Foothills Dog

Side effects of Rimadyl

2011-11-14T06:52:00.001-08:00

So my dog ripped the crap out of her paw this year. Didn't witness it, no idea how she did it. I just came back from the grocery store, and she refused to put any weight on it. Then it swelled up, so I took her in to the Vet. They X-rayed the foot and determined she hadn't broken it. Prescribed Rimadyl. You know that ad where elderly yellow labs are playing? Not exactly! After two pills Bailey was pooping straight blood. I took her back in because I knew what was going on. Her liver panels were off as well. I will never give a dog Rimadyl again! It was intended for human arthritis and denied by the FDA. So they marketed it as dog drugs for arthritis and Dysplasia. Luckily Bailey is fine, but use caution when using this drug, and report it to the FDA.

2011-11-13T06:42:00.000-08:00

So strange, I was linked to this radio show in reference to a post I wrote on vaccines.

Make a plan for your pet with liver disease

2010-10-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

No one really wants to face this fact. God knows I didn't! But a dog with liver disease will eventually die. All the tips I have given you are tried and true. But you are only buying time at best. I got cocky when Macy recovered. I thought I had the whole world in the palm of my hand. Well guess what...I didn't. When Macy blood tests started showing Kidney problems, I thought it was a temporary glitch. Truth be known, once the liver fails the other organs aren't far behind and it is just a matter of time. I am telling you this because I don't want you to go through the scenario I did. Watching your dog gasp it's last breath on your lap. Have a plan in place. How much is enough and when it is time to pull the plug. Maintain a regular schedule of blood tests to keep track of the situation. But prepare yourself because it will happen. Macy was eight so it happened after two years of battle. A younger dog might get 5 or 6 good years. But have a plan in place for when enough is enough. My vet told me that three days before she died. I know this may come as a shock to many of you, but I promise you it is much more comforting to watch a dog be put to sleep than to die because their organs fail. I am haunted by that vision and will never get over it.

Macy Gray April 5,2002-July 3, 2010

2010-07-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace my sweet, sweet girl! You were my love, my life, the breath in my lungs, my reason for waking up in the morning and my best friend. You are in your favorite place now, Lake Michigan. I hope there are plenty of waves to jump, plenty of stinky fish to roll in and plenty friends to play with. I know I will see you again, my lovely lady. And when we do we will body surf Lake Michigan. I am sure it will be a choppy day. You made everyday extraordinary and every night comfy. I miss you terribly but I am so glad you are out of your pain and enjoying the lake. I knew that was where you wanted to be. I love you!!!!

Macy Gray

2010-06-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Well I was all set to put Macy down yesterday. Had the appointment made when she started to eat. Looked longingly at my sandwich so I gave her some sliced roast beef. She ate half the package and half of my sandwich. Ate the rest of the package at dinner. Breakfast today she ate squash, turkey and steamed potatos. I think she is on the mend. Only difference in her regimen was I took her off the meds. She has been hospitalized for a week. She refused to eat the first day. I made the decision and took her off meds. I didn't see the point. She was wolfing down food the next day. Second time she has started to eat without medication. Hmmm!

Macy Gray

2010-06-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

Well Macy is back in the hospital and I don't know if she is going to make it. I am beyond broken hearted. They told me she managed some food and drink today. But I also know she is on predisone. So do I put her down or accept that she might be on prednisone for the rest of her life? With pred she will eat but her liver will continue to get worse. I don't know what to do.

Draw the dog

2010-05-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

This is a great site. Tons of charming and funny cartoons on dogs and their owners. You can send in pictures of your dogs and their antics and get a funny cartoon. You can even order a print. The coolest bit is you get to watch it being drawn online. Bruce has a huge archive of cartoons so you have plenty to peruse. He also sells product and donates the money to animal rescue. Animal rescue sites can order tee's with one of his cartoons for fundraising. Bruce is one good egg, so give him a little biz. www.drawthedog.com

Answering your searches

2010-05-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well I have had quite a few, from lemon water to ice cubes. Ice,ice water or chilled water is bad. Do not do it. Their systems are so similar to ours, but their digestive system will not allow. Causes bloat which is similar to colic. Denamarin and Denosyl? Both are the same. I would not double up without the advice of your vet. Both are a combination of SamE and milk thistle. Whereas milk thistle is completely safe in high amounts, I can't speak to SamE. It can cause nausea and diarrhea in some dogs. You can give them additional Milk thistle with vitamin B (full range, make sure it has a good dose of B12), vitamin C and E. The B, C and E enhance the effects of the milk thistle. Lemons? Never! Dogs don't deal well with acidic vegetables or fruits. Give them berries, steer clear of apples and grapes. Grapes are like chocolate and apples can cause severe allegic reactions in some dogs. I gave Macey homemade apple treats once. Her muzzle swelled up and her lips scabbed. Bailey had no problem. But I researched it later and dogs do have a problem with apples. Some more than others clearly. Does cortizone make a bladder weak? You better believe it! Use it only in small dosages. Look at my posts on flea and tick control. I had to put my dog down because of cortizone. Had to take a train from Virginia to do it. I wasn't about to put Natasha down without being by her side. Still hurts! I took her to the mountains for a last hurrah. Then I had to take her in and put her to sleep. Tasha was on cortizone most of the year. I do think that the advances in dog food have helped dogs with allergies, which is what cortizone is primarily used for. I still shudder when I walk into someone's home and see a bag of Beneful or Alpo. I had this conversation with my neighbor a few days ago. She asked me why I thought it was a bad food. Well first it is a corn based food. I could eat corn for the rest of my life and sustain myself. But I probably wouldn't be healthy. Food coloring is my second issue. It is entirely for us, the consumer, I guarantee you your dog could care less. A little food 101. Meat weighs more than grain. The ingredients are listed by weight.If you aren't seeing meat or meal as two of the three on the top of the list, steer clear. If corn is on the top of the list run, don't walk, away. You would be better off feeding your dogs table scraps. One thing I think does work is vitamin E. I give my guys 400 IU once daily. Started that when Macy got sick. Their coats are gorgeous and the shedding has reduced as well. Normally I need a U haul and Stanley Steamer to get all the hair out of here. They never blew their coats this spring. They thinned out, that's to be expected. But what used to be a giant heap of hair has reduced to something vastly more managable. The dander is better too. Not to mention the dandruff or ecxema. Macy was a flaky girl. No longer!

Dogs of the week. Buster and Kerby from Houston.

2010-03-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

Buster has been a good friend of mine since 2005. He is owned by Toby and Gwen, who used to be my clients in Chicago. Buster was found wandering the streets. Toby and Gwen took him in when they found him on a walk, with their Australian Shepherd mix Kerby, and got him to a vet. He was riddled with heartworm. They took him in and nursed him through his illness. Buster is a loving dog, just full of personality! Loves to be on your lap but, because that is not allowed by the family, he will sit on the floor with a paw or his head on your knee and look at you intently until he gets the attention he so rightly deserves. One of my favorite quirks about Buster was taking him to Lake Michigan. He loved the waves. Not a big swimmer, he preferred to chase them and bite them. He would race up and down the beach telling those waves they needed to pay attention! Kerby on the other hand is a nut. You don't get that on the first meeting, but he really is. Bit aloof with humans on the first meeting but loves to play. My friend Loretta had a Lab/Newfoundland mix named Mackie. We introduced the boys at the tennis courts and spent the next hour in laughing fits. Both were a bit over weight which both owners were trying to address. But these boys took to each other in a WWF smackdown, only play style. We continue to call it the dance of the fatties. Kerby was right in his element in Chicago. All the left over chicken bones and bits of pizza he could cram in his mouth. But Kerb is a beautiful and loving dog, who I adore to this day.

10 ways dogs have helped to advance medicine

2010-03-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

All I can say is wow! A friend found my site and asked me if I would share. I told her I would have to peruse the article, but it sounded like just the thing I like to share. Well it certainly is! A few are no brainers, but a few might just surprise you. http://www.mritechnicianschools.org/10-amazing-ways-dogs-have-helped-advance-medicine/ Editors note: One asset to a dog's ability to assistance, that was not mentioned, is their ability to watch over autistic children. Dogs have an innate ability, to not only calm autistic children, but to alert their parents to a problem. There is a wonderful group here, in Greenville SC, called Dogs for Autism. http://www.dogsforautism.com/index.html Such an amazing group that trains dogs to be of service to autistic children! I have learned so much from my dogs about how to live life. How to be in the moment,how to let the past go, how to be happy with a toy, how to snuggle at night, how to go through an illness with dignity, how to enjoy green grass or blue water and, most important, how to be a good friend. I owe my kids so much, perhaps a bit more!

Nupro and an interesting incident

2010-03-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

Nupro is a nutritional supplement I highly recommend. Lots of vitamins, kelp, flax seed and other stuff your regular kibble might be missing. Smells great and the dogs love it. You can make it into a gravy and I strongly suggest you do so. Case in point, my 5 yr old Aussie got a cake of the powder stuck on the roof of his mouth. He went positiveley beserk, Tried to claw it out to no avail. I tried to intervene, but he was so terrified he would not allow me in his mouth. I know he didn't mean to but he kept clamping down on my hand. Having been badly bitten in the past, I wasn't keen on reliving the experience. It finally occured to me that I could get a dinner knife between his front teeth and back molars. Worked like a charm. Was able to scrape enough of the cake off to ease his distress. Then he allowed me to open his mouth and remove what was left behind. Lesson learned the hard way. But I will never feed the dogs a straight powder again. The girls would likely be more patient with me. Syd was found at 6 months and had been barely handled in that time. He gets better over time, but bathing,tooth and nail care and grooming were a challenge when I found him. Not to mention prostrate exams! There is a funny story there! The point is a dog in panic is never a good situation. And clearly having something on the roof of the mouth puts them in panic, some more than others. So just be cautious if you give them any kind of powdered supplement. You just don't know how they are going to react to that kind of stress. Mix it in a bit of water.

Health food

2010-02-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine forwarded an article from "Mens Health" on french fries. What was interesting about that was an advert from Alpo. Don't know if you have ever taken the time to read the ingredients from Alpo, but they are at least as harmful as the chili fries "Mens Health" deemed most dangerous. Just as family parents need to quit taking the manufacturers word that the food is healthful, dog owners need to do the same! Read the bloody label folks! You would be better off giving them the left overs from the kitchen table, than giving them commercial food. There is a good assortment of kibble that is good food! Few easily purchased at any Petco or Petsmart. Blue Buffalo organic is one, Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance, any variety, is another.

So sorry

2010-02-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

So sorry to my regular readers. I have not posted lately. Truth is I have been busy trying to find a home for my foster dog and job hunting myself. But I hate to leave you high and dry. I am working on a story on heartworm, which should be up in the next day or so. In the meantime, thank you for your support, patronage and the few comments that come my way. The comments really mean alot. Got one yesterday that broke me into tears, in a good way. It was from the owner of an 11 yr. old cairn terrier, who was diagnosed with liver disease. The owner had been searching desperately for food choices, much as I did less than a year ago. She thanked me for the food suggestions I posted. I am not a pioneer, the woman who is lives in Texas and her name is Cyndi Smasal. I am merely trying to sift through the internet and give you answers. Opinionated, yes! My sisters vehemently disagree with me on several issues. Vaccines are one issue that I have had countless arguements over. My parents actually called me over that issue. Took a bit of explaining to get past that call. But I want to give you common sense answers to dog health. Feed them well, exercise them, don't spray "Deep Woods Off" down their throat and give them lots of love. You either agree or you don't. But most of you clearly have questions that guide you to my site. To all of you, I say welcome. Feel free to peruse, question or debate. I am open to all as I am open to comments. Please let me know what you think!

Predisone and boosters

2010-01-18T05:38:00.000-08:00

I have gotten a ton of hits on this subject in the past few days. I am not a vet, but my research would suggest you should avoid steroid use for a week after boosters. Boosters are a live or dead virus introduced into the dogs body to develop antibodies. This introduction is going to cause physical stress. Steroids release energy in the time of physical stress, but if the animal is suffering from other symptoms or stressors, you may be tapping an animals natural reserve. I think regular steroid use should be accompanied with great caution. Predisone is primarily used to get chronic body processes under control. While in use, the body recognizes the hormone and does not produce it's own. So adding additional stress could be dangerous. Prednisone also conserves salt in an animals kidney leading to excessive thirst and urination. Vaccinations are important, but most vaccines last for 3 to 5 years. See my article on pet vaccinations. I, personally, would avoid boosters on an animal under regular steroid intake. As always, have these discussions with your vet, but do your research.

FDA issues salmonella warning for Merrick dog treats

2010-01-15T04:39:00.000-08:00

FDA NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release: January 14, 2010 Media Inquiries: Ira Allen 301-796-5349, ira.allen@fda.hhs.gov Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA FDA Health Alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats Packaged and Distributed by Merrick Pet Care Products may be contaminated with Salmonella The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911” because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and Internet sales. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products not to handle or feed them to their pets. In December 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of Merrick Beef Filet Squares and detected a positive finding for Salmonella. A follow-up inspection found deficiencies in the packaging and manufacturing processes. The affected Merrick Beef Filet Squares were packaged in a 10-ounce green, red and tan re-sealable plastic bag. The “best by” date is imprinted on the top portion of the bag, which is torn off when the bag is opened. The FDA recommends that consumers who are unable to determine the “best by” date discontinue use of the product. For the entire report, read on.

Humane Society publishes press release on Haiti rescue

2010-01-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

From the Humane Society of the United States: Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti, for the trauma and loss they’ve already experienced since Tuesday night’s calamitous 7.0 earthquake hit, with its epicenter not far from the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince. News agencies report that thousands have perished, many are still trapped in the rubble of buildings, and hundreds of thousands of others are without shelter, medical care, or other life necessities. Governments and relief agencies are deploying to deal with what amounts to one of the worst disasters of modern times, with its impact compounded by the chronic poverty, deficient infrastructure, bare-bones medical care, and other problems that afflict the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti Logan Abass/United Nations / CC BY 2.0 Damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake. When people suffer in this terrible way, so do animals. The HSUS, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and our global affiliate Humane Society International are working on a preliminary assessment of Haiti’s animal-care needs, taking into account the security, transportation, housing, and supply challenges that we would face in deployment. Fortunately, one of our veterinary teams had been conducting a program at a veterinary school in the neighboring Dominican Republic when the quake struck. We are looking to determine if they can get into Haiti to conduct an on-the-ground assessment. We are also communicating with human relief agencies, and looking to cooperate with them. One difficulty is that there are no organized animal welfare groups anywhere in the country, and no animal shelters or veterinary schools. This lack of infrastructure will complicate any response. If you would like to support our disaster response work around the world, you can give here. Please stay tuned to the blog, and to humanesociety.org for continuing updates. The World Society for the Protection of Animals posts the following: Joining forces to help animals As I followed news about Haiti for the last two days, I was struck by how many people from around the world have started coming together, offering to help in any way they can. And animal welfare groups have shown that it is equally possible to work together to help the animal victims of this disaster – who are equally distressed by the destruction all around them, and equally in need of emergency aid – with a similar show of solidarity amongst groups. Together, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will be working on the ground to help the animals in Haiti. We have come together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that all animal welfare organizations involved in response efforts can work together and make sure we get aid to as many animals, and in as short a time, as possible. Our teams will be working out of a mobile clinic which has been donated to us by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society. WSPA and IFAW have pledged funds to fully outfit this mobile clinic, and it will be shipped from Antigua to our member society, Sociedad Dominicana Para la Protección de Animales (SODOPRECA) in the Dominican Republic for them to drive across the border into Haiti. We are inviting other animal welfare groups to join ARCH and direct their support to the coalition. Once again, this proves a simple but powerful truth: when people join together, amazing things can happen. Please, join us now and donate to help animals in disasters.

