May 2017 Downeast Dog News by Jennifer Rich / Wendi Smith

Hot Dog News Greater Bangor Bark for Life Barks Back at Cancer

It’s been six years since Greater Bangor Bark for Life ﬁrst got its paws dirty raising

funds for the American Cancer Society and if the organiza on raises $15,000 or more at this year’s event, the non-proﬁt will hit the $100,000 mark for total funds raised for ACS since the event got underway. Greater Bangor Bark for Life is a noncompe ve mini Relay for Life walking event at Hollywood Casino Raceway in Bangor. It’s where teams of co-workers, families, community members, workout buddies and friends all gather with their canines to support those ba ling cancer, celebrate those who have beaten the odds, and honor those who have lost their ﬁght. The 6th annual Greater Bangor Bark for Life event will take place on Saturday, June 3 at Hollywood Casino Raceway in Bangor from 5:30-8 p.m. and includes various doggy contests and demonstra ons. There will also be food available as well as petthemed and community vendors on site. The night will end with a one lap walk of remembrance around the track in honor of those who've lost their ba le with cancer. Par cipants are encouraged to bring their canine along but you do not have to have a dog to a end the event. Registra on is $10 for individuals, $15 for those a ending the event with one dog and $25 for par cipants a ending with two dogs. Registra on is free to all cancer survivors. Each par cipant will receive a T-shirt for themselves and a bandana for their canine companion. Teams can consist of as few as two people or as many as 100. For more informa on or to register online, log onto www.relayforlife.org/ barkbangor or check out them out on Facebook.

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Downeast Dog News PUBLISHER Jenn Rich COPY EDITOR Belinda Carter CONTRIBUTORS Susan Spisak Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Nancy Holmes GRAPHIC DESIGN Courier Publications, LLC ADVERTISING Jenn Rich 207-230-0260 ext. 6 jenn@downeastdognews.com

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Hot Dog News Kennebunk Elementary School Assembly Recognizing Therapy Dogs KENNEBUNK – On May 12th the Kennebunk Elementary School will hold their Friday morning assembly at 8:15 where they will be recognizing the four therapy dogs who volunteer regularly at the school. All four dogs are trained therapy dogs that volunteer with reading groups. The school covers kindergarten through 3rd grade so many of the students are in the process of learning how to read. For students who struggle with reading or are reluctant readers, reading to a dog is a pressure-free opportunity to practice their reading with the most judgement-free listeners you could find! Darwin and his master Trudy Sloan have been volunteering at

KES each week for 7 years, Ziva and Marsha Brady for 3 years, Campbell and Kimberly Brown for 2 years and Maxwell and his master Cheryl Price for 1 year. They will recognize each of them and provide them with a gift basket of their favorite treat and toys. Megan Cross, the Humane Educator, from the Animal Welfare Society will be there to oﬀer a presenta on that es in with the KES Character Trait of the Month, which for the month of May is Integrity. Two students from the Middle School of the Kennebunks will address the students because their Interna onal Baccalaureate community service project is a fundraiser for the Animal Welfare Society.

Dear Readers, Happy Spring from Pepper and I! We have a lot of information to share this month so we are once again giving up our space. We hope you are getting out and enjoying some nice weather. It’s that time of year when all of the dog events begin. All the best, Jenn & Pepper

Local Shelter Animals Get the Hollywood Treatment 24th Annual at Coastal Humane Society Mu Strut 5k BRUNSWICK – On Fridayy April p 14th a non-profit p organization g called Shelter Artt Foundation donated a photo studio and organized a photo workshop at Coastal Humane Society ociety for shelter staff aff and volunteerss in order to give shelter er animals studio-quality ality portraits to help them em find new homes. Shelter Art Founda on equips and d teaches photo techniquess to animal shelter staﬀ and volunteers olunteers in order to help animals mals ﬁnd their forever homes. Through h Shelter Art Founda on, Purina and d their pet search engine Pe inder.com com have helped give the ‘star treatment’ ment’ to over 400,000 shelter and d rescue animals across the na on.. www.ShelterArtFounda on.org.

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May 2017

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AUGUSTA - For 24 years, the Mutt Strut and 5K have served as a way for people to come together and raise money to find forever homes for animals in their community. All funds raised go directly to support more than 2,000 animals that find their way to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society annually. Along with our 5K walk and run, we will have vendors, food, activities and much more! We hope to see you there! Registra on and Check In will start at 8AM or you can register online: www.runsignup.com/Race/ ME/Augusta/Mu Strut5K Please contact Jamie at development@ pethavenlane.org with race ques ons or sponsorship/table set-up inquiries.

