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Publisher Jennifer Kitchens-Street (281) 384.5431
jennifer@urbanpawsmagazine.com
Advertising (281) 384.5431
sales@urbanpawsmagazine.com
Contributing Writers Bob Williams Kimmey Piper Dr. Kathryn Primm Alica Franks Staff Photographer Jamie Fincher
Contents
Issue 1: Volume 11 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 THE SCOOP 7
Canine News and Happenings
TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 10
Does Your Dog Make Mistakes?
BODY & SOUL 16
PuppyUp Comes to Houston
Urban Paws Magazine PO Box 1556 Spring, TX 77383
www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
© Copyright 2017. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Urban Paws magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, feature and idea submissions, or photographs, and such material will not be returned. Urban Paws magazine assumes no liability for the contents herein and has the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Urban Paws magazine does not endorse any specific product or service contained herein; we do encourage you to support our advertisers whenever possible.
HEALTH 18
Keeping Your Dogs Anal Glands Clean
PET ADOPTION 22
Here’s Johnny! - PugHearts of Houston Pug Rescue
TAIL END 26
Houston’s Top Dog Names of 2016
On the cover
Find us online! Website: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com Printed in the U.S.A.
4 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Johnny poses for photographer Jamie Fincher with Paw Prints Pet Photography.
COMING IN MARCH Puppy Issue
COMING IN APRIL
Eco-Friendly Pet Products & Services
Contact us for special advertising opportunities at 281.384.5431
The Scoop January/February 2017 For the most up-to-date information, news and events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
JANUARY 25
FEBRUARY 11
A special film screening at Alamo Drafthouse.
Harris County Animal Shelter is teaming up
A Dog’s Purpose at Alamo Drafthouse
benefiting Special Pals Shelter. This event begins at 6:00 p.m with a special meet &
greet. Katy Budget Books will be on hand selling copies of A Dog's Purpose, the
Ambassador to Cane Island ( a golden retriever) named HUB who resembles the movie poster dog will be on hand for photo-ops,
Fit It - Harris County
with Friends of CountyPets and K-9 Angels
Rescue - Houston, TX to spay or neuter 100 dogs and 70 cats for the general public.
The event will be held at the Harris County Animal Shelter. Volunteers are needed. To sign up, email vphvolunteer@hcphes.org.
Screening begins at 7:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY 15
pose-advanced-screening-tickets-
Houston Humane Society will neuter 700
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-dogs-pur30976796432?mc_cid=9a77954caf&mc_eid= decb2fc861
JANUARY 28
Year of the Rooster Adoption Event
Adopt your next best friend to bring fortune
for the start of Chinese New Year. Organized by Fort Bend Pets Alive!, Woof Gang Bakery will feature adoptable pets from local shel-
ters. 3145 Hwy. 6 in Sugar Land.11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
www.facebook.com/WGBSugarLand
Fit Felix for Free
male cats for free at the HHS Animal
Wellness Clinic. Cat owners must have an
appointment, and there is a limit of 5 cats per person. Pet owners can request an
appointment by email at fixfelix@houstonhumane.org or by phone at 713-433-6421. www.houstonhumane.org FEBRUARY 18
PuppyUp Houston
For details, see page 16. FEBRUARY 18
Bingo For Beagles
Join Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue for a day of bingo. Prizes will be awarded to the 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
winner of each game. $15.00 pays for 12
games. VFW Post 8790, 1560 Foley Street from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. www.hbhr.org FEBRUARY 24
Riverstone Bark for Life
Canines and their humans are invited to help take a bite out of cancer during Bark for Life. Presented by Lake Olympia Animal Hospital, Club at Riverstone, 18353 University
Emancipet East End Now Open for Business
ances such as the Houston Disc Dogs, a DJ,
erinary clinic, opened its new brick and mortar
the noncompetitive walk takes place at The
Boulevard, and will feature canine performpup-friendly activities, face painting, food
trucks and vendors offering pooch-worthy
items. Canine registration is a $20 suggested
donation and proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
www.relayforlife.org/barkriverstonetx
Emancipet, Houston’s nonprofit low-cost vet-
site in the East End on Saturday, December 3. The much-anticipated new clinic at 910 South Wayside Drive has greater capacity to serve
pets and people than the clinic’s former home, a 48-foot customized trailer at Neighborhood Centers—Ripley House.
Houston City Council members Robert
FEBRUARY 25
Gallegos and Karla Cisneros, along with leader-
Houston Pets Alive! is hosting its first annual
representatives from BARC and other animal
Putts for Paws
golf tournament at Hermann Park Golf
Course, 1255 North MacGregor Way. Come
play golf and help raise money for Houston’s
ship of the East End Chamber of Commerce, welfare and community leaders, hosted a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at the clinic.
