Paradise Pets Magazine, Key West, FL Vol. 2 Issue 2 by Publish in Paradise

Volume 2 Issue 2 | Apr-May-June 2016

Paradise Pets Magazine is published by Publish In Paradise for the purpose of uniting and supporting our communities. 10% of all advertising revenue is donated to local animal rescue organizations. For advertising inquiries, please visit us online or email ads@publishinparadise.com © 2016 Publish in Paradise Paradise Pets Magazine ParadisePetsMag.com Publisher: Angela J. Richards publisher@publishinparadise.com Contributors: Karen Thomas Angela J. Richards Family Features

On the cover: Sasha is a 10 year old Pit Bull Mix. She is as loving as they come. She likes her tennis balls, raw hides, treats and being a couch potato. She enjoys going for walks as well as lazy days. She is available for adoption at the Key West FKSPCA shelter.

I have been really missing the beautiful sunshine and beautiful people of Key West while hanging out here in Alaska—much longer than expected. But, I do enjoy reconnecting with friends and family back on the home-front. I moved to Key West years ago for a new beginning—and for the sunshine. The lack of natural Vitamin D was detrimental to my health. Being from a small island in Alaska, Key West was both a breath of warm (humid), fresh air and also an eye opener. I absolutely loved that the area is so pet-friendly. It was refreshing to see pets welcomed almost everywhere, being toted about by their beloved parents in stores, and welcomed even in many eating establishments. I would love to see more of that everywhere I go. Thank you Key West for being such a strong, loving pet community! April is Autism Awareness Month, so I have included an article out of the “norm” to help create awareness of how pets can be therapy for children who struggle with anxiety, and many autistic children experience anxiety due to sensory overload, and with trying to fit in where they don’t feel they belong. Then with the overload, they can react by having a “meltdown” that people do not understand. The reaction can look like a tantrum and as they grow older they can be labeled with some damaging terms like “psycho” or “freak” or one that I heard so often, “space cadet”. As an Autistic, I know too well what it feels like to try to be put into a box labeled “normal and acceptable”, a box I have never fit into. Sure we need help seeing the tree in front of us because we are focused on the entire forest, but we also need the freedom to be who we are without judgement, without limitations and with understanding. Freedom is a good thing! I have always felt loved and accepted by animals more so than by humans. I have always had a deep connection to animals, and when I was young I would spend my time nurturing injured wildlife back to health, naming them and loving on them until they were able to return to their natural habitation, and my dogs and other personal pets were my best friends. When I was a child, my pets were my “therapy” and they gave me the connection I needed in a world where I felt like an alien. If you have a child who struggles with anxiety or an autistic child, a pet may just be the therapy they really need.

Features 9

Interview with Tammy Fox

10 The Homeless Pet Epidemic

Departments Pet Parents 4

Homeless Pets of the FKSPCA

12 Key West Pets Awaiting Parents 13 Marathon Pets Awaiting Parents 14

Helping Your Newly Adopted Pet Adjust to Your Home

Pet Health 18

Pets May Help Reduce Childhood Anxiety

11 Resource Guide

Find us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram & Twitter PARADISE PETS MAGAZINE DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational and interest purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. Veterinarians cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Your pet's medical protocol should be given by your local holistic veterinarian.

By Angela J. Richards “King” is available for adoption at the FKSPCA Marathon Campus.

The Florida Keys pet shelters are overwhelmed with the many homeless pets they care for on a daily basis, more than 300 are housed at the Florida Keys SPCA (FKSPCA) shelters in Key West and Marathon combined.

In the United States, out of the 322,050,000 population, only 70 million homes have a pet. While about 1,750,000 in the US go without a home, making it difficult to own a pet. Furthermore, many people live in homes that do not allow pets.

Nationwide, approximately 5 million pets are homeless and housed in about 5000 animal shelters in the scope of a year. Here in the Keys the FKSPCA houses more than 3000 of those homeless pets annually, according to Tammy Fox, Executive Director of the FKSPCA. Nationally, of those 5 million homeless pets, 3.5 million are euthanized at shelters. Fortunately, our FKSPCA shelters are no-kill shelters. Some of the pets they care for have been there for years.

According to Fox, moving seems to be the primary cause of pet homelessness in Key West. The housing market makes it difficult to find affordable pet-friendly housing, and when some have to move they are forced to surrender their beloved pets if they are not able to re-home them on their own. Some people, when forced into a difficult housing dilemma choose homelessness over giving up their beloved pet.