Table of Contents Hot Dog News ............... 2 & 3 Furry Words ......................... 4 Ask the Vet ............................ 4 Basic Training Tips ................ 6 Ask Bammy ............................ 7 Dogcation .......................... 8,9 Performance Dog Training ....10 Words, Woofs & Meows ..... 11 Rescue of the Month ............12 Dogs for Adoption ............... 13 Calendar of Events .............. 14 Business Directory .............. 15

Spring has finally sprung! I can’t wait for green grass, flowers, a garden, and sleeping with the windows open! It’s finally me to kick off the heavy winter boots and slip into flip flops. I hope that you and your pups are enjoying the warmer days, too. I did so many readings in April that I’d like to tell you about, but there’s one problem. When the reading ends, I don’t remember most of what I’ve said to you. Forge ng what I’ve said keeps my brain unclu ered, but at the end of the day, I’m aware that some amazing things were said, and I have no clue what they were! My role as the psychic is to be a conduit, and some mes it feels as though the words bypass my brain and simply flow from a higher source and directly out of my mouth. I was smart enough to write two things down in my most recent reading though, and I hope you find them as funny as I did! I got an email from a woman who has called me before to gain insight into her dog’s behavior. This me the issue was that if he kept barking, the neighbors were going to call the Animal Control Officer. Lucky for her, they had given her fair warning, and she was being proac ve by seeking out a reading. Her dog got super excited

How to Recognize Lungworm in Your Dog Q. My dog is coughing. He

Furry Words by Sara Moore www.enlightenedhorizons.com

and barked his head off every me someone came into their house, and he’d also randomly have barking fits in the evening las ng five or ten minutes. She wanted to know why he was doing this and how she could get him to stop. When I looked at my notes, the first thing I have wri en is “White noise, owner doing well.” Luckily that was enough to jog my memory, and the meaning behind it is actually pre y cool. The dog

Ask the Vet… by Dr. Judith Herman

has had tons of tests. An bio cs and steroids have not helped. What else could be going on?

Coughing in dogs can be caused by viruses if your dog goes to kennels or other areas that have a lot of dogs, bacterial infec ons, heart condi ons, and hormonal imbalances, and ﬁnally parasites. Roundworms have a stage where the larvae moves into the lungs, gets coughed up and swallowed, and then ﬁnishes growing into an adult. There is another cause of coughing which is o en overlooked. This is a parasite called lungworm. The common lungworm here in

North America is the fox lungworm. Infected cats will cough up the larvae, an adolescent stage, and swallow it. The larvae will pass in the poop which will infect snails and slugs. Dogs and foxes, the ﬁnal hosts, will ingest the snails and

said that his owner had been doing so much work on herself as a result of the last reading that she was emo onally in a good spot. He told us that she no longer comes home from work exhausted and carrying the stress of the day. He explained that before he’d have to bark at her to help her release all that crazy energy that was hanging around her and clear the space himself. She did admit that she had put a lot of the areas in her life into perspec ve and was enjoying life more. If this were the case, then why was he s ll barking? Well, he sheepishly admi ed it was really quiet there now, and he didn’t know what to do with himself. He asked for a white noise machine so that he could “get oﬀ the clock” himself, so to speak. She laughed and agreed to try it if he agreed to stop the barking. I’m assuming it worked because I never got a call back. In my line of work no news is usually good news! The next thing I have scribbled is “amazing race, cat/dog.” What the heck? I had to think back a little on this one but finally remembered what it meant. The owner had asked how the dog was feeling about a cat that had recently joined the family. Turns out the dog didn’t really like it and the cat didn’t care much

for the dog, but they agreed to disagree. The cat said that if they had to do the Amazing Race (a television show where couples, friends, or siblings have to get to a destination by following clues), they would probably make it but end up totally hating each other. We laughed so hard that I told her it could very well end up in an ar cle, and that’s why I’m sharing it with you today! There are two other cats in the home that are completely indiﬀerent to both the dog and new addi on, and she was very relieved that she could stop trying to get them all to be best friends. Readings like this are so enjoyable for me because they’re light hearted and usually result in posi ve changes. When I say things like your dog and cat relate to each other like contestants in a TV show, I do think I may be a bit nuts. When I get the valida on that whatever was said actually helped, I know that, yes, yes I may be a bit nuts, but I will con nue to keep my job as a Psychic for People and Pets. Sara Moore is a psychic for people and pets, has an oﬃce in North Conway, NH but is also available for phone readings and private events. FMI go to enlightenedhorizons.com, email enlightenedhorizons@gmail.com or call (603)662-2046.

slugs. The larvae are released in the gut and migrate into the airway passages of the lungs, bronchi and bronchioles, to grow into adults. The most likely me of infec on is during wet and warm seasons, spring and fall. This is the ac ve slug and snail me. The life span of this worm is 8 to 10 months, so infec on can be detected in a dog any me during the year. A dog infected with a few worms may not show any signs of a cough and the infec on can spontaneously go away. The problem is with a heavier burden of worms. The symptom commonly seen is a chronic cough, but sneezing, nasal discharge, and retching can occur. These dogs develop inﬂamma on in the airways, trachea, and bronchi called trachei s and bronchi s. If severe, the dog can stop ea ng and become weak. With severe infec on, a dog can develop bronchial pneumonia. You can see how this worm infec on can be confused with allergic bronchi s. To diagnosis this problem, your veterinarian will check a poop

sample. Using normal techniques, this parasite can be missed. Some mes mul ple samples over a period of a couple of weeks is needed because the larvae is shed sporadically. There is a special test called Baermann technique that is more successful in finding the worm. Another test to diagnose lungworm is a technique called tracheal lavage. On Prince Edward Island in Nova Sco a, researchers found this parasite in about a third of shelter dogs. Lungworm is easily treated with a common wormer from your veterinarian. If you find your dog having a cough that he can’t shake, his teeth are clean, heart is fine, an bio cs and steroids didn’t help, and you and your veterinarian are scratching your heads, you may want to check his poop. Judith K. Herman DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, ME www.mainehomeopathicvet.com

Kennel Clubs present Eighth Annual Southern Maine Coastal Classic Hundreds of dogs will converge in Scarborough, Maine, for the state’s largest canine event. The eighth annual Southern Maine Coastal Classic, four days of AKC All Breed Dog Shows and Obedience and Rally Trials runs Thursday, May 18, through Sunday, May 21, 2017. All ac vi es begin at 8am each day, outdoors rain or shine, at Wassamki Springs Campground, 56 Saco St, Scarborough, Maine.

