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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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CO VER STORY
True Lifesavers on Water and Land
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
San Diego Pets Magazine spends an afternoon with K9 Lifeguard, Rummy, Niki Burgan and family, known as See PaGe 6 the SoCal H2O Rescue Team.
Casey Dean Casey@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com COVER PHOTO Dale Porter killerimage.com
Top 10 Pet emergencies Scott DiLorenzo, DVM, lists the top 10 emergencies pet owners face in San Diego and teaches us what we should know to provent them happening to our pets.
WRITERS/COLUMNISTS
See PaGe 16
Mark Carlson Scott DiLorenzo, DVM Kendra Hartmann
Dogs at Canine to Five enjoy training programs, day care for all ages, grooming and swimming exercises in its on-site pool.
Furry Finds (Pet Product Reviews)
Judith Pierce
Pet Careers
Searching for some summer fun? Our Furry Finds pet-product reviews will help put the wag back into See PaGe 18 your Dog Days of Summer.
Mimi Pollack
San Diego hosts a plethora of petrelated career opportunities and local entrepreneurs continue to pave new paths in this growing See PaGe 10 field.
Our pets’ loyalty and devotion to us can unintenSee PaGe 26 tionally damage our cherished devices.
Arden Moore
Stefanie Schwartz, DVM
CARTOONIST Barbara Fuscsick
Four Legged Life: Pets vs. Gadgets
Puppy Paws Productions www.puppypawsproductions.com
ADVERTISING INFORMATION Casey Dean (619) 573-5615 Casey@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com
Tania Milberg Tania@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com
Wendy Rall (951) 704-3374 Wendy@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. 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.
SANDIEGOPETSMAGAZINE.COM
/SanDiegoPets San Diego Pets Magazine P.O. BOX 601081 San Diego, Ca 92160-1081 (619) 573-5615 Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 5
Niki Burgan and K9 Lifeguard Rummy post at the Oceanside harbor with their seasoned crew members consisting of husband, Erik; 6-year-old son, Kaj Photos by Dale Porter, www.killerimage.com and daughters, Laine (age 4) and Taliyah (age 16).
Niki Burgan and Rummy:
Meet a genuine K9 lifeguard and a veteran lifeguard who live to rescue others.
True Life Savers on Water and Land
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ove over, Lassie. Sit down, Rin Tin Tin. As cinematic canine celebrities, you wowed audiences with your heroic acts performed on land. But making a real-life splash when it comes to helping people in peril in the water is a big, smart yellow Labrador retriever named Rummy. Rummy is a rare breed — a genuine K9 Lifeguard. He teams up with veteran lifeguard Niki Burgan and together, they are always ready to rescue swimmers from drowning and to aid law enforcement in search-andrescue efforts for missing people off the
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coast of Southern California. To see their special talents in action, we recently hopped on board their rigid inflatable boat and motored around the harbor and jetty areas in Oceanside. Joining us on this partly cloudy late morning were Niki’s seaseasoned crew members consisting of husband, Erik; 6-year-old son, Kaj and daughters, Taliyah (age 16) and Laine (age 4). Guiding the boat out into the open waters with ease, Burgan conveys a can-do attitude blended with superior water safety skills. She created the
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P E T S
SoCal H20 Rescue Team in 2010. This team consists of certified lifeguards as willing volunteers and a pack of dogs like Rummy trained to retrieve people and fetch them back to rescue boats. You can tell immediately that she knows how to survive in any body of water. She also possesses a passion to help others. But Burgan, 42, has little patience for rule breakers. As she navigates her boat to an area off the Oceanside Harbor jetty to demonstrate Rummy in rescue mode, a young man on a jet ski ignores the 5-mile-per-hour wake sign as he
WOW! Look at Rummy go!
craves out waves doing hotdog maneuvers at high speeds far too close to Burgan’s boat and individuals in kayaks. When the jet skier appears to ignore her shouts to stop, she tells her husband to call the harbor patrol – now. The police boat arrives quickly, rounds up the jet skier and brings him next to Burgan’s boat. “I’m sorry – I didn’t know I was going too fast,” says the jet skier. “You were going way too fast,” replies Burgan. “Be careful. You could have hurt yourself as well as others.”
Once the scene is safe, Burgan glances over at her daughter, Taliyah and says, “Ok, it’s time.” Taliyah, in her first year as a lifeguard for the City of Carlsbad, flops out of the boat, swims out about 100 yards and begins flailing her arms and shouting for help. The second she is in the ocean, Rummy’s body stiffens. His eyes zero in on Taliyah and he begins making woof alert sounds. “Rummy, go get Taliyah,” commands Burgan. Within 29 seconds, Rummy reaches her and provides her with a rectangu-
lar-shaped floatation device connected by a rope for her to grab onto as he makes powerful paddle strokes back to the boat. Once back to the boat, Taliyah and Kaj swim away from the boat to demonstrate Rummy’s skills at retrieving two swimmers in distress. This 100pound Lab quickly goes into rescue mode again. “It’s funny,” says Burgan. “On land, Rummy is the worst retriever ever. He
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will fetch maybe four out of every 10 balls I toss. But put him on water and he is a totally different dog. He comes ready to work, ready to save lives.” Where ever they are, they make a great team. They often give free demonstrations and talks about aquatic safety to students in schools as well as people in various community groups in Southern California. They donate their time and talents to patrolling water ways and team up with the U.S Coast Guard, lifeguard agencies, the California Department of Parks and Recreation and local law enforcement agencies. In fact, for the past three years, they have been designated as the official
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safety patrol for the Island-2-Island Waterman Relay that runs from Santa Barbara Island to Two Harbors in Catalina Island. In 2012, they earned Animal Rescue Hero of the Year honors from the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter where officials acknowledged that the RummyBurgan duo had rescued 47 people up to that date. When Burgan wears a bathing suit, you find your eyes drawn to a large American Red Cross with the award date tattooed on her upper left shoulder near the likeness of a smiling Rummy. But her most special tattoo depicts the likeness of her parents’ 42-foot Catalina sailboat called the Namche. In 2007, they, along with her sister, perished off the coast of Carlsbad when their small plane crashed. Although rescuers were able to retrieve the bodies of her mom and sister, they were never able to find her stepfather. “My dad died when I was not even two years old and my mom moved us to Oregon where she met and married my stepdad,” recalls Burgan. “Every summer, we would spend in Maui – that’s where I really learned to swim and learned water safety. I used to be the first in the water and the last one out.” Today, Burgan is combining her passions for pets and for safety and always in memory of her family. And, she is hard at work passing on these legacies to her three children. “Each of them has grown up with no fear of water, but rather with deep appreciation of our seas,” says Burgan. All three are expert swimmers and dedicated boat mates in training. “And as for Rummy, why, this is a dog who just doesn’t quit when there is a job to do – especially in the water,” beams Burgan. So the next time you spot a small boat with a large yellow Labrador retriever sporting a life vest and looking alert, chances are good that you just encountered the life-saving team of Rummy and Burgan. Knowing they are patrolling the waterways of Southern California gives many people some peace of mind. “You never know when an emergency will arise, but when it does, we are ready,” assures Burgan, casting a smile toward Rummy.
To Learn More Keep up-to-date on the rescue adventures of Rummy and Niki Burgan by following their Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/SoCalH2ORescueTeam. And to contact Burgan to be a speaker for your group, here is her email: SoCalH20RescueTeam@yahoo.com.
PET PRESS
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Urban Feline– Simply Purrfect!
At Urban Feline, we pride ourselves on being the epitome of innovative quality in the feline care market... but we've got a lot of love for our furry friends too, so functionality is a priority. Our mission: Bringing urban felines everywhere a jungle of their own! So it's only natural that we also work with local animal care facilities and rescues, using our great products to help enrich the lives of shelter cats. That is how UFés rescue effort was born... ReachOut 2 PawsTM, or RO2PTM for short. Working with all animals is a favorite of ours, especially with rescue animals. While visiting the San Diego Humane Society located on Gaines Street recently, our contact approached our President about two female cats, Feabie and Stevie. The girls were not doing well and were in danger of being euthanized due to adoption-challenges. Our contact knew of a particular talent our president has for helping animals de-stress, through massage therapy and what some call his magic touch. He was asked if he would mind scheduling time to work with the girls, and without any hesitation he replied, "How about right now?" So, 3-piece suit and all, he jumped right in, spending two hours working with the girls. Only a few days after a second therapy session, the girls were off death-row and on the adoption floor. Within a month, Feabie and Stevie were adopted! All of us at UFé & SDHS are happy to report these two wonderful girls as another successful UFé story. We love being a San Diego-based business, and we strive to work with other SD businesses for all of our material, service and production needs. Thank you San Diego for making Urban Feline a reality, and we look forward to serving you as your brand of choice when it comes to feline care products.