Help find a home for Susie the Terrier mix

2010-01-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

Susie is a Terrier mix a little over a year old. I think she is part Chihuahua as well. Those ears are a dead giveaway. She weighs 15 pounds and is spayed, chipped and fully vaccinated. Susie is good with other dogs, people and children. She comes with food, leash, bowls and all vet records. Susie was owned by a good friend of mine who can no longer keep her. He accepted a contract job that moves him to Afghanistan at the end of this week. There is also the issue that Susie played just too rough with his wife's miniature Schnauzer. Apparently she grabbed the Schnauzer's beard and tried to play tug of war with it. Susie is very friendly and playful with dogs, but I can see that small dog might find her play style a bit too rough. My brood have no problem with her and love playing with Susie. Susie is loving, affectionate and cute as a button! Loves to lie in your lap and have her belly scratched. But like all terriers, she has a lot of energy. She is not a good choice for someone looking for a low maintenance dog. Without good exercise, Susie will pace nervously. Susie is also very submissive, which combined with her energy can make training a challenge. But smart as a whip and wants to please, if she can only hold still long enough to do it. She has learned so much in her weeks stay, but it takes a soft voice, time and patience. I think she would be happiest with an experienced owner and would turn out to be a wonderful companion animal. Susie is living in Greenville, South Carolina. If you or anyone you know would be interested in Susie, please contact Margot at margothackett@att.net or call (864)248-0525.

2009-12-27T02:46:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like Boston is going belly up as well. C'mon people! Can you help? I know it's tough and bloody expensive. But these dogs may be facing the gas chamber. Contact info as follows: Greyhound Friends, Inc 167 Saddle Hill Rd Hopkinton, MA 01748 Phone: 508-435-5969 ghfriend@greyhound.org

Side effects of denamarin

2009-12-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

I have been getting many hits on this site on possible side effects to denamarin. Denamarin is a combination of Sylimarin (milk thistle) and SAMe. Denamarin is considered extremely safe if administered in the recommended dosage. One important point to make is it should be administered on an empty stomach. It has been known to cause diarrhea in some cases. SAMe can cause some dogs to vomit. But you can switch, with the advice of your vet, to standard milk thistle, liquid vitamin E and a B complex with C. The E and C enhance the effects of the milk thistle. I have taken Macy off Denamarin. Not that she was having problems with the medication, but she was doing beautifully on the milk thistle plus vitamins. She had come completely out of jaundice, was eating well and had regained all her weight. I must add it is cheaper to make your own denamarin. Here is what she gets. One 500 milligram milk thistle 2x a day, One 200 IU vitamin E soft gel (you can also find this in liquid form at a good health food store) 1x a day, Vitamin B complex with C (make sure this includes at least 50 milligrams of B12) 1x a day. You can pick the dosage you want. I tend to get the highest, 1000 milligrams. Vitamin K, 100 milligrams, 1x a day before bedtime. The vet had prescribed 50 milligrams, but the pills are tiny and impossible to cut in half. I upped the ante and watched her carefully. She has done just fine on the higher dosage. Again, I must emphasize that SAMe and vitamin E are not the same. SAMe is a biochemical produced by amino acids and used specifically for liver disease. Vitamin E is a supplement that enhances the effects of milk thistle. Partner with your vet before you make the switch and closely monitor the results. If you are noticing side effects to denamarin, vomiting and diarrhea are most common, make sure you are administering the medication on an empty stomach first. If that does not help, then ask your vet if you might try the above substitute I have found milk thistle to be tremendously effective in Macy's improved health. But the addition of vitamin B, C and E were important too. For more on that read here. I must encourage bookmarking this site for any questions on pet health or medications. They have a wealth of information in their library that is very user friendly. The other thing I like about their site is it is very balanced in it's opinion. Whenever I have a question, they are my first source of reference. Bookmark it, flag it or make me really happy and make it your home page. Merry Christmas to you all! Got lots coming up in the next few weeks, so stay tuned. We are addressing traditional heartworm and flea medications, the study just published in New Zealand on the global impact of pets and discussing more of the searches that land you on my page...successfully or unsuccessfully. This all takes a bit of work, but stay tuned. I really enjoy your feedback, so please don't be shy! Happy Holidays and all the best for the new year! Margot Hackett

December 23thd is pets day

2009-12-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

Well I was already to bitch about a study on a pet's carbon footprint. Saving that for another day. It's Christmas and we must not ignore our four footed friends. So in the spirit of the holiday, allow me to post the following. December 23rd is called the little Christmas Eve. Time to pay some homage! A very merry Christmas to one and all and give the dog a bone, the horse an extra bale of hay, the hen a few twigs for the nest. “Little chicks, come gather near. A wondrous story you will hear.” Two white doves, on rafters high, coo a quiet lullaby: “Long ago in manger hay, the little baby Jesus lay. “Three wise men from far away, came to visit him one day, For he was born, the doves recall, “to be the greatest king of all!” Four brown horses in their stalls, snug within the stable walls, Tell of his birth: “‘Twas long foretold, by chosen men in days of old.” Five gray donkeys speak with pride, remembering one who gave a ride” “Our brother donkey went with them, from Nazareth to Bethlehem.” Six spotted calves now nibble hay, like that on which the baby lay. “They put him in a manger bed, so he could rest his sleepy head.” Seven goats, all black and white, describe the sky that holy night: “A star appeared at early morn, to mark the place where he was born.” Eight nestling kittens lick their fur. They nod their heads and softly purr: “And he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, to keep him warm from head to toes.” Nine woolly sheep, down from the hill, on Christmas Eve remember still: “Shepards heard the angels sing, praises to the newborn king.” Ten soft lambs say Jesus’ name, “He was the Lamb of God who came. He was the greatest gift of love, sent from his Father, God, above.” Eleven puppies listen well, in hopes that they, in turn, can tell The Christmas story another year, for all the animals to hear. Twelve chimes ring out from far away-the lovely bells of Christmas Day. And every beast bows low its head, for one small babe in a manger bed. And, yes, at this farm - on this night - the animals do indeed talk at midnight!

Food desperately needed

2009-12-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

This is Pat Lambert with the Columbus Humane Society/Whiteville, N.C. and I'm writing this to beg for help with Dog/Puppy food and Cat food. We just took in 12 puppies (7 are only 3 days old) and a mother dog, and yesterday I got another dog and found out that she is preg. and we have three more to get (all coming from a breeder and all outside). This isn't counting the other 11 puppies that we have and all the Adult dogs. If anyone would like to donate a bag of Purina puppy Chow or Purina Dog food, or cat/kitten food please drop it off at : K&K Pet Grooming at 5028 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington (they are closed on Sunday's and Monday's) or either call : Ruth Turner 910-470-5554 and you can drop off at her house, if in Whiteville then contact me: lambertpat54@yahoo.com .We are also helping with food for a feral cat colony and need food to help.We also need foster homes for the other three small dog (20-25 lbs) that are outside in the cold in a yd. that looks like a swamp. God Bless and Merry Christmas: Pat lambert

Answers to some recent questions posted on google

2009-12-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

"Do dogs like ice water?" Yes they do but steer clear. Ice water can cause severe stomach cramps, better known as bloat, which can kill a dog. "How long can a cat take denamarin?" Good question and I will research that. To the best of my knowledge, there are no significant side effects. Stay tuned though. "Long term use of cortisone?" Not just no but Hell NO! After the immediate issue is in hand try to get them on every other day treatment. If the treatment is recommended for longer than a month, you need to find an alternate solution! "How long can a dog last in ice water?" Too many parameters to make one conclusive statement. Health, size, fat ratio and coat all play a role. Let's say as a generality, they last longer than we do but are less likely to make it to safety without help. I am thinking of the ice mountains the Great Lakes make as I write this. Friend's dog slid off and it took four men and a rope to get the dog to safety. The dog would have never survived left to it's own devices. "Can you cut up denamarin." The answer is not can you, but should you. You can get a pill cutter which will slice it nicely. You should partner with your vet if you think the dosage needs to be reduced. Took Macy off denamarin in May, but it was very helpful in her early treatment. I waited till the blood tests were back to normal. "Flea medication for a dog with liver disease?" Wouldn't recommend it or for any other dogs that clean as a normal behavior. There are plenty of alternatives. Dawn is the best flea killing bath soap I know of. Soap the muzzle and anal extremities first. Reason being that the fleas will run for cover. They will run in the eye sockets, nose, mouth and anal cavity to ride out the bath. But if you have already soaped those areas, they will probably die. Use your hands and watch the eyes. Short term prevention; vinegar, oils as follows; lavender, cedar, cinnamon, clove are all good. Mix them up with water in a spray bottle and go crazy. Use it on the dog, the furniture and the carpet. Must be applied every couple of days, but it works. Heartworm prevention is not recommended either. Use a small capful of white or cider vinegar in your dogs water. If they won't drink it try a half dropper of black walnut tincture and wormwood tincture in their water, pending on the size of the dog. This is based on three dogs, one 70 and two 50. I will explain in my next post, but it works! "Early vaccinations for aggressive dogs?" Well sorry, I have no stats for that, but I think early vaccinations are important to any dog. By aggressive do you mean the dog already is or has the potential based on character or breed? Vaccines do take a dog or cat out for a few days. They don't feel 100%, They might be more reactive just after a vaccination, but that is the only reason I can think of.

Looking for a pretty blue heeler

2009-12-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

Looking for a pretty girl to mate with my boy. He has no papers, I found him when he was 6 months old. I believe he is full blood ACD. He has one spot on his hindquarter and a muddy Hall's heeler mark. But the best temperament you could ask for. I am breeding him because I want a pup to replace him. Deal is, the lady must have a sweet temperament, be a blue heeler and live within the continental U.S. You and I get first pick of the litter. The rest get adopted or sold, you get the profit. I know 12 people that want a pup out of this dog. He is a admirable gent! If you or a friend is interested, please let me know! I want to meet the lady before I breed him, but that can be worked out.

Annual pet vaccinations, how much is too much and what are the risks?

2009-11-27T20:16:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, we have taken our pets in for their yearly vaccinations. Veterinarians recommend it, States mandate it and boarding and daycare facilities require it. But are our pets getting too much of a good thing? If you are hoping to find justification on this page for never vaccinating your pet, sorry! You won't find it here. But you will find justification for questioning the frequency of vaccines your pet receives in it's lifetime. In March of 1993 The University of Wisconsin published the findings of Dr. Ronald Schultz, professor and chair of pathobiological sciences for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Shultz, who has been studying the effectiveness of vaccines since the 1970's,has learned that an animals immunity, once established, can last a lifetime. His findings led a community of veterinary experts and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to revise the schedule of vaccinations needed in an animals lifetime. This new standard, published first in 2003 and revised in 2006,has still not been embraced by the common practitioner. Most practicing Veterinarians still stand behind yearly vaccinations. The AAHA recommendations break down into three categories; trienially, annually and never.

What AAHA recommends For many vaccines the recommendation is still to vaccinate adult dogs annually. Other vaccines have proven safe and effective following a triennial administration. Puppies are a different story. Appropriate vaccine administration is considered "absolutely the most important," says Ford. As a result, AAHA recommends veterinarians follow all prior vaccine protocols for puppies. For example, the committee universally stipulates that canine parvovirus vaccines should be given initially at six to eight weeks, the second dose at nine to 11 weeks and a third dose at 12-14 weeks. "The guidance provided by the vaccine manufacturers, the ones that have been in place for years and years are still being advocated (for puppies)," says Ford. Booster vaccines The previous rules don't apply when the puppy reaches adult stage, according to the AAHA guidelines. "It's recommended, not required, that veterinarians place vaccines in one of two categories when developing a vaccine protocol for their practice: core or non-core," says Ford. The new categories are an attempt to segregate the vital vaccines from the more discretionary, according to the taskforce. The core vaccines, of which there are four, are to be administered triennially. These are vaccines to prevent against high-risk, highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases. Noncore vaccines, to be administered under the discretion of the veterinarian, would follow an annual schedule. "We're trying to encourage veterinarians to look at the science behind the vaccines and to develop a vaccination protocol that is rational as well as effective," says Ford. Of the core vaccines, the taskforce recommends that the adult dog receive rabies; canine parvovirus vaccine; canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis vaccine); and distemper vaccines every three years. The caveat to the recommendation, says Ford, is that there is good evidence that the protection conferred in adult dogs by both canine distemper and canine parvovirus exceeds five years. Three years seemed a conservative, happy medium for all parties involved, according to the taskforce.

For more on the AAHA recommendations, read on.

Didn't make the cut What may catch some veterinarians off guard is the taskforce's third classification, recommending against certain vaccines. Those are: * Giardia. Reason: no test is available for the disease; vaccine has not been proven to prevent infection, only reduces shedding. * Canine adenovirus-1. Studies found that the vaccine can cause visual impairment in dogs. * Coronavirus. "We're not recommending it because the disease isn't significant. The vaccine is safe, there just isn't a disease to go with it," Ford says.

In laymen terms, here is a good explanation of core vs optional vaccines. Canine vaccines can be broken up into two groups: core vaccines, and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are vaccines which are strongly recommended for all dogs, while non-core vaccines are optional canine vaccines which are administered on an individual basis. For some dogs, the core vaccines are enough, while other dogs, such as dogs which board frequently, traveling dogs, and dogs who work outdoors, should receive some of the non-core vaccines as well. One of the core vaccines, rabies, is often required by law, due to concern for the well being of wildlife and people. In addition to rabies, the core vaccines include canine distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. All of these diseases can be fatal to dogs, and they are also very common, especially in kennels, making protection at an early age crucial. Non-core canine vaccines include bordetella, leptospirosis, lyme, and coronavirus. In addition to these vaccines, dogs who work outdoors can also receive rattlesnake vaccines, in which they are exposed to rattlesnake venom so that they can develop antibodies. The use of rattlesnake vaccines is a topic of debate among veterinarians; some feel that it is not advisable, while others are willing to administer these vaccines, as long as dog owners understand the increased risk.

Adverse Reactions to Dog Vaccinations At the very least, vaccinations put stress on the dog's immune system for several days. It is common for dogs to be sluggish and generally not feel well while their system is recognizing and responding to the diseases that have been introduced. Additional stress to the dog’s body, such as surgery, should always be avoided during this time period. Dog vaccinations should never be given to a dog who is ill or injured as this will only make it harder for the body to heal. Some dogs have severe allergic reactions with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, whole body itching, collapse, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or legs. If such symptoms occur, the dog should receive immediate medical attention. In recent years, veterinarians have begun to link both immediate and long-term health problems to vaccinations. Serious health problems resulting from dog vaccinations include: Cancer Inflammatory bowel disease Arthritis Chronic allergies Auto-immune diseases Aggressive behavior Hip dysplasia Liver, kidney and heart problems Even a single vaccination carries risks, but most vaccine-related health problems are caused by over vaccinating. Higher vulnerability to diseases such as parvovirus have been passed down in dog breeds that have regularly been over-vaccinated through many generations. While some veterinarians have concluded that vaccinations are ineffective, unhealthy and unnecessary, most still believe in vaccinating but on a much more limited basis than has previously been the standard. The American Veterinary Medical Association continues to stand firm to the tried and true schedule, though their stance has softened to admit that many vaccines afford years of protection. "For many years, a set of annual vaccinations was considered normal and necessary for dogs and cats. There is increasing evidence to support that immunity triggered by some vaccines provides protection beyond one year while the immunity triggered by other vaccines may fail to protect for a full year. Consequently, one vaccination schedule will not work well for all pets. Your veterinarian will determine a vaccination schedule most appropriate for your pet." This is encouraging yet fails to take into consideration that a regular vaccination schedule accounts for 33% of a Veterinary clinic's annual revenue. There is also a fear of the new on the part of much of the Veterinary community. Understandable from a liability standpoint. If the vet recommends a triennial schedule and the dog gets rabies either by fluke or because the client wasn't up front and honest about the dogs activities, the vet is now prone to a nasty suit. They prefer to take the "better safe than sorry" approach. In conclusion, the choice of whether to vaccinate yearly, triennially or not at all; is a choice for each individual owner to make. There is always the option of the titer test, that checks the animals immunity to disease. By no means cheap, you can expect to pay around $200 for the test. Whatever you choose, I hope I have given you some solid information to assist you in making that decision. One last point You have the final decision in regards to your dogs health. But your Veterinarian has years of knowledge on animal disease and treatment at their finger tips. Self study is crucial, it helps you ask the right questions and make informed decisions. But I recommend that your Vet be a partner in these decisions. Finally, once you have made the decision, stick to your convictions. It is as bad to be spoon fed as it is to point the finger of blame at someone else!

