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HEY! STUFF TO DO
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE PUBLISHER/EDITOR Casey Dean COVER PHOTO Dana Gambill Wagz Pet Photography (858) 442-6112 www.wagzpetphotography.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Carlson Nichole MacDowell Arden Moore Martin Jones Westlin
GUEST WRITERS Mark Carlson Arden Moore Stefanie Schwartz, DVM Victoria Stilwell
ARTIST PROFILE Rachel Bellinsky www.rachelbellinsky.com
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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BEST KIND A LOOK INTO THE HELLEN WOODWARD ANIMAL CENTER’S POPULAR PROGRAM. SEE PAGE 18
TRAIN YOUR DOG POSITIVLEY! Guest Column by Renowed Dog Trainer Victoria Stilwell. See page 9
If You Love Something... The story of a how a little furry miracle found its way into the perfect home (twice). See page 21
Henry and Tink: A Remarkable Romance The special kinship between a three-legged cat named Henry and a two-legged Dachshund named Tink. See page 16
A Fight for the Ferrets A La Mesa man taking his fight for legalizing ferrets to people in high places through a petition drive aimed at reversing current sanctions. See page 23
CARTOONIST Barbara Fuscsick Puppy Paws Productions www.puppypawsproductions.com
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Casey Dean (619) 573-5615 Casey@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 921601081. No part of this publication may be duplicated or reprinted without express consent from the publisher. Editors reserve the right to edit all content. Submissions are welcome, and may be edited for content and clarity. Please forward all unsolicited material to the editor. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to approve or accept advertising orders and content. All contents are copyrighted 2013. All rights reserved.
/SanDiegoPets San Diego Pets Magazine P.O. BOX 601081 San Diego, Ca 92160-1081 (619) 573-5615 SANDIEGOPETSMAGAZINE.COM www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 5
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COVER STORY
Dr. Gary Weitzman with his two rescue dogs, Jake and Betty Crocker. Photo by Dana Gambill, Wagz Pet Photography.
Blazing theTrail for Animal Welfare B y
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Dr. Gary Weitzman knew that landing the top job at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA would be no easy feat. He sported a strong resume as a veterinarian and president of the Washington Animal Rescue League in the nation’s capitol, but knew competition for this coveted position would be intense.
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aturally, he was jubilant when the board selected him, but then he faced an even greater challenge: driving cross country for seven days in his packed Land Rover with his big rescued dogs, a pit bull named Betty Crocker and a German Shepherd named Jake. “Let me just say it was a very l-o-n-g drive,” he laughs now. “Betty is an incredibly even-tempered dog whose life revolves around giving people back-end wiggles. Jake is my problem son. I say that with affection. He is anxious, pushy and incredibly vocal. We’ve worked with many trainers and behaviorists and I really love this dog, but again, he can be quite the barky back-seat driver, especially on a very long drive.” 6 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Dr. Weitzman officially began his duties as president and chief executive officer on May 14, 2012 and immediately started steering this 132-year-old organization forward with his innovative ideas and ability to create community collaboration. This is not a man who spends a lot of time looking in the rear view mirror of past accomplishments or setbacks. He cruised into San Diego County with a can-do drive that leaders in the pet community have noticed and applauded. “In the first six months of his tenure, we have witnessed the San Diego Humane Society ascend to even a higher level with a number of new and innovative programs that will benefit animals and our community,” notes Robert Cartin, DVM,
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“The wonderful work done by Dr. Gary and the SDHS has greatly strengthened the human-animal bond in San Diego and continues to make our region among the most pet friendly in the nation.” — Robert Cartin, DVM
veterinarian and owner of the Mission Animal and Bird Hospital in Oceanside. “The wonderful work done by Dr. Gary and the SDHS has greatly strengthened the human-animal bond in San Diego and continues to make our region among the most pet friendly in the nation.” Dr. Cartin was among those in attendance at the inaugural Companion Circle Reception event held at the North Campus in Oceanside last fall where Dr. Weitzman outlined an ambitious campaign he dubbed Getting To Zero.
Among the key tasks set for 2013:
SAVING EVERY ADOPTABLE ANIMAL. Acknowledging that shelters across the country harbor large numbers of pit bulls, SDHS organized a month-long education outreach program for this breed that culminated in a bully beauty contest in San Diego and Oceanside. The fun event educated the public about this misunderstood breed and doubled the number of pit bull adoptions from the previous year. In addition, a new hospital and surgical suite opened in June 2012 at the shelter on Airport Road in Oceanside to provide medical care for adoptable animals. SDHS recently opened a satellite adoption center at the Petco store in El Cajon.
IMPROVING LIFE FOR SHELTER KITTENS AND CATS. Last year, cats and small animals were transferred from the North Campus to be out of sight and sound of shelter dogs and placed inside the new nearby Airport Road building, creating a more peaceful environment for them. Staff expanded the Paws to Success Kitten Nursery program at the North and Central campuses as well.
Gary Weitzman, DVM (right) has compiled a most impressive record of accomplishments during more than 20 years of experience as an animal welfare professional, veterinarian, and community advocate.
PUTTING A LID ON PET OVERPOPULATION. This fiscal year, the shelter expects to provide 5,000 free or low-cost spay/neuter procedures in mobile surgical units and on site to address the serious plight of animal homelessness in this county . “We are making spaying and neutering accessible and affordable throughout the county,” he says.
BEING A TEAM PLAYER FOR THE SAKE OF COMPANION ANIMALS. Dr. Weitzman says his agency will step up its efforts with the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition. “One common tragedy in the animal welfare world is to throw stones at others,” he says. “Our central philosophy is to push for greater collaboration with other groups and agencies because we’re not in this alone.”
CRACKING DOWN ON ANIMAL CRUELTY AND CAMPAIGNING TO STOP THE SALE OF PETS IN STORES. “Pet stores who are selling puppies and
Jake
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kittens are simply supporting puppy mills,” he says. “It must stop. It’s primitive and medieval and contributes to animal cruelty.” Last year, the SDHS and SPCA’s humane law enforcement department responded to 1,845 cases of neglect, abuse or request for assistance. The team also seized 117 animals from a pet store and was able to eventually find suitable homes for these neglected animals.
