Precious Pets Vol 1 Issue 2 by PreciousPets

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

In this issue...

4 Couple celebrates virtual parenthood

Your senior pet

Cookie Time COVER PHOTO BY JANET BOIANGIU

WESTMOUNT • HAMPSTEAD • CÔTE ST-LUC

God bless our animals one and all!

ublishing the first issue of Precious Pets last month proved to be much more of everything: Change, challenge and revelation… then I ever thought possible. First off, I never anticipated the HUGE positive response from you, our readers and advertisers, that we received. And I thank you for that confidence booster. It has solidified my belief that I did the right thing, when I decided to publish this paper. And I give you my solemn pledge that we will not only grow from issue-to-issue, but that we will assume a leadership role of sorts in the pet field. Want us at your meeting or event? Just ask and, if we have the available time, we will be there. I have already met with and spoken to many of the movers-and-shakers in related businesses and organizations and I want to assure you that my ears and heart are always open to anyone wishing to discuss animals in a positive light. You know, when looking for a woman to enter into a relationship with over the years, I always had a list in my head with qualities I admired most in a partner. A love of animals was always a key trait, as far as I was concerned. That has not changed. If you have NO interest whatsoever in the welfare of animals, I have no interest in knowing you. I mean that most succinctly. I do not care how much money you can bring to this paper… if you are

not animal crazed, please do not contact me for any reason. I’m better off without your negativity in my life… but then again, if you are anti-animal, you likely aren’t reading this, so that’s one reason for me to be thankful. I have been most fortunate in a very short period of time to have partnered with an individual who will play a key role the success of this paper: My sales manager Tina DiSalvia has been a revelation, surpassing even her own expectations, I think. Tina has a blind 10-year old dog named Rocco who is also diabetic, poor thing. So, she checks his blood sugar and administers his insulin. If that isn’t total love and commitment, I don’t know what is. Tina has done a bang-up job selling for Precious Pets, in addition to running her Thin Evolution weight loss business. It was through TE that we met, her incredible consulting work helping me lose a stunning 30 pounds in just eight weeks. If you need to shed any weight, I suggest you look for Thin Evolution on line and give her a shout. She is THAT good at any task she undertakes. I am very fortunate to have her on my side, because I would challenge any media sales rep anywhere to do a job as excellent as the one she has done for Precious Pets. Conversely, I am sorry to say that my business partner of over three years, Julia Martin Lucio, had to

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners

Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Group Inc. Volume 1, Issue 2, September 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.

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

Barking Bram with Bram D. Eisenthal leave the partnership we leapt into with much joy and commitment when we started Precious Pets together. For very personal reasons, Julia has moved on, devoting herself to both her large family and her Cornwall weekly The Seeker, which is also a huge success story there. We wish Julia and her partner Mai-Liis Renault much luck and success as they continue winning supporters and, indeed, fame, in their fourth year. I also wish to draw your attention to some breaking news: I have decided to shutter my other paper, The Local Herald, just past its third anniversary, in order to focus all my at-

tention on Precious Pets. As a result, I have added a section here that will maintain some of the more popular columns and features from a paper I truly loved publishing. Only Humanz (because people are precious, too) will bring you news from the world both people and their pets inhabit. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone, and I hope you continue to read, to have fun and to celebrate with us the pets we are fortunate to love and to admire. It would be a fairly boring world without them, wouldn’t it?

OUR CONTACT INFORMATION: ADVERTISING AND CLASSIFIEDS: ............................................... 438 E-MAIL: ...........info@preciouspets.ca

EDITORIAL: .............. 514

www.preciouspets.ca

821-6769 975-7745

MAILING ADDRESS: ... P.O. Box 66521, Cavendish Mall, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 3J6 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR: ................................................... Bram

D. Eisenthal Di Salvia CREATIVE DESIGN: ................................................................. Mark Lehberg

SALES MANAGER: .................................................................. Tina

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

My fourth child has a tail! T

Pet Facts •

The smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua and the largest breed is the Irish Wolfhound.

•

Any marking on your horse’s forehead is referred to as a star, even if the shape looks nothing like a star.

•

Cats are able to hear ultrasonic sounds that humans cannot hear. This means they can hear rodents communicating with each other.

here is a quote from the Mel Brooks movie Space Balls, where John Candy’s character, (Barf), goes on to say”I’m a Mog, half man, half dog. I’m my own best friend.“ This quote has stuck with me for many years: In fact I often use it to describe myself! My days as a dog lover began as far back as I can remember but my life as a dog owner only started after years of Jewish guilt and persistence finally paid off. I say this with hesitation as my first dog was not really what I would refer to as a tremendous success. The Simpsons were yet to air but I would have made Bart proud with my persistence and it seemed to have paid off when my mother finally agreed. We were given a little mutt whose owner claimed was harmless but unfortunately she could no longer care for the pooch. Looking back I suppose we should have been a little more diligent. By day two, reality would set in as the apparently normal dog would turn into little Cujo when the doorbell or phone would ring. You would be petting the pooch

