BAYOU RESCUE

There has never been a doubt in my mind that loving an animal gives me peace, feelings of calm, and a sense of well-being.  Many of you know the gift of looking into the eyes of a beloved pet and feeling like you are the most wonderful person on this earth.  Telling your woes to your pet is better than anything I can imagine.  I used to call mucking out my horse's stall and grooming him "my therapy".

It seems that I am not the only one who has benefited from the unconditional love of an animal.  MSNBC had an article that is heart-warming and wonderful.  "War Vets, shelter dogs heal together in program"  is inspirational.  The organization, Pets2Vets, was started by Dave Sharpe after experiencing difficulties upon his return from a tour in Iraq.  The goal of the group is to assist vets experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through pairing veterans with homeless pets by arranging adoptions of shelter animals.

"Washington Animal Rescue League director, Gary Weitzman, says the partnership with Pets2Vets was an ideal fit for their organization, which has in the past worked with veterans at nearby Walter Reed on an individual basis. Pets can be matched with vets up to two months before their discharge date and make weekly visits with them; there also are volunteer opportunities, to spend time with shelter animals, for soldiers who cannot yet be matched with pets of their own.  Currently, veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the DC VA Hospital are adopting pets from the Washington Animal Rescue League, where staff help make the right match.  It has made two or three matches a week since its start in October." 

What a wonderful thing this is! 

Food for Thought...

Have you ever wondered at the wisdom currently in vogue that you never need to change your pet's diet if you provide a nutritionally sound food for her?  I have.  I am careful not to supplement Phaedra and Zoe's diets with table scraps or things that aren't good for them.  In fact, usually the only food they get are their day-in and day-out kibbles.  Still I wonder...

I ran across and article the Toronto Edition of thestar.com entitled Feeding the need for love and nutrition.  Monica Segal, who has some wonderful perspectives on this issue, has a certificate in animal health care from University of Guelph and has published two books about feeding your pet according to the problems and illnesses they are genetically inclined to develop – or have.

The article Feeding the need for love and nutrition begins with, "For Monica Segal, DNA stands for Dog Nutritional Assistance."

"Pets are the only animal on the planet expected to thrive on the same diet year in and year out," says Segal, an animal nutrigenomics specialist in Toronto. "There is very little fresh food."

A pet's nutritional needs can be found in its genes – not a bag of kibble, she says."

I encourage you to read this article because I found it to make strong points that you may or may not have considered pertinent toward your pet's health.  I intend to do more research into this area - even though preparing home-cooked meals for my two dogs would be much more involved than giving them the kibble they eat at every meal.  They are certainly worth it, though!

North Carolina State University Receives $1.2 Million For Animal Health

Living in North Carolina is a wonderful experience.  I am not a native, but over the past 30 some years I have seen amazing progress in our state.  In addition to the friendly people, beautiful regions, and excellent climate, out university system is probably the best state university system in this country.  I am not the only one to think this way either!  The Morris Animal Foundation agrees!

I was recently notified through Carolina Newswire of a wonderful honor that has come to NCSU's College of Veterinary Medicine. This money will be targeting several different issues like colic in horses, soft-tissue sarcoma in canines, a test for sepsis in dogs, and an ongoing study of an infectious pathogen called Tritrichomonas foetus, which can colonize the colon of cats, leading to inflammation and diarrhea.

"Researchers at North Carolina State University have received grants totaling more than $1.2 million from the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) to support research aimed at improving the health of dogs, cats, horses and wildlife.

“The mission of the Morris Animal Foundation is to fund health studies that protect, treat and cure companion animals and wildlife,” says Dr. David Dorman, associate dean for research and graduate studies at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). “Oftentimes work funded through the MAF would not be supported by other agencies. These grants help support individual research laboratories and help maintain and advance the research mission of the CVM.” "

Holiday Hazards to Avoid

Keeping my dogs healthy and happy is one of my most important missions. In the past, I haven't always done a perfect job of this.  My first dog, Fluffy, was a foodie and because I didn't "hold the line" with her she weighed in a good 5 or 6 pounds over what she should have been.  Each dog after her, had the same issues at one time or other in her life.  Only diet brought that under control - sometimes I wished another person could control my eating like I could with my dogs - but eventually I learned to prevent the issue and not try to fix it afterward. 

Safety needs to be of special importance at this time of year.  A couple of days ago, I wrote about keeping you pets safe during the holidays.  Yesterday, I was looking at the beautiful arrangements of poinsettias and other holiday plants and decided I should list holiday dangers again.  So here they are:

• Holiday plants - Christmas rose, Holly, Lilies, and Mistletoe are all toxic to dogs and cats.

• Ribbons - Putting a ribbon around a pet's neck may look cute, but it could cause him to choke.

