Pet Connection S O U T H E R N L A K E S • FA L L 2 0 1 5
Inside
• Meet Brandy
the therapy dog • A fish tale • Adopt a pet
SHARON SOCH Pet Connection
Why you should adopt a dog Dogs make a house a home; there is no doubt about it. If you have ever thought about including a dog in your family, here are several reasons to consider moving ahead on a furry adoption.
Health benefits
Between walks in the morning, walks in the evening and daily play time, dogs get everyone in the family active and moving each day – an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Dogs may have pervasive positive effects on human health, according to the National Institutes of Health, which reports that groups of new pet owners showed a significant reduction in minor health problems compared to those without pets. Other studies have shown that spending time with animals can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Why adopt?
Between 6 and 8 million homeless pets enter shelters every year. Because shelters cannot handle all the dogs that need a place to live, many that don’t get adopted are euthanized. Adopting a dog is a conscientious decision to make because it means you are saving a life. Furthermore, animals in shelters receive medical care during their stay. As an adopter, you can be better informed about the state of your new pet’s health, as shelters keep great records on vaccinations and other treatments. Lastly, adopting a pet is a much more affordable route to dog ownership than buying a dog from a breeder or store.
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FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
To add laughter and love to your life, consider sharing it with a dog in need.
Where to adopt
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
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Dog adoption events are an excellent way to meet lots of potential pets at once, helping you find a dog whose temperament would be a good fit for your home and family. Thankfully, many groups are helping to make such events happen. For example, Coldwell Banker Real Estate recently teamed up with Adopt-a-Pet.com to organize the Homes for Dogs National Pet Adoption Weekend. This nationwide event built on the success of the “Homes for Dogs Project,” a national campaign hosted by Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com, which aims to find homes for 20,000 adoptable dogs in 2015. “It’s shocking to think of how many homeless dogs enter shelters each year,” says Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “That’s why we launched this program; between our 86,000 sales associates and the 15,000 Adopt-a-Pet.com shelters, we’re hoping that we can truly make a difference.” Coldwell Banker offices in communities across the United States, along with shelters and rescue groups in the Adopt-a-Pet. com network, joined forces for one of the largest adoption events of the year. And they are planning future adoption weekends. For more information, visit bit.ly/HomesForDogs. (STATEPOINT)
Ensuring proper care and treatment for your cat is essential to both your and your cat’s happiness. FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
THE CAT’S
meow
Six fabulous ways to pamper your feline 74 percent say they’d rather be at home with their cat than get a massage. In addition, 79 percent of cat owners say they treat their cat like people, or even their children. Given the importance of cats in owners’ lives, pampering them in return seems only fair. Here are six purrfect ways to spoil your feline friends:
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MEOW
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Southern Lakes
PET CONNECTION Fall 2015
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Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411
23701 45th St. (County NN) Salem, WI 53168 221836
All Breeds! Cats Too! By appointment only Monday - Friday, Thurs. evening
Give treats a homemade touch Don’t just settle for store-bought cat treats. Create your own. Recipes that include cheese, chicken, biscuits and more can be found online. Each gives you the chance to provide your pet with a oneof-a-kind taste sensation and the relief
Editor:=................................................................. Tracy Ouellette Editorial Assistant: ................................................... Sharon Soch Creative/Production Manager: ........................... Sue Z. Lange Advertising Director: ..................................... Vicki Vanderwerff Special Sections Advertising:........................... Karen Dubinsky
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Celebrity cat owners such as Ellen Degeneres, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry have made cat ownership trendy, and research shows that cats do more for their owners than influence celebrity style. A recent study from the makers of Arm & Hammer Cat Litter found that 95 percent of cat owners believe their feline friends lighten their mood, while
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MEOW that they’re enjoying wholesome ingredients. A little massage When spending time with your cat, show them affection with a relaxing massage. Start with long, gentle strokes, applying weight at about five grams per pound of your cat – this is a very light touch. Keep one hand on your cat constantly while the other massages the legs, tail and spine, going in the direction of the fur. Upgrade the litter box options Improve and replace your cat’s old litter with Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Cat Litter. This litter’s unique technology forms a tight seal around odor and destroys it. Clump & Seal Cat Litter is also 50 percent lighter than regular litter and 100 percent dust-free, making a more
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pleasant litter box area for everyone.