Dog Deliberations with Mel Rappaport and if either of these devices would ring he would bite you and gnaw at your fingers! As long as you were fast enough you could escape relatively unharmed. For some reason we kept Bobby the psycho mutt for years and made the best of it. I even had to go to court and defend him once as he ran around the neighbourhood and wreaked havoc on many innocent women and children, never harming anyone but certainly annoying them with his bark and retreat tactics. In the last 25 years, I have put my experience to good use and have

been very careful in choosing my subsequent dogs, having been fortunate to have had an Irish wolfhound mix for half that time and my present Lab mix for 11 years and counting. My dogs have enriched me and helped me keep perspective on the important things in life. Much like my dog, I need a good cuddle, food, exercise and unconditional love. At the age of 50, I have no blood pressure issues or any other health concerns and probably can thank my dog for some of that good fortune, as well as my loving wife and kids, of course.

•

Controlling the temperature in your dwarf hamster’s room can ensure she has more male or female babies. Warmer temps lead to more boys, while cooler temps will result in more girls.

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Dogs are direct descendants of wolves, and dogs and wolves can mate to produce offspring.

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Timing is everything! Female dogs are only in heat (ready to mate) twice each year, for a total of about 20 days.

• The Newfoundland dog breed

have webbed feet. It is this interesting fact that makes them such great swimmers.

•

Like some other animals, guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C. Therefore, this essential vitamin must be given through dietary supplementation to ensure continued health.

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Because a guinea pig’s teeth grow constantly throughout life, you must provide a supply of chew toys to keep the teeth worn down to a proper size. If the teeth are left to grow unchecked, they will become so long that they interfere with drinking and eating, which can ultimately result in death.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

Young couple celebrates virtual parenthood with precious Samoyed by Bram D. Eisenthal

he was just 11 when I befriended her parents, Esther and Zigu, and her older sister, Sima. But I was enthralled with then-Montrealer Janet Boiangiu since Day One. A great kid, I lost touch with her for a long time, but you can imagine my delight when I learned she has become a beautiful, successful young woman, married, no less, to a handsome and apparently wonderful young man. They do not have children yet, these young marrieds, but one look at their dog, Kaylee, and I knew I had found my second cover story. So, I asked Janet – now an Ontario resident who works in Ottawa - to elaborate. “Nathanael and I have been together for 6 ½ years and will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary next month,” Janet told me. “Nathanael works in foundation repair and I work as a business manager for Canada’s largest distribution company of safety, industrial, and fasteners. I have always had cats growing up but have forever been an animal lover period (well most of them: Maybe not the creepy crawly kinds). Nathanael has had cats and dogs his whole life and is also an animal lover. “I honestly can’t remember how or why I developed a love of dogs because as long as I can remember I have adored animals, too. Dogs are especially amazing and the list is way too long for me to name why but here are a few: Dogs are loyal, they are trainable, they love you unconditionally, they protect you, they are playful, affectionate, they are good foot warmers and, let’s not forget that they are adorable! Every dog has its own personality and it’s fascinating to watch them grow and develop their character traits. “I swear my Kaylee is almost human!” Janet and Nathanael decided they wanted a dog, but they started with a cat. “We always talked about animals and different breeds and then once Nathanael introduced me to the Samoyed, I was in love and simply had to have one! Nathanael had Samoyeds growing up and swore it would be the best dog breed we ever had! So far, he is right (is that on record now?)!” Kaylee was not quite meant to stand in for a future baby, but “we agreed that we wanted to be on the path of cohabitating before we decided to take on that responsibility. Having a dog really is like caring for a child! We definitely treat Kaylee like she is our “first-born’… she is our fur baby and little princess.”

So I wanted to know more about this special breed, the Samoyed, and Janet was also happy to enlighten me. “They call them the ‘Smiling Sammy,’ because they have a beautiful smile and truly do present a smile when they are happy,” she said. “Samoyeds are very gentle dogs, very devoted, easygoing, friendly and quite playful. Samoyeds love everyone and this is so true… Kaylee is extremely sociable and she is happy as long as someone is paying attention to her. Kaylee is so friendly she would likely wag her tail and be friendly with intruders (not a great watchdog). Samoyeds are wonderful with children. Such an intelligent animal, I can’t even begin to describe how smart she is! Although very stubborn, they will respond to firm, patient training (with lots of treats!). Samoyeds have a reputation for being chewers but we never really had that issue with Kaylee and she is truly an amazing dog. Its heavy coat makes this dog unsuited to life in very hot climates. If Kaylee had the option she would sleep in the snow and play in the snow ALL day and night!” Janet and Nathanael adopted Kaylee from Roughdiamond Samoyeds (http://www.roughdiamond-samoyeds.com). “They were absolutely wonderful and they make amazing puppies! Sabine (owner) and her family have a wonderful pack of their own. Kaylee’s mom and