• Bubbling lights - The older forms of these lights may contain methylene chloride, which is a toxic chemical.

• Fire salts - These salts contain chemicals which can be harmful to pets.

• Angel Hair - (spun glass) - Can be irritating to eyes and skin, and could cause an intestinal obstruction if eaten in large amounts.

• Christmas tree water - Stagnant tree water or water containing preservatives could result in stomach upset if ingested.

• Decoration hooks - Can cause blockage and/or trauma to gastrointestinal tract if swallowed.

• Styrofoam - Can cause your pets to choke if swallowed.

• Ornaments - These can look like toys to cats and dogs, but they can cause serious injury, especially if your pets break or swallow them.

• Tinsel - Can cause choking or internal trauma if swallowed.

• Balloons and confetti - These decorations can cause choking or obstruction in intestines if ingested.  Watch pets closely around these.

• Loud noises - New Year's is typically a noisy holiday.  Loud noises can frighten pets and cause them to run off.  Keep your pets in a separate room, away from noisemakers, loud music, and other sounds that might startle them.  They will probably be much happier away from the crowded noise, anyway.
  

Pet Safety for the Holidays

Yesterday, a friend of mine sent me a great note that has wonderful information in it.  I know she found it somewhere, but I can't find the source of the original article anywhere. I always try to cite my sources, but in this case, I am unable to do that.

 The Pet Safety Tips are really good in the article, and here are some different websites which have similar tips:  http://nycacc.org/pettips.htm/  , http://www.arkanimals.com/dlg/winter_holiday_pet_safety_tips.htm/  ,www.theanimalworld.org/aw1109.pdf (page 17), www.aspca.org/news/aspca-action/aspca-action-fall-2008.pdf

Pet Safety Tips

The holidays can be happy events but they can be disastrous and even deadly for pets. Holiday threats to animals can include seasonal decorations, ornamental lighting, ingestion of inappropriate or toxic items, excessive consumption of rich foods or harmful food, candle flames, and many other hazards. 

Here are some safety tips to remember:

• Many holiday plants (holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, lilies, Christmas rose, etc,) are poisonous to pets. A bunch of mistletoe may tempt a kiss, but  eating this holiday greenery could cause a drop in blood pressure, as well as vomiting and swollen throat and mouth tissue. Other holiday foliage, including Holly and Poinsettias, contain toxins that could lead to severe stomach problems, as well as skin, mouth and eye irritation. Yew is extremely toxic, and one mouthful could be deadly.
• Pine needles can create problems if eaten. Pine needles can get lodged in an animal's esophagus, making it painfully prickly for your pet to swallow.
• Unsecured Christmas trees pose hazards to climbing critters as they can topple or be knocked over. Anchor Christmas trees to the ceiling with a string to keep it from falling on pets.
• Don't let pets drink the Christmas tree water as the stagnant water or preservatives can cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Very important: do not put aspirin in the water (some folks do this thinking it will keep the tree or plant more vigorous). If a pet ingests the aspirin-laced water, his health or even life can be at risk.
• Other holiday hazards include menorahs, candles and liquid potpourri pots. A flickering flame or shiny decorations intrigue animals. When lighting the menorah, advent wreath or decorative candles, it is best to keep pets in another room where paws and claws can't reach them. With electrical lights, remember to tape exposed electrical cords to walls or floors to ensure no chewing or tripping. Tinsel and wrapping paper may look like fun toys, but they can cause choking, upset stomach or more serious problems.
• Scented items can be harmful--especially to birds.
• The ingestion of inappropriate foods, tinsel, ribbons or garlands can cause sickness or obstruction. Pets, particularly cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach.
• Breakable items such as glass and other ornaments pose a threat. Shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body
• Electrical cords, heated decorative bulbs, hooks, and a wide variety of other adornment items create temptations. Use topical pet deterrents and barriers for protection.
• Keep décor items out of reach of your pet or in places your animals cannot get to them..

·       Do not let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol, that can cause illnesses from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis and other toxic reactions. In addition, candy wrappers, aluminum foil pieces and ribbons can choke pets. 

·       Do not leave bowls of chocolate within reach of your pet.  Chocolate contains a chemical known as theobromine, which can be highly toxic.  Store food in secure containers out of reach to prevent ingestion or poisoning.

• Antifreeze Alert: The onset of winter often means new antifreeze for the car. This is a substance that can be especially harmful to the family pet. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which causes rapid and permanent kidney damage to your companion animal if ingested in even small amounts..

Please keep these tips in mind over the next few weeks when you may be distracted by all the holiday celebrations and family/friends who come to visit.  Preparing ahead of time for possibilities may save the life of your beloved pets!  Most of all, enjoy sharing the season with your "fur family" members!