SEE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY, Page 8 www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 7
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SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY CONTINUED FROM Page 7
PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. The plan is to expand the shelter’s community education programs and stage more events beyond the annual fun walk, telethon and Fur Ball gala. Project KEPPT (Keeping Every Person and Pet Together) provides a vaccination clinic, pet food bank, licensing, microchipping, behavior and training advice, pet-friendly housing referrals and other useful services to low-income pet owners who qualify..
sented and we adopted Cocoa, a Shepherd mix from a local shelter. As my mother and I were walking out the door to the shelter, my father said, ‘Don’t come back with a dog,’ but when we came home with Cocoa, he fell in love with her within 20 seconds.” Despite the fact that both his parents were chemists, Dr. Weitzman knew by grade school that he wanted to become a veterinarian. He earned his degree at the prestigious Tufts University and added a master’s degree in public health from Harvard and Boston universities. Although he was raised on the East Coast, he did operate a veterinary clinic in Burlingame, Calif. and says he has felt right at home from day 1 since taking on the duties at the SDHS and SPCA. “I lived in the Bay Area of California for 10 years before taking the Washington, D.C. job and fell in love with this state,” he says. “I knew I wanted to get back to California, but I wanted to go to a shelter I respected. I seriously think that this is the best animal shelter in the United States. It is 132 years old and there is still a lot that can be done. The fact that they could still need me, is a relief.” And, how has his dogs, Betty Crocker and Jake adjusted to living the California dream? “We love going to Dog Beach in Ocean Beach,” he says. “I may be biased, but Betty is the sweetest living creature I know. She’s the poster girl for what dogs should be as companion animals. As for my boy, Jake, well, he’s so much better in San Diego than when he was on the East Coast. He’s calmer and becoming a true southern Californian.”
Dr. Weitzman acknowledges his must-do agenda is ambitious, but seems to thrive when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. His drive to make this planet a better place for pets first surfaced as a child growing up in Natick, Massachusetts, a small town just outside of Boston. As the oldest of three brothers, he desperately wanted his parents to get a family dog. “I think I’ve wanted a dog since birth, but they said no,” he recalls. So, I got even by filling up our home with birds, gerbils, guinea pigs, and rabbits. I think at one time I had a colony of 35 gerbils. When I was nearly 17, my parents finally con-
DR. GARY WEITZMAN, DVM, hosts a weekly radio program ‘The Animal House’ airing on KPBS 89.5. The program offers expert advice on all pet-related questions, and aims to deepen human understanding of animals and explain the powerful bonds between humans and animals. You can submit your pet questions to: animalhouse@wamu.org or via the listener phone-in number at (877)610-3647. Tune in to KPBS 89.5 FM every Saturday at 5 a.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. to hear the show live! 8 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
GUEST COLUMN
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Renowed Dog Trainer Vic toria Stilwell:
TRAIN YOUR DOG POSITIVELY! as anyone ever told you that if your dog goes through an open door ahead of you it’s a sign that he’s asserting his dominance? Or if a dog walks in front of you or pulls on a leash he is doing so because he wants to be pack leader? What about lying on a sofa, sleeping in your bed, or growling at you as you take his bone away? Are these really all signs of an intense struggle between man and dog over status in the household? Is everything dogs think, feel, and do the result of an unmitigated desire to dominate us and everything else in their quest to become top dog? Concepts like these have been pounded into our public consciousness for decades, leading people to believe that any type of misbehavior by their dogs is a byproduct of an innate, instinctive desire to be dominant over everything and everyone—especially humans. This assumption forms the foundation of traditional dog training ideology, despite advances in modern behavioral science that prove unequivocally that such so-called “dominance theory” is virtually useless in terms of understanding canine behavior. Indeed, most of the information still available to the general public continues to promote and endorse solutions to a dominance problem that doesn’t really exist—at least not in the way some might think it does. I don’t understand how anyone can justify the use of pain and intimidation such as hitting, kicking, jerking, scruffing, restraining, poking or using electric shock, to train dogs when there is a mountain of evidence demonstrating how damaging and dangerous these techniques are. There are many other methods that are much more effective, safer and humane to use. Punitive techniques rely on suppression of
SEE STILWELL, Page 10
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Train Your Dog Positively is available online at Amazon.com or on Victoria’s website, http://positively.com.
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behavior, rather than working to change it – there is a big difference. Let’s say your dog is aggressive on the leash to other dogs walking by. The dominance trainer would very likely use one or more of the above techniques to punish the dog, with no concern as to why the dog is aggressing. If the punishment is severe enough, the dog is likely to stop aggressing at that moment but is more likely to aggress again when another dog is encountered. Positive trainers work completely differently. To begin with, we want to know why the dog is aggressing and then we can adopt a unique training
plan to curb the dog’s need to aggress (the root of most aggression is fear). We help owners change the way their dog feels so that he no longer feels the need to aggress, and we understand that punishing a dog for aggressing only serves to make the dog more insecure and the aggressive behavior worse. We start by teaching the dog an action or behavior that is incompatible with lunging, such as playing with a toy, sitting and staying, walking to heel, or utilizing a ‘go find’ it game with food, to name but a few. Once the dog learns these skills, another dog is introduced. When that dog approaches, the new set of skills is put into action. Not only is our dog doing something fun when the other is walking past but now just the sight of other dogs brings on the game, food or toys, thereby building up a positive association. Teaching new skills to the former lunger not only gives him something else to do but also helps him to feel differently about approaching dogs because now good things happen to him. This is just one example of the way positive reinforcement works and shows how safe and effective this method can be. The dominance epidemic is the greatest tragedy in dog training today and is one of the reasons why I wrote my third book, ‘Train Your Dog Positively.’ The main goal of the book is to provide user-friendly, science-based information about how to most effectively teach your dog by harnessing the power of positive training to create balanced relationships based on mutual trust, respect and love rather than pain, fear & intimidation.