Emancipet’s mission is to make spay/neuter
homeless pets. Registration and warm up will
services and veterinary care affordable and
Start. Lunch begins at 12:00 p.m. $125 per
spring 2015, Emancipet Houston has served
begin at 7:00 AM with an 8:00 AM Shot Gun player or $475 per 4 player team. www.houstonpetsalive.org
accessible to all pet owners. Since opening in 9,000 clients, including providing more than
4,000 spay/neuter surgeries and 5,000 visits for
vaccinations, microchipping, flea/heartworm medication, and other healthy pet services.
The new clinic will allow Emancipet East Urban Paws Magazine 7
The Scoop End to serve up to 40 percent more clients and
ASPCA® (The American Society for the
square feet, with three exam rooms, larger
individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
decrease wait times. The new location is 2,800
areas for surgery, staff, and animals; and a large
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and other Emancipet is continuing fundraising efforts
waiting room and restrooms for clients.
to enable it to open a second location in
expanding its service days and hours and will
low-cost, high-quality veterinary services
With the move, Emancipet East End is also
now be open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The check-in for surgery
appointments begins at 8 a.m. and the clinic is
open for healthy pet services from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
“With our new, permanent location on
Wayside, we will deepen our roots in Houston’s East End,” says Kelly McCann, vice president
Houston, where the need for spay/neuter and remains high.
For more information, visit
www.emancipet.org/houston, or call 713-3212713.
Local Business Owner Helps Create New Animal Rescue Team
and executive director of Emancipet Houston. “Our goal is to keep pets and people together,
and providing low-cost, high-quality veterinary
services accessible to everyone helps us achieve that.
The initiative to bring Emancipet to Houston
in 2015 was spearheaded by City Council
Member Gallegos and made possible with the
support of then-Mayor Annise Parker, former Mayor Pro-Tem and now Harris County
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, and Council Member Oliver Pennington.
A major charitable gift of $89,000 from phi-
lanthropist Jan Duncan through Houston
PetSet, facilitated by co-presidents and prominent Houston animal welfare supporters Tena
Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands co-owner
fund Emancipet East End’s new location.
of Texas are teaming up to create a new dog
Lundquist Faust and Tama Lundquist, helped
Emancipet Houston was also supported by the 8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Bob Milner, Holly Dool, and Schnauzer Rescue rescue named Houston Animal Rescue Team
(HART).
Comprised of Houston-area people who
have long been active in dog rescue, HART’s
board wants to make a difference in outcomes for stray dogs and those surrendered to local shelters. The new endeavor will have foster-
based rescues, and will also augment our capability to save dogs with a kennel-based system
to be built on a beautiful property in Tomball. Rescued dogs will be fully vetted and, when
ready, adopted out on-site at the facility, or
through meetings with fosters. HART will also
coordinate with shelters in the northern U.S. to find homes for dogs that aren’t adopted locally. Additionally, HART will provide information,
education and community advocacy to improve animal welfare, via adoption and fundraising events, visits to schools, and through social
taped inside a mini-stadium with puppies getting to the end zones. Only shelter puppies
between 12 and 21 weeks old are allowed on the gridiron. This year, two puppies from
Houston's Citizens for Animal Protection
(CAP) shelter are featured in the Puppy Bowl. Peekaboo and Duke are the puppies that will
appear in the event. Duke is a Labrador retriever mix born on May 25,2016 and Peekaboo is a Chihuahua mix born on May 30,2016.
For animal shelters, the show is more than a
media.
chance to watch puppies wrestle and play - it's
cient sanitation and maximum comfort and
Puppy Bowl reaches millions of people.
The Tomball facility will be designed for effi-
socialization opportunities for the dogs. As the rescue takes shape, donations will help fund the initial construction and equipment costs and to build a brighter future for dogs in
been the opportunity of a lifetime because the Catch all the adorable action on Sunday,
February 5 starting at 2 p.m. CST on Animal Planet.
Northwest Harris County.
Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIII Drafts Houston Shelter Dogs Adjust your TV sets because Animal Planet's
Puppy Bowl XIII has drafted some adorable rescue pups from Houston!
The Puppy Bowl is a mock Super Bowl preUrban Paws Magazine 9
Training/Behavior Does Your Dog Make Mistakes? ven though we are dog trainers and our
dog looking at me. It's his way of asking me
do make mistakes. And in the spirit of full dis-
in that situation, he'll usually follow my lead and
E
clients think our dogs are "perfect", they
closure, so do I. I've yet to meet a dog or person that was 100% perfect all the time.