York County Kennel Club of Maine, Inc and Vaca onland Dog Club, Inc invite the public to meet some of AKC’s 180 recognized breeds and observe the various ac vi es throughout the day. Admission each day is $5 per vehicle. There is ample parking in and around the campground. Wassamki's snack bars will serve food throughout the day. Also, be sure to visit our vendors selling dog-related items.

York County Kennel Club of Maine, Inc is a not-for-proﬁt organiza on whose goals are to protect and advance the interests of purebred dogs through AKC performance events and community educa on ac vi es. For more informa on about this show cluster, direc ons to Wassamki Springs or any of the featured dog clubs go to h p://www. yorkcountykennelclub.org.

Downeast Dog News

SAFETY from page 1 domes c violence program, and the Animal Welfare Society (AWS), partnered to ini ate the Pets and Women to Safety program, or PAWS. For fi een years, PAWS has been helping female abuse vic ms and their pets find temporary sanctuary in separate, but secured, confiden al loca ons. The PAWS program gets them both out of harm’s way, and while she is finding her new path, she can be confident that her pet is also well-cared for and protected un l they can be reunited.

THE CARING UNLIMITED SIDE When I spoke to Emily Gormley, the Public Awareness Coordinator for the non-proﬁt 501(c)(3) Caring Unlimited, she said that they serve roughly 2,500 individuals in York County each year—this number speaks to the crisis. So Caring Unlimited’s mission, as it has been since its incep on in 1977, is to end domes c violence. To that end, they’re respec ul, suppor ve, and provide not only safety planning but a haven to anyone facing domes c abuse, not only women and children, but the elderly and men as well. The Caring Unlimited advocates work with them on their needs and goals, be it new housing, legal issues or a career, guiding them

in any way, so they can find safety long-term and have a fresh start. Their programs include a 24 hour hotline (Emily said this is o en the vic m’s first line of contact with them), outreach programs and support groups, legal assistance, children’s services, transi onal housing, and emergency shelter services, with the subset program of PAWS. The female abuse vic ms who enter the PAWS program may have tradi onal companion animals such as dogs and cats, but Emily reminded me that parts of York County are rural, so there may be the need to find a shelter for a horse, goat, or other farm animals. Together they explore op ons for the pet. Are there family, friends, or other “organic support” that can take in the pet temporarily? If not, a Caring Unlimited advocate connects them with AWS in Kennebunk.

ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY’S ROLE Smith reiterated that all their PAWS clients come through Caring Unlimited. She said in the last two years, they’ve guaranteed 26 pets with a safe haven in an undisclosed loca on, and they’re well-cared for, both medically and emo onally. This is an important factor for the abuse vic m while she’s staying at a Caring Unlimited shelter—she

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can concentrate on her goals without worrying about a pet le behind in the home. Unfortunately, the reality is that only about 65% of the vic ms are able to take their pet back once they’re se led. The other 35% simply cannot take them back, whether it’s due to issues such as a reloca on or housing conﬂict, but the ladies who’ve had to relinquish their pets have acted selﬂessly to ensure their safety and future happiness. Smith adds, “Every single one of [those relinquished pets] have been adopted.” She’s glad that AWS has a hand in PAWS and that they’re fortunate to have community support for all their programs, including this important one. “AWS is not just the pound. We have all these programs…and this one for me is a mission, a cri cal way that we help the community that we serve.”

THE STAGGERING STATISTICS According to the Humane Society of the United States, “animal abuse is one of four predictors of domes c partner violence according to a sixyear ‘gold standard’ study conducted in 11 metropolitan ci es.” It gets worse. A report indicated that between 71% and 83% of women entering domes c violence shelters said their partners abused or killed the family pet. Another study found that in families under supervision for physical abuse of their children, pet abuse was concurrent in a whopping 88% of the families. Animal mistreatment can be the ﬁrst warning sign of an individual or family in trouble, reports the Na onal Link Coali on website. The animal abuse, either actual or threatened, is another way for the abuser to silence his or her vic m and prevent the vic m from leaving the rela onship. It adds this frightening statement, “Abusers kill, hurt or threaten