Top Eight Things Your Groomer Wants
You to Know
By Nichole MacDowell SAN DIEGO PETS
These top tips from the experts will help you keep your dog well cared for and pampered, and make the grooming process easier for everyone. 1. REGULAR GROOMING IS A MUST. It’s helpful to keep your dog in a routine
5. YOU CAN WASH YOUR DOG BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS. Washing your
when it comes to coat and nail care. Make sure that dogs are brought in regularly to keep the upkeep to a minimum, and that puppies are brought in early so that a trip to the groomer is not so traumatic, says Steven Land, head groomer at City Dog in downtown San Diego.
dog frequently will not dry out his or her skin if you use the proper shampoo, says Walker. The San Diego lifestyle can cause a dog to need frequent washes. In fact, washing your dog at a self serve dog wash in between grooming will often give your groomer an easier time and may even cost less on the trip to the groomer’s, says Carroll.
2. YOU CAN PREP YOUR DOG FOR THE GROOMING EXPERIENCE. There are several things you can do to familiarize your pet with what will happen at the groomer’s. First, get your dog used to being touched. Regularly touching your dog on its feet and near its mouth and eyes will make the job easier for your groomer, according to Adriana Vigil, groomer at Camp Run-a-Mutt in Point Loma. You can also mimic the sounds your pet will encounter at the groomer by using your electric toothbrush near your dog. That way he or she won’t be frightened by the buzz of the clippers and other equipment, says Vigil.
3. YOU MUST BRUSH YOUR DOG BETWEEN GROOMING APPOINTMENTS. “You’d be surprised how many people don’t,” says Vigil. It’s also important to make sure you’re using the right brush, says Stephanie Carroll from Camp Diggity Dogs in downtown San Diego. There are brushes specifically designed for the undercoat, the overcoat or to demat. Ask your groomer for suggestions. Ms. Michelle, owner at Bow Wow Beauty Shoppe in Hillcrest, suggests brushing at least three times per week. “Watch TV and give your dog his or her favorite treat afterwards. This is great bonding time, and your furry baby will actually look forward to it,” she says.
4. YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE YOUR DOG’S NAILS. No matter how often you schedule a grooming appointment, get your dog’s nails trimmed frequently or trim them yourself. Long nails can cause joint damage, according to Vigil. Donna Walker at South Bark Dog Wash in San Diego says that untrimmed nails can curl and grow right into the skin, especially dew claws.
If you plan on bathing your dog between grooming appointments, dry him or her completely. According to Land, a dog with long or curly hair has an undercoat that can mat up like a cotton ball if not dried completely. This makes the groomer’s job that much harder and the dog’s experience worse.
6. BUT WATCH THE BATH TEMPERATURE AND USE DOG SHAMPOO. Washing your dog in water that is too hot is a no-no. According to Carroll, a dog’s body temperature is higher than a human’s, which makes a hot bath very uncomfortable; she adds that hot water will also dry a dog’s skin out. The ideal temperature is 82 degrees. Carroll also warns against using human shampoo. A dog’s skin has a different pH than that of a human. It is also five times thinner than human skin, which makes it more susceptible to skin issues.
7. DO A THOROUGH CHECK OF YOUR DOG’S FEET AND EARS. According to Kelly Tomke, owner of Salty Dawg Salon & Boutique in East Village, debris such as foxtails, dirt, sticks and gum can be easily missed between toes or in ears, especially in dogs with curly, long hair. This debris can cause discomfort for your dog, but can also cause sores and even infections if left unattended.
8. FEED YOUR PET THE GOOD STUFF. A good skin and coat for a dog starts with good nutrition, says Walker. Pay attention to the food you’re feeding your pet and choose brands that have quality, balanced ingredients. Check out our online directory for a comprehensive list of dog groomers and grooming facilities in your area. www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 11
Behavior Bytes
Time is Key in New Beginnings
Stefanie Schwartz,
DVM, MSc, DACVB Veterinary Behavior Medicine drstef@petbehavior.org
Dear Dr. Schwartz,
My 15 year old Malti-Poo died just before the holidays and I was heartbroken as you can imagine. My family felt so sorry for me that they decided to buy me another dog for Christmas. They chose a little dog from a shelter who looks like a Poodle crossed with a Dachshund; I guess that makes her a Poo-Weenie or maybe a Weiner-Poo? Anyway, I’m having a hard time bonding with this little one, even though she really is very sweet. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help, Maggie
Dear Maggie,
The holidays are emotionally charged enough without having to deal with the 12 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
loss of someone who was so close to you for so long. It can be very distressing to watch someone you love grieve over a pet, and some will try to distract you from your grief with a new pet. The problem is that the grieving process is an essential and normal part of recovering. It can be blunted or suppressed, but it will re-emerge at some point later on when it might be harder to deal with. Emotionally, you weren’t ready for a new pet, but there she is. There may be another reason that you haven’t felt as drawn to your new friend. Pets who are given as gifts, a common practice at holiday time, may not be as appreciated as pets who are chosen by the pet parent. The motivation to invest emotionally and financially in gifted pets is just not the same; unfortunately, the pets are the ones who are affected most. Give yourself time to recover from the holidays and don’t push away your grief. At the same time, don’t make comparisons between your pets. Each one of them is a special gift that will find a unique place in your heart; just give them and yourself the chance.
Dear Dr. Schwartz,
We just got a new cat. Chantal is about five years old and we got her from a friend who’s child developed a cat allergy.
We’ve had her confined to the spare bedroom for about two weeks. Our own cat Bradley is a laid back boy of about 8 years. We used to have another cat who died about a year ago. When should we introduce them? Thanks, 2Cats4U
Dear 2Cats4U,
Bradley lived happily with another cat and he has a fundamentally social nature because of it. Introducing a female into your home might be less threatening to his sense of territory and status than another male might have, although some females can be more macha than any male cat. In this case, Chantal was raised as a solitary pet and might have a harder time adapting. Still, there is something to be said for the ‘magic’ in any new relationship, and so their compatibility is not easily predicted. Two weeks of confinement is not enough for the introduction of adult cats, particularly when both may have rusty social skills. It’s always better to take things too slowly than too fast; once a bad first impression is made it is much harder to undo. Continue Chantal’s confinement for another two weeks. Then let her start to explore her new home when
Bradley is confined to some other confined space. He certainly knows she’s around and will get to know her ‘remotely’. By the time you allow them to see each other in about six to eight weeks, they should both be settling in. Supervise them carefully for the first few weeks, allowing just a few minutes of visual contact before returning Chantal to her safe room. For more details of how to systematically introduce your new pets, please visit the Quickfix Handout page at www.petbehavior.org
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Dr. Stefanie Schwartz is a board certified veterinary behaviorist based in Southern California. She sees patients at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad and at The Veterinary Neurology Center in Tustin, CA. For more information, please call (949) 3426644 or visit http://petbehavior.org/.