dad are Magnum and Ayla and she is the spitting image of her daddy! Kaylee was a part of a litter of seven, the firstborn, and identified as ‘yellow girl’ with a string of yellow on her neck. She was born on December 11, 2009. I knew she was mine the minute I laid eyes on her. We were actually in touch with Roughdiamond-Samoyeds before Kaylee was conceived so we were able to be a part of the pregnancy, birth and the eight weeks until she was ready to come to us. Quite like having a surrogate except in the furry four-legged kind. The best part is that until they get a bit older they look like little polar bears! It’s the cutest thing you will ever see…” The dog, whom I am dying to meet, apparently has a loving personality and stops people in their tracks with her graceful beauty. The centre of attention, she loves everyone in turn. “Kaylee especially loves to ‘speak’ to us,” Janet claims. “And I don’t mean to bark…. She sings and tells us stories.” Now that I’ve got to hear! The tales of endearment regarding this dog are also quite fetching and Janet told me a couple for posterity. First, we were crate training her and we decided to put a pillow in her crate with her to give her something comfy to lie down on. When we got home after grocery shopping, we walked through the front door and there were feathers everywhere!!! We followed the trail all the way up

the stairs. You could barely see the big ball of white fur that was Kaylee sitting in the mountain of feathers. It took us hours to clean up all the feathers, so maybe it wasn’t so funny at the time, but it is hilarious to remember now and is really was so funny to see her sitting in all the feather. Thankfully we broke her of those habits and made wiser bedding choices moving forward. “It’s also extremely adorable to watch Kaylee watch TV. She likes to sit and watch with us, especially when other animals are on the TV set. They don’t even need to bark or make noise to get her attention. Her head tilts as they move on the screen or she will make little noises. A couple of times there were little critters running across the screen and she would get really excited and run back and forth in front of the TV trying to catch them.” Despite their joyous times with Kaylee, Janet and Nathanael have a message for anyone considering acquiring an animal. “People can’t forget that having a pet, be it a dog, cat, rabbit or whatever your pet choice… that these animals are not just ‘pets.’ There is massive responsibility when it comes to ownership of an animal,” Janet stated. How true, Janet. You have become a beautiful, bright young woman who is on the track toward wise choices yourself. Thank you for sharing, Janet and Nathanael. And Kaylee, of course.

Kaylee (pictured with Janet) is so adorable that she stops peoiple in their tracks.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

Going grain-free (poop-friendly version) A Dogged rtie -- that’s my dog -- was always a finicky eater and had soft stools. I adopted him from a woman in Connecticut when I lived there, too, and he came to me eating Science Diet. I often wondered why he didn’t wolf down his food like a “normal” dog. In fact, he often sniffed at it and walked away. He’d eat it later. Maybe. And then only some of it. Figuring that he didn’t like Science Diet, I “upgraded” to IAMS. Same pickiness. Same soft stools. His poop was difficult to pick up and, worse than that, Artie didn’t seem happy. I went to a few vets. The first vet shrugged and said, “Some dogs are just like that.” She didn’t seem bothered by this. I went to two other vets, neither of whom had an answer or gave me any advice. When I joined a dog forum and posed the question to the masses, the re-

sounding response was that Artie might be grain-intolerant and, even if that wasn’t the case, grain-free food would help the situation. So I switched his food to Taste of the Wild, venison flavour. Fancy! Artie ate. With gusto! Artie had firm poops. And less of them! Artie was happy. What more could I ask for? There are a number of benefits of grain-free food: 1. You feed less because there are no fillers. 2. Your dog will poop less frequently because there are no fillers. 3. Your dog’s poop will even be less smelly. Probably. It depends how sensitive your nose is, I suppose. The poops will likely be smaller, too. 4. You may pay more for the food itself, but you’ll save more money than your outlay by not having to go to the vet for digestive problems. And don’t forget -- you’ll be feeding less, too, so the bag will last longer. It will also likely mean fewer vet visits to have your dog’s anal glands expressed, because grain-free food causes firmer stools so that the glands are naturally expressed. If your dog has any of Artie’s past problems of being finicky and having soft stools, you might want to consider grain-free food. Artie says “All the cool kids are going grainless.” Smart dude, that Artie. He also wants to remind you to always transition to new food slowly, over the course of a week or so. He’s really quite brilliant.

Pursuits with Dawn Mirsky

OUR SPECIAL HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Pernicious Pests FRIDAY. OCTOBER 18 DEADLINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 Send us pictures of your pet in Halloween attire, and the best and most original, will receive a prize!

info@preciouspets.ca PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

Good grooming makes a dog happy and healthy

ill. On top off this, your dog will not be warmer in the winter if you don’t have him groomed. In fact, he will be colder. Why, you might ask ? Your dog’s fur has two layers: The top coat and the under coat. When your dog get damp the humidity gets trapped in the under coat and if your dog is not groomed on a regulars basis, that humidity will cause the under coat to tighten and matte – if your machine is not well maintained, it will not work properly because your dog is cold. Why does that play a role in a dog’s temperament? You try going three – four months with a hat on your head, without ever brushing or washing your hair. You would be in a grumpy mood, too, your scalp would itch, you would smell, the knot in your head would attract parasites… tell me that would not drive you crazy. On top of that, you would most likely stay indoors because IT’S TOO COLD OUTSIDE!” It is also the perfect combination for winter madness and depression. So, please for the physical and mental health of your dog, please groom him all year long! Your dog will thank you for it (probably with a few sincere barks or a friendly paw).