Interactive toys that you maneuver for your cat (like wand toys), toys your cat Offer real outside time can play with on their own, and food Allowing your cats to spend long puzzles can help reduce stress and keep periods of time outside is not advised and your cat physically and mentally healthy. isn’t good for your cat’s health, but in the She recommends multiple playtimes right moments, brief periods of outside each day. time can be beneficial. If you have a well-closed-off area on your property, Satisfy your cat’s natural consider letting your cat out for a instincts supervised visit. The new sensations will Nagelschneider also suggests when pique their curiosity, and grass, should cats are playing, they are actually they choose to eat it, can actually aide going through a “hunting” preytheir digestion and help them process sequence. They eye their target, then hairballs. stalk and chase, and finally pounce and grab. Cats enjoy performing this Encourage multiple repeatedly during a single playtime and ‘playtimes’ each day giving your cat food or a small treat Cat Behaviorist and Arm & Hammer after each prey-sequence is a great way spokesperson Mieshelle Nagelschneider to satisfy their natural hunting instinct. says that playtime or “hunting” is For more tips on taking care of your essential for your cat’s happiness as both cat, visit Armandhammer.com. (BPT) their mind and body need stimulation.
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Many cats enjoy being groomed by their owner. The soothing strokes will often have them purring.
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FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
SHARON COYLE Pet Connection
Brandy the therapy dog visits the East Troy Lions Public Library in October.
Several months ago I was visiting the Veterans Home at Union Grove, waiting to take a tour of the facility. While sitting there I noticed a couple entering the waiting room with a cute little dog – in a tutu no less! Being a Nosy Nellie I introduced myself and found out that the delightful Racine couple, Lynne and John Thierfelder, regularly visit retirement communities and other locations with their star – Brandy, a miniature poodle therapy dog who performs and has delighted audiences and visited residents of retirement communities for almost three years. Lynne estimates Brandy has either visited or performed shows about 400 times during those brief years. That is an amazing number to me but to volunteers Lynne and John it’s just part of an average week as they visit retirement communities regularly Thursdays and Fridays and other days depending on requests.
They were kind enough to join me for a presentation Oct. 7 at the East Troy Lions Public Library to visit and perform for about 125 4K and 5K students from nearby Leona Doubek Elementary and St. Peter’s School. “We just have BY C O R R E S P O N D E N T a good time and Brandy reminds many seniors of a dog they may have had,” Lynne said. A therapy dog is specially trained for the purposes of visiting people in nursing homes, hospitals, retirement homes and even disaster areas to provide comfort, entertainment and affection. The dogs also visit libraries to promote literacy with
Sharon Coyle
children by “reading” with the youngsters as well as helping kids feel comfortable around these four legged canines. How did Lynne and John get involved? Lynne said it started with John doing spiritual sessions at retirement communities. “I wanted to go along so I thought I could bring Brandy,” she said. Lynne came up with the idea to train her as a therapy dog and their wonderful program was born. The process included a six-week obedience class called Good Citizen that is approved by the American Kennel Club. Once it was determined Brandy was a good fit to become a therapy dog, Lynne worked with her further on the ability to be comfortable around people, walk around a wheelchair, handle being by an individual using a cane, etc. Brandy then took a test
BRANDY
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
y d n a r B
Good therapy with a dog named
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Taking a peek at the
CREATURES of the deep
Elkhorn high schooler becomes adept at tending his aquarium
Photos by KELLEN OLSHEFSKI Pet Connection
By Kellen Olshefski STAFF WRITER
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Chris Wells, a sophomore at Elkhorn Area High School, appreciates the importance of providing fish plenty of places to hide and the role of water movement in helping them exercise. Inset: Wells’ tank provides plenty of cover for his fish, such as the Coeruleus, a cichlid from Malawi Lake in Africa, pictured here peeking out from an alcove.