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 13
ARTIST PROFILE
RACHEL BELLINSKY
I am a photographer and graphic designer here in San Diego. I take my camera with me every day when I walk my dog, Cooper, and in my neighborhood, the animals reign supreme. They’re everywhere, and they make great photographic subjects. Tails from the Fishbowl started with one or two window shots, first an orange tabby, then some kind of terrier mutt, sitting behind glass. Suddenly I was seeing animals in windows all over the place, and the collection kept growing. I shot any and every animal I came across who happened to be sitting in a window. They reminded of fish, each behind glass in their own little “bowl”. When you see so many of these scenes together, it starts to tell a “tale” about our relationship with the animals we share our homes with. It took about two years to complete the book, as I was learning how to shoot and seeing the patterns in my immediate environment. There are a ton of things around here you could make a collection out of – old cars, stray cats, flowers. I realized after a handful of “pets in the window” shots that there was a book in there. I’m still actively shooting similar scenes for a possible second edition. A portion of the proceeds from the book will go to the Humane Society. If my book could save a few animals that way, it would make me very happy. Thanks! Rachel
MEET THE ARTIST: New works by Rachel Bellinsky will be featured Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the 3RD SPACE, 4610 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116. More information about this event at http://3rdspace.co/
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"Tails from the Fishbowl" is a collection of animal portraits taken by Rachel Bellinsky while walking her dog, Cooper, through their Southern California neighborhood. This 72-page book features colorful, charming images of a world where every pet has a room with a view. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Humane Society. Copies of the book can be purchased at www.rachelbellinsky.com.
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 15
Arden Moore,
ACCBC, ADCBC Pet trend, behavior and safety expert Arden@FourLeggedLife.com
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n honor of Valentine’s Day, can you identify famous “romantic” couples in the world of animals? Here are ones that come to mind. First, there’s the spaghetti-sharing doggy duet of Lady and The Tramp in that famous Disney flick. And don’t forget about that patient frog named Kermit who finally won over the flamboyant Miss Piggy in the Muppet movies. But we have a real-life example right here in San Diego. Let me tell you of the special kinship between a three-legged cat named Henry and a two-legged Dachshund named Tink. Together, they only have five legs, but their tale is of hope, inspiration and resiliency. Henry, a tiger-striped tabby, survived an injury as a kitten that required his left front paw to be amputated at the shoulder. Tink was born minus front legs as a result of puppy mill over breeding. Undaunted by their physical limitations, Henry has become a cat celebrity with his own website (www.henrysworld.org). Named the ASPCA Cat of the Year in 2010, he has been featured in books, classroom activity worksheets, educational puppets and even a motivational song aimed at children of all ages and people facing some of life’s toughest challenges. And he is quite capable of effortlessly soaring from the floor and landing lightly on a countertop. The upbeat Tink quickly learned to bounce on her chest to move at a surprisingly fast pace before being fitted with a customized cart than enables her 16 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
to wheel around with ease. You should see her cornering prowess. The pair met a few years ago and have been fast friends ever since. They cuddle, play chase and enjoy hide-andseek. So much for that “fight like cats and dogs” adage. Their story is captured – and captivating – in new, beautifully illustrated book called, Henry and Tink: A Remarkable Romance. The Love Story of A Three-Legged Cat and a Two-Legged Dog. Chronicling this unlikely friendship is Henry’s pet parent, Cathy Conheim, of La Jolla with an assist from her writing partner, BJ Gallagher, of Los Angeles. Recently, I invited Conheim, a longtime psychotherapist, to be a special guest on my Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio to share some of the “kibble
for thought” that Henry and Tink convey in the pages of their book. To tune in, please go to www.petliferadio.com/ behave.html and scroll to her specific episode.
Among the life lesson they teach us: • Everyone is special in his or her own way. • Love comes when you least expect it. • Hard things happen. • Open your hearts and minds to new things. • Play the hand (or paw) you’re dealt in life. “Their love story is about acceptance and not seeing differences in others as being good or bad,” says Conheim, who lightheartedly describes her official role as cat scribe. Conheim has distributed thousands of copies of this book and other Henry-
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All three books can be picked up at Burns Drugs in La Jolla
themed books in English and Spanish to children coping with poverty, disease and adjusting to disabilities in themselves or their military parents who have returned injured from war. She is making available the books at cost to any non-profit organization and has donated copies to schools. And, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, she is giving away autographed copies of the Henry and Tink book to five lucky readers of this column who email me (Arden@fourleggedlife.com) with the subject header: Henry and Tink. “We are not book sellers; we are healers and educators wanting to make a difference,” says Conheim. “Animals like Henry and Tink are great teachers because they are fully present beings. They don’t seem to dwell on the past. They simply move on.” Genuine love comes in many shapes – just ask a special three-legged cat and a two-legged dog. Founder of Four Legged Life.com and creator of National Dog Party Day, Arden Moore is an animal behavior consultant, best-selling author, professional speaker and certified pet first aid instructor. Tune into her Oh Behave! Show on Pet Life Radio and enroll in her pet first aid classes to earn certification. For more information, please visit www.fourleggedlife.com, www.petfirst aid4u.com and www.petliferadio.com/behave.html. www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 17
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BEST KIND O
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nce in a while in life we encounter what is euphemistically called a “Win-win situation.” They’re rare, but they do exist. The Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy (PET) program has become the epitome of Win-Win for everyone involved; volunteers, seniors, health care professionals, sick and injured children, veterans, nursing and assisted living facilities and even animals. Quite a list, but it’s all true. For over thirty years PET has brought suitable animals to nursing homes, hospitals and care facilities in upper San Diego County. Dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles and one particularly precocious Cockatoo, have, through their wonderful gift of unconditional love and affection brought smiles to the faces of thousands of people of all ages who have found little to smile about in their lives. “PET started in the 1980s,” said Robin Cohen, a San Diego native and manager of the program. “At first it wasn’t very well received, as a lot of health care people thought dogs were dirty and didn’t really provide any therapeutic
