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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Publisher Jennifer Kitchens-Street (281) 384.5431
jennifer@urbanpawsmagazine.com
Advertising (281) 384.5431
sales@urbanpawsmagazine.com
Contributing Writers Bob Williams Murphy Merrill
Staff Photographer Jamie Fincher www.pawprintsbyjamie.com
Urban Paws Magazine PO Box 1556 Spring, TX 77383
www.urbanpawsmagazine.com Web: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
contents Issue 9: Volume 7
EVENT CALENDAR 6 October 2013
THE SCOOP 7
Canine News and Happenings
THINGS WE LOVE 10
Top Pet Picks for the Office
SPECIAL FEATURE 14 Until There Are None
HEALTH & WELLNESS 18 Types of Seizures in Dogs
TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 22 Calm Halloween Fright
ADOPTION 24
All Border Collie Rescue Š Copyright 2013. 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.
Please tell our advertisers that you heard about them in Urban Paws Magazine!
Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.
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COMING IN NOVEMBER:
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COMING IN DECEMBER:
Holiday Gift Guide Contact us for special advertising opportunities at 281.384.5431.
event calendar
OCTOBER
For a full list of events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events OCTOBER 5
Parkway Chevrolet Two-Step Gala benefiting Abandoned Animal Rescue. Parkway Chevrolet, 25500 SH 249. 6:30 p.m. For more details, visit www.aartomball.org.
OCTOBER 5
Special Pals Shelter Open House and Blessing of the Animals. 3830 Greenhouse Road. Guests can meet adoptable animals, staff members, and volunteers. Facility tours will be offered, as well as food and drinks, children’s activities, doggy kissing booth, and new this year, a dog wash, powered by volunteers and lots of suds. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.specialpalsshelter.org.
OCTOBER 12
Third Annual Boxer Wine Walk. Join Houston Boxer Rescue for an afternoon of wine tasting, hors d'ouevres, live music and fabulous auction items benefiting the dogs of Houston Boxer Rescue. This year, 14 different wines from the West Coast will be featured. Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring Street. 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www.houstonboxerrescue.org.
OCTOBER 12
5th Annual Furry Friends Photoshoot with Clark Lara Photography. This year’s proceeds will benefit Operation Pets Alive. The fee for the session is a donation of one medium/large sized bag of food per dog. Or, you can make a minimum $25 donation (per dog). The studio is located at 33138
Magnolia Circle, Suite A in Magnolia. To book your session, email info@clarklaraphotography.com.
OCTOBER 18-19
GreenStreet's 5th Annual Barkitecture Houston, benefitting Pup Squad Animal Rescue. Houston's most talented individuals and teams will design and build a dream dog house to support a great cause. Mia Bella Trattoria will graciously host this year's Yappy Hour on Friday from 5-9PM, followed by the silent auction and festivities on Saturday from 12-5PM. For more information, visit www.greenstreetdowntown.com.
OCTOBER 19
Pistons and Pits event benefiting Guardian Pit Bull Rescue. See page 20 for details.
OCTOBER 19-20
Pet Fest in Old Town Spring. Grab your fur kids for this fun-filled festival of entertainment and education while helping to raise money, volunteers and foster homes. For hours and information, visit www.petfestoldtownspring.com.
OCTOBER 24
Art and Artsy Pet Food Bowl Auction and Party. Art from local artists, photography, gift items and creative pet food bowls will be auctioned off to benefit the Houston Area Rescue Bank. McCormick & Schmick's in Uptown Park. 5:30 p.m. happy hour with free valet parking, delicious hors d'oeuvres and a complimentary glass of wine. To purchase tickets, visit www.rescuebankhouston.org.
Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the most up-to-date information, news and events! 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
the scoop
Finding Montgomery County Animal Shelter Has Never Been Easier Thanks to a New Billboard Montgomery
billboard up are greatly appreciated - and tax deductible. Those who wish to help can visit www.mcaspets.org.
Shelter now
USDA Closes Loophole on Online Dog Sales from Unlicensed Breeders and Puppy Mills
billboard,
nationwide rule on September 10th that finally
County Animal
has a new located
directly in
front of the
shelter on Highway 242 heading east. And
while MCAS hopes that it helps make it easier for adopters and volunteers to locate the shelter, they also hope passers-by will take notice
The U.S. Department of Agriculture adopted a closes a loophole allowing online breeders to
sell dogs without being licensed or inspected. This is a huge victory in the fight against
puppy mills. This makes online animal and
puppy mills accountable in the same way as other breeders.
