2021 October Downeast Dog News by Jennifer Rich / Wendi Smith

OCTOBER IS ADOPT-A-SHELTER DOG MONTH!

WINNIE

11 months, Catahoula Leopard Hound/ Shepherd Mix

A very shy girl that takes a bit to warm up to new people and new dogs. Her new humans will need to have lots of patience while she figures out things, as she has not had a lot of socialization in the early part of her life. She has been in dog classes since she was 13 weeks old. Email: Catahoula Rescue, sln2310@yahoo.com

WILL & GRACE

6 years old, German Shep. & Chihuahua

Must be adopted together. It was clear that they wanted to be together - Will the Chi was very depressed when they were separated at the shelter. They need a quiet, patient home as they are a little scared in their new environment, but warm up quickly.

Email: miraclegsdmaine@gmail.com

DIEGO

FRE E

NIKE

1.5 years old, Bluetick/Pit Bull Mix

He loves everyone he meets. He makes it very clear to you with his "hound sounds" that he wants to see and be with other dogs. He is a delightful boy who needs some training for manners, but he is such a love and eager to please.

DowneastDogNews.com

FMI: P.A.W.S. Adoption, (207)236-8702

NOVA

1 year old, Belgian Malinois

She will need a very active, committed human who understands her breed. She is very sweet and smart and loves to lounge around with her people. She would do best in a home with no dogs, small animals or small children.

FMI: almosthomerescue.net

DAHLIA

4 years old, Amer. Pit Bull Mix

6 months

FMI: Pope Memorial Humane Society, 207)594-2200

Email: responsiblepetcare20@gmail.com

Diego loves people, food, and toys! This handsome guy is ready for a home that will shower him with love and toys, lots of toys! He also loves cooling off in the pool after playtime. HE can be particular about other dogs.

She was returned due to living situation changes. She is full of life and ready for anything.

Maine Shelters & Their Canines

OCTOB

ER IS ADOPT -A-SHE LTER DOG M ONTH!

By Susan Spisak ctober is the ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. If you weren’t one of the many who adopted a pet during the height of the pandemic and are considering it, that’s great! Adopting a shelter dog gives him an opportunity to thrive in your home. You also are helping to reduce their in-house population. And you’re supporting that humane society and their efforts. But why do dogs land in shelters anyway? Some are strays. According to 2020 stats on Maine.gov’s Animal Welfare Shelter pages, they account for 23%, with an estimated 17% being reclaimed. “Compared to other states across the country, Maine’s stray dog population is far lower,” explained Jeana Roth, Director of Community Engagement at Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, or ARLGP. (She said

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INSIDE 6 2 Hot Dog News

Basic Training Tips

STRIKER IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT SOMERSET HUMANE SOCIETY - SEE PG. 15

8 &9

Maine Rescues & Shelters

12-15

Adoption Listings

DOWNEASTDOGNEWS.COM

Calendar of Events

Hot Dog News Adam Ricci Hired as AWS Director of Operations and Programs The Animal Welfare Society

(AWS) is pleased to welcome Adam Ricci as Director of Operations and Programs. In this newly created position, Ricci will administer the organization’s community programs, including Stay@Home, Behavior & Training, Youth Humane Education and Community Veterinary Clinic. He will also oversee operations of the Adoption Center and animal-related services. Ricci comes to AWS with more than a decade of experience in program development, community outreach and shelter operations. His animal welfare career took off when he became the animal control officer for the Buxton, Maine, Police Department in 2010. Since, Ricci has worked at non-profit and municipal shelters in Arizona and New Mexico, including as Chief of Field Operations and Acting Associate Director of the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. There, as a member of the leadership team, the Department won the 2019 National Animal Care and Control Association Agency of the Year. A Maine native, Ricci is pleased to bring his experience home and serve AWS’ growing community needs. "I am honored and excited

to join the AWS team to help both people and pets of the community,” Ricci says. “Being back home in Maine is great but being part of such an amazing organization with AWS, an organization driven to reimagine its role within the community, is even greater and has always been the dream since the very beginning of my career." “As AWS has pivoted over the past five years, to provide services to not only pets, but also to the people who love them, Adam’s success building such programming will be a huge asset,” says Abigail Smith, AWS Executive Director. “His leadership will help AWS provide the best resources to serve our community’s animalrelated needs.” Ricci is a regular presenter at animal welfare conferences, has served on the board of several national animal organizations and regularly volunteers in his local community. He and his family make their home in Southern Maine with their five cats, one Chihuahua and two guinea pigs. About Animal Welfare Society: The Animal Welfare Society, a non-profit organization, exists to provide humane shelter and care to

Loyal Biscuit Co. Awards $11,130 in grants through their Fenway Fund The Fenway Fund, created in

companion animals temporarily in need of housing, to assist in disaster response and to further the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness. The society actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets. For more information, please contact Abigail Smith, Executive Director, (207) 985-3244 ext. 106 or Stephanie Kelley, Marketing Communications Manager, (207) 985-3244 ext. 130

January of 2019 by Loyal Biscuit Co. owner Heidi Neal, is a means to provide funding for non-profit, animal related organizations within the state of Maine. Grants are funded by the proceeds of sales within the seven retail locations and are awarded bi-annually to 501(c)3 organizations whose proposals are selected by a committee made up of Loyal Biscuit Co. employees. The Fund is a vital way for the Loyal Biscuit to support animal welfare within Maine communities by providing seed money for projects that will help better the lives of animals that often fall below funding availability. The Loyal Biscuit committee has selected their fourth round of applicants to receive grant funding for projects they felt best met the criteria of the fund, for a total donation of $11,130. The Fenway Fund, named after Neal’s beloved rescue who passed earlier this year, has now provided over $46,500 to Maine animal related

See HOT DOG on page 15

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Downeast Dog News

Downeast Dog News PUBLISHER Jenn Rich COPY EDITOR Belinda Carter CONTRIBUTORS Susan Spisak Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Meghan Sullivan GRAPHIC DESIGN NVDesigns • Nicole Vanorse ADVERTISING Jenn Rich 207-706-6765 jenn@downeastdognews.com

PRESIDENT Wendi Smith PARENT & PUBLISHING COMPANY Maine Pet News LLC OUR GOALS

From the Publisher Dear Dog News Readers, I hope you are enjoying the lovely fall weather! While I still feel slightly cheated on summer, we have had some very nice days recently, and all of that rain did make my garden very happy. I really do love fall but wasn’t ready for it to come just yet. I have now accepted it and switched gears to thinking about pumpkins and apples and SOUP! I love soup season! I am also thinking we might have a nice foliage season this year due to all the rain. We just celebrated my dad’s birthday and my sister’s birthday and had a couple of outdoor gatherings. Pepper got to visit with two of her dog cousins at one party, and then she swam at the lake at the other party and wore herself out. I’m sure we’ll get a few more swims in before it gets too cold, but I won’t likely be getting in myself. Now that the super-hot, humid days are gone it is a great time to get out for a hike. I am also looking forward to a vacation, and I really hope the weather holds up and doesn’t rain much, so I can spend a lot of time outside! This month is Adopt-a-shelter dog month so as always, we are featuring extra dogs in this issue. If you are thinking about adopting, this will give you many dogs to view. If you don’t wish to adopt but might be interested in fostering, I know there are several rescues in need of foster homes, and I’m sure they’d love to talk over the details of that process with you. Have a wonderful October! All the best, Jenn and Pepper

“When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.” ―Anthony Douglas Williams

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DUNKIN

A 15 1/2 year old rescue mix who, in his days of youth, were spent running, snuggling in piles of blankets, obsessing over tennis balls, and hoping someone would drop just a bit of food. Now in retirement, he enjoys lazy days on his blanket piles, and meandering about the yard. He also still hopes for someone to share a bite of their lunch with him.