Macy Gray, story of a dog with liver disease

2009-11-25T19:14:00.001-08:00

It was less than two weeks ago that I posted that Macy was on the downturn. Prior to that I have spoken about proper dog nutrition twice. Once in february, and once in March. Took her into the vet and her blood samples and urine are stellar! She is an eight year, old large breed and I have been so obsessed with her illness, that I may have taken natural aging signs and panicked. the vet told me she had never seen a dog with liver disease improve that quickly and maintain it's health. Keep it in your heart that it can happen. Even when you get the worst diagnosis from your vet, which I did in January. Don't give up hope!

Protect your dogs from electircal shock while on your walk. A few common sense strategies everyone should know

2009-11-25T18:23:00.000-08:00

I have heard of this happening before. Dog's electrocuted on a daily walk and their owners failing to take the simplest of precautions. Though I rarely, if ever, have tied my dogs to a lamp post, it is something we as owners need to think about. Electricity runs in the neighboring yard, under our feet and over our heads. Countless dogs die every year from electrocution. It tends to be more common in larger cities, but can happen in a small town as well. This not for profit community watch site, can give you lots of helpful tips to avoid these pitfalls. Pitfalls including yard lights that are old, construction sites, metal plates, or grids and street lamps. Dog boots increase an animal's chance of a shock. This web site might just save you and your dog's life!

Foster home desperately needed, eastern NC

2009-11-20T22:30:00.000-08:00

URGENT! two 8wk. old pups, foster home needed or will go to pound. C.H.S. Please we need foster homes for these two babies, the woman called last night and said that her mom was going to take to them to the pound, but she has asked her to wait to see if Columbus Humane Society can find a foster home. We have until Sunday and then she will call the pound. We have no where for them to go, we will provide all medical, food for them, just need a place for them to be safe until we can get them a home. She said that they look like beagle mix and might even have Jack R. but who knows. They are just babies and I don't care what they are, they just need not to go to that Hell Hole of a pound. If we can get foster or permanent home then we can get them adopted and their adoption will include, first, second shots, bordatella, worming and spay/neuter. I don't know what sex they are but I'm trying to get the mom to go and look. Please contact: lambertpat54@yahoo.com if you can help - Hope someone will take them soon - My mom wanted me to call the pound - but just don't want to. They are very playful - Don't know a lot more about them - Haven't had much time to be w/them.

Pitty lab mix needs home

2009-11-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

Sorry, no photo on this one. Owner is heading off to armed duty and can't maintain the dog. Contact info is below. Pitt lab mix free to good home. I'm going to basic training in Jan and can't take care of him. His name is Jack and he is 1 year and 7 months old. He has web feet and looks like a pitt. He is good with other dogs and loves people. Very friendly! Loves to swim and ride in a car, very smart, house trained, and neutered. He will come with leash and kennel. If you are interested, I'm not going to let him go with just anyone. I love him dearly and don't want to let him go. Send me an email at eyeofngt@yahoo.com. My name is Lisa

Save a Greyhound from Wisconsin

2009-11-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will be closing on December 31, 2009. Nine hundred greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized. Please help me get the word out - we only have six weeks to get this task done. Contact Operations Director Joanne Kehoe @ 312.559.0887 or Dairyland Racetrack Adoption Center @ 262.612.8256. Editors Note: Greyhounds make wonderful family pets. Gentle, mellow, loving and generally good with children. Perfect starter pet. So if you are thinking of a dog for Christmas, please consider one of these dogs! Wouldn't it be a wonderful Christmas if we could save them all! Please pass this on to everyone you know.

Gar the boxer. Try not to cry...I double dog dare you

2009-11-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

There is a small, old-fashioned ice cream parlor in the pleasant little town of Urbana, Ohio. Decades of existence give Kerr's Sweet Shop a comfortable, well-worn atmosphere, like the feel of your favorite pair of jeans. Urbana is such a tiny town that most everyone knows everyone else personally. As a matter of fact, they usually don't just know you, but your father and grandfather and perhaps they even knew your great-grandfather. There was once a young boy who visited this ice cream parlor quite often on his way around town with his Boxer dog, Gar. Gar was short for Gargantua, named after the famous giant because he grew to be such a big dog -- "ninety-seven pounds of pure muscle!" the boy proclaimed proudly. Whenever he visited the ice cream parlor, which was almost daily in the summer, the boy always ordered two ice cream cones -- a chocolate one for himself, and a vanilla one for Gar. The boy was a self-proclaimed "chocoholic," and he felt bad that Gar always had to settle for vanilla, but he knew that chocolate is dangerous for dogs. Gar didn't seem to mind; he wagged his stubby tail gleefully when the boy held out the vanilla cone for him to lick as they sat together on the steps outside the ice cream parlor. The boy half-kiddingly said that if they could find a way to harness the energy of that tail to a generator, they would have enough power to light all of Urbana for weeks on end. One time the boy was sick with the flu and wasn't able to leave the house to go to school, much less the ice cream parlor. After four days, or maybe a full week, when he was well again, the boy took Gar out for their routine walk around town. The dog trotted happily beside him, no leash required, only stopping a few times to sniff at bushes and hydrants and trees. When the pair came into view of Kerr's Sweet Shop, Gar suddenly left the boy's side and dashed across Main Street. Pausing at the far corner, he glanced back, as if imploring his owner to follow. So the boy did -- he followed Gar right up through the door into the ice cream parlor. The boy walked up to the counter, asked for "the usual," and sifted through change in his pocket to pay. But instead of "the usual" ten cents -- a nickel for each cone -- the man working as ice cream scooper said the boy owed a quarter. The boy was confused. He ordered only two single-scoop cones: one vanilla, one chocolate, just as he always did -- that should be a dime. The man smiled and said, "Well, your dog there's been comin' in the past few afternoons around this time, and he kept barkin' and barkin' and wouldn't stop. We figured since you always get a vanilla cone for 'im, and he likes 'em so well, that we'd just give 'im some ice cream even if you weren't with 'im. So we've sorta been keepin' a tab for 'im here. I hope that's okay." The boy laughed and assured the man it certainly was. In fact, he told them to keep the tab running if Gar came in again by himself -- which the dog occasionally did. Even years later, the boy still got a kick out of telling the story about his crazy dog with its very own charge account at the local ice cream parlor. *** My grandpa -- "Gramps" I affectionately call him -- was that young boy and his story about Gar and the ice cream parlor is one of my favorites. Ever since I was a little girl, I have begged him to tell that story over and over again, wishing I had a Boxer dog just like his beloved Gar, a dog I would raise from a puppy and take for walks around town and get ice cream with, a dog who would sleep at the foot of my bed at night and be my best friend. My dad grew up listening to the same stories, and while he was open to the idea of getting a Boxer, we lived in a small condominium -- way too cramped for a big dog that loves to run around and play. Then, during the summer before I went into the third grade, we moved to a bigger house -- with a backyard -- and suddenly my dream of owning a Boxer seemed wonderfully within reach. That year, as with previous years, a Boxer puppy was at the top of my birthday wish list. I never really expected to get one, at least when we lived in the condo, but when my first birthday arrived in our new house -- I was ten years old -- Gramps came over for dinner to celebrate. He gave me the last present himself: a book about caring for your Boxer puppy. I lifted the cover to find a note written inside: "The real thing will be coming in a few weeks." And sure enough, on a sunny spring day a short time later, I played fetch with my new puppy, Gar, for the first time. Gar soon lived up to his namesake's reputation as quite a goofy character. He doesn't much care for ice cream, but he does love oatmeal cookies -- not chocolate chip, though, because Gramps was quick to tell me that chocolate is bad for dogs. And Gar often "works on his tan" while napping on the porch in the afternoon sunshine. Gramps refers to Gar as my "brother" and spoils him like he is indeed another grandchild, and so it is no surprise that Gar absolutely adores his "grandfather." Another thing Gar adores is going for walks around the neighborhood. If I even whisper the word "walk" he will immediately start jumping around frantically, scratching at the front door in excited anticipation. If I am later than usual in asking, he lets me know he's ready to go by whining at the cupboard drawer where his leash is kept. Every evening, I take Gar out for a two-mile walk around our neighborhood, and though I tell him I am doing him a favor, the truth is it has become one of my favorite parts of the day, too. It is time all to myself, to escape from the hectic routines of the day and take a few minutes to think and reflect upon my life and my dreams. Gar and I walk on a path that runs alongside an orange grove, with a view of rows upon rows of green trees stretching towards the distant hills and shimmering Pacific Ocean. My favorite time of the day to take a walk is just before dusk, when the sun is beginning to set and the California sky is filled with warm, soothing pinks and reds and golds. Some teenagers' special place is their room or a specific hideout, but my sanctuary moves -- it is anywhere beside my dog. Walks with Gar keep me grounded and sane and content, able to enjoy the quiet moments of life that make it so miraculous: a tiny yellow flower blooming through a crack in the sidewalk; the innocent, gleeful laughter of children playing in the neighborhood cul-de-sac; the slobbery wet kiss of a dog as he looks at you with unconditional love and devotion. Especially when I am worried or stressed or sad, walking along beside -- or rather, being pulled along behind -- my wacky, exuberant, eighty-six "pounds of pure muscle" somehow always makes me feel better. It is a place for me to reflect upon my many blessings and be thankful for all I have. Sometimes it is easy to get sucked in by the nerve-wracking, unimportant minutiae of life while forgetting about what's really important: the love of family and friends, the freedom to be yourself, the quiet tranquility of evening walks with the best birthday present ever -- and, yes, the occasional chocolate and vanilla ice cream cones.

Click on the link to donate food for shelter pets

2009-11-05T16:54:00.001-08:00

It isn't rocket science, but I am not sure how this works. Only sure that it does. Hi, all you animal lovers! This is pretty simple... Please ask ten friends to each ask a further ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ I rescued a dog that was close to death from hunger. I have never seen a dog as emaciated as this little guy was. Took a small fortune to get him back to health but he is the healthy, happy cattle dog you see below. I have no end of respect for what shelters do. But we need to do everything we can to help them out. Donate pet food, old newspapers, old toys or blankets, whatever you can. Or click on the link above. The life you save may be your next puppy or kitty.

Please help us find a home for this Boxer

2009-11-05T06:56:00.001-08:00

This is a sweet boxer who needs a home. If you know anyone who is interested please let me know. I found this dog in my front yard and he was skin and bones. He is being fostered by a wonderful friend. He has been to the vet and is approximately 1. He does have two issues. He is partially blind. Vet thinks the poor puppy was choked. He also has early stage heartworm. He was too underweight to do anything about the heartworm but has since gained some weight and will need the two shots in the future. This puppy is so very sweet, he gets along with other dogs. He attempts to chase cats but since he can't see them so he doesn't get close. He is very affectionate and really needs someone to love him. Please let me know if you or anyone you know might be interested. If you are interested in taking this puppy please email pdalton@nmrs.com or respond here.

All about Milk Thistle

2009-10-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Milk Thistle is tremendously helpful for the liver with, or without other treatments. It protects and rejuvenates the liver and is more potent taken with other herbs; dandelion, artichoke and licorice, better known as Milk Thistle Plus. The effects are almost doubled with regular dosage of vitamin E and C. Milk Thistle is very helpful in protection and regeneration of the liver, by stimulating the growth of replacement liver cells. But, Milk Thistle cannot cure stages of cirrhosis. It can support parts of the liver that are healthy and working. Milk Thistle can be taken in conjunction with Denamarin and Denosyl. It is very safe, even in high dosages over a long period of time. It can be taken with your current medication. Take care and love your pup!

Fall color with your Pup? How about Barkwells mountain resort?

2009-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

What better time to weekend with your dog in the North Carolina mountains? Located near Brevard, North Carolina, Barkwells offers all the fall color you ever dreamed of with plenty of pet friendly activities. Cabins range from $210 to $310 a night and include some if not all of the following ammenities: gas fireplaces, high speed wireless, dvd, radio, cd player, fully equipped kitchen, fenced yard, enclosed porch, hot tub and charcoal grill. Fall color will be peak in two weeks. What are you waiting for? For reservations contact Barkwells: 828-891-8288 or stay@barkwells.com. For more information visit their website.

Prednisone, cortizone and other steroid use and side effects in pets

2009-10-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Most of us familiar with steroids from the constant references to steroid use by athletes, better known as an anabolic steroid. The common steroid prescribed to animals and humans are catabolic steroids. The difference is that anabolic steroids increase the bodies supply of sugar fats and proteins and catabolic do the exact opposite. Catabolic steroids break down the body's reserve supply to be used in times of great body stress. Great for inflammatory illness, they have side effects both temporary and long term and must be used sparingly. My two experiences with steroids are as follows. I had a severe drug reaction to antibiotics in my early 30's and was prescribed cortisone. As bad as I felt from the reaction, nothing compared to how I felt on cortisone. I was listless, constantly thirsty, bloated and constipated. Luckily I was only on it for 4 days which brings me to my second experience with steroids. My first dog, Natasha, was terribly allergic to fleas, mosquitos, grass...you name it. Every summer she would lose her coat and get hot spots I won't describe here. This was in the early to mid 70's and we have come a long way in dog nutrition. But in the day, regular cortisone shots were the only answer. Cortisone administered over a long period of time had a deteriorating effect on her bladder retention and in a very unscientific observation, burned her kidneys out over time. We had to put her to sleep after 6 summers on the medication. She was a shell of the dog she once was. When the emergency clinic recommended Prednisone as an appetite enhancer for Macy and suggested she would need it everyday, I balked. I searched every avenue available for an alternate resource. I have the same issue with Rymadyl! There are so many alternative options in place, but you need a vet that will work with you. I believe that steroids can be useful in extreme situations...sparingly. Daily use over long periods of time should be avoided. For more about prednisone and other steroids read on. This is a very useful link and I love Mar Vista because they provide such an amazing library of facts for pet owners. Hope this helps!

The gift of nothing

2009-10-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hey I get it, it is that time of year. You are looking at an ever shrinking 401 K and wondering how you will get through the holidays. Maybe you can't afford to donate even the minimum amount, but can you afford 2 to 3 hours a week? Most shelters would be thrilled with that donation. All it costs you is a few hours on a weekend and you get paid with tons of puppy/kitty kisses. If you can't do that, perhaps you might try the following. Ever notice how the things you really need exceed the price of a birthday present and how all the things you do get are a bit silly? How about asking that someone donate to your favorite charity, in your name, instead of the door warmer or snuggie this year. You'll contribute to a great cause and feel all warm and squishy inside to boot. My cousin Heidi started this two years ago. We tell each other what charity we would like the money donated to and that is all there is to it. No shipping, no hassle and no wondering where that depression era, remake candy bowl is going to go. Plus you are giving a wonderful present to a not for profit agency, rather than trying to find the right present for someone you haven't seen in 5 years. Most larger institutions give a card to the beneficiary acknowledging your gift. But if they can't afford it, they possibly really need it! I think this is a wonderful solution! Hope you do too!

Be a guardian angel for the Spartanburg Humane Society.

2009-10-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

I want to be a Guardian Angel People often assume that because the Spartanburg Humane Society has an in-house veterinary clinic we also have the resources to treat all sick or injured animals regardless of their condition. In actuality, the financial demands of providing excellent care for nearly 18,000 animals a year and the extra cost of special veterinary treatments limit our ability to meet unique medical needs. The Guardian Angel Fund was established by SHS staff, volunteers, and friends as a way to cover expenses for treatment above and beyond the regular veterinary services animals receive while in our care. Through gifts ranging from $2.00 to $1500 (yes, every dollar can make a difference), Guardian Angels have helped the SHS cover the cost of treatment for heartworm disease, injuries, illness, and long-term neglect – removing these conditions as barriers for pets finding a good home. When confronted with so many innocent dogs and cats who do not have a second chance, the Guardian Angel Fund is truly a blessing . . .to deserving animals, to the families who adopt them into their homes and hearts, and to all of us at who celebrate every life saved. To donate to a injured or sick animal, click here.

Signs of liver disease

2009-10-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

1 Animal refuses to eat or eats sparingly and or gags while trying to eat. 2 Animal drinks more water. 3 Animal seems depressed or disparate. 4 Constipation, diarrhea or vomiting. 5 Urine is orange, red or brown in color and or frequent. (urine color can also be caused by food or medication.) 6 White of the eye turns yellow. 7 Gums turn whitish, brown in color. 8 Animal's abdomen seems bloated and or sore to the touch. 9 Animal trembles or spasms 10 Stools are white, white tinged, runny or nonexistent. These are a few and in the best order I can give you. Keep in mind any of these symptoms could signal other problems and are not exclusive to liver disease For more information see this link. One more very good link on canine liver disease and it's causes. Read on!