ello To all of you, my dog loving friends. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the owner of Urban Pet Montreal grooming salon and pet supplies in Montreal West. I am a dog behaviourist. “I’ve been referred to as the Cesar Millan of Canada.” We have no affiliations to Cesar but we do often work in the same manner and I feel comfortable saying I am one of the best groomers in Quebec. I have been asked to write a column about dog behaviour and I would like my column to be in a Q&A format: Therefore, please send along any questions you may have about issues with your furry little friends. This month, we will talk about dog grooming and bad behaviour. Since winter is knocking at our door, I will explain to you why it is so important to groom your dog during the winter months. First of all, as a way to better understanding the dog coat and its function: In simple terms, a dog’s fur is a temperature-regulating system and, depending on the time of year, it will cool or warm up your dog. Like any system, it has to be well maintained or else it will not function properly and your dog might then become

Pet Behaviourist with François Gauthier

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

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Caring for your aging pet By Dr. Wybranowski, B.Sc DVM CCRT …just call me Dr.W.

f your pet is slowing down, it is not just the aging process - it is because something is bothering him. There are two reasons why this can happen, almost, unnoticeably: 1. Pets age very quickly as their bodies are built to last only about 12 – 16 years - depending on the species and breed. 2. Pets, instinctively, hide signs of weakness and/or disease. Through evolution, animals have learned that weakness makes them vulnerable to predators, and even their own pack members. So if your pet is lying around more and sleeping more, he could be masking a problem or discomfort. You should look for other signs that something may not be right. Question to ask Arthritis Signs: is your pet having more difficulty getting up, is he stiffer in the morning, does he turn in circles before lying down, or does he just flop down suddenly instead of lying down? Did your cat stop jumping onto the countertops like he used to? All these could be signs of discomfort possibly caused by arthritis. Kidney, Adrenal or Thyroid Problems: Is he drinking more than before? Is he panting even without exercise? Has he gained or lost weight lately? Any of these could be a manifestation of an underlying disease. Chronic Organ Problem: Is your pet shedding more than usual, does his coat look less shiny? Did your cat stop grooming as much? Any chronic organ problem will eventually cause changes to appear on the coat. Is he as hungry as always? Even a small decrease in appetite is a big indicator of a problem in a normally very hungry pet. Every 6 months, have your senior pet examined - just to be sure A blood and urine test will go a very long way into letting your veterinarian get a glimpse into the inside of your furry friend. Early detection of problems allows us to treat your pet before he becomes very sick. At Animal 911 Veterinary Hospital, we understand how important your pet is to you and your family. And taking care of an aging pet, with care and compassion, is an important part of our mission.

Dr. Wybranowski and Willow

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

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

Precious Pets

Rocco

Maxwell and Koby

The Palermo family has been blessed to have been the chosen caretakers of Rocco, a smart, affectionate Shih Tzu / Lhasa Apso who will be 11 on October 30 and will be happy to be fed cake and serenaded by adopted mom Tina. Rocco’s loves are taking a dip in the family pool by himself, playing with his fluffy toys and ball and cuddling. He is very unique, a diabetic dog whose eyesight was taken by the disease. But he still greets Tina at the door with happy barks and she nurses him by checking his blood sugar and administering his insulin. Both human and dog are fortunate to have found one another.

Susan and Harvey Schwartz wanted to share material on two special dogs, the late Maxwell, a Lhasa Apso /Terrier who passed away last February at age 16 following a short illness and their latest addition, Koby, a Lhasa Apso / Bishon born January 26, 2013. “Both of us had a very hard time losing Max, our little boy,” Suzie admits. “But seven month old Koby (bought at Laval-based breeder Anipuce at nine weeks of age) makes us so happy, despite all the extra work raising a puppy involves.” The Schwartz’s bought Max from a pet store in Galeries D’Anjou in 1997, when he was 10 weeks old, after Harvey saw him there while having lunch.

Ketsey

Tisha Ilana is so happy with Tisha, a 1.5-year old male cat who adores the balcony and the great outdoors. Tisha can’t leave her alone for a second, however, shadowing her wherever she goes.

Marla Grodinsky has been loving “regular cat” Ketsey for almost 19 years now (her birthday is March 17… St. Patrick’s Day) and thinks her precious feline is “absolutely beautiful.” She is an indoor cat whose life – or one of her nine lives, at least – was saved by Marla, rescued from a woman who threatened to flush her down a toilet. Yay, Marla. Boo, Toilet Woman! Ketsey has “never been sick a day in her life,” which Marla attributes to her staying inside. So, that’s what we are all doing wrong!