Is This The Right Time to Adopt? Upcoming Local Events...

The holidays are often a time when people think about adopting a pet.  This is a very serious step in someone's life so I strongly advocate that this not be something you do without serious consideration as to what it means to welcome a new member into your family.  I want each wonderful pet, who doesn't have a forever home yet, to become a member of a loving family, but I don't want a pet taken home for a few weeks and then the family decides that the pet is too much work and returns the animal to the shelter or rescue group.

The Sacramento SPCA has an excellent website which offers insights into the decision making process of adoption.  They offer a quiz which you can take and you may gain a bit of rational perspective around something which is often fueled by emotions.  Their website states, " Pets add fun, companionship and love to our lives, but they're also a big responsibility. Choosing to add a pet to your family is a very important decision. Sometimes, adopting a pet may be too much added responsibility if you're experiencing other life-changes at the same time. Take this quiz to assess what's happening in your life now, and in the near future, to help you decide if this is the best time to adopt a pet."

The Sacramento SPCA website has a variety of articles surrounding the issue of what to consider before you adopt.  Making yourself aware of the potential issues will make you a more successful pet parent and help the pet integrate into your family more easily.  Adopting a pet is a commitment that can last for 15 years or more and taking time before you adopt to think things through will help you enjoy your new family member for years to come. 

After considering possibilities, if you decide that this is the right time for you the Triangle Area has some upcoming adoption events to help you find the right Phydeau or Fifi for you.


Adoption Events - AniMall

Sunday, December 06, 2009    Carolina Care Bullies (12pm-3pm) (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Friday, December 11, 2009      Marley's Tales - Dogs & Cats (5:30pm-8:30pm) (5:30 PM)
Saturday, December 12, 2009    C.A.R.E. For Animals (Dogs And Cats) (11:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
Saturday, December 12, 2009   Alley Cats And Angels Of NC (Cats And Kittens) 3-6pm (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Sunday, December 13, 2009  Triangle Greyhound Society (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)

Sunday, December 13, 2009  Pawfect Match (Dogs & Puppies) (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Saturday, December 19, 2009   Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Saturday, December 19, 2009  2 Paws Up (Cats, Kittens, Dogs) (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Saturday, December 19, 2009  Pictures With Santa Claus (1pm-7pm) (1:00 PM)

A few other adoption groups to check out:
Paws4Ever  -  http://www.paws4ever.org/
German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions  -  http://www.gsdrescue.org/adopt.html
Second Chance Pet Adoptions  -  http://www.secondchancenc.org/
SPCA Wake County  -  http://www.spcawake.org/site/PageServer

I hope everyone has a chance for a wonderful family this year!

Will I Ever Learn To Effectively Train My Dog?

Raising a happy, healthy, well-behaved dog is not unlike raising a happy, healthy, well-behaved child.  Of course, there are significant differences.  I speak from experience as the mother of a 30-something daughter and the nana or a preschooler, as well as the mom of two dogs.  One big difference has been that with dogs, you need to accomplish the teaching at a much accelerated speed!  Comparing a child of 2 with a dog of 2, you are talking about great differences in what one expects of each one's behavior (without factoring in the obvious difference).

Recently, I have been wishing that my two dogs were more mannerly when they meet other dogs and when people come to our home to visit.  I have certainly been remiss in dealing with both of these issues.  My newsletter from Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. arrived today and the "dog piece" gave some structure to certain things that I had been considering for a while.  The discussion in my ABA newsletter centered around evaluating dog training techniques and questions to ask when looking for the right method.

I have been asking myself questions like, "Is raising my voice and spanking the chewed sock that is lying in the middle of my living room really helpful?"  Or, "When I chastise the torn pillow on the bed, while my Phaedra looks on, will she understand that she isn't supposed to tear things up?"  I have been on the wrong end of jokes from my family about some of my training attempts.  So, no wonder I question the efficacy of different methods.  I wish I had Cesar Millan next door!

All I know, though, is that I don't want to hurt an animal in any way.  Some of you may remember the hullabaloo and scandal which erupted when training techniques of a NC State Trooper toward his K-9 partner came to light.  I was outraged at the treatment of the dog - and of the apparent sanctions of the NC State Troopers.  (Let me tell you that they received multiple communications from me!) I seem to remember that an official statement stated that the harsh techniques were not outside the bounds of police training given by many departments.  Bunkum, I say, to techniques that hurt a living creature.  So, what can REALLY work?

December's Animal Behavior Associates Newsletter letter had some great questions one needs to ask.  Here is the jist of the newsletter: "There's been a lively email discussion recently among a group of our colleagues that has centered around various training techniques for different purposes, in particular the use of positive punishment. This discussion has served to highlight how little we know about what training procedures for various tasks are most efficient, produce the most reliable performance, and at the same time produce the least stress (or looked at another way, maximize a dog's enjoyment of) during the training process.

