap.” I guess he doesn’t really, REALLY need a bath this month.

How to help a child through the loss of a pet Children are highly-spiritual entities and still very closely connected to the Source. They experience loss very strongly whether it be the loss of a parent, friend or animal. The feelings of grief will be new to a child and they need to be guided through the process by an aware, accepting and open guide. Most of all, they must be allowed to grieve. A child has a deep and often highly-intuitive relationship to a pet. An animal becomes the child’s confident, ally and a source of strength. When the pet passes on, the child is left with a void he or she does not know how to fill. Here are some things to keep in mind when helping a child through

this time of crisis: • Never lie about what has happened. Explain in truthful and simple terms what has taken place. • Allow the child to express their own feelings about what happens after an animal passes and affirm those feelings. Having the child draw what they believe has happened can help. • Remind the child that is okay to cry. Do not downplay their feelings and never minimize or belittle (as in stating “It was just a goldfish”) the passing. • If the pet has been euthanized, use that actual term instead of telling the child that their beloved companion has been “put to sleep.”

Pet Healer with Barbara Etcovitch Children can have nightmares or become afraid of falling asleep as a result. Explain that the process took away the animal’s pain and helped it to pass more easily. • Create a ritual with the child. Rituals help us deal with the tough changes in our lives. An “I Love You

CSL’s Cats Committee raises over $300 at Cote Saint-Luc’s Community Garage Sale At the end of May, Precious Pets’ Publisher and Editor Bram Eisenthal helped set up and staff the Cats Committee booth at the Cote Saint Luc Community Garage Sale, with Cats Committee exec. board member Fern Pereira. Over $300 was raised to aid cats, through the sale of unwanted second-hand items donated by community members. Your community, too, can raise funds that will help animals. Speak to your City Council about arranging such events in your geographical area.

Memory Box” or an Altar with the pet’s photo and favourite things are two good choices. The child can fill the box or furnish the altar with anything that reminds them of their deceased friend. It can even be filled with the secrets they shared. Do not forget that the loss of a pet can bring up memories of other losses and fear over losing again. Therefore, be gentle with your child, as well as respectful, loving and empathetic about the loss. Barbara Etcovitch is a Classical Homeopath, Interfaith Minister, freelance writer, and lecturer. She has a BA from Sir George Williams University, a MA in Literature from the University of Ottawa, and a diploma in Classical Homeopathy from the School of Homeopathy in Devon, England. She was ordained by the All Faiths Seminary International in N ew York City in 2004. She offers naming and funeral services for animals, grief counseling for guardians, and includes the treatment of animals in her homeopathic practices in Quebec and Ontario. Her services are available worldwide via Skype.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Quebec’s expert Reptizoo can cure you of any reptile phobia Story and photos by Bram D. Eisenthal - Exclusive to Precious Pets

Reptiles are probably amongst the most misunderstood animals of all. Okay, okay, besides crustaceans, which are sort of water reptiles… How many of you shudder or go “Ewwww” when you see a snake, a scorpion or a lizard? (Just take a look at the cover photo this issue, a picture I took in Cancun, Mexico circa 2004). Probably most of you, I venture to guess. Until I got myself a pet tarantula, an orange and black Mexican I named Judah (for Judah the Maccabee, member of the vanguard of ancient Hebrew warriors) in my late twenties, I, too, was not so fond of them. But when forced to get rid of my baby two years later by a girlfriend at the time, I was bummed out. Judah was a pet and I cared about him, as all of us do for our pets. In retrospect, I should have gotten rid of her and kept the spider. He was a lot livelier… and kinder! About 17 years ago, a good friend hired a company called Reptizoo to entertain the kids at his young son’s birthday party. My friend was terrified of snakes, but by the end of that fun and faithful hour, during which a veritable menagerie of reptilian life was hauled out of Patrick Bennatar’s (not relation to Pat Bennatar, the onetime female rock star) van, my buddy was cured. Learn about anything at all and you are guaranteed to lose your fear, hate or other negative emotions. I caught up with Patrick recently and, yup, he is still very much still at it. So, I seized the opportunity to ask him some questions. How did he develop such interest in reptiles initially? “I remember as a young child, my

