Urban Paws Magazine by Urban Paws Magazine

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See how Bark Busters changed the life of an Airforce dog handler or, view the “Aspen’s Story” video on YouTube.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

06 07 10

EVENT CALENDAR May 2012

THE SCOOP News and Happenings in the Houston Area HEALTH & WELLNESS Protect Your Pets from Parasites

BODY & SOUL Communicating With Your Pet

SPECIAL FEATURE Pet Safety

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR Beating the Dog Days of Summer

22 24

RESCUE & ADOPTION Reader Submission: The Magic Tomatoes

RESCUE & ADOPTION Meet the Adoptable Dogs from Husky Haven

Until you have loved an animal, part of your soul will have remained dormant.

~ Anatole France

Editorial wning a pet can be a very positive and rewarding experience for a child. Children learn responsibility and compassion through caring for a pet, and gain a wonderful companion as well. In this issue, we feature some great tips on how to help enrich the relationship between children and pets, while keeping them both healthy and safe. Also in this issue, we feature an article on communicating with your pet. Most of us talk to our pets on a regular basis and assume that they understand what we are saying, but you may be surprised to learn how many words of our vocabulary that dogs really do understand. For more on this, turn to page 12. Although it’s not technically summer yet, we Houstonians know how hot it can be in the month of May. It’s important to make sure that

On the Cover

Issue 4: Volume 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Fido stays safe during the long, hot days ahead. For some great tips on beating the dog days of summer, see our article on page 18. If you’ve ever dreamed of having your story published, now is your chance. Urban Paws is looking for unique and inspiring stories of lessons you’ve learned from your pet. For more information on submission guidelines, refer to page 20. Our agility series contributor, Lesley Young, will soon be moving to Perth, Australia. We hope that you’ve learned some valuable techniques through her series. While we are sad to see her go, we wish her all the best!

Jennifer Kitchens-Street

URBAN PAWS MAGAZINE P.O. Box 1556 Spring, Texas 77383 www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com Design and layout by: ZOECO CREATIVE © Copyright 2012. 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.

Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie

Please tell our advertisers you heard about them in Urban Paws! Urban Paws Magazine 5

EVENT CALENDAR

May 2012 Events MAY 3 Dog Gone Good Value Wines Fundraiser Benefiting Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue. French Alliance, 427 Lovett Blvd. The knowledgeable Charles M. "Bear" Dalton, Fine Wine buyer for Spec's, will share his favorite value wines. $45 per person. Registration forms are available online at www.gbgrr.org. MAY 5 Second Chance German Shepherd Rescue’s Birthday Bash The Black Lab, 4100 Montrose Blvd. 2:00 6:00 p.m. The event will include a silent auction, raffle door prizes, training demonstrations and pet photography. For more information, visit secondchanceshepherds.org. MAY 6 Astro’s Dog Day at Minute Maid Park Bring man's best friend to Houston Astros Dog Day at Minute Maid Park and see your Houston Astros take on the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. Low cost vaccinations will be provided by Spencer Animal Hospital. The deadline to register is May 4th. For tickets, visit www.astros.com/dogday. MAY 12 Mix 96.5’s Pet-A-Palooza Mix 96.5’s first annual Pet-A-Palooza will celebrate our love affair with pets. Spend your day in the park with your pet enjoying activities such as shopping, pet demonstrations, caricatures and pet adoptions. Discovery Green, downtown Houston. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.khmx.com. 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

For a full listing of events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

MAY 16 PAWS Houston Beach Party Live and silent auction, food, drink and live entertainment to benefit PAWS Houston, a non profit organization that helps sustain the relationship between pet owners and their pets through the owner's terminal or chronic illness. Hotel Zaza, 5701 Main. 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. For more information call 713-840-7297 or email scott@pawshouston.org. MAY 19 Tiny Paws Rescue Garage Sale Fundraiser Help support tiny Paws Rescue and find a oneof-a-kind treasure at this multi-family garage sale. 308 East Main St. in Tomball. 7:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.tinypawsrescue.com. MAY 19 BYOB (Bring Your Own Beagle) Fundraiser Food, fun and festivities for you and your beagle! Pawty Palace, 1402 East Avenue in Katy. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. For more information, visit www.houstonbeaglerescue.org. MAY 20 Houston Polo Club Fundraiser for the Houston SPCA Support the Houston SPCA and find a new best friend at the Houston Polo Club, 8552 Memorial Drive at 4:00 p.m. Enjoy a polo match, speciality cocktails and hors D’oeuvres. RSVP to 713.293.6000.