According to Pets of the Homeless, “To break the homeless cycle requires the owner to move into a shelter. Most shelters do not allow pets unless they are a service animal.” According to their website, Pets of the Homeless states: “Pets provide a deep comfort. Pets are non-judgmental. They are loyal. They provide warmth and security. The homeless get a type of normalcy by providing food and water for their pets. In some cases, they provide them with reality. Some homeless would sacrifice their own food for their pets. Then there is the protection factor. Living on the streets is dangerous especially for women and the disabled. For many on the streets these animals provide them with security from other homeless or from those that discriminate against the homeless with beatings or from others who may steal their modest possessions.”

children that are unwanted by their human pet parents, and those unwanted puppies and kitties end up in the local shelters, homeless.

Sources: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, American Humane Society, Born Free U.S.A., Pet Finder, Pets of the Homeless, FKSPCA

What is needed is more affordable, petfriendly housing, not just nationwide, but here in the Keys as well. Another option could be providing the ability to relocate to areas where there are more affordable housing opportunities, bringing family pets in tow. Not all can afford to relocate. But who wants to leave the beautiful Florida Keys? Very few, once here, envision ever leaving. And when they do, they often return. For those who reside in the Keys, please consider adopting a pet from one of the local shelters. There are many loving pets who need loving homes. If you are a landlord, please consider allowing responsible pet owners to rent from you. If you already own a pet, please be sure to have your pet spayed/neutered to prevent unwanted litters. Oftentimes, pets have

Personalized Keepsake Pet Magazines are a great way to showcase your beloved pet to friends, family and colleagues. Whether your pet is a professional show pet or a cuddly lap dog, your fur baby is a member of your family. A Keepsake Pet Magazine is also a great way to remember and honor a beloved pet who is no longer with you.

8 | Paradise Pets Magazine, Key West, FL Vol. 2 Issue 2 ÂŠ 2016 Publish In Paradise | ParadisePetsMag.com

Tammy Fox holds “Charlie” a resident cat at the FKSPCA Key West shelter.

ammy Fox began her life in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised in Austin, Texas. She began her animal welfare career in 1994 which eventually led her to the Florida Keys. Tammy was the Executive Director of the Florida Keys SPCA in 2005, then left in 2009 to be closer to her family in Pennsylvania. In 2012 Tammy resumed her position as Executive Director of the FKSPCA and now oversees two sites, the Key West shelter and, most recently, the Marathon shelter. Tammy enjoys life in the Keys with her 7-year-old son, their two dogs, an African grey parrot and two parakeets, all rescues. Her life is encompassed by running the

animal shelters and being a mom. On her days off, she enjoys family time out on the water—boating, kayaking—and she also enjoys pottery.

Q: On any given day, about how many homeless pets would you say there are in Key West? Tammy: Our Key West location sees about 2000 animals a year, and between 200250 animals daily housed at the shelter. Our Marathon location sees about 1000 animals per year, with approximately 100-150 animals residing at the shelter on a daily basis.

What is the number one cause of pet homelessness in the Keys? Nationwide, the two biggest reasons for surrendering a pet to a shelter are moving and behavior, but moving seems to be the primary cause here in the keys. The housing market is difficult, and to find pet friendly, affordable housing is even more difficult. Our shelters have a longer stay of animals due to this reason.

Q: Tell us a little about taking on the marathon shelter… Tammy: In August 2015 we were approached by SHARK and Monroe County to take on the administration of animal control and sheltering services over mile marker 17 to mm 70. We assumed the contract on November 1, 2015. The Marathon team are phenomenal at running the shelter, which made for a smooth transition.

Q: What are your goals for the Key West shelter for the next year and for the next five years? Tammy: Our biggest goal is to break ground for our new facility. As well as making sure we care for each animal, providing enrichment opportunities, and help more of the community with spay and neutering programs. In five years we will be in our new facility where we plan to create and implement humane education programs, and have our spay/neuter clinics operating more frequently. We want

Tammy’s

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rrier “Pick

les”.

our Key West facility to not be just a shelter for animals but a resource in the community that offers humane education programs and programs to help with strengthening the human animal bond. The FKSPCA offers free and low cost spay/neuter opportunities.

Q: What are your goals with the Marathon shelter? Tammy: To create opportunities to get to know the FKSPCA from mile marker 17 to mm 70, and we want to implement a spay/neuter program in Marathon as well. We envision a mobile spay/neuter unit that can provide those services as well as adoption services to communities within MM17 and MM70.