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 9
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The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Pet Lovers B y
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or anyone looking for a change of careers, the pet industry is never a bad choice. The sector, which has been steadily growing for decades, has skyrocketed in recent years with 2013 estimated to see nearly $56 billion in expenditures. The industry offers work in just about any field — veterinary care, training, retail, marketing, the arts — and the options are virtually limitless for the most creative of entrepreneurs. As San Diego is home to one of the country’s most active pet communities, SDPM wanted to take a closer look at how business-minded locals have infiltrated the pet market. In the following pages, we’ve featured nine San Diegans who followed
OH MY DOG! Photography
Mike Fish and Tee Taylor, photographers by trade, had operated a family portrait studio for many years, but they found themselves drawn to the photo shoots that involved pets. So much so that one day, as they walked past Petco Park, they had the idea to narrow their business into a pets-only studio. “It takes a special skill set to successfully work with pets, and we quickly discovered that we were the perfect team for the job,” Fish said. “… It really took off for us once people understood what we were doing. At first we had to explain that these weren’t snapshots, but wall art.” The couple, inspired by “uncompromising quality,” set up a boutique photography studio and worked at providing “unparalleled art” for their clients.
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a hunch to carve out a career path in the pet industry. They come from diverse backgrounds; some made a 180-degree turn, leaving prior careers for a new lifestyle. Others drew on previous training and expertise, using their skills to fill a niche in the industry. They all, however, have a few things in common. They love animals and love to work with them; they are passionate about their work; and they have worked hard and sacrificed much to do what they love. Read on and maybe you’ll discover a career you never knew existed — or perhaps you’ll be inspired to create a new one.
“Whether you are a surgeon or a pet photographer, putting the time, money and education into a specialty will give you the kind of outcomes you will not get any other way,” he said. In addition to private in-studio portrait sessions, Fish and Taylor provide
Mike Fish, Tee Taylor, with Gus, or when he's in trouble, Gusmus P. Yumyumhead.
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P E T S
free photo sessions to area shelters for their “hard to adopt” animals’ online profiles.
OH MY DOG! PHOTOGRAPHY 3824 Ray St. (619) 295-DOGS
www.ohmydogphoto.com
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Fur-Ever Pet Portraits
Home Buddies and Behavior Buddies
Marcy Piasecki always wanted to work with animals, from the time she was a child. Then adulthood set in, and Piasecki found herself with a degree in IT and statistics, working as a project manager (though she walked neighbors’ dogs and volunteering at various rescues in her free time). Ten years into her career, however, Piasecki decided to make a change. “I just decided life’s too short,” she said. “It was time to [work with animals] full time.” That’s when Piasecki found out about Camp Bow Wow. A Denverbased company that began franchising in 2003, Camp Bow Wow serves as the parent company for Home Buddies and Behavior Buddies, offshoots that provide in-home pet sitting and training, respectively. Piasecki felt a company that allowed pet owners to go on vacation and leave their pets in the comfort of their own home — looked after by bonded and insured pet sitters — would fill a needed niche in the community. After spending a few months training in the company’s Colorado headquarters, Piasecki opened her La Jolla-based franchise of Home Buddies and Behavior Buddies in July 2010. She and her seven colleagues provide small-group and private in-home dog training sessions, as well as vacation dog sitting for pets of all kinds, even offering overnight stays for special-needs pets or those with separation anxiety. “I love waking up every day. Each day is different, and I love seeing happy faces at work,” she said. “I would do it every day if I could, but I have to make time for my husband and the other parts of my life!”
HOME BUDDIES AND BEHAVIOR BUDDIES www.campbowwow.com/lajolla lajolla@myhomebuddies.com (619) 889-7767
Linda Goldstein has been an artist her entire career. An art teacher with a degree in art education, Goldstein has taught students of nearly every age how to express themselves through paint. Personally, Goldstein painted mostly portraits of people. One day, however, she noticed a dog with a particularly expressive face and was moved to paint it, and her primary subject matter hasn’t changed since. “I try painting other things, but I always come back to dogs,” she said. Goldstein started to get a number of commissions from friends and acquaintances, and Fur-Ever Pet Portraits was born. Goldstein works part time teaching painting at an adult school in Encinitas and makes up the rest of her income from the pet portraits. “I never thought I’d be doing this. It just fell in my lap,” she said. “I get such a great sense of satisfaction out of it. When I give a portrait to someone and they love it, it makes me feel as good as they feel getting it.” Goldstein accepts commissions from photographs through her website, and sometimes donates portraits to rescue groups and shelters for auction.
FUR-EVER PET PORTRAITS www.fureverpetportraits.com
Furlocity, Inc.
When looking for and booking the perfect hotel, where do you turn? Most would visit an online site like hotels.com or kayak.com. It’s quick, easy and everything you need is in one place. Andy Smit felt the same should be true of finding the perfect facility for boarding your pet. Though he and his wife, Amber Kirsten-Smit, were originally planning on starting a service that would allow pet owners to make veterinary appointments online, they discovered there was a greater need for a one-stopshop site for pet owners looking for boarding. “I spent an entire year studying the pet boarding industry, travel industry and interning at several pet resorts in San Diego,” Smit said. “This ultimately led to the creation of what Furlocity came to be. It took some time [because] there are more moving parts within the pet-boarding industry than there are with hotels. Pets have different needs than humans.” Smit’s background in sales and management in the IT and telecom industries gave him experience with startups, and Furlocity officially launched in April 2013 in San Diego. Pet owners visiting the site can sign up, create a profile, compare a list of pre-screened facilities and book a stay based on their pet’s needs — there’s even an option for a “pet taxi” if an owner is unable to drop off and pick up their pet. “Honestly, I never thought that I would be in the pet industry,” Smit said. “The thing about the pet industry that is unique is that now that it is nearly a $60 billion market, technology is finally catching up and making the lives of pet parents easier.”
FURLOCITY, INC Furlocity.com
Canine to Five
When Hiromi Suzuki and her husband, Hiroyuki, became the parents of
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two golden retriever puppies, they knew they needed help training them right away. They called 11 trainers in their native Japan — all of whom said they could train the dogs, but wouldn’t provide any help for the owners to continue training. So the couple devoured book after book on dog training, and, as there was clearly a hole in the pet training industry, decided on a whim to make a drastic career change. They traveled to San Diego, where they learned from training experts with the idea that they would return to Japan with a brand-new business. When the trainer Hiromi was working with offered her a job, however, the couple decided to stay and learn more before opening up Canine to Five, their day care, training and puppy socialization facility on Morena Boulevard. Hiromi, who worked as a kindergarten teacher in Japan, said she draws on that experience to help puppies learn how to communicate with other dogs. “As a trainer, I try to educate myself continuously,” she said. “It’s hard to see so many dogs in shelters, and I ask myself, ‘Why?’ It’s usually because of behavior issues. I can’t help rescue all the dogs in a shelter, but I can help an owner not want to give their dog up because of behavior issues.” Canine to Five offers training programs, day care for dogs of all ages, grooming (using a state-of-the-art mi-
Canine to Five owner, Hiromi Suzuki.
crobubble system) and swimming exercises in their on-site pool.
CANINE TO FIVE 2351 Morena Blvd. (619) 684-5959
sdk9to5.com
Dog Beach Dog Wash
In the early 1990s, Jane Donley had a dog with a severe allergy to fleas. The allergy caused her dog, Breaker, to develop a skin condition that could only be remedied by giving him a thorough bath every day for two weeks. So Donley would take nearly two hours out of her day to wash Breaker, which involved cleaning the bathroom and doing a load of laundry — and she never felt like he was clean enough. “I thought, ‘There has to be an easier way,’” she said.
