Archive | March, 2011

Girls in White Dresses

30 Mar

A month or so ago, my mom purchased a dress for me from Eco-Pup, one of my favorite places to get clothes. I was under the distinct impression that upon arrival, I would be able to wear my Jet Set dress almost immediately. Of course the weather decided that it would not warm up enough for me to trot around in fancy frills, so I had to wait.

Thankfully the waiting (for now) is finally over! The other day my mom let me wear my dress to the delight of all the humans. And, of course, we had a photo shoot. The Jet Set dress is made from 100% organic, pink and white polka-dotted cotton, and features a cute green, pink, and white plaid rosette. Who says plaid and polka-dots don’t go together? Definitely not me! Even though it’s officially spring, it’s still a tad too cold for me to wear the dress all the time, but I have most certainly taken every opportunity to wear it. It makes my cuteness even more cute, if that’s even possible!

Happy tail wags!

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Dominance

28 Mar

I know I’ve been writing a few heavy posts recently (“Prudence? Where are the cute photos of you?”), but my puppy mind has been churning a lot and there are just somethings I need to get off of my furry chest.

At the beginning of the month I wrote a post about a place called the Dog Temple, a dog rehabilitation center in located in my home state. Now, I’d like to preface what I’m going to say by stating that I respect Sergei and the Dog Rehabilitation Center is trying to do; take dogs that may be headed for euthanasia due to behavior issues and help them. The thing is, I don’t quite agree with how they are doing it.

During my research into the Dog Temple, there wasn’t too much information about how the dogs were rehabilitated or what training methods were used. It wasn’t until a friend of my mom’s sent us an enlightening message that we realized the Dog Temple’s main form of training is through dominance and negative reinforcement (what my mom deems the “Cesar Millan Method”). As you know from my Never Shock a Puppy post, I am a pro-positive reinforcement pup! All of my training, including my recent foray into re-learning how to be crate trained (I will explain more in a future post) has been done using lures like food and most recently, clicker-training. My mom very rarely punishes me (and usually only if I do something like pee on someone’s bed), and her punishments are usually putting me in her room while she collects herself and cleans up my mess. She doesn’t “correct” me by being physical (even if it’s a tap on the nose), or berate me with loud words that I most likely will not understand.

In the vein of last week’s post, obviously this subject is incredibly controversial. There will most likely always be humans on either side of the fence yelling about how the other is wrong. The reason I decided to write this post was not to necessarily change anyone’s mind about anything, but just to reaffirm that both my human and I strong believe in praising your pet when they do something right as opposed to punishing them when they do something wrong (and to state that I feel slightly hoodwinked. I believe the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine should be more transparent about their training methodology on their website).

Happy tail wags.

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Should We Transport?

23 Mar

My best dog friend Leo is not a native to Maine where we both currently live. He was born in New Orleans, brought to a high-kill shelter, and he was rescued from certain euthanasia by an operation that offered him up for adoption in Maine; a story which he wrote about in length in a guest post he did for me last June.

Transporting dogs from high-kill zones to other areas that may be “safer” is not a new concept. There are many rescue organizations whose sole purpose is to continually transport these animals to other states in hopes of getting them adopted. Even the nearest shelter in my area, the Humane Society of Knox County, biannually transports chihuahuas from overcrowded shelters in California. The question that has popped up recently is whether or not this transportation practice is acceptable. Should we be concerned with those pets that are outside our borders when there are so many that need homes locally? Should we risk the spread of infectious diseases? Should we stop transporting pets to teach those overpopulated areas some form of a lesson? Do people like my human friend Cate deserve the backlash she received on her blog post (check out the comments to see what I mean) about a BC based rescue who are in need of foster homes for a group of dogs from an overcrowded, high-kill shelter in California?