animals to exert power over the human vic ms and to show them what could happen to them.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO? At the grass roots level, you can volunteer at Caring Unlimited. They need people to answer their hotline and assist with other special projects. To learn more about volunteer opportuni es, contact betsyf@caringunlimited.org. Caring Unlimited welcomes dona ons. They can be life-saving for a vic m-in-need. For example, $50 provides one hour of Legal Assistance for a person needing a Protec on from Abuse Order. Visit h p://www.caringunlimited.org. Dona ons to AWS to support this important PAWS program are appreciated. Visit h p:// animalwelfaresociety.org/support-us/ donate/. If you are a domestic abuse victim and need help or know someone who does, call Caring Unlimited at (800) 239-7298. For a listing of state and national Domestic Abuse hotlines, as well as a full listing of national and Maine Domestic Violence Organizations, visit http://www.caring-unlimited. org/what-is-domestic-violence/ resources. If you suspect or witness animal abuse, call your local Animal Control Oﬃcer. You can also call the Maine Animal Welfare Program at (877) 2699200. Domes c violence goes much further than people realize, and unfortunately, pets are o en involved. Smith reiterated the importance of speaking up. When you see animal cruelty in a home, don’t turn away— look beyond it to see what else may be going on. “Lots of mes, animal mistreatment and abuse is an indicator of the likelihood that addi onal violence is taking place in the home...You should report anything you see.”

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May 2017

Bouncing Back from Perceived Danger We’ve all seen it: the moment our dog has no ced but not yet reacted to something that worries him. It could be during a walk when a stranger approaches, when a dog starts barking in the distance, or when he encounters a slippery or novel surface. Everything seemed to be going quite well, then BAM, your dog goes from loose and happy to s ff and worried. I call this the “uh oh moment.” What happens next depends a great deal on your ac ons. Some dogs go through life generally confident that all is well with the world and their personal survival is secure. Others are the opposite, convinced that danger lurks everywhere unless proven otherwise. Consider yourself lucky if you have a dog from the first category; your walks together are surely relaxing and fun! For those of us whose dogs think the world is out to get them, it can be a challenge to get through a simple walk without them spiraling into a veritable panic a ack, triggered by the smallest thing. Imagine being someone who feels unsafe when faced with the slightest change in your surroundings. It would be very stressful. It’s quite normal for a member of any species to be surprised by a sudden change in his environment. Take, for example, the me you

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

were gardening, hands deep in the greenery, and a toad suddenly jumped out. You startled out of surprise, then almost immediately registered that it was just a toad,

then you bounced back to gardening, the toad long since gone. This “bouncing back” mechanism allows us to quickly recalibrate back to normal, to a state of comfort and safety. A good bounce back contributes to a resilient individual. A resilient individual is able to weather the storm of unpredictability and is less likely to experience levels of fear that can lead to aggression. Resilience is “the capacity… to maintain… integrity in the face of drama cally changed circumstances.” (Zolli and Healy). Not everyone has it, however, in sufficient supplies. What affects resilience? According to Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., esteemed Cer fied Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), there are two main factors that affect resilience: gene cs and socializa on. Gene cs. “The gene c make up of an individual can have a significant influence on an animal’s ability to bounce back, primarily by changing the func on of mul ple neurotransmi er pathways,” says Dr. McConnell. Many traits are passed down the gene tree besides the cuteness factor: resilience can be an actual life-saver. Socializa on. What happens during a puppy’s early development even during his first few weeks - can dictate the level of his future coping skills. “Mildly discomfor ng events

make individuals more resilient, while extremely stressful ones do the opposite.” [McConnell] Solu on: intervene! If your dog has an “uh oh moment,” quickly assess the situa on. Be er yet, prevent those moments from happening in the first place. If you don’t think he’ll bounce back right away, intervene by helping him feel safer before he panics. This might mean simply invi ng him aside in the case of an oncoming stranger and offering him a favorite and awesome treat or toy, visually blocking him from the source of his angst or making his route easier (then later build up his confidence). It will most likely mean adding distance from whatever he’s reac ng to. The more times our dog has an “uh oh moment,” the more he will automatically go there again in the future. The “uh oh! moment” can easily become a default reaction. The good news is that we can do something about it if we catch it early. With puppies, we must make it a priority to expose them positively to novel stimuli before they have a chance to create negative associations. With older dogs who have an "uh oh" default reaction, it takes considerably more time and patience. The bottom line is that our dogs want to feel safe and we can help them. The ability to bounce back func ons as an emo onal shock absorber. Some mes our dogs need our help with the rebound.

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am a Carolina Dog, a breed that long ago owned Na ve American people. We were designed by natural selec on to be so intelligent and physically superior that we survived without human help. My great-grandfather was caught from the wild. I can oﬀer advice based on the natural ins ncts and a ributes of wild dogs. In addi on, my adop ve person and I have had lots of training classes and other experiences. Some humans call themselves Mom or Dad of their dog, but I refer to my human, tongue in cheek, as Boss. Much as I love my human, I admit she has many of the same odd no ons as most humans, so I can relate to other pet dogs with problem humans. If I can’t help, at least I can oﬀer sympathy, and we can have some fun talking about our amazing humans. Please send your ques ons to Downeast Dog News! Bammy, 280 Pond Rd., Newcastle, ME 04553, or email: askbammy@ dewater.net

Dear Bammy, I always look forward to your column. There must be other dogs from Away needing advice about rural environments. I’m a city dog. I came from a puppy mill and was sold to a li le girl from an apartment in Harlem. When her parents divorced, she took me to a terrible dog prison where most dogs receive the death penalty. Fortunately, her tears a racted the a en on of some very kind humans who took me home, even though they wanted a ShihTzu instead of a Jack Russell Terrier. My humans have a house with