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

Savita Our roving reporter Savita was in Ottawa when she came across this huge and lovable Saint-Bernard named Cosmo. She reported he was three years old and weighed 200 pounds. Yikes, that’s about what our editor weighs… That’s one hefty pup!

My adventure with Swirly the Snail So this is my story. I decided to do the school Science Fair with my friend Brianna. My friend Brianna and I love animals, but we didn’t know what to do it on. Last summer I collected snails and placed them in a glass box. Brianna said, “Giannalisa, lets do it on snails!” I agreed. My friend and I went to lots of fish stores: I lost count of how many we went to. At the last pet store we visited, we got lucky and found four snails. We then collected lots of information on snails. It was the day of the Science Fair and we had a wonderful time. We won second place and went to the regionals, where we won some prizes there, too. I decided to keep the snails. Three out of four snails died. The lone survivor we named Swirly. We feed him food like salad and carrots. Swirly got pretty big and fat. I think he is the biggest snail in the whole world. Giannalisa St. Leonard (9 years old) ED. NOTE: We are proud of Giannalisa and Brianna for realizing that we are surrounded by wildlife in this whole wide world and that learning about life of any kind brings us closer to them, as well as to one another. Congrats, girls!

REMEMBERING JOE T.

Know when it’s time to say goodbye by George of New England

Today, won of ma bestest pals evah, Joe T. Reporter, is makin’ his way on to whatever comes negst. His body is old and tired, and his hoomans love him enuff to let him go in peace. Joey is 13. Dis is a gut punch for those who lubs him, butt KNOT a shock. KNOT really. Dis is a hard part of lubbing us houndies and other dogs. We juss don’t libs dat long. We will break yur heart won day. Yu habs to be strong. I read once, about a houndie who was 14 years old. Dat is VERY old for a beeg dog. Dis dog was so feeble, it was carried outside. Held up to go tinkle and poo, and den gently laid down in a sunny spot. When it had been outside for a while, it was carried inside. It was being force fed. And the hooman caretaker called the dog “a fighter.” Dis dog was not a fighter! Dis was a hooman in serious denial. A hooman putting her own desire to keep her dog on dis earthly plain before the dog’s right to go beyond the weakness. Beyond the pain. It made me feel sick in ma stummik. Dis is KNOT lubs. Dis is selfish. If we cud choose, we wood say goodbye to yu when we felt like da tiredness of age, the aches and pains, were more than we cud bear. If yu look into owr eyes, really LOOK, you will see what yu need to see. If all yu see is yur own reflection, yu are thinking of yurownself. See our pain. See our willingness to let go. We will miss yu, we will. Butt we would not choose to fight to stay for “a little longer” when my life is no longer one of value TO us. The end should KNOT be about yu. Love us enough to make it about us. Do not profess yur lubs and torchur us in the end. My Momma, ma Chikken Arms, had to see her own belubbed fadder a feeble shadow of hisownself. Unable to walk, talk, feed himself, or use the baffroom. He lay there, in a bed, with pillows holding him up. Twisted into a horrible S shape. An air mask on, and rattles coming out of his chest. It was the worst thing she’s ever seen. And the hooman laws said there was NOTHING she cud do to make it stop. Nothing. That does not have to be my end. And she has promised me it won’t be. When her dog Kramer was diagnosed wiff a malignant toomer, he was already 12. She elected not to have him chopped up and irradiated. She juss let him enjoy himself. And won day, he looked her in the eye, and he laid down in the kitchen and wood KNOT eat. It was as cleer a message

as any dog cud ever send. She called his vetimarian, and they said she cud bring him rite down. As she sat in the clinic room wiff him, he perked up. He started to prance even, and her heart broke. She wondered why she was even there. And da vetimarian said, “This happens all the time. Yu know in yur heart yu came here for a reason.” Kramer went in peace, and Chikken Arms and da vet boff sat on da floor wiff him and cried. And de vet said, “I’ve never had a client call me the day after they let their dog go and say, ‘Why did I do it?’ but I have had many call me and ask, ‘Why did I wait so long’.” Trust me hoomans, if yur dog cud tawk, he wood agree. Better won day too early den a day too late. Love me. Cherish me. Remember me. Let me go when it’s time.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

COMMUNITY EVENT

Are you thinking about adopting a dog?

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

A KATZ / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

nimal 911 Veterinary Hospital is very proud to host the Pick Me! Adoption Day in partnership with Compassionate Animal Adoption Rescue on Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please come and meet wonderful rescued dogs that are looking for their new forever families. It will be a fun day, filled with fundraising activities to benefit a good cause. The foster families of Lily, Milo, Sallie, Saké, Hailey and Lucky will be very happy to meet you and introduce you to the darling dogs they are caring for with so much love. Animal 911 will have a few members of its medical team present to answer questions prospective adoptive families might have about pet health and the care dogs require. Compassionate Adoption Animal Rescue is an organization dedicated to helping every dog, no matter what age, sex, breed, size or background, as they believe no dog should be left behind to die. Animal 911 Veterinary Hospital is proud to provide the medical care for all the rescued dogs of this local dog rescue organization. We hope to see you in great numbers at this important event! Animal 911 Veterinary Hospital is located at 11400 boul. Gouin O. in Roxboro. The telephone number is 514-685-8387. To reach Compassionate Animal Adoption Rescue, please email them at caarescue@gmail. com Please see advertisement for this special event on the following page.