grandparents gave me a book on reptiles and amphibians and I was fascinated. They also had an old log cabin and 50 acres within the Niagara escarpment area of Ontario, featuring streams and a pond teeming with reptiles and amphibians. It was paradise and my family spent summer vacations there. My parents also allowed us to keep turtles and lizards as pets. “I think all those things combined are what made me love nature. Also, one day on the way home from school one of my friends called me to look in the neighbour’s garbage and there was a sliced up snake in it. The neighbour didn’t like snakes so she mowed over it with her lawn mower. I was stunned. How could someone ever hurt or kill something so beautiful and harmless! That’s where the ‘educating people’ part came in. This was likely when I was between the ages of 4 – 6 years old.” The always-affable Patrick then studied reptiles in school, reading “everything I could get my little hands on.” When he was ready to start the business, about 18 years ago, he needed to make a lot of moves, but most of them came naturally, he told me. “Getting the animals was not hard: We had many animals to start with – by about 1993, we had American alligators, pythons, boas, all sorts of lizards etc. Every time my parents had visitors from out of town, they would look at our collection. We then decided to take it on the road. It was natural for me to talk about the animals, their natural habitats and different interesting things about them. Also to help those who were afraid to

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understand them better and then, hopefully, touch or even hold one. Patrick also gets many of his reptiles via the industry. “There are many reptile breeders around, so we either buy them or they are donated by breeders. I don’t have any interesting stories about obtaining them because they were not caught in the wild. I am often asked that question by kids in schools and usually I reply something like this: It was a hot damp morning, the birds were singing, the insects were buzzing. I was eager to get going. I pulled on my boots, grabbed my wallet and headed to the reptile breeder where I purchased the baby python... (laughs)… you get the idea.” Patrick’s living stock numbers “around 150 reptiles. Some of them have names, some don’t. Its hard to give original names to 150 reptiles. Often the staff members name them or perhaps a child at a school or a birthday party will give them names. Some of the names reflect foods, so I wonder if my staff are always hungry. We have ‘Honey’ the boa, ‘Coffee’ the rainbow boa, ‘Chocolate’ the fat tailed gecko and such.” As far as training the reptiles, well, we don’t have them jump through hoops on fire. They are kinda trained by being handled by so many people. They get used to it and are not afraid. Some of our larger animals, like the Water Monitor (a sort of lizard) or the American Alligators, can be trained to some degree. They are very instinctive for sure. We feed pre-killed rodents to our snakes and some of them don’t bother to constrict them anymore because those rodents don’t struggle. This seems to be a learned action. Most constrictors possess instinct that says ‘if it smells like what they eat, grab it and constrict it.’ They learn that, in some cases, they don’t have to.” I wanted to know whether reptiles are smart. He replied with quite a bit of genuine logic: “Let’s go back a few hundred million years. Crocodilians have barely evolved in two hundred million years and they do very well. We, on the other hand, have destroyed much of the planet, and wiped many species off the face of the Earth. Compared to Crocodilians,

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

we have only been here for a wink of an eye. Are we smart?” As far as the reactions of people around his reptiles, Patrick said that most are positive. “As you can imagine, there are all sorts of reactions. For example, when we are showing a big boa or python, sometimes a parent will pull there child away in horror, people will try to touch the snake’s face and sometimes we get a principal at a school that will not allow us inside. Everything you can think of, we have seen or heard it. “Overall, the reactions are, however, very good. I was doing an event at a senior home in Ontario and a women in a wheel chair, she had just turned 100, asked if I could help her get over her lifelong fear of snakes. After only minutes, she had a 9-foot Burmese python over her shoulders and in her lap. I had a hard time getting it back. She loved it. What a great job, to be able to help someone at that age learn something new!” You can reach Reptizoo at Reptizoo@rogers.com, www.reptizoo.com or by phone and fax 514-990-8 680 ED. NOTE: A Mr. Fishman, who resides quite close to me, will be turning 100 in September. I wonder if we should bring him a snake for his birthday… Patrick?