To start, it's intuitively obvious that choosing the right training technique should take into account at minimum what task is being trained, the "temperament" of the dog, what criteria the dog must meet for reliable performance, the skill of the trainer, and what's realistic for the owners.

Some questions raised in the discussion have been:
1. does it require more skill to correctly use positive reinforcement or positive punishment?
2. does the use of positive punishment produce more reliable performance? Does this depend on how performance is measured?
3. how does the "temperament" of the dog factor in? Are some dogs less "sensitive" to aversive stimuli and therefore less susceptible to respond with fear or aggression if "aversive" training techniques are used?
4. are the answers to the above questions different based on the task being trained?
5. is a "cost/benefit" consideration important? Is the "cost" to the dog of an "aversive" technique worth it? Who decides and based on what criteria?"

So, those are some questions I will always ask myself whenever I try to train my dogs by myself, or interview someone who will help me "help the girls".  I will say, though,  that it is difficult to do this alone - without a trainer.  I guess it is because I am the one needing the training to be consistent, knowledgeable, and competent!

Be Responsible - Spay or Neuter Your Pets!

There is nothing I love more than watching young animals.  They have such a "joie de vivre", it is impossible not to come away from time spent with the little ones and not have a great big smile on my face and warmth in my heart.  There are many times that I wish I had the off-spring of my beloved dogs.  Never, though, is that outweighed by the crushing sadness I feel in my heart when I learn about over-crowded shelters and rescues.  This is an issue which can be more successfully dealt with through spaying or neutering your pets and encouraging others to do the same.

I really don't understand why some people feel that because they have a particular breed of animal, they should breed it.  There are so many animals in the world who suffer because of over-population.  It all seems just plain wrong to bring another litter into this world when there are so many deserving pets looking for forever homes.

There is good news on this issue!  Spay Today is a group located in Greenville, across the parking lot from the Pitt County Animal Shelter.  Founded by Saving Graces 4 Felines with help from the SPCA and the Friends of the Pitt County Animal Shelter, they serve dogs and cats by the thousands. Qualified veterinarians are assisted by volunteers and Spay Today accepts donations to keep the procedure affordable. By reducing the overall population of cats and dogs, Spay Today makes a substantial contribution to Eastern North Carolina.

The Triangle area has similar groups which help people afford spay and neuter services.  There are also ways that you can help.  Perhaps in this season of giving, a donation to a local rescue group or shelter could be targeted toward paying for the procedure.  If you adopt from a rescue group, usually you will have the cost of the spaying returned to you after you show proof of the procedure.  Don't ask for your money to be returned - donate it to the group or shelter where your new family member came from.  You will be really happy when you realize what you have done to help out!

Voluntary Cat Food Recall Announced by Diamond Pet Foods

Diamond Pet Foods has issued a voluntary recall for its Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food because the products may result in thiamine deficiency, a potentially deadly condition for cats.

Thiamine deficiency can ultimately lead to death of the animal if left untreated. Consumers who have fed the recalled food to their cat that has shown the symptoms listed above symptoms are advised to contact a veterinarian.  According to Cat World, "Thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1) is a water soluble vitamin. Thiamine plays an important role in numerous body functions including helping the body metabolise carbohydrates into energy & maintaining a healthy heart & nervous system. Thiamine is found in whole-grains, some fruits & vegetables, meat, liver, bread, brewers yeast, legumes & milk."

The Food and Drug Administration today released additional details of the recall, which was first announced in September.

The recall affects only certain date codes of cat food distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, the FDA said.

The following date codes are included in the recall: RAF0501A22X 18lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0501A2X 6 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAH0501A2X 6lb. (BB28NOV10, BB30NOV10, BB08DEC10).

Diamond has tested the product and found the cat foods were deficient in thiamine. Samples taken by the FDA indicated that there were additional lots with insufficient levels of thiamine. No other complaints have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

Consumers who have purchased the affected lots are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-977-8797, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time.

Join Bayou Rescue and Travel to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary plus Bryce and Zion National Parks

"Hey Bayou Rescue fans.  Check out this great opportunity to travel to the west and visit the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah.  Jim Marks of Accent Travel and Cruises, in NC ( 252-247-6482, ilove2explore@gmail.com) is coordinating the trip.  Attached it all the info and the application.  Please contact Jim if you are interested or have any questions.  

*** The best part is BR will receive a donation for every one that travels and lists us as the referral source! ***


For a detailed itinerary of this great opportunity, please link to the Bayou Rescue website.


 

Some People Really Step-up!