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or some people throwing a goldfish into a bowl full of water, then adding colored gravel and fake plants is enough to say they have an aquarium. For others like Chris Wells – a junior at Elkhorn Area High School – owning one fish is not enough and it all soon blooms into a full-blown hobby. Wells took up the hobby, starting with a small 10-gallon tank and the help of a family friend who cleans and maintains fish tanks around the area. Wells has now moved up to a 50-gallon tank set up in his bedroom, stocked with Ahlis and Coeruleus, a bright yellow cichlid that comes from Malawi Lake in Africa. “I’ve had everything from guppies to
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All sorts of variety
Wells said the different colors of the fish, fiddling around with the tank and maintaining it are only a few of the many things that keep his passion burning. “Some people don’t like cleaning the tank, but it’s something I love doing because I’m a hands-on guy,” he said. Wells thinks aquariums have become a bigger hobby over the past few years, including saltwater tanks – often containing live coral. Wells said many are downsizing their captive coral collections, though, in an attempt to stop harvesting of coral from reefs in the world’s oceans. People who own live coral are breaking it down into smaller pieces and selling it among other hobbyists. Steering away from saltwater tanks means many are starting to collect freshwater fish. “I think the freshwater hobby is really booming right now because a lot of people are getting into it, it’s fairly easy, inexpensive and it’s just a lot of fun to have,” he said. Wells said he would definitely recommend a smaller freshwater tank for any family, due to its fairly easy maintenance and low cost. Though he said he’s not pursuing it as a career path, Wells said he plans to always have a fish tank in his house. “It’s a fun thing to look at. It’s a relaxing thing and if you get really good at it, you can breed the fish,” Wells said, pointing out a batch of young Coeruleus he recently hatched and is raising for his tank. “You can sell the babies and get more money for the hobby. It’s a cycle.”
Setting up a tank
To date, Wells has tried his hand at both fresh and saltwater tanks. While saltwater tanks have become more popular in recent years now that smaller tanks are more feasible, Wells recently took his down because they can get quite expensive. Wells said aqua-scaping – the way plants, rocks and the sand/gravel base are laid out – can play an important role in the activity of the fish. By giving the fish more places to hide, Wells said the fish will actually be more active, spending more time in sight because the fish feel more secure. “The more hiding places you have, the less they will hide,” he said.
Wells said it took him some time to set up the rocks in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and serves a purpose, stacking and restacking several times. While he said it might look like a bunch of stacked rocks, he set it up so the fish had alcoves and crevices to dip in and out of. Additionally, he had to keep in mind the fish he keeps actually dig out a sand bed below overhangs, carrying sand in their mouth to another location in the tank. “It takes a little effort,” he said. Lighting also plays an important role in keeping a successful aquarium. Wells currently uses a 40-inch 50/50 fluorescent one-bulb fixture, giving a nice mix of blue and white light. Wells said blue bulbs can have a nice effect in saltwater aquariums, while white bulbs are beneficial when trying to grow live plants in an aquarium. Wells has two SunSun Wavemaker pumps that can be hooked up to a Wavemaker box, causing the pumps to pulsate giving the tank a more natural flow and feel. While only one is a necessity, Wells said he has two, which adds to the flow of water in the tank. Wells said while water flow is more important in saltwater tanks, water flow in a freshwater tank also has its purpose – not only providing a pleasant aesthetic aspect, but also giving fish a current to swim against, giving them exercise and keeping them active. “It’ll keep them moving around, swimming against the current,” he said. Additionally, Wells said heaters and filters play important roles in an aquarium, helping to keep the water at a safe and comfortable temperature for the fish and keep the tank clean and wastefree.
Selecting livestock
Wells said when selecting fish for a tank, there’s many options of not only what kind of fish to get, but also where to get them. Wells said he’s purchased fish from stores like Petco and PetSmart in the past and has even gone through breeders in the Lake Geneva area. However what’s more important is doing a little research before throwing a bunch of fish together in a tank. Wells said fish come in three levels of compatibility: community, semiaggressive and aggressive. He said it’s advisable not to mix fish from different levels. “If you put a community fish with an aggressive fish, guess what’s going to happen,” he said. “The aggressive fish are going to kill the community fish.