Tips for denosyl, denamarin and vitamin K and other vitamin approaches to dog health

2009-10-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

Latest question on stat counter is; "Do I have to give my dog Denosyl at the same time everyday?" I really think that is the choice of the dog owner. I find with all the things I have to do, a structured time is best and easiest to remember. The key thing with Denosyl, Denamarin and vitamin K is it should be given on an empty stomach, either a few hours after the last meal or an hour before. I tried morning for a while, but found it easier to give at bedtime. Really depends on the frequency of the feedings on how you want to do it. If you feed twice a day, with the last feeding at 7, you could give them a pill at bedtime. Otherwise, I would suggest first thing in the morning, an hour before feeding. All other vitamins go in the food bowl with a dollop of fat free yogurt to cover. Macy gets the following: Milk thistle 240mg extra (dandelion, fennel and licorice) 2x a day, Super B complex with vitamin C (look for high values of B12)-morning, 200iu vitamin E-morning(you can find this in liquid form at most natural food stores or in a soft gel at any grocery or drug store). For flea and mosquito control, she also gets 1000 mg of garlic 2x a day and brewers yeast according to package directions and the dogs weight. Macy is a 70lb dog. Please note that the preceeding recommendations are based on a dog of 70lb weight. Please note that you need not spend the extra money to get these from the vet. All of these are available at a good health food store and most are available at your drug or grocery store. I spent 40 dollars for chewable vitamin K at the vet and $12 for vitamin K at the health food store. The vitamin K from the vet lasted me a month, the health food variety lasted 6 months Get yourself a pill splitter at the drug store and get creative with pill hiders. My dogs love fat free yogurt, but you can use low fat or no fat cottage cheese, cream cheese, soft fruit or nut butter. Just steer clear of excess fat, citric acid and any sugar and salt. One other note: If you are home cooking for your dog, it is a good idea to include Taurine in their diet. If you are feeding them on a kibble, prescription or other, check the ingredients. Taurine is a basic amino acid found in the muscle meat. It prevents serious heart and eye disease and has benefits for heart , vision, cell, circulatory and kidney health. However with the advent of the extruder, less and less protein can be used in kibble dog and cat food. It has long been known that cats need this supplement, but recently discovered that not all dogs can make their own Taurine as was once believed. Read the ingredients on the bag. Taurine is always called Taurine, so there is nothing to slip you up. If you do not see Taurine on the label, you can buy supplements at any health food store. I use 500mg 2x a day. For more about Taurine read here. Dick Van Patten makes a wonderful food available at all Petco locations. It is called Natural Balance and has a formula that is perfect for recovering patients of liver disease. It is the fish and sweet potato formula, but do not start it until the blood tests are completely clean. All the Natural Balance foods include Taurine. Just keep the protein as digestible as possible and the starches as low in sugar as possible for a liver disease dog. For more on starting your dog on a healing diet read here. Final note for liver disease: If you do not walk your dog on a regular basis, you must patrol the yard daily. Stools that are runny, white tinged or completely white are a warning sign. . Runny, something you are giving them may not agree. White or white tinged stools means they need a vet's attention. You need to test the blood and urine every three months if you choose to go this method. Urine should be some color of yellow. Dog's and Cat's urine color can be changed by medication, food coloring, hydration or age. If your animal's urine color is brown, orange or red in color, you are more than likely seeing evidence of blood and the animal needs to be seen as soon as possible. Pale yellow to deep yellow is OK. Once again, feel free to post or email if you need help. I hope this answers your questions, but if it doesn't email me at the address under "Upstate lost and found board." I have been given an amazing blessing in my life. It is still day by day, but anything I can do to help makes me happy!

Columbus County Wine and Cheese Fundraiser

2009-10-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Columbus County Humane Society is having its annual Wine and Cheese Fundraiser October 22 at 6:30pm at Interim Health Care across from the FoodLion near Bojangles [301 Liberty St.] There will be food, soft drinks, wine and beer and a fundraising auction. There are 2 Nascar pit tickets for auction that can be used at any race. Tickets are $20. All the money goes towards the medical costs, etc of the animals. Please consider buying a ticket even if you do not attend the event so these local animals can get what they need to be healthy and adoptable. Make the checks out to CHS. Contact Kim Small marshmallowbunnies@yahoo.com or Pat Lambert lambert pat 54@yahoo.com. Donations may be mailed to the following address; Columbus Humane Society - P.O. Box 742, Whiteville, NC 28472 phone: 910.640.3700 or donated via paypal at the following link.

Greenville Humane Society fall volunteer orientation schedule

2009-10-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

Interested in volunteering for the Greenville Humane Society? We conduct an orientation for new volunteers every month. Please join us at one of the following volunteer orientations listed below. * October 20, 2009 at 6:00 PM * November 17, 2009 at 6:00 PM * December 15, 2009 at 6:00 PM The location for these orientations will be in the lobby of adoptions. All volunteers must go through orientation before they can start volunteer work at the Greenville Humane Society. Your volunteer schedule will be based on availability of the time slots you prefer (usually a two-hour time period). Once you have received your volunteer time slot, it will remain yours for as long as you are here unless you need to change it. If you are interested in pet therapy, you must be at least 18 and be able to volunteer the same day and time each week (Monday - Friday); children are allowed to participate in pet therapy work if accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Pet foster parents and adult dog walkers must also be at least 18. To volunteer in the puppy/kitten room you must be at least age 13. No one under the age of 13 is permitted to volunteer at the Greenville Humane Society. For more information, contact Paula Church. Greenville Humane Society 328 Furman Hall Road Greenville, SC 29609 Tel: (864) 242-3626 Fax: (864) 242-0380 greenvillehumane@greenvillehumane.com

Happy Howl-O-Ween in Greenville, S.C.

2009-10-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Spooky Trails Trick or Treat! Join us October 31st from 3 pm until 5 pm! Bring your children (4-legged children count, too) for a safe place to find a treat. GHS along with Greenville County Animal Care Services and Author Jean Hunt welcome you for a fun adventure! Visit our special barnyard guest and take a fun, spooky tour of the pet cemetery. Cat Tails and Spooky Trails is available for purchase for only $13. Again, children and pets are welcome and there is no charge. So come out and join us! Greenville Humane Society 328 Furman Hall Road Greenville, SC 29609 Tel: (864) 242-3626 Fax: (864) 242-0380 greenvillehumane@greenvillehumane.com

Need volunteers and creative thinkers in Brunswick, N.C.

2009-10-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone. You may know by now CHTA (Coalition for Humane Treatment of Animals) decided, for several compelling reasons, we could not take on managing the County facility as a Humane Society at this time. However, it certainly was not for lack of volunteers who came forward to help so we know animal lovers are everywhere!! We haven't given up the goal of having a Humane Society here in Brunswick County, but for now, we'd like to focus on keeping animals OUT of the county facility as well as any other shelter. That means reducing the number of animals being born and/or working out ways to keep pets in their existing homes (or finding them new ones). We know there are many other important animal issues in this county that need addressing, but we've decided the biggest impact would come from setting up a spay/neuter clinic, so, that is our current focus. We need volunteers to help us with ideas and do some research in the beginning, then eventually develop a plan for accomplishing our goal. Get in on the ground floor and help shape this project! We envision the clinic would be open to everyone, including shelters, rescue groups, other county's groups, and even our own county municipal facility if they want to take advantage of it. Cape Fear Spay Neuter Clinic is doing well and New Hanover Humane has a waiting list, so we KNOW this will be successful! Wouldn't it feel great to say, yes, we have a spay/neuter clinic in BC and I helped make it happen! Think of the many animals you've helped find homes for and those you adopted as strays or out-casts. Now multiply that number by thousands or people who are struggling to save lives because no one spayed or neutered their animals! Please, you can do a little or a lot, but do help us make this dream a reality! BC euthanizes THOUSANDS of cats and dogs EVERY YEAR! Preventing births prevents deaths. Please, please consider participating on our "Nippit Team." If you or anyone you know may be interested in brain-storming ideas, surfing the net or making research phone calls--or any other kind of help, WE NEED YOU! Once our "Nippit Team" is assembled, we'll meet in person and start planning. If you can't find time to meet in person, send us your ideas, thoughts and concerns ANY TIME! Send me an email if you--or anyone you know--may be interested in joining our "Nippit Team." We plan on starting to work on it in late October. (We know the holidays are coming, but this is something you can do at your own pace!) Thanks very much for helping to save precious lives! Margarete O'Leary President, CHTA advocates4animals@gmail.com

More about urine color and blood tests

2009-10-09T15:45:00.001-07:00

I have gotten a lot of hits on urine color in the last few weeks, so I thought I would go more in depth than I have in the past. Urine should be a shade of yellow, darker yellow is a more concentrated urine that can often be found on a hotter day, paler yellow is ideal. Brown or red urine is usually a sign of bleeding. This can be caused by a variety of things, but the appearance of blood in the urine should not be shrugged off. Your vet should see your dog within 24 hours I found a wonderful vet link that not only adresses the above topic but also gives a great advice on reading and understanding a blood test result. Normal parameters for each level aren't included here but will be on your test result. I always request a copy of my dogs test results and keep them in a file with all my vet records. The vet keeps these on hand as well, but I like to keep my own personal file. That way, when I change vets, move or have to take a dog to the emergency clinic I have them handy.

Adopt or foster Honey the pit bull

2009-09-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

Columbus County Humane Society I found this pit bull running along the highway. She is very sweet [like Honey so that is what I have called her]. She is beautiful. She is spayed and has all her first shots. She is 100% healthy. I can't keep her. I already have 3 and my one females plays with Honey then attacks her randomly. I need a safe foster home for her. Any Pit Rescues out there Near Whiteville/Wilmington NC? Call Kim 910.616.1190

Adopt Shiloh the chow shepherd Mix

2009-09-29T09:14:00.001-07:00

Please we need a home for this little guy, he was adopted when a baby and now owners can't keep and we are all full and have no foster home. They have said they will take to pound if no home is found. He needs to go into a home with no children and needs a fenced yd. Read below what the owner have to say about him. Please help save him. We have had our puppy (part chow/part shepard) since he was a baby. He is now 1 1/2 years old. He is a lot of fun and has a great personality. He loves to catch objects but needs work on giving them back. He has a little pool and loves to go swimming. He is very playful and likes to be chased, ran, and walked. He is a very loyal companion and sleeps right outside our bedroom door. The problem is that he is very posessive. He does not do well with meeting strangers, which will make it hard to find him a new home. This is a perfect opportunity for dog trainers or pet lovers to get a great dog that has one serious flaw. The reason we are getting rid of him is because we have a new baby that will be leaving the NICU soon, and cannot take any chances there. We will give this dog and all accessories free to a good home. He needs a fenced yard where he can have plenty of room to run around, and gets plenty of attention. He is a beautiful dog , has been neutered and is current with all shots and heartworm free. With the dog we will give his pool, igloo, and house crate for free. Please help to keep this great dog alive. If interested, please contact: lambertpat54@yahoo.com I did forget to mention that he had somehow torn the ligament in his front left leg. This is completely managed by taking 2 Dasuquin pills every day. He likes the taste of them so giving them to him is not a problem. He does like men and women- and gets along with everyone once he gets to know them. He also unfortunately, likes to be dirty-- buries all of his bones and sometimes even rolls around in dirt. Sometimes he grabs a shoe or magazine- something laying around- puts it in his mouth and runs. This is not because he will start eating the object-- he is being playful, and wants you to chase him for it. He has been a joy to us, and can be for someone else as well. Editors Note: This is not a mix for the novice dog owner. I emailed Pat Lambert and here is what she had to say: "Margot, the dogs name is Shiloh and he was adopted as a baby and now they are wanting him gone, he is very protective over them and so he might need to go into a home without children and they have a newborn that is coming home (after a mth.) from the hospital. Please pst him and help me find a place for him. Would be nice for him to have a fenced yd. and he does get along with other dogs, he does need to get by himself (a little food aggresive, I have a dog like that). He is up to date on all shots, neutered and heartworm free. I really don't know about the other dog, could you send me a copy of the post?" In a nutshell, this is not a dog for a home with young children. Whereas I am of the Cesar Milan viewpoint of never say never, this dog clearly needs some work and supervision. Sounds like he could be a very good companion for a more experienced dog owner and he is as cute as a button! Shelter is Columbus County Animal Shelter located at 288 Legion Dr Whiteville, NC 28433. Phone #910-641-3945. Adoption fee is $25. These guys need to all be out by 5 pm on Thurs 9/24. Petfinder is updated, here is the link: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC467.html.

Urine levels and Liver Disease

2009-09-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

I love stat counter. I can see just what you are looking for when you encounter my site. One seeker asked (paraphrasing) "My dog is urinating less, does that mean he/she is getting better? Liver disease does cause a lot of water consumption and frequent urination. Unfortunately that is one of the last signs to leave the dog and is hard to measure, especially if the dog is up in years, it's hot or you have a multiple dog family. But, in general, it is a good sign! Focus on appetite first, jaundice signs second stool and urine color third and general demeanor fourth. Meaning: the dog should have an appetite for food without steroid intervention like prednisone. The appetite should be the same as it was before. Ravenous eating can signify a problem. The dog should have pink gums and clear eyes, this is the first sign the dog is recovering (dogs who are in the grips of liver disease develop yellow in the whites of their eyes and their gums turn a whitish brown color. In advanced cases they develop blue cataracts that are easily seen when the light is in their eyes.) Stools should be well formed and brown in color and urine should be some shade of yellow. If the stools are white or white tinged or the urine is brown, you need to contact your vet. This requires extra vigilance for those who keep their dogs in a yard. If you are home cooking, the stools should be easy to locate. But you need to walk the yard twice daily to see. Finally have they perked up or are they lackluster and depressed. Keep in mind that this is something you will always have to deal with. Dogs will have their good days and their bad days. These four traits will tell you more than all the blood tests in the world. Do keep watch on water consumption and urine levels though. That can be an early sign that something is amiss. That being said, resign yourself to the fact that you need to take your dog in for blood tests four times a year. I never appreciated how crucial the liver is in the entire well being of the system, until I had a dog with liver disease. A malfunctioning liver can lead to all sorts of problems including kidney failure. That is not as easy to see without regular blood tests and urinalysis. Stay strong, find a vet that will work with you on a holistic approach, ask questions and keep me posted. This is hell to go through, trust me I know. When I got Macy's prognosis I cried for three hours, debated if battling the disease was fair for her, was I being selfish, vain or irresponsible? Stayed up a fair few nights over that. But she had pluck and the will to live, so I gave her everything I had. Macy is not over the disease, she never will be, but is living well with the disease. She has clean blood tests and has the vim and vigor I always expected. She eats well and is the dog I always knew and loved, rather than some shell of a dog waiting for the end. I was told three to six months and she is close to superseding the last. She is happy, healthy and full of piss and vinegar. She went from a gaunt 54lbs to her normal 72 pounds. As long as she is up for the battle, I am determined to be by her side! Stay strong, research and talk to others that have the same issue. Think of it as group therapy for those that have dogs with critical illness. I still cry everytime I think of that phone call. But being in touch with all of you makes a difference. I hope I do the same for you!

2009-09-23T04:17:00.000-07:00

It's been two years now and Vick has served his time. I should be happy, but I am not. First, he is scooped by Philadelphia, second I don't feel contrition. Don't know how I feel about that. Can't imagine the Tate family taking Charles Manson's pleas any better. But hey, we have a quarterback, a name and the ability to sell a lot of jerseys! We need to get past out love of sports and respect our gut feeling of what is right and wrong. Never will forget finding Sydney. I was asked what I would do if the owner showed up to claim the dog. I told the person that posed the question "I hope he/she does so I can kick their ass." I don't negate Michael a second chance. Only one not so publicly followed and revered!

Strut your mutt in Asheville

2009-09-23T01:18:00.000-07:00

As if you needed an excuse to drive to the mountains, the Asheville Humane Society is hosting it's annual Mutt Strut on October 10th at Carrier Park. Information is on line at the following link, and registration is available here. Get yourself a hound and make that doggie proud, cause that's what it's all a bow, wow wout!