Training

Various options are available When it comes to training your dog, you really do have several options…. Any and all with good and bad points. The most well-known way to train your dog is using the group class method. The upside to a group class is that your dog will get a certain amount of dog-to-dog socialization and, mainly for this reason, this method is very beneficial for puppies. But it also brings many real-life distractions into the training process. There are even group classes specifically designed to help dogs with aggression or reactivity issues. The downside to a group class is that you (and your dog) are limited to a specific time. If you can’t make the class, you lose that sum of money and cannot reschedule. Also, there will be much

Doggie Do

Editorial Board The new Editorial Board of Precious Pets is comprised of individuals connected to the pet field in some manner, who are ready to advise the partners and/or staff

with John Truss

when asked for their

less of the trainer’s time spent on you and your specific issues. Your next option is private lessons, obviously ideally suited toward more one-on-one time with the trainer, which can better tackle more serious behavioural issues. Some trainers will even come to your home and help you with situations that you only experience there. The advantages are that you can usually reschedule, given enough notice, and again, there is much more time devoted to your situation specifically. The third option is called a “board-and-train.” This is where you give your dog to a trainer for a set amount of time, usually 2-4 weeks, but it really depends on the training involved. The reasons for doing this can be that you are unable to solve specific issues yourself or that you simply don’t have the time. People often leave their dogs for boardand-train sessions while they go on vacation. The advantage to a

board-and-train is that a lot of the initial work will be done and your dog will experience daily structure and routine that you may have been lacking at home. It’s a great way to give your dog a little boost to get started, so you can then continue the training when he returns. No matter which option you choose to train your dog you have to remember one thing: Having a well-trained dog does not involve a month or two of training. It involves challenging your dog on a daily basis. The way you train your dog may constantly change, but you must remember that the training never stops. The bottom line is that you will get out what you put in. Teach your dog a new trick. Take your dog down a new trail. The way to build a strong relationship is to discover new things…. together. You are a team!

opinions. They are:

Michael J. Cohen, Councilor, City of Cote Saint-Luc (Quebec) and founder of its Cats Committee Averil Robinson, owner of Pet Friends (Vaudreuil, Quebec) Gerdy Gouron, owner of Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions (Quebec) Dr. Wojciech Wybranowski – Veterinarian (Montreal’s West Island) Gaby Dufresne-St. Cyr – Owner of Dogueshop (Montreal)

Our mid-summer issue, smaller than usual but still and always a unique read for pets and their owners is coming up:

FRIDAY. JULY 25 DEADLINE FRIDAY, JULY 16 info@preciouspetscanada.ca

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Be proactive to prevent pets from being abandoned on This month I am taking a break from the cats’ point of view to shed light on a very important topic that affects all animals, July 1, otherwise known as Moving Day. July 1 can be a very happy day. It can be celebrated as our country’s birthday with a neighbourhood BBQ or time with friends and family. Or it’s also known as the day which consists of a packed up moving truck, filled with boxes and with your traversing many flights of stairs – Moving Day! Of course not all moving days are bad (some of them are great!), but the worst ones of all are those that leave family members behind. You got it: We’re talking about animals being abandoned on Moving Day. The little fur babies that once slept at the foot of a warm bed, or lapped milk off a grandmother’s tea saucer, are sometimes left behind… left behind to fend for themselves in the alley or, worse yet, locked in an empty apartment waiting to be found. It’s a very sad fact that all Quebecers need to start facing, head on. It is usually for one of two reasons that an animal is left behind. Either the owner no longer wants the responsibility of caring for the animal (in which case they should have never had it in the first place, right?) or the owner was forced to leave their animal behind because their new home had a “no-pet” clause. What’s a “no-pet” clause, you ask? It’s exactly that, a NO PETS ALLOWED clause, placed into a lease agreement by the landlord of said dwelling. For the sake of a worthwhile article, rather than a rant about people who shouldn’t be animal owners, I am going to focus on the latter of these two reasons. I had the pleasure of speaking with Anita Kapuscinska from our local (Montreal) SPCA about this horrible annual occurrence. We touched