THE SCOOP

ACTRESS AMY SMART TEAMS UP WITH PETARMOR® AND THE ASPCA TO LAUNCH PETARMOR® PROTECTION PROMISE With the official arrival of spring and the official start to flea and tick season, PetArmor® has teamed up with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and shelter animal advocate and PetArmor® spokesperson Amy Smart to launch the PetArmor® Protection Promise. The national campaign elevates the ongoing commitment PetArmor® and the ASPCA share to protect pets in need. The PetArmor® Protection Promise offers pet lovers and dog and cat owners an opportunity to help pets in need, especially those in shelters across the country. “As an animal rescue advocate and proud dog mom, I am so excited to be working with the ASPCA and PetArmor® on this wonderful campaign that supports a cause I care so deeply about,” said Smart. “I encourage pet owners everywhere to participate in the Promise and help ensure all pets receive the protection they need.” Pet owners are encouraged to visit the PetArmor® Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PetArmor) and choose where the donations go in one of three ways: by supporting the ASPCA’s national disaster

relief efforts; selecting a shelter that faces a high incidence of fleas and ticks; or choosing a local shelter. BEST FRIENDS PET CARE, INC. CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF PET CARE LEADERSHIP Pet parents across the U.S. have entrusted Best Friends Pet Care with the care of their pets for more than 14 million pet nights over two decades – far more than any other company in the industry. Founded in 1992, Best Friends will celebrate its 20th anniversary with free doggy ice cream and cookies for visitors at its 42 locations on June 2-3. "Our founders pioneered the idea of a national hotel chain for pets to reassure clients of a consistent high standard of care no matter where they went," said Best Friends President and CEO John Heyder, who has been with the company since 1996. "For two decades, we've led the industry in innovation, designing services and amenities that are meaningful to pet parents and safe and healthy for pets." Best Friends changed the face of pet boarding with its flagship center in Norwalk, Conn. in 1996. Responding to pet owner feedback, the company designed a facility offering boarding, grooming and training all under one roof. It was located in town, rather than in a rural area, addressing pet owners' demand for greater convenience. Other innovations have included: its muchcopied doggy day camp program, launched in 1998; the first online reservation system in the industry; its use of technology, webcams and social media; special amenities like holiday dinners and bedtime stories; and its travelling Treat Truck, which visits local dog-friendly venues giving away canine treats. Over the years, Best Friends has made a priUrban Paws Magazine 7

THE SCOOP ority of giving back to its communities, organizing adoption events for local animal rescues and hosting educational programs for pet owners. The company's holiday Angel Tree campaign, now in its 12th year, collects donations to help homeless pets at more than 80 shelters. Best Friends campaign to put pet oxygen masks into the hands of firefighters was responsible for equipping fire departments in more than 500 towns and cities across the country, including the entire state of Connecticut and all 100 fire stations in Houston, Texas. NEW WEB SITES CONNECT TRAVELING PET OWNERS WITH PET SITTERS If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re one of the many pet owners who object to having their pet vacation in a cage, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in luck. There are now home stay websites for our four-legged friends. The founders of DogVacay.com and Rover.com are connecting dog lovers who want to earn extra cash with travelers who want dogfriendly people to care for their pets in a home environment while they're away. Similar to a dating site, interested hosts complete detailed profiles about their canine experience that can include training, medical certifications and licensing qualifications, and in addition, the size of their homes and any dogs or other animals that reside on site. Customers also complete detailed profiles of their pets, their behavior issues and medical or other special needs. Fees begin around $15 per day for smaller apartments to much higher fees for dog trainers with large yards where dogs can roam. Extra services, such as a departure