Dogs need homes in Whiteville,NC

2009-09-23T01:07:00.000-07:00

Hi guys here is what is at the shelter Monday. A lot of strays whose time is now up and coming up today. We really need help getting them out, foster homes are full here. Please spread the word and help these guys. If you post, please make sure you give the address, getting a lot of complaints that they don't know where the shelter is. Shelter is Columbus County Animal Shelter located at 288 Legion Dr Whiteville, NC 28433. Phone #910-641-3945. Adoption fee is $25. These guys need to all be out by 5 pm on Thurs 9/24. Petfinder is updated, here is the link: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC467.html.

Natural Flea and tick control

2009-09-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

The thing I was most afraid of has happened...fleas!!! We were doing really well until I agreed to watch a friends dog for the weekend. Now all three are infested. As most of you know, who follow this blog, I have a dog with liver disease. That means any form of chemical control, either applied to the dogs, the house or the yard is not recommended. So what do you do when fleas invade your home and how do you prevent it from happening? Well, I hope I can address both! If you want to address all natural flea prevention, here are a few tips that were working quite well for us until the introduction of a dog riddled with the little pests. Fleas and mosquitoes hate a clean blood stream. Immunity support is crucial if you go with a non chemical approach. The best dog food your money can buy is crucial. Look for good protein and no grain dog foods. Never assume a dog food is good before reading the label. For more about selecting a good dog food, read here. Vitamins and herbs are necessary for this approach. See previous posts for amounts but all get a multi B/C blend, vitamin E and a garlic/ brewers yeast powder. All have tremendous effects on the heart and blood stream and allow the natural defenses against fleas, ticks and heartworm to do their best. In addition, I do the following. In their drinking water a put a capful of Black Walnut Tincture and a few drops of Wormwood Tincture (available at any health food store.) Both are essential for cleansing the blood and the dogs love it! If fleas are already an issue, bathe the dogs in Dawn. Start at the head and work your way down. Leave them soaped up for 5 to 10 minutes. I tie a leash to my soap stand so they can't evacuate. Rinse them and spray them with 2 1/2 cups of water mixed with oil of lavender and oil of cedarwood. Shake well to mix. Same spray can be used on rugs furniture and bedding. Flea combs are helpful too for day to day maintenance, but I can't even imagine using it on a thick or long coated dog. Very tight teeth and I have a hard enough time with my short coated dogs. At any rate, we have the fleas under control, but the dogs' skin are so aggravated, that we need to calm the bites. Hearing liquid aloe vera is good for this, so I will keep you posted!

Foster Homes Needed in Eastern North Carolina

2009-09-19T21:22:00.001-07:00

The Columbus County Humane Society is seeking foster homes for their dogs. Columbus county is located in the southeast corner of North Carolina, near Wilmington. You do not need to live in Columbus County to foster an animal until it is adopted. Interested parties may contact Pat Lambert at (910)317-1606 or email her at lambertpat54@yahoo.com. Please open your home to a pet that needs your love.

Dawn: it's not just for wildlife anymore!

2009-09-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that Dawn Dishwashing Liquid makes an excellent shampoo for flea control.

The oils in it will suffocate the fleas, keeps the eggs from sticking to the hair follicles, and also keeps your dog’s skin/fur from drying out. When using it, just make sure to soap up the dog’s neck first and this has to be done quickly, otherwise the fleas will swarm to the dog’s face and crawl in theirs ears, and nose to hide. You will notice many fleas crawling around their eyes when you bathe them if your dog is heavily infested with fleas. The trick is to completely soap them up, and then keep them saturated for at least 5 minutes. Rinse well, and most of them will be gone, or go away soon. You may have to follow up in a week or so to get rid of any remaining stragglers.

Dawn does little to prevent fleas from coming back however. To stick with a non chemical approach Mix 2 drops of oil of lavender and two drops of oil of cedarwood, easily found in natural health stores, to 600ML (roughly 2 1/2 cups of warm water) shake and spray down your dog being cautious to avoid the eyes. I usually spray a small amount in my hand to treat the face and rub it in carefully. For more about flea and tick control check this site.

Carbohydrate and fat choices in a liver disease diet

2009-09-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Dogs on a low protein diet need carbohydrates and fats for energy. But many grain choices can be problematic and caution is recommended. Grains, do break down into sugars and can result in yeast overgrowth. Grains are also high in glucose and bombard the liver, the very thing you want to avoid in a dog with liver disease. Grains, as well as dairy based products, are mucus forming (toxic fungal growth) and may contribute to health problems such as allergies, ear infections, skin problems, bloating, joint problems, malabsorption and digestive disorders. For this reason, grains are not recommended for regular use in your dogs diet. Then only organic, freshly cooked grains that have not been refrigerated for more than one day. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are very good for dogs, despite previous beliefs that they were toxic. They also contain healing powers. Potatoes are a cancer preventative and maintain blood pressure. Sweet potatoes prevent cancer and heart disease and assist in cleansing the blood. Wash well and cook with the peel on. I do mine in the microwave for 4 to 6 minutes. Potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for three days in a air tight food container. Barley is one of the few grains that has nutritional benefits. It prevents cancer reduces blood clots and improves digestion. Always use organic and refrigerate left overs for no more than one day. Pasta can also be used and is a good choice in the early stages when the diet needs to be as bland as possible. Cook to direction and refrigerate no more than three days. Note: When refrigerating grains or carbs, always refrigerate them separately, never mixed with other vegetables or meats. High levels of fat are discouraged in the diet of a dog with liver disease, but some fat is essential to their health. Seeds and nuts are a good source of protein and fat and are best digested fresh, raw and unsalted.They add needed fat that is hard to get on a soy based diet. Sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds or flax seed are all good choices. Oils are another good choice for the needed fat in a diet. Extra virgin olive oil, soy oil, flax seed oil or safflower oil are all good choices. Oils must be cold pressed. Final Note: Although I have only one dog with liver disease, I avoid grain diets in all three of my dogs. Besides the reasons outlined above, most commercial dog foods use low quality grains that are often the end result of the milling process. They do this because it keeps cost down, but there is absolutely no nutritional value to the grain. It is merely a filler. The sad truth is the FDA has few regulatory standards for the quality of grains used or how the grains should be stored while awaiting shipment. Some of you may remember the Diamond Pet Food scare in 2006. Dogs were dying of liver failure at an alarming rate. The reason was the corn used in the food had gotten wet while in storage and had fermented. Customers were feeding their dog the kibble equivalent of grain alcohol. Higher end pet food companies, tend to use whole grains but always read the label!

Flea and Tick control for dogs with liver disease

2009-09-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well it has been almost a year since my precious girl was diagnosed. She is doing beautifully. Switched her back to kibble. I am using Blue Buffalo or Dick Van Patton's white fish and sweet potato. She did show some kidney problems on the last blood test, but her urinalysis was clean. However, she finally got fleas. My fault! I agreed to watch a dog for the weekend and all the dog have fleas now. Here are some tricks to use. Sentry makes an organic flea spray and powder that you can use on the dog and the home. Available at Petsmart. It is called Natural Chemistry. Smells great and the active ingredients are cinnamon,clove and cedar oil. Bathe the dog on a weekly basis and keep them wet for 15 to 20 minutes...drowns the fleas. Wash all dog bedding on a weekly basis and spray all uphpolstered furniture and rugs. If you vaccuum, the bag must be pitched. Royal pain in the you know what, but if you love your dog enough to home cook it is doable. One step at a time is what I tell myself. Almost past flea season now, but some of us never get past it. Cider or white vinegar helps the skin. Brewers yeast and garlic, pill form, keeps the fleas off...mosquitos too. Oil of lavender will keep the bugs from infesting your furniture and rugs..smells nice too! Few tips to help you out. Now I must go and wash the dogs.

Adopt Dixie the gorgeous lab mix. Columbus County, NC

2009-08-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

My name is Dixie and I so thankful for being alive, you see I was ran over and had to be taken to the animal hospital and had surgery on my leg. Now I do have a limp and I sometimes get tired from walking so much but I do love to sit on my foster moms lap and be given attention. I was never given any attention until I got ran over and now I have so many people loving on me, one person that I would love to thank is my first foster mom and her name is Heather and she wks. at Cape Fear spay/neuter. She was always raising money to take care of my medical needs and she gave me so much love and I do love her dearly. Now I'm in another foster home and she loves me also and she has a little boy and I love the both of them. I'm a little bit on the shy side at first but after getting to know you I perk right up. I would love to have a fence yd. to be able to exercise in and I'm very sure that I would like to take trips to the beach and play in the sand and water. I'm still a young puppy and I'm so very close to being a pure breed lab. My adoption includes all shots, worming and spay and I'm housetrained and yes I know that there is someone that will take me even if I do limp, just because I limp doesn't mean that I can't return the love that you might could give me. If interested please contact: lambertpat54@yahoo.com

Dogs to be adopted in Eastern North Carolina

2009-08-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

These dogs are at Animal Control in Columbus County. Click on the following link. http://www.columbusco.org/DotNetNuke_2/Default.aspx?alias=www.columbusco.org/dotnetnuke_2/animalcontrol

Diet and nutritional support for dogs with liver disease, continued.

2009-04-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

Well it has been over a month since Macy has been on the diet described in my previous post. Her blood panels came back completely clean. The only elevated panel was the amount of bile in her blood. This panel should be between 0 and 2. At the height of Macy's illness, this panel was 18. It has dropped to 6. I have tweaked the diet a bit. Her primary carb source is now yams. Yams have tremendous effects on the blood and are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and trace minerals. I am trying to steer clear of any grains whatsoever, a reason which will be explained in my next post. I am only using organic vegetables and meats, free of pesticides, hormones and steroids. The reason for this is any chemical weakens the system and you never want to introduce chemicals into the system of a dog with liver disease. Vegetables are primarily steamed carrots, kelp, artichoke hearts, spinach or green beans, again organic. I am keeping her on tofu and white fish until her blood panels are completely clear. As for immunity support, I have taken her off Heartworm and will not put her on any flea and tick medications. These weaken the dog's immunity over time and and place tremendous strain on the heart, kidney and liver. Interestingly enough, there are no known instances of wolves or wild canids with heartworm disease. It is believed by a growing number of vets that heartworm is a man made disease caused by over vaccination, poor nutrition and ingestion of chemicals, pesticides, steroids and growth hormones. These chemicals compromise the dogs natural defense system that would kill parasites in the blood before reaching the heart. Nutritional support has been adjusted as well. She still gets the vitamins listed in the previous post...these are essential. To find a natural supplement that would assist her in cleansing her blood, boosting her immune system and killing intestinal parasites I have put her on ActiPet Wormwood Therapy. Another good formula is Parasite Doctor.. I have also purchased a black walnut tincture. It is important that there is either no alcohol in the tincture or that the alcohol is taken out. See this link. Many of the supplements, or similar ones can be found in a good health food store, such as Garners. I have also looked into natural flea and tick support and the best I have seen is Flea Free. It is extremely important in a multi dog household, that a dog with liver disease not be around dogs with commercial flea and tick applications or collars. All dogs need to be on a natural, non chemical approach. You must also be terribly careful about fertilizers, pesticides and lawn treatments in any outdoor area they inhabit. Finally vaccinations need to be addressed. A puppy or adolescent dog needs to have vaccinations, but not as frequently as most veterinarians suggest. For example, the rabies vaccine lasts two years even though most states require yearly vaccines. There is growing awareness within the veterinary community about the problem of over vaccinating. Titer tests, which determine the dog's built in immunity to disease such as rabies, distemper or parvo are available. Often once a dog matures, it has developed an immunity to many of these diseases. Ask your vet for a titer test prior to vaccinations. If he or she balks, find a vet that will work with you. More information on vaccinations. Links: http://www.preciouspets.org/articles/natural-heartworm-prevention.htm http://www.cupofdog.com/2008/03/19/heartworm-prevention-naturally/ Best of luck and as always, feel free to comment with any questions.

Nutrition and diet for a dog with liver disease

2009-02-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

God knows I googled this again and again, hoping I would find some answers. My internist told me to limit her protein, but I have found that not always to be true. I found a great book, "Hope for healing liver disease in your dog," which is a must have if you have a dog stricken by this disease. Generally, your vet will put your dog on vitamin K, denamarin or denosyl and antibiotics. Initially, the antibiotics are helpful for inflammation and infection, but I would ween your dog off it as soon as possible. Here is a rough time capsule of Macy's illness. Jan 15th, 2009: My sister told me Macy had been refusing to eat and seeming despondent. She thought she was missing me, at the time Macy was staying with her until I could find a dog friendly apartment. I took her that night and she hardly seemed glad to see me. Needless to say she didn't eat. I took her to the vet the following morning who discovered she was jaundiced. I admit I am embarrassed I didn't notice, but it was late and I was tired from refinishing floors all day. He took blood tests and x-rays and suggested we go to the specialty clinic here in the upstate. They gave her an ultrasound and determined that based on her blood tests and ultrasound results, it could be Leptospirosis. They kept her for a day and a half to keep her quarantined and give her IV's of antibiotics and fluids. She was released with prescriptions of Denamarin and Ampicillan. In the meantime, she was still showing little to no interest in food, although she seemed hungry. The Lepto tests came back negative, so the hospital recommended a biopsy. The results of the biopsy came back a week later with canine hepatitis as the result. In the meantime, Macy barely ate and when she tried, she would drop her food and open her mouth as if she was gagging. It had been close to 4 weeks and she was terribly gaunt. I told the doctor this and was written a prescription for Prednisone (appetite enhancer with multiple side effects), Metoclopram (anti nausial ) and Tramodol for pain. I only gave her the Prednisone and the Metoclopram once. I was home cooking for her and the ampicillan had cleared up some of her distress so she started to eat like a house on fire. As long as she was eating, I refused to give her the Metocloram and the Prednisone. I continued with the Ampicillan. Macy started to gain some weight. In the meantime, I wanted to make sure I was giving her a balanced diet and the right food. I called the internist, who gave me a protein to fat to carb ratio, but I still felt I was missing something. I continued to search on the computer until I found this book. Would strongly recommend buying this book but here is what i am doing. Macy is on a home cooked diet. The rough percentage ratio is a third protein, a third vegetable and a third carbohydrate. Macy is normally a 70lb dog, although she lost close to 20 lbs with all this. Here is her diet for the next two or three weeks: Protein: Tofu, non fat yogurt or non fat cottage cheese Vegetables: Spinach, green beans, carrots, broccoli, squash, celery, peas, beets or kelp Seeds/Oil: Flax or pumpkin seeds, fish or extra virgin olive oil. Carbs: Potatoes or yams, brown rice, kidney beans, barley, oatmeal or brown rice Fruits: Banana, berries and pineapple (in small amounts because of the citric acid) If your dog is experiencing severe signs, bloating, jaundice, white stools, spasms etc, consider distilled water for the first few weeks as drinking water Macy's meal: (this she just loves and does really well with) Tofu: three thin slices cubed and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil and a bit of garlic powder until browned Veggies: Pick two to three of the list and steam gently Carbs: Prepare as directed. If you are using potato, keep the skin on and bake in the microwave. Combine the three and shake some flax seeds on the top. Mix in a tablespoon or two of nonfat yogurt. you can add a bit of fruit if you like or save that for treats. Prunes and figs are good too and great pill hiders. Meds: Denosyl/Denamarin and Vitamin K (50 mg): In the morning 1 hour before breakfast. Mix with a food hider...no salt peanut butter or cream cheese. Milk thistle extra with dandelion, fennel and licorice (240mg) 2 to 3 times a day. I put it in her food. B complex with C (make sure it includes the daily recommended supply of B12) and a 200 IU vitamin E softgel. Mix in food. Try this for the first two weeks. Also, if your dog is not eating, try some salt free beef or chicken broth, a bit of white fish (cod, whitefish, flounder poached) or a small bit of skinless chicken boiled with no seasoning. Break meals down in to small portions fed 2 to 3 times a day. Finally, keep an eye on their behavior. If they are lethargic, stool eating or ravenous, the dog may need a bit more protein and more frequent, smaller meals. If the dog seems nauseous or depressed, lower the amount of protein and also break the meal portions into multiple times during the day with less food. Also keep an eye on the stools. Are they brown and well formed, runny, white? Your probably feeling terribly overwhelmed at this point. I know I was, but don't. Your dog will tell you how they feel. The recipe above has Macy looking and feeling good. You may have to play around with it a bit to find the right mix for your dog. But it's not that hard. I bulk cook and freeze what I don't need for three days or so. Get frozen veggies and frozen fish which saves time and waste. The other good news is in the week that Macy has been on this diet, the jaundice is almost completely gone. Haven't taken her in for her blood retest, but the physical signs leave me no doubt her panels will be much better. By the way, my internist told me the jaundice would likely be permanent....HA! Stay upbeat, stay positive and stay in touch.