I am always humbled by stories of people reaching out to causes and doing the right thing.  Whether it is the person who commits time, energy, and money toward helping others or the person who finds it within herself to complete a project and then donate all of the proceeds to a cause, I stand in awe of them.

A story about a woman from Kentucky, Deanna Scott, has come to my attention recently.  She dedicated herself to caring for dogs of soldiers being sent abroad.  Right after 9/11 she opened her kennel, Sundance Pet Resort, to dogs belonging to soldiers.  Scott has taken care of nearly a dozen dogs while their owners serve overseas. Currently, she has five dogs whose owners are abroad.

Scott said it's an honor to help those in the military, but she could use some help herself. She takes care of the military dogs for free and she's had dogs from as far away as Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Anyone who would like to make a donation toward the care of the military dogs can call Scott at 859-356-7900 or visit her Web site.

It seems that the care for beloved creatures can become shared by all of us, and therefore, all of us can feel like we are helping out. 

Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Family Friend

I guess it is just the holiday we just celebrated and the ones to come before the end of the year, but I have been missing my beloved friends who have passed on before me.  I had decided to write a blog about Sable, Gideon, Cuddles, Oliver, Fluffy, Joy, Jiggs, and Skipper and what each meant to me over the past 58 years.  That is a long time and I am fortunate to have only seven wonderful pets over those years.  That doesn't mean that I was ready to say goodbye, though.

I ran across a touching article, "Saying goodbye to a beloved family friend" by By Tom Grady   ( jtgrady@ec.rr.com ) who said it better than I could have.  His touching story is echoed in my heart and in the hearts of many people.  During the coming season, I think I will try to do something to remember and honor my missing loved ones - donate in their name, create a memorial, or something else that lets me know that they will always be with me!

Coyote Update!

I recently read another article about coyotes and thought my previous blog deserved this short update.  It seems that the RDU airport is having some visitations on the runways from local coyotes.  The coyotes crossing the paths of taxiing airplanes are causing delays in takeoffs and landings.  An American Eagle plane in September actually hit a crossing coyote but fortunately no one aboard was hurt. I'm sure the same can't possibly be said for the poor coyote, though! 

As a last resort, the N&O reports, "When it becomes necessary, they (airport managers) set traps or even come after the coyotes with firearms. Eight coyotes have been trapped at RDU in the past five months. And in October, when a Southwest Airlines flight was slowed by a coyote on a runway, workers with guns arrived in a white van to apprehend the animal.

The wily coyote outran the pursuers."

Fortunately for us, there is an ongoing program of wildlife management otherwise there would be many more such incidents.  Proving that this is a national issue, you can, also, read all about the RDU issue in the Los Angeles Times!

Great New Resource

I love reading resources that educate me about my favorite subject - pets.  Yesterday the blog talked about the Triangle Pet Supply which is a wonderful partner to Bayou Rescue.  Today, I took a close look at their "Resources" page, and the links, advice, and information available on it are outstanding!

The link I first looked at was the "Dog Food Analysis" page.  The listings are alphabetical and each product lets you know if there has been a recall as well as the ingredients that are part of the product.  My dogs' food was listed, and the listing even stated where the food is made, what is not in it (the bad stuff), and what it is tested for to determine its safety.  With all the recalls, it is very important to me to know that!

From there, I went to the Canine Good Citizen link to find out where I can take my girls to begin their long overdue formal training.  I checked out the dog park links, the breed links, and the doggie day care facility links.  Everything was helpful and well done.  I even joined a discussion forum.

Take a little time to look this page over.  I know you will be impressed with the one-step resource page. 

Triangle Pet Supply - featured partner!

 While we give thanks for so many wonderful volunteers, individual donors, and growth this past year, we also like to give public thanks for the partners that make our support, services, and outreach possible.

Yesterday we received an email from Tracie at Triangle Pet Supply, letting us know that they wanted to donate enough dog and cat food bags to help us reach our goal of enough comfort kits for Triangle and Central Red Cross Chapters to last through the busy winter season.

Not only does this business deliver the healthiest pet food to your doorstep, they also do an amazing amount of work to support rescues and animal welfare in general.  We met Triangle Pet Supply at an event to raise money for Coalition to Unchain Dogs, and can't help but notice how much they do for animal rescue, and to promote adoption and pet wellness.

Just check out their extensive Resources and Information page, for a list of information that we recommend as a first stop for info, including: a list of appx. 70 animal rescues, pet health topics, pet behavior, disaster preparedness, and MORE.

Four paws up, and many more thanks for everything Triangle Pet Supply does to ensure the well-being of our furry family! 

Coyotes In Town!!!