“You can mix and match some fish, but you have to do some research.” Wells suggested looking up a compatibility chart to see which fish will mesh well with each other. Some fish species also can be more difficult to care for and might require extra attention or special treatment. Wells also said it’s important to research how large a fish can get and how many gallons a fish needs for movement and gaining territories for itself. Finally, Wells said while ordering fish online is possible, he doesn’t suggest it as there’s no guarantee the fish will survive shipment. Going to a local pet store allows buyers to make sure the fish is healthy, find out what and how much the fish is eating per day, what the fish need to thrive and receive immediate answers to any questions they might have about caring for the fish.
Maintaining a tank
Once a tank is set up, it’s not going to take care of itself and there is still work to be done, such as cleaning and feeding, Wells said. When it comes to feeding, Wells said it’s important to monitor the activity of the fish and how much they eat, as overfeeding can have a negative effect on the tank. Too much food in the tank leads to more waste and more work, as the filter will have to be cleaned on a more regular basis. “You have to try it first and see how much they’ll eat,” he said. “If there’s excess food, don’t feed them a second time, let them pick it off the bottom.” Wells said a tank should typically be cleaned once a week, cleaning the glass, sand and changing out a portion of the water with clean water during the process.
Words of Wisdom
Finally, Wells said when questions come up, the best way to find help is to ask. “You just have to ask around,” he said. “Go to your local pet store. They know what they’re talking about.” He said he can’t emphasize enough that it takes a little effort to make an aquarium a positive experience. “If you don’t put in a little effort, you won’t enjoy it, you won’t get the full gist of what it’s going to give you,” he said. “It’s like a car; you take care of the car, the car’s going to take care of you. You take care of the fish tank, the fish tank’s going to take care of you.”
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
cichlids,” he said. His first tank is now on display in one of the high school’s science rooms.
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Adopt-A-pet
these lovable animals are all up for adoption and hoping you’ll give them a happy new home! LIL PRINCESS
Dark sable, small purebred Sheltie. 12 lbs.
Contact Cindy at 262-672-5924 cjmikis@yahoo.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org
Please call Vicki at 262-496-9324 www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org Sponsored by:
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JUDD
Redbone Coonhound, 5 years old Judd is always happy!
Contact Emily at 847-899-6820 e.krochmal@outlook.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org Sponsored by:
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DAISY
A sweet Puggle! 5 years old
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SADIE MAE
Sadie Mae is true to her Terrier background
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DODA
SAILOR
1 yr. old Chihauhua. He’s a lover!
Tri-color male Sheltie
Contact Cindy at 262-672-5924 cjmikis@yahoo.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org
Call 262-210-0796 or email: emilybrially@aol.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org Sponsored by:
COOKIE & FRANKIE Cookie is a 3 yr. old Chihuahua mix Frankie is a 6 yr old Chihuahua
Contact Shelly at 920-948-1494 sbozich@gmail.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org
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SKIPPY
BROWNIE & SCRUFFY
Contact Sara at 847-207-8233 sarastewart889@gmail.com www.tinypawssmalldogrescue.org
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5 yrs. old and very friendly
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Scruffy is a Yorkie/Terrier mix Brownie looks to be a mini Beagle
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
JASPER
Senior male Shih Tzu
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Got chickens?
TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR FLOCK HEALTHY AND LAYING THROUGH WINTER When winter approaches, you probably take steps to prepare your home – insulating water pipes, sealing windows and doors, or covering and storing outdoor furniture. If you’ve also been following the backyard chicken trend – and enjoying fresh eggs all summer long – you’ll want to take steps to care for your flock when the weather cools. And if you’ve been considering getting some chickens, but think you have to put it off until spring, think again – you can still start a flock, or keep an existing one thriving, and laying, throughout winter. You’re part of a growing trend if you already have a flock; nearly one in five people would be more likely to raise chickens if they knew more about it, according to a 2015 national survey
conducted by Tractor Supply Company. Interest with parents is even higher, as 27 percent would consider raising chickens with their families if they had more information on the hobby. The chicken experts at Tractor Supply Co. offer some advice for keeping a flock healthy and producing through winter months. Anyone raising chickens this winter should focus on four areas of care: Keep coops warm and dry Chickens are fairly resilient and can tolerate some very low temperatures, especially when they huddle together for warmth. Helping them stay warm and dry through winter means they’ll be safer and happier – and more inclined to keep laying eggs.