day bath, can often be had for an extra fee. Owners can even receive photos or videos of their pets sent to their mobile phones. LOST PETS GET A LITTLE HELP FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SITES This past winter, on Lummi Island, a stretch of land of the coast of Washington, a small puppy named Willie was lost. With freezing temperatures and wild animals on the island, Willie did not stand much of a chance. Fortunately for Willie, his owners were members of the new Social Networking site for neighborhoods, Nextdoor.com. Willie's owners sprung to action and posted an alert to the Nextdoor.com online neighborhood for Lummi Island and Willie was soon sighted and reunited with his owners. The greatest fear of any pet owner is the potential of coming home, only to find that your pet has gone missing. When this happens, making posters and calling neighbors one by one wastes valuable time that you could spend actually going out and looking for your lost pet. And when minutes count, you need a fast, efficient, and easy way to get the word out that your pet is missing. Nextdoor, is a free and private social network for neighborhoods and it has helped find countless pets! Nextdoor is also a great way for pet owners in your neighborhood to connect. On Nextdoor you can organize dog walking groups, find a pet sitter for the weekend, and even share photos of your pets with your neighbors! To learn more about starting a Nextdoor site in your area, visit www.nextdoor.com.

THE SCOOP

PET FOOD GIANT DONATES UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF FOOD TO ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, one of Urban Paws Magazine’s advertisers, made the largest donation of pet food ever to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Connecticut. How much, you ask? 43,375 pounds of Sun Dancer dry dog food! Solid Gold donated $1,000,000 worth of dog food to 15 animal rescue organizations across the country in total. Way to go Solid Gold!

BARK BUSTERS TO OFFER PUPPY TRAINING CLASSES AT MY FAMILY VET IN SPRING Beginning May 5th, Bark Busters will begin offering puppy training classes the first Saturday of every month. Pets must be up-to-date on vaccinations. Classes will take place at My Family Vet in Spring. For more information on classes and to reserve your spot, call 281.288.0500.

Co-Pilot Protection Plan Protect your Pet’s Health with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance U ä¯ v Þ ÕÀ ÛiÌ L «> ` v À U / « ,>Ìi` ÕÃÌ iÀ ->Ì Ãv>VÌ U £ä¯ viÌ i ÃV Õ Ì Your enrollment helps homeless pets! 7 Ì Þ ÕÀ i À i Ì] Üi ` >Ìi iÃÃi Ì > i` V> V>Ài Ì i « }iÌ > i iÃÃ «iÌ Ài>`Þ v À >` «Ì ° 6 Ã Ì GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws Ì }iÌ Þ ÕÀ Àii +Õ Ìi°

HEALTH & WELLNESS Protect Your Pets from Parasites ouston’s mild winter may have been a blessing to us, but some pet experts are concerned that the mild winter will present serious problems for dogs and cats this spring and summer.

Veterinarians are already beginning to see many pets with parasites. They are worried the early arrival of ticks and mosquitoes will cause outbreaks of diseases such as heartworms. Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. The heartworm is a type of filaria, a small thread-like worm. The definitive host is the dog but it can also infect cats and other animals. The parasite is commonly called "heartworm"; however, that is a misnomer because the adult actually resides in the pulmonary arterial system (lung arteries) for the most part, and the primary effect on the health of the animal is a manifestation of damage to the lung vessels and tissue. Heartworm infection may result in serious disease for the host. The Companion Animal Parasite Council said the exceptionally warm winter is to blame. The Council's forecast calls for extremely high levels of heartworm populations in the south. It’s anticipated that we'll see more mosquitoes and, of course, since heartworm is moved from an infected dog to a non-infected dog by the mosquito, the mosquito plays a pivotal role. The council has set up a free website, www.petsandparasites.org where you can search 10 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

county-by-county monthly updates on frequency of pet diseases. Preventive drugs are highly effective and when regularly administered, they will protect more than 99 percent of dogs and cats from heartworm.Veterinarians suggest that the best way to combat this is to give your pets parasite prevention medication year-round. If you prefer an all-natural pest control solution, check out this chemical-free flea and tick preventative. Fleas Be Gone! • Peppermint Oil • Cinnamon Leaf Oil (not cinnamon bark) • Lemon Grass Oil • Clove Oil • Thyme Oil • A carrier oil, such as sweet almond or jojoba In a small jar fitted with an eye-dropper lid, add 15 mls (1/2 oz.) of a carrier oil, one drop each of Thyme, Cinnamon Leaf and Clove, and four drops each of Peppermint and Lemon Grass. Shake well before applying the drops to your dog’s back and neck. Part the dog’s hair so that the solution is applied to the skin. Use five drops per ten pounds of body weight. Do not apply to puppies under 12 weeks of age. Apply as frequently as every two weeks. Alternately, six drops of Geranium, four drops of Peppermint and two drops of Lavender in 15 mls of a carrier oil can also be used to repel fleas and ticks.