I am very fortunate to live in an area where there are very few, if any, high-kill shelters. Usually the only euthanasias performed in shelters around my town are due to irreparable behavioral or medical problems. Because of this, I, and my human, are very pro-transportation. Yes there are dogs and cats in shelters around here that are in desperate need of homes, but they have the time to find those homes. The dogs that are being brought to Maine from high-kill areas have weeks, if not days to find a home in places so crowded that there is very little hope of them even being seen by new potential families before their time is up. Even so, I do understand the risks involved, including the spreading of diseases. More and more veterinarians are seeing different strands of diseases, such as the deadly parvovirus, that were originally in certain states only. This calls for better check-ups and screening processes before transportation, not a complete shut-down.

It is often disheartening to see humans in the pet community so adamantly against such a selfless act. It is one thing to not agree with a certain action, but it is a completely different thing to tell those that spend their money, energy, resources, and emotional ability saving these animals that they are wrong. Is it wrong to try something if it saves a life? Doesn’t it make all the difference if at least one pet was saved due to someone’s efforts?

I’m incredibly interested in hearing what other people have to think about this subject. As this is quite a controversial topic and can raise hackles incredibly quickly, I am requesting respect and no name calling or personal attacks in the comments (even though I highly, highly doubt there would ever be any).

Happy tail wags!

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Paws For Japan

17 Mar

To say that the past month or so have been tough for the humans in Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as Japan, may be a glaring understatement. As you are all probably aware, earthquakes have hit both places resulting in massive damage, a tsunami in Japan, and now a potential nuclear crisis. Truth be told, it’s all a little above my doggy head. I can say, however, that the humans aren’t the only ones in need. Beloved pets and animals within the areas hardest hit in Japan are at risk of being lost, injured, or worse. That is why today, Be the Change for Pets has dedicated their time and energy to help raise funds for World Vets, a volunteer program that is currently providing veterinarian aid and care to animals in Japan.

In the above video, these two dogs were found lost and injured in the wreckage of the earthquake and tsunami. Because of animal specific relief efforts, they were both rescued and are currently recuperating.

As of yesterday, World Vets was in Niigata, Japan with a shipment of veterinary supplies. Their current plan is to head to the hardest effected areas to make assessments and provide aid. On Friday, one of the World Vets veterinarians, Dr. Koji Fukumura will be arriving in Tokyo and remaining long-term as the in-country coordinator.

A Japanese man is reunited with his lost dog.

(photo source)

There are many ways you can help assist World Vets in their incredibly important and selfless work. There is currently a Chip-In widget on many pet-blogs and websites including BlogPaws, Pawcurious, and the World Vets site. All funds donated through the Chip-In widget go directly to World Vets. You can also spread the word today through facebook, twitter, or even your own blog or website.

If you’d like more information, or to keep current on updates from World Vets, please check out their website as well as their facebook page. Together we can help those who are in need of our love and support in times like this.

Happy tail wags.

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Harry’s Story

15 Mar

Prudence asked me if I was willing to write a guest post about my story for Adopt the Internet Day. You see, unlike Prudence, I came from an animal shelter known as the Humane Society of Knox County. I know I’ve talked a bit about it before, but it is a story that stands to be repeated because it is a classic example of what pets in a no-kill shelter are going to face while waiting for their forever home.

I was brought to the HSKC as a kitten. My history before the shelter is foggy at best and all I really remember is being stuck in a cage, unable to socialize with other cats other than my litter mates due to an upper respiratory infection. It wasn’t fun, and the shelter staff did the best they could to keep me happy and comfortable, but with over a hundred cats (both in the shelter and being fostered) as well as the countless dogs under their care, their time and attention was spread thin. There were some catnip toys and a few balls to keep us occupied, but what I really wanted was to be held, to be cuddled. Not to mention the shelter can be a very busy and therefore stressful place. Luckily at that time, I was new to the world, so things didn’t stress me out too much. But some animals do become stressed and incredibly unhappy.

I was so very happy the day that my human walked into the shelter looking for a cat to share her life with. I knew this was my chance, and I would not let it slip out of my paws (I can be a bit conniving like that). So, when she knelt down to check out my litter mates and I, I reached out my paws and grabbed her hand to tell her that it was me she wanted. Thankfully she fell for it and that is how I find myself here, in her home, living the high life and no longer in want of anything (except maybe peace from Prudence).

