Priceless Pets 2015

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Priceless Pets

Priceless Pets 2015

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

24/7 PET EMERGENCY CARE Right in your own backyard.

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6550 Hampton Roads Pkwy, #113 (at Respass Beach Road) • Suffolk, VA 23435 • thecovevets.com CMYK

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2618 Airline Blvd.

Portsmouth, VA 23701 Phone: 757-558-9122 www.acspecialists.net CMYK

We're excited to announce Dr. Jennifer Cochran as the new owner of Nansemond Veterinary Clinic! Dr. Cochran and her team will continue the tradition of veterinary excellence you've come to expect over the last 76 years.

Walk-Ins Welcome

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Priceless Pets 2015

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Congratulations to all our contestants In no particular order

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1. Bandit 2. Shug 3. Captain Rudi 4. Emma 5. Brutus and Judy 6. Morgan Freeway 7. Iceman 8. Chico 9. Buckets 10. Clyde

5 Great Tips to Exercise Safely with Your Dog!

5 Great Tips for Protecting Your Pets to Enjoy Spring with your Pets with Preventative Tips Meds!

Preventive Medications for pets help ward off the risks of all kinds of health issues from fleas, ticks and influenza to more serious illnesses like heartworms and rabies. Many Preventative meds can be given by the owner, while others like vaccines may require a visit to your veterinarian. Here are five excellent tips to insure your pets stay healthy and happy.

Start by taking your new pet to a good veterinarian to make sure it has all the required vaccinations. Keep those vaccines up to date.

Talk to your veterinarian about other preventive meds and how they effect your particular breed of dog or cat.

Just like humans, the age of your pet should be closely considered when deciding the type of medi-

Make Sure Both of You Can Handle It: Your dog should be evaluated by a veterinarian before starting a cine and dosage.

Read instructions workout program. Pet owners carefully before youa give medicashould get checkup too!

tions to your puppy or kitten.

Don't Just Dive into an Exercise

Routine: Work your way into a more intensive workout regimen.

Start slow and always warm up.

After administering preventative Don't Tie the Leash to Your Wrist: medications your pet, it'sto you or your Glenn Chase DVM This to could cause injury importantdog to ifobserve for anyjerk. Glenn Chase DVM he makesthem an unexpected Consider a Hands Free Leash. adverse side effects.

Don't give Hydrated: Especially your pets Stay meds and then leavecrucial during warmer weather. If you have a long walk or hike planned, them home alone. pack a few treats and water for your pet and yourself.

After the Workout: Check your dog's feet for cuts, scrapes or signs of worn down pads. Check your with veterinarian dog’syour fur for burrs, ticks and other foreign objects.

Consult with any questions and concerns about medications for your pets.Monday-Friday 7:30am to 6:30pm Sat 8:00am to 1:00pm

Monday-Friday 7:30am to 6:30pm Sat 8:00am to 1:00pm

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Ragin’ Cajen wins photo contest

2015 Priceless Pets

BY TRACY AGNEW NEWS EDITOR

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ennifer Griggs was devastated in May 2014 when her cat, which was almost 20 years old, died.

“I really wasn’t expecting to get another pet right away,” she said.

Unknown to her at the time, four days after her cat died, a cockapoo litter was born in Whaleyville. In August, the puppies were finally weaned, and Griggs and her husband, Casey, saw an ad in the paper and decided to go see them.

“I had convinced my husband we’re not going to bring one home, because we’re going on vacation next week,” Griggs said. “We came home with a puppy.”

The couple canceled their first-anniversary trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., because they couldn’t leave their new family member.

Cajen was named as a combination of the couple’s first names. The cocker spaniel/poodle mix is a “happy clown,” Griggs said.

“He loves to play with his toys and romp around the yard, and he loves car rides,” she Griggs said. “He says, ‘I may be small, but I said. “He’s just a happy puppy.”

Griggs said she doesn’t feel her lost cat is very think I’m big.’”

Griggs’ hobby, when she has spare time from far away. her job in accounting “He’s black, and so for Isle of Wight was my cat,” she County Schools, said. “He has the is photography, same personality. and Cajen has no We feel like he’s problems posing. reincarnated.”

The Cove “He’s not camera Griggs said the People's Choice shy at all,” she said, poodle half of Cajen referencing the makes him “really Award photo she entered smart.” in the Priceless Pets “He’s picked up Photo Contest. really quick, and he’s “That picture was really protective,”

taken the first snowfall we had this winter.”

Though the Griggses weren’t sure how Cajen would react, he romped in the snow for hours, so much so that the Velcro on his vest came undone before she snapped the photo.

“He had so much fun,” she said.

Casey Griggs is a paramedic in Northampton County, N.C., so his hours are a little odd. But his wife said Cajen knows when to expect her home, since her hours are more regular.

“He knows what time I get home,” she said.

Cajen took first place in the photo contest, with 2,887 votes, through the “gentle harassing” from Griggs of her family, friends and co-workers.

“Social media helped a lot, too,” she said.