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BODY & SOUL Communicating With Your Pet

By Teri Van Horn, RM/T Reiki with Pets

ur pet’s lives are extremely busy. Yes, I

ers not so much.

hasn’t moved from that one spot all

This is the time when things can be difficult

thought processes are. Yes, they may physically

your dog so he doesn’t break the rules, you pay

know what you’re thinking, “That dog

day!” Maybe so, but think about how busy their

be a little lethargic at times, but they are very busy on the mental front. They can have just as many thoughts as we do.

All of us talk to our dogs and quite often they appear to be listening and understanding what we have to say. Most dogs can learn from 100 to

around the house. Either you instill fear into

someone to train your dog for you, or you give up and allow the dog to continue the bad behav-

iors. I have nothing against trainers - in fact we

probably could have used one around the house a time or two. But what if you could communicate your preferences to your dog directly?

200+ words of our vocabulary and science has

Animals communicate in images. Sounds simple

similar to that of a two year old child. One bor-

already communicate with you. We just have to

discovered that their language development is der collie was tested at an astonishing 1,022 words! Amazing, right?

But, how many dog words do YOU know? It looks like this is a one-way street with the dog doing all the hard work.

You don’t have to be a pet psychic to understand

what your dog is saying to you (although it cer-

enough, right? Better than that, they can and do get you up to speed on your training.

Think about your interactions with a dog you’ve had for a long time. Do you read each other’s minds? Do you joke about how well-trained you are? Did you ever stop to think that maybe you

and your dog are communicating psychically, without all the crystal balls and Ouija Boards?

tainly helps.) We start communicating with our

Dogs have an amazing sixth sense and they use

them, pet, touch, and talk to them. We show

prised your dog by coming home at a different

pets from the moment we meet them. We hold

them that we are caring people who want to be

their friends. After they get home, we start let-

ting them know what the ‘rules’ are and how they’re supposed to behave. This is done with

words, tone of voice and occasionally physical discipline. Some learn the rule’ quickly, and oth12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

it all the time. Think about it, have you ever sur-

time? No! They are always there, waiting for you

to walk through that door. They can sense when you’re about to arrive and go to their spot so

they can greet you. My dog does this every night. He and my husband have a little territori-

al battle when it comes to the sofa. My dog

doesn’t sit on it, but when my husband is about

This has worked really well for us in training our

from wherever he is and go lay down in his spot

grass), proper inside behavior, it helps with new

a half a mile from home, the dog will get up

right in front of the sofa. Raphael does this automatically – every night and since I never

know exactly when my husband is going to

arrive, I’m not giving him any signals. But he can sense when that car is coming down the road. He certainly can’t hear it because he’s inside the

house, with the air conditioning running and the TV on, so that cancels out superior hearing.

In our house, we use imaging and our sixth sense to communicate with all of our animals,

dogs and horses. When I leave for errands or an

appointment, I always let Raphael know when I’ll be home by way of images, in a way he can

relate. Being the chow hound that he is, I always let him know that I’ll be home in time for dinner. I say it verbally and visualize my getting him

dinner that evening. It helps ease the separation anxiety when they know you’re coming back.

Another thing I might do is to think about him

during the time that I’m away. I’ll visualize us together with me petting him or playing his

favorite fetch games. This also eases any distress that he may have, particularly if I’m away for

puppies to go outside (visualize ‘going’ in the

and stressful situations, illness, and even going through the death process. I’ve helped some of

our animals cross over and I’ve helped the griev-

ing ones left behind cope with the sadness and loss of their friend and companion.

Working with our pets this way doesn’t mean that they are perfectly behaved and always do

what I want. No how, no way! They are still

independent thinkers and on occasion, will completely ignore my wishes. Take for example

one of my other dogs, Sophie. Let’s just say that Raphael got the smarts and Sophie received the cutes. She’s adorable, totally hilarious with her

antics and she’s a great outside dog. She likes to sneak off to adjoining pastures and brings back

all sorts of treasures that she keeps in one area f the yard. The other thing that Sophie does, that’s not so cute is that she barks and jumps up

on the fence next to one particular pasture when

I’m feeding horses. She’s been yelled at (a lot), disciplined, talked to, you name it, but she con-

tinues to do this one thing that she’s not supposed to do.

longer periods of time. If I’m leaving overnight,

One day a friend, who’s an amazing pet psychic

tonight, but I’ll feed him tomorrow night and I’ll

the horses while I was feeding them. All of a

we visualize that my husband will feed him have thought messages for him while I’m away.