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Donley, who had been working in the healthcare industry, remembered a dog wash she had seen in Northern California and decided to do some local market research of her own. She polled Dog Beach users to see what they thought of the idea of a local dog wash and what they would be willing to pay to use it. When she and business partner Mindy Pellissier found a commercial space in Ocean Beach, they decided to go for it, and Dog Beach Dog Wash opened its doors in February 1993. “It’s not a big money maker. I drive a 14-year-old car, and neither my partner nor I are rich,” Donley said. “But neither one of us did it for money. We did it for the love of dogs and the bond people have with their animals.” The strictly do-it-yourself facility offers shampoo, a grooming mitt and washcloth, apron, towels and brushes — and no mess, as the staff cleans up after washes. Other amenities, like specialty shampoos and conditioners, nail trimming and grooming are available, as well. “I’ve loved dogs all my life, but I never thought I’d be doing this,” Donley said. “If I knew in the past what I know now, I would have considered veterinary school, but I didn’t even know what vets did. I see a lot of people looking for new careers, and finding them in the pet industry.”
DOG BEACH DOG WASH 4933 Voltaire St.
www.dogwash.com (619) 523-1700 dogs@dogwash.com
PET CAREERS
Zoom Room
Unlike many who have found themselves in the pet industry, Kim Yuskiewicz always knew she’d end up working with animals. An equestrian since age 6, she would often find herself training the dogs who hung around the horses’ barns as a child. She continued to work with horses, and minus a few years spent in software sales, she worked in horse sales and marketing and running her own business, SoCal Hunter Jumpers. About eight years ago, Yuskiewicz began to seriously focus on training dogs. One day, she came across an article about Zoom Room, an indoor training franchise. She was intrigued, and last September, she and her sister opened Zoom Room Encinitas, providing training workshops running the gamut from obedience, puppy training and agility courses to advanced tricks, scent courses and urban herding classes. “I think everyone has the talent for training dogs, you just have to be patient, persistent and kind,” Yuskiewicz said. “Our training is 100-percent positive. We try not to say the word ‘no.’ Instead, we approach training by giving the dog something they can do.” Zoom Room’s facility, located in a shopping center, is split into a 3,000square-foot gym, with the remainder reserved for retail sales, where she offers unique natural items, including the nutritious freeze-dried lobster and the very popular canine treat known as cubed bison lung.. “Everything in Zoom Room is de-
signed to be functional,” she said. “If it’s food, it’s as simple as it needs to be for the dog’s health. If it’s a toy, it gives the dog what it needs to play. We just try to serve the dog’s best interest.”
ZOOM ROOM
1331 Encinitas Blvd. (858) 848-9666
www.zoomroomonline.com
San Diego Pet Memorial Park — Catherine Behan
There are probably few things stranger than asking an acquaintance what they do for work only to have the answer come back as, “I work at a pet cemetery.” That’s why Catherine Behan often chooses carefully who she talks to about her work. Behan is the director of pet loss recovery services at the San Diego Pet Memorial Park, but she didn’t always get paid to help people deal with death and loss. A teacher of a variety of subjects for many years, Behan has a master’s degree in speech pathology. It was when she began volunteering for hospices, however, that she discovered she was comfortable around death and those facing it. Then, when her mother passed away last year, Behan hospiced her and the event, she said, “changed her.” “I thought, ‘There has to be a way to make money in the death business. I’m too good at it,’” she said. Behan answered an ad for a job at the Pet Memorial Park and was hired instantly. “My first day was very intense,” she
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said. “There are sights and smells … it felt a bit like a baptism by fire. But you have to be comfortable around those things to work here.” When she joined the Pet Memorial Park, there was no grief counseling available to pet owners. Behan, having recently undergone the experience of needing grief counseling over the death of her mother and finding it difficult to locate groups that met when she most needed it, decided to reintroduce counseling at the park on a weekly basis. “Many people just like to know that we offer it,” she said. “They might never come, but they’re comforted to know it’s available.” Behan wears other hats at the park, as well. She greets pet owners and discusses their options for interment or cremation, as well as the park’s offerings regarding memorial services. At 60, she said, she feels like she was “born to do this job.” “Not everyone could do it, I get that,” she said. “But I love it. It feels like I put on a Superman cape and transform into someone that can serve in this way.”
SAN DIEGO PET MEMORIAL PARK www.sdpetpark.com (858) 909-0009
Animal shelter PR — John Van Zante
John Van Zante was 4 years old when he first realized how important animals were to him. His parents, in the throes of starting a new plumbing and heating business, had hired some carpenters to
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build his father’s shop. Van Zante, meanwhile, was certain they were building the corral for the pony that he was to get. “No. No pony,” he said. “It broke my heart.” Van Zante worked for 26 years in various aspects of broadcasting — radio, TV, voiceovers, narrations, news, commercials and station management — until one day he came across a job opening at an animal shelter. He applied, and his second career was born. Now the public relations director of the Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS), Van Zante uses his background writing commercials and news stories to spread the word about RCHS’ programs and help move along adoptions. “An animal shelter or rescue group that’s not sending the animals to their new homes is nothing more than a hoarder,” he said. “… I work to attract families to the shelter, giving the adop-
John Van Zante and Howie.
tion counselors the opportunity to do their jobs … That’s the hardest part about what I do — touching someone’s heart so that they come to the shelter. If they don’t come, they don’t adopt.” The job inspires Van Zante on a daily basis — “The sight of a family walking out the door with their new pet NEVER gets old!” he said — but its challenges don’t stop at getting people to the shelter. “Some people will never understand that animals are one of the greatest gifts
14 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
ever given to us,” he said. “We’ve seen animals that have been beaten, abused and mistreated in almost any way you can imagine. But when a gentle hand reaches out to them they wag their tails and give us kisses. How can you explain that to someone who doesn’t want to understand it? And how can you get them to care?”
RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY 389 Requeza St., Encinitas (760) 753-6413
www.rchumanesociety.org
Behavior Bytes
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Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, MSc, DACVB Veterinary Behavior Medicine drstef@petbehavior.org
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ecause this issue of San Diego Pets Magazine is devoted to careers in the pet industry, I thought it might be interesting to share how (and why) I became a veterinary behaviorist. There are less than 60 veterinarians board certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in the world. We are doctors of veterinary medicine with additional specialty training in the behavior of animals. When I was a little girl, I was introverted and shy, but very observant and engrossed with the world and the creatures who inhabit it. My father was a physician who cared not only about the physical health of his patients, but also their psychological well-being. I considered following in his footsteps, but realized that I cared more for fourlegged animals than the two-legged kind. Actually, my primary interest was in the behavior of all animals, which led me to do my undergraduate degree in psychobiology and comparative psychology. When I entered veterinary school, I was stunned to learn that there was no training in or consideration of the psychological aspect of nonhuman animals. Every physician in training does a rotation in psychiatry, but there was no similar program for veterinary students. In the summer between second and third year of veterinary school, I wrote my first book on the fundamentals of animal behavior applied to veterinary medicine; it was published by my alma mater. I obtained permission to teach an introductory class on the subject until I graduated. Veterinary behavior was in its infancy back then in the 1980s. It would be another 15 years or so before it
Behavior Bytes Author, Dr. Stefanie Schwartz is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist based in Southern California. Vist http://petbehavior.org for more information.
became a recognized specialty. By then, I had gone on to graduate school (I did my thesis on the pharmacological treatment of aggression in cats) and was already in behavior practice on the East coast. I became board certified after I’d been in exclusive behavior practice for years. To become a veterinary behaviorist today, you would need to do well in veterinary school and then continue into a residency program in veterinary behavior. I have helped unhappy pets and their frustrated owners to live happily ever after, and diagnosed underlying medical problems at the source of much misbehavior. I have tried to alleviate suffering in my four-
legged patients, and along the way, also helped their two-legged caretakers. It has not been an easy path by any means, but I can say that I have found it profoundly gratifying. 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/.