The President and CEO of The Humane
and consider stopping in.
Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle,
profit supporting Montgomery County Animal
was the work of many caring organizations and
Paid for by MCASociety, the official non-
Shelter's homeless pets by providing medical
care and equipping volunteers to find homes and save lives, the billboard is big-impact
advertising - an area in which we hope to continue and grow. Rosanna Russell, marketing
consultant to MCASociety states, "some may think spending money on a billboard is not
recognized the victory by saying, “This victory
individuals including Anne Teicher whose petition on Change.org gained 144,000 signatures. The landmark rule has the potential to allow federal inspectors to peer behind the closed
doors of puppy mills and improve the lives of tens of thousands of animals."
Every year, millions of animals are eutha-
important, but this type of large-scale advertis-
nized in animal shelters. Stopping puppy mills
adoption and encouraging individuals to volun-
animals find good homes.
ing serves all animals indirectly by promoting
teer or donate." Russell continues, MCASociety hopes to lease the billboard indefinitely and is considering additional billboard locations for the future."
The billboard cost is about $300 per month
and any donations made toward keeping the
is one of many ways we can make sure more
Free Mobile App Launched Aimed at Reuniting Lost Dogs with Their Owners Finding Rover, a free mobile app for finding lost dogs in real-time, recently launched its
platform and mobile application. More than 10
Urban Paws Magazine 7
the scoop
million pets go missing each year, according to
everything we can to safeguard our dogs from
Finding Rover’s state of the art facial recogni-
Rover is another step all owners should take to
The Humane Society of the United States.
tion technology helps reunite more dogs with their owners by enabling anyone to instantly
identify a missing dog on the spot simply by taking a photo on a mobile device. Finding Rover fea-
tures a comprehensive
being lost forever. Registering a dog on Finding further protect their cherished pet.
Finding Rover is currently available on iOS,
online at http://findingrover.com/ and the
company plans to release an app for Android this year.
that sends a push
Teachers, Students and Parents Are Called On for the Unity 1000 Youth Challenge
feed photo alert if a
involve Houston's young people in creating a
lost and found dog notification system
notification and social dog is lost or found within a 10 mile
radius. Users can also view an interactive
The Unity 1000 Youth Challenge is a project to solution to a huge problem in this city: hun-
dreds of thousands of homeless dogs and cats living on the streets of Houston.
Barrio Dogs realizes that reducing the num-
map of their area,
ber of homeless animals in Houston is not
where dogs have been
approach the problem is to educate pet owners
which will show them
lost or found, as well as the time and date. If a user spots a lost dog, he or she can take a
going to be easy, but the best way they know to about spaying and neutering their pets.
As a result, Barrio Dogs has made it a priori-
photo either within the app, or upload a photo
ty to encourage people to fix their pets. They
been found and identified through Finding
to low income residents free of charge by the
from a device’s photo album. Once a dog has Rover’s facial recognition software, the finder will receive information on how to notify the owner.
“A dog is a beloved family member and if it
goes missing it can be devastating to everyone involved,” said John Polimeno, CEO and
founder of Finding Rover. “We want to do 8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
want to spay and neuter 1,000 pets belonging
end of 2013. In exchange, they ask that these
pet owners become advocates for change and ambassadors for the cause. To be part of the solution, the public is encouraged to raise
money to fix and vet pets belonging to low
income Houston residents. For more information, visit www.barriodogs.org.
lifestyle
At the Office If you can’t bring Fido to the office with you, try these cute pet products that are fit for any space.