Give it a try! You don’t have to be able to auto-

matically receive your pet’s messages, but they will receive yours. With enough practice, you’ll both be able to send messages to each other and everyone will be much happier.

was visiting, watching Sophie bark and jump at sudden she stopped jumping and barking, and

laid down for a nap. Totally shocked, I asked my friend what he did to the dog and his response

was simply, “I told her she was tired.” What he

had done was visualize her lying down, resting while I was feeding. I couldn’t believe it, so I

tried it myself. It took a few times, but we even...continued on page 20

Urban Paws Magazine 13

ON THE TRAIL HCHS Students Volunteer at the Rescue Bank ouston Christian High School Community Volunteers recently lent a hand at the Rescue Bank, non-profit organization committed to providing the animal rescue, foster and rehabilitation community with much-needed supplies, primarily pet food. As part of their bible class, students are required to perform five hours of volunteer service within the community each quarter. The students have plans to help with future volunteer work with the Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue. Mars Pet Food and Purina made the food distribution possible with their generous food and supply donation that included dog and cat food, cat litter, as well as puppy and kitten food. The groups that received the food during the distribution included: Adopt Rescue Dogs/Legacy Ranch, AURORAS RESCUE, Barrio Dogs, Best Friends Furever, Clipped Ear Cat Sanctuary, Corridor Rescue, East Texas Paws, Inc., Feral Feline Retreat, Friends of BARC, Friendswood Animal Advocates , LMN Feline Rescue, Lone Star Pyrs and Paws, P.U.P.S. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Prevent Unwanted Pets Paws Haven Rescue, Poodle Rescue of Houston, Project K-911, Pup Squad Animal Rescue, Purr Paws Rescue, Save Our Strays Fort Bend, Second Chance Pets, Shaggy Dog Rescue, Southern Comforts Animal Rescue, Tomball SOS, Tri-State Bloodhound Rescue, and Wags to Whiskers of Texas, Inc.

16 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

From right to left: Austin Matthews, Kai Mosvold, Carson Taff, Caroline Mitchell, Savahanna Head, Kaylee Taff, Elizabeth Mosvold

Caroline Mitchell and Kaylee Taff with Harry Snoodles Nesser

Cynthia Ness and Elizabeth Asher

Pallets of food donated by Mars Pet Food and Purina

ON THE TRAIL Spring Bark in The Woodlands

he Lone Star Animal Welfare League let the dogs out at Northshore Park on April 21st. Its annual fundraiser, Spring Bark returned this year with games, owner-pet bonding activities and free classes for man and best friend in The Woodlands. The mission of LSAWL is to educate people about animal rescue and the importance of spay/neuter. The goal of the fundraiser was to raise $30,000 for doing just that. Last year, the Montgomery County Animal Shelter had an intake of about 22,000 animals and half were euthanized due to overcrowding or other related issues. LSAWL aims to help solve the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crisis by helping to solve the problem through awareness and education. LSAWL also works to help other non profit organizations, and it has donated more than $70,000 to other causes. The county animal shelterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rescue Me Dog Park is in the last phase of construction and will soon be available for the shelter animals to enjoy.

Urban Paws Magazine 17

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR Beating the Dog Days of Summer

By Bob Williams, Bark Busters Home Dog Training

Don’t be a fool. Keep your dog cool!

ummer may be your favorite time of year, but with it comes the heat, humidity and summer storms—all of which can be very hard on your dog. When planning your summer, it is important to remember your canine family members to make sure they make it through the summer happy and healthy.

Depending on your experience level with dogs, below are either some new tips or some important reminders to keep your canine friends happy and safe during the summer months. Heat Heat can kill…and very quickly. Make sure your 18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

pet has plenty of cool, clean water. Do not dehydrate your pup by exercising it in the heat of the day. Save the run or long walk for early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Bring plenty of water with you and give him a drink whenever you take one. Be aware, too, that hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws. So if the pavement feels warm or hot to your hand, your dog will not like it. Dogs don’t have shoes to insulate their feet! If your dog is spending time outside, make sure he has shade available to him along with plenty of cool, clean water. Provide two or more sources of water in case one gets knocked over.