Q: What do you need from the Keys communities in order to help our homeless pets? Tammy: People can volunteer their time to help our staff with enrichment, fundraising, administration, and our clinic. They can also help by contributing to various funds, in Key West we need funds for building our new facility—the building fund is very important. Both the Key West and Marathon Campus also have the Oscar’s Fund and Ellen B. Gray Fund which enable us to provide lifesaving treatments to animals that come to us injured or ill. These funds are considered crucial to saving animal lives. Additionally we have the Animal Care Fund which enables us to provide enrichment, medical supplies, food and cleaning supplies to care for the animals during their stay. The Keys needs more affordable petfriendly housing, and pet owners need to make sure their pets are spayed and neutered.

Resource Guide Key West, FL Florida Keys SPCA Adoption services, animal control, and more. 5230 College Road, Key West, FL (305) 294-4857 | www.fkspca.org

Xena Fund Financial help with veterinary care 1623 Laird Street, Key West, FL (305) 432-0494 | xenafund.com

Marathon, FL Pawsitive Touch Giving your animal companions the energy to heal P.O. Box 500591, Marathon, FL 305.481.0868 | pawsitivetouch.org

Key Largo, FL Q: Is there anything you would like to add? Tammy: I would like to thank all our staff, volunteers, donors and Paradise Pets Magazine, Key West, FL for supporting our mission. We can’t do what we do for the animals without your support; you are all heroes and partners in our lifesaving mission!

For more information on fostering or adopting a pet, contact the Florida Keys SPCA at 305-294-4857.

Humane Animal Care Coalition 105951 Overseas Highway Key Largo, Florida 33037 305-451-0088 humaneanimalcoalition.com

Do you have a pet business? A pet friendly motel, restaurant or other establishment? Get listed in our resource guide and we will connect you to pet parents in the Keys and beyond. ParadisePetsMag.com

Key West Pets Awaiting Adoption… If anyone is interested in adopting from the FKSPCA in Key West, they ask that you come to the shelter to meet and greet their animals in person so they can get to know you and see if it’s good chemistry between the animal and the potential owner.

fkspca.org

Come and visit your potential new pet at the Florida Keys SPCA at 5230 College Road in Key West, Florida. Give them a call at (305) 294-4857 or visit them online for more information.

Diesel is a 2 year old Pit Bull Mix. He is incredibly energetic, happy and playful. He loves going to long walks, chewing on his tennis balls, playing tug of war with his rope and having fun.

Dodger is a 6 ½ year old Miniature Poodle Mix. He is a sweet and cuddly dog that loves to go on walks, sit for treats and be a right by your side.

Our cover model, Sasha is a 10 year old Pit Bull Mix. She is as loving as they come. She likes her tennis balls, raw hides, treats and being a couch potato. She enjoys going for walks as well as lazy days.

Agnus is a 2-year-old female Domestic Shorthair. She is an independent cat who is always up for snack time and treats and would love more than anything to get them from a new owner.

Foxy is a 5 year old male Domestic Shorthair. He likes to make friends with everyone he meets. He loves being around other cats! He also likes napping in the sun and any kind of affection he can get!

Dominoe is a 7 month old male rabbit. Dominoe loves to play with his toy keys, chew on his hay and be scratched on his head. He is a very social bunny that could make a good friend to the right rabbit.

Marathon Pets Awaiting Adoption… If anyone is interested in adopting from the FKSPCA Marathon, they ask that you come to the shelter to meet and greet their animals in person so they can get to know you and see if it’s good chemistry between the animal and the potential owner.

fkspca.org

Come and visit your potential new pet at the Florida Keys SPCA Marathon Campus at 10550 Aviation Blvd. in Marathon, Florida. Give them a call at (305) 743-4800 or visit them online for more information.

Gauge is a four year old Yellow Labrador Retriever. Gauge is indifferent to other dogs and cats and really enjoys being outside. He would love a home with a nice big fenced in yard to chase lizards in!

Izzy is a year and a half old purebred American Bulldog. She has lots of energy and loves to play ball! She's learning how to walk on a leash and knows her basic commands.

King is a five year old special needs American Staffshire Terrier. He waited nearly a year to get adopted but was returned when he started having seizures. He hasn't had a seizure in over two months!

Guinness and Bailey are three month old brother and sister black Domestic Shorthair kittens that were surrendered on St. Patrick's Day. They would love to be adopted together!

Zara is a beautiful one year old Tabby Cat who loves to rub on your feet!

Chrome is a gray and white American Rabbit. He's a large rabbit that enjoys fresh vegetables, gentle pets and spending time outside.

Karen working with a special girl, “Tuka”.