Ask Bammy An Advice Column for Dogs by a Dog

While I have very few complaints about my humans, their fashion sense is limited. I like func onal clothes. I run for my life vest whenever we go kayaking or swimming. It helps me swim farther with less work, and I love nothing be er than swimming from kayak to kayak even in the ocean. The other day they got me this crazy black leather number they call a motorcycle jacket. I’ve had to wear this jacket for photo ops a couple of mes. They send the photos to their friend who runs a women’s motorcycle club. I’m star ng to get worried I might have to ride motorcycles. We don’t have

a big backyard in NYC and spend their summers on a lake in Maine. They take me on long walks every day, so I can keep up with my p-mail. I have a big brown sister with a black nose, who prefers lounging on our humans’ bed to chasing squirrels and sparrows in the backyard. Even though she doesn’t have my energy, she joins in most of my games for a few minutes. I refer to my humans as freerange parents. They listen to me most of the me and help me learn new human tricks while I teach them games like “chase the toy under the radiator” and “throw the ball again.”

a motorcycle. I hate motorcycles. I bark at them and all the loud trucks as well. Give me the peaceful Maine woods. Do you know any dogs who ride motorcycles? What should I do? I love my humans.

Can’t wait to get back to Maine, Eddie

Dear Eddie, Thank you for your wonderful e-mail! I’m sorry I had to leave out some of your words to have space for my answer. You are so lucky a er your terrible puppyhood to have such wonderful humans! When you get red of wearing the leather jacket, just refuse to stand up. It does look macho, and I like macho, specially a er they “fix” us as they say. I wonder if they would think they were “fixed” if we bit off their li le nubbies! I know about chasing woodchucks and rabbits; but I’d never dare talk back to a motorcycle. I heard of a beagle who rode one. He had a box with a short leash so he couldn’t jump out if he saw a rabbit. As for country life, cars are the worst menace. Next are porcupines. I bit one once and had to go to the vet to have all the thorns pulled out. Never again! When you come back for the summer, e-mail me and we can talk about summer fun.

Look out for skunks! Bammy

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May 2017

Maine Dogcation Doggie Wants a Vaca on

High Tide Inn on the ocean

hether you are planning a visit from away or perhaps a staycation getaway, Maine has much to offer. From the forests and the mountains to the beautiful rocky coast, there is something for everyone including the family dog. More and more people are choosing to travel with their pets these days, and more and more businesses are willing to accommodate and cater to your furry friends. Maine is perhaps one of the more pet friendly states. You’ll find more than 300 dog parks, beaches and trails, and hundreds of accommodations and stores that will welcome you and your dog. Hiking is a great activity to enjoy with Pooch, and Maine boasts some beautiful trails and scenery. The possibilities vary from a simple one hour walk to a day trip or overnight adventure. Be sure to take along plenty of water for both you and your dog to help prevent fatigue and overheating. Also be aware that one of Maine’s least pleasant residents is the tick! Ticks carry many diseases including but not limited to Lyme disease. Speak with your veterinarian about preventative treatments available for your dog. There are also precautions that you can take to protect yourself. For the outdoor lovers who may prefer to explore the coast rather than the wooded trails, many of Maine’s beaches allow dogs. Most will require them to be on leash; however, there may be some that allow off leash time during certain parts of the day. GoPetFriendly.com provides some helpful tips for keeping your dog safe at the beach. http://blog.gopetfriendly.com/keeping-your-dog-safe-at-the-beach/ If a city atmosphere is more your speed, then perhaps you should check out dog friendly Portland. Annual dog events abound in Greater Portland and draw hundreds of attendees and animals. No matter what activity or adventure you choose, please be sure to read and follow all posted dog guidelines. These are put in place to insure that all visitors and residents have a positive experience. Please

Camden, ME 1-800-778-7068 hightideinn.com

Zach loves

Sagadahoc Bay Campground

Dog Friendly Cottages Available 207-371-2014 clean up after your dog, so the area may remain beautiful for all to enjoy and our dogs will remain welcome. Most importantly, DO NOT leave your dog in the car. It takes only minutes in a vehicle on a warm day for a dog to suffocate or suffer from heatstroke. Even on a bright sunny day when the temps are in the 60’s, your vehicle can reach the danger zone, and rolling down the windows or parking in the shade doesn’t guarantee protection. For a full list of pet-friendly parks, beaches and trails, pick up a copy of petMAINE, a statewide resource published in collaboration with Downeast Dog News (to request a copy via email: jenn@downeastdognews.com). All of the accommodations that you find on these pages are pet friendly and eagerly await a visit from you and your four-legged family member.

www.sagbaycamping.com

FALMOUTH INN 7

Camden’s premier pet friendly lodging

Conveniently located between Portland and Freeport OPEN YEAR ROUND 1-800-499-2120 209 U.S. Route 1 www.FalmouthInn.net

Thank you for voting for us for Best Maine Pet

HOTEL

CAMDEN

Friendly Lodging

3 years in a row! Outdoor Pool & Hot Tub

Rockwood

Advertiser Map

www.bayviewcollection.com

www.BoothbayLodging.com • 1.800.660.5094 200 Townsend Ave. Rt. 27 • Boothbay Harbor, ME

Bangor

Tips to protect YOU from cks Belfast

• Insect repelling clothing treated with Permethrin

Lincolnville

Augusta

• Wear light clothing so you can see ticks easier 3

Camden

• Wear long pants, tucked into your socks

• Wear long sleeves

Bay Leaf Cottages & Bistro Lincolnville Beach ~ 207-505-0458 www.bayleafcottages.com

Dog-friendly cottages & motel! Dog Welcome Bag Fenced Field Run Designated Walking Areas in Park-like setting Disposal bins Nearby Dog Parks (Belfast & Camden) Dog-friendly sailing, hiking, and restaurants with outdoor dining!