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OCTOBER 2021

If you’d like to submit a photo of your pet to be posted on our website send it with a small description of your dog (cool trick, silly thing he does, favorite toy) to jenn@downeastdognews.com or mail it to: P.O. Box 1076, Camden, ME 04843-1076. Each month one will be selected to be printed in the paper.

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Table of Contents Hot Dog News ....................... 2 Furry Words .......................... 4 Ask the Vet............................. 4 Basic Training Tips ................. 6 Fostering................................ 7 Canine Elbow Dysplasia ............. 7 Maine Rescues & Shelters .... 8, 9 Performance Dog Training.... 10 Words, Woofs & Meows....... 11 Dogs for Adoption............12-15 Calendar............................... 14 Business Directory ............... 15

e made it through the beautiful autumn days and are headed into the colder weather, warm cider, and maybe even the first snow! I have been busy doing phone readings and always get excited to connect with you through this column. I’m a psychic for people and pets, but any medical insights are coming purely from a psychic perspective and should be discussed with a licensed veterinarian. Here are some of the submissions I received when I put the call out for questions on my Sara Moore Enlightened Horizons Facebook page. Lisa R. asked about Sully, her 14-year-old Chihuahua. “Why did you have a seizure? Do you feel ok?” I actually get a bit of a headache when I feel his head. There’s a little bit of pressure along my temples, which isn’t painful but feels a bit uncomfortable. When I ask him about the seizure, he looks at me with a totally blank stare. I honestly don’t think he even remembers having one! It’s like the Men in Black movies where they use the flash of light to erase memories. That being said, I hear the words hydrostatic pressure as an underlying cause. I’m sure that’s not the correct medical terminology but ask your vet what it would mean. I feel like there’s a medication that will prevent any future ones but may make him pretty loopy. He’s fine if you decide to use it to treat him. He feels great otherwise! His muscles are so tight in the morning, but once he gets his blood flowing, he’s back in actionhis words! Kailee P wants to know about her boxer Dexter, who is ten years old and fighting seizures. She wants

Emotional Wellbeing of an Adopted Companion Q. I just adopted an older

Furry Words by Sara Moore www.enlightenedhorizons.com

to know if he’s okay. Well, as a psychic, it’s interesting to me when I get similar questions in one day. I do have to say again that I’m not a veterinarian, but I can check in from the dog’s perspective. Dexter makes my nose feel funky right away, but that always happens with boxers and pugs! It’s a pretty funky feeling for me actually. I’m “looking” in his brain, and it feels like it’s neurological. I’m watching nerves fire but not connect to the next one. Imagine a wire that is frayed, so you can see some sparks but not enough to get it to go beyond the frayed area. Unfortunately, I don’t get that this is something that you can stop completely, but you may be increase the intervals between them. Sarena C. has an English Mastiff named Brutus who is nine years old... “Have we done enough to

Ask the Vet… by Dr. Judith Herman

puppy from a rescue. He is from Mississippi. He’s lovely but is terrified of everything inside my home and outside. This behavior does not match what was in his description online. What is going on?

A. Adopting a secondhand dog

from a local shelter or the internet is full of unknowns. Unless he is born in the rescue there is little history about his past. The best approach is to accept his history starting at the time you bring him home. Any assumptions before that are usually wrong. When a dog or puppy go to a new home, there is an adjustment period. This is the honeymoon period. The puppy is trying to get acclimated

to its new environment, new rules, new family. Older dogs need time to adjust too. They are uncertain what the rules are, what is expected of them, or not, and a new routine. The time period depending on the age, unknown past experiences, and genetics will be variable. Generally, it can take 6 to 8 weeks or longer to settle in.

heal his grieving heart? He lost his brother a month ago.” What is fascinating to me is that most of the time dogs don’t grieve the ones who have gone before them because their perspective on life and death is so different than ours. That being said, Brutus really did struggle with the loss. He was worried that he wouldn’t be enough for you. The other dog was the silly, fun one that people loved, and he was allowed to be the wing man. That role felt comfortable to him, but what he doesn’t realize is that Brutus is the sweetheart that everyone loves. You have done an exceptional job helping him heal. You are loving, kind, supportive, gentle and have been telling him that his brother is alright, and he can still think of him, and he’ll hear his thoughts. I wish more people were as aware as you are. I’m sending you all lots of love and healing. Patti C. asked if Sky, a Newfoundland, was ready to go when he passed. Absolutely. He looks like an old man who has outlived his family, is about to outlive his money, and has made peace with all aspects of himself. It’s a beautiful image, and one that only comes with a life well lived. He sends you little birds as signs that he’s around you, and also there’s a breeze when you’re outside thinking about him when it’s been otherwise still. You were his keeper, and he was your boy. That will forever be. Wow. I love that message! Kimberly P. has a dog named Valour. “Tell me where your pain is located? Help me understand the problem.” My shoulder blade area instantly hurts when I type this.

My muscles feel super tight, like someone with cerebral palsy. When I ask what would make him feel better, I hear heat. When he’s warm, it loosens him up. I also just heard CBD but in liquid versus capsule or treat form. Ask your vet first, though!! Jessica lost her dog Bear, a black lab, who passed away early last year. “He was living with my ex for the final year of his life after we split, so I’d ask him how his last year was and tell him I’m so sorry I didn’t get to say a final goodbye.” Well, this is an interesting answer. He knows you loved and always will love him. You gave that boy so much love and also explained to him that you had to go and he couldn’t go with you. There is no resentment from him about that. He adored you. Your ex needed him but didn’t appreciate him as much as you did. You letting him have the dog was not only an olive branch but also a way for your ex to potentially get his act together, which he clearly did not. Do something for Bear everywhere you go with water. You can put a leaf in the stream and watch it float away, symbolizing you letting him go at the end. You can toss a stick in the water and tell him that he can get it all day long as spirit. You were never meant to be broken by his ending, and for that, he apologizes.