Not all cats and dogs that find themselves in a shelter are as lucky as me. Some wind up in kill shelters where they are given a week, sometimes just days, to find a home or they will be euthanized. Sometimes, even those animals that are in shelters like the HSKC that are no-kill, will face months or even years of waiting for that one human to come in and give them what we all want, a place to call home. While it is true that my human did not go on adopt Prudence from a shelter or a rescue, she now understands the importance of adopting over buying and what that means for that one lucky pet who will finally get to go home.

So, if you are ever considering adding a four-legged (or even bird-legged or finned as birds and fish can also be found in shelters and rescues) member to your family, please choose adoption.

Happy Adopt the Internet Day!

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Let’s Adopt the Internet

14 Mar

Tomorrow is going to be a very exciting day. Why? Because it’s Adopt the Internet Day!In celebration of their 15th birthday, Petfinder decided to celebrate in a big way; namely, asking the internet and those that frequent it to spend the day spreading the word about adoptable pets. Anyone can sign the pledge to promise that they will tell at least one person about pet adoption. If you plan on blogging, tweeting, or dedicating your Facebook page or status to this event, you can attach a link to your adoption related posts on the list of posts that will be featured on the front page of Petfinder starting tomorrow (if you’re tweeting, make sure to use the hashtag #adopttheinternet).

As of now, some really great blogs and websites have already promised to dedicate their space to Adopt the Internet Day. ICanHasCheezburger is running a caption contest where they are looking for captions for Petfinder adoptable pet photos. On March 15th, the best will be chosen and featured all day on their homepage. PeoplePets, FIDOFriendly, Animal Planet, Oprah.com, Dogster, Catster, and PetSugar, are just some of the over 50 websites and blogs that are going to be participating tomorrow, not to mention the countless people on twitter and facebook. And, of course, you can plan on me posting a post or two tomorrow (I think I even roped Harry, who was adopted from the Humane Society of Knox County, into writing a guest post featuring his adoption story).

If you’d like to participate, make sure you sign the pledge (when you pledge, you are automatically signed up for a chance to win one of ten BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Vacuums!), grab a badge for your blog or site if you have one, and get to informing the world as to why adoption is so great.

Let’s help make Petfinder’s 15th birthday (and over 17 million adoptions) one that they will never forget!

Happy tail wags!

Source: Petfinder

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Fishy

10 Mar

There have been a few posts I’ve done where I have mentioned the fact that my mom puts fish oil on my food (most recently she’s been using Grizzly Salmon Oil). However, I’ve noticed that I haven’t quite explained why fish oil is a good part of my, or any dog’s or even cat’s diet. So today is all about the importance of fish oil and a little something called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Fatty acids are incredibly important and can often be made within an animal’s own body. There are fatty acids, however, that need to be supplemented. Those are known as essential fatty acids (or EFA). Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids fall under the category of EFA. High levels of these EFAs, specifically omega-3, have been known to drastically improve many facets of well being for dogs as well as cats. One of the biggest benefits is improvement to an animal’s skin and coat. That is the biggest reason I get fish oil in added to my food every day. I am incredibly prone to dry skin, especially in the winter, due to the heating in our house. By treating the health of my skin with fish oils, my itching goes down and my coat looks glossy and feels soft.

Omega-3 has also been shown to improve heart health and can be incredibly beneficial to aging dogs and cats who are at an increased risk of developing heart problems. Another thing that often effects older animals that can be helped with omega-3 is joint stiffness as well as slow down the progression of certain cancer cells and kidney disease. If that weren’t enough, it has also been shown to maintain and enhance the immune system, reduce the symptoms of allergic dermatitis, and fight inflammation and inflammatory disease!

Not to mention, fish oil is just plain tasty.

So, if you haven’t already, maybe you should look into adding fish oil into your pup’s food. If you have any questions, or have a pup who has specific food allergies, make sure you check with their veterinarian.

Happy tail wags!