THE BIRCHES RESORT on Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest lake

Brunswick

• Wear a hat • When you get home remove all clothing and shower

9 Freeport

Pet Friendly Lodging, Outdoor Recreation, and Dining Bring your furry or feathered family member to enjoy 11,000 acres of wilderness trails and over half a mile of prime shore frontage. We offer many types of accommodations ranging from tent or RV sites, lodge rooms, rustic log cabins, or large homes. All are on the water!

The Birches Resort, Rockwood, Maine www.Birches.com // info@birches.com, 207-534-7588 // Like us on Facebook

• Comb the dog • Many essential oils have been suggested for a homeopathic, non-chemical approach such as lemongrass, rose geranium, cedarwood, lavender, citronella, rosemary, thyme, peppermint and more • You should also carry a tick spoon/remover

11 Falmouth

Downeast Dog News

May 2017

Georgetown

Portland

3 Old Orchard Beach

1 York Harbor

Boothbay Harbor

12 Visit us online!

Training Your Performance Dog Agility, Obedience, Tracking by Carolyn Fuhrer

Big News About Rally Obedience

ince its introduc on in 2005, Rally has grown in popularity. Rally is a course set up consis ng of signs indica ng skills in a numerical order which the dog and handler must perform. You are allowed to talk to your dog and praise your dog throughout the en re course. There are currently three levels – Novice, which is performed on leash; Advanced and Excellent (which are oﬀ leash). Each class contains

progressively more diﬃcult obedience skills, and the advanced and excellent classes require the dog to jump. You can earn a tle in each class: Rally Novice, RN; Rally Advanced, RA; Rally Excellent, RE. There is an RAE tle that can be earned by passing an advanced and excellent

Advanced and Excellent class each have 5 new signs. The wording on some of the signs has also changed. To earn a RACH – Rally Championship tle – teams are required to earn 20 triple qualifying scores: qualifying in the Advanced B, Excellent B and Master classes at the same trial at 20 separate events, plus earn 300 RACH points from the Excellent B and Master classes. Points are determined by a dog’s score. For example: a 91-96 would earn 1 point; a 97 would earn 2 points; 98 would earn 3 points; 99 would earn 4 points and a score of 100 would earn 5 points. There will be much to learn to be successful in Rally a er November 1. If you are looking for help, check out Mid Coast Kennel Club of Maine and North Star Dog Training School. They will be working together to present a series of Spring and Summer workshops to prepare handlers and dogs for all the new skills that will be required to enjoy showing in Rally Obedience with your dog.

course on the same day on 10 diﬀerent days. Beginning in November, 2017, there will be two new classes introduced as well as a rally championship tle, or RACH (sounds like rock). The Rally Intermediate class (RI) has been created to provide another on-leash class that requires advanced skills, which will help teams prepare for the oﬀ leash performance required in the advanced class. This class will mirror the advanced class but will not contain a jump. A er you have completed a Rally Novice tle, you may choose to enter Rally Intermediate or Rally Advanced. A Rally Intermediate (RI) tle is not required to go into Rally Advanced. There will also be a new master class and associated tle RM with 22 NEW exercises, some of which are very challenging. Several new exercises have been added to the exis ng Rally classes, and handlers should be aware of these as they may be included in classes a er November 1. Novice has 6 new signs, and

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 90 AKC tles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker tles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with ques ons, sugges ons and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

Boarding

Feline Neuters - $95 Feline Spays - $150 Includes Rabies and FVRCP Vaccines

Individual Kennels Grassy Outdoor Pens,

Fraulein Bea, is available for adoption!

Specialists

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Dr. Patti Barber, DVM

Groovy Tuesdays

Compassionate

We have adoptable kittens, cats and dogs available to qualified homes!

Dr. Kelly Hill, DVM

Respected

Dr. Rita DeMeuse, DVM

Established

Touch Veterinary Hospital TTender 336 Gorham Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074

When your pet needs specialized care...

cleaned after every dog

Loving, Experienced, Professional Kennel Staff

When your pet is in need of advanced diagnostics and treatments in a caring and professional environment, the team at Portland Veterinary Specialists will go the extra mile to provide the best care possible for you and your pet. Internal Medicine • Cancer Care • Surgery • Ophthalmology • Cardiology Acupuncture Integrative Medicine • Dermatology • Ultrasonagrapy Endoscopy • Radioactive Iodine Therapy • Laser Therapy 2255 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04102 739 Warren Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 www.portlandvetspecialists.com Phone: 207-780-0271 • Email: petvet@prtlvet.com

• heated salt water pool with a gently sloping ramp just for dogs

We groom one dog per groomer at a time with no kennel drying.