When my dog makes a mistake it's usually no big deal. Actually most of the time it was my fault for not teaching him what I expect or what is acceptable in a certain situation.
When he does make a mistake, I try to make a mental note to try to recreate the situation so I can teach him what I do want him to do.
If I don't, he's likely to repeat the same mistake again. If that happens it's definitely my fault.
Educating my dog is one of my responsibilities
both as a dog owner, and as his leader. It's my responsibility to keep him safe and teach him how to not just survive but to thrive with me.
I haven't thought of every situation that might
what he should do. If I show him what I want get a lot of "Good Boys."
Why does my dog ask? It's because he trusts me. He knows, from experience, that I am not going to let anything bad happen to him. This trust took time and effort on both our parts. It took patience and not putting him in situations he wasn't prepared to handle.
People often ask me how long it will take to break a dog of bad habits. Things take as long as they take. There are a lot of variables. How
clearly we communicate with each other and
understand each other, our previous experiences, our relationship with each other and our intelligence all come into play.
Another factor is how often we work on something.
come up, so upon occasion we encounter a situ-
My dog lets me know when he gets a new con-
cool thing that often happens is I will catch my
over that he knows what to do. He'll get it when
ation we haven't dealt with before. One really 10 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
cept because he shows me consistently over and
By Bob Williams, Bark Buster Home Dog Training
he gets it. Sometimes it happens very quickly
he has them. How can I tell?
long it takes, working on something new is an
When we get to my parent's home, he immedi-
and other times it takes longer. No matter how opportunity.
It's an opportunity to enhance our bond and
trust and have fun spending time working together. The more my dog learns, the more he's
ately wants to go to the dock to see if there are ducks to chase. He might not go there for months but when we get there that's what he does.
allowed to do and the more experiences we'll
We might not go the park for a long time, but
what make the memories that we both cherish.
likely take. Dogs tend to have very good memo-
have together. These shared experiences are
Although my dog never vocalizes them I know
when we get there he knows which trail we'll ries.
So we all make mistakes. That's
life. What we do with those mistakes is what's important. We can berate ourselves or our dog or we can turn them into
learning experiences and use them to grow.
The choice is ours. Your dog isn't dwelling on them unless we do. He files it away for the
next time the situation occurs. I file them as well, but then try to
both teach and learn from them.
Urban Paws Magazine 11
Mutt Mugs “Once when I had remarked on the affection quite often found between cat and dog, my friend replied ‘Yes. But I bet no dog would ever confess it to the other dogs.’” - C.S. Lewis
12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
The Luxur y of Convenience
(855) 516-2689 | ww www.MBOTW.com 16917 Interstate 45 South | The W Woodlands, oodlands, Texas 77385
Making sure all yourr M preccious cargo is kept safe s e. The fur fu riest members of your family deser ve a ride just as smooth as everyone else. They won’t even ask if we’re there yet.
of The Woodlands
Body & Soul PuppyUp Comes to Houston
A
fter losing his Great Pyrenees Malcolm
to bone cancer in 2004, Luke Robinson
temperatures, black bears, brown recluses,
inhospitable wildlife, and the occasional
became grief stricken and extremely angry. As
unfriendly person, all for the love of a dog. With
question why. "I didn't even know dogs got can-
ed more than two years.
he looked for answers, no one could answer the cer," Robinson said.
In 2008, Luke sold his truck, stowed all his belongings, and set out on a cross-country walk
starts and stops along the way, the journey last "Somewhere on the cross-country walk, I had
this vision of starting a grassroots movement to have walks all across the country" stated
from Austin to Boston with his two Great
Robinson. After the walk ended, The PuppyUp
town to town across 16 states sharing his story
others would join him on his mission by form-
Pyrenees, Hudson and Murphy. Walking from about Malcolm, the companion he lost to can-
cer, he and his dogs braved gale-force winds, sleet, snow, torrential rain, tornadoes, sweltering
16 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Foundation was founded with the hope that ing Walks across the country or participating in
walks to raise awareness, and money to fund research to wipe out cancer.
By Kimmey Piper, PuppyUp Houston
Kimmey Piper is joining the PuppyUp Foundation's search for answers by
organizing the 1st Annual PuppyUp
Houston Walk on February 18, 2017, at Rob Fleming Park, at 6055
Creekside Forest Drive in The Woodlands Township. On-site registration will begin at noon and the Walk
will start at 2:00pm. Piper is planning a
vendor village, entertainment, and more. There will be a Memorial Wall
where people are encouraged to bring pictures
of their loved ones to honor those fighting and to remember those who have lost their battle. Online registration is now open.