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value. But one skilled nursing facility did try it out and they found that animals could reach out to sick, injured, mentally ill and depressed patients better than humans.’ Cohen, a warm-hearted and spirited woman with a degree in cultural anthropology started working at Helen Woodward exactly 21 years ago. “I went right out of college,” she said. “I fell in love with this place and never looked back.” Cohen is the only HWAC employee in the PET program. “We have about 65 volunteers,” she said. “About half have their own dogs, which we take to various facilities in San Diego and the rest work with smaller animals, the rabbits,
P E T S
guinea pigs and so on.” Asked about how much of the county the PET program covers, she explained, “It’s actually based on how long the animals can comfortably ride in a vehicle. About half an hour is best. We go down into the city, east as far as La Mesa, up to Escondido, and west to Oceanside. It’s a big rectangle. When I first started we did about 17 visits a month, but now we do more than forty.” “It’s really grown, and we work with children, psychiatric clients, people with Alzheimer’s, active duty military, women dealing with high-risk pregnancy, anywhere that people need that love, and can’t have it in their lives because they are physically or emotion-
FEATURE
ally unable to care for an animal, we try to provide that for them.” Cohen related some of the encounters. “At one local skilled nursing facility, a 90-year old woman who had no visitors and didn’t communicate with staff or anyone. But when we came in with the dogs, she brightened, reached over the bed rail and petted the dogs all the time we were there. She only had eyes for the dogs.” The love dogs can bring is to be expected but PET also uses a beautiful Umbrella Cockatoo named Harriet. At forty years of age with lovely white plumage and a feather crest that would make Louis XVI jealous, Harriet has found a special place in the hearts of her human friends. At a skilled nursing facility Cohen, carrying Harriet, found a group of seniors in wheelchairs. “I went around the group, letting them meet Harriet and telling them about her. Then one woman, who hadn’t shown me any interest, reached out to pet the bird. Soon she was smiling and laughing. Another woman leaned close to me and said ‘I’ve never seen her smile or laugh before. Thank you for doing that for her.’ That was one of my best visits to that facility,” Cohen said with evident emotion. “Harriet is wonderful with people
who have paralysis. You can’t lift a 70 pound Golden Retriever to someone’s cheek. Since she’s so light she stands on their chest and rubs her head and crest under their chin. She makes a clicking sound. That’s her way of purring. She is so delightful and loving and intimate, it really is a high for the people we visit.” “On one visit Harriet and her handler were walking down a hallway. A nurse called them and asked for a special visit. One of her clients had become almost completely paralyzed in an accident and was terribly depressed and unresponsive. The nurse thought Harriet would cheer him up. When they reached his bed his eyes lit up and he started to laugh at Harriet’s antics. She loves the attention and really hams it up. Then we placed her on his chest next to his cheek so he could feel her. He started to cry, slowly rubbing his face and tears onto her soft feathers. She whispered little noises into his ear,” Cohen smiled. “They had quite a conversation. That beautiful bird was able to bring him a moment of joy and allowed him to release his emotions. She understood and was his friend.” Harriet’s diet is often a topic for mirth. “Guess what her favorite food is?” Cohen asks. “Spaghetti! I guess that makes her a Pastatoo,” she giggled. Active duty military, young men and women with PTSD sometimes will interact better with animals, and trust them. Animals don’t judge, they won’t ask questions. They accept people for what they are. Dogs are great for this. They don’t care where you came from or what you did, they just say, ‘Hi, okay, pet me!’ Harriet loves soldiers,” she laughed. Asked about other animals, Cohen explained, “People assume Animal As-
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sisted Therapy only means dogs. But some people have allergies or fear so we began looking at other species that would love the work as much as we do. We try to have a variety so we can find the perfect fit. If not a dog, then maybe a rabbit or guinea pig will work.” One mother with an autistic daughter wanted to see if an animal would help her daughter when no other therapy had succeeded. The daughter showed no sign of recognition or awareness when the PET team arrived. Cohen had recently read about a woman who worked with autistic children using Llamas. “Children rub their bare feet on the llama’s fur. I suggested we try it with her daughter,” she said. “So we placed her feet on the dog’s back. After a few moments she started moving her feet through his soft fur. Then she looked at me. Her parents said she never made eye contact with anyone.” The girl then petted a rabbit and a miniature horse, which she then hugged, and finally, another dog. “Then she placed her hand on my cheek. Her father told me that was how she said ‘Thank you.’” PET is free to all non-profit organizations. For profit facilities are charged a negligible fee. “We just ask for gas money, so to speak.” HWAC President Mike Arms had this to say: “It is clear that our mission is all about people helping animals and animals helping people. The lives that the animals touch through this program exemplify the unconditional love they have for humans.” PET is one of the most successful at HWAC. Cohen has helped to spread the word to other cities and hopes it will catch on. It’s well worth looking into and supporting, as all ‘Win-win’ situations are.
Mark Carlson visits the Hellen Woodward Photo by Jane Carlson Animal Center. www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 19
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Wee Companions Bridging The Arc
ou will hear sounds of laughter coming from the Toby Wells Animal & Nature Room at The Arc of San Diego’s Sulpizio Family Center. Throughout the week adults with disabilities attending the Day Program are given the opportunity to interact with their three guinea pigs: Butterscotch, Oreo, and Sullivan. These cherished piggies bring more than just joy to their caregivers; they also provide a therapeutic relationship to approximately 125 people at the Center who have disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. Seeing, touching, and hearing the guinea pigs provides a unique sensory experience for Day Program participants. Not only do these furry friends provide stimulation for the mind, but they touch the heartstrings as well. In addition to the therapeutic
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aspect of having these squeaky companions, participants also learn important skills such as caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after their pets. Program participants even tend a raised garden at the Sulpizio Family Center where they grow their own organic vegetables to feed the cuddly cavies. “Having the guinea pigs greatly enriches the lives of the people we serve. I have witnessed major sensory improvements because of the special bond our program participants share with these pets,” says Melanie McCoy,
Area Director of Sulpizio Family Center. The Arc of San Diego is one of the largest, most comprehensive service providers for people with disabilities in San Diego County, serving over 2,500 children and adults with disabilities such as mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome each year. For more information on The Arc of San Diego, please visit www.arc-sd.com. Join The Arc of San Diego’s social media community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheArcSanDiego and follow them on Twitter @TheArcSanDiego.