briefly on some issues that surround this Moving-Day nightmare. Some of her answers might surprise you: Precious Pets (PP): Approximately how many animals do you take in per year around moving day? Anita: On average the SPCA takes in around 600 animals per month, every month of the year. In the months around moving season that number nearly triples as we take in close to 1600 animals per month. Within that number there are usually 3 times as many cats as dogs. PP: Does the SPCA have the capacity to care for 1600 animals, or even 600 animals? Anita: It is, of course, very difficult to care for that many animals. The SPCA cannot do it alone. We strongly rely on our foster families and partner shelters for assistance throughout the entire year, as well as our E-Shelter Annexe, located just across the street from us. We hold many adoption events in order to reach out to the public and encourage adoptions. Many people are simply unaware of the number of animals that we receive each month. PP: Why are so many animals left behind or abandoned? Anita: Part of the reason for the spike in the animals we receive around July 1st is because, in Quebec, everyone typically moves at the same time. For many lower income families, who have less choice of where to live, their new leases usually include a discriminatory clause (i.e. – No-Pet clauses). PP: These “no-pet” clauses make it very rather impossible for some families to keep their pet with them as they move. What can we all do to help or change what is happening? Anita: Well, how much trouble is a cat or dog in an apartment really? There are options that each pet own-

Moving Day

Chatty Catty with Samantha Havill er can try, such as: • Speaking to the landlord and have them meet the animal. • Asking their vet for a reference, to ensure that the animal is in good health. • Asking their current landlord for a letter of reference • Offering a security deposit (NOTE: It is illegal in Quebec for a landlord to demand a security deposit). • Proposing a trial rental period • As a last resort, asking friends and family if they could temporarily care for your animal. PP: Is there a petition that we can sign to invalidate these “no-pet” clauses”?

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Anita: Yes there is, and in fact we would like to encourage Quebec to follow Belgium and France, countries that have already passed legislation saying that you cannot discriminate against those individuals owning animals. To be part of those who care to make a difference, please go to the following website to sign the petition: www.stoppetabandonment.com So, to all of you out there who can no longer tolerate the injustice some renters face, take five minutes out of your busy day to sign your name. Sign with pride, sign with new knowledge, sign knowing that we animal lovers can all make a difference if we pull together!

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Montreal Reptile Expo a huge success Until now, Precious Pets has admittedly overlooked a segment of the pet world that is popular to so many. But on Sunday, June 8, just in time for our Reptile Issue, we visited the Montreal Reptile Expo, at the Holiday Inn in Pointe Claire. We were quite impressed to say the least. Highlights included meeting Grant Crossman, of Fauna Canada, the man who puts on these shows Canada-wide, learning about beautiful species such as the Redfoot Turtle, a plethora of boa constrictors and lizards… and the (living) Superworms and green Hornworms sold as nourishment by Amanda Majore of Gecko Gurl (“For the love of all reptiles!”). Other exhibitors included Montreal-based businesses Tarantula Canada, Reptiles Concept, Serpent Exotics and Elevages Lisard. The next reptile expo here in Montreal will take place in November… more to come on these fun and interesting exhibitions in future issues.

Les boys from Reptiles-Concept, right here in Quebec

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

(left) Tarantula Canada co-proprietor Martin Gamache with a good friend

They Call Me Dr. W.

Cancer in pets (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)

Just as in people, cancer in pets remains one of the biggest killers. One of the reasons why cancer is so successful in killing pets is that it does not get detected early enough. Certainly if a mass or bump develops on the skin or just below it, we notice it quickly and usually have enough time to remove it before it can spread. Most cancers respond well to excision, while others may have already spread to other parts of the body and will need to be followed up with chemotherapy or radiation treatment. In any treatment of cancer, time is of the essence. The sooner treatment is begun, the better are the chances of a happy ending. The problem lies with those cancers that we cannot see from the outside. Cats and dogs don’t speak in a language we understand. In the wilderness, animals conceal signs of disease, otherwise predatory selection of the weak will cost them their lives. It is a simple formula: If you are weaker, you will get eaten! It is amazing to me how many times I have seen cats and dogs walking around and behaving normally with severe disease. They learn how to cope with a problem until it becomes so severe that they no longer have the ability to hide the disease. That is usually the time the owner notices that the cat started vomiting or the dog stopped eating. This is when owners seek veterinary help. Unfortunately, by then it is often late in the game… sometimes too late to do anything at all, other than put the animal humanely to sleep to prevent suffering. We are not, however, completely helpless, since the great majority of cancers occur in elderly pets, those that have reached the last third of their lifespan - Around 10 years for a cat and seven to nine for a dog, depending on the size. When a pet reaches this most delicate of life’s stages, the owner must be more vigilant. It is no longer okay to have an elderly pet examined once a year. Now this needs to be done at least every six months. Your veterinarian must take a careful history, examine the pet from nose to tail, do some preventive blood and urine screening tests, and possibly take x-rays or other tests, depending on the case at hand. If this is done regularly, it will be much easier to detect early changes suggestive of cancer and allow for successful treatment. If we want to beat cancer, we need to change our mindset. What is okay for a healthy