When I was a child, I lived in Western Nebraska along the Platte River and the Oregon Trail.  This was Ogallala Sioux, high-prairie country where the pioneers were ancestors of my family and their friends and ranches were comprised of 50,000 acres devoted to Black Angus cattle and raising wheat.  You never met a stranger, you needed to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes sunning themselves in late afternoon on a west facing door stoop, you could pick up Indian arrowheads like they were shells on Myrtle Beach, and the sound of the coyote was an ever present song at night. 

I never thought that I would hear of coyotes roaming around in parks in Chicago or see the pups playing on the barn road near Durham.  Guess what?  Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the cities now experiencing the influx of coyotes moving to the big city. 

"The Charlotte Observer reported Sunday that coyotes are terrorizing residents, who fear for their small children and animals.

Several communities on the city's south side have been on alert.  Residents in one neighborhood say a cat was eaten by a coyote several weeks ago, prompting the pet owner to circulate a flier warning residents.

Coyotes are not generally aggressive toward people, though a Union County man was bitten last year by a rabid one."

WRAL.com reports, "The coyote population has steadily increased over the past decade, with all 100 counties now reporting having the animals.

Although state wildlife officials do not track the specific number of coyotes in the state, they say the number of reported sightings is on the rise in both rural and urban areas."

MSNBC reported in May of 2007 that coyotes have shown up on the streets of Detroit, in a sandwich shop in downtown Chicago and at a mattress store in Kansas City, Mo.

"The remarkably adaptive animals, famous for roaming rural stretches, have long been spotted in cities and suburban areas. But some naturalists suspect the ranks of urban coyotes may be swelling as they migrate from the open spaces of the West and Southeast toward the East and the Midwest. Such proliferation — and the prospect of human-coyote conflict — have wildlife enthusiasts preaching that people have little to fear.

"The trend is definitely upward," Ohio state DNR wildlife biologist Bob Bluett says. "As long as they dodge traffic, they're pretty safe.

"Most coyotes are good coyotes; they live their lives and they leave us alone," Bluett says.

I love the idea of such a beautiful and adaptive creature living near me. But, I have to admit, I would make sure that my pet was safe and sound inside my home at night.  I don't let my dogs stay outside for long periods of time, unsupervised, and this is one more reason to continue this practice.  (The barn cats at my horse barn are now indoor cats because of a family of coyotes living in the forest nearby.)

All that being said, I welcome the night singers of my childhood just as I love to hear an owl call to a friend in the dark of night.  May we never become so tame that nature is absent from our landscapes!

How to Raise a Put-Together Puppy

I subscribe to a newsletter from Dr. Jon at PetPlace.com which dealt with raising a puppy who will become a confident and happy adult dog.  There were great suggestions, which follow here, and the newsletter lead me to another excellent resource that pet owners might want to check out. 

Having raised a beautiful rescue dog from the age of 4 months, I know how important the early weeks are.  I have come to the conclusion that my Phaedra was taken away from her mom too early and that she bonded with the other foster dogs in her placement rather than with her foster mom.  She was skittish, timid, and did not depend on us for her security.  I know that her foster mom was kind and loving, but perhaps there were too many dogs in a family where the humans weren't there as much time as my Phaedra required. 

Genetically, puppies will display certain characteristics.  Phaedra is a Border Collie mix and seems to have many of the characteristics of them.   Border Collies are always underfoot. (So true!!!  Whenever I stand, she is two inches behind my feet and I nearly fall over her at least once a day!)  These dogs watch you constantly (as if you are the stock), and rush in front of you if they think something is going to happen. They thrive on attention and are very affectionate and people-oriented. (She was not one of these people-oriented pups!)  However, good early socialization is important for puppies: adults can be reserved with people they don't know, and aggressive with other dogs. Border Collies are highly intelligent and quick learners, but they are slow to mature - they are "puppies" until around 2 or 3 years (or older), and many 10- and 12-year-old dogs are still very lively and full of energy. Don't expect a Border Collie to start acting mature and dignified at 3 or 4 years of age!  (All of this is so true, and it reinforces the need for great care with raising puppies of any temperament.)

It has taken a long time to feel that Phaedra is confident and relaxed.  I have tried to help her gain confidence and she is doing well at the age of 6, but she has her foibles even now.

Here are suggestions that Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a wonderful behaviorist at Tufts University makes:

What NOT To Do:

1. No Yelling, threatening, or physical punishment . Punishment teaches a dog nothing, except how to avoid the punishment. It is far better, and far more humane, to teach the pup what to do rather than punish it for something it is doing. Also note that punishment after the fact is not only inappropriate, it is pointless. The only type of positive (direct) punishment that might, on occasion, be acceptable is a punishment that is delivered remotely by some anonymous contraption (e.g. some kind of booby trap arrangement to discourage pups from "counter surfing").