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A Little Furry Miracle Comes Home B y
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ome readers may remember the old 1970s phrase ‘If you love something set it free; if it comes back it’s yours, if not it was never yours to begin with.’ Sometimes, without any forethought or planning on our part, things have a way of working out for the better. And all it takes is to do the right thing. This story is about a neighbor of mine, Crystal Rienick, a high school literature teacher who works in Valley Center. Crystal and her husband Jameson have a perky, active 8-year old Miniature Pinscher named Pippin. Crystal, a lovely, ebullient and free-spirited woman who loves all animals considered getting a second dog as a companion for Pippin. About two weeks before Christmas, she was driving home from work, passing through Escondido, when she saw a Chihuahua running loose on the street. Being a dog lover, she acted immediately to rescue the frightened dog. “So, of course,’ she said, “I flipped a U-turn and spent fifteen minutes trying to coax him over to grab him. He had no tags, and when I took him to our vet, they found no chip. I took him home and he immediately began to sniff and pee on everything I owned. I could overlook this, however, due to the amazing fact that he and Pippin hit it off instantly.” Crystal brought the Chihuahua over to meet us, that is, Jane, myself, and our Yellow Labradors Musket and Saffron. She said in a grave voice, “We have a problem.” She put the dog in my hands. “Okay,” I replied, knowing of Crystal’s sense of humor, “but what’s this ‘we’ stuff?” She explained about finding the dog on the street and intended to try and find its owner, but it was obvious
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she was already smitten with the little canine. For the next few days, while on Christmas break she fell under the new dog’s charm. “I posted ‘Found Chihuahua’ signs the next morning in the area where I’d found him, but when I heard nothing after two days I decided to take him to the Escondido Humane Society because if I didn't take him right away I was going to keep him forever. “I had already fallen in love with him
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and had named him Pickle.” “I learned I could pay the adoption fee up front and if the owners didn't claim him, he would be ours; neutered, micro chipped and vaccinated.” Yet fate intervened. “Pickle was with me on the way to the shelter. As I was crossing Citrus Avenue my phone rang. ‘Hello?’ It was a little girl who said she saw my signs and believed I had her
SEE PICKLE, Page 22 www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 21
BUSINESS LISTINGS List your Business, call (619) 573-5615 California Veterinary Specialists 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 431-2273 • 7 days 24 hrs. www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (619) 767-2675 • www.sddac.com
Dog Beach Dog Wash Do-It-Yourself•Service•Accessories 4933 Voltaire St., San Diego, CA 92107 (619) 523-1700 http://www.dogwash.com
Four Legged Life Pet event speaker Arden Moore Dog/cat behavior consults Host dog parties • (760) 433-3480 www.fourleggedlife.com
Kittycare La Jolla Professional Pet Sitters Experience with Special Needs Animals Certified Pet First Aid & CPR (858) 352-6988 • KittycareLJ@att.net
Leash Your Fitness Fitness class for you and your DOG. Classes / events throughtout San Diego. 619-822-3296 http://www.LeashYourFitness.com
Pet First Aid 4 U Dog and cat 1st aid, CPR classes Hands-on training. Earn certificate. Throughout S.D. • (760) 433-3480 www.petfirstaid4u.com
Project Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education 887 1/2 Sherman Street, SD, CA 92110 Wildlife Information Line 619-225-9453 www.projectwildlife.org
Puptown Doggy Daycare 205 16th Street. San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 234-5278 www.puptown.net
SD House Rabbit Society (858) 356-4286 www.SanDiegoRabbits.org
The Total Dog, Swim & Gym 3060 Industry St., Ste. 108 Oceanside, CA • 760-721-1DOG (1364) www.mytotaldog.com
22 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
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dog, whose name was Spikey.” The girl described Pickle in perfect detail. When Crystal said the name Spikey he responded and she felt a little chill in her heart. “‘Where do you live?’ I asked her. Citrus Avenue, she told me. Almost within sight of the shelter, Crystal turned around and drove to Citrus where she found Spikey’s little owner waiting with open arms. The little dog was ecstatic to see her. “She thanked me and I made my retreat before the tears started.” That might have been the end of it, but Crystal had been bitten hard by little Pickle’s tiny beating heart. “I began my quest for a second dog. Pippin and Pickle got along so well. He was so damned snuggly and affectionate. I wanted that, too. I began obsessing on Petfinder and the local shelter sites until I knew all the dogs by sight. I gravitated to Min Pins and Chihuahua mixes trying to recreate the compatibility with Pippin combined with the snuggliness for me.” Christmas was approaching and she knew time was short. Once she and Jameson were back at work acclimating a new dog to the house would be almost impossible. She wanted to be home to help smooth the way. Three possible dogs were located at that same Escondido Humane Society shelter she had intended to take Pickle. “On Christmas Eve I broke out my laptop to show my family the pictures.” Crystal, not one to leave any stone unturned, scrolled down the page to see if there had been any postings since she’d last looked a week before.
“And what to my wandering eye did appear, than Pickle himself! It was him, I knew it instantly. Same markings, same colors. But now his name was Mr. Moose.” “The shelter was closed on Christmas Day so I had to wait until the 26th.” Unable to sleep, Crystal worried if the little Chihuahua would still be there when the shelter re-opened. “We packed up Pippin and off we went. The place was packed, and as we waited we told our story to other hopeful pet adopters. People were stunned and excited for us. Finally we went out to the interaction yard. And there he was. Pickle, without a doubt! He was very underweight, but he knew me right away. The shelter staff told me he had been left there just three days after I had returned him to his ‘family.’” It didn’t take long for the new pooch to feel at home. Crystal told me a few days later, “He has peed 23 times, only once in the house, eaten too much, and has been sleeping wrapped in blankets on my lap for hours.” Crystal did the right thing and the miracle came back home to live with her. MARK CARLSON, 51 lives in San Diego with his wife Jane and his Guide dog Musket. A docent at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and aviation historian, Mark writes for several national aviation magazines. He is a featured speaker for many local adult education programs. His first book, ‘Confessions of a Guide Dog – The Blonde Leading the Blind’ is a humorous memoir about the adventures of life with Musket. It is available online at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and iUniverse.com. You can reach Mark and Musket through www.musketmania.com.