2-year old dog is not okay for a healthy looking 11-year old dog. Would you not take your 80-year old grandmother more frequently to the doctor than your 20-year old son? If you notice a mass or bump under the skin, don’t just watch it grow. It should not be there at all!

Bring him to your vet, have a biopsy done and plan on having it removed as soon as possible. Start planning on bringing your pet at least twice a year for a preventive health screening exam when he gets older. Put aside some money for doing blood and urine tests on a

regular basis or, better yet, checkout pet insurance: It may be a very good and cheaper option. Just because your pet seems fine, does not necessarily mean he really is! Be proactive about your pet’s health. Your pet will love you for it!

Dr. Wybranowski and Willow

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

How cats waltzed into the human household

Francis the regal wild cat photographed outside Kim’s house in St. Lazare. Photo James McCafferty

Now, I love animals as much as the next guy. They’re cute, cuddly and love you as long as you feed them. But, it’s not their adorable personalities that interest me as much as their confidence in front of a camera. Animals are exceptionally photogenic and, as a photographer, photogenic means less shooting and more admiring. A few weeks ago I visited my friend Kim after she requested a quick shoot with her cat Dudley. She has loved the clever Dudley for years, but realized she never really got those ferociously playful pictures she’d always wanted. I was right on board! Dudley was a smart cat indeed and knew exactly when to turn away from my lens to get out of the frame. A few frustrating minutes and it was obvious Dudley

wasn’t interested. Kim mentioned another cat, Francis. Francis was a wild cat she’d been feeding, who often returned to her for more goodies. She said he was nice, but I’m always sceptical of wild animals. Kim led me outside and I cautiously followed. She called out, but the cat was nowhere to be seen. I was almost ready to retire back to the warm inside light to capture Dudley, when the most beautiful orange-eyed cat emerged from a bush. Francis came forth pristine, glowing in the evening light. I had to take his picture. As Francis, Kim and I had some photographic fun, I couldn’t help but notice that Francis was very kind. He was so easy to pet and never felt endangered by us. It amazed me that an animal that was so averse to going indoors was such a people person. And it made me wonder, ‘where does the average housecat come from?’ The origin of the house cat (I went straight to Google. National Geographic had the answer) It turns out that cats didn’t so much get ‘domesticated’ by humans, as just walked in. Out of 40 wild cat species that lived around the fertile crescent 70,000 years ago, one had a genetic variance that allowed it to try out a little experiment. According to study co-author Stephen O’Brien of the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, the cats just decided to take a chance to see if felines and homo sapiens could get along. Having come across a lot of cats in my life time, I can honestly say this doesn’t surprise me. I

Petography with James McCafferty

Francis and Kim display their frendship in front of the camera Photo James McCafferty

can see most of the cats I know walking through a mud window after wandering ancient Mesopotamia, being, like, “Hey guys, I’m just gonna sit here. You can pet me if you want. I’ll bring you mice and stuff. Whatever, man.”

In Kim’s garden I saw exactly that. Francis and Kim got along great, another example of the feline’s ability to mooch off the human race without being used as a working animal. Some say ‘curiosity killed the cat,’ but I believe that curiosity is the reason house cats are so prominent throughout the world. Without their interesting attitude towards domestication, felines would never have invaded the human home and, ultimately, I would have fewer cats to photograph. To read the full article titled “House Cat Origin Traced to Middle Eastern Wildcat Ancestor” at http:// news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2007/06/070628-cat-ancestor.html jamesmccafferty@live.ca ED. NOTE: James – the proud companion of a guinea pig named Lily - joined the staff of Precious Pets last issue as the head of creative design. We welcome him to his new position, wish him the best of luck and look forward to further submissions from this talented young man.