By Karen Thomas There is nothing more gratifying than adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization. You will be saving a life. Even if you adopt from an organization that has a no-kill policy, you will be helping to rescue another animal by making space available at the shelter. By adopting rather than buying a new companion animal, you will reduce the demand that drives the commercial breeding of puppies and kittens. Each year millions of healthy and well-behaved animals are destroyed in shelters simply because there are not enough homes for all of them. If you adopt a young adult or senior pet, you can avoid much of the diligent work related to house-training and teething. Puppies and kittens are cute, but they require lots of attention, training and patience. An older dog might fit in better with your laid back adult Labrador than a rambunctious puppy. Kittens are easier than puppies, but you may also want to consider the benefits of an adult cat who has already gone through the high-spirited kitten stage.

Health Before bringing home your new pet (whether a puppy, kitten, dog or cat), do your best to make sure they are as healthy as possible. Obtain copies of all medical

records from the rescue organization for yourself and your veterinarian. If your new companion hasn’t been examined recently, make an appointment with your vet for a complete physical exam. You’ll want to make sure your newcomer has a clean bill of health before exposing other animals in the home to any risk. Keep in mind that any change, even a positive thing like moving to a home, can be stressful for animals. Stress, travel and transport can aggravate underlying disease and may even cause physical ailments. Ask what food your new companion has been eating. If you’ll be feeding the animal something different, you’ll want to make a gradual transition to the new diet to avoid gastrointestinal upset. So, the goal is to minimize stress as much as possible.

Cat or dog proof the home Along with the basic medical needs being assessed, take some time to inspect your surroundings. Are your home and yard appropriately dog and cat proof? Some common safety concerns include toilet seats, electrical cords and outlets, house plants (some are toxic to pets), garbage cans, and unsecured kitchen food storage. You may want to move valuable or fragile items from common areas. We use baby

gates in our home to help keep curious puppies out of trouble. How can we help our new pet feel safe and loved in their new environment? Designate A Safe Place I find it’s so important to designate a safe place where your pet can be away from the action — by his choice or by yours. He should be able to access the place himself whenever he feels he needs a “time-out”. You can also put him in there and close the door. It might be a crate, or even an entire room. This safe place should feel like a safe haven at all times. We use our ‘healing room’ as our safe place for the dogs. I like to diffuse essential oils to promote relaxation such as lavender or a favorite blend called ‘Peace and Calming’. I also created an organic essential oil spray blend called ‘Serenity’ which contains lavender, ylang ylang and frankincense. I always keep a bottle handy to spray inside crates, bedding, inside the car or directly on their coats to promote a feeling of relaxation.

A group training session.

pictures of the animal and how they can help ‘show him the ropes’ while interacting harmoniously. Since animals love to have ‘jobs’ I would assign each one a different job for the integration process to go smoothly. For example, I would assign the role of ‘peace ambassador’ to one and to another the job of being in charge of ‘toy sharing’. Spending lots of quality bonding time with each animal individually and collectively is very important during the first weeks that a pet is in a new home as well.

Routines and Rules Communication If there are existing animals in the home, communication is very important during this entire process. From the moment you’ve made the decision to adopt a new pack member, start letting the other animals in the house know this so that there are no surprises. Since they read our thoughts, I would show them mental

Dogs, especially, crave routines, boundaries and rules. Cats like to know what to expect too. When pets don’t understand, they feel uncertain and may hide out under a bed or behind a chair until they feel a little more comfortable. Sensible rules and structure help pets feel secure in their environment. Being

consistent with training, helping pets understand what behavior you want and providing a solid routine is very appreciated from a pet’s point of view. They become more confident when they know their role and what you want them to do. All too often animals are told ‘no’ as in what not to do, but then not shown an acceptable alternative behavior. When we first adopted Merlin, our Catahoula mix puppy, we established a daily routine which included pack walks and short training sessions a few times per day. He was eager to learn, and the other dogs loved the opportunity to model appropriate behaviors during the training sessions. ‘Group training’ is a great way to keep everyone involved in the integration process.

Practice Patience The most important thing to remember when integrating a new pet into the household is to practice patience and enjoy the process. Things won’t be perfect overnight as it takes time to learn each other. Having high expectations can turn into feelings of disappointment quickly if the expectations are not met. Any negative emotion (fear, anger, anxiety) will be sensed by your new companion and may delay the learning curve. This would be a great time to start a spiritual or mindful meditation practice if you don’t already have one. Within a few weeks everyone will be more balanced. Feeling the unconditional love of a pet fill our home and heart is a gift, and

Karen sharing love with “Oliver” in Key West .

giving them the love and respect they deserve is true compassion. May your hearts and homes always be filled with such love!

Karen Thomas, R.N., is a certified Healing Touch for Animals (HTA) Practitioner in the Florida Keys. Healing Touch for Animals is a holistic approach influencing the health and well-being of animals through energy medicine and intention. HTA techniques restore harmony and balance to the energy system while providing physical, emotional, mental and instinctual stability, thus supporting the body to self-heal. This work can be done in person or distantly.