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Pat Wright admits he was in the wrong when he mixed it up with state Fish and Game Commission inspectors who tried to seize one of his pet ferrets. It’s illegal to keep ferrets in California (Hawaii, too), and Wright could have spent as long as six months in a county slammer, forking over as much as $1,000 in fines on top of it. He figures he got off easy, then, with his 17 days in stir on a misdemeanor brandishing charge. But for Wright, who owns three ferrets, it’s the principle of the thing. The La Mesa resident insists that the current crop of laws creates an undeserving criminal class, and he’s ready to take his fight to people in high places through a petition drive aimed at reversing the sanctions. Ferrets make perfectly fine pets, Wright asserts—but more than that, they’re central figures in a silly battle that diminishes respect for the law. Fish and Game outlaws keeping of the ferret, a member of the weasel family, amid claims that the animal would mul-
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tiply if let out in the wild, thus becoming feral and possibly threaten native wildlife. The restrictions, first imposed in 1933, cite problems in New Zealand, where ferrets prey on open land and are considered pests. “I don’t think that’s the reason they prohibit them,” Wright said. “It’s purely politics. It’s a power play on the part of the Fish and Game Commission, who have no empathy with pet owners because they’re interested in hunting and fishing. The big struggle within the Fish and Game Commission is between the environmentalists and the hunting lobby. Neither of them are too keen on ferrets, for very different reasons. “Another reason is that, in California, unless you’re a special interest, you really don’t get a seat at the table.” In 2004, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (whose 1990 movie Kindergarten Cop had a ferret as a costar) vetoed a ferret amnesty bill despite advocates’ efforts four years before. The matter hasn’t come under
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discussion on the state level since. The state’s ferret pet population could total as many as 1 million. That’s why Wright, 54, founded Ferrets Anonymous and sued the Fish and Game Commission over the issue in a losing cause. These days, he cites a 2010 Cal State, Sacramento environmental impact report that refutes the commission’s findings and maintains a signature drive to legalize ferrets in the state. He needs 25,000 supporters by Feb. 5 in order to catch the White House’s attention (President Obama’s staff has promised to review issues for which advocates can garner 25,000 signatures in 30 days). As of Jan. 16, he said, he has less than one-tenth that number. But pressing ahead is the key, and Wright has pledged to do so through legal channels should the petition drive fall short. For more information on the effort, please visit legalizeferrets.org.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE
Emergency Hospitals BONITA/CHULA VISTA Pet Emergency & SpecialtyCenter of South County (619) 591-4802 885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 www.PESCSanDiego.com
CARLSBAD California Veterinary Specialists (760) 431-2273 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 7 days 24 hrs. www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
ENCINITAS VCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.VCANorthCoast.com
ESCONDIDO Animal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 7 Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.com
KEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONT Animal ER of San Diego (858) 569-0600 5610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.
LA MESA Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, 7 Days 24 hrs. www.PESCSanDiego.com
MISSION VALLEY VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center (619) 299-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108 7 Days 24 hrs. www.VCAEmergency.com
MURRIETA California Veterinary Specialists (951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562, 7 days 24 hrs. www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
POWAY Animal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-7387 12775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs. www.AnimalEmergencySD.com
SAN MARCOS Veterinary Specialty Hospital (760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069 www.vshsd.com
SORRENTO VALLEY Veterinary Specialty Hospital (858) 875-7500 10435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA 92121 7 Days 24 hrs. www.VSHSD.com 24 FEBRUARY 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Animal Shelters & Humane Societies ACCEPT STRAYS & HAVE ADOPTION BAY PARK/MISSION VALLEY County Animal Services 5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
BONITA County Animal Services 5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
CAMP PENDLETON Camp Pendleton Animal Shelter 4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120
CARLSBAD County Animal Services 2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92011 619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
CHULA VISTA City of Chula Vista Animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123 www.cvacf.org Hours: Sun & Mon Closed, Tue-Fri 9:30am-5pm Sat. 9:30am-4pm
CORONADO Animal Care Facility 1395 First Street, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 9am-4:30pm
EL CAJON City of El Cajon Animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580 Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5:30pm
ESCONDIDO Escondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.com Hours: 7 days 10am to 5pm
OCEANSIDE San Diego Humane Society-North (For dogs) 2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm San Diego Humane Society-North (For cats) 572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm
ACCEPT OWNER RELINQUISHED ANIMALS BAY PARK/MISSION VALLEY San Diego Humane Society-San Diego Campus 5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
EL CAJON Friends of Cats 15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361 www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm
ENCINITAS Rancho Coastal Humane Society 389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.sdpets.org Hours: 11am -5pm every day except Tues. 11:30am-5pm
RANCHO SANTA FE Helen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11am to 6pm
SPRING VALLEY National Cat Protection Society 9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771 www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5pm
Rescue & Adoption A Passion For Paws (Akita Rescue) (818) 925-4827 www.APassionForPaws.org Baja Dog Rescue (619) 407-9372 www.bajadogrescue.org The Barking Lot (619) 796-2253 www.thebarkinglot.net Cat Adoption Service (760) 550-2287 www.sdcats.org Chihuahua Rescue of San Diego www.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.com Forgotten Paws Animal Rescue www.forgottenpaws.org German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue www.GSP-Rescue.org Greyhound Connection www.GreyhoundConnection.org Independent Therapy Dogs, Inc. https://sites.google.com/site/idtdinc/ It’s The Pits (Specializing in the Bully Breeds) (858) 484-0985 Last Chance at Life All Breed Animal Rescue (760) 433-3763 x224 (Schedule an appointment) www.lastchanceatlife.org List Srv 4 Therapy Dog Teams listsrv4therapydog@att.net Open Arms Rescue (760) 470-7643 www.openarmsrescue.org Operation Greyhound (619) 588-6611 www.OperationGreyhound.com Paws of Coronado (619) 522-7371 www.PawsOfCoronado.org Pit Bull Rescue of San Diego (858) 693-7331 www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.com Rescue House (760) 591-1211 www.rescuehouse.org San Diego House Rabbit Society (858) 356-4286 www.SanDiegoRabbits.org San Diego Spaniel Rescue (619) 922-0545 www.sdsr.org San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society (619) 593-2123 www.SDTurtle.org Second Chance Dog Rescue (619) 721-DOGS (3647) http://secondchancedogrescue.org Upward Dog Rescue (858) 345-24-34 www.upwarddogrescue.org Westie Rescue of California (619) 579-6395 www.WestieRescueCA.com Wee Companions (619) 934-6007 http://WeeCompanions.org
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Land swap benefits kids and dogs Pets have a way of bringing families together, even when the family is an entire community.