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Scott DiLorenzo,
DVM Associate Veterinarian at Animal Urgent Care and Specialty Group
TOP 10 PeT eMeRGeNCIeS L
(and what you should know)
ike aging and paying taxes, some things in life are unavoidable. As such with our pets, owning a dog or cat for 10 plus years will inevitably face you with a medical emergency. For many owners, the decision to seek immediate medical attention for their pet can be daunting. Although the mantra “when in doubt, have it checked out” should always hold true, I have compiled a list of 10 common emergencies that should always warrant immediate medical attention from your veterinarian. It is important to remember that there are numerous emergency veterinary hospitals throughout San Diego that are available 24/7 to supplement your own veterinarian in the event they are closed or cannot be seen
#1 Blocked cats
Urethral obstruction is the most common emergency of young male cats. The inability to urinate results in life threatening electrolyte and kidney ab-
normalities that can result in death if not treated promptly. If you notice your cat taking frequent trips to the liter box and/or straining, vocalizing, or no urine production in a 12-hour time frame you should have your cat seen immediately.
#2 Vomiting/diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea in our pets is extremely common and has numerous causes, so when does it become an emergency? This is a complicated question, but causes of vomiting and diarrhea such as intestinal obstruction from a foreign body, pancreatitis, and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis are all potential life threatening emergencies that require immediate attention. A general rule of thumb is frequent vomiting (more than twice in a 24-hour period), severe and/or bloody diarrhea, or lack of interest in food and water should prompt you to have your pet checked out. The longer you wait to have your pet seen, the sicker he/she will get.
16 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
#3 Bite wounds
It is a common misconception that bite wounds from another dog or cat can be treated with some hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin. Wrong! Commonly referred to as “tip of the iceberg wounds” amongst veterinarians, it is not just the puncture wound that is the concern, but all the bad stuff happening underneath, such as compromised blood flow and bacteria. Any puncture wounds from a bite, big or small, should be evaluated by your veterinarian.
#4 Toxicities/poisonings
Many things that we may consider benign in humans are actually extremely toxic to our pets if ingested. Food such as grapes/raisins, chocolate, garlic, onions, and medications such as over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and Tylenol are extremely toxic to our pets and any suspicion of ingestion should warrant immediate medical care. Common household and garden products can also be toxic, such
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ing) without birth, less than four hours in-between puppies, 30 minutes of active straining without a puppy, dark green, black, or bloody discharge without a puppy, or a puppy stuck in the birthing canal. It is not uncommon for cats to have a longer labor, but the general rules should still apply and veterinary attention should be sought if there is any concern.
#8 Spinal trauma/Intervertebral disc disease
Just like humans, dogs and cats are prone to “slipped discs” and painful backs. Most mild cases can be managed with pain medications and rest, however this problem can progress to paralysis. Certain breeds of dogs referred to as chondrodystrophics (Dachshunds, Corgis, Beagles, Shih Tzus) are particularly susceptible. If you notice your dog acting painful when touched around the midsection, walking with a wobbly gait, hunched posture, or dragging their feet, then you should have them evaluated promptly. as poisons for rats, squirrels or snails. The sooner you have your pet seen, the more likely they will be able to decontaminate them and limit further side effects. For a more complete list of toxins, please visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/poisoncontrol.
#5 Seizures
Witnessing a seizure in your pet can be a terrifying ordeal. Dogs undergoing a grand mal seizure will often fall over, “paddle” with their legs, and urinate/defecate while cats may be more subtle often displaying abrupt vocalization, change in behavior, and salivation. The best thing you can do if you suspect a seizure is to make sure your pet is safe and cannot hit his head on anything or fall down stairs or into water. Do not attempt to pull his tongue from his mouth as it is very uncommon for dogs or cats to swallow their tongue and you can get bit. Once the seizure subsides, you should bring your pet to the veterinarian right away.
#6 GDV (Gastric dilatation and volvulus)
Often referred to as “bloat,” this is a condition primarily found in large breed, deep chested dogs where the stomach distends with air and then twists on its axis, compromising blood flow and causing a wide array of detrimental effects. Signs of bloat include retching, panting, abdominal distention and pain, and weakness. Any indication that your dog may be bloated requires immediate medical attention as these animals can deteriorate rapidly.
#9 Respiratory emergencies
This category encompasses many different disease processes, but the end result is all the same: difficulty breathing. Congestive heart failure, asthma, and trauma are just a few things that can affect the ability of your pet to breath. For dogs, any drastic changes in respiratory patterns, change in their gum color from pink to pale/purple, or even severe coughing should warrant attention. For cats, breathing with their mouth open is ALWAYS a sign of respiratory distress, in addition to the previously mentioned signs
#10 ADR (Ain’t doing right)
I placed this commonly used acronym as the last “emergency” to drive home a valuable point. You know your own pet better than anyone else. If you feel that something is just not right with them, it is always better to be safe than sorry and have them evaluated. Scott DiLorenzo, DVM is an associate veterinarian with Animal Urgent Care and Specialty group in Escondido, seen here with his dog, Winnie. He is the North County chapter representative for the San Diego Veterinary Association, as well as an advisor for Furlocity online pet accommodations. In his free time, Dr. DiLorenzo enjoys all things outdoors, including surfing, soccer, and riding motorcycles.
#7 Dystocia
Dystocia, or difficult labor, occurs when there is a disruption in the normal birthing process. This can be the result of an oversized or malpositioned fetus, uterine inertia, or a combination of both. Most cats and dogs will give birth without requiring intervention. However, certain events during parturition may indicate dystocia and should prompt you to seek immediate care: more than 24 hours of stage I labor (nestFacebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 17
Enchanted Home PET furniture
Kitty Holster® 2013 Kitty Holster® Cat Harness by Crazy K Farm is the newest ground-breaking pet product for cat owners. The patented lightweight Kitty Holster® by Crazy K Farm is soft and secure and ensures that cats are safe and comfortable in a variety of situations. Perfect for handling cats at veterinary appointments, on walks and while traveling and visiting friends and family with the cat, the Kitty Holster® is readily accepted by most cats and provides owners with the peace of mind that most kitty houdinis cannot escape the harness.
www.KittyHolster.com
Enchanted Home PET furniture CatIt Speed Circuit
Enchanted Home PET furniture eases your pet into a luxurious cushion that engulfs them in complete comfort and warmth. Enchanted Home PET’s top priority is designing and manufacturing products with both exquisite style and a high degree of functionality!
http://shop.enchantedhomepet.com/
CatIt Speed Circuit The CatIt® Speed Circuit is the ultimate play toy that incorporates sight, sound and touch with its accelerating coaster ramps. The elevated tracks add a fast-paced exciting roller coaster element while the motion activated illuminated ball allows for fun day or nighttime play. A peek-a-boo track design allows cats to see, chase and swat the moving balls inside. Available online.
CatIt SmartSift The Catit® Design SmartSift™ is an easy, no-mess cat litter maintenance system. For pet owners who want to say goodbye to their litter scooper, this is the litter box for you! SmartSift™ is a safe, quiet and easy eco-clean technology system that does not require electricity to function - it is completely manual. SmartSift's™ no-motor operation saves you the hassle and money of having to replace any expensive electric parts.
http://catitsmartsift.com/
Kyjen Dog Games Kyjen has a large line of dog products designed specifically for the comfort, safety and well-being for four-legged companions. Their interactive games and puzzles can strengthen the family bond and lead to fewer behavioral problems!
http://shop.kyjen.com/ 18 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
Pet Hair Go, Go Away! We spotlight three vacuums effective in the war against pet hair in the home.
Share a household with a dog affectionately nicknamed Sir Shed A Lot or a pair of longhaired cats who enjoy grooming themselves on your suede sofa? No worries. One of the most essential ‘must-haves’ in any pet household is a vacuum cleaner that quickly and easily rids your home of pet hair. For this product review, San Diego Pets Magazine staff tested three popular vacuum cleaners with reputations for being effective in removing pet hair from carpet, tile, wood floors and fabric sofas and chairs. None of them disappointed us. Here are our findings: Editor’s Pick:
Hoover Pet Cyclonic Bagless Upright Competition was fierce, but this Hoover vacuum earned our top honors for many reasons. We tested it on a home occupied by two cats and two dogs, including a Siberian Husky-Golden Retriever mix (a pair of breeds noted for their super shedding abilities). This vacuum easily maneuvered around corners and on various surfaces. Its quick release function made it easy to empty the dirt cup and its onboard tools, including a pet hair cleaning tool, enabled us to do a thorough cleaning job. And at the end of the job, we pushed a button and the 28-foot cord LeaRN MORe aT WWW.HOOveR.COM retracted quickly into the unit.