This ceramic French bulldog stamp from Anthropologie is absolutely darling! A must have for every dog lover’s office. www.anthropologie.com
The Lydia and Pugs 2014 calendars feature 12 unique watercolor painted dog illustrations. Perfect above a desk or kitchen wall. Calendar is spiral bound for hanging. www.lydiaandpugs.com
Move over Julia Child, Beef Bourguignon has gone to the dogs, sans the wine! Bocce’s Bakery treats are wheat-free with fresh, human-grade ingredients perfect for pups with allergies or sensitive bellies. www.boccesbakery.com 10 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Make each letter a special delivery! Put a personal touch on your mail with these personalized postage stamps. www.zazzle.com
What’s an office without a great book? This New York Times bestselling book is the charming story of one woman's discovery of all she really needed to learn about life through her relationships with her canine companions. www.amazon.com
The cards feature simple illustrations of some of the most loved dog breeds with cute accessories like scarves, sweaters, and bows, and they are blank, so they are perfect for any occasion. www.riflepaperco.com
Never lose another piece of mail with this Dachshund Letter Organizer from Anthropologie. www.anthropologie.com Urban Paws Magazine 11
mutt mugs
“I’d rather have an inch of a dog than miles of pedigree.” Dana Burnet
12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
special feature
Until There Are None Pet Adoption Criteria 14 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
By: Jennifer Kitchens-Street
I
adore dogs. Dogs of all shapes and sizes,
is, in part, designed to get to know you and
fur, I love them all. Working with animal
following you around everywhere, you proba-
mutts, purebreds, short haired, balls of
rescue organizations, I’ve seen many adorable animals. I’ve heard many people make the
comment, “I couldn’t volunteer at a shelter. I’d want to take them all home with me!” While
the sentiment is nice, I can say for certain that
there are plenty of dogs that I wouldn’t want as my own. Every shelter dog is completely worthy of a home, don’t get me wrong. There are just some that aren’t right for me.
Some adoptions are truly love at first sight and they work out perfectly. Considering that it’s a life long commitment, I just believe in taking
my time before making the decision to bring a
new dog into my home. I know this, because I learned the hard way. Dogs have individual
needs, personality traits and emotions. When you consider that, it’s no wonder that not all dogs get along.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to be picky
your needs. If you loathe the thought of a dog bly don’t want to adopt one with separation
anxiety. If you’re searching for a jogging part-
ner, a couch potato more than likely is not the
best choice. If you already own a few fur balls, there is even more to consider when adopting
a new pet. You have to consider your pet’s personality as well as that of the potential new family member.
One of the best ways to find the right fit is
through the shelter staff and volunteers. They
aren’t there just to keep the dogs clean and fed. They can be your best resource for selecting
your new pet. They know each animal’s personality and special needs since they spend every
day with them. Don’t be shy about specifying the traits that you are looking for. They may
not have a dog with a particular look, but they
may be able to find one that fits the personality and other qualities that you are searching for.
about adopting is that returning a pet can stink.
Just as with human relationships, the best
ter. This type of situation is less likely to occur
That connection with your dog makes it all
It stinks for you, the dog and the animal shel-
if you take your time to discover what dog best fits your lifestyle and personality.
matches are those with the right chemistry. worth it.
If this is your first time to adopt, you should
be most concerned with finding a pet that fits
your current lifestyle. The adoption application Urban Paws Magazine 15
n
ƉĞƚ ĂĚŽƉƟŽŶ
FACTS & BENEFITS Think pets from shelters have behavior problems? Think again. Most animals from shelters were forced from homes and can be already trained as well as have sweet traits. Senior pets are also great companions because they tend to be more mellow and don’t make the demands on your time that puppies do.
DID YOU KNOW
In the United States, almost 7 million pets enter animal shelters each year. Of these, 4 million are euthanized. About 20% of cats and almost 60% of dogs are euthanized each year.
Many people choose to buy from a breeder because they are looking for a specific breed of dog. However, 25% of dogs available for adoption in shelters are purebred.
PERCENTAGE OF ADOPTED PETS DESCRIPTION 20% Adopted
26% Breeders
50% Free
164 million pets are owned in the U.S. and only 20% of these pets were adopted. Most pets were free.
THE BENEFITS
PET
YOU
Your new pet will gain love and a fun, new family. Adopting also provides more space and time for animals in the shelter.
Adopting can be less costly and animals will provide companionship and fun.
DON’T FORGET COST OF OWNERSHIP It costs $1,800 in the first year to keep a dog and $900 on average for every year after. If you still want to adopt, but do not have the funds for a dog, cats and small mammals cost 50% less and are better first pets as well.
$1,800
$900
$ 0
CONCLUSION By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting cruel puppy mills with your money. Instead of buying a dog, visit your local shelter where you will likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies and adult dogs—including purebreds—just waiting for that special home—yours.
health & wellness Types of Seizures in Dogs
T
here are few things more frightening than watching your dog have a seizure.
Once you realize that your dog has seizures, you
may be concerned for their health. However,
breeds that are more prone to seizures than
others. Realize, however, that all breeds have been known to have seizures.