ANNOUNCEMENT

First anniversaries never come around twice! That is why Precious Pets – your ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners – is celebrating its first anniversary in a big way. On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, starting at 7 p.m., we will be holding our birthday bash at the Dollar Cinema, located in Décor Decarie/Decarie Square, at 6900 Decarie, Montreal, Quebec. The number there is 514-739-0536. Readers and advertisers are invited to celebrate with us. There will be snacks and refreshments and some entertainment too, all of this being finalized as this issue goes to press. Feel free to bring a significant other, but not pets, please. The mall doesn’t allow pets inside. There is no charge for participation and there will be door prizes handed out randomly. Donations are accepted and encouraged and we will contribute to one or more pet organizations, depending on what is given. Go to www.dollarcinema.ca for updates, if any are available. See you there!

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

In memory of, in honour of and because we love our

Buffie’s BLog

Precious Pets

Rocco In loving memory of my amore, my Shitzu-Lhasa Apso mix, Rocco, who died aged 11 this past Wednesday morning. Rocco was an amazing companion, who we welcomed into our home when he was just three months of age. Unfortunately, Rocco lost his eyesight when he was 9, due to diabetes. But he adapted and I was blessed to have him over a two-year period while I administered insulin to him daily. Despite his lack of sight, Rocco gave us much pleasure and many kisses. He was really a good dog, even after he became quite ill over the past month. We will miss you, my darling Rocco. I hope you are there to welcome my spirit when it is my turn to go. And, yes, Jesus loves you, too... without question. Tina DiSalvia

with Donna Deskin Dear Diaree I have been under much duress and strain here in this household. The Commandant has kept us all busy busy busy! We’ve been on display like zoo animals - how embarrassing! Last weekend I got unceremoniously dumped into the car with Miz Ester and we were taken to this huge empty and cold place called an “Arena.” I was put into a pen (how humiliating) with Miz Ester and we were left to fend for ourselves for what seemed like hours! A minute later Daddy came to rescue me. He was sitting in a big chair at the front of what I know now is called a “booth” and I got to sit right next to him! The Commandant (thankfully) was busy with other stuffs so she did not see that I had escaped the torture pen! At long last a whole bunch of my houndie friends came to visit me and we were all standing around meeting and greeting and sniffing butts (What? Hey that’s the way we do it!). Drat and dang nabbit! The Commandant has taken me back to the pen and has brought Miz Ester out to be with Daddy and my buds. I leap up and try to see over the side of the pen and the Commandant comes rushing over (she must have 1,000 eyes!) and tells me to lie down! Harumpf - how can I lie down when all she has provided me with is a lumpy blankie?! I proceed to stand and stand (and watch to make sure Miz Ester is not getting more pats

from Daddy than I got!) A little while later here comes the Commandant with this HUGE green thing and plunks it down in my prison pen. Wow - it’s a nice comfy bed! And so Big! Ahhhhh - I stretch out and am just about to doze off..... YANK whisked out of the pen again! “Your turn Little Miss” cackles the Commandant! And Miz Ester goes into the prison pen and I get to stand next to Daddy again. Hmmm - not such a bad thing - but wait – Miz Ester is sleeping in the green bed!!!. I am distraught, I am upset, I am sa.... ooooh a cookie! Yum! While I’m eating my cookie I see the Commandant coming towards me with a not-so-huge orange thing - another bed! This one also gets plunked down in the prison pen - and it’s just my size! Hey! What’s that other nitwit houndie doing in that teensy weensie bed? Idjit - It’s MY bed! The Commandant is laughing hysterically and even Daddy is laughing at the numbskull! Eventually the Commandant got it all sorted out and we all relaxed in our proper beds. Hey nobody told me about this Meeting and Greeting business - it’s hard work - I am R-ETired, lady… retired. Can someone send the Commandant a copy of the adoption contract and make sure the RETIRED part is written in BIG for her old eyes. Love & Licks, Buffy