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Real People Real Progress Real Success

Cathy Staub,

Admissions Director

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Dr. J. Ryland Gwaltney

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Dr. Steve A. Gwaltney

• Comprehensive Dental Care for Adults, Adolescents And Children • Compassionate Experienced Staff • Nitrous Oxide Sedation for Apprehensive Patients • Digital Imaging and Photography • Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry • Same Day Crowns • Massage Dental Chairs • Gentle, Painless Dentistry

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2015 Mutt Strut Schedule Scheduled all day: Vendors Children’s activities, including face painting, “draw your pet” art table, “give a dog a bone” bean bag toss and other games and prizes

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Mutt 2015 Priceless Pets

11 a.m. — Introduction 11:15 a.m. — Pledge Walk 11:45 a.m. — Agility Demo (Merrimac Dog Training Club) 12:15 p.m. — Suffolk News Herald Priceless Pets Photo Contest Winners 12:30 p.m. — Suffolk Police Department K-9 Demo 12:50 p.m. — Frosty Paws Eating Contest 1:10 p.m. — Search and Rescue Demo 1:30 p.m. — Parade of Adoptable Pets 1:45 p.m. — Agility Demo 2:10 p.m. — Suffolk Police Department K-9 Demo 2:30 p.m. — Costume Contest 3 p.m. — Search and Rescue Demo 3:20 p.m. — Blessing of the Animals 3:30 p.m. — Agility Demo 3:50 p.m. — Suffolk Police Department K-9 Demo 4 p.m. — Silent Auction Closes 4:15 p.m. — Search and Rescue Demo 4:45 p.m. — Announcement of Fundraising Winners Also scheduled: Children’s Silent Auction — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dog Training Demonstration by Pawsitive Attitudes — 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Grooming Demonstration by Pet Paradise — 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Poop Scoop Race — 3 to 4 p.m.

The 2015 Mutt Strut will take place Sunday, May 3, at Arrowhead YMCA Conference and Outdoor Center, 275 Kenyon Road. Visit www. suffolkhumanesociety.com for more information.

FILE PHOTOS

Fun: Fun for all, even humans, is the name of the game at Mutt Strut. Above left, Lindsey Young takes on the climbing tower at Camp Arrowhead; above right, Spunky the Clown paints a butterfly on Anna Koons' face; at left, Suffolk Police Officer Tyson Wild and his K-9 participate in a K-9 demonstration at the 2014 Mutt Strut.

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Strut Priceless Pets 2015

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FILE PHOTOS

Competition: Canine contests are always an enjoyable part of Mutt Strut. Above left, Sassy and her young owner wear matching Minnie Mouse outfits for the canine costume contest at the 2014 Mutt Strut; above right, Peebles sports a rainbow tutu during the costume contest; at left, Pete Clemow and his dog Shilo participate in the "Race Like the Wind" contest.

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Hashtag takes second place

BY TRACY AGNEW NEWS EDITOR

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eth Branch describes her dog’s name as a given, considering the fact that she lives in “a house full of teenagers” with whom media is popular.

Hashtag — so named after the modern name for the octothorpe or pound sign, which functions on social media sites as a way to join posts of related types together — joined the family as a surprise on Jan. 2. The family was driving back from a Christmas trip to Florida and picked him up on the way.

Branch said the Scottish terrier — the family sometimes renders his name as simply # — fits in perfectly with the family, which also includes her husband, Craig, her son, Austin, and her daughter, Autumn.

“A lot of people talk about how hyper terriers are, but his personality fits with the family just for the sheer fact he sleeps all night,” she said.

“When you say you’re going to sleep, he’ll get in bed and sleep until the next morning.”

Hashtag, now about five months old, isn’t the only fur baby in the family. There are three cats, but two of them are rarely seen except at mealtimes, Branch said.

The third, Nyla, enjoys playing with Hashtag,

Academy Animal Hospital Special Award

and he enjoys stealing her toys.

“He’ll steal them, and they’ll be all over the house,” Branch said, despite the fact Hashtag has numerous toys of his own. “There are days you walk around the house and you would think we live with a 2-year-old toddler.”

Hashtag is quite friendly to humans as well, Branch added.

“He is so funny and probably one of the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet,” Branch said. “I don’t think there’s anybody he’s ever come in contact with that he does not think is his friend.”

Branch said she’s looking forward to still having a “child” after Austin and Autumn have moved out of the house.

“I’ve always wanted a small dog I could treat like a child,” she said. “The teenagers are going to be graduating and going on to college soon, and I need something to treat like a child.”

Branch drummed up votes from family members and friends on social media.

When she and her husband celebrated their wedding anniversary on April 19,

2015 Priceless Pets

they responded to all of the congratulatory phone calls and text messages with “Vote for Hashtag!”

Austin and Autumn had their friends voting as well, she said.

All of the votes were good for Hashtag to take second place in the Priceless Pets Photo Contest.

“He has definitely been a joy to this house,” Branch said.