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Dyson products sport a wellrespected reputation for being creative, unconventional and not afraid to boast a bit in its continued pursuit for clean homes, Dyson claims this model packs twice the suction power of any other vacuum by delivering 160 air watts. In addition, we liked the smartness of this vacuum to automatically self adjust to various surface levels without the need to bend down or turn dials when moving from carpet to tile floors. Finally, we liked its lightweight and superior maneuverability.
LeaRN MORe aT WWW.DySON.COM
Panasonic’s JetForce Vacuum Cleaner Series (Model MC-UL427) Featuring a pet-hair air turbine brush that sweeps pet hair quickly off furniture and a powerful 12-amp motor, this very affordable bagless vacuum is designed to get the job done effectively and effortlessly. What sets it apart is its jet force technology designed to prevent filter clogging as well as its durability. Its Hepa filter does a good job of collecting pollutants in the air and its bottom-drop cup is a breeze to remove to dispose of pet hair and other household dirt.
LeaRN MORe aT WWW.PaNaSONIC.COM
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 19
Quick Shade The sturdy frame locks firmly in place ensuring that pet can’t collapse the frame. Lightweight and easy to transport with the matching carry bag included, the Pet Shade and Pet Kennel fabric is durable and stain resistant.
www.quikshadepets.com
Dog-E-Glow Collars Dog-E-Glow collars and leashes illuminate their entire length and are seen up to 1,000 feet away for maximum visibility. Collar and leash lights are visible when turned on in a steady, flashing or off mode. All products contain batteries that last up to 150 hours of use.
www.dogeglow.com
Zututh Breeze The first dog toothbrush with a Z-shaped head . Unlike other dog toothbrushes that are made to cover only one angle of a dog’s tooth, the “Zututh Breeze” features an ergonomic handle and Z-shaped head to surround a dog’s tooth, eliminating build-up and preventing decay. Zututh also produces both a manual and electric toothbrush, giving individuals a choice of which they prefer.
www.zututh.com
Givebones Dog-E-Glow Collars
Givebones is a charitable company committed to generating awareness and financial support in hopes of reducing the amount of homeless dogs euthanized every year. By selling dog collars, Givebones provides funding to animal shelters and rescue groups striving to help dogs in need by donating 10 percent of collar sales. Follow Givebones on Twitter at @Givebones.
www.givebones.com
Be Your Pet’s Health Ally!
Pet First Aid/CPR classes with a real cat and dog! 760-433-3480 www.petfirstaid4u.com 20 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
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Help ‘EmUp Harness Introducing the Help’EmUp Harness with “Hip Lift.” A complete shoulder and hip harness system that literally lifts the lives of aging or recovering dogs! By placing a pair of handles where you can quickly reach them, this unique dog harness allows you to lend support at any time. Plus, now for cats!
http://helpemup.com/
Chuckit! For hours of running and retrieving, the ChuckIt! ground pursuit line has a toy for every dog. Kick Fetch™ is perfect for high-energy, athletic dogs. Kickable like a traditional soccer ball, the grooved design allows for easy pick up and return. The Fumble Fetch is ideal for dogs that can return a punt. Both are lightweight and can go the distance for dogs of any activity level. Available in various sizes.
www.chuckit.com
JW Pet iSqueak Ball Dog Toy JW Pet iSqueak Ball Dog Toy is a toy your pooch is sure to have a ball with! This long lasting dog toy is fashioned of thick-walled heavy duty rubber and finished with a long-winded squeaker. These tough rubber toys were developed for and by pet owners in order to provide a superior outlet for interactive fun between dog and owner, as well as for the play and exercise of your dog by his or herself. Pliable, resilient natural rubber has proven itself to be the best material to satisfy the dog's normal craving to chew. This dog toy is definitely a great size and shape to throw for fun toss and fetch games.
www.jwpet.com
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 21
PRIDE BITES The future of plush dog toys are here! PrideBites consumers are now able to design and produce customized dog toys for their furry best friends. The process will be an easy one--Step one: customers will be able to choose a shape, either in the form of a person or a disc. Second, they will be able to customize each toy by uploading a picture, and step three adjusts the colors and outfits used. The PrideBite dog toy is a light weight, interactive, and versatile play toy stuffed with foam! The PrideBite is great for both indoor and outdoor playtime as each play toy floats in the water and is machine washable.
www.PrideBites.com
Surefit
LA FRESH® With summer in full force, you know what that means for your dog – more sweat, dirty paws, and stinky mouths! La Fresh has just the right solution for you and your dog with their Divas & Studs canine care line – providing bath and body wipes, dental finger mitts, eye sparkle finger mitts, and ear buff finger mitts for your pooch!
www.lafreshgroup.com
22 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
Your pet can sleep in style at your next destination with our folding pet travel bed. Designed specifically for travel, this folding bed features a comfy, wear-resistant micro-suede top which is quilted for extra comfort and insulation. It also comes with a rugged water-repellent fabric bottom and zippered exterior pocket for small items. Folds in half and zips into its own case for easy transport. Great for dogs or cats, the bed is easy to store and travel with. Fit dogs up to 90 lbs.
http://www.surefit.net
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Editor’sPicks! Party Animals Party Animals are a line of fun and funky dancing pet speakers. Their advanced electronics make them grooving, moving, dancing machines. Each pet is handmade and equipped with a standard audio input jack, compatible with iPods, iPads, MP3 Players, Laptops, PC’s and more.
http://cobradigital.com/
Hear Doggy Ultrasonic Dog Toys Hear Doggy™ Ultrasonic Dog Toys: This ultrasonic toy is tuned to a pitch outside the human hearing range. Available in a variety of fun characters.
http://www.hear-doggy.com/
Aikiou’s Stimulo Cat Interactive Feeder Challenge Fluffy next time she eats with Aikiou’s Stimulo Cat Interactive Feeder. Aïkiou’s feeder makes it fun to discover what’s hidden inside and will keep your cat busy for a long time!
www.aikiou.com
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 23
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RABBITS
Protect Your Rabbit from Myxomatosis
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yxomatosis is a devastating viral disease of the domestic rabbit. It’s common in the summertime along the California coastlines and in areas where running water may slow down and mosquitoes prevail. The disease is found in wild rabbits, but causes no clinical disease in them. Deadly to domestic rabbits, myxomatosis is carried from wild rabbits by way of bloodsucking external parasites, mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Rabbits who become afflicted with the disease suffer terribly. It starts with lethargy, reddened eyes and swelling, including eyelids, nasal passages, genitalia and the ear canal. Rabbits at this stage also display a water discharge of the eyes and fever. Rabbits who reach this stage of the disease usually die within hours. Myxo is also highly contagious and can be spread from one rabbit to another. There is no effective treatment for myxomatosis in the U.S. Australia and Great Britain have vaccines for the disease, but we have no rabbit vaccines here. In mild cases, rabbits can be slowly nursed back to health but few make it. The best treatment is prevention.
Protect Your Rabbits from Parasites
The key to protecting your rabbits from infection is to keep them free of parasites. This means providing flea and tick protection and keeping mosquitoes away from your home and yard.
THE FIRST STEP: House your rabbit
indoors. Rabbits kept outside in hutches
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Medirabbit.com/(c) 2004 Dr David L Williams or running free are easy targets for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Summer is an especially difficult time as these pests flourish in the warm weather. If you live near water sources, it’s even worse. If you take your bunny outdoors for exercise, ensure it’s at the time of day when mosquitoes are not present. Or, just keep them indoors during the summer time.