2. Don't expect too much . Setting one's standards high is one thing but a puppy cannot do what it is physically incapable of or something it doesn't understand. For example, young pups cannot hold their urine for long periods of time. They are like children and need frequent opportunities to empty their bladder. The general rule is that pups can hold their urine for a number of hours ("N" hours) equal to their age in months ("A") plus 1 (up to about 9 months of age). According to that formula (N = A + 1), it is unfair to punish a pup of 3-months old for urinating on the floor when you have not taken it out for 5 hours. To instruct a pup to "come" from a distance, and get angry with him for not coming to you is unfair if you have not practiced and honed off-lead recalls at a distance. Temper your expectations. Think.

3. Do not keep your pup shut in a crate for anything other than the briefest time (20 minutes) . Some folks who acquire new puppies really don't have the time to take care of them properly. There's no getting around it, raising a puppy properly takes time. If you haven't got time, don't get a puppy. As a solution to their puppy's  "puppy behavior", they lock it in a crate for hours on end. It is shut up while they are out, while they are busy and while they are asleep. Some pups are crated for almost 20 hours a day for this reason. Of course, when the pup is let out, it goes ballistic and the owner is horrified. The Catch-22 solution is to put the puppy back in the crate. This is all horribly wrong.
 
4. Don't keep your pup completely isolated from the outside world. For the very best of reasons, veterinarians often tell new puppy owners, "Keep your puppy in until his vaccinations are complete." But what they are not factoring in is the terrible price of failure to properly socialize puppies within the sensitive period of learning window.Half of the puppies born in the United States fail to see their second birthday and that (unacceptable) behavior is the primary reason for this continuing holocaust. Proper early socialization would go a long way toward addressing this problem and is as life-saving as vaccinations. It should not be a matter of vaccination or socialization: Both are equally important and can be dove-tailed.

I find these suggestions very helpful in retrospect.  I hope that they help you if you are raising a pup.

Upcoming Local Events

Are you looking for something to do?  There are several opportunities local to the Triangle coming up in the next few weeks. 

Here are some events to look forward to in the near future.

Carolina Care Bullies will hold an adoption event at Phydeaux, 400-A1 S. Elliott Road in Chapel Hill on Sunday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. 

This past August, Amanda Sheets, a staff member at Paws4Ever, and her boyfriend, Terry King, started a pit bull rescue, Carolina Care Bullies.

"People who want a pit bull often want to buy one from a backyard breeder," she said. "They don't realize these dogs are already in shelters."

In addition to rescue work, Sheets is trying to educate people about how wonderful older dogs are and why backyard breeding is a bad idea.  Read more about this at Dogs' Best Friends .

Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue  November 21, 2009 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

C.A.R.E for Animals (Dogs and Cats)   November 21, 2009 (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

Art Auction December 3:   WRAL's newshound Tracker painted art to be sold as a fund raiser for the Wake County SPCA. The art will be auctioned off at an open house at the adoption facility on Dec. 3, 2009.

German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions calender of events lists upcoming activities.  GSRA's next event is NOV 21:    "Fill the Truck & Change Our Luck" and Adoption Event at the Burlington PetSmart Saturday  12:00-3:00PM

I also found a great website that you might be interested in on WRAL.com all about pets.  This website has links to resources, information about fun things to do, and the opportunity to post information about missing pets or remembrances of lost, loved pets.

Since Thanksgiving is coming up this next week, think about giving thanks for the wonderful pets who have shared your life and make a donation to a local shelter so that other families can find pets like you once did.  The Orange County Animal Shelter
has lists of materials needed to make the animals comfortable.    I am sure that other animal services centers have wish lists, too, so you might contact them to find out what they need. 

H1N1 Backlash Sparks Outrage from NC Representative!

When I began writing this blog, I never dreamed that I would be writing about topics so far-flung as the current H1N1 pandemic.  Maybe 6 months ago or so, I wrote that the H1N1 (or Swine Flu as it was first reported) really had very little to do with pigs.  The only reason it was dubbed this moniker was because the new virus resembled a respiratory illness that was seen in a pig in 1930. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. 

The poor pig has taken it on the ear since last spring when the first cases began to surface in Mexico and it was incorrectly called Swine Flu.  Fortunately, the CDC and the media quickly reminded the public that it is highly unlikely that humans will contract H1N1 from pigs and will not get it at all from eating pork.  One must be in very close proximity to infected pigs in barn-yards or at livestock shows such as state fairs to encounter any exposure from a pig.  You may recall that our NC State Fair was much more worried that people would transmit the disease to pigs instead of the other way around.  There were washing stations for people to use before visiting the animals so that we would keep the pigs safe.