CAA Rescue Adoption Day September 29th, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Animal 911 Veterinary Hospital 11400 Gouin West Roxboro, Quebec

COME JOIN US TO • Meet our sweet foster dogs available for adoption • Meet the CAA Rescue Volunteers • See our car and window decals for sale • Buy some homemade puppy treats (donations go towards rescue) • Sign the Petition: Put an Animal Abuse Registry in place for Canada • Sign thePetition: BAN THE RETAIL SALE OF ANIMALS IN MONTREAL • Learn about adoption through resue • Learn about our foster program & more!

caarescue@gmail.com www.caarescue.com Twitter CAARescue

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

BUSINESS PROFILE

My Pet’s Best Friend - full service and full of fun

n November 2004, out of love and care, a new company was born: My Pet’s Best Friend, a.k.a. MPBF. Serving the Montreal and Monteregie area, President Vanessa Rose – Veterinary Technician - has thought of every possible creative way to keep pets and pet-parents happy. MPBF consists of a committed team of extensively-trained professionals, who sincerely prioritize the health and safety of all animals. Whether you have a doggy, kitty, birdie or bunny, this dedicated bunch have the pets’ best interest in mind as well as irresistible affection! Their services include walking, sitting, short-term visits, long-term care, in-home grooming, and overnight stays in the comfort of pets’ homes. They always make sure to leave a little note, with any information or anecdote that may interest the parents. The notes update the parents and

remind them that their fur babies are in good hands. For extra-fun, MPBF also offers pet-products in an online boutique. The cherry on top is that our observant pet-care professionals remember to deliver litter or food to your door-step, if they see that you are running out. This way, pets always have everything they need, on time. The MPBF pet resort is located 20 minutes southeast of Montreal, in a peaceful countryside with a view of the horizon and miles of fresh air. Since travel preparations can make it a chore to drive there, pet-parents can take advantage of the pet-taxi: The loving pet-chauffeur will pick them right from home and deliver them back upon your return! All you have to do is say “Good-bye” and “Hello.” In addition to the vast fields to run around in, pets get to socialize and

play with other dogs and humans. In the evenings, a fireplace provides ambiance for a “movie night.” Pet-parents can be assured that MPBF is fulfilling the pets’ physical as well as emotional needs: Healthy meals, great work-outs, hugs, attention and compliments! Security cameras ensure their safety and happiness during all hours of their stay. Not only do they return home wellfed and well played, but are eager to go back to their “best friend” on your next holiday! As an extra security measure, all furry hotel-guests and long-term pets get a complimentary ID tag engraved with their number. On the off-chance that they get distracted by an adventure, any human-friend they make will know exactly where to return them. MPBF goes beyond the realm of pet-care and reaches out to the community as well. They make monetary

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

and food donations to the no-kill shelter SPCA Monteregie. Participating in their annual dog-walk helps them to raise funds for the shelter and to network with humans and dogs in the community. They are always on the look-out for other forms of contribution and volunteer work. As portrayed by an ideal care-giver in the movie Gosford Park, who said “I know their [need] before they know it themselves,” MPBF aims to give quality service so pets and pet-parents are 100% satisfied in every aspect. When you are in the mood for infinite cuteness, just go to their Facebook page, where there are many pictures and videos to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. Their promise is to love and care for your pets as part of their own family. Pet-parents can be assured that their darlings will be delighted in the care of their “guardian angels.”

Puzzles ACROSS 1 Rush around in old car, to find escaped criminal in Oz (10) 7 A disease singular to sponge (4) 9 English is almost never spoken poetically in Telford, for example (8) 10 Rotter is in modern art emporium (6) 11 Copper into Turner gets depression (6) 12 I am unpretentious? No (8) 13 Clothe with part of a corset (4) 15 Get mean about bird call (10) 18 Monster horribly present on the waves (3,7) 20 Who should really have written Diary of a Nobody? (4) 21 See 4 24 Enjoy the flavour (6) 26 Composer of Semiramide and La Mer? No (6) 27 As were the leftovers a man ate, being overdrawn? (8) 28 Scolded infant without a trace of leniency (4) 29 4,21’s Mount is irregular cube next to a generation symbol (missing centrepiece) (10)

BarketPlace

DOWN 2 Auntie hit boiling asphalt (9) 3 Told of journey to university to find poem (5) 4,21 The king of 7, this general axed threat strategically (9,3,5) 5 Not,we hear, a problem for 4,21 (7) Province is to take up weapons again, changing sides (5) 7 4,21’s country; a wine capital erected around the last stages of 300 (as it’s written) (9) 8 Aeolian and Doric, say, in 12 (5)