• a full-body workout; a 20 minute swim = a brisk 4 mile walk

A complimentary spa is included with every groom.

Year-round swimming for your dog.

• year-round private swimming by appointment • improved range of motion, cardio health and muscle strength

Online booking is available:

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Downeast Dog News

What Deﬁnes a Dangerous Dog? - Part 1

ast July I wrote the first of three columns addressing dog bites and fatalities after a seven-year-old boy died as a result of an attack by a dog. For the past few weeks, the news and social media have been abuzz with a rescue dog from the Waterville area (Dakota) that has attacked and killed a dog. This dog was scheduled for euthanasia, has been pardoned by the Governor, then the court reinstated the euthanasia order, and now this case has been appealed to a higher court, which means a final disposition of this case may not happen until this fall. Dakota’s case has been emotionally charged, and I think it will be to the benefit of all dogs and dog lovers if we look at this case objectively. This is my attempt to do so. So what defines a dangerous dog? Title 7, Sec on 3907, 12-D of the Maine statutes defines a dangerous dog as - "Dangerous dog" means a dog or wolf hybrid that bites an individual or a domes cated animal who is not trespassing on the dog or wolf hybrid owner's or keeper's premises at the me of the bite or a dog or wolf hybrid that causes a reasonable and prudent person who is not on the dog or wolf hybrid owner's or keeper's premises and is ac ng in a reasonable and nonaggressive manner to fear imminent bodily injury by assaul ng or threatening to assault that individual or individual's domes c animal. "Dangerous dog" does not include a dog cer fied by the State and used for law enforcement use. "Dangerous dog" does not include a dog or wolf hybrid that bites or threatens to assault an individual who is on the dog or wolf hybrid owner's or keeper's premises if the dog or wolf hybrid has no prior history of

WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS by Don Hanson ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

P :

assault and was provoked by the individual immediately prior to the bite or threatened assault.” [Emphasis Added] The definition above makes it clear that if a dog bites a person or a domesticated animal, he meets Maine’s legal criteria of being a “dangerous dog.” In fact, based on the above definition, the mere act of exhibiting threatening behavior, without actually biting, would meet the definition of being dangerous. While the law does not specifically address whether or not a dog that kills a person or a domesticated animal is dangerous, it seems that the logical conclusion would be that a dog that kills is extremely dangerous. The legal community and canine behavior professionals have been using a bite scale developed by Dr. Ian Dunbar for many years. The

scale is an objective assessment of the severity of dog bites based on an evaluation of wound pathology. It starts off with Level 1, which is described as “Fearful, aggressive, or obnoxious behavior but no skincontact by teeth.” The Dunbar bite scale is very similar to Maine law which declares that a dog that is threatening may be considered as dangerous. Dr. Dunbar rates the prognosis of rehabilitating a dog with a Level 1 to Level 2 bite as good and a level 3 bite as fair. However, Dr. Dunbar states that a dog exhibiting a Level 4 bite (a single bite with at least one puncture) is dangerous with a poor prognosis. Dogs that have bitten at Level 5 (multiple bites and severe mutilation) through Level 6 (the victim is killed) are considered to be dangerous by Dr. Dunbar and have a dire prognosis for rehabilitation. I believe Maine’s law on dangerous dogs could be improved by incorporating Dr. Dunbar’s bite scale. If the court finds that a dog is dangerous as defined above, the law dictates that the court shall impose a fine, and: • “Order the dog confined in a secure enclosure except as provided in paragraph C or subsection 8. For the purposes of this paragraph, "secure enclosure" means a fence or structure of at least 6 feet in height forming or making an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and suitable to confine a dangerous dog in conjunction with other measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering the dangerous dog. The secure enclosure must be locked, be designed with secure top, bottom and sides and be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure. The court shall specify the length of the period

of confinement and may order permanent confinement; [2011, c. 82, §1 (AMD).]” • “Order the dog to be euthanized if it has killed, maimed or inflicted serious bodily injury upon a person or has a history of a prior assault or a prior finding by the court of being a dangerous dog; or [2011, c. 82, §1 (AMD).]” • “Order the dog to be securely muzzled, restricted by a tether not more than 3 feet in length with a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and under the direct control of the dog’s owner or keeper whenever the dog is off the owner's or keeper's premises. [2011, c. 82, §1 (NEW).]” • The court may also choose to order restitution to the injured parties. I love dogs and hate to see a dog lose its life to natural causes or state mandated euthanasia; however, I also hate to see a person or another animal attacked and even possibly killed by a dog. The fact is not all dogs that exhibit aggression can be rehabilitated and are safe to be rehomed. We need to have equal concern for the community at large as we do for any individual dog. This case leaves me with questions for which I do not have an answer. If Dakota is released, who will be legally, financially, and morally liable for any future aggression by Dakota? The courts, the Governor, those who have evaluated Dakota and insist he will be safe in the future, Dakota’s owner, or all of the above? Next month I will delve into this issue further, discussing the obligations of those who rehome a dangerous dog and the responsibilities of someone who adopts a dangerous dog.

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor. He is a Bach Founda on Registered Animal Prac oner (BFRAP), Cer fied Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Cer fied Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Cer fied Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at h p://www.wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 9 AM. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.