Your dog will also need shelter in the event of a sudden storm. He does not want to be out in the storm any more than you do. For his shelter, be sure to provide adequate ventilation because heat is a major cause of death in pets in the summer. Cars and Trucks Do not leave your dog in the car, even with the windows open. Heat buildup is tremendous, and it will not take long for him to overheat and suffer heat stroke. In less than 10 minutes, a car can reach over 120 degrees when it is only 80 degrees outside. Remember, your dog is wearing a fur coat. Think how you would feel if you were wearing fur at this time of the year! Some dogs love to stick their heads out of the window to catch a breeze. It may look cute to you, but flying objects can injure your dog’s eyes and the constant flapping of his ears in the wind can harm them. Instead, crate or harness your dog to keep him safe. The back of a pickup is not a safe place for him. If untethered, he can jump or fall out, and even if he is tethered, he may get jerked around and injured during turns or sudden stops. He could also be hurt from the intense heat on the bed of a pickup. Water If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. Dogs will instinctively try to get out at the same place they went in, so it is important to teach your dog or puppy where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in. It is also important for you to keep an eye on him when he is in the pool because swimming is

very tiring for a dog. Be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life. With a little planning and thought, we can help our dogs enjoy the summer and make it through without incident. After all—we love our pets and want them to be with us and healthy for as long as possible. Bob Williams is a dog behavioral therapist and trainer with Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company. For more information, visit www.barkbusters.com.

tually got the hang of it and her challenging

but I’ve learned that if we take a little time to see

time. It’s also worked with the other dogs, as

doors of communication for you both.

behavior has been reduced to about 70% of the well, if they try to intervene when I’m working

things from their perspective, it’ll open new

with the horses. It also works great if I DO need

Our pets understand much more than we give

show them which horse needs to be moved to

to learn their language, you’ll be amazed at how

the dogs to help move horses, because I can what pasture and they’re on it.

For the record, the dogs that ‘help’ outside with the horses are both rescues and have had no

training other than working with imaging and voice commands with me.

them credit for and if you’ll take a little time much it will change and improve your relationship!

Teri Van Horn is the owner of Reiki withy Pets and is a Reiki Master Teacher (RM/T). For more information on alternative health, visit www.reikiwithpets.com.

Working with imaging won’t solve all your pet problems, but it can certainly get you and your

dog on the right track. Sometimes our pets will have issues that require a little extra assistance,

CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS! Submit your unique story for a chance to be published in an upcoming issue of Urban Paws Magazine!

If we pay close attention to their pets, we realize that we can learn just as much from them as they can from us, if not more. Our pets can teach us so much, all we have to do is pay attention to the lessons. Some of the lessons can be invaluable. Do you have an inspiring story to share with us? If so, we’d love to read it! See submission guidelines below.

Word count: 150 to 300 words; ideal if accompanied by high-quality images. Email submissions to info@urbanpawsmagazine.com. Submissions must be received by June 14th, 2012.

RESCUE & ADOPTION The Magic Tomatoes

By Elizabeth Emery Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue

hen my niece, Reghan, was born it

I purchased my house to plant tomatoes for her.

I wasn’t sure why at the time, I just

boxes of them to her. That wasn't meant to be,

was a very important event in my life.

knew it was. It’s like one of those things where you feel like you've known them before.

I had hoped to grow so many that I could send

but I did get another surprise out of having the tomato plants.

At a very young age, Reghan displayed an unbe-

The first year that I had them, I was working in

when she was still very young, we were visiting

me. She began pulling tomatoes off of the vine

lievable love for tomatoes. I remember once,

Space Center Houston. She was tired and was

crying and cranky. We stopped for lunch and I got her a plate full of sliced tomatoes. The

transformation was amazing. She was back to her darling self immediately.

Whenever I visit Reghan in Austin, I always see

the garden and my beagle, Izzy, came to join and eating them. From then on, I had to keep an

eye on her when she was near the garden

because she would literally stuff herself with tomatoes. If you’ve ever read the book "Lost

Souls Found: Beagles" there is a story and photo about Izzy and her love for tomatoes.

the container of grape tomatoes on the counter

When Izzy was diagnosed with lymphoma in

whenever she wants. I have never known anyone

more tomatoes. I knew it would break my heart

top and I know they are there for her to have that loves tomatoes as much as her.

Because of my love for Reghan, I decided when 22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

September of 2011, I decided not to grow anyto tend to them and her not be there to help me.