Living with hepatitis

2009-02-20T22:45:00.000-08:00

Hi all, It's been a damn long time since I have posted on this site. My apologies, but between my family and my eldest dog, things have been a bit crazy, Macy Gray was diagnosed with hepatitis. An earth shattering revelation for someone who just made a major move and has yet to find full time work. God bless my parents who have helped me financially to keep her alive. If tears were dollars, I would be very wealthy by now. Macy is doing well, I have been given a 4 to 6 month prognosis for her, but she continues to not only persevere but continue with vim and vigor. I purchased a book in my process to understand this disease better, which encourages nutritional support. The book is called, "Hope for healing liver disease in your dog" by Cyndi Smasal. The book encourages nutritional and vitamin support, rather than pharmaceutical support. Having owned a dog with severe dermatitis, whose kidneys were burned out by cortisone, I am very open to this option. In two days, I am already seeing improvement. So I will keep you posted and dedicate this site to dealing with liver disease. I will keep you posted.

Moved!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-19T01:05:00.000-08:00

Do to the illness of my mother, I have decided to move back to my childhood home...Greenville, South Carolina. Thanks to all that have frequented the site. This year has been tough but I plan to get back into blogging on a regular basis. Hope to achieve the same goals I had in Chicago. To provide a format for people to find their lost pets, to provide daily updates on pet health, training and nutrition and to be a site where devoted dog or pet owners can brag about their special someone, post an event or debate an issue. All are welcome as long as the debate is issue oriented, intelligent and devoid of those words that need not be posted on the internet. Welcome to Foothills Dog!!!!

How bizarre!!!

2007-11-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

My thanks to Tom at the Bench for sharing this link. The newest invention out of Sweden is a doggie urinal for lampposts. Not quibbling with the issue at hand, but how does one train their male to hit the target. I am lucky if I can keep an unneutered male from peeing on my shoe!!!! A doggy urinal is being touted as the answer to prematurely corroded lampposts in Sweden. It consists of a rubber cup attached to the post and a hose to pipe the urine into the gutter. Full story here:

Talking Dogs

2007-10-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

HILAROUS!!!!

Disaster preparedness: Do you have a plan for your pet?

2007-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

A truck containing volatile chemicals overturns less than a mile from your house, your house catches fire, your home floods or you have to escape tornadic activity. We tend to watch the current California firestorm or the wreckage of Katrina with the assumption that this could never happen to us. The truth is that there is a long list of events that could force us to have to evacuate quickly and may prevent us returning home for some time. The ASPCA has compiled a list of things every pet owner should do to be prepared for any such emergency. Many things you may have never considered. Here are a few suggestions of my own: Have a prepared kit that is packed and ready to go or stored in the trunk of your car. This kit should include a collapsible crate or kennel, 7 days of food and water (if dry the food must be rotated every two months or per manufacturer recommendations), an emergency medical pet kit and guide book, bowls, leashes, extra collar or harness, tie out lead, a blanket and a muzzle (fear or injury can often panic even the best natured pet), one to two weeks of any medicines the pet requires, toys, litter and basic supplies, photocopies of your pet records and recent photos of your pet (for posters if lost.) Have your pet micro chipped!!! This is the best way to insure you will get your pet back if separated. Also have an ID tag on the collar that includes the pets name, your phone number and your vet's phone number. If you do not own a car, have a transportation plan in place. Even though many cabs in urban areas are pet friendly, the cab may not be able to get to you. Identify a few neighbors or friends, who would be willing to help you with transport in an emergency. Have a list of those phone numbers in addition to pet friendly cabs, your vet's phone number and your cities Office of Emergency Management number (in case alternate transport is not available.) Maintain a land phone at your home and a white page listing. Reverse 911 calls are commonly used to alert citizens who must evacuate. Cell numbers will not be contacted. If you have an unlisted number or refuse to maintain a land line, develop a call network with your neighbors, but keep in mind they may be scrambling too and forget to call. Block Clubs or neighborhood watch groups can be a very effective tool to maintain a phone database for emergencies. On October 6th, 2006, The Pet's Act was signed by President Bush. The Pets Act, Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. Read more about the PETS ACT here. This is encouraging legislation, but it would be a mistake to assume that most cities, shelters and disaster teams are fully prepared for the volume of family pets they would have to deal with in a full scale disaster. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Have a plan in place.

Petco raises money for firestorm pets

2007-10-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

PETCO and PETCO Foundation Aid California Wildfire Animal Relief San Diego, CA, October 24, 2007 - The PETCO Foundation today begins a 10-day emergency Round-Up program to raise money to help animals affected by this week’s wildfires in Southern California. The Round-Up is a nationwide opportunity for PETCO customers to “round up” their purchases to the next highest dollar as a contribution to the Foundation. All donations will go toward the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to aid animals affected by the fires and other incidents. PETCO and its vendors, along with the PETCO Foundation have provided products valued at more than $200,000 to evacuation centers and animal welfare groups throughout San Diego County. In addition, PETCO associates have donated thousands of hours of time to help support the effort to meet the needs of its customers, shelter partners and evacuation centers. "Since the fires started Sunday afternoon, our associates have worked together to coordinate a rapid, thoughtful response to the crisis," said Jim Myers, PETCO CEO. "Many continue to work tirelessly around the clock. Our actions have helped to alleviate the considerable stress on animals in this situation. Our response once again displays how deeply the passion for animals runs at PETCO." PETCO and The PETCO Foundation arranged for and delivered truckloads of food, kennels and other supplies to pets and their pet parents displaced by this week’s wildfires in California. Semis were dispatched from the company’s Mira Loma, Calif., distribution center to evacuation locations to help ensure the health and well-being of animals through the crisis. Through the week, PETCO stores remained opened and product shipments were expedited so that customers’ needs could be met. To donate online or to locate a store near you, visit www.petco.com.

Pets in the firestorm. More ways you can help.

2007-10-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

The following message comes from the San Diego Humane Society. Oct. 23, 2007 - The San Diego Humane Society’s Animal Rescue Reserve (ARR) team is currently working with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) to evacuate domestic animals and livestock threatened by the Harris and Witch Creek fires with first priority being given to evacuation areas in Rancho Bernardo. SDHS staff is also manning the pet center at the Mira Mesa High School Evacuation Center. Over the last two days, officers, staff and volunteers have helped in evacuating more than 400 animals and are directly assisting several thousand animals at evacuation centers throughout the county. It is estimated conservatively that between 10,000 to 15,000 animals are in evacuation centers countywide. All press releases here: These folks are working night and day to rescue animals from the evacuations zones. Please assist their efforts any way you can. Give, anything you can, to the San Diego Humane Society.

Happy Howloween

2007-10-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

I must be frank. I really detest the concept of clothes for dogs. Winter coats are a neccesity, but the t-shirts, bandanas, smoking jackets and jewelry have never held any great appeal for me. That being said, the following costumes really are funny!!! My favorite is the knight. Enjoy!!!!

Help save four legged victims of the California fire

2007-10-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

California Wildfires Emergency Relief PetSmart Charities dispatched two of our Emergency Relief Waggin's on Oct. 23rd to help the animals impacted by the California wildfires. Each semi-trailer contains enough donated pet supplies to support up to 500 companion animals. Both Waggin's will be received by the City of San Deigo at Qualcomm Stadium, a designated community evacuation location. You Can Help Your donations help PetSmart Charities provide food, crates, litter, beds, and funds for medical supplies and vaccinations. You can make a tax-deductible donation to help the pet victims of the California wildfires and future disasters in one of three ways: Make an Online Credit Card Donation Now Make a cash or credit/debit donation at the register inside any U.S. PetSmart store between Oct. 24 and Oct. 30. Mail in a check donation directly to: PetSmart Charities Attn: Disaster Relief 19601 N. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85027 (Please write "disaster relief" in the memo section of the check) Generous contributions made to PetSmart Charities so far have provided more than $120,000 in pet supplies to animal welfare agencies involved in sheltering evacuated pets. PetSmart Charities provides immediate emergency relief funding and supplies to assist pets affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, fire and other natural disasters. Funds raised for the California wildfires will be used to aid pets affected by this disaster. Any donations above and beyond what is needed to provide relief for pet victims of this disaster will be deposited in the general disaster relief fund to be used for future disaster relief efforts. If you are an animal welfare agency and would like to request emergency assistance, call 1-800-423-PETS ext. 2840. Blog Notes: I was pleased to see that some shelters were indeed allowing pets, but most pet owners have to camp in pup tents or in their cars. Many flee without leashes or any supplies for their pets, many leave their pets behind to fend for themselves. Muttshack, a non profit rescue agency was actively involved in the rescue of animals deserted in the California Esperanza fire. They detail the conditions below: As families fled their homes in the early morning hours on Thursday October 26, there was no warning. The Esperanza Fire southeast of Los Angeles and West of Palm Springs, California, had ballooned under the influence of Santa Ana winds to more than 19,000 acres as of the morning of October 27. No time to get the animals, no time for crates or even a leash. Sadly, owners left behind not only their horses, lamas, donkeys, chickens, rabbits, but also their dogs and cats. Many of the families who did manage to evacuate their pets found themselves in the parking lot at the Fellowship in the Pass Church Red Cross Shelter where a MuttShack Animal Rescue team caught up with them. Pam Anderson, Director of the emergency Red Cross shelter said that many people with animals had come and left. The air was thick with smoke, and ash was raining down on the parking lot where dog owners, not able to take their dogs into the shelter were camping out in pup tents and in their cars. There were no emergency shelter facilities set up for animals. Those who could afford it checked themselves into pet friendly hotels in nearby towns. Jane Garner, a small dog breeder was able to get all her animals out, and had set up her puppy runs alongside her RV in the parking lot. Others were not doing too well, having left home without as much as a leash. The same scenario played out at the Red Cross shelter at Hemet High School. Animals were being boarded in vans, trailers and cars and small travel crates. When MuttShack Animal Rescue arrived, a small fracas had sent several dogs off in different directions, running out of the school parking lot down busy streets necessitating an instant rescue response. The Incident Command for the Esperanza Animals, Ramona Humane Society in San Jacinto welcomed MuttShack‘s offer to help at the shelters. Ramona Humane Society had recently published a notice in their Newsletter about the newly passed “PETS” Act and warned owners not wait until a major disaster such as an earthquake or fire to prepare. "Be proactive to ensure that your pet will be taken care of.” MuttShack and PetSmart Charities set up ad hoc facilities for the animals at both shelters. The Red Cross shelter, run by Madison Burtchaell of the Orange County Red Cross was very accommodating about allowing a small emergency pet shelter adjacent to the School. Barbara A. Fought of PetSmart Charities, an organization active in disasters, provided crates and emergency supplies. MuttShack and Red Cross volunteers, Martin St. John, Tom Hamilton, and Steve Meissner helped assemble the crates to secure a safe environment for evacuated pets. It was a great relief for evacuees who had camped out in the parking lot to finally leave their vehicles and relax at the shelter, setting up their cots to grab some sorely needed rest. The Esperanza fire burned 34 homes, consumed 40,000 acres and cost five Firefighters their lives before it was contained four days later on October 30. Firefighting operations cost nearly $10 million. MuttShack Animal Rescue is a 501(c) 3 non-profit charity organization active in disasters and dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and care of lost or discarded dogs, cats and other animals. Please take time to donate to these two worthy agencies.

Dog Friendly Vacations-Galena Illinois

2007-10-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I decided to feature some unique pet friendly vacations and came across this gem. Not for the urban at heart, TierraLinda focuses on those that truly enjoy quiet, relaxation and nature. TierraLinda features it's own pack of dogs and is completely dog friendly to any dog that is good with pets and other people...oh yeah the dog must be neutered as well. If you are dying for downtown and culture, Galena is a short 5 miles away and is also a very pet friendly town. You are asked not to leave your pets alone at the B&B unless you arrange pet sitting with the owner or the pet demonstrates calmness in the room alone...no barking, no whining,no chewing,no scratching or howling. Armando, the proprietor, features; a weather permitting bonfire, a sandy beach with a canoe, tons of trails to bike, jog or explore, complimentary full breakfast (with a hint of latin) and complimentary drinks. There are only two rooms available. I have never stayed here but really would love to check it out. For more information click here.

Good for you Chicago and ouch..take a look at these statistics

2007-10-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Chicago Leads Nation to Unite Against Dog Fighting! Community Activists, Animal Advocates and Government Leaders Launch Safe, Humane Chicago Initiative. In one of the most extensive community-wide partnerships to address violence in the context of dog fighting, the Dog Advisory Work Group (D.A.W.G.), the Alliance for Community Peace, the Chicago Police Department, and other city agencies, organizations and community advocates gathered last week to announce the Safe, Humane Chicago initiative – an aggressive citywide campaign to reduce the abhorrent practice of dog fighting and other associated violence. In cities across the nation, dog fighters and animal abusers are some of the most violent offenders in the criminal justice system. Animal abusers are more likely to commit child abuse, domestic violence and other violent acts against humans. In most cases, children exposed to the ruthless violence of dog fighting and animal abuse at a very young age become desensitized to violence, resulting in children more likely to grow up and become violent themselves. “Bottom line, the real victim of dog fighting is society,” said Steve Dale, author of the twice-weekly national column “My Pet World” and host of two nationally syndicated radio programs on animal issues. “Safe, Humane Chicago is the perfect beginning to what needs to happen all around America. We need the public to understand the reality of this violence and call for it to end.” With the recent media attention surrounding the Michael Vick case, activists warned against stereotyping dog fighters as people of a certain race or culture because data shows that the only commonality that exists among dog fighters is the predisposition to engage in violence. “Whether you like dogs or not, this issue is about violence in our communities – and we must put an end to the senseless torture of living creatures and the psychological scars that dog fighting leaves on the kids that witness this brutality,” said Reverend Dr. Walter B. Johnson, Jr., executive director for the Alliance for Community Peace. “To protect our children, we are calling on the community to get involved to make our streets safer. We cannot just look the other way and let our children become recruits for the gang bangers to mold into violent criminals.” A study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Boston’s Northeastern University shows that those who attend dog fights and witness other forms of animal cruelty are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people. ”In Chicago, data shows that 70 percent of dog-fighting and animal abuse offenders have also been arrested for violent felonies against people. Even more alarming is that 86 percent of those who have committed crimes against animals have been arrested for multiple violent offenses,” said Cynthia Bathurst, executive director of D.A.W.G. “Through education, early intervention and community involvement, we believe that we can significantly reduce violence in general by focusing on violence associated with dog fighting. This will create a more humane generation in the years to come.” Whole story here:

Tom gets Reba back!!!

2007-10-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dog returned to 'speechless' Chicago panhandler By Gerry Smith | Tribune staff reporter September 23, 2007 For two weeks, Tom Finley was in a daze, holding fliers with a photo of his friend and asking passersby in the Loop if they had seen a blond husky/terrier mix with a limp. "It was hard to sleep," he said. "Hard to eat." On Saturday, the well-known panhandler received a gift no amount of loose change could replace when he was reunited with Reba, who had been missing since Finley, 69, left the 12-year-old dog outside a McDonald's at South Franklin Street and West Jackson Boulevard on Sept. 7. "I'm speechless," Finley said during a news conference at the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago, where Reba strained on the leash and barked at photographers. Since Reba disappeared, Finley had received an outpouring of support from the public. Office workers printed up fliers of the missing dog and a woman gave Finley a prepaid cell phone to field calls in the search. He said he received "hundreds" of calls from people claiming to have seen Reba. "Some would call and say they'd spotted her or they had her," he said. "Sometimes I thought I heard her myself." Finley believed Reba was taken by someone who thought he couldn't care for her. Officials at the Anti-Cruelty Society would not identify the woman who returned Reba around noon on Friday. "She was in tears," said Nadine Walmsley, an official with the Anti-Cruelty Society. "She just handed us the dog. We honored our part. No questions asked." Whole story here: This story brings tears to my eyes. Here is a panhandler whose plight brought many downtown office workers, executives, TV stations and rescue groups to his aid. I have it on good authority that the person that took Reba thought he/she was doing the right thing. Said person called the cell provided to Tom to tell him Reba was in a "better place." I am so glad that this person had the audacity of character to understand that love/companionship goes far beyond the boundaries of how much you make or what you can provide. I imagine returning Reba was hard, but believe this person did the right thing!