The current hullabaloo that just cropped up began on November 3 when the U.S. Capitol Police would not allow animal rights protesters the right to bring pigs and their "leftovers" to a demonstration on Capitol Hill.  The letter sent to the group from the Capitol Police received strong reaction from U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge who spoke out Wednesday "against misinformation surrounding the role of pigs in the H1N1 virus pandemic, which, he said, is hurting the pork industry."  

"The comments by U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-2nd District, came a week after U.S. Capitol Police refused to allow an animal rights protest group to truck hundreds of pigs to the U.S. Capitol because of swine flu fears."  As a farmer and a representative from North Carolina, he wanted to make sure that the issues were correct.

"The pig-contracted strain of the virus occurs rarely in humans, health officials said, and is not the same strain causing a pandemic. There has been only one confirmed case of pigs in the United States contracting the virus, and that was at the Minnesota State Fair."

Anyway, this is a prime example of how all of us should check our sources whenever we snap to judgement about things that are unfamiliar!  Still and all, raising standards in our food industry is never a bad thing, either. 

Food for though .... from your vegetarian author!

My Life With an Obsessive Dog... Or How I Learned NOT to Throw the @#@$$%^ Ball!

Zoe is obsessed with any ball!  She constantly "throws" it to me and crouches, pointing at the "gross" ball which is already wet from her saliva.  If I don't respond immediately, she looks at me, still in the crouching/pointing position to determine if she has thrown it too far away from me to reach.  She then proceeds to to throw it closer and closer.  Eventually, it ends up on my lap and I can no longer ignore her.  I give in and throw it telling myself she is keeping me younger!  HA, HA!  She wins again and fuels her obsession even more.

Any dog owner knows that dogs thrive on play.  Toys are high on their priority list.  It doesn't matter what kind of toy - stick, tennis ball in a sock, basketball, rubber tug - anything works as far as they are considered.  My grand-dog, Bean, finds little things like a pebble or a coin and throws it up in the air so she can play catch with herself.  I should be so lucky!!!  (On second thought, I am really glad that Zoe makes me play with her.)

I have noticed the holiday push to market dog and cat toys to soft-hearted pet owners recently.  I always think about what will be a safe toy so thought that maybe I should write a few things about safety of toys.  Toys are not a luxury but rather a necessity.  While cats may be more finicky about toys, dogs seem to like anything they can "get their paws on".  Factors to consider when choosing toys may be size of animal, preference, activity level, and where the animal will use the toy.

Toys may have things on them that make them visually attractive to humans, but can present problems for the dog or cat.  Remove strings, ribbons, eyes, and other parts that could be swallowed.  Phaedra and Zoe have those stuffed toys that I call "Mr. Man" which are just plain white, fuzzy cotton.  They love them, but these "Mr. Mans" have a "heart".  When the girls have performed open-heart surgery on Mr. Man, I remove the heart because I am afraid that they could swallow it.  You need to keep a close watch on the condition of all the toys to make sure that your pet can't hurt herself on it. 

Also, discard toys that have become so worn that stuffing is coming out the torn seams or the toy seems to be breaking up.  Soft toys should have safe stuffing in them and should be machine washable.  Nut shells and polystyrene beads are not safe so avoid those.

Rawhide chews had always been a success with my dogs.  I don't use them anymore because I have found out that in certain cases they come as a by-product of the cruel, international fur trade.  Also, my first little dog, Fluffy, was chewing a rawhide and all of a sudden it got stuck in her throat.  I reached into her mouth and pulled it out - fortunately without hurting her.  (That was scary and I never want to need to do that again.)  So, no one gets chews anymore.  If you do allow your pets to have chews, please be sure to monitor them.  You just never know!

So, what is good?  The Humane Society of the United States website has some very good ideas.  Rope toys knotted on each end, hard rubber toys, and tennis balls are good suggestions.  Distraction toys are great, too.  For instance, Zoe is a speedy eater so we always feed her from a Kong.  She has a large plastic ball which holds the food nuggets for a longer time than the Kong, too.  That keeps her busy for a good 20 to 30 minutes at a time.  This really distracts her.  (Phaedra won't give those toys a second look.  She only likes Frisbees or balls that create interaction with her people.)  As you see, you need to find what works for your own pet while keeping in mind the safety aspects of the toys.  For much more in-depth information, read the excellent article, "Dog Toys" on the HSUS website.

The same safety suggestions apply to cat toys, too.  Supervise your cats when they are playing with any toy which has rattles or squeaky things inside.  If the toy has a string on it, be sure to watch your cat play with it.  Our friends have two 5 month old cat brothers who love to play with crumpled paper wads.  The two cats also play with a soft toy that has a rope attached to it so you can pull it.  Moondance and Mischief have started pulling each other around the house with this toy. 

My Healthy Cat.com has some good suggestions for safe cat toys.  You might want to check this article out, as well.