The best way to keep chickens warm in winter is to keep their coop dry and comfortable. Wet living conditions can lead to disease and death within days. You can use tarps to help keep water and dampness out of your coop. The general rule is that coops need to be slightly above freezing to keep chickens happy. Keeping your coop above 35 degrees will protect your chickens from cold weather and keep their drinking water from freezing. Only if the temperature falls below 35 degrees should you consider purchasing a heater or heat producing light to provide extra warmth. Under these frigid
CHICKENS
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PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Raising chickens has many advantages, including a steady supply of fresh, nutritious eggs, greater control over what your family eats, companionship from the birds themselves, and an opportunity to teach children how to care for animals and the earth.
FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
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Adopt-A-pet
these lovable animals are all up for adoption and hoping you’ll give them a happy new home! GLENDALA
TIGER
DSH calico female 8 years old, FIV+
DSH tiger male 3 years old, FIV+
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
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DOLLY
DMH tiger female, 2-1/2 years
DLH grey female 3-1/2 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
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BENNY
DSH black male, 11 years old
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Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
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Tan & black Mastiff mix male, 3 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
FaIRway TRavEl • 262-537-3355
ROMEO
CADENCE
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
DSH grey tiger female, 6 years old
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Brindle Pit Bull/Terrier mix male, 1-1/2 years old
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Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
ATTIE
DMH black & white female 3 years old
DIESEL
BLUE
Red German Shepherd/Akita mix male, 1 year old
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CHICKENS lights to achieve an even distribution of light throughout the year. Incandescent lights are generally best. To encourage Airflow is key chickens to lay, set your light to a timer that Ensuring adequate ventilation is a critical goes on one hour before sunrise and turns component of cold weather chicken care. off one hour after sunset. Overly warm coops can not only interfere Generally, a 40-watt incandescent bulb with chickens’ tolerance for cold weather, with a reflector positioned 7 feet above the but can also lead to a buildup of humidity, ground will light about 200 square feet. which creates an environment for harmful mold to grow. Diet is key Cleaning the coop regularly helps Providing your flock with an adequate combat mold, while encouraging airflow diet will benefit egg fertility once breeding with screens placed on coop windows season begins in the spring. That being said, can facilitate airflow during the day. But your chickens’ dietary needs will change remember to close those windows at night during fall and winter. when temperatures fall. In autumn, begin feeding them a highdensity, vitamin-rich feed. The additional Provide lots of light vitamins will help provide the nutrients Some chicken breeds, such as the birds need in order to cope with colder Brahma or Chantecler, are natural winter temperatures. A good option is Purina egg layers. However, once fall molt is over, Layena Plus Omega-3 SunFresh Recipe many birds won’t start naturally laying until Poultry Feed, which is made with whole January or February, unless light is added to grain and flaxseed and is designed to provide the coop. enhanced nutrients in your flock’s eggs. As a result, supplemental lighting is vital Water is the single most important to keeping your hens laying. Use multiple feeding aspect for a flock. If enough fresh
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water is not available, your chickens won’t eat, which will result in loss of egg production. You can also add a water-soluble multivitamin to their water to boost egg fertility. Of course, water can freeze during winter, so change your chickens’ water often and break through any ice that forms. If you’re having trouble keeping water liquid in the cold, consider purchasing a heated bucket or water feeder. As always, when working in the coop and handling birds, be sure to remember safe handling practices to prevent the spread of disease, such as washing your hands with soap and water and cleaning the tools used to care for your birds. Tractor Supply Co. carries all the products backyard chicken keepers need to keep their flocks happy, healthy and warm during winter months, including lamps, tarps, poultry nettings, heated water feeders, bedding and chicken grit. You can find store locations and more helpful information on taking care of chickens through the winter at TractorSupply.com. (BPT)
To keep your chicken flock healthy through the winter, make sure to provide plenty of heat, light and fresh air.
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
circumstances, a great option is the Producer’s Pride Brooder Lamp.