Seizures fall into one of two broad categories.
there are many treatment options available and
These categories are focalized seizures and gen-
health or a shortened life. Most dogs prone to
the entire brain. These seizures tend to be more
seizures in dogs do not indicate a life of poor seizure have a long, healthy life.
There are no real definitive answers for why
some dogs get seizures. There are some factors
that can be considered. Obviously, a dog that
eralized seizures. Generalized seizures affect intense and in some cases the dog can take several days to fully recover from a generalized seizure.
Focalized seizures affect a portion of the
has a brain injury or a brain
brain instead of the entire brain. This means
prone to seizures than
would be in a generalized seizure,
tumor is likely to be more dogs without brain impairment. There are some
that the affect on the brain is less severe than it
which makes recovery faster.
Focalized seizures, for this rea-
son, are sometimes harder to diag-
nose but they still require medical
treatment.
In severe cases, your vet may refer
you to a veterinary neurologist in order
to receive more in depth care for your
dog's seizures. This is especially common in cases where the issue is a brain
tumor, as neurologists are more qualified to treat a brain tumor.
Dogs that have generalized
seizures
suffer from one of two
kinds of seizure. There are major
motor seizures, which create a classic
epileptic seizure, complete with muscle rigid18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
By: Murphy Merrill
ity and twitching as well as involuntary loosen-
ing of the bowels or vocalizations. These are
What should I do if my dog is having a seizure?
highly traumatic to watch. The other generalized seizure is less dramatic but no less serious. It is
any signs of seizures it is important to take your pet into see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
called an absence seizure and it results in the dog being still and unresponsive to outside stimuli.
Focalized seizures consist of either simple or
complex seizures. Simple focalized seizures are
If your pet is having a seizure, or if you notice If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or if
your pet is having seizures in a cluster, this is a medical emergency and you should seek immediate veterinary care.
Regardless of the duration, it is important to
when the dog experiences a major motor seizure
diagnose the cause of the seizure as soon as
part or a single side of the body. The complex
based on symptoms, medical history, examina-
on a smaller scale, for example, on a single body
focalized seizures are seizures that affect the behavioral areas of the brain, causing sudden psychological changes in the dog. Although rare,
dogs have been known to become violent during complex focalized seizures.
Seizures in dogs are hard to accept but with
possible after the event. Post-seizure diagnosis is tion findings, blood and urine tests and sometimes x-rays or other imaging tests. Treatment and prognosis will also vary greatly depending on the underlying disease.
care and patience, your dog can live a happy and
Once diagnosed, how do I best manage my
seizures can be minimized.
• Accurate dosing schedules are very impor-
fulfilled life. With medication and attentive care,
How can I tell if my dog is having a seizure?
Clinical signs of seizure type activity can range
greatly in severity. Regardless of how severe the episode is, it is important to take your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
• Mild episodes may be barely noticeable and
consist only of staring ("star gazing") or repetitive jaw movements (chewing gum seizures).
dog’s seizures?
• Use all medications as prescribed by your vet tant to help control seizure activity.
• It is helpful to your pet's veterinarian to track any seizure activity in a "seizure log".
• Keep your pet hospital’s contact information
and call your veterinarian whenever your pet has a seizure.
• Monitor your pet's progress carefully and
have him/her rechecked as recommended by your veterinarian.
• Severe seizure episode activity can range up to
extremely violent thrashing and complete loss of body control and awareness.
Urban Paws Magazine 19
training & behavior
Calm
Halloween Fright
Halloween can be a dangerous holiday for dogs. Keep your dog safe with these tips. BRING YOUR DOG INDOORS
Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where he cannot be harmed or overwhelmed by little ghouls and goblins. If he is
an outside dog, bring him in a few times
before the big night to get him comfortable
something to worry about. HAVE YOUR DOG GET USED TO COSTUMES
Your dog may regard his family members as strangers once they don their Halloween costumes. Before the kids put them on, allow
your dog to smell the costumes. Keep masks off while your dog is around.
with being indoors. Remember, it is a natural
CHECK YOUR DOG’S I.D. TAG
strangers, and on Halloween, there will be
dog’s collar–just in case.
instinct for dogs to protect the family from plenty of strangers.