SECOND: Protect your rabbits with the application of flea and tick medications. Advantage (kitten or cat dose, equal to your rabbit’s weight) works well, as does Revolution. (Do NOT use Frontline; it is deadly to rabbits.) You might also protect your rabbit with food-grade diatomaceous earth, which dries out the exoskeletons of fleas and kills them. You can dust it carefully onto your rabbit (avoid the eyes and inner ears) and work down onto the skin, brushing off any excess. You can also use it on your carpet and include a
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light application in your rabbit’s living area. When dusting on your carpet, sweep in with a broom and leave overnight, then vacuum up in the morning.
LASTLY: Work to keep mosquitoes away from your home. Make sure your window screens fit well and there are no tears. Install screen doors if you like to keep your doors open for airflow. Use citronella candles around the perimeter of your home in times when mosquitoes are more likely present. You can also use the “clip on” mosquito deterrents nearby your rabbit’s living area. Ensure there are no sources of standing water around your home where mosquitoes will lay their eggs. If you’re close to a public waterway with standing areas, contact Vector Control (find them online at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/ pests/vector_disease.html) and ask them come inspect the area. If mosquitoes are found they will have the area sprayed. Losing a rabbit to the deadly Myxomatosis virus is heartbreaking. It’s a terrible way to die and often times the best thing to do if your rabbit contracts the disease is to prevent their suffering by having your vet humanely euthanize. Take steps to ensure your rabbit is kept as safe as possible. House them indoors and be careful about taking them outdoors during flea, tick and mosquito season.
Prevalence of Myxomatosis The regions in which rabbits are infected the most in the world are South and Central America, the Western United States, Australia, and, most recently, Europe. Europe was first introduced to this virus in the late 20th century when rabbits became a pest to most communities. The purpose was to control the population of that species, but the virus spread quicker than expected. Source: https://sites.google.com/site/myxom11/ prevalence
24 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
ADOPTION SUCCESS
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Oma and her brother, Omo, were relinquished to the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA as the sole puppies of a litter found in Mexico. During her initial examination, Oma was found to have a very loud heart murmur, caused by a severe narrowing of one of the blood vessels that enters into the lungs (a condition known as pulmonic stenosis). Because of this, Oma was placed into medical foster care while she awaited the necessary heart surgery (a balloon valvuloplasty) to correct the heart defect. While a surgery of this kind is not common or available to most shelter animals, a local veterinary cardiologist, Dr. Orvalho at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital, agreed to perform the specialized surgery with great success! Oma recovered nicely from her surgery, and was sleeping in her new home within a week. Her new family (Haley and Trevor) loves her dearly, and they report, “Oma is doing great and we are in LOVE! ...She saw our new vet on Friday and got her stitches out, so we’re on our way. ...Thanks again, and please give our regards to our Adoption Counselor!”
About the San Diego Humane Society & 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. www.sdhumane.org.
Goa! m O Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 25
The Tech Crunch A costly epidemic of pet-related dameges to our high-tech gizmos and gadgets.
Arden Moore,
ACCBC, ADCBC Pet trend, behavior and safety expert Arden@FourLeggedLife.com
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ears ago when facing the scrutiny of their teachers, some imaginative students would claim that their dogs ate their homework. Sure, blame the poor, defenseless dog. Today, however, many dogs – as well as cats, bunnies and other pets — are guilty as charged. But the casualties of their destructive behaviors are now far more costly than homework pages. In fact, a recent national survey conducted by SquareTrade, the No.1-rated protection plan company, discovered that our pets have destroyed more than 8 million smart phones, iPads, laptops and other must-have electronic devices, totaling $3 billion in replacement costs. Now, that’s taking a big bite out of our wallets. In an informal poll taken of my Facebook followers, Sandy Storrie reported the demise of two smart phones at the ‘huge mouth’ of her chew-happy service-pup-in training named Muddy. Sandra Gilbert has lost count of the number of charging cables bitten in half by her kittens who mistake that dangling cord for a tail of a mouse. Angela Badu’s Great Dane named Louie has crushed three iPhones by stashing them in his crate and sitting on them. And Amy Shojai’s first German Shepherd
My cat, Zeki and dog, Chipper, investigate my iPad under my supervision, but try to keep iPads and other pricey electronic gadgets out of paw’s reach.
chewed up not one but three TV remotes before his first birthday. So how can we address this staggering economic epidemic triggered by our priceless assets – our pets – against arguably our most prized possessions, our smart phones, iPads and other devices? For starters, let’s look at the world from our pet’s perspective. While they lacking thumbs to send text messages, they certainly don’t lack curiosity. Dogs, cats and other pets investigate their surroundings by sniffing, pawing, chewing and yes, sometimes, making urinary deposits on chosen objects as a way to leave their ‘business cards.” It’s the dog’s way of saying to others, “Hey, this is mine. Back off.” Our pets’ loyalty and devotion to us can also unintentionally damage our cherished devices. Think about it: many of us carry cell phones and iPads. We tote laptops from room to room in our homes. We spend hours watching videos and movies plus posting messages on Facebook on our computers. These objects carry our scent in the
26 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
strongest way, beckoning our pets to want to check them out in the only ways they know how: by biting them, tail swatting them off coffee tables, pawing them off countertops and marking them with urine or drool (or ugh, both). Recently, SquareTrade folks contacted me and asked me to fly up to San Francisco to conduct a national satellite media tour to offer tips to counter this costly epidemic. With my background in pet behavior and pet first aid safety, I knew my goal was threefold: to save people money, to keep our pets safe and to protect our pricey devices.
I offer my fellow pet-loving San Diegans these tips:
• Banish boredom in your pets by providing them with daily mental and physical exercise outlets. Provide them with safe chew toys, battery-operated toy mice that make erratic movements. Engage your pets by playing interactive games with them. • Stash power cords inside chew-proof tubing or spray the cords with Bitter
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Apple, minty breath spray or even spritz with pickle juice. Most pets detest these scents. • Get into the habit of always stashing your pricey devices out of paw’s reach – inside drawers, cabinets and never on coffee tables, on your bed, kitchen counters or inside open purses left on the floor. Never charge devices in outlets easy for pets to reach. • Invest in an affordable protection plan for your devices. Accidents do happen. I’m eligible for an upgrade for my smart phone and after doing the math, discovered the $99 two-year protection plan offered by Square Trade costs less than the plan being offered by my phone provider. That gives me peace of mind, especially since I have dropped my phone twice into a filled, large pet water bowl. • Resist texting or talking on your cell phone when you’re taking your dog for a walk or a hike. If your dog spots a squirrel or other temptation, he will yank on the leash and possibly cause you to be off-balance and drop that cell phone out of your hand and right on the hard concrete sidewalk. I keep my cell phone in a rubberized case with a sturdy clip that fastens to the waistline of my pants when I walk Chipper and Cleo. I have the phone in case of an emergency, but during the walk, I strive to live in the moment and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells with them on our daily walks.
Share your worst pet-versus-electronic gadget with me at Arden@fourleggedlife.com. The best tale will win an autographed copy of my latest book, What Dogs Want. Be sure to include any photos as well. 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 master instructor. Enroll in her pet first aid classes to earn certification. Each week, she hosts the awardwinning Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio. To learn more, visit www.fourleggedlife.com, www.petfirst aid4u.com and www.petliferadio.com/behave.html.
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 27
My Golden Snitch A
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ll you Harry Potter fans out there know what a Golden Snitch is. Well, I have one. Her name is Saffron. She’s a 2-year old yellow Labrador. And like the seeker’s target in a game of Quidditch, she’s just as fast, just as elusive and when I catch her, the game is over. But it’s not that easy. For one thing, I don’t have a Firebolt. And my eyesight is lousy. But I still have to catch my little Golden Snitch. Saffron is a playful and energetic dog. When my older Guide Dog, Musket retired, I went back to Guide Dogs for a new one. And I was given Saffron. Here’s the deal. I’ve been working with Musket for so long, I was used to his easygoing, slow pace. It was like driving a 40-year-old VW Microbus and then getting a Formula One Ferrari.