A message to all dogs and cats from their owners

2007-10-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

To all Pet Owners: To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height. Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note; placing a paw print in the middle of my plate/food does not stake a claim for it becoming your plate/food. I do not find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. The stairway was not designed by NASCAR nor is it a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run. I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out at the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm. For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, get your paw under the edge or try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required. The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough! To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door: To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets: 1 They live here. You don't. 2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"nature.) 3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. 4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly. Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they: 1. Eat less 2. Don't ask for money all the time 3. Are easier to train 4. Normally come when called 5. Never ask to drive the car 6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends 7. Don't smoke or drink 8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions 9. Don't want to wear your clothes 10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college. And finally, 11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Vacation with your dog in Saugatuck, Michigan

2007-09-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Fall is a wonderful time to take a vacation, enjoy the electric display of color, the cooler weather and the harvest season. One of my favorite spots is Saugatuck, Michigan, which in addition to spectacular beaches and gorgeous woodland and wetland areas, specializes in fine arts, culture and dining. Four years ago, I took my parents for a short trip. After doing some web research on Bed and Breakfast prices, I found a lovely dog friendly cottage located in a secluded area of the Kalamazoo river, only 7 miles from downtown Saugatuck. Indian Pointe sleeps up to five people, has a superb view of acres of unspoiled wetlands, features a screened in dining area, a full kitchen, a log stove, a hot tub and a dock with a canoe. There is a master bedroom with a king size bed (very comfortable) as well as a sofa bed and trundle beds (a little tough on older backs). There is also a small outdoor run for a dog. This cottage used to be managed by the Park House Inn, but appears to have changed hands since we stayed there. Macy had an absolute ball here. Morning and evening we would take the canoe out on the Kalamazoo. Macy showed little interest in riding in the canoe. Rather she preferred to run/swim alongside the boat, often grabbing the front tie rope for a game of tug. The wetland property is owned by a group of eight men, who used the property for hunting. There are hundreds of trails to explore with plenty of birds, deer and other wildlife. The downtown area is reasonably dog friendly as well, featuring an abundance of galleries, reataurants and quaint shops.

Breed Bans....Chicago vs. Denver

2007-09-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Two informative videos. One done last year on Chicago's proposed breed ban. Don't kid yourselves folks, we haven't heard the end of this. The second video features an analysis of the existing breed ban in Denver. Host Mike Fry compares statistics between Denver and his own home in Minneapolis.

Help Tom find Reba

2007-09-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Great story at 24/7 North of Howard Blog. It is so comforting to know that the communtity and the press have taken such proactive steps to help Tom recover Reba. It would be only too easy to shrug shoulders and say that a dog who belongs to a panhandler has no life at all. But these people know that Reba was Tom's life and they shared a very special bond. Cesar Milan remarks on the special bond between the homeless and their dogs in his book "Cesar's Way." He remarks that the life on the streets suits the nomadic needs of a dog. The pets of homeless people rarely need a leash, they walk quietly just behind or beside their master. They are well socialized with people and other pets. Most important they are constant companions, loyal and loving. Let's pray Tom finds Reba very soon.

September is Pit Bull month

2007-09-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

O.K.! Enough cattle dog videos already. Time to feature another breed. Sooooo, in honor of Mister Vick, September is Pit Bull month. Time to honor a breed that get's so much bad press. Enjoy!!!!

Breed Specific Legislation

2007-09-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well, to be frank, it's like racism or ethnocentrism or hell any ism. Let's start by looking at acts rather than skin color or breed or culture. Great Video!!!

Adopt a dog from Save a Pet in Grayslake

2007-09-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

I’d like to share with you some very deserving dogs at the Save-A-Pet Adoption Center just waiting for the perfect home (Petraits attached). Top row, left to right: Maddy is an active and fun six-year-old Frisbee-loving dog. In fact, she’s not picky ... she’ll fetch anything you’ll throw for her. Found as a stray, Maddy was picked up by a family with a teenage girl and she enjoyed sharing her bed at night until she was brought to Save-A-Pet to find a permanent loving home. Rick Simon is a seven-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback who walks beautifully on leash and is already fully-trained; he knows sit, stay, down, paw and even poops on command (I LOVE that for winter walks!). He is a playful boy who is full of kisses for his favorite people. He loves to play tug of war, chase snowballs, go for car rides, long walks, or play ball. Rick is looking for an all adult home with no other pets. Talon is a big beautiful seven-year-old girl determined to make everyone adore her. She does everything with an unbeatable passion, playing with toys or showing her affection for her dog walkers at the shelter. A human that would offer the same unbridled happy passion for love and life would be just perfect for her. Promise is a one-year-old happy, strong, energetic and lively girl who just wants to have fun. Bottom row, left to right: Aurora is an eight-year-old Shar-Pei-mix waiting to charm you with her smile. She’s pretty calm until she knows she is going for a walk, she starts waltzing with her front paws, left, right, left, right. Once outside, she loves running, going for long walks. She’s got a very unique bark. Aurora would love an all adult home perhaps with a cat or two as companions. Brooks is a three-year-old lovebug of a dog. He is a house-trained, fun-loving, strong and active guy who can’t wait to enjoy the comforts of a home and family again. Turkey is an active, enthusiastic, affectionate and happy eight-year old-dog who is completely house-trained and looking forward to being a member of a family. Sonora is a stocky six-year-old who gives special kisses for all the people that take such great care of her while she was undergoing the long and painful heartworm treatment. Sonora can be independent, but loving to that special person who she bonds with. She holds some emotional scars and doesn’t like to have her butt or paws touched. She’s waiting for a patient and compassionate dog lover to give her a chance. To meet and possibly adopt any of these dogs, please visit the Save-A-Pet adoption center in Grayslake at 31664 N. Fairfield Road. They are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm; Thursday from 1:00 to 8:00 pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 6:00 pm. To expedite the adoption, you can fill out an adoption application on-line at http://www.save-a-pet-il.org. If you would like to ask more questions about any of the dogs, you can contact Save-A-Pet Volunteer Dominique at chat_chien@yahoo.com or phone 847-726-1257. They are all spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, micro-chipped, de-wormed, heartworm-tested and on preventative. Their adoption fee of $150 helps support the rescued cats and dogs of Save-A-Pet. Thanks for forwarding this e-mail until all these dogs have found the patient dog-loving homes they deserve. Sheri Petraits Pet Photography Blognotes: For those of you who are not aware of Sheri Berliner, she owns Petraits Pet Photography. She is also very active in working with area shelters to help pets find homes. Her talent in capturing the expressive nature and character of each animal she photographs, has resulted in countless adoptions in local shelters. Sheri is an asset to the pet loving community as well as an excellent photographer.

Thank You!!!!!!!

2007-09-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

This blog started when Bailey made her way through a wrought iron fence this spring. I was able to find her in the same day, but the sadness, the panic and the loss really hit me in the hours she was missing. Since then, I had hoped this blog would be a facility that would enable owners and their lost pets to find each other as well as a location to search for good pets needing a home. I am happy to say that Harvey has found a good home, thanks to all of you who were a part of this process. I am confident his new owner will give him a wonderful home I am also happy to report that the missing chow/shepherd's owner contacted me on Sunday. He had called the Anti Cruelty society and was told that no pet fitting the description of his dog had been dropped off in the last three days. I was able to give him the email address of the woman who found his dog. Hopefully, he will be able to recover his pet. So thanks to all of you that read this blog and forward it to your friends!!! Thanks to all that take the time to post!!! Together we can make a difference!!! Blog Notes: Harvey has a great new owner. She recently sent this email. Hi Margot, Harvey's first night went exceptionally well. I am already in love with him. I knew it would be less than 12 hours to be completely head over heels. He slept in his own new bed. Did not fuss at all and already has fans in my building. Everyone thinks he is so beautiful. He is napping right now and we take lots of walks throughout the day. I am really enjoying all of this :) I enjoyed talking to you as well. I cannot thank you enough. I feel he had adjusted already. He is very laid back and just goes with the flow and so friendly, which is so nice. No accidents in the house, so that's great! Yes, I will send pictures periodically. If you still want to come over next weekend, just let me know. Take care and have a great week! Sherry & Harvey Once again, thanks to all of you. Cannot tell you how much your readership, efforts and love mean. Well, on second thought, yes I can!!! It means deserving dogs like Harvey find loving homes

Heelers at work/ or is it play?

2007-09-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing video of heelers, and lets's be honest the music is fun too. If you want to see my fascination with this breed, then watch on!!!!

I know it's urine, cause it ain't mine

2007-09-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Weird night out with the dogs today. We were biking along Ashland southbound and had just crossed Pratt. I had the dogs on the parkway, which I might remind is city property, when Macy slowed down to pee. There were several people outside of the building chatting and enjoying the evening. As I could not proceed until Macy finished, I turned and smiled and wished the people a good evening. Macy clearly needed to go and we stood there for a minute or two. A European lady said, "Excuse me!" I turned and smiled to hear what she had to say. "There are people here," she told me. Not really knowing whether the issue was my dog peeing in front of a group of people, my dog peeing on a public parkway or my presence in the midst of their conversation confused me. I turned to her, assuming the issue was my dog peeing on "their" parkway and told her that I was terribly sorry. I explained to her that dogs, like children, have got to go when they have got to go. Another older gentleman smiled and nodded approvingly at this comment. Now I can understand indignation towards those that will not pick up their dogs feces. But what exactly am I supposed to do about urine. If this woman is so upset about dog urine on the parkway, what is she doing about the homeless, the drunk and the wild animals that urinate every day on her parkway. "Let's get rid of the squirrels, the birds, the rabbits and the deer," I imagine her saying. "They ruin my grass on my parkway!!!" Now let me be clear about this. I do respect peoples efforts to beautify their bit of parkway. If someone has spent time and money to plant it attractively, I will not allow my dogs to tromp through the plantings in an attempt to pee or poop. But let's be realistic here. Dog's, despite the comic notions in "Bruce Almighty", cannot be potty trained. It is their natural behavior to traverse territory in a nomadic fashion marking their territory. Some humans do this as well. What do these people expect??? Which bring us to the stupid comment of the week award on Craig's blog. Dorothy (you're not in Kansas anymore) has this to say. Dorothy said... "wowo, this is pretty darn deep for some kid littering. want a solution? stop taping. so what a kid throws litter, maybe whats important to him is not whats important to you. betcha all you anti littering freaks let your dogs pisson anyones lawn. you know what your doing,your adults but yet your dog(s) can piss whereever their wee wees. i think dog piss is worst then some kid throwing litter on the ground, at least i can see it and pick trash up" Thanks to Dorothy for that grammatically correct, spell checked, commentary! Warning all dog owners. All dog owners will hence forth be expected to carry dixie cups to catch their dogs pee. This will be at your own expense as the city is too busy planning thousands of dollars of your tax money for the 2016 Olympic Games. Owners will also be expected to keep a supply of biological waste bags on hand, expense also deferred to the owner as we are using your tax money to build the Block 37 Super station, which will only be used by idiot tourists willing to pay the fare. What do we care, we want to present a strong Olympic presence. Todd Stroger has suggested an on line video, demonstrating how to collect urine in a dixie cup, transport it safely into the bio hazard bag and request disposal. Stroger is presently accepting bids for the infomercial, but says the best bids so far comes from a company named "Two rednecks and a camera" based out of Round Lake Beach, Illinois. They download their video's to You Tube, thereby reducing production costs. This is necessary as the city is currently unable to fund doctors, sheriffs or anyone else on Stroger's most unwanted list.

To insure or not to insure, that should be the question

2007-09-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Great Article on the snarls of pet insurance. Americans will spend near $41 billion on their pets this year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Of that, about $10 billion is for veterinary care. Generally, consumer advocates aren't fond of pet health insurance, 84 percent of which is for dogs. Consumer Reports published a quick take in its July issue. In an article titled "Why Pet Insurance is Usually a Dog," the magazine cited the deductibles -- the portion you pay before insurance kicks in -- and the list of procedures that many pet insurance policies exclude. As a result, you could pay far more money for pet health insurance than it will save you. Some considerations: MATH. With a fixed monthly insurance premium of $30 and a 12-year lifespan for a dog, for example, you would pay $4,320 in insurance premiums from birth to death. And if you don't pay extra for a fixed rate your premiums could increase each year as your pet ages. That's a lot of money if you have a healthy pet and receive very little in reimbursements. But you will make out well with insurance if you are reimbursed for a big-ticket vet bill before you have paid much in premiums. Many people who buy pet insurance aren't upset if they don't file large claims to make the math work, said Loran Hickton, a spokesman for Pets Best Insurance. It's similar to not being upset about not using a child's health insurance. "The value is what-if. The value is not what you use," he said. SELF-INSURING. If you instead set aside $30 a month in an earmarked "Fido-gets-sick" account earning 5 percent interest you would accumulate almost $6,000 before he died, assuming you did not need to tap the fund. Stephens says self-insuring is an option, but he contends that most people won't do it. "It sounds good, but most of us aren't disciplined enough to maintain it," he said. And self-insuring doesn't work well if you have a large veterinary expense before you have saved much in Fido's fund. DEDUCTIBLES, CO-PAYS AND MAXIMUMS. A number of factors reduce the amount the insurer will reimburse you. Most plans feature $50 or $100 deductibles per ailment. Some pay 80 percent of the vet bill, while you pay 20 percent, after the deductible. Most have lifetime maximum payouts and per-ailment maximums. BENEFIT SCHEDULES. Most insurers have benefit schedules that dictate the maximum amount they will reimburse for each diagnostic test or treatment, regardless of what your vet charged you. For example, imagine your dog was attacked by another dog and needed treatment for bite marks. VPI, the nation's largest insurer, would pay at most $275, $131 and $95 for various portions of the diagnosis and treatment of multiple bite wounds, for a total of $501, according to its "Superior Plan" benefit schedule. It would not matter if you had to pay the vet more, you would not be reimbursed for any more than those limits. EXCLUSIONS. Insurers typically exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. So to have an ailment's cost covered you have to buy pet insurance before a problem develops. That means buying coverage early in the pet's life. And basic pet insurance does not pay for general wellness exams and routine care, such as vaccinations and neutering. Pet insurance can be expensive and, like most insurance, complicated. A disciplined consumer might be best off self-insuring. But if you think pet insurance might be for you, ask your veterinarian which insurers other clients have had good experience with. And become familiar with the details of policies you are considering.

Breaking News!!!! Jury selected for Vick Tiral

2007-09-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

You've been blinded...PLEASE!!!

2007-08-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Fellow blogger weighs in on the Michael Vick racism conspiracy. In response, as an Anglo Saxon female, a minority and a southerner, get a grip. I can't and won't attempt to speak for everyone, only myself. If this case involved Hillary Clinton, Sandra Day O'Connor, Larry Bird or the now deceased Pope Paul, I would feel the same way. To say that the moral outrage, in this case, is solely based on the color of one's skin is ridiculous. However there is one racial issue out there. Whereas dog fighting started as a rural sport in the south, it has become an emblem of the hip hop culture. Thank the rappers and gang bangers for that. Tough dogs, mean dogs, dogs with attitude have become a status symbol for those who wish to portray themselves as the tough guy. It has become deeply embedded in inner city gang culture and is heavily marketed by advertising moguls who wish to target their core group. It is very easy to blame the race, sex, sexual preference card when looking at these cases. It's also very destructive. If I blamed every promotion I didn't get, every raise I was denied and everything I hoped for that didn't come my way on the fact that I was a female, "well that's just the way things go," I would be a very miserable person without any lucrative employment. With dogs we say it's the deed not the breed. Can we not say it's the deed not the race, or the skin color? So why the focus on Vick? Quite simply, dog fighting is an underground sport. To find a well established ring, fronted by a millionaire that kids revere, is ground breaking!!!! It doesn't matter whether that the star is black, white or Hispanic. This rarely happens in this underground sporting world. Is dog fighting a black sport? As a southerner, who grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood, I can't say. I can say in inner city neighborhoods, it has become a trend. Countless news articles, the A.S.P.C.A, and the Humane Society all attest to this. The core issue in this case is the rose colored glasses worn by the management at the NFL, NBA, NBL, the music industry and Hollywood. As long as we continue to laugh off errors made by our star studded icons, we tell our children that any indiscretion is fine. Well at least if you make a six figure income. Michael Vick's apology could have been Paris Hilton's. I am not any happier with the fact that she'll still get roles and get the book deal. However she didn't brutally murder dogs. Speaking of which, Michael says he murdered six to eight...what he can't remember? Most serial killers can, but Michael is having a mental block? What gives?!!! By the way, your hero Sharpton makes this case. As to hunters and PETA? Not a huge fan of both. However, the few hunters I know only kill what they can eat. This is what any predatory carnivore does. They do not torture, mutilate and they do not ask their prey to fight each other for their own enjoyment. Most hunter's I know share their kill with the property owners of their hunting grounds as well, another common pack behavior. There are some hunters that hunt merely for sport/entertainment/a trophy for their wall and I find that detestable. Peta gets a lot of flack for euthanasia. Understand, I am not for taking any one's life unnecessarily. But what kind of life does the unadoptable pet live? It lives a life in a kennel with little exercise. Eventually, the dog goes mad. Have you ever had a loved one ask you to pull the plug, because their life no longer has meaning or value? I have and you can see the same desperation in the eyes of some of these dogs in no kill shelters. I would rather see them put to sleep humanely, than live that kind of life! So sorry, your arguement doesn't sway me.