"What draws me to the Foundation is its com-
mitment to comparative oncology. I have not
lost a dog to cancer; however, I lost my Aunt
Kathy to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, as well as saw many other relatives and friends battle this hor-
rible disease. I want to do everything in my
power to avoid losing another loved one to can-
cer... human or canine" says Piper. Kimmey is looking forward to making the PuppyUp
Houston Walk a Texas sized success. Please email her at Kimmey@puppyup.org if you would like more information or to volunteer.
The PuppyUp Foundation is no stranger to the
Houston area. Last year they agreed to fund a
$100,000 study at The University of Texas MD
Luke Robinson with his two Great Pyrenees, Hudson and Murphy on their journey across the county..
Anderson Cancer Center. This funding will be
used to study NK Cell Therapy for dogs with bone cancer.
"Natural killer cell immunotherapy uses a subset
of the dog’s own immune system that is highly effective at killing cancer. Since human and canine bone cancer are extremely similar, these
studies will be used to improve natural killer cell therapy for human bone cancer as well," stated Jennifer Foltz, Graduate Research Assistant.
The PuppyUp Foundation has also funded an additional $500,000 in research in the areas of
osteosarcoma, breast and bladder cancer, as well
as mast cell tumors. Recipients of our grants include:
Princeton
with
University
of
Pennsylvania, MIT and Harvard’s Broad Institute, Animal Medical Center with Sloan
Kettering, The University of Wisconsin, and Urban Paws Magazine 17
monthly. Don’t forget to check behind ears,
around the face and tail. If the bump is larger than a pea, you should visit your veterinarian.
Weight Loss
Your pet's weight should remain consistent. Sudden weight loss is a cause for concern.
Loss of appetite
If your dog has lost interest in meal times, illness is likely the cause. Many health conditions PuppyUp cancer heroes Shelley and Honey
Purdue University. "Cancer affects one in every three dogs and 50%
of all dogs over the age of ten will be diagnosed with cancer" says Ginger Morgan, Executive Director of the Foundation.
cause appetite loss.
Lethargy
Learn to tell the difference between a lazy dog
and a lethargic one. If he is spending more time sleeping, talk to your veterinarian.
Labored Breathing
Dogs can get lung cancer, and some indicators
are coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
Early detection is the key to living longer health-
Lesions
signs of cancer:
of a larger medical issue.
ier lives. Below is a list of many of the warning
If your dog has an open sore or other wounds that aren’t healing properly, it could be because
Loud Odor
Now more than ever, we must continue the fight
unusually foul odors coming from the mouth,
friends we have lost and walk for those we can
While “dog breath” is common, if you notice nose or rectal area, it may be due to a tumor.
Lumps or bumps
Get into the habit of checking your pet’s skin 20 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
and support those with cancer, honor the help. Visit www.puppyup.org for more information.
Health What Can I Do to Keep My Dog’s Anal Glands Clean? Y
ou may not know that your dog has anal
vention when the dog defecates. He should not
of your dog’s rectum and produce a very
people started to squeeze and express anal
glands. They are located on either side
pungent fluid. These same structures are slightly modified for use by a skunk to spray, so you can imagine that they are capable of some real stink!
For dogs, they seem to serve little purpose other
than marking and identification. Their scent tags
need help from anyone, not even you. So when glands, it became almost like when people inflame pimples trying to squeeze and get rid of
them. Infection was sometimes forced backwards and probably every time, the dog was uncomfortable and the sensitive tissue was traumatized.
his body and his feces as his to all who might be
Spayed and neutered animals have been shown
estate so close to the anus, they can become
certain behavioral problems than animals who
interested. Because the glands occupy the real
infected and then clogged. The region around
the rectum is full of nerves and irritation or infection in this area can be a real pain in the rear!
For many years, people were advised to empty
the glands when the dog was bathed, but our recommendations may have caused more trou-
ble than they were worth. You see, a normal dog’s anal glands are able to drain without inter18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
to lead longer, healthier lives and have fewer of have not been spayed or neutered.
Now we know better. A dog’s anal glands should be expressed only by a veterinary staff member (and a veterinarian, if possible) and only when
there is a problem suspected. If your dog is scooting, licking or draining foul fluid from the
glands, there is a problem and you need to see your vet. The dog might need antibiotics, pain medication, a minor procedure (under sedation)
By Dr. Kathryn Primm
or even an actual surgery to remove the diseased glands.
Symptoms & Causes of Anal Gland Problems
If you have a normal dog (no matter who tells
Clinical
do, you are more likely to create scar tissue and
tion or an anal gland abscess–can
you to), please, don’t squeeze his glands. If you swelling that could lead to a permanent problem down the road.