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Second Little Bear Grief Group a success Last month, Precious Pets held its second Little Bear Grief Group, organized with Pet Friends of Vaudreuil, for pet companions who have lost their beloved animals. As always, the modest group, small enough so that everyone can share their thoughts with other group members and with a professional grief facilitator, proved to be a success. The next group will meet at Cote Saint-Luc’s Aquatic and Community Centre (ACC) on June 26, 2014, after which there will be a short break in July before the group resumes again on August 28, 2014. Pictured are last month’s group members, along with (far left) Tina DiSalvia, Sales Manager, Precious Pets and Kit Racette, group facilitator and (far right) Bram D. Eisenthal, publisher and editor, Precious Pets.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Dogue

de Ville

Open House

Sunday, June 15, 2014 proved to be an auspicious day, as West End-based Dogue de Ville (6791 St. Jacques W., with parking at the rear) billed as “Montreal’s only cagefree boarding center” held its Open House. Precious Pets was on hand to meet with owners Elizabeth Abanis and partner David May and the 15-20 or so people who turned out by noon, many with their pets… in this instance mostly Greyhounds. That ensured the attendance of The League of Extraordinary Greyhounds, one of the more proactive organizations in the city. We learned a lot about this centre, which Albanis and May opened after they discovered the ideal location as they drove to nearby Dic Ann’s one day. They opened this past December and since then have offered boarding featuring 24/7 supervision with the inclusion of a sprinkler system on premises. “I was a home boarder for 21 years until I realized that we were too busy, that I needed to expand,” Abanis told us. Dogue de Ville features 7,000 square feet total, a doggy daycare offering a lot of physical and mental stimulation and natural grooming products. For more information, go to www.doguedeville.ca or call them at 514-481-3777.

Dogue de Ville owners Elizabeth Abanis and David May

A young Montrealer and his Demon crush by

Bram D. Eisenthal - Precious Pets Exclusive

So you want to buy a snake, huh? Or you are being victimized by people who think you are clearly nuts because of it? We managed to corner a young Montreal-based auto mechanic and grill him regarding his recent purchase of a baby Columbian Boa Constrictor. And we asked him some pointed questions… his responses were quite enlightening. Alessandro Biello is 24, but he has been hankering for a snake most of his life. “Yes, I always wanted one, but my mom wasn’t crazy about the idea… to say the least,” he said. “I had to use the cover-up story that my girlfriend Vanessa bought him for me, because I knew my mom would kill me,” he said with a laugh. “I bought a baby Columbian boa because they are considered much more docile than pythons, which would have been my first choice. Plus, once I saw the cool pattern he had, I knew he was going to be mine.” So, Alex bought his baby boa and then had to come up with a suitable moniker. “I chose Demon as his name, but it had everything to

do with the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the Bible, the Devil was supposed to have come to Adam and Eve as a snake in the Garden of Eden. So I thought it would be logical to give my snake a devilish name and I chose Demon.” Since getting Demon several months ago, Biello has learned a lot about them, which is sort of the point of acquiring an unusual pet. “A female can grow up to 10-12 feet, depending on available prey, while a male can grow up to 8-10 feet,” he stated. “They are very docile snakes: The more you handle the snake as a baby, the more friendly it gets around its owner and other people. Boas, Pythons and Anacondas are the non-poisonous breeds of snakes, but if they wrap themselves around you, I think you would rather be bitten by a poisonous snake at that point… it would crush your bones in seconds and swallow you in one piece (at a certain size… not a young ‘un like Demon). Biello’s perceptions of snakes have not, however, changed at all,

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though he is clearly open-minded. “If anything, I have a greater liking of snakes now. As for peoples’ perception of snakes... most people assume they’re super dangerous and poisonous, but it all depends on how you handle or treat the snake to cause it to attack someone. Obviously, we all have our bad days and so do snakes. “A dog is more likely to bite someone than a snake in some cases. ‘Use your head’ is the number one rule…. if the snake is shedding you shouldn’t feed it or pick it up, because it’s not in the mood to be handled. Snakes aren’t as bad as people make them out to be: It’s movies and media that put ideas into peoples heads about snakes, let alone everything else.” Alessandro Biello attended Laurier MacDonald Career Center for Automotive Mechanics and is currently working as a technician for Hyundai Prestige. He has a lovely girlfriend named Vanessa, who lives with two pets: A dog name Lily and a kitten named Penny Lane.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