Karen can be contacted through her website www.pawsitivetouch.org or email her directly at karen@pawsitivetouch.org Karen’s organic, therapeutic-grade essential oil sprays can be purchased through squareup.com/market/pawsitivetouch

By Timothy Weesner

Anxiety in children is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations, but if it interferes with their day-to-day living, it is time to seek an expertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help. Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder and phobias, to name a few, are among the most common mental disorders experienced by kids and adults.

57.5 percent had a pet dog, while 42.5 percent did not have any. The study concluded that 21 percent of children without pet dogs scored above 3, indicating a further assessment to diagnose anxiety, while only 12 percent of children with dogs had a score of 3 or higher. Anxiety Disorders

Interestingly, having a pet might greatly reduce kids' chances of developing any of the above symptoms. "There is a very strong bond between children and their pets," Dr. Anne Gadomski, a practicing pediatrician and researcher at Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY, told NBC News, on the basis of a study conducted by her and her colleagues. The study was published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. "Animal-assisted therapy with dogs affects children's mental health and developmental disorders by reducing anxiety and arousal or enhancing attachment," says Dr. Gadomski. The study, done in a real-world setting, enrolled 643 children aged four to 10 over the period of July 2012 to December 2013. Prior to the study, a parental survey was done to assess a child's physical and mental health, nutrition, physical activity, apart from difficulties with emotions or social interaction. Among the participants,

The findings revealed that the presence of pet dogs at home was associated with reduced incidences of childhood anxiety. This companion animal improves a child's emotional and mental well-being and may prevent the evolution of behavioral and mental problems into full-blown mental diseases during later life. According to the researchers, "Because this was a crosssectional study of associations, a correlational study, no cause or effect can be inferred." "It may be that less anxious children have pet dogs or pet dogs make children less anxious," they added. What makes dogs so special for kids? Previous studies suggested that children aged 7 or 8 consider pets as providers of comfort and self-assurance. Pet ownership brings a multitude of positive effects on humans and fosters a calm and happy atmosphere at home.

18 | Paradise Pets Magazine, Key West, FL Vol. 2 Issue 2 ÂŠ 2016 Publish In Paradise | ParadisePetsMag.com

According to a group of researchers from the Basset Medical Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Dartmouth Medical School, "If exposure to pet dogs during childhood is inversely related to mental health problems, positive child-dog interactions could prevent the evolution of these problems into fullfledged disorders during adolescence or later life." A canine companion drives up levels of oxytocin (a neuropeptide that influences social behavior and emotion) and reduces levels of cortisol (a hormone which controls metabolism), which ultimately reduce childhood mental illness, behavioral problems and obesity. "Social interaction of humans and dogs may also lead to increased oxytocin levels in both the human and the dog. Interacting with a friendly dog also reduces cortisol levels most likely through oxytocin release, which attenuates physiologic responses to stress," the researchers opined in the study. Path to Recovery Although anxiety is a normal part of childhood, it can become a serious problem when children experience fear, nervousness and shyness, and start to avoid places and activities. They may also start enduring these problems with anxious feelings, which can manifest as crying, tantrums, avoidance, headaches and stomachaches as they do not usually recognize that their fear is irrational. For more information or if you suspect that your child is suffering from anxiety, it's

time to act immediately. Please seek help for your child. Editors Note: Many children who suffer from overwhelming anxiety, especially in social situations, may have undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder, also known as Asperger’s. They may not know how to cope with their anxiety or fears, such as in overwhelming social situations, and may present as having a “tantrum” when they are actually having a uncontrollable meltdown. If this sounds like your child, please seek a diagnosis from a professional. Autism awareness is essential.

Anxiety is one of the biggest challenges facing individuals on the autism spectrum. Source: http://www.specialneeds.com/products-andservices/autism/anxiety-and-autism

Timothy Weesner is associated with anxiety disorder treatment in Arizona for many years. Anxiety disorder treatment in Arizona provides assistance in finding anxiety disorder treatment recovery centers and anxiety disorder treatment centers in Arizona. For more information or if you suspect that your child is suffering from anxiety, it's time to act immediately. There are some good anxiety disorder treatment centers in Arizona that offer specialized program depending on individual needs. For more information on anxiety disorder treatment in Arizona, call our 24/7 helpline number at 866-4259317. The experts at Anxiety Disorder Treatment Arizona helpline will be happy to assist you in your child's struggle with an anxiety disorder. Source: ArticlesFactory.com