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Priceless Pets 2015

Cuddle Bear takes third place

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BY MATTHEW A. WARD STAFF WRITER

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ear, a 6-year-old Maltese-Yorkshire terrier mix owned

by Michele Generose, is no stranger to the Priceless Pets Photo Contest.

The first year the Morky was entered, he won first place.

Last year, he won second.

“This year we got a bit of a late start and he won third place,” Generose said.

Originally, Generose’s late mother, Mary Ann Chaney, owned Bear. Generose claimed him when her mother died in 2012.

“She had a lot of health issues,” Generose said. “I purchased Bear for her as a companion. He was a constant companion for her.”

Generose said Bear has “quite a character.” He loves night during a diabetic episode, Generose to “talk,” and he loves stuffed animals, she said. said. “He started barking, and that alerted me.

“He wears little sweaters,” she said, adding Her sugar had started to drop. We he was would get “really ended up taking her excited” whenever her to the emergency mother would buy room.” him a new one.

Now, Generose Bear gave her said Bear is “a joy mother “a reason in my life.” He likes to get up and move Air Conditioning to greet her when around,” Generose she arrives home, she Specialists said. “She had said.

Special Award somebody to take “He’s constantly care of,” she added. with me. He’s like Bear almost saved a child in a certain Chaney’s life one kind of way. He will CMYK

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crawl up in my lap.”

Bear is quite the Casanova, according to Generose. “The women absolutely love him,” she said.

“He can’t help me pick up a guy, but he flocks to females wherever we are.”

Generose said it never occurred to her not to take Bear when her mother died. It was a natural decision, she said, one that has brought new joy into her life.

They participate every year in the Mutt Strut, a fundraiser for the Suffolk Humane Society, also supported by the Suffolk News-Herald’s pet photo contest.

“It’s something we do in a large part in tribute to my mom,” Generose said.

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2015 Priceless Pets

Students help at Mutt Strut

BY MATTHEW A. WARD STAFF WRITER

When the Suffolk Humane Society’s Mutt Strut comes to Camp Arrowhead on May 3, the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Animal Lovers Club will be helping out for the second year running.

The club started in 2013 and has 24 students, said NSA lower school assistant

headmaster Jean Mauck, the club’s advisor along with Kimberly Brinkley, who works in the after-school program.

“The whole club was set up to be a partner with Suffolk Humane Society,” she said.

Suffolk Humane members attend the club’s monthly meetings and help plan its programs, according to Mauck.

See STUDENTS page 11

MATTHEW A WARD/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

Caroline Morgan, Abby Johnson, Violet Johnston, Meredith Edwards, Anabelle Richards, Bradleigh Duman and Pari Nanavaty are among members of the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Animal Lovers Club who will help out during this year’s Mutt Strut.

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Priceless Pets 2015

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STUDENTS continued from page 10

“Last year was our first year, and we ended the year with involvement in Mutt Strut,” she said.

Some club members attended a Suffolk Humane meeting a couple of weeks ago to talk about their involvement in this year’s Strut, according to Mauck.

The third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students will work in the children’s area, according to Suffolk Humane’s Kay Hurley.

They’ll run three different games for small prizes: catch, agility and come/stay, and “a doggie version of red light/green light.”

Mauck said club members also will have an NSA information booth.

“Our kids truly have a heart for animals, and I do to,” she said.

Mauck said the club is a way to teach the children to respect and care for animals, as well as to support their community.

“Our school is very involved in community service — giving back and

extending yourself beyond yourself.”

Fifth-grader Pari Nanvaty will be one of the student volunteers at the event. “I think it’s a good event. It’s not every day you see adoptions happen — it saves animals’ lives,” she said.

Meredith Edwards, a fourth-grader, said she has two dogs and a bunny at home. “If you are really bored, sometimes they can help you,” Meredith said of having pets.

“And they are very nice to cuddle with if you are sad. My bunny, Ninja, he’s fun to play with, because he’s always

climbing somewhere.”

Mauck said Suffolk Humane education committee member Ginger Owen is a big contributor to the animal lovers’ club.

The children really like having animals at the meetings, she added.

“We try to make sure the meetings involve a live animal,” she said. “We’ve had reptiles, we’ve had birds; we’ve had wildlife rescuers come.”

Third-grader Anabelle Richards said a rescued Rottweiler was her favorite animal visitor to a club meeting.

“He was really pretty,” she said.

Main Street United Methodist Church 202 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA

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757-539-8751

Sunday worship at 8:30 and 11:00 am (nursery provided) Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 am

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Our daughter Lauren Batton and Prince

Lauren and Annabelle

Chase, Prince & Annabelle enjoying the outdoors

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2015 Priceless Pets

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6550 Hampton Roads Pkwy, #113 (at Respass Beach Road) • Suffolk, VA 23435 • thecovevets.com SURGERY: Jeff Stallings, DVM, DACVS • CARDIOLOGY: Merrilee Small, DVM, DACVIM • DENTISTRY: Colleen Fox, DVM