14 Quarrelled in Hell over a sin (9) 16 Outside port finally, make fast a vessel - one that’s engine driven (5,4) 17 Some garment to stitch, it’s said - or more than one (9) 19 One goes into troubled centre, having some guts (7) 22 Man ‘as old Erica (5) 23 Residential area in upwardly mobile part of Bruxelles (5) 25 Student priest in Guanaco (5)

SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH’S PUZZLE

TO PLACE YOUR AD, CALL TINA AT 514 975-7745

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

We should give back what we receive from our wondrous pets

nyone who has the good fortune to have a member of the animal kingdom in his or her life knows that the bond between humans and animals is unlike any other. The unconditional love and devotion flowing from our pets is unique. Their affection and loyalty is priceless. And the dedication and commitment of humans as guardians is distinctive. Like humans, animals have clear feelings and defined personalities. They are curious, spontaneous and humorous and exhibit an amazing amount of innate wisdom. As our confidents and friends, they share our passions and disappointments. It is the ability of an animal to share our emotions, thoughts and feelings that show us they are sentient, awake to the wonders of the universe, and without a doubt, pos-

sess a spirit that is part of the great interconnected and infinite universal consciousness. Animals often come into our lives to heal, comfort and protect us. Many are sent by loved ones who have passed, suddenly appearing on our doorstep a few months after the funeral. They help us heal with medicine that comes in the form of devotion, understanding and patience. Animals have a soothing effect on the elderly, the lonely, the estranged, and the stressed… and have shown a great capacity to connect with children trapped in their autistic world. We must always remember how priceless the gift of animal friendship is and how nurturing they are to our spirit. - For life would be unbearably lonely without the four-legged and winged friends who have consented

Pet Healer with Barbara Etcovitch

to walk the path with us. 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, En-

gland. She was ordained by the All Faiths Seminary International in New York City in 2004. She offers naming and funeral services for animals, grief counselling for guardians, and includes the treatment of animals in her homeopathic practices in Quebec and Ontario.

Our Humanz

...because people are precious too

Tribute to pets: Saint Francis of Assisi

orge Bergoglio chose the name Francis to model his life as Pope on the life of Francis of Assisi, the man known as the “poor man of Assisi.” It is where he was born in 1182. His father was a wealthy merchant and Francis was brought up in great wealth and luxury. He spent his money in extravagant pleasures drinking and partying with the young princes of the land. One day Francis was approached by a beggar who came to him crying for alms. Francis, being compassionate, gave everything he had to the beggar. He then asked him for his garment and on the spot exchanged his beautiful clothes for the garment which he wore from that day forward. Having given up his old ways, Francis then lived with great humility, expressing his love for all creatures, including birds, four-legged animals, plants, trees and nature itself. He also loved the depressed and the outcasts. He treated all as brothers and sisters. There are many legends about Francis preaching to the animals. Francis invited men to join him and thus began the Franciscan Order. St.

Clair became a companion of Francis, leaving a wealthy life of luxury to care for the sick and underprivileged. They became known as Brother Sun -- Sister Moon. The life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi have great relevance as a means of addressing the many problems we face today, especially our perception and treatment of our fellow creatures and the natural world. Saint Francis is an inspiration and guide to human understanding and our communal responsibility for the life and beauty of the planet and all its creatures. We can all be inspired by the life of Francis, helping to awaken the world to the beauty of all of God’s creatures and how we must respect creation in all of its incredible beauty. Father John Walsh was a contributor to our now-defunct sister publication, The Local Herald, from its first issue to its last three years later. A retired, greatly respected and admired Catholic priest, he resides in Montreal.

Spiritual Seedlings with Father John Walsh

IMPORTANT NOTICE IF VISITING THE OTTAWA VALLEY DOG SNATCHER IN THE OTTAWA VALLEY! DOGS ARE BEING STOLEN AND USED AS BAIT FOR DOG FIGHT TRAINING. DESCRIPTION: RED PASSENGER VAN WITH TINTED WINDOWS. DRIVER: 60 YRS OLD, 6’2”. GREY HAIR. EQIPPPED WITH ROPE, GLOVES AND RUBBER BOOTS. LAST ATTEMPT WE ARE AWARE OF IS BY THE ALMONTE MAC’S MILK ON AUGUST 22 TO 25. PLEASE WATCH FOR ANY ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR. VEHICLE MAY HAVE CHANGED. MAY HAVE PARTNER. CONTACT POLICE IMMEDIATELY. DOG NAPPING RING OPERATING IN ALMONTE, CARELTON PLACE, GALETTA & OTTAWA.