Source: The Honest Kitchen, Grizzly Salmon Oil

 

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A Change is Going to Come

7 Mar

When I entered into my mom’s life, she was rather new at the whole owning a dog thing. It’s not that she had never had dogs in her life; she actually grew up with a Labrador Retriever named Hurley. It was just that she had never had a dog of her own. Obviously she had taken care to do a certain amount of research before making her ultimate decision (and she often referred to her stack of puppy books through the first few months of our time together). There were just some things she hadn’t really looked into enough, one of which being my veterinarian.

My cat brother Harry, who was adopted before I came on the scene, came from the Humane Society of Knox County. As a part of the adoption package, any adopted animal is offered one free vet check up with veterinarian offices linked to the HSKC. This is how my mom started seeing my vet (or I guess how Harry, and then later me, started seeing our vet), Dr. S. She didn’t shop around, she didn’t do much research, she trusted the list of the HSKC and picked a name she had heard other humans talking about before. Was this a wrong way to do things? Not necessarily. In fact, Dr. S, and the other veterinarians and staff in the office have been quite fine and dandy. But sometimes fine and dandy isn’t always what one wants to settle for.

Recently, my mom has been reading a series of blog posts called Reasonable Expectations, written by Nancy Kay, DVM on her Speaking For Spot blog. The Reasonable Expectation series are all about veterinary clients expectations that, while once unheard of, are now becoming more common and why they are reasonable for a client to expect. Some of these expectations include relationship centered care, having the ability to discuss internet research with your vet, open-mindedness about vaccinations, and so much more. These posts got my mom to thinking and she realized that a lot of those expectations aren’t accepted by my vet. Looking things up on the internet is bad, trying to have an discussion about which vaccines I need and which ones I don’t is often off the table (it’s usually either Dr. S’s way or the highway), and when the topic of what I eat gets brought up, my mother is often chastised for not feeding me processed kibble (like the kind the office sells). As I said, and strongly reiterate again, it’s not that my vet is a bad vet, she’s just not seeming to be the perfect match for me and my mom. Some humans do like to be told exactly what they need to do, while others, like my mom, like to be a part of the decision making process. So, I think a change is coming. Already my mom has started looking around for a vet that would better meet our needs.Throughout it all, I’ll make sure to keep everyone posted.

Have you ever switched your pet’s vet before? I’d also love to hear some suggestions or advice on how to do this smoothly and without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Happy tail wags!

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Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine

1 Mar

Updated March 29th: Please check out the addendum I wrote regarding this post.

Sometimes there are dogs that their humans believe they just cannot handle. This could be from behavioral issues, aggression issues, or something that takes severe dedication from both humans and pooch, like house breaking. Sadly, if humans feel they are at the end of their rope, a lot of these dogs will face re-homing, abandonment, or even euthanasia. But, there are places around the country (and the world) that try to rehabilitate these “trouble” pups. One of those places just happens to be in my home state and is called the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine.

(photo source)

The Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine, or as it’s sometimes known, the Dog Temple, is run by a human named Sergei Bachkovski and his team of Well Balanced dogs, or “the pack”. Balance is what Sergei and his four legged team are all about. Often, Sergei is hired to come into the homes of dogs whose humans feel have no more options. He will assess what is going on, figure out where the problems are, and plan a course of action that will help rehabilitate your dog. The Dog Temple also has a Doggy Boot Camp! Dogs stay with Sergei and his doggy team where they can get the proper attention they need, all the energy releasing exercise they can handle, and most importantly safe and therapeutic interaction with the pack.

Some local animal shelters, such as the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, have asked Sergei for his assistance in rehabilitating the dogs brought into their shelters who would otherwise be euthanized due to behavior issues. Sergei will bring the dogs to his facility and work with them until they are adoptable and ready to find their forever homes.

Besides the intensive rehabilitation, the Dog Temple also has Doggy Daycare and overnight Boarding.

If you’d like more information, or are interested in the facilities offered at the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine, please check out their website or their facebook page.

Happy tail wags!

Source: The Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine

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