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FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
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Adopt-A-pet
these lovable animals are all up for adoption and hoping you’ll give them a happy new home! DARWIN
ANDREW
DSH tiger male 2-1/2 years old
DSH tiger male, 3 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
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MICK
DAFFODIL
DSH orange & white male, 5 months old
White New Zealand rabbit female, adult
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DUDLEY
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TJ
Brown & white Pit Bull/Terrier mix 3 years old
White Bichon mix Male, 3 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
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SPRINGER
DSH black & white male 7-1/2 years old, FeLV+
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Sponsored by:
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TOULOUSE DSH tiger male, 2-1/2 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
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COOKIE
DSH black & white female, 3 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
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PRINCESS
Brindle Pit Bull/Terrier mix female, 2-1/2 years old
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and once she passed, became an official therapy dog. They became part of Therapy Dogs International, a national volunteer organization with the purpose of regulating, testing and registering therapy dogs and their handlers with the purpose of visiting hospitals, senior citizen communities and other institutions where therapy dogs can be of assistance. In 2012 there were almost 25,000 dogs and their handlers registered with Therapy Dogs International as official therapy dogs. The therapy dog momentum started in 1976 when registered nurse Elaine Smith noticed how well patients at a hospital responded when a chaplain visited them with his golden retriever. The program snowballed from there when Smith started Therapy Dogs International that trained dogs to visit institutions. Eventually therapy dogs also have been utilized to help children overcome speech and emotional disorders. Universities started bringing therapy dogs to campuses to de-stress students.
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Wisconsin’s own Concordia University was the first institution of its type in the United States to bring a full-time therapy dog to its Mequon campus in 2014. At the Oct. 7 performance at the East Troy Lion’s Public Library, Brandy wowed the children with her leaps and jumps and showed off her Halloween costume while parading around in a little cart. The students in the audience responded with laughs, claps and smiles as Lynne not only showed them how Brandy can follow cues and perform tricks with some fun props and balls, but also educated them on how Brandy became a therapy dog and brings joy to especially senior citizen residents in Wisconsin. It fit in with the program I presented on animals as everyday heroes in stories of how a dog and elephant were pals and the elephant saved the dog’s life to the importance of a dog and a cat providing comfort to someone who is ill or lonely. I even mentioned how I benefitted from a therapy dog that visited a hospital waiting room where I was waiting while my
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husband had surgery. We also looked at how horses provide therapeutic rides for children or adults who can’t walk or suffer from a brain injury, autism or other illness. The important message was how animals can do everyday tasks and services that make them everyday heroes. I urged the kids to be everyday heroes by taking good care of their pets and listening to mom and dad. East Troy Library Director Alison Senkevitch also reminded the children that a golden retriever therapy dog named Tucker visits their library three times a month and “reads’ books with children. “Tucker is a wonderful therapy dog to have visit our library,” Senkevitch said. “He loves interacting with the children, and we find that some “reluctant” readers” that are nervous to read aloud to an adult, are quite eager to snuggle up next to Tucker, read him a story and give him a big hug.” To learn more about therapy dogs, visit the Therapy Dogs International website at www.tdi-dog.org.