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What a change. She’s a great Guide Dog, but that’s not the topic of this story. Saffy loves to run, and play and fetch. When I played fetch with Musket, I’d throw the (ball, Frisbee, Kong, etc) down the lawn and he’d run for it. After about three throws, it dawned on him that he was doing all the work. On the fourth throw, he’d say “Ah, you go and get it this time. I’m tired.” So the blind guy had to go and find the (ball, Frisbee, Kong, etc). And often I never found it. They love me at Petco. “Ah, Mark. Another Frisbee, right?” But Saffy is very different in temperament from Musket. She LOVES to run! I can’t keep up with her. She’s like a supermall in a paint mixer. Jane calls her a ‘Gazelle on crack.’
28 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
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Her favorite toy to fetch is a thick short rope knotted at both ends. I just throw it once and then I can sit down and have a beer. She’s off and running. And running back. And running off again. Back and forth. I’m no longer involved. She has more energy than a nuclear chain reaction. No, that’s not right. A runaway reactor eventually dies down. Saffron could provide power to the entire U.S. if I could just connect her to a grid. But I’d have to catch her first. There must be some hunting instinct in her because she doesn’t just get the rope and run. She has to ‘kill’ it. With one end in her mouth, she snaps her head from side to side as if trying to break her prey’s neck. I don’t know how she keeps from beating herself unconscious. That heavy knot bashes her on both ears like a nunchuck. Finally I am tired from drinking a beer and say, “Okay, Saffy, that’s enough. Let’s go inside.” Then I snap my fingers and she obediently comes to me. If she’s ready. If not, I have to go get her. “Sigh, where’s my Firebolt?” There’s another reason she is a Golden Snitch. I’m not only blind, I’m a guy. So sometimes, I break things. It happens. In the morning after I feed, the dogs I make tea for Jane and bring
THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG Saffron
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it up to her. Saffy always watches me until I bring the tea upstairs and then sits on Jane’s lap. One morning, I was at the counter and opened the upper cupboard and heard a ‘clink!’ noise on the granite counter. I was sure something was broken. But I couldn’t find it on the counter or floor. I began to panic. I knew there had to be something broken (and probably valuable) on the floor. I had to find and dispose of it before Jane came down. I was on my hands and knees, feeling my way around the floor. Cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck as time ran out. Then I heard Jane call from upstairs, “Honey, did you break something?” Damn her Vulcan hearing. “Uh, I don’t think so. Why?” “Because Saffy just brought me a piece of broken tea bag plate.” Busted! So my loyal little Guide Dog Saffron saw the broken plate and grabbed it, took it up to Mommy and dropped it in front of her. “Daddy broke something! What are you going to do to him?” That’s why Saffron is my little Golden Snitch. MARK CARLSON lives in San Diego with with his wife, Jane and Guide Dogs, Musket and Saffron. 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. Contact Mark, Musket and Saffron at www.musketmania.com. Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 29
Audrey Reynolds and Saving Horses, Inc.
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he Irish are known for having a special connection to horses and Audrey Reynolds is no exception. She grew up riding and competed successfully for many years in Ireland, England, and the United States. Twenty years ago, she suffered a serious injury which brought a halt to her show jumping and riding. She took some time off, and then decided she wanted to find a way to give back. She did so by founding Saving Horses, Inc., a nonprofit that helps to find homes for abandoned, abused, and forgotten horses. For example, many race horses are discarded by their owners when they can no longer run competitively. They are sold at auctions to people with questionable motives or worse yet, sold for food at different “feed lots”. There is a federal ban on slaughtering horses in the United States, but the US Congress has failed to pass into law the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, so horses at feed lots are sold abroad in Canada and México. It is illegal to knowingly send horses out of California for slaughter, but the law is not enforced. Reynolds not only rescues race horses, but also other breeds. She has scouts at many of the auctions and feed lots that help her. She wants to give these forgotten horses a second chance to live out their lives in comfort. Fortunately, there are many organizations and non-profits that help dogs and cats find new homes, but, unfortunately,
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Audrey Reynolds with Gracie (left) and El Nuki (right).
there are not so many for horses, so Reynolds is one of their champions. Reynolds currently provides a home to eight horses at her ranch in Olivenhain, including El Nuki,12; Gracie, 19; Pirate, 16; Beau, 20; Buddy, 8; Aero, 8; Lucky Girl, 19; and her own Quarter horse gelding, Tuffy, 30; who she rode competitively and rescued at the age of four. She also has two more being cared for by foster homes in Lancaster. As the president of Saving Horses, Inc., Reynolds runs a mostly one woman operation with some volunteers, and is
always looking for more to help her care for the horses. Many of the horses that she has found new homes for or fostered herself have had heartbreaking stories. El Nuki, a handsome and friendly chestnut thoroughbred was once owned by a prominent southern California family known in the racing world. He had 16 starts and three wins. He won $131,000. Once he could not race anymore due to a career ending injury, the family put him in a “claiming race”. Anyone could claim him for
BUSINESS LISTINGS List your Business, call (619) 573-5615 Behavior Buddies by Camp BowWow Dog Training, Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Bonded and Insured (619) 889-7767 www.myhomebuddies.com/LaJolla
Dog Beach Dog Wash Do-It-Yourself•Service•Accessories 4933 Voltaire St., San Diego, CA 92107 (619) 523-1700 http://www.dogwash.com
Custom Braiding
Four Legged Life
Custom made dog collars and leads. Made Local. (760) 726-3042 http://www.custombraiding.com
Pet event speaker Arden Moore Dog/cat behavior consults Host dog parties • (760) 433-3480 www.fourleggedlife.com
30 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
Home Buddies by Camp BowWow Dog Walking, Pet Sitting & Dog Training Bonded and Insured (619) 889-7767 www.myhomebuddies.com/LaJolla
Kittycare La Jolla Professional Pet Sitters Experience with Special Needs Animals Certified Pet First Aid & CPR (858) 352-6988 • KittycareLJ@att.net
El Nuki chasing Gracie.