Morphing/dueling dogs and cats

2007-08-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

Not sure whether it is menopause, bad eating habits, a lunar eclipse or what, but here I am at 3 in the morning blogging, staying up to date with CNN Vick updates and sneezing incessantly. Please excuse the residue on your screen. Found this on You Tube and felt it was worth sharing. To which, naturally the dogs of the world must retort. Here is the Pug response: To which the cat's come back with some of that good ol timey music:

The results are in...residents want doggie dining!!!

2007-08-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Should chicago restaurants allow dogs in outdoor dining? Chicago has answered and 76% have said yes. Yes: 76% No: 23% Not Sure: 2% Thanks for weighing in!!!

Vick pleads guilty and lies yet again

2007-08-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, in a press conference today has apologized for his immature acts saying, "I need to grow up." Well that is certainly true Michael, but please do not refer to your actions as immature. Cruel and criminal is certainly the better description of what you have done. "Through this entire situation, I never pointed a finger at anyone else," Vick adds. Like hell Michael!!! You pointed your finger at your three other colleagues and denied any knowledge of the operation going on at your Virginia home. "I accept the responsibility for what I did." Only after 3 witnesses were willing to testify against you. Only after you lied to your G.M., your owner and the commissioner of the NFL. Yet you still deny to placing bets. Rich McKay, the Falcons G.M. stated that Michael is suspended indefinitely and will not receive his 6 million dollar salary cap. Vick has also received a letter from the Falcon team this morning demanding his 22 million sign on bonus. McKay stated, "We don't feel we're in a box or a bad situation. Arthur Blank, the Falcon's owner stated they were "profoundly disappointed and saddened," yet refused to say if Michael was permanently off the team. He said that the team needed to address two questions; "How did this happen and what can we do to avoid this in the future." He also stated that Vick needed to address these two questions as well. "Only he knows why he did what he did," Blank said. Blank went on to say that the Falcon organization is working with the A.S.P.C.A and the Humane Society to see if there are ways the Falcon's can support their efforts. Vick was described as emotionless at today's hearing. Even after all the yes sir and no sir pandering, the judge reminded him, "Your really taking your chances here." Let's hope the judge doesn't have second thoughts. Vick faces sentencing on December 10th. Vick is still expected to maintain financial responsibility of the 50 dogs seized from his Virginia home. Although behavior tests have yet to be completed, it has been reported that as many as 49 of these dogs will be euthanized. Vick's Press Conference Falcon's owner discusses Vick Falcon G.M. discusses Vick: Discussion on what happen's next.

Put on the feedbag at Feed and support a Rogers Park Shelter

2007-08-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

What can be easier than eating a delicious meal, and having the rescued pets of Red Door Animal Shelter benefit. This Saturday, August 25th from 9:00 am to 10 pm, FEED Restaurant will donate 20% of sales - brunch, lunch, dinner or carry-out to help feed the dogs, cats and rabbits of Red Door. FEED Restaurant is located at 2803 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago (773) 489-4600 and is well known for their down-home, southern-style cooking including corn pudding, sweet potato fries, Brussel sprouts, fried okra, mac and cheese and ceasar salads. For carnivores, they are known for their chicken and burgers. You can wash down your meal with sweet tea, but it's also BYOB. Finish up with red velvet cake or banana pudding. And, FEED has an outdoor patio for your enjoyment ... don't forget to bring cash; they don't accept credit cards, or reservations. If you have questions, call Red Door at 773-764-2242 or e-mail info@reddoorshelter.org. Thanks for supporting Red Door Animal Shelter! Blog Notes: I am hungry already!!!

Startling commentary on Vick's future in the NFL

2007-08-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

Get ready to be outraged, yes really outraged. In the debate over Vick's future with the NFL, an unamed General Manager has made the following comment. Unamed, supposedly, because the NFL has asked their managers not to comment on this case. Unamed, more likely, because of the nature of the comments made. Columnist Mike Freeman writes, "Vick's reputation is forever tainted but if you think Vick will never wear an NFL uniform again please read carefully the following words from an NFL general manager. They will end up being prophetic." "If he goes to prison, time will pass," said the general manager, who spoke before news of a potential Vick plea agreement and asked not to be identified, claiming the NFL has asked current team officials not to publicly comment on the Vick case. "Months or years will pass, if he does go to jail. If he went to jail, and then left prison down the road, he'd still be relatively young, and there'd be a line of 15 to 20 teams waiting to sign him. Trust me on that. Teams are going to say, 'F--- PETA. F--- the bad pub. This guy is one of the most talented players of the last 10 years. I'll take my chances." "Teams may say one thing publicly. But if he gets out of jail, we'll all be looking at Vick hard. We're all whores in football. You know the saying. We'd sign an ax murderer if he has ability. He'll be back. He won't be back in Atlanta probably but he'll be back in professional football. You can count on it." Columnist Mike Freeman goes on to state, "Yes, that's a football word: 'ho." "There is no gender connotation to this word; it is not meant to be derogatory toward women." Freeman adds. "It is used by the general manager in this simple context: teams will do anything -- anything -- for talent. To win." Maybe someone needs to tell this to Don Imus! I would like to remind Freeman that the words ho and whore most certainly do have a negative connotation. Look up whore in a thesaurus and what do you find. Words like indecency, lechery, debauchment,Jezebel and harlot to name a few. Ho and bitch are used by gangs and rappers to refer to women in general. Do you think that because this manager used this word to describe his own organization's Machiavellian attempts to sign talent makes it's use any more acceptible? Freeman then goes on to say,"Remember, this is a league that has employed murder suspects, players that have killed people while driving drunk, chronic women beaters, gun runners, drug dealers, former gang members, and all kinds of creeps and cretins, swine and smut-like -- all in the name of talent." Which makes this manager's choice of words even more suspect. Is talent and athletic prowess really so hard to come by, that we must dredge the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to make money? Should we ignore crime to have a winning year? Is using the word ho to describe NFL's desire to win at any cost, a sign that the NFL is pandering to and or promoting a culture of violence, drugs and gangs? Food for thought!

New use for Vick merchandise

2007-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA — When the bright red jerseys with the bold No. 7 started arriving in the mail, staffers at the Atlanta Humane Society were a bit surprised. Today, however, about a dozen Atlanta Falcons football jerseys bearing the name and number of quarterback Michael Vick have been put to good use - as animal bedding or, even more likely, rags to scrub up the mess that dogs leave behind. "Kind of appropriate," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, of the jerseys that have been mailed to the shelter since Vick was indicted last month on federal dogfighting charges . The rest of the story here. In the meantime, Vick may be so lucky as to get a year or less for his crime, an outrage if you ask me. Even more of an outrage is the NFL still debating his status...Crickey!!!! Great post by Toni.

Animal Welfare League Hosts Pet First Aid Classes

2007-08-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 18, 2007 Learn the most current treatment protocols for common illness and accidents for your pet. Poisoning Bleeding Cold/Hot Weather Emergencies Shock Heart Problems CPR Birthing Obstructed Airway Insect Bites Diabetic emergencies Fractures, sprains & strains Burns Imbedded Foreign Objects Diarrhea Seizures $65 Advance Registration Required Seating is Limited More Information Here

Long cool heeler

2007-08-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have a heeler, enjoy. For those of you who don't, what are you waiting for?

If cats and dogs ruled the world

2007-08-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

In honor of Itchmo.com's latest poll, I am posting some of the responses here. Vote on your favorite response here. Which of these sentences is the funniest? If cats ruled the world... oh I forgot, they already do. If cats ruled the world we'd be required to scratch the furniture. If cats ruled the world, there would be long lines of butt sniffing without humans interrupting. If cats ruled the world.. I would still be at home scratching their cheeks. If cats ruled the world, scratching-posts would scratch back. If cats ruled the world, we'd sleep 18 hours a day, go catch dinner, and get comfortable. If cats ruled the world we would all be be walking around in mice suits. If cats ruled the world they would delegate the work to humans and let us think we ruled the world. Now for dogs. Finish the sentence. If dogs ruled the world..... We will set up a poll to vote on the best response. Possibly a groovy prize.

Dogs and ice/ice water: Dog owners be warned!!!

2007-08-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's a hot day and in an effort to keep your dog cool you give them ice to chew or put some cubes in their bowl. Sounds logical yes? NO!!! Ice, ice water or very cold water can cause severe muscle spasms that result in bloat. Please read the following letter. Very important especially with the extreme heat we have experienced this summer. Hello Everyone, I am writing this in hopes that some may learn from what I just went through. We went to the Steel Valley Cluster this past weekend. After showing we went back to our site,set up and got the dogs in their crates to cool off. After being back about 30 minutes, I noticed Baran was low on water. I took a hand full of ice from my cooler and put it in his bucket with more water…. We all then started to get all the dogs Ex’ed and food ready for them. After checking the dogs and thinking they were cooled off enough we fed everyone. As we were walking around picking out the feed dishes from the crates, one of my friends stated that Baran seamed like he was choking. I went over and check on him and he was dry heaving and was real drooly. I got him out of the crate to check him over I noticed he had not eaten, he was in some distress. I checked him over from head to toe and did not notice anything. I walked him around for about a minute, when I noticed that he was starting to bloat. I did everything I was taught to do in this case. I was not able to get him to burp, and we gave him Phasezime. We jumped on the golf cart and took him down to the Show vet, to find out that he did not have a bloat kit, He referred us to the clinic that was to be on call, but we found out that the clinic was closed. After finding another clinic that was open, we rushed Baran to that one. We called ahead and let them know that we were on our way. They were set up and waiting on us and had Baran stablilized quickly. After Baran was stable and out of distress, we transported Baran to AVREC were he went into surgery to make sure no damage was done to any of his vital organs. I am very happy to say that Baran is doing great, there was no damage to any vital organs and he still loves his food. In surgery the doctor found that Baran’s stomach was in its normal anatomic position. The Doctor and I went over the events of what happened up to the point of Baran’s bloating. When I told him about the ice water, he asked why I gave him ice water and have I always done this. I told him my history behind this practice and his reply was “You have been very lucky for the past 15 years!” The ice water I gave Baran cause violent muscle spasms in his stomach which caused the bloating. Even though I figured his temp was down enough to feed and give him this ice water his internal temp was still high. Dr. Vogf stated that giving dogs ice to chew or ice water is a big NO NO!! There should be not reason for them to have ice/ice water. Normal water (room Temperature), or cooling with cold towels on the inner thigh. This is the best way to help cool a dog. I felt the need to share this with everyone, in the hopes that some may learn from what I went through. I do not wish this on anyone. Baran is home now and doing fine. He does not like the fact that he has to be walked on lead in the yard to keep him from running. He hates not being able to go out and rough house it with the others, but is doing great. So please if you do use ice and ice water, be aware of what could happen. Morgan and His Angels More about bloat Bloat is the second leading killer of dogs after cancer. A dog with a bloating stomach has a short time to live without emergency veterinary intervention. Below are some useful links to learn more about this deadly condition. Thepetcenter.com Globalspan.net Mar Vista Vet

Save a life, animal blood banks need your help

2007-08-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Just like any hospital, vets and emergency centers need blood donations to help their patients. The Chicago Veterinary Emergency Services, at 3123 N. Clyborn, is currently seeking canine blood donations. Donor dogs must be between the ages of 2 and 8, weigh no less than 50 lbs, be up to date on all vaccinations and heartworm and have a friendly disposition. To have your dog screened, please visit the website. Please help save a life!

Heros

2007-07-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

The following video portrays pit bull terriors, that have saved countless lives, at times, to their own demise. Watch this and try not to cry...I can't do it!!! I tear every time I see it!!!! So now what is your thought on breed legislation? Once again, it is the deed, not the breed!!!!

The only one that could ever heel me, was the son of a flying man

2007-07-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

And now for something completely different. Patch the flying australian cattle dog. What this breed won't due to spend quality time with their owner!!!!

Dog's in the kennel

2007-07-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Are states biting off more than they can chew in an attempt to address dangerous dogs?

2007-07-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

RICHMOND, Va. — Bear is a golden retriever-shepherd who attacked a bicyclist. Dee Dee, a pit bull mix, killed a cat. Cody, a Labrador mix, bit the neighbor. Their mug shots, misdeeds and home addresses went online this month at the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry, a new Web page modeled after the state’s sex offender registry. It lets residents find dogs in their county that have attacked a person or an animal, and that a judge has decided could cause injury again. Created after dogs killed a toddler and an 82-year-old woman in separate incidents in the last two years, Virginia’s registry is part of a growing effort by states to deal with dogs deemed dangerous. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia hold owners legally liable if their dogs maim or kill, and in 2006, Ohio became the first state to enact a breed ban, though it was later overturned. In the last two years, nearly 100 municipalities have taken similar steps — banning pit bulls, Rottweilers, English bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers, or passing regulations that require owners to use muzzles or short leashes in public, according to the American Kennel Club. Last month, Texas responded to a November 2005 mauling death of a 76-year-old woman by enacting some of the harshest criminal penalties for delinquent dog owners, making it a felony with a possible 10-year prison sentence for anyone whose dog seriously injures a person while off its leash. But lawmakers taking steps to deal with growing concerns have struggled to ensure public safety without impinging on the privacy and property rights of dog owners. Several of the measures have been overturned in the courts, and many national dog owner and veterinarian associations say the bans are difficult to enforce and ineffective since, they say, if one breed is banned, dog owners seeking aggressive dogs will simply begin fostering fierceness in other breeds. Full Story here: How does your state rank?

The audacity of the entertainment industry

2007-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

The recent indictment of Atlanta Falcons QB, Michael Vick, is causing much speculation on whether he should be suspended immediately or after a court verdict. The answer to me is very simple, he must be suspended immediately and fired if found guilty. But this is not an isolated incident as we must look at the bigger picture. Illegal activity and cruel behavior is not just an issue with the players in the NFL and the NBA, but exists throughout the entertainment industry. These singers, athletes and actors are emulated by our children and our star studded culture. What kind of message are we sending to the youths of this nation? By turning our head to illegal behavior, we are telling our children that violence, drugs and lawlessness is OK. Yet later we wonder why more and more minors are severely injurred or killed by other minors. A study conducted in 2001, shows that 25% of Chicago Public School children have witnessed a dog fight. 2007 has been the most violent year for Chicago school children, with 34 children dead. Most at the hand of another minor. With great power comes great responsibility. Our sports stars, our music artists and our actors wield a great deal of influence on the youths of this nation. Negative influence can no longer be tolerated. I would like to see immediate contract release including a void on all salary caps for any star convicted of violent crime and immediate suspension for any star indicted for violent crime. Michael Vick still stands to earn 15 million dollars by 2008, regardless of suspension or release. By signing our stars to 6 figure incomes with salary caps, we are ensuring they get paid regardless of any judgement against them. Then of course there are the inevitable movie and book deals that follow. The entertainment industry must stop scratching it's head and debating what to do. It is time to stop glamorizing violence