Green Acres to Host Free Screenings of the Documentary Pet Fooled: A Look Inside A Ques onable Industry by Kohl Harrington

reen Acres Kennel Shop will be offering four free screenings of the documentary Pet Fooled: A Look Inside A Ques onable Industry by Kohl Harrington. This film examines the pet food industry star ng off by discussing the fact that the pet food industry is dominated by only five mul -na onal conglomerates which control 70% of the market for pet foods. One of the veterinarians interviewed in the film, Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, states “So there is a problem in the pet food industry and most pet owners aren’t aware that there is

May 2017

a problem. And unless you have an interest in digging deeper in ﬁnding out what those issues are you can go throughout your whole life feeding the exact same food assuming what you are doing is helpful for your pet. And once you start digging the evidence becomes overwhelming that the industry has signiﬁcant issues.” Some of those issues include regulatory lapses which led to the recalls of 2007, the high-powered marke ng used to promote food that is not biologically appropriate for cats or dogs, confusing but legal adver sing that makes pet foods look

be er than they are, and the major pet food companies ques onable inﬂuence over veterinary educa on and the regula on of pet foods, and more. Green Acres Kennel Shop will oﬀer free screenings of Pet Fooled: A Look Inside A Ques onable Industry on Saturday, May 13th at 3:30 PM, Saturday, May 20th at 9:30 AM, Wednesday, June 7th at 6:30 PM and Monday, June 26th at 6:30 PM. Each screening will be followed by a ques on and answer period. Sea ng is free but limited, so please call us at 945-6841 to reserve your seat.

Rescue

of the

Month

UNDERHOUND RAILROAD Saving Lives, One Shelter Dog at a Time By Susan Spisak

In 2009, a group of friends in the Har ord, Connec cut area formed Underhound Railroad with the mission of saving innocent dogs from the state’s high-kill shelters. Fast forward to 2017. While their mission remains the same, they now have a wider footprint of fosters and volunteers - most are here in Maine - and they also rescue at-risk dogs from southern kill shelters. Bristol, Maine resident, Renee Coombs, is Underhound’s president and director. She was a volunteer and foster before taking on what she calls the “24/7” lead role. She counts on her “go-to-girls,” Tara Chase, the director who oversees dona ons, adop ons, and fundraising, and Irene Williams, their treasurer and southern coordinator, as well as all volunteers, fosters and vet partners - both in the north and south - to keep this 501(c)(3) sailing smoothly. Busy as she may be managing Underhound’s eﬀorts, she and her husband, Steve, con nue to foster, even though they “failed” the ﬁrst me around. Need a transla on? They adopted that dog. They’ve

limited their “failures” to four total, and all have been black or black and white because Renee believes dark-colored dogs are o en ignored. And for this reason alone, this compassionate gal says black dogs will always have her heart. Renee and Steve have fostered over a hundred dogs. They’re so dedicated that they fenced part of their land, so the dogs awai ng their forever homes can play safely when outdoors. Underhound’s other foster homes have taken care of and socialized many dogs as well, usually a few simultaneously – this allows them to bring more rescues to Maine (they hold both Maine and Connec cut licenses for the legal import of dogs), and Underhound always needs more fosters. “We’re always, always, always begging for more fosters all the me,” said Renee, chuckling. When asked how many lucky dogs they’ve pulled to safety and rehomed, she laughed. “A lot.” A er a minute, she said they rescue about a hundred a year, but it’s dropping a smidge. She believes more people are now

adop ng shelter dogs. “We exist adop on fee to adop on fee,” she explained, but added that these fees barely cover their vet and transporta on costs. That said, they don’t shy away from expensive dogs like the heartworm posi ve or seniors that require extra funding, nor do turn away dogs with medical needs above and beyond the norm. She cited the local rescue, a black Pomeranian named Li le Bear. He needed a hip surgery es mated at $2k. Then there was Daisy, one of several dogs they rescued a er the 2016 Louisiana ﬂoods. She was abandoned in a yard in nearby Mississippi. Daisy had a broken hip and knee, and she also needed that same costly hip surgery. Underhound put out a dona on plea, and every single dollar needed for those surgeries came in. “People stepped up in Maine to help,” Renee said. “It was amazing.” For more on Underhound Railroad, including info on adop ng, fostering, volunteering and dona ng, visit h p://www. underhoundrailroad.org/.

CADENCE

SCOTTY

WALTER

8 mos, Lab Mix

Chihuahua/Corgi Mix

8 yrs, Chi Mix

Look at that beau ful face! Cadence is energe c and very smart. She’s super social – with both dogs and people – and loves playing at doggie daycare. She currently lives with other dogs and a ki y and does well with them. She is looking for her forever family! Visit www.underhoundrailroad.org

Sco y’s very special – he was pulled from a high-kill shelter just in the knick of me! He loves kids, cats and people. He has a fun-loving spirit. He’s compact at 15 lbs. and just shy of his ﬁrst birthday. He adores a good car ride. We have no clue why he’s been overlooked. Visit www.underhoundrailroad.org

Very sweet, just looking for a 're rement home' where he can relax, take walks, sleep the a ernoon away on the couch, etc. He would most likely do best in a home where he is the only dog, or another dog that has the same low energy that he does. Visit www.underhoundrailroad.org