SHARON COYL E Pet Connection
Lynne Thierfelder pulls therapy dog Brandy in her school she talks to the children about how special her dog is. bus themed cart at the East Troy Lions Public Library while
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
BRANDY
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Adopt-A-pet
these lovable animals are all up for adoption and hoping you’ll give them a happy new home! CHICO
FRECKLES
Beagle, male, 10 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
lucky dog! dog day care 262-363-5951 221779
BRODIE
Red & white Pit Bull/Terrier mix, male, 4-1/2 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Black & tan, Corgi mix 2-1/12 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
legacy FuNeral SerVIceS 262-642-5057 221780
PHOEBE
Pit Bull/Terrier mix female, 2 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Sponsored by:
MarTIN’S HardWare reNTal & PeT 262-642-3344 221781
Sponsored by:
For PeT’S Sake • 262-363-4529
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HERV
LAYLA
Shepherd mix, female, 2 years old
DSH beige male, 2-1/2 years old, FeLV+
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Sponsored by:
SPrecHer’S reSTauraNT & Pub 262-248-7047
Sponsored by:
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KIRRA
COOPER
Black Pit Bull/Terrier mix female, 2 years old
Beagle male, 7-1/2 years old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
Sponsored by:
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JIM’S auTo body • 262-763-9250
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For more information on these pets call
MURPHY
Jack Russell mix, male, 6 months old
Lakeland Animal Shelter 262-723-1000 Sponsored by:
eye care ceNTer oF WaTerFord 262-534-9100
eaST Troy bodyWorkS • 262-642-2022
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bay VIeW VeTerINary clINIc 262-363-9993
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LAKeLANd ANIMAL SHeLteR 262-723-1000 221777
Ask Dr. Meg
Keep dogs separated during a
CANINE FLU OUTBREAK By Dr. Meg Robinson CONTRIBUTOR
To help prevent the spread of canine influenza, it’s best to keep dogs separated during an outbreak. FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
Not all of the influenza viruses in dogs are Canine Influenza Virus. Five examples of this were given in the literature. This virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours and it is easy to clean these surfaces of this virus. It is not a sturdy virus and standard cleaners work well to eliminate it. Most of the dogs in our area can pick this up because they have not been exposed to it before. Unfortunately, we do not know if the vaccine that is on the market now (H3N8) will provide cross-protection for the strain that occurred in Chicago earlier this year (H3N2). If you do vaccinate, remember this is a two-shot series where the shots are given two to four weeks apart. Dogs can pick this up when they are
with groups of other animals. Dog shows, dog parks, and other areas where dogs can group together are situations that carry the most risk. Keeping dogs separated during an outbreak is the best prevention. This virus can travel on cloths so changing your cloths if you are around a group of dogs can prevent your dog from catching this disease. The information for this article was obtained through Merck Health, Drs. Dubovi, Lee, and Hahn. More information can be obtained through doginfluenza.com. Dr. Meg Robinson, DVM, owns and operates the Waterford Veterinary Clinic, 206 A W. Main St. For more information, call (262) 534-2400.
PET CONNECTION • FALL 2015
The first occurrence of the animal influenza virus (H3N8) in the United States occurred in 2004 in horses. The earliest case of H3N2 occurred in China in 2006. This was of pure avian origin and is now the variant that was occurring in the Chicago canine influenza outbreak in the spring of 2015. Both the H3N8 and H3N2 viruses occur in the dog. The incubation period can be as short as two days but three to four days is more typical. It is spread through the shedding of aerosol droplets and the dogs are contagious for up to seven to 10 days. There are no breed or age differences in susceptibility. This virus is highly infectious and it causes lethargy, vomiting, nasal discharge, and pneumonia. Sometimes bacteria complicate the problem and the dog develops both a viral and bacterial pneumonia. The April outbreak in Chicago involved areas such as Darien, Naperville, Riverwoods and South Elgin. There is a high morbidity associated with this virus and the mortality is about 2 percent. This disease is hard to diagnose because it mimics the other virus diseases that also cause the same signs. Currently, Chicago has more than 175 influenza cases diagnosed and nine cases of parainfluenza virus diagnosed. The diagnosis is done using a test called a PCR test. This is a DNA test and it tests for the matrix gene in the Type A Influenza virus. This test does not need a live virus to work. So swabs can be submitted from the nose and throat. Or, lung tissue can be submitted from animals that die of this disease. The swabs must be kept wet with saline and shipped overnight on ice to the lab. Testing can also be done with antibody testing and this test is called the Hemagglutination Inhibition Assay. This last test will be positive past day eight of this infection. Antibody testing can now be done on both the H3N8 and H3N2 viruses. This virus infection runs its course quickly like most influenza viruses. It comes in fast and leaves the body fast. Virus shedding from infected animals peaks at day three. This virus shedding is nearly done by day seven, though some animals can shed this virus up to 10 days after being infected.
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Let sleeping dogs lie
While it’s often tempting to give a puppy as a gift over the holidays, many experts recommend against it. Not only can the holidays be a stressful time for animals, many pets given for Christmas end up in shelters when they can’t be taken care of properly. Pet ownership is a serious undertaking and shouldn’t be an “impulse buy.”
FILE PHOTO Pet Connection
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