But low and behold, the tomato plants started growing all over my yard. They were in the

flowerbeds, growing out of the compost bin, just everywhere. I set out to get rid of them all. But what I didn't realize was that they had taken

over the vegetable garden all on their own. There were at least 100 tomato plants. I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

cultivated or fertilized them - but they were

growing and producing cherry tomatoes like crazy. They had the same stubbornness and tenacity that Izzy did.

In April of 2012, we found out that Izzy was in

pretty bad condition and that her time was com-

ing to an end. She wasn't eating enough to sur-

vive on and she refused everything you put in

front of her. One night I offered her one of her tomatoes and she ate it. Just one. And then she wanted something else to eat. Three times in

recent weeks when she decided to eat one of her tomatoes, it stimulated her appetite.

The day that I wrote this story was the last day that Izzy ate a magic tomato. Seven days later, on April 10th, she passed away. And seven days

after her passing, the vast majority of the magic

tomato plants were dead or dying. The vegetable

garden is gone now and so are all the magic tomatoes and one very magic little beagle named Izzy.

RESCUE & ADOPTION Join us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!

Husky Haven

www.huskyhaven.org Husky Haven, Inc. is an non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, comprised of individual volunteers and dedicated to helping Siberian Huskies. Husky Haven does not have a shelter or a kennel facility. Breed rescue is usually the last resort for many lost , abandoned , neglected and abused dogs. These are the dogs with little true hope and no one to help them, they are our first priority. All of our dogs are fully vaccinated, up-to-date on shots, heartworm negative, spay/neutered and microchipped. To see all of our dogs available for adoption and to complete an application, please visit www.huskyhaven.org.

My name is Skylar. A few months ago, I found myself at animal control! I was skinny, sick and heartworm positive, and I was only about 10 months old! I'm not sure how I got there, but I was very scared...I'm only a baby. Husky Haven came to my rescue and took me home with them. They treated me for heartworms, helped me get over my stomach problems and I finally put on some weight. I love to play with all the dogs at Husky Haven, probably not cat friendly, but I think I would be great with older children. I'm a pretty blue eyed, black and white boy, as you can see. Now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just looking for my new home.

Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie

Our cover dog, Skylar!

Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however, there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes. 24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Mallory

My name is Mallory. I was living with a family, but their yard wasn't fenced, so I decided to have an adventure. I was picked up by animal control, I was microchipped, but when they called my family they said they didn't want me back! Husky Haven rescued me and I have been living with my foster mom ever since. I play all day with my foster sister and brothers, and in the evening I lay with my head in mom's lap while she watches TV. I have a lot of fun here, but would really love a forever home! I'm 1 Â˝ years old and a petite mini Husky. I am full grown and weigh only 36 pounds. I'm not cat friendly, but I'm good with children and other dogs...especially the boys!

We are Milly and Lilly. When our mom, Karina was at animal control, she was so emaciated no one even knew she was pregnant. When Husky Haven got there to look at her, they couldn't find her, she was in isolation in labor. Mom and all of us six puppies were slated to be euthanized that night, but Husky Haven decided to change our fate. We are around three months old. We have started our vaccination series and will be spayed/neutered soon. Then will be ready to go to our new homes.......we are so excited!

Amber

Milly & Lilly Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Amber. When Husky Haven rescued me and my three four-week-old puppies from animal control, we were very sick. Sadly, my three puppies died and it was determined that I had distemper. I was very depressed after losing my babies and was not eating. Luckily, Husky Haven did not give up on me. They force fed me and took me to the vet to be treated with a new distemper medicine. Almost immediately, I felt better and began eating. I thank the vet and Husky Haven for making me well again. I love my walks, but don't trust other dogs since I haven't been around them much.

Nice to meet you! Tilton here. You can see that I'm a stunning, two-year-old, red and white, bi-eyed Husky. My owners turned me into to animal control to be euthanized because they had no time for me. I was emaciated, had mange and a severe ear infection which completely tilted my head upside down, they called me tilt head. Husky Haven rescued me and renamed me Tilton - much better, I think. They spent the next few month working on my mange, getting my ear well and putting weight on me. I feel so much better now. I like to play with my new foster sister and brother, but I'm really ready for my new home. I'm not cat friendly, but I love other dogs and children.

Tilton

Urban Paws Magazine 25

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