After all, if you have never smelled anal gland
signs
of
anal
gland
problems–including impaction, infecinclude:
• Scooting or dragging of the rear end on the ground
secretions, consider yourself lucky. Don’t hurt
• Excessive licking of the anal region
is best. Let us keep the gross stories of anal
• Straining to defecate
your dog for no good reason, trying to do what secretions in our hair and love your dog from the front half!
• Discharge from the anal sacks
The area around the anus is commonly swollen, red and painful in dogs experiencing anal gland problems. Causes of
these problems can include excessive or retained secretions, poor anal muscle tone, chronically soft feces or recent
bouts of diarrhea. Impactions can also occur when animals are overweight and have low fiber diets.
Urban Paws Magazine 19
Here’s Johnny! The spunky Pug and winner of the Urban Paws cover raffle hosted by PugHearts of Houston Pug Rescue!
Story by Alica Franks Photography by Jamie Fincher
Johnny and his sister June came into PugHearts
knew the boundaries.
at 6 weeks old. We were contacted by a family
Today, he runs around the house with ease, and
school friends. When they took them to the vet
go outside, come back inside, or “crate up”. I
of Houston Pug Rescue in late February 2014, who had brought them home as pets from
for a check up, they were told that both had sig-
nificant eye issues. Knowing they could not afford their care, they searched for a rescue that
would be able to help them. My husband I picked them up and named them Johnny and
June since it was the first weekend of the rodeo. It didn’t take long to fall in love!
Johnny’s eyes were unfortunately beyond sav-
knows exactly where to go when it’s time to eat,
still am amazed watching him. This summer we took a road trip to visit my family in Michigan
and brought Johnny and his sister Daphne with us. He had the time of his life running around the huge yard in the cool weather. My concerns
with him being overwhelmed with so much “new” were unwarranted. He never skipped a beat and of course loved all the attention.
ing, so at 9 weeks old, they were both removed.
At that point, my husband and I knew we were in love with this little man. After a little coaxing
by our friend and PugHearts director Cindy, we decided to make him a permanent member of
our family. Having fostered blind dogs before,
we knew he would adjust to life without sight.
We had no idea how quickly that would happen.
Within a week, he was navigating our home and yard with little difficulty. Having a number of
foster brothers and sisters to follow by sound and smell definitely helped! We made sure we took him out to events so he would be used to
being in new environments. When he was in a
new place, he would sit and move his head left
to right, like radar. Within a few a minutes, he
would slowly start moving around until he 21 Urban Paws Magazine 23
When he turned one, we realized he would be a
his tail. For those that just need a good snuggle
this, and we knew he was the perfect dog for it!
his world-class snoring skills. Must be all the
great therapy dog. We’ve always wanted to do He passed the temperament test with flying col-
ors and was assigned to visit the pediatric unit at
– he’s the best. In fact, many times he shows off warm cozy blankets and belly & ear rubs!
MD Anderson. He is a natural! He knows when
Most patients don’t realize he’s blind until we tell
soon as we enter the doors to the MD Anderson
navigates and lives his life. I hope it provides
we are going, and he gets so excited to go. As lobby, his entire body starts to wiggle with
excitement. He LOVES his other therapy dog
friends, and never meets a stranger. What’s amazing though, is that he seems to know exactly what each patient needs. For the energetic little ones, he’s happy to play with a toy and wag 24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
them. They are always amazed at how well he them a bit of encouragement in their health battles. Now after a year of therapy visits, Johnny is
often requested by name. Thankfully he has no ego, and is always happy to oblige. Being “paid” in fries afterwards is always a treat for him too!
Johnny is such a happy soul in our home. He loves to welcome new fos-
ters. Young or old, he makes them feel at home. He is the tug of war cham-
pion in our house – no one can beat
him! Even our senior pugs will get riled up to play with him. Most times
though, it’s just for a bit then followed by a good pug pile of snuggle time. He is the king of snuggling!
We feel so blessed to have him in our
lives. He makes us smile every day. That’s his mission in life…spreading smiles wherever he goes.
Urban Paws Magazine 25
Tail End Houston’s Top Dog Names of 2016 ur dogs are more than pets—they’re
mattered most to us in 2016. In Houston,
select for them reflect our personalities, inter-
a love of their city (and gumbo). Check out
O
members of our families. The names we
ests, and obsessions.
Rover.com, the nation’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, dug into its database of
hundreds of thousands of dog names to decide which names are leading the pack—and what
26 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
dog owners are choosing names that show the year’s top dog name trends in Houston.