9-1-1

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca

Our Humanz

...because people are precious too

Cookie Lazarus: Using his skills, smarts and connections against breast cancer By Bram D. Eisenthal

his first profile in the Our Humanz section of Precious Pets had to be gripping and dramatic in my mind and I stumbled upon the perfect feature when speaking with well-known Montreal sports lawyer and agent Morden “Cookie” Lazarus recently. Cookie (we will refer to him this way with utmost respect, but he is known this way far –and-wide thanks to his grandfather, who bestowed the name upon him at age 3) has a back story that can be considered tragic, yet is about the triumph of the human spirit as much as much as an intimate portrayal of one man’s battle against the scourge of a terrible disease that has been ravaging his family. Morden “Cookie” Lazarus was born in Montreal August 10, 1941. He graduated from high school in 1958 and was then accepted at McGill’s Faculty of Arts, from there he graduated in 1962. He immediately entered the McGill Faculty of Law, graduating in 1965. “That was 48 years ago,” he stated proudly. “Every day, I still feel as if I am just starting out in my professional life, since hanging my sign on my law firm’s door. I entered my chosen field because I had an undergraduate degree by 20, looking like I was still 12-years old, and I didn’t have any job options at that time. I thought that going into law would at least provide me with a backup option in case there was something else out there for me and at least I would start to look a little older. ”There was no one who actually interested me in my chosen field before entering the field of law and I did not have any mentor in my family or out of it at the time. I had, however, the most supporting and loving mother on the planet. Any marquee value I may have as a brand name in the profession of law was achieved somewhat by chance in the field of representing sports, media and entertainment personalities, which created a lot of public exposure for myself in the media when I was in my late 20’s.” Amongst other things, Cookie has made a big name for himself in the field of sports representation. It all started in 1969, when a tall, gangly

Cookie with wife Jodi. bull of a hockey player named Peter Mahovlich joined Les Canadiens de Montreal. This led to other players seeking out his sage advice and contractual savvy, including baseball players Ken Singleton, Mike Jorgenson and Tim Foli, an immensely talented trio who were traded to the Montreal Expos on April 6, 1972. “They were a great trio to be around then and my friendship with them continues to this day,” Cookie told me. Not long after that, on April 18, 1972, Cookie had the distinction of negotiating the first contract for a player jumping to the fledgling WHA (World Hockey Association). The player was Wayne Connelly and he was then with the first-year Vancouver Canucks. “Wayne had heard that I was Peter’s agent and was interested in talking to me regarding discussions with a team in St. Paul, Minnesota. Under the guidance of Cookie, Connelly signed with St. Paul. But Cookie’s subsequent work remained constant with Major League Baseball and players like Stan Bahnsen, Bob Bailey, Warren Cromartie (all Expos at one time, Cromartie, of course, behind the current efforts to bring pro ball back to our city), Gene Garber, Don Stanhouse and Buck Martinez. “I would probably say, however, that

the most public exposure I have ever received did not arise from sports representation, but from having represented Margaret Trudeau during the period shortly after she left Pierre Elliott Trudeau, our then sitting Prime Minister, with regard to her books and her film involvements in the late 1970s.” And as a fundraiser, though, Cookie has really left his mark, involved in charities ever since he can remember. In 1984, Cookie was named Man of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF), an involvement which arose in the middle of the 1970’s because his father, who had passed away on May 25, 1973, had been a diabetic most of his life. He was on the Board of ALS for a number of years, as well as the Fondation de l’Hôpital Sacré Coeur and with the Quebec Easter Seal Society and the Quebec Society for Handicapped Children. In the early 90’s, following the death of his first wife, Maxine, Cookie established the Maxine Lazarus Endowment Fund at Hope & Cope (at the Jewish General Hospital) and, in 2009, the Jodi Taiger Lazarus Fund, after his second wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Jodi was found to be carrying the BRCA gene - charities have already been estab-

lished at the JGH Foundation and at McGill University to support research into genetic breast cancers, which are believed to be caused by these insidious genetic anomalies. “The charities at the JGH and McGill have been established to support the work of Dr. William Foulkes, who is a leading geneticist in Canada, researching proposed solutions to diffuse the BRCA gene and prevent its diagnosis from becoming a death sentence,” Cookie said. “I like to tell people that I have five Angelina Jolies in my immediate family: My late wife, Maxine, two of my daughters from my first marriage, my wife, Jodi, and one of her daughters… all of whom have been diagnosed with the BRCA gene. I could say that five out of seven members of my immediate family is a very significant percentage and that these BRCA discoveries have affected me immensely on a daily basis. “As a consequence of the BRCA gene causing such great pain and anguish to the members of my immediate family and so many of our friends around us, I am going to attempt to direct my involvement with breast cancer in the future to focus solely on finding a solution to ‘diffuse, freeze, negate and/or eliminate’ the BRCA gene, without the necessity of young women having to undergo radical major surgeries before the age of 40 in order to save their lives.” Cookie plans on organizing, as he has done in the past, major sponsored poker tournaments, golf events and whatever else he can do to raise money for this important cause. “I will continue to ask my friends unashamedly to support these initiatives, notwithstanding the fact that they have already been incredibly responsive to date. What is important to me in life is ‘family’ and I envision this charitable effort eventually eliminating the terrible effects of the BRCA gene, during my lifetime, to ensure that my grandchildren and the generations to come do not have to deal with the same BRCA issues of my generation.” Cookie Lazarus: Sports Agent? Cookie Lazarus: Benevolent Humanitarian is more like it.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 • www.preciouspets.ca