KEEP YOUR DOG RESTRAINED
If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to
love people a little too much, put him in a separate room, away from the front door. This
will limit his excitement, aggression or chance of running outside and getting lost or injured. REASSURE YOUR DOG
Be sure identification tags are secure on your KEEP CANDY AWAY FROM YOUR DOG
Many candies–especially those containing
chocolate or xylitol, an artificial sweetener– are toxic to dogs. Problems can range from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea,
or even death. For your dog’s safety, be sure
to keep all sweets and their wrappers well away from him.
If your dog seems to feel unsettled by
PROTECT DOGS FROM CANDLES AND
possible. By over-reassuring your dog or giv-
Agitated or excited dogs (and their swinging
Halloween activities, just act as normal as ing him extra attention, you inadvertently can
communicate to him that there must be 22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
PUMPKINS
tails) can easily knock over a lit candle or
pumpkin. Keep such items out of your dog’s
By: Bob Williams, Bark Busters Home Dog Training
reach, or consider using a battery-powered candle that does not burn.
THINK TWICE ABOUT DRESSING YOUR DOG IN A COSTUME
While some dogs do enjoy being dressed up,
that the person jumping out at you will not hurt you; they often think they can only help
you by acting aggressively. Neither children nor adults in costumes should approach a dog without the owner’s consent.
many don’t. Experiment first to see if your dog likes being in a costume. If he shows any resistance to it, don’t do it. Tie a fun bandana
around his neck and he’ll be happier and safer.
CONSIDER CAREFULLY AND BE PREPARED
Think carefully about taking your
dog with you on trick-or-treating
rounds. You may unintentionally
instill a new fear of strangers in him, creating a wariness that could last long past the holiday. If you do take your dog, keep a firm grip on his leash. Dogs do not understand
Urban Paws Magazine 23
adoption All Border Collie Rescue www.allbordercollierescue.com
All Border Collie Rescue is a not for profit volunteer rescue organization dedicated to the rescue of Border Collies. This passionate group of Border Collie lovers have had the good fortune of meeting and befriending each other through past rescue work. Some of our volunteers are new to working with border collies, while some possess over a decade of experience with Border Collies. We work extensively with many other Border Collie and all breed rescues. Our goal is to rescue, in some cases rehabilitate, and successfully match our Border Collies to forever homes with well-matched temperament and abilities.
Do you love border collies for all of
Our cover dog, Chase!
their cute and funny quirks? Then This is your guy! Chase was pulled from a
kill shelter where he was going to be put to sleep for being deaf. ABC
pulled him immediately. He is an
amazingly smart boy and is learning
Photos by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.
sign language with his current foster.
He LOVES to look for birds, bugs, rain
drops, or anything in the air that he can jump and try to catch. He shows a little bit of ball interest, but quickly loses interest when he sees some-
thing else fun to go after. He loves to wrestle and run and roll with his resident puppy friend, and gets along
with all kind dogs. He will hold his
own when bullies go after him, but he has never started any trouble. He is perfect in the house, crates up beauti-
fully, sleeps all night, or lets his foster mom know if he needs a potty break. This boy will grab your heart the minute you meet him.
Join us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!
24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Ashley is a happy natured, two-year-old girl who loves attention from people, likes to give kisses, and lives for belly rubs. Ashley is good with other dogs, although she does try to herd them! Ashley knows basic commands and is working on “stay” and “leave It”. She walks on a leash, but needs a little work yet. She tested well with children but has not been cat tested. Ashley would do best in a home with another canine companion and loves all other dogs she has been exposed to. She has a submissive nature with both people and other dogs.
Rusty
Three-year-old Paisley has had some bad luck in her life, but thanks to All Border Collie Rescue, her future is looking very bright. Paisley is a very sweet-natured, fun-loving dog. She has great house manners and knows some basic obedience as well. Paisley has a few tricks up her sleeve too. She can shake and catch treats in the air. She loves car rides and going for walks. She gets along great with dog savvy cats, but doesn't always make friends with her canine companions.
Ashley Rusty is a four-year-old total gentleman with the perfect mix of border collie traits: he has a great off switch and loves to cuddle with his people, but he also loves to go for walks/runs and play hard with his foster brother. He would probably do best in a semi-active home with at least one other dog. He can be a little shy, but he really likes meeting new people and is very gentle and sweet. Rusty does get a little anxious when he's all alone in his crate, but he quiets down after just a couple of minutes. Rusty doesn't show a lot of interest in toys, but he loves treats and affection.
Paisley Urban Paws Magazine 25