$5,000. When his new owners realized how lame he was, they sold him. One of Reynolds’s scouts spotted him at a feed lot. This magnificent racehorse was going to be sold for food. He was with another thoroughbred named Daddy’s Pride and Joy, and the scout decided the two of them needed a second chance. El Nuki stayed with Reynolds and Daddy’s Pride and Joy was adopted by a loving home in New Mexico. They are the part of the lucky few who can live out their lives safely and in comfort. El Nuki is also lucky as Reynolds was able to trace his breeder through his tattoo. This conscientious breeder was concerned and although he has since retired, continues to send funding for El Nuki’s care. Gracie, a beautiful chestnut
Leash Your Fitness Fitness class for you and your DOG. Classes / events throughtout San Diego. 619-822-3296 http://www.LeashYourFitness.com
Linda Michaels, MA Victoria Stilwell-licensed Private/Customized Force-free Dog Training La Jolla to Carlsbad (858) 259-9663 www.DogPsychologistOnCall.com
hunter/jumper quarter horse, has bonded with El Nuki, and the two are inseparable even though El Nuki sometimes plays too rough. Gracie is one of those nice horses who rode and jumped her heart out for the first family that owned her until she developed serious lameness issues and could no longer be ridden. She was found at the same feed lot as El Nuki. She came with another gelding, and both had orders to “disappear”. Gracie could barely walk from her injuries and arthritis. She also had no shoes on her tender feet. Fortunately, both Reynolds and her scout convinced the kill buyer to sell them and promised nobody would know. The gelding was sent to another rescue organization. Gracie went out to two field adoptions,
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
but both were unsuccessful, so she now has a good home with Reynolds. Reynolds has had both El Nuki and Gracie for four years. All of this takes a lot of money, and Saving Horses, Inc. holds fundraisers every month or every other month to try to cover all the costs of caring for the horses, do grant writing, and find sources of revenue, but there is never enough, and many times Reynolds has had to dip into her own pockets to keep the operation going, and rescue as many horses as she can. These fundraisers bring in much needed money. There will be fundraising events in September and October. Please see the website for details. www.savinghorsesinc.com
Puptown Doggy Daycare 205 16th Street. San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 234-5278 www.puptown.net
Project Wildlife
Safe Dog I.D. Collar
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education 887 1/2 Sherman Street, SD, CA 92110 Wildlife Information Line 619-225-9453 www.projectwildlife.org
Was developed because strangulation accidents kill or injure countless dogs every year. Veterinarian approved. (760) 471-7036 www.safedogid.com
Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 31
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COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE
Emergency Hospitals BONITA/CHULA VISTA Pet Emergency & Specialty Center of South County (619) 591-4802 885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 www.PESCSanDiego.com
CARLSBAD California Veterinary Specialists 7 days 24 hours (760) 431-2273 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
ENCINITAS VCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.VCANorthCoast.com
ESCONDIDO
Animal Shelters & Humane Societies aCCePT STRayS & Have aDOPTaBLe PeTS
A Passion For Paws (Akita Rescue) (818) 925-4827 www.APassionForPaws.org
BAY PARK/MISSION VALLEY County Animal Services
Baja Dog Rescue (619) 407-9372 www.bajadogrescue.org
5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The Barking Lot (619) 796-2253 www.thebarkinglot.net
BONITA County Animal Services
Cat Adoption Service (760) 550-2287 www.sdcats.org
5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tue-Sat 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
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: Tue-Sat 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Animal Urgent Care of Escondido 7 Days 24 hours (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, www.AUC.US.com
CHULA VISTA City of Chula Vista Animal Shelter
KEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONT
CORONADO Animal Care Facility
Animal ER of San Diego (858) 569-0600 5610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat/Sun 24 hours
LA MESA Pet Emergency & Specialty Center 7 Days 24 hours (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, www.PESCSanDiego.com
MISSION VALLEY VCA Emergency Animal Hospital 7 Days 24 hours (619) 299-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108 www.VCAEmergency.com
MURRIETA California Veterinary Specialists 7 days 24 hours (951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562, www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
OCEANSIDE Mission Animal & Bird Hospital 7 Days 24 hours (760) 433-3763 655 Benet Rd., Oceanside, CA 92058 www.missionanimal.com
130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123 www.cvacf.org Hours: Sun & Mon Closed, Tue-Fri 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Furry Foster 858-848-PETS (7387) http://furryfoster.com German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue www.GSP-Rescue.org Greyhound Connection www.GreyhoundConnection.org
It’s The Pits (Specializing in the Bully Breeds) (858) 484-0985 http://itsthepits.rescuegroups.org
1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580 Hours: Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
ESCONDIDO Escondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.org Hours: 7 days 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
OCEANSIDE San Diego Humane Society-North (For dogs) 2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10 a.m.-4 p.m. San Diego Humane Society-North (For cats) 572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
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 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat-Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
EL CAJON
Veterinary Specialty Hospital 7 Days 24 hours (858) 875-7500 10435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA 92121 www.VSHSD.com
Forgotten Paws Animal Rescue www.forgottenpaws.org
EL CAJON City of El Cajon Animal Shelter
Friends of Cats 15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361 www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
SORRENTO VALLEY
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue of San Diego 858-779-9149 www.coastalgsrsd.org
Independent Therapy Dogs, Inc. https://sites.google.com/site/idtdinc/
Animal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-7387 12775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat/Sun. 24 hours www.AnimalEmergencySD.com Veterinary Specialty Hospital (760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069 www.vshsd.com
Chihuahua Rescue of San Diego www.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.com
1395 First Street, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
POWAY
SAN MARCOS
Rescue & Adoption
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 (Dogs under 15lbs) (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
ENCINITAS
San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society (619) 593-2123 www.SDTurtle.org
Rancho Coastal Humane Society 389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.sdpets.org Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tue 11:30 a.m-5 p.m.
Second Chance Dog Rescue (619) 721-3647 http://secondchancedogrescue.org
RANCHO SANTA FE Helen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Upward Dog Rescue (858) 345-2434 www.upwarddogrescue.org
SPRING VALLEY
Westie Rescue of California (619) 579-6395 www.WestieRescueCA.com
National Cat Protection Society 9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771 www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue-Sat noon-5 p.m.
Wee Companions (619) 934-6007 http://WeeCompanions.org
32 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
EASY TURF
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Backyards Just Got Better Cesar Millan Introduces EasyTurf for Pet Owners B y
Vista, Calif. – World-renowned dog whisperer, Cesar Millan recently introduced EasyTurf artificial grass as his turf of choice for pet owners seeking to eliminate common lawn problems associated with pets. Millan is widely known for his television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan 2004 - 2012, which was broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide. Now Millan is focused on his new television series on the National Geographic Channel, Nat. Geo Wild, and the expansion of his famed Dog Psychology Center (DPC) in Santa Clarita California. In the summer of 2010, EasyTurf, long-recognized by those in the artificial grass industry for innovation, released a proprietary, rinse-clean drainage technology. The 100-percent permeable backing was crucial in the contribution to the first and only artificial grass where even the messiest pet waste and outdoor spills can be easily rinsed away. Millan says drainage was critical in his decision to partner with EasyTurf on
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the 10,000 square-foot installation of artificial grass at the DPC in Santa Clarita California. “We have a lot of land to cover, so it's important to me that our landscaping is easy to care for, safe for
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our pack and has proper drainage,” said Millan. Along with the drainage capabilities, EasyTurf products trump other artificial grass manufacturers on key customer deliverables like durability, comfort and look and feel. “Not only does EasyTurf look just like natural grass, it helps to eliminate common lawn problems associated with pets like brown spots from urine, tracked in mud, grass clippings and it can even deter your dog from digging holes,” Millan stated. EasyTurf's state-of-the-art fibers and infill provide a safe, cushioned place for pets to play and train. Advanced engineering ensures pets a durable, soft lawn for many years to come while drastically reducing water and lawn maintenance costs. Millan has encouraged pet owners to seek EasyTurf when considering a waterconscious, carefree landscape solution. “EasyTurf was the best choice for us and is the best choice for your pack,” said Millan.
Above, Cesar Millan and his dogs pose for a photo on their new EasyTurf artificial grass agility field. Below, Millan instructs children on basic obedience commands at the Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita California. Photos by Greg Ronlov Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2013 33
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, August 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hounds for Hope Walk Hounds for Hope Walk is a canine cancer awareness and wellness festival designed to promote healthy care for our furry friends held at Liberty Station for the first time this year. www.labradorharbor.org/events.html
Saturday, August 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dog Days of Summer Hosted by Cardiff-by-the-Sea Come enjoy dog contests, custom pet products and animal adoptions. The Dog Days of Summer is San Diego County's largest dog-centric event, hosted in Cardiff-by-the-Sea by Cardiff 101 Main Street. http://www.cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com/
Saturday, August 24, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bark for Life of San Diego Kate O. Sessions Memorial Park. The American Cancer Society Bark For LifeTM is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and
awareness for the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer. http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=47943& pg=entry
Saturday, Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Luratics All-Breed Lure Coursing and K9 Scent Detection Come out to Dusty Rhodes Park for a funfilled day with the entire family, especially the four legged members! Lure coursing is a fast-paced chase sport that all dogs know how to do without any training – all dogs are welcome. Scent Detection is a growing sport that allows dogs of all ages, shapes, sizes or breeds to focus their keen sense of smell to find hidden treasures! This event is fun, safe, open to the public, and all dogs can participate – any size, any shape, any age. Call (619) 749-7961. http://www.luratics.com
Sunday, September 8, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon
ent much loved 8th annual dog surfing competition and beach day. See ad on page 3. Call (858) 756-4117 x350. www.surfdogsurfathon.org.
Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 a.m. - noon
Bark for Life of Valley Center Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center. The American Cancer Society Bark For LifeTM is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer. www.relayforlife.org/barkvalleycenterca
Saturday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m. - noon
29th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission and locally by I Love A Clean San Diego (and at Dog Beach by Friends of Dog Beach). In San Diego, the cleanup involves more than 90 cleanup sites at coastal and inland sites, and 8,000 volunteers. This cleanup day now takes place in all 50 states and 150 countries around the world.
Helen Woodward and Blue Buffalo pres-
OUR NeW WeBSITe IS OPTIMIzeD FOR MOBILe DevICeS! San Diego Pets Magazine has more events listed and highlighted online. We invite you to add your own events and share your comments on our website. www.SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com/events 34 AUGUST 2013 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | Facebook/Twitter @SanDiegoPets
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