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ardiff-by-the-Sea, a North County village south of Encinitas, is a case in point amid a land repurposing project that, to turn a phrase, puts everything into place. It started with the nonprofit Scrumptious Schoolyards, which local educators created in 2012 to promote outdoor-oriented interests for students. The group started a food garden project at Cardiff Elementary School on a plot of land adjacent to a gated area for dogs. It became apparent that the layout defeated both purposes. Looming over the garden was a lone tree whose generous shade would provide a welcome option for playful dogs. While across the way, the sun-drenched digs of the dog park would make better sense as a place to plant seeds. That’s when Dirty Dogs, a local boutique pet supply chain, went to work. With the help of parents and other locals and upwards of $20,000, it spearheaded a project that involved swapping out the land, resulting in an off-leash dog park whose 1,600 square feet sports an AstroTurf walkway, a new fence and sprinkler system and, of course, the tree. Riley Bandy, Dirty Dogs marketing director, said the park has become more than a place for pets to congregate. “It’s almost brought that community together,” he explained. “You go by that dog park in the morning, and there are all these people out there with their coffee, and their dogs are running. If families have kids, the other thing they have is dogs, and of course, we are a very family-focused business, so this was a great opportunity. “One of the other things this project has done,” Bandy continued, “is show that there’s a need in the community for more fundraising activities. There are so many different organizations that are trying
to do things, and they don’t always have the funds to do them.” Accordingly, Dirty Dogs hosts a series of dog-wash funding efforts in which group members themselves spruce up the animals, keeping the bulk of the money they raise for their causes. Recently, a group from Encinitas’ San Dieguito Academy raised $850 to go toward a spay and neuter campaign. For its part, Dirty Dogs partially funded the dog park reclamation project with a sale of commemorative bricks. Meanwhile, the garden peacefully co-exists with the park in a small but important merger between local visionaries and a business interested in the same goal. “The [dog park] project,” Bandy said, “was a great opportunity for us not just to get to know these really active community members but also to establish ourselves as a business that’s interested in helping.” — MARTIN JONES WESTLIN
HAPPILY EVER ADOPTED STORIES A Good Samaritan found Nana after the 3-year old Border Terrier had been attacked by an animal, presumably a coyote. Suffering from wounds on her neck and side, Nana required urgent medical care. After the San Diego Humane Society’s medical staff provided emergency treatment for her bite wounds, as well as multiple surgical procedures, the sweet dog was finally able to begin the slow process of healing, both physically and emotionally. Despite all that she had been through, Nana’s ability to give and receive love had not been injured. Sweet Nana (now named “Ayla”) was adopted just in time for the holidays and she’s finally enjoying the life she de-
serves with a new loving family... "We are so happy with our little friend! She has instantly become a member of the family. We love her like she has always been here and she seems to be adjusting so well. We haven't had any problems or concerns thanks to all the
wonderful people who cared for her while she was with you. We can't thank everyone enough for all the love and time that was given to her. Can you please tell everyone how happy she is and especially how happy we are with our new family. Thank you.”
About the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
The San Diego Humane Society offers San Diegans a wide range of programs and services that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent animal cruelty/neglect, provide medical care and educate the community on the humane treatment of animals. More information can be found at: www.sdhumane.org.
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 25
February is National Pet Dental Health Month
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Center. Come celebrate the festive occasion with HWAC. Please visit the website for more information. www.animalcenter.org/MARDIGRAS
Chihuahua Rescue Event DogTV is sponsoring a Chihuahua Rescue event in conjunction with Chihuahua Rescue of S.D. from 6pm to 8pm at Sally and Henry's Doghouse Bar and Grill. www.sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/events
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Valentine Photo Shoot Images by Kara is offering an exclusive discount for a professional Photo Shoot with Your Furry Friend on Feb. 9th from 2pm-7pm at Sally and Henry’s Doghouse Bar and Grill. www.sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/events
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Puppy Love 5K Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 4th Annual Puppy Love 5K Run/Walk is just around the corner! Join us for this funfilled, heart-healthy event. www.PuppyLove5k.Kintera.org
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Mardi Gras Party Sally and Henry’s Doghouse Bar and Grill will bring out the true meaning of celebrating Mardi Gras from 5pm to 2am in the comfort of their bar and grill, as well as, their exterior dog patio and dog park. www.sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/events
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Speed Dating with your Furry Friend On Valentine’s starting at 7pm at Sally and Henry’s Doghouse Bar and Grill offers an intimate atmosphere to have more meaningful exchanges. Speed daters and their pets will get to spend five minutes with others to exchange pitches and see if the stars align. www.sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/events
Saturday, February 23, 2013
5K Paw Walk in the Garden Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Mardi Paws Parade Supporting the Helen Woodward Animal
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Benefiting Rancho Coastal Humane Society and the San Diego Botanic Garden. www.encinitas5kpupwalk.eventbrite.com
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Morris Cancer K9 Walk All dog lovers are invited to walk with their dogs to celebrate the life of their canine best friend or to walk in memory of dogs that have lost their battle with canine cancer. Join San Diego Pets Magazine at the expo area during the celebration after the walk. www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/sandiegowalk
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Doga Yoga Instructor Stephanie Knox leads sessions from 10-11 a.m. weekly. www.sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/events
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Paws in the Park Join the Escondido Humane Society at Kit Cason Park to celebrate the bond between people and their pets. www.escondidohumanesociety.org
April 5-7, 2013
Reality Rally Reality Rally is weekend of "Fun for Funds" for www.michellesplace.org, a breast cancer resource center in Temecula. www.realityrally.com
MARKETPLACE
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Be Your Pet’s Health Ally!
Pet First Aid/CPR classes 760-433-3480 www.petfirstaid4u.com
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | FEBRUARY 2013 27