In the first few days after adoption, the dog may be overwhelmed, scared, and unsure. He may not eat or drink, or just shut down and hide, or he may start testing the limits from the beginning. After a few more weeks, he will feel more comfortable and settle. This is where you start seeing his true personality. After that, he gets really comfortable with his environment, his people, and his routine. The progression through these stages varies and can take as long as a year. We can’t tell by their behavior if they were neglected or abused. When you see a scared or timid dog, it may be genetics with little to do with the environment. Often the trip up from the rescue to your home can be unsettling for your new friend. You need to accept the dog or puppy in front of you. From there, you can build a relationship that will last a lifetime. I tell all my clients, seasoned dog owners or first timers, to find a qualified dog trainer who understands the complexity of this little guy. There are trainers who have gone the extra mile to

become certified in dog training. These trainers are educated in using non aversive training techniques. When you look for a trainer, go and observe a class without your dog. Look at the certifications the trainer has. If you don’t know what all those letters mean, go look them up, then check out the organization. When you see a well-behaved pup with a good relationship with his guardian, ask where they went for training. You want to work with someone who understands the special needs of your best friend and with someone you feel comfortable with. Building this relationship with your new buddy will take time and patience. The time you put into understanding and work to overcome his issues will be the most valuable investment in your relationship. That relationship will bring you unimaginable joy.

Sara Moore is a psychic for people and pets who lives in Conway, NH. She is available for phone readings and events. You can learn more at www.enlightenedhorizons.com and follow her on Facebook at Sara Moore Enlightened Horizons.

Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, Maine www.mainehomeopahticvet.com

Downeast Dog News

MAINE SHELTERS

from page 1

shelters still see many stray cats.) Shelly Butler, MBA and Executive Director of PAWS in Camden, said their stray/lost shelter population is a little higher than the average at 40%. That said, when a stray lands in a shelter, the staff will work hard to find the owner. “Mainers in general also very much view their companion pets as family members, who are well-loved and provided for. This view of pets as family contributes to a healthy pet community,” said Roth. So owners keep a watchful eye on their beloved 4-leggeds. If their pooch proves to be a Houdini, they’re going to search, post flyers, call area animal facilities – you get the drift. Also, thanks to Maine organizations and the Maine Animal Welfare Department having created and promoted affordable and accessible spay/neuter programs over the past 20+ years, stray dogs aren’t adding to the animal population. (For low cost spay/neuter clinics, spaymaine.org/.) Of course, there are local owner relinquishments for a variety of reasons such as home/job changes, divorce, and death. (In 2020, surrenders accounted for only 20% of shelter intakes – PAWS numbers aligned with this.) So, because shelters have a good handle on their intakes and rehoming their animal population, when they have room, many reach out to overcrowded partners in other states and across the globe and transfer animals in, often from high-kill facilities. (2020 stats show an average of 55% canine shelter intakes were transferred in.) It’s terrific to adopt one of these shelter dogs, whether they’re a stray, owner relinquishment, or imported from out-of-state. Regardless of where the companion animal is from, think it through. Butler said to ask yourself two things: “Do you have the patience and time to train your new pet? [and] Do you have the financial resources available?” Roth agreed, “Adoption is a serious decision, and we ask adopters to consider their schedule, family structure, and capacity to care for a pet before they adopt.” Because if you realize after the fact that dog ownership isn’t right for you, what then? He’ll go back

to that organization, and this can be mentally frustrating, even depressing, to him. Roth said they focus on the positive and view returns to understand much more about that animal's personality, needs, and quirks, so they can rehome him in a setting where he’ll best thrive. Maybe he didn’t like other pets in the home or needed more exercise and attention than the family was able to provide. “Many shelters, including the ARLGP, see returns as a learning opportunity. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out, and that is OK,” said Roth. Whether a dog is a return or new to them, ARLGP and PAWS, as well as most shelters, have methods to decompress their pets, so it’s a stress-free experience. ARLGP employs physical and mental enrichment, as well as calming music, aromatherapy, and holistic treatments. “At one point, we even had a volunteer violinist play for our dogs once a week,” Roth said. PAWS became a certified FearFree Animal Shelter – all staff have completed the program. “We use all of the fear-free approaches to help reduce the stress of the animals while in our care,” explained Butler. “A shelter is a place where dogs and cats will be confined, separated from their previous families or living environment, and exposed to more noise and smells due to the close proximity of other dogs and cats. These environmental changes are very stressful for most cats and dogs,” said Butler. This fear-free approach, coupled with all their care, has proven successful as PAWS has a 96% animal placement (save) rate. If adopting a dog isn’t right for you, consider volunteering for or donating to a local animal nonprofit. The staffers at the shelters who care for these pets are remarkably giving and selfless in following their mission. Shelter Costs According to Roth, ARLGP’s cost of care for each canine is about $530.82. “We spay or neuter all dogs before they are adopted, in addition to providing them with necessary medical care (vaccines, treatments, and specialized surgeries, if needed).”

WILLOW IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT MIDCOAST HUMANE – SEE PG. 12.

Obviously, dogs who require surgeries or have special medical needs are going to run more. At PAWS, Butler shared their per dog costs are about $500-plus. Included in that is a $100 spay or neuter, $75 for all vaccines, plus food, preventatives, staffing, and essential veterinarian time. Midcoast Humane out of Brunswick shares on their website that average costs for each dog in their care is $600. This includes medical expenses such as spay/ neuters, surgeries, vaccinations, medicines, and other equipment used daily. Midcoast, like other shelters, has a special donating arm for shelter dogs’

orthopedic surgeries, trauma and emergency care, dental procedures, and cardiological and neurological consultations and treatments. This urgent and specialty veterinary care falls under their Columbo Fund, so named for the Georgia dog who was rescued by his Maine mom while there and needed extensive medical care. Animal shelters always welcome monetary and tangible donations. For Midcoast, midcoasthumane. org/donate/. For ARLGP, arlgp.org/ make-a-gift/donate/. For PAWS, pawsadoption.org/donate-now.

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OCTOBER 2021

Teaching your dog “No!” Its allure and futility The next time you use voice

navigation, imagine Siri telling you where NOT to turn, what street NOT to take, and to boot, she uses an accusatory tone with you. There you are, driving through a big, busy and unfamiliar city. You are a bit nervous, not sure how to get to your destination and Siri tells you things like, “No! Don’t turn there!” “Not that street!” “Not the next one, either!” Absent is all the information on which street to look for, how far away it is, which way you’ll be turning, etc. In other words, everything you need is missing. You are blasted with loads of irrelevant information and are the victim of navigation harassment, too. That would be enough to deter anyone from wanting to travel again! Even when Siri is working properly, she will sometimes get a bit too chatty and you can turn her off, confident that you have sufficiently grasped her instructions (and tired of hearing her repeat herself.)

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

Dog owners are sometimes like Siri’s Evil Twin, nagging their dogs about what they are doing “wrong,” following them around and “correcting them” when they do something that isn’t appropriate. Our poor dogs don’t have the option of shutting

us off or lowering our volume or translating our gibberish into DogSpeak, but they do get very good at ignoring and avoiding us and our frequent nagging because, after all, we are overflowing with irrelevance and are no fun to be around. We can't train the absence of a behavior. "No" means nothing in and of itself. It's a crutch, a way to make us look like we are disciplining a dog for an infraction without putting any of the training effort into teaching skills. We have to flip that way of thinking upside down and decide what we want our dog to do instead. That desired behavior can then be rewarded and a new habit will be born! There is an infinite number of wrong answers, and “no” doesn’t help our dogs get any closer to the right ones. How do you help your dog make good decisions? For every “no,” you feel like saying, there needs to be a corresponding “yes!” We have to find a “yes” in there somewhere, even if it’s just for a small behavior. On top of that, we need to cut the gibberish! A very simple example: I was recently working with a family and their young, jumpy puppy. Each time the puppy jumped up at him, the dad said, “no! Down!” He did this several

times, the son joining in too, to no avail. It didn’t change the puppy’s behavior at all. Why? Because 1) jumping is a very natural thing for a puppy to do to get attention, 2) “No!” and “down!” meant nothing to her, and 3) there was no information on what to do instead of jump. When the puppy turned towards me and was obviously thinking about jumping on me, I silently stood, arms folded in front of me (so as not to be confused with a tug toy) and became very still and quiet - and therefore boring to a busy puppy. When the puppy put all four feet on the floor, I instantly engaged with her. She got excited about this and started to jump up at me. I instantly reverted to my still/quiet stance. Repeated a few times, the puppy got the idea that keeping all four on the floor is what pays off in order for her to get what she wanted: attention. It isn’t always this easy. Sometimes we need to engage the use of management tools to prevent the pup from taking that metaphorical wrong turn. It is our responsibility as dog owners to block off those routes and make the correct path obvious and rewarding. The next time you feel like saying "no" to your dog, think about being that driver with Siri's Evil Twin as your navigator!

Diana Logan, CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge-Assessed Pet Connection Dog Training, North Yarmouth, Maine | www.dianalogan.com | 207-252-9352

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We only accept well socialized dogs and puppies 4 months/ older for daycare

Our doors are open or call ahead for curbside pickup

Supervised playgroups depending on energy level/size

boothbaycanine@gmail.com 653 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay

207-633-DOGS • boothbaycanine.com

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Downeast Dog News

By Susan Spisak

Fostering: Open Your Home to a Pet in Need

Dog fostering is the backbone of

many animal nonprofits, especially rescue organizations who don’t have brick-and-mortar facilities. Fostering is a wonderful way for pet-lovers to instill trust and confidence back into an animal’s life, especially if that’s been lacking. And it’s a terrific to give back to your community and help those who have made rescuing and rehoming animals their mission. I got on board with the rescue I’m involved in, and it made us feel good when each dog found their perfect family. It gave the misplaced souls a chance to relearn how to play, enjoy being doted on, and begin basic obedience training. (Not all dogs in rescues and shelters are “rough.” We just had a few who needed schooling.) Truthfully, it wasn’t always easy for all the canines, but the rescue’s fostering team considered our specific family before placements. Overall, each did well and blossomed. The nonprofit provided monthly preventatives, guidance, encouragement, and ongoing calls to check on progress, as most do. Shannon L. Nachajko, Director of Catahoula Rescue of New England: Houlas & Heelers Inc., said these

homes are essential. Besides the fact that they do not have a facility, Catahoula and Australian cattle dogs don’t do well in confined kennels. “They do not present well to adopters in these small spaces, as they are working dogs and really need to be doing a job.” There’s more to this story. “They start to fail mentally, and in many situations, they shut down. So as a rescue we find the greatest success for these dogs is to have them in foster homes where they learn to be dogs again and we also learn where they will succeed,” explained Nachajko. They educate themselves on the pet’s personality, and work on their pros and cons to set them up for success in their future home. They have four foster homes and need more – the more they have, the more dogs they can help. (For their guidelines and application, nehoularescue.com/guidelines.html.) The 501 (c) 3 Fetching Hope Rescue (FHR) also relies on dog-savvy, allvolunteer foster homes who provide socialization, exercise, and to remind the one-time southern pets that that they're a loved family member. They need more homes as many of their fourteen fosters are inactive due to lifestyle changes and other

At Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital we take a “Whole Health” approach to every animal. Call or email us to learn more

commitments. “Fosters play a crucial role in our rescue. Without foster homes, we would have no rescue,” said FHR’s Rescue Program Director, Alissa Laitres. It costs nothing to be a foster volunteer, and they provide the supplies needed, as well as incredible support from the Foster Coordinator. “Fostering is a fun and rewarding experience. It's an opportunity to save a dog's life while contributing to the efforts of ending pet homelessness,” she said. Their dogs are typically in foster homes for one to three weeks. “We never rush an adoption just to place a dog, so the time a dog stays at their foster home is determined by when we find a suitable adopter for that dog,” Laitres emphasized. They carefully examine the needs of the canine and the family before placement to insure a successful match. FHR also utilizes volunteer transport drivers who meet the incoming professional truck from the south in Shapleigh, ME. These drivers are responsible for safely transporting their rescued dogs to their foster homes. (If you would like to join FHR’s "Foster Pack" in one of these

capacities, contact Foster Coordinator Justine at fosterfetchinghope@gmail. com.) Rescues aren’t the only animal welfare organizations who lean on loving fosters – various humane societies and shelters count on them. “We use our foster care system to send puppies, seniors, and many other dogs into volunteer homes while they await adoption,” said Jeana Roth, Director of Community Engagement at Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. Midcoast Humane in Brunswick has a Foster Program as well. While the animals are usually cats and kittens, from time to time they use fosters for dogs, puppies, rabbits, and other small animals. They provide all training – and they know it’s a family friendly, enriching experience. Others who will fare better in a foster home are abused dogs who require gentle care and pets recovering from surgery. The rescue or humane societies pay for all the pet’s needs and ongoing expenses. (In some instances, you’ll be asked to cover food.) So, if you adore animals and have room in your home, talk to staffers at a local rescue or humane society, check out their requirements, fill out an application, and try it on for size. 136 Western Avenue So. Paris, Maine 04281 www.oxfordhillsvet.com 743-9271

OXFORD HILLS

207-839-7456

tendertouchveterinary@yahoo.com 336 Gorham Road • Scarborough, ME Mon.-Fri. 7-5:30, Sat. & Sun. 9-5

By Dr. Meghan Sullivan, DVM

Canine elbow dysplasia is an

inherited syndrome that is made up of four separate diseases. This is usually caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint which consists of the humerus, ulna, and radius. Elbow dysplasia is most often seen in large to giant breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. Some breeds such as German Shepherds, Mastiffs, and Bernese Mountain dogs have a predisposition to ununited anconeal process. Dogs with elbow dysplasia will often present with lameness between 5 and 12 months of age. The four components of elbow dysplasia include (get ready for this mouthful!) fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP- medial coronoid disease), ununited anconeal process (UAP), incongruity, and osteochondrosis desiccans (OCD). Any of these abnormalities will result in joint inflammation and cartilage damage which cause progressive osteoarthritis. The symptoms of elbow dysplasia include front leg lameness that is progressive. Elbow dysplasia affects both front legs in 35% of affected dogs. The most common symptom is intermittent lameness which often follows vigorous exercise

OCTOBER 2021

Medicine and Surgery for Large and Small Animals

VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Dr. Matthew Holden Dr. Kate Holden

Canine Elbow Dysplasia (especially in “weekend warrior” pups). Diagnostics include a physical examination to detect any lameness, pain during manipulation of the joint, effusion (swelling) within the joint, and thickening of the joint. While standard radiographs can detect arthritis, joint swelling, and ununited anconeal processes, they have a low ability to detect a fragmented medial coronoid process because of the overlapping bones. Advanced imaging such as computed tomography (CT scan) has a superior ability (approaching 90%) to reveal FMCP, and hence, is the “gold standard” for diagnosis of FMCP Elbow arthroscopy (using fiberoptic instruments) is another method (the most sensitive to diagnose medial coronoid disease) for both detecting and treating the syndrome. Treatment for elbow dysplasia depends on first identifying the underlying defect (s). Surgery is recommended to improve the patient’s quality of life, reduce joint pain, and minimize lameness. Arthroscopic surgery is the minimally invasive technique for diagnosing, as well as treating the elbow joint. Arthroscopy is performed under brief general anesthesia and a camera is placed into the joint to evaluate the cartilage and joint. It is used to visualize any

fragments (which are highly irritating to the joint surfaces) within the joint, which can be removed during the same procedure. Postoperative recovery includes moderate exercise restriction for about 6 weeks and then patients can return to normal. Unfortunately, elbow dysplasia does result in progressive arthritis and is not curative. However, with the early and appropriate invention, your dog’s athletic ability can be preserved and lameness/ pain diminished for an extended period. The reported prognosis for improvement is between 50-100%. That means more comfortable hikes, runs, hunts, and group play for your best friend! As joint arthritis progresses, other modalities that may be beneficial include joint Shockwave (PulseVet ®) therapy, joint injections with PRP (platelet-rich plasma), HA (hyaluronic acid), or stem cells. Collectively, these treatments can decrease inflammation, promote healing, and decrease joint pain. For patients with severe lameness, joint pain, and damage, an additional surgery can be performed called the “PAUL” surgery. PAUL stands for proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy which helps to shift weight away from

the damaged part of the joint to a healthier part of joint. This surgery has shown good success in improving patient comfort levels. The newest modality currently available for the management of synovitis (inflammation of the joint) is Synovetin OA®. This technique uses novel, conversion electron therapy (sounds crazy but true) to specifically target the inflammatory cells within the injected joint. It is a targeted treatment to provide pain and inflammation relief for animals with arthritis. Treatment entails one joint injection (into one or both elbows) and has been shown to relieve pain and inflammation for up to 1 year! Overall, elbow dysplasia is a very manageable condition. The key to success is a timely and accurate diagnosis. A consultation with an orthopedic specialist, DACVS (Diplomate of College of Veterinary Surgeons) would be the best way to diagnose your pup and discuss all available treatment options to reduce pain and increase patient mobility! Dr. Meghan Sullivan, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care

Maine Rescues & Shelters Featured Shelters/Rescues

OLD DOGS NEWS DIGS

Some rescues are showing dogs by appointment only right now and some don’t have a physical location to visit but instead use foster families. Please visit their website or give them a call if interested in one of their dogs to determine their application process and to make sure the dog is still available. ALMOST HOME RESCUE

THE ARK ANIMAL SHELTER

So. Portland, ME almosthomerescue.net; info_AHR@yahoo.com

60 Barber Ln., Cherryﬁeld, ME thearkpets.org; (207)546-3484

ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

BANGOR HUMANE SOCIETY

46 Holland Rd., Kennebunk, ME animalwelfaresociety.org; (207)985-3244

693 Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor, ME bangorhumane.org; (207)942-8902

Education • Rehabilitation • Guardianship • Adoption Dedicated 501(c)3 rescue working with shelters and dog owners of both Catahoula Leopard Dogs & Australian Cattle Dogs along the East Coast. 30 Clements Point Rd, Warren, ME 04864 207.273.1320 | 207.975.2909 nehoularescue.com www.facebook.com/CatahoulaNewEngland

CATAHOULA RESCUE OF NEW ENGLAND

LITTLE PAWS BIG HEARTS PEKINGESE RESCUE

Warren, ME nehoularescue.com; sln2310@yahoo.com

PITTIE POSSE

olddogsnewdigs.com

pittieposserescue.com; adoptadmin@pittieposserescue.com

PAWS ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER

POPE MEMORIAL HUMANE SOCIETY

123 John St., Camden, ME pawsadoption.org; (207)236-8702

25 Buttermilk Ln., Thomaston, ME popehumane.org; (207)594-2200

17 Lower Rd., Minot, ME pulledfromthepits.com; (207)740-8229

Kennebunkport, ME luckypuprescuemaine.org; luckypuprescue@gmail.com

HARVEST HILLS ANIMAL SHELTER

MIDCOAST HUMANE ADOPTION CENTER

1389 Bridgton Rd., Fryeburg, ME harvesthills.org; (207)935-4358

30 Range Rd., Brunswick, ME midcoasthumane.org; (207)449-1366

KENNEBEC VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY

MIRACLE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG RESCUE OF MAINE

10 Pethaven Ln., Augusta, ME pethavenlane.org; (207)626-3491

Searsmont, ME miraclegsdmaine.org; (207)266-9676

123 Middle Rd., Skowhegan, ME shsanimalshelter.com; (207)474-6493

RESPONSIBLE PET CARE 9 Swallow Rd., So. Paris, ME responsiblepetcare.org; (207)743-8679

Southern Maine Foster Homes Needed

LUCKY PUP RESCUE

Westbrook, ME fetchinghope.com; transportfetchinghope@gmail.com

SOMERSET HUMANE SOCIETY

Rescue is our favorite breed!

Portland, ME littlepawsbigheartspekerescue.webs. com; littlepawsbigheartspekerescue@ yahoo.com

FETCHING HOPE RESCUE

PULLED FROM THE PITS

FMI email

Foster Coordinator Justine, fosterfetchinghope@gmail.com ME LICENSE #F1490

www.popehumane.org

Est. 2012

25 BUTTERMILK LANE • THOMASTON, ME 04861 Adoptions are by appointment. To schedule an appointment please call

Visit our website to learn more about our nonprofit dog rescue

(207) 594-2200

Nina

w w w. f e t c h i n g h o p e . c o m

Foster based rescue located near Belfast, Maine

RESPONSIBLE PET CARE OF OXFORD HILLS 9 Swallow Road South Paris, Maine 04281

207-743-8679 responsiblepetcare.org

Brownie

We do our best to assist German Shepherd Dogs in ME, MA, and NH, as well as dogs from the Southern states and CA as space permits!

miraclegsdmaine.org miraclegsdmaine@gmail.com 207-266-9676 501(c)3 Non-Profit

DownEastDogSponsor:Layout 1 9/21/21 10:57 AM Page 1

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for a store near you.

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WATERVILLE 109 Main Street

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BREWER 421 Wilson Street

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Downeast Dog News

CAMDEN-ROCKPORT 56 Commercial Street

www.loyalbiscuit.com

OCTOBER 2021

Training Your Performance Dog Agility, Obedience, Tracking by Carolyn Fuhrer Tracking – Building Confidence and Desire S

uccessful tracking comes from the dog wanting to follow the scent you have indicated to them. In this case, the scent of the “start article.” You must motivate them to lock on to this scent because this scent “pays” – and ignore all the other wonderful scents they may come across along the way. You must motivate them to persevere even when the path is hard and it is easier to go another way. You must motivate them to keep working

even when they are tired and would like to stop. So how do you communicate this to your dog? Some dogs find sniffing very rewarding; however, this does not mean your dog will necessarily want to follow the scent of what you have directed them to follow. In order to create desire to follow the scent you have indicated (the start article)

you must in training make the job of following the start article scent very rewarding. This is why using multiple articles on training tracks and rewarding for finding and indicating each article will teach the dog to stay on the scent you started with. I try to communicate to my dog that each article it finds is very important and will “pay” very well. I vary the value of my rewards so the dog will always keep working to find the article that will pay with high value treats. I am enthusiastic about what it finds. Just paying at articles and going on is not always enough for some dogs. Some dogs need excited input; others need sincere appreciation from the handler. This is where relationship comes in. What does your dog need? This could change as the track progresses. This is where tracking really shows off the relationship with your dog. You must train this way with your dog so you can encourage them through the difficult parts of the track and get them to search for that elusive scent one more time. Even though at a test you cannot reward your dog with food at the article, the relationship you develop through training each time your dog finds an article will carry over into competition, and you will be able to help your dog focus and go back to tracking. Spending time at the article

is a good mental break for both dog and handler. It gives the handler a chance to assess what has been going on and where they are on the track and enables the handler through their relationship with the dog to encourage and motivate the dog to go on or to calm and focus the dog on the next section of track. What your dog needs at any particular time will depend on our dog’s personality and the difficulty of the track. When your dog finds multiple articles along the way during training, its confidence builds because it is successful and is praised for its effort. This interaction enhances their relationship with you and will build confidence and desire. Long, arduous, unrewarding tracks will not build the desire you need for a successful tracking dog. If you are struggling with focus or desire, try to put some motivation back into your tracks. Interested in watching an AKC Tracking Test? On Track Agility Club of Maine is hosting a TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) Test in Somerville, ME on October 10; a VST (Variable Surface Test) on October 31 in Augusta, and a TD and TDU test (Tracking Dog and Tracking Dog Urban) in Augusta on November 14. Come out and watch the dogs and handlers and cheer them on – call Kathy at 207-691-2332 for more information.

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 125 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. She has recently become an AKC Tracking Judge. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 30 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

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Downeast Dog News

AVSAB Issues Position Statement on Humane Dog Training Shock, Prong & Choke Collars Should NEVER Be Used In August, the American

Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) issued a position statement on humane dog training. The position statement refutes many myths about dogs, their behavior, and training, such as dominance, pack hierarchy, and the need to be "alpha." They conclude their statement with the following: "Based on current scientific evidence, AVSAB recommends that only reward-based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. AVSAB therefore advises that aversive methods should not be used in animal training or for the treatment of behavior disorders." AVSAB joins the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which have similar position statements. FMI – https:// bit.ly/Pos_HumaneTraining One of the critical reasons for this position is that aversive methods and tools negatively affect animal welfare. They cause distress which is inhumane. "In observational studies, dogs trained with aversive methods or tools showed stress-related behaviors during training, including tense body, lower body posture, lip licking, tail lowering, lifting front leg, panting, yawning, and yelping." In contrast, "Dogs trained with

WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS by Don Hanson

ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

photo credit: debra bell

reward-based methods showed increased attentiveness to their owner." 5 As a pet parent, minimal or no stress and increased attentiveness are precisely what I want in my dog. As a professional dog trainer, I know it is what my clients desire as well. Having a relationship with your dog based on mutual trust is essential to successful training. Anyone who has been intentionally subjected to force or pain or being made fearful knows those things will NEVER build trust. Unfortunately, there are also long-term effects related to the

use of aversives. "Survey studies have shown an association between the use of aversive training methods and long-term behavior problems including aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs, and anxiety-related behaviors such as avoidance and excitability." "Several studies show the effect of aversive training persists beyond the time of training. After dogs learned a cue taught using aversive training methods, they continued to show stress-related behaviors when the cue was presented, suggesting the cue itself had become aversive." In other words, the use of aversives can create a lifetime of chronic stress for a dog. Most of us consider our dog our companion, and many refer to their dog as their best friend. But, who wants a life of chronic stress and fear for their best friend? No one, I hope. Dogs with behavior issues such as reactivity, aggression, anxiety, and hyperactivity are challenging to live with and often have chronic stress in their lives, often creating chronic stress for their person. Since these undesirable behaviors result from an emotional response, they cannot be "trained" away without first building trust. As noted above, aversives NEVER build trust. FMI – http://bit.ly/ Canine-Stress As a trainer, one of the first things I teach my clients is how to manage their dog and the environment to prevent behaviors like aggression and anxiety. These behaviors are much easier to prevent than they are to fix after they develop. Incidentally, Blackwell and Hiby demonstrated

that dogs trained using rewards are less likely to develop behavior problems than dogs trained using aversives. Proponents of inhumane training techniques often argue that force is the only way to get results. However, that position is not supported by science. "Reward-based training methods have been shown to be more effective than aversive methods." "Multiple survey studies have shown higher obedience in dogs trained with reward based methods. A study by Hiby et al. (2004) "… found that obedience levels were highest for dogs trained exclusively with reward-based methods and lowest for dogs trained exclusively with aversive-based methods." The evidence from multiple studies is clear; if you want a well-trained dog, the best way to achieve that goal is with rewards, not punishment. I genuinely believe that no one with a dog wants to hurt his dog. If you or your trainer cannot get results without punishment, step back and recognize it's time for you to learn a better way. Many trainers can help you get the results you want without resorting to aversives. I hope that veterinarians, pet care professionals, pet training and behavior associations, breeders, and animal shelter and rescues will develop their own position statements and policies that support the AAHA, AVSAB, and PPG positions. It is long past time for people to continue abusing dogs in the name of training.

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He also produces and co- hosts The Woof Meow Show heard on AM620 -WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this column are those of Don Hanson.

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OCTOBER 2021

patricialeerodeone@gmail.com 646-729-6633 “Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France

Dogs for Adoption View more available dogs on our website, downeastdognews.com. Many rescues are showing dogs by appointment only right now. Some rescues do not offer phone numbers and require you apply online. Please see the contact info. highlighted in yellow below each dog. SOSA

ROOFUS

4-5 years old, English Bulldog

He has been thriving while boarding with one of our trainers. Doesn’t care for other dogs, ignores them. He's a very funny little guy and keeps us laughing. His ideal adopter will be a female, preferably a oneperson home.

2 years old, Treeing Walker Coonhound

Email: Catahoula Rescue, sln2310@yahoo.com

Email: adoption@bangorhumane.org

My life started out difficult, but I was saved and have bounced back! I don’t like to have others around me when I’m eating. I also don’t like shouting. Well behaved, house broken, and kennel trained. Would love a home with space in the yard for me to run and play!

FMI: almosthomerescue.net

Sponsored by: Scarborough Animal Hospital

RUBY

Needs to be an only pet and has so much love to give her people. Look at that smile! She has lots of energy, so a big, fenced-in yard in a lowtraffic area is a must. Come meet Bailey!

Ruby needs to run and sniff and explore! Does well in her crate but only after she has had the exercise she needs. She will bark and jump and dig and get into mischief when unsupervised. Ruby is doing well in training learning some manners and self-control.

Email: adoption@bangorhumane.org

FMI: luckypuprescue.org

MERLIN

12 Progress Park South, Newport, (207)368-4329, parisfarmersunion.com

LINUS

2 years old,

15 Hardy St., Brewer, (207)989-6300, masonsbrewingcompany.com

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

25 Mechanic St., Camden, (207)236-2661, bagelcafemaine.com

8 years old, Hound

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

1243 Roosevelt Trail, Raymond, (207)655-6760, parisfarmersunion.com

A sweet, kind, funny, charismatic boy. He has two heart conditions and is on medication and has had some recent breathing complications. We are looking for someone to open their home so he can get treatment and learn what home life is all about. Accepting fosters and we will continue to cover the cost of his meds.

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union 227 Main St., So. Paris, (207)743-8960, parisfarmersunion.com

Help us find a forever home! Downeast Dog News

DOE

11 months, Amer. Pit Bull He is a lot of fun and has lots of energy! Loves other dogs, but no cats! Would likely do fine with older kids that are respectful of his space. Needs a strong handler and a home that will be patient and teach him more basic obedience and manners.

4.5 years old, Plott Hound Mix

FMI: P.A.W.S. Adoption, (207)236-8702

FMI: pittieposserescue.com

She is just as sweet as can be. She is energetic and playful and good with other dogs. She is also good with kids that respect her space. She is ready to play and snuggle with a family of her very own.

FMI: P.A.W.S. Adoption, (207)236-8702

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

559 South Main St., Winterport, (207)223-2596, ridgerunnervet.com

SCARLETT

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

1116 Eastman Rd., North Conway, NH, (603)356-5669, parisfarmersunion.com

LARRY

8 years old, Terrier Mix

7 years old, Brittany Spaniel Mix

3 years old,

FMI: Harvest Hills, (207)935-4358

FMI: Little Paws Big Hearts, (207)831-6982

Sweet shy Scarlett was surrendered because she does not like other dogs. Takes some time to warm up, but she is a well-behaved cuddle bug who is loving and loyal with her people! She does well with children, we would recommend 8+, and had a kitty friend.

He wasn't doing well with the other dogs in the home. Sweet, silly Teddy loves to play and cuddle with his people! He would do best in a home that can work on his confidence and is a bit nervous with men. Teddy would be best suited with older, dog-savvy children, 8+ yrs.

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

13 Sandy Creek Rd., Bridgton, (207)647-2383, parisfarmersunion.com

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union

299 Auburn Rd., Turner, (207)225-2525, parisfarmersunion.com

Energetic and very loving. He would love a family who is active he loves walking and hiking and running. He would do best in a home with no other dogs he does not mind cats and is young and needs help with basic manners.

Sponsored by: Paris Farmers Union 230 Main St., Jay, (207)897-3333, parisfarmersunion.com

Become a sponsor and help raise money for a Maine rescue. jenn@downeastdognews.com

OCTOBER 2021

October C lendar To submit or get more information on the events below, go online to downeastdognews.com PAWS ON PARADE

IN THE KITCHEN WITH KEVIN

Saturday, October 2 Bangor, 9AM

Sunday, October 24 Online, 7PM

Husson University, 1 College Circle, Bangor. Paws on Parade is the Bangor Humane Society’s largest annual fundraising event. Each year, hundreds of people and dogs gather to participate in a group dog walk which benefits the animals of the BHS. This year’s theme will be “Woofstock”! Costumes are encouraged for both people and pets. Please visit website FMI: bangorhumane.org

The next Loyal Biscuit Facebook segment, “In the Kitchen with Kevin” will air on Sunday October 24th at 7pm. Heidi and Kevin(pug) will be creating their next yummy treat for your pups. Visit the website for upcoming dates/recipes as well as past recipes. https://www. loyalbiscuit.com/in-the-kitchen-with-kevin

AKC AGILITY ACT TEST

NAIL TRIMMING CLINIC

Sunday, October 24 Somerville, 9AM

Saturday, October 2 Rockland, 12PM – 3PM

Is your pet in need of a pedicure? Bring them down to Pet Quarters located at 235 Camden St, Rockland and Shannon from Catahoula Rescue of New England will be on hand to make your fur kids look their very best! We trim not only dogs, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, you name it! Nail Trimmings and Ear Cleanings are $10.00 each or a combo price of $12.00 for both. All funds raised go directly to the rescue.

NAIL CLIPPING CLINIC Saturday, October 9 Waterville, 10AM – 12PM

Waterville Loyal Biscuit Co., 109 Main Street. For $10 per pet, you can have your pet's nails trimmed and all proceeds will be donated to Charley's Strays, Inc! No appointment necessary. In order to ensure a safe environment for all of our customers, please note: Nail trims will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Nail clipping customers will be asked to wait outside the back entrance of the store (off of Temple Street) for their turn. An employee will call you in! loyalbiscuit.com

AGILITY FUN RUN Saturday, October 9 Union, 9AM – 3PM

Canine Agility League is hosting a fun run. Experienced and beginner dogs and handlers are welcome. $25 per dog. Union Fairgrounds, Fairground Ln. FMI: dawn@ swiftstorageinc.com or (207)691-0301

AKC TDX TRACKING TEST

NAIL CLIPPING CLINIC

On Track Agility Club of Maine is holding an AKC Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) test at North Star Dog Training School, 252 Jones Rd., Somerville. Drawing for order of tracks will be at 9:15 AM at North Star. If you want to watch and learn about TDX, this is a great opportunity to see handlers and dogs attempting to pass this difficult and exciting test! Call Kathy FMI. (207)691-2332 or e-mail: kduhnoski@myfairpoint.net

Brewer Loyal Biscuit Co., 421 Wilson Street. For $10 per pet, you can have your pet's nails trimmed and all proceeds will be donated to Old Dogs New Digs! No appointment necessary. In order to ensure a safe environment for all of our customers, please note: Nail trims will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Nail clipping customers will be asked to wait outside the front entrance of the store for their turn. An employee will call you in! loyalbiscuit.com

Sunday, October 10 Somerville, 9:15AM

TOENAIL TUESDAY

Tuesday, October 12 Rockland, 11AM – 1PM Is your pet in need of a pedicure? Bring them down to Pet Quarters located at 235 Camden St, Rockland and Shannon from Catahoula Rescue of New England will be on hand to make your fur kids look their very best! And remember we trim not only dogs, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, you name it! Nail Trimmings and Ear Cleanings are available for $10.00 each or combo price of $12.00 for both. All funds raised go directly to rescue.

LUCY

Saturday, October 16 Brewer, 10AM – 12PM

NAIL TRIMMING CLINIC Sunday, October 17 Rockland, 12PM – 2PM

STELLA

On Track Agility Club of Maine will hold an AKC Agility ACT Test in the agility field at North Star Dog Training School, 252 Jones Rd., Somerville. Contact Kathy for more info on how to enter or to come and observe. ACT is the entry level test for AKC's agility program. Questions? Call Kathy at (207)691-2332.

HOWL-O-RUN

Saturday, October 30 Lamoine, 9AM 5k to benefit the SPCA of Hancock County. Marlboro Beach Rd, Lamoine. Leashed dogs and costumes welcome! FMI: spcahancock.org

AKC VST TRACKING TEST Sunday, October 31 Augusta, 9:45 AM

On Track Agility Club of Maine is holding an AKC VST (Variable Surface) Tracking Test in Augusta, at Viles Arboretum, Hospital Street, Augusta. The VST is the highest level of tracking title awarded by the American Kennel Club and involves dog and handler teams following human scent over variable surfaces. Drawing for the order of tracks will be at the Viles Arboretum at 9:45. Come out and watch the handlers and their dogs as they work to achieve this title. FMI call Kathy at (207)691-2332 or email: kduhnoski@ myfairpoint.net

FRANK

4+ years old, Maremma Sheepdog/ Mix

6 years old, Amer. Pit Bull Mix

4 years old, Retriever Mix

FMI: Kennebec Valley Humane Society, (207)626-3491

FMI: shsanimalshelter.com

Laid-back, easy-going love bug with people she trusts. With strangers, I can get really freaked out! This means I can jump and lunge, and even bark! I do like other animals. I have mild arthritis and other mild health problems that will sometimes need attention.

PRINCESS

3 years old, Staffie Mix

She has so much energy! Her ideal family would be very active and take her on many adventures. She would do best in a home as the only pet to start out. She will need basic manners training, but is housetrained and such a lovable girl.

FMI: shsanimalshelter.com

A shy girl at first, but it doesn’t take me long to come around. When I do, I am a love bug! I am not one for other dogs or kitties. Recommend potential owners connect with a trainer for a few sessions to get me off to a good start in my new home.

A very sweet dog and likes all the people he meets. He had a very neglected life and will sometimes food and resource guard with other dogs. For that reason, we believe he would prefer to be the only animal in his next home.

Become a sponsor of an adoptable dog in our paper and help raise money for a Maine rescue. Call Jenn (207)706-6765 Downeast Dog News

Business Directory MIDCOAST

CENTRAL MAINE

STATEWIDE Sara Moore

The final act of kindness for your pet, in the comfort of home. • Affordable • All Species • Cremation thru Ashes to Ashes • In-home Consultations

Robin Elms, DVM

Wiscasset, Maine • 207-882-6128 redseatsmaine.com

HOT DOG

from page 2

501(c)3 organizations within the last three years. Pope Memorial Humane Society of Thomaston, Maine was awarded a $5,000 grant which will allow them to update their Animal Control Officer drop off room. Their goal is to provide a more relaxing, stress-free environment for animals that are dropped off during non-shelter hours. Pope announced that there will be a special dedication to Fenway’s memory (a PMHS alum) in the ACO room once it is completed. PAWS Animal Adoption Center in Camden-Rockport, Maine was awarded a $2,000 grant for the installation of a

STRIKER

Communicate with your pets, living or deceased with Sara Moore. Long distance sessions available!

cell (848) 333-2211 robin.elmsdvm@yahoo.com www.apeacefulpassage.net

sound system within their building to provide the animals in their care with relaxing music. PAWS is currently in the process of obtaining their fear-free shelter certification. Finally Home Senior Rescue & Retirement Home of North Yarmouth, Maine was awarded a $4,130 grant to purchase and install a heat pump that will better control the climate in their newly constructed addition that houses the senior dogs in their care. “While this fund and all its disbursements have always meant so much to me, this round was incredibly special, and emotional,” stated Neal. “Fenway leaves behind a legacy that we could all only hope for. She has changed the lives of so many, in so many

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different ways and will continue to live on in all we do.” The application process for the Fenway Fund will reopen again in 2022 for any 501c3 Maine animal related organizations. For more information or questions about the Fenway Fund application process, please visit https:// www.loyalbiscuit. com or contact heidi@loyalbiscuit. com.

LtoR - PJ WALTER (LOYAL BISCUIT CO. FENWAY FUND COMMITTEE MEMBER) PRESENTS FENWAY FUND GRANT CHECK TO CHRYS DELORIMIER (POPE MEMORIAL HUMANE SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR)

PHIN

SIRUS

3 years old, Boxer/Staffie Mix

2.5 years old, Mixed Breed

7 months., Terrier Mix

FMI: shsanimalshelter.com

FMI: The ARK Shelter, (207)546-3484

He is a very loving and active boy. He enjoys playing fetch and going for walks. He would like to be the only animal in the household. He would love to find his forever home as he has been overlooked for many months.

He should be the only dog. Such a good boy, and very sweet. He loves to play toys, be loved, sleep next to his owner’s feet, and play outside. He has a great temperament, and he is well behaved! He has been here far too long!

Such a silly puppy! He’s certainly ready to go home and get comfy with his new family. Isn’t he gorgeous?

Sponsored by: Kompletely K-9 Dog Training and Rehab.

2021 October Downeast Dog News

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