The Pet World

Visiting Spring Farm CARES in New York state by

Chantal Gargano - Exclusive to Precious Pets

Even though my topic here is normally birds, I recently flew the coop long enough to tell you about my visit to a beautiful and very magical place called Spring Farm CARES located in Clinton, New York. The institution was founded in 1991 by Bonnie Jones Reynolds and Dawn Hayman. When asked about their goal and vision for the farm, Ms. Hayman provided this beautiful explanation: “While we started as a horse retirement/rescue/sanctuary, we soon expanded into many other animals. But the goal was never about rescuing all animals in need, for we knew that was a goal we could never achieve. Instead, we looked at how animals were being mistreated and misused in the world and asked ourselves, ‘what can we do to make a difference?’ We believed that if people could understand animals as having a soul, thoughts and emotions, just as we do, then people would not be able to continue to mistreat them. We realized

the world can indeed change one heart at a time. “So we set out to be a center where people could come and meet these animals who are actually master teachers and who share their hearts and messages with humans. We combined the sanctuary/rescue with animal communication and became a centre for people to join hearts. Our goal is to keep opening and expanding hearts and working with the animals to better help humans understand that we are all one and all in this together.’’ During my visit, I attended a twoday seminar given by Ms. Hayman entitled Embracing Life/Demystifying Death. Ms. Hayman explained her motivation in offering this seminar as follows: ‘’My motivation was actually the animals themselves. For years they were encouraging me to teach this workshop. Over my 26 years of doing animal communication and also the Sanctuary/Rescue work, I have repeat-

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edly experienced that animals are not afraid to die. They understand death in a very wonderful and accepting way. Humans on the other hand spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about death and fearing it. As humans, if we fear death, then we are not living our lives fully. This workshop is a joyful two days about how to be present, focused on the present moment. It is not a grief workshop. People spend more time laughing than crying in these two days.” I really had a wonderful experience at the farm and learned so much from everyone (animals as well as humans) that I met. Since the farm is the world’s first public centre for animal communication, I had to ask if one of the animals had a special message to share with Precious Pet readers. Here is what Ms. Hayman received from Luna a beautiful little goat exclusively for you dear readers: “I wanted to be the one to give the message to your readers because I’m not sure many of them have even thought about communicating with a goat. And I have a big message in life! I believe that if we focus on joy instead of sadness,

the world would be a much happier place. People sure seem to like to feel miserable. If they are not mad at one another for something, then they seem to make other kinds of trouble. I see many humans come to the farm with very heavy hearts. So I turn on my happy charm and run around in circles or do other things to make them laugh. You cannot spend time with a goat and remain grumpy. It’s physically impossible. I love changing someone’s day just by sharing joy and happiness. It is a very worthwhile cause that in turn brings me wonderful joy. Smiling makes others smile. It’s a simple thing to remember.” I truly want to thank Ms. Hayman and Luna for sharing their wisdom and their inspiring messages with us. To learn more about the farm, read other animal messages and obtain information about upcoming seminars please visit their website at: http://www.springfarmcares.org/ ED. NOTE: Thank you, Chantal, for this inspiring piece regarding a side of animals we often do not consider. We look forward to receiving similar articles from you in the future.

ANNOUNCEMENT

In honour of centenarian (almost) Hyman Fishman I reside in the City of Cote Saint-Luc, which is located in Montreal, I am pleased to count some very special neighbours in the apartment building where I live. One of them is Hyman Fishman, a retired businessman, a proud veteran of World War II, loyal husband to his late wife, a father, an uncle and a friend to many. This September, Mr. Fishman will turn 100 years of age and I wanted to note this for posterity. As part of the celebratory event, Precious Pets is collecting donations for the occasion, which it will pass on to select local pet organizations. Should you wish to be included in this very special tribute, kindly send us a cheque or money order (made out to Precious Pets Media Group Inc.) and it shall be forwarded to one or more worthy organizations, to benefit our precious pets. Our address is: Bram Eisenthal c/o Precious Pets P. O. Box 66521 5800 Cavendish Boulevard Cote Saint-Luc, Quebec H4W 3J6 and

Happy Birthday, Mr. Fishman!

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca