I know I've been silent, but it hasn't been that I haven't thought about writing. In fact, I think about it daily. But what I have discovered is that if I write here, I write no where else and writing only about Bella is not where I want my sole writing focus to flow...though Bella, herself, is pretty much front and center in my life (after my lovely soul mate, of course). So I've decided to take a breather so I can prioritize how and what I want to write about.
Dogs are a central part of my being and Bella has become my "heart" dog, which I thought impossible after Suzy. Lucy was my workout dog and to be honest, though I loved her, I don't ever want to repeat that relationship. It was too problematic and governed my life in a very non-positive way.
So how to write here and other places. How to write about dogs, my girl Bella, and keep things interesting, instructive and entertaining both for you, my dear reader, and for me. Hm. What makes a dog blog enticing to you? Are pictures more important than content? Would you read if there were few pictures? Things to ponder. Please let me know. I need to know if I am going to continue.
So without further adieu, I bid (I hope) a temporary adieu while I reconsider and reconstruct my writing priorities.
May 8, 2012
Dog Communication in a Nutshell
Here's a great doggie posture chart drawn by Lili Chin and posted on City Dog Country Dog facebook page. The chart is a cartoon, but definitely worth reviewing as it shows different postures that are worth knowing! I saw this first through Grisha Stewart's book on Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) for aggressive dogs. Lili is a great illustrator!
Lili Chin Dog Postures
Lili Chin Dog Postures
April 30, 2012
What? Another Class?
This is the question I was asked the other day. Yep. Another class. This one is called "Clicks and Tricks" and it's offered at my favorite facility, Seattle Agility Center. I've found a wonderful instructor there (although they all are great.) Tawnya, the woman from whom I've taken several classes, said something that clicked at the end of our Rally class. I knew it intuitively, but I hadn't verbalized it. She said, "I'm glad you are taking Bella through more courses. It keeps her thinking and helps with your bond." I might add that it keeps me thinking also! I love working with Bella and enjoy learning more—and better—ways to do things with her.
I find this particular clicker class exhausting for both the B Girl and I. I am not adept at it yet (a little slow on the click and treat) and I'm sure this causes confusion with Bella, but we both like it and Tawnya is great. She drops little comments that are spot on and like all instructors, I'm sure she is thrilled when she sees a student "get it."
I am presently working on not using Bella's name as a correction. I think dogs are intelligent enough to get your tone of voice and know that their name said in "that" tone means they had better pay attention and toe the line. Yet I also understand Tawnya's advice that giving verbal instruction instead of just using the name as a correction is more positive and pro-active.
Bella and I are clicking our way through rolling over (so far she is merely laying down, no "over" so far), high five with both paws (my girl is definitely right-pawed), spin (check!), grabbing and retrieving a basket (she nudges it, but has not mouthed it yet).
I find this particular clicker class exhausting for both the B Girl and I. I am not adept at it yet (a little slow on the click and treat) and I'm sure this causes confusion with Bella, but we both like it and Tawnya is great. She drops little comments that are spot on and like all instructors, I'm sure she is thrilled when she sees a student "get it."
I am presently working on not using Bella's name as a correction. I think dogs are intelligent enough to get your tone of voice and know that their name said in "that" tone means they had better pay attention and toe the line. Yet I also understand Tawnya's advice that giving verbal instruction instead of just using the name as a correction is more positive and pro-active.
 |
| I'm ready! I'm ready! Whaddya want? High five? Spin? |
April 14, 2012
Old Fears
Lucy, our last dog, was attacked on three occasions by three different "packs" of pit bulls—always a gang of two. Although I don't blame the dogs (but the horribly negligent owners), I have an ingrained fear of pits because of those incidents. And it is the last attack where one dog took on Lucy's front and the other her rear that is seared into my brain.
So imagine my fear while walking Bella and K2 (whom I was caring for), when two pits rushed us. One backed off immediately, but not the other. K2 was at the end of her leash trying to distance herself while Bella was the target. The dog did not attack, but was growling, aggressive and kept his head over her shoulders. Bella's tail was tucked and in no mood to argue. I was trying to position myself between them (not smart), screaming and kicking at him while the owner was yelling and trying to grab him.
So imagine my fear while walking Bella and K2 (whom I was caring for), when two pits rushed us. One backed off immediately, but not the other. K2 was at the end of her leash trying to distance herself while Bella was the target. The dog did not attack, but was growling, aggressive and kept his head over her shoulders. Bella's tail was tucked and in no mood to argue. I was trying to position myself between them (not smart), screaming and kicking at him while the owner was yelling and trying to grab him.
When the owner was able to separate him, I told her she had better leash her dogs; she had no business allowing them loose. She told me to get off her property. Huh? I'm walking in the middle of a city street with two leashed and licensed dogs. This is public property, ma'am, and your dogs are loose and aggressive. Déjà vu. It was too scary to relive this kind of scenario with Bella. I have woken each morning since and that dog is the first thing that comes to mind.
April 4, 2012
Dealing with Injuries
When we were in Baja, Bella injured herself several times. Having your best buddy hurt is hard in any situation. Down there, it was doubly traumatic for me as we were so far from the "big city." Compound that by the day of the week (did we have to wait through the weekend?) and potential language snafus, and Bella being hurt became a big issue.
All her injuries were play/exuberance induced. Chasing a ball while not looking where she was going, she ran into the front of a parked car hitting it hard enough to visibly move it. I thought she'd dislocated her shoulder. Luckily, with a couple of anti-inflammatories under her belt and a few days of rest, she was fine. Best yet, she started looking where she was running!
Then she cut some pads on her back paws. We were told that the yard, all sand, had once been a neighborhood dumping spot. For two months I raked the yard daily, always uncovering shards of glass. I figured I pulled out over 20 pounds of glass, rusted nails and wires, broken pottery and other sharp objects—but most was glass. One pad was cut severely enough that I wondered if it would ever heal back to a normal shape. And what about infection? Luckily, infection didn't set in and her pads are fine!
This was followed by another injury where she stopped putting any weight on a back foot. (Her poor back paws!) There is a ubiquitous, little grass in Baja that several dog owners warned me about. Of course, it is most problematic when it dries because its color becomes even more sand-like. And like foxtail here, this grass can also kill. I looked at Bella's paw (which is also sand-colored) and found nothing. My husband did the same with a magnifying glass. We even tried to clip the fur which was tough as her fur is already short, but we found nothing. I wanted to take her to a vet in the city, but we had to wait until Monday—two days away.
Luckily for Bella and us, a neighbor was a retired veterinarian from the states. Although he wasn't interested in practicing anymore, he was willing to look at Bella. The way he did it was interesting. Where we went right to the source—her paw—he said he always starts further away. One, he wants to calm the animal, but also, the injury may actually be elsewhere. He started at her hip and worked his way down to her paw assessing leg movement as he went.
The vet looked both at the bottom and the top. Bingo! Looking at the whole foot from the top (not just between toes), you could see how swollen one toe was. He surmised she had probably sprained a toe and suggested we put her on anti-inflammatories for a couple of days. He said if there was any abscessing to let him know immediately as that could mean the grass seed was an issue. However, after several days she was fine.
On our drive back home in the states, late one night before bed, she jammed a stick into the back of her mouth, slicing skin open. Awful! Blood everywhere! I was frantic, but luckily we were back in the states and I knew we could get to a vet early in the morning.
All her injuries were from play though that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. But wonder if your pup is seriously hurt? Considering how I hate the sight of blood (fainting would not be too off the mark), how does one handle a pet's injuries?
I feel lucky that none of Bella's incurred injuries in Baja were life threatening. Quite a few years ago, I attended a Pet First Aid class put on by a local shelter. It was brief, but a good class; we each received a pet first aid booklet that I keep in Bella's traveling bag. Recently I learned that a neighbor teaches a more intensive pet first aid class and is trying to put together a local offering this spring, which I'd love to attend.
Today I received a link via Bark Magazine on how to deal with a bleeding pet. Because many of us take our dogs traveling and those dogs participate in many of our sports—hiking, mountain biking, skijoring, etc.—the chance of a pup getting hurt is not all that unlikely. I urge you to look into pet first aid classes offered in your community. It's a great feeling of security knowing you are better able to help an injured pet until you can get it to a veterinary hospital.
All her injuries were play/exuberance induced. Chasing a ball while not looking where she was going, she ran into the front of a parked car hitting it hard enough to visibly move it. I thought she'd dislocated her shoulder. Luckily, with a couple of anti-inflammatories under her belt and a few days of rest, she was fine. Best yet, she started looking where she was running!
Then she cut some pads on her back paws. We were told that the yard, all sand, had once been a neighborhood dumping spot. For two months I raked the yard daily, always uncovering shards of glass. I figured I pulled out over 20 pounds of glass, rusted nails and wires, broken pottery and other sharp objects—but most was glass. One pad was cut severely enough that I wondered if it would ever heal back to a normal shape. And what about infection? Luckily, infection didn't set in and her pads are fine!
This was followed by another injury where she stopped putting any weight on a back foot. (Her poor back paws!) There is a ubiquitous, little grass in Baja that several dog owners warned me about. Of course, it is most problematic when it dries because its color becomes even more sand-like. And like foxtail here, this grass can also kill. I looked at Bella's paw (which is also sand-colored) and found nothing. My husband did the same with a magnifying glass. We even tried to clip the fur which was tough as her fur is already short, but we found nothing. I wanted to take her to a vet in the city, but we had to wait until Monday—two days away.
Luckily for Bella and us, a neighbor was a retired veterinarian from the states. Although he wasn't interested in practicing anymore, he was willing to look at Bella. The way he did it was interesting. Where we went right to the source—her paw—he said he always starts further away. One, he wants to calm the animal, but also, the injury may actually be elsewhere. He started at her hip and worked his way down to her paw assessing leg movement as he went.
The vet looked both at the bottom and the top. Bingo! Looking at the whole foot from the top (not just between toes), you could see how swollen one toe was. He surmised she had probably sprained a toe and suggested we put her on anti-inflammatories for a couple of days. He said if there was any abscessing to let him know immediately as that could mean the grass seed was an issue. However, after several days she was fine.
On our drive back home in the states, late one night before bed, she jammed a stick into the back of her mouth, slicing skin open. Awful! Blood everywhere! I was frantic, but luckily we were back in the states and I knew we could get to a vet early in the morning.
All her injuries were from play though that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. But wonder if your pup is seriously hurt? Considering how I hate the sight of blood (fainting would not be too off the mark), how does one handle a pet's injuries?
I feel lucky that none of Bella's incurred injuries in Baja were life threatening. Quite a few years ago, I attended a Pet First Aid class put on by a local shelter. It was brief, but a good class; we each received a pet first aid booklet that I keep in Bella's traveling bag. Recently I learned that a neighbor teaches a more intensive pet first aid class and is trying to put together a local offering this spring, which I'd love to attend.
Today I received a link via Bark Magazine on how to deal with a bleeding pet. Because many of us take our dogs traveling and those dogs participate in many of our sports—hiking, mountain biking, skijoring, etc.—the chance of a pup getting hurt is not all that unlikely. I urge you to look into pet first aid classes offered in your community. It's a great feeling of security knowing you are better able to help an injured pet until you can get it to a veterinary hospital.
April 1, 2012
Choosing a Day Care for Your Pup
Some good friends recently adopted a young rescue dog. This pup is very lucky as she is with her pack 24/7. The owners are self-employed, so their new dog, K2, is at work with them all day. They are also quite active, so K2 gets to jog, hike or play daily, plus her owners set up play dates with neighborhood dogs. K2 arrived at their house with beautiful doggie etiquette and the ability to communicate well with her other four-legged friends. This pup doesn't need doggie day care, but we did discuss how valuable it can be. There are now so many available, the question is how do you choose the one that is most appropriate for your favorite four-legged friend?
I wrote about my experience with doggie day care when Bella was a young girl. My husband and I are retired so Bella is rarely alone, but I was concerned she wasn't getting enough time with other dogs. The first place I checked out, though less expensive and closer, didn't have a large enough people-to-dog ratio. It seemed a recipe for disaster. The place I ended up taking her I liked a lot, but with two exceptions: it was too far away and its policy for a mandatory four hour stay was inconvenient. Bella went once and that was it, although I would have continued if they were closer. She hasn't been back to a day care since.
However, if you are away from home for long stretches of time and your best buddy is on his own, doggie day care might be the perfect solution to relieve his boredom. Recently I've come across a series of articles on the Internet with guidelines for choosing day care that suits your wallet, peace of mind, and your pup's temperament. Bark Magazine has an excellent article and a great tip sheet that is definitely worth perusing if you are thinking of this activity for your pup. I feel the people-to-dog ratio is critical and Riverdog, where Bella went, was great with this—around 10-15 dogs to one person plus an office staff that was available should the need arise. In addition, they "matched" Bella's playing style with other dogs so she was neither overwhelming or overwhelmed. They also had "quiet time" interspersed in the four hour visit so dogs had an opportunity to cool their jets.
The different articles I read also encouraged prospective doggie day care-ites to watch the day care in action to see how activities and interactions are handled. If you are not allowed to observe, go elsewhere. (Many also have cameras in the rooms so you can watch how your pup is doing while you're at work.) If they have a breed exclusion policy—put on the brakes—it indicates misunderstanding the difference between behavior and breed. The facility should require all dogs be current on vaccinations, are in good health, are sociable and well-behaved. What is the training and knowledge of the staff working with your dog's group? How do they handle a medical emergency? Not all dogs are good candidates for day care. The energy level and commotion of multiple dogs running around may overwhelm your buddy. Obviously, finding the appropriate doggie day care for your pup is critical if you want your dog safe and happy!
Here are some other articles I liked:
Selecting a Dog Daycare
How to Choose a Doggie Daycare
Choosing Doggie Daycares and Kennels
Choosing a Good Dog Day Care
Good luck in your hunt; your pup will thank you for it!
I wrote about my experience with doggie day care when Bella was a young girl. My husband and I are retired so Bella is rarely alone, but I was concerned she wasn't getting enough time with other dogs. The first place I checked out, though less expensive and closer, didn't have a large enough people-to-dog ratio. It seemed a recipe for disaster. The place I ended up taking her I liked a lot, but with two exceptions: it was too far away and its policy for a mandatory four hour stay was inconvenient. Bella went once and that was it, although I would have continued if they were closer. She hasn't been back to a day care since.
However, if you are away from home for long stretches of time and your best buddy is on his own, doggie day care might be the perfect solution to relieve his boredom. Recently I've come across a series of articles on the Internet with guidelines for choosing day care that suits your wallet, peace of mind, and your pup's temperament. Bark Magazine has an excellent article and a great tip sheet that is definitely worth perusing if you are thinking of this activity for your pup. I feel the people-to-dog ratio is critical and Riverdog, where Bella went, was great with this—around 10-15 dogs to one person plus an office staff that was available should the need arise. In addition, they "matched" Bella's playing style with other dogs so she was neither overwhelming or overwhelmed. They also had "quiet time" interspersed in the four hour visit so dogs had an opportunity to cool their jets.
The different articles I read also encouraged prospective doggie day care-ites to watch the day care in action to see how activities and interactions are handled. If you are not allowed to observe, go elsewhere. (Many also have cameras in the rooms so you can watch how your pup is doing while you're at work.) If they have a breed exclusion policy—put on the brakes—it indicates misunderstanding the difference between behavior and breed. The facility should require all dogs be current on vaccinations, are in good health, are sociable and well-behaved. What is the training and knowledge of the staff working with your dog's group? How do they handle a medical emergency? Not all dogs are good candidates for day care. The energy level and commotion of multiple dogs running around may overwhelm your buddy. Obviously, finding the appropriate doggie day care for your pup is critical if you want your dog safe and happy!
Here are some other articles I liked:
Selecting a Dog Daycare
How to Choose a Doggie Daycare
Choosing Doggie Daycares and Kennels
Choosing a Good Dog Day Care
Good luck in your hunt; your pup will thank you for it!
March 23, 2012
Happiness is Digging in Sand
March 19, 2012
Food Again
Anyone who has followed this blog knows that over the past year I've been poking my nose into improving Bella"s diet. I've researched raw and home-cooked until I'm more confused than ever. My final straw was a friend who remarked to my lamenting, "What's wrong? Is Bella sick? Is she not eating? Does she have allergies?" To which I could happily and honestly say, "No, she's fine; I'm just curious." This, of course, is why we have good friends because they cut to the quick. Her departing comment to the conversation was, "Why are you so worked up about it if buying good commercial kibble works?" How can you fight that argument?But still, I was unsettled. Since we returned from Baja, Bella has had what I call a "bothersome butt." She licks it frequently. She's been on Trifexis since before we left. I've seen no evidence of worms in her stool, yet something is bothering her. She has always farted when she sat (a somewhat oddly charming personal trait of hers), but is doing more so now. If the bottom licking continues into next week, I'll take a stool sample into the vet, but until then, I've been focusing once again on her food.
When we hit the border coming back into the US, she was nearly out of food (Acana), so it was necessary to get more. I stopped at Costco to pick up some things for us and noticed they had a grain-free kibble and got that. But is it as good for her as Acana? I doubt it (though it is given 4 out of 5 stars by DogFoodAdvisor). To help with her "issues," I picked up a couple of cans of organic pureed pumpkin, thinking some extra fiber may help. And then came across some videos on choosing good food for your pup by Dr. Karen Becker, a holistic vet. I approached the videos a bit skeptically as she is affiliated with a site which sells products, but I was quite pleased that she doesn't promote any brand in these videos. The argument she made for raw that I found most compelling was that kibble is dry and dogs need around 70% moisture in their diet and they receive that from eating raw. My vet has said several times, despite Bella's huge water slurping consumption, that my favorite girl-dog is a bit dehydrated. Dr. Becker's comments along with my vet's persuaded me to get more serious about introducing raw food into Bella's menu. At this point I am not going 100% raw, but am certainly willing to incorporate it into her daily food regime—along with going back to Acana when her present kibble is gone.
Take a look at Dr. Becker's two videos and tell me what you think. Are you already feeding raw? What results have you seen in that food move? If you aren't presently feeding raw, are you toying with moving that way—and why?
Video 1: Choosing the Right Dog Food/Part 1
Video 2: Choosing the Right Dog Food/Part 2
March 16, 2012
Poisons, Breeds and Names
Oh my! I found a series of stories regarding common household poisons your dog might ingest, along with the most common name of said dog and most common breed called in for suspected poisoning. Bella is the most common name and a Lab is the second most common breed. Can't say I'm surprised on the latter. I remember chatting with a cashier after I purchased a sealable container to store Bellie's food. (This, of course, was after she ate nearly half a bag and had a stomach that did not return to its normal shape for days.) The cashier's Lab ate a Costco package of light bulbs leaving only the metal twist bottom behind. Unbelievably, her dog was fine. But having witnessed Bella's mouthy penchant, I know she will eat nearly anything if it entices her. (Think brillo pad.)
Here is a list of the most common household poisons (for 2011) your pup may ingest and what to do if you suspect poisoning. (It is from this article which carries more detail and is a good, if short, read):
Here is a list of the most common household poisons (for 2011) your pup may ingest and what to do if you suspect poisoning. (It is from this article which carries more detail and is a good, if short, read):
- People Food (think chocolate, raisins, etc.)
- Insecticides
- Rodenticides
- NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Advil, etc.)
- Household Cleaners
- Human Drugs (anti-depressants)
- Garden Fertilizers
- Heavy Metals
- Acetaminophen
- Veterinary Pain Relievers
March 15, 2012
Does Your Dog Really Understand You?
I ran across this article on canine communication skills which I found very interesting. I particularly like this sentence:
I find it exciting to think that we (humans and dogs) are able to communicate and that it will only get better (my extrapolation). When I talk to Bella, she cocks her head. I know not all dogs do this (Bella is my first pup that does), and that doing this doesn't mean that she truly understands what I'm saying. But the action makes it look like she is concentrating and trying to intuit my conversation. I know I've asked her numerous times, "What is it that you're trying to tell me?"
Right now she's telling me it's time for our morning walk.
"...evidence that humans and dogs may be undergoing cognitive convergent evolution with each other based on our close social relationships over the millennia."This article targets another which goes into more detail about the convergence of canine/human understanding.
"However, although wolves are generally equal to or better than domestic dogs at memory tests and tasks involving general problem-solving abilities, wolves (even those raised by humans) are simply unable to match the performance of dogs at spontaneously using human social cues to solve problems."We often take it for granted that our pup "gets it" which is expecting an awful lot from a different species. Yet it's a two way street in that you know when your dog wants something, isn't feeling well, that something is going on. Without an awful lot of sleuthing, you can usually figure it out—not much different than your pup trying to perceive your desires.
I find it exciting to think that we (humans and dogs) are able to communicate and that it will only get better (my extrapolation). When I talk to Bella, she cocks her head. I know not all dogs do this (Bella is my first pup that does), and that doing this doesn't mean that she truly understands what I'm saying. But the action makes it look like she is concentrating and trying to intuit my conversation. I know I've asked her numerous times, "What is it that you're trying to tell me?"
Right now she's telling me it's time for our morning walk.
March 14, 2012
Home!
We returned from warm and sunny Baja to a cold and snowy northwest. It doesn't seem fair although the comforts of home outweigh the frigid temps! It took a little over a week to get home.
We camped at three new places coming up the peninsula—each beautiful in their own right. Our first stop was in San Ignacio; Bella was in heaven. We stayed at a tiny little campground right on the river. I'm sure in warmer, calmer weather the bugs would be incredible, but we were blessed by a stiff wind that kept them at bay. Bella was able to run around (no one else was there) and swim. Lots of chuck-it in the water.
Our second stop was in Scammons Lagoon on the Pacific. Again, it was deserted except for the whales. We spent hours watching them spout, spy hop and surface. It was beyond thrilling. Our last night in Baja was also on the Pacific. A couple nights in San Diego with family and friends and then on to the eastern California route north.
Ha! We got to Lone Pine and learned that a huge storm was coming in, so our desired route was 86'd by weather. The reports threatened up to five feet of snow in the Sierras with gusts nearing 100mph! Talk about taking the excitement out of the drive! We camped south of Lake Tahoe and Bella got to run in the snow, but the winds started during the night and rocked the van so severely, that we got up before 4AM and started driving. We made it over the Sierras before the brunt of the storm hit us, so although it was a boring drive up the interstate, we made it back without incident.
Our first morning home, we woke to snow on the ground and this morning, Bella refused to go on a walk. So much for a warm sun! We have a fire going in the stove; Bella is tucked up close and I think I'll bake some bread despite the desire to start gardening.
We camped at three new places coming up the peninsula—each beautiful in their own right. Our first stop was in San Ignacio; Bella was in heaven. We stayed at a tiny little campground right on the river. I'm sure in warmer, calmer weather the bugs would be incredible, but we were blessed by a stiff wind that kept them at bay. Bella was able to run around (no one else was there) and swim. Lots of chuck-it in the water.
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| Rediscovering the "white stuff." |
Ha! We got to Lone Pine and learned that a huge storm was coming in, so our desired route was 86'd by weather. The reports threatened up to five feet of snow in the Sierras with gusts nearing 100mph! Talk about taking the excitement out of the drive! We camped south of Lake Tahoe and Bella got to run in the snow, but the winds started during the night and rocked the van so severely, that we got up before 4AM and started driving. We made it over the Sierras before the brunt of the storm hit us, so although it was a boring drive up the interstate, we made it back without incident.
Our first morning home, we woke to snow on the ground and this morning, Bella refused to go on a walk. So much for a warm sun! We have a fire going in the stove; Bella is tucked up close and I think I'll bake some bread despite the desire to start gardening.
February 27, 2012
Hurt Again!
Arg! This is driving me crazy. Bella did something to her back foot again and is putting no weight on it. We have checked it multiple times for thorns, but cannot find anything. There are no cuts. I've extended and contracted her leg to see if there is an issue there. I've moved her toes and her foot around. All of these are coming up with nothing. I'm beside myself with worry. She isn't licking any part of her foot or leg, but she also isn't moving around.
FOOTNOTE: There is a local retired vet in the area and though we did not intend for him to look at Bella, we sought his opinion on whether we should take her into town. He was kind enough to give her a brief examination and determined that she had probably sprained her toe. Luckily nothing was broken and there were no thorns. It was one of those head-slapping moments that when shown both her back paws, it was obvious one toe was quite a bit larger. My vet had sent me down here with some anti-inflammatories and he suggested I give her some for a couple of days.
After a quiet day yesterday and one pill, she's doing much better today. Although still favoring the foot, at least she is putting some weight on it. I didn't take her on the morning women's walk, but will take her on one short one today and maybe two small ones tomorrow.
February 20, 2012
How to Speak "Dog"
I am always surprised when a parent allows their child to run up to pat my dog without first asking me if my dog is friendly. The child's pell-mell approach shows lack of training on how to safely approach an unknown animal. Bella is patient and tolerant, but every dog has a limit. When I see a child approaching, I intercept and explain the proper way to introduce oneself to an unfamiliar dog. Rarely do I get thanks from the parents. My guess is the information is new to them also.
Recently there have been a plethora of articles on the Internet regarding the bite incurred by Denver's KUSA TV anchor, Kyle Dyer. Here is an individual who is purportedly a dog lover, so we assume that she'd be knowledgeable about handling a strange dog. Apparently not. An article in Huffington Post by veterinarian/animal behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin, goes through the progression of errors that were made by both the owner and the anchor. In another article, author Michael Curran goes a step further. In his blog entry, he states that in a series of articles, he hopes
Depending on the sources you read, annual dog bites in the U.S. is a big deal. One site, dogbitelaw.com, states:
This leads me to believe that we are woefully ignorant of the signals our pets are continually giving us. We expect them to understand us, but too many of us—even those of us who have always owned a dog and feel we "understand" our pet—are clueless at truly comprehending them. Wouldn't it be nice if new pet owners had to take a class on doggie communication? How about teaching people (of any age) how to approach a strange animal? Wouldn't you think parents would consider this a mandatory lesson for their child?
In writing this post, I came across a site called Doggone Safe that has good information about dog communication and recognizing signals given when a dog feels stressed or frightened...or ready to bite. I urge all of you—particularly any of you with children in your home—to look at this site and learn to recognize a dog's signals. The information isn't terribly in depth, but it is a good start in understanding our pets. We all suffer from miscommunication at times, but the more we are able to speak "Dog," the safer all of us—including our dog—will be.
Let me add one more thing. Here's a great cartoon poster of some dog signals from Dr. Sophia Yin. It might be worth printing out for your kids and posting on the fridge!
Recently there have been a plethora of articles on the Internet regarding the bite incurred by Denver's KUSA TV anchor, Kyle Dyer. Here is an individual who is purportedly a dog lover, so we assume that she'd be knowledgeable about handling a strange dog. Apparently not. An article in Huffington Post by veterinarian/animal behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin, goes through the progression of errors that were made by both the owner and the anchor. In another article, author Michael Curran goes a step further. In his blog entry, he states that in a series of articles, he hopes
...to answer some of your questions, pique your curiosity in regards to dog behavior and communication, discuss why dogs bite, and finally how to be a friendly stranger and more responsible dog owner.Mr. Curran gives some background information (number of dogs that annually fall through the ice in the Denver area) and more details about the specific bite incident, including how the TV channel and animal behaviorists handled the situation after the fact. He brings up some very good points and I look forward to reading the rest of his series.
Depending on the sources you read, annual dog bites in the U.S. is a big deal. One site, dogbitelaw.com, states:
In 2010 there were 34 fatal dog attacks in the USA. More than 350,000 dog bite victims are seen in emergency rooms every year. Approximately 800,000 victims receive some form of medical attention annually. Based on data collected in the USA between 2001 and 2003, the CDC concluded that there were 4.5 million dog bite victims per year.The American Humane Association has a long list of bare statistics that on their own are quite staggering. However, the National Canine Research Council (NCRC), counters with how difficult it is to gather accurate information. (Is it a playful nip from a puppy or an unprovoked, angry bite that breaks the skin? What is the difference between a good Samaritan being bitten helping a dog or a police dog stopping a criminal?) Adding to the confusion on gathering accurate bite statistics, the NCRC states that for animal control, the impetus is to assess if the biting animal is current on shots rather than the circumstances surrounding the bite itself. They go on to say:
[A] form used to record an animal exposure, probably called a bite report, will usually include space for a description of the circumstances. Did a dog scratch his owner during a playful romp? Did a dog chase and bite a child riding a bicycle?Unfortunately, when animal exposures are tallied up, they are released to the public as simple bite numbers. The circumstances of the incidents have been stripped away. In consequence, bite numbers are not an accurate representation of canine aggression, which is, in itself, a general term that is applied to range of different behaviors.
This leads me to believe that we are woefully ignorant of the signals our pets are continually giving us. We expect them to understand us, but too many of us—even those of us who have always owned a dog and feel we "understand" our pet—are clueless at truly comprehending them. Wouldn't it be nice if new pet owners had to take a class on doggie communication? How about teaching people (of any age) how to approach a strange animal? Wouldn't you think parents would consider this a mandatory lesson for their child?
In writing this post, I came across a site called Doggone Safe that has good information about dog communication and recognizing signals given when a dog feels stressed or frightened...or ready to bite. I urge all of you—particularly any of you with children in your home—to look at this site and learn to recognize a dog's signals. The information isn't terribly in depth, but it is a good start in understanding our pets. We all suffer from miscommunication at times, but the more we are able to speak "Dog," the safer all of us—including our dog—will be.
Let me add one more thing. Here's a great cartoon poster of some dog signals from Dr. Sophia Yin. It might be worth printing out for your kids and posting on the fridge!
February 13, 2012
Glass and Paws
The house we are renting has a huge, fenced yard that is planted, with one exception, only around the perimeter. It doesn't make for a pretty yard, but it does make it pretty good for a game of chuck-it. There is no grass, which is not unusual here. Most yards, even those with fairly intense plantings are sand, and ours is no exception. Where people may mow their lawn at home, here people rake the sand regularly to clean up debris. I don't know how old this house is, but I think it's a fair bet to say the yard has seldom, if ever, been raked.
I haven't done much of a survey of the property beyond regular pooper-scooping and playing ball with Bella. But when she sliced open a pad on her back foot, I began to pay attention. The yard is littered with broken glass, rusted nails and wire, pieces of plastic and broken ceramic tiles. It changes each day as we drive across it or Bella runs through it. New debris surfaces regularly. Every couple of days, I'd make a circuit with a grocery bag picking up shards, nails and anything looking sharp. When Bella cut another pad, I declared war.
I found an old, rusted (what else?) rake and began raking the yard. With each small scratch of the surface, handfuls of glass appeared. It has been hugely discouraging. In five days, I have only covered a third of the yard and when I finish, I realize I'll need to begin again. And I am not the only one doing this. A good friend has come over three separate days and helped me for hours. My husband took over raking today and only did a small section. He was astounded.
I think when the house was built, the workers just threw their beer bottles into the yard. Because this is a rental, perhaps people coming through the neighborhood have recognized that the house isn't constantly occupied and have done the same. Perhaps the owners and other renters have tossed their bottles into the yard because that is culturally not an aberrant thing to do here.
But however they got here, the bottles have broken into zillions of tiny, sharp, paw-cutting, brown, green and clear pieces. Driven or walked over, the glass gets pushed into the sand. With Bella running around the yard, she's churning it back up. I'll finish raking and picking up a section only to have the light play over an area I have finished and it will sparkle with hundreds of missed shards.
My friend says I should leave all the bags for our landlord to see. I'd rather see the glass gone, but perhaps she's right. At least for now, they are a sign of progress for me. I am still hesitant to toss a ball for Bella, but feel slightly better that a very large portion of debris has been removed from part of the yard.
My poor girl. She gave little indication of what had happened. With the first slice, which was the deepest, she neither licked her paw nor limped, so I had no knowledge of what had happened to her until I spotted it. With the second slice, I knew. We cleaned her feet and applied Neosporin. She spent an unhappy day inside with her back foot wrapped up in a sock.
We haven't taken her biking in a week; tomorrow morning we'll take her on a small ride. Tomorrow afternoon, you'll find me back at raking and picking.
 |
| Waiting for the ball to move. |
I found an old, rusted (what else?) rake and began raking the yard. With each small scratch of the surface, handfuls of glass appeared. It has been hugely discouraging. In five days, I have only covered a third of the yard and when I finish, I realize I'll need to begin again. And I am not the only one doing this. A good friend has come over three separate days and helped me for hours. My husband took over raking today and only did a small section. He was astounded.
I think when the house was built, the workers just threw their beer bottles into the yard. Because this is a rental, perhaps people coming through the neighborhood have recognized that the house isn't constantly occupied and have done the same. Perhaps the owners and other renters have tossed their bottles into the yard because that is culturally not an aberrant thing to do here.
But however they got here, the bottles have broken into zillions of tiny, sharp, paw-cutting, brown, green and clear pieces. Driven or walked over, the glass gets pushed into the sand. With Bella running around the yard, she's churning it back up. I'll finish raking and picking up a section only to have the light play over an area I have finished and it will sparkle with hundreds of missed shards.
My friend says I should leave all the bags for our landlord to see. I'd rather see the glass gone, but perhaps she's right. At least for now, they are a sign of progress for me. I am still hesitant to toss a ball for Bella, but feel slightly better that a very large portion of debris has been removed from part of the yard.
My poor girl. She gave little indication of what had happened. With the first slice, which was the deepest, she neither licked her paw nor limped, so I had no knowledge of what had happened to her until I spotted it. With the second slice, I knew. We cleaned her feet and applied Neosporin. She spent an unhappy day inside with her back foot wrapped up in a sock.
We haven't taken her biking in a week; tomorrow morning we'll take her on a small ride. Tomorrow afternoon, you'll find me back at raking and picking.
February 5, 2012
Puhleez!
 |
| Girls just want to have fun. |
February 4, 2012
Some Realities of Baja
Baja is beautiful in a stark and prickly way. There is no "lushness" in the area we are living beyond the bougainvilleas and other flowering plants some people have added to their landscape. Even though desert plants can be beautiful, they all have a defense system with poison, prickles or spines. The wind is harsh, the sand, sharp edged, the terrain hot and unforgiving.
Culturally, recycling is a new idea and practiced by very few. There are only a couple of outlets where one can recycle and they are tiny and infrequently used. Litter is everywhere (oh the bane of plastics!) and though "No Mas Basura!" (No More Garbage) has an annual community pick-up day, it barely puts a dent in what is flying about. We watched a neighbor dutifully raking her sand yard of bags, cups and plastic bottles and depositing them in a garbage bin outside her gate. The next morning, the bin was tipped over and garbage was everywhere for the cats, dogs and cows to eat. It remained that way until later in the week when the garbage man came by to dump it in a designated arroyo.
In my thrice weekly walks towards the mountains with a group of women and their dogs, we joked, tongue in cheek, about finding our way by certain garbage that has blown into or placed on the cactus. A discarded and broken plastic chair, a worn backpack, a t-shirt tied to a branch, a dead cow. Seeing cow legs, hide or bones is not at all unusual. They are free range and have little to eat or drink. They look skin and bones anyway. Our neighbor's garbage must have been a boon.
Last week I took Bella on a walk different than our normal one with the ladies, but still heading towards the mountains. There, a ways into the bush by the side of the sandy road, tucked at the base of a cactus, was a large, dead dog. I didn't recognize it, but also couldn't approach it. It had not been there the day before. Was it hit and crawled there to die? Had it been poisoned and this was it's final resting spot? Had it died at home and the owner brought it here for the vultures to take care of? Any of those were possible.
The next day when we went by that spot, Buddy was with us. Buddy is the name we've given to a local, large lab/German Shepherd cross. She lives somewhere in our neighborhood and often appears out of the scrub to join us on walks or bike rides. She's sweet as can be and is obviously loved, though allowed to scrounge and roam. The vultures had settled in to their job of clean-up, but Buddy chased them off and I wondered if she did it to "protect" the other dog or for the fun of the chase. Either way, it reminds one of how humbling Baja can be.
Culturally, recycling is a new idea and practiced by very few. There are only a couple of outlets where one can recycle and they are tiny and infrequently used. Litter is everywhere (oh the bane of plastics!) and though "No Mas Basura!" (No More Garbage) has an annual community pick-up day, it barely puts a dent in what is flying about. We watched a neighbor dutifully raking her sand yard of bags, cups and plastic bottles and depositing them in a garbage bin outside her gate. The next morning, the bin was tipped over and garbage was everywhere for the cats, dogs and cows to eat. It remained that way until later in the week when the garbage man came by to dump it in a designated arroyo.
In my thrice weekly walks towards the mountains with a group of women and their dogs, we joked, tongue in cheek, about finding our way by certain garbage that has blown into or placed on the cactus. A discarded and broken plastic chair, a worn backpack, a t-shirt tied to a branch, a dead cow. Seeing cow legs, hide or bones is not at all unusual. They are free range and have little to eat or drink. They look skin and bones anyway. Our neighbor's garbage must have been a boon.
Last week I took Bella on a walk different than our normal one with the ladies, but still heading towards the mountains. There, a ways into the bush by the side of the sandy road, tucked at the base of a cactus, was a large, dead dog. I didn't recognize it, but also couldn't approach it. It had not been there the day before. Was it hit and crawled there to die? Had it been poisoned and this was it's final resting spot? Had it died at home and the owner brought it here for the vultures to take care of? Any of those were possible.
The next day when we went by that spot, Buddy was with us. Buddy is the name we've given to a local, large lab/German Shepherd cross. She lives somewhere in our neighborhood and often appears out of the scrub to join us on walks or bike rides. She's sweet as can be and is obviously loved, though allowed to scrounge and roam. The vultures had settled in to their job of clean-up, but Buddy chased them off and I wondered if she did it to "protect" the other dog or for the fun of the chase. Either way, it reminds one of how humbling Baja can be.
January 28, 2012
New Baja Buddy Moves Stateside
The dogs in Baja are incredible. There is no select breeding going on here. In fact, the dogs are shining examples of not being bred for looks—they are mostly scruffy, bunches of mix and match pieces. Neutering is not a consideration. Certainly male dogs would not be neutered (a macho thing still very prevalent here) and the females are viewed as somewhat of a nuisance as they seem to get pregnant all the time. (I wonder why that is?) Unfortunately, females are often killed because of this.
What these dogs do have, however, is smarts. Most are raised outside and left to fend for themselves, so they either make it or don't. (One friend said they must know not to eat sea slugs. Nope. It's just that those that do, die.)
Since garbage is everywhere and dead cows on the side of a road are not uncommon, there seems to be enough for them to survive. They are savvy to cars, people and other dogs. If they aren't, they don't last. They aren't fighters as it serves no purpose. Not all seek people out, but they aren't skittish either, and will often come over for a pat. I've seen a couple with mange, however, so I always looks before I pat!
Of course, not all owners are oblivious. You can tell some are well loved, if somewhat neglected. Every once and while, you'll come across a little mongrel that is beautiful and you wonder where are its parents? Most of the dogs are on the small side (40 pounds and under).
The gringos have been instrumental in caring for many of the strays—of which there are too many. There is a loose organization of people who take in and foster them, paying for medical care and neutering as well as trying to rehome them.
A friend here is one of those people. She found a beautiful little girl with Dobie markings who at around a year old had already had one litter and when spayed, had eight little pups in her. But the dog, named Lola, was wonderful. Definitely smart, interested in people and in pleasing, with great doggie communication skills. However, Jeanie already had a dog and because of her current circumstances, couldn't have two, so was trying to find a forever home for Lola. Enter stage left—ME!
We have some wonderful friends and neighbors back in the states who lost their dog about three years ago. This past year they have hashed and rehashed whether to adopt or not. Their past dog was a handful, aggressive with other dogs and dangerous around children, so they wanted to be very careful before accepting another pup into their home. They do not board their dog, but depend on friends to care for their companion when they travel, which they do a lot and for extended periods. I told them I'd be on the lookout for just the perfect Baja dog for them.
I emailed them about Lola and sent pictures and added the kicker that in three days the foster parent was flying back to the states and could bring Lola with them. Quite an abrupt decision-making period, but with pictures and videos to view, and a time constraint on deciding, they chose to buy dog food, bed, toys and leash and welcome this sweet little girl into their hearts and home. They have renamed her K2 (they are climbers) and are blissfully in love.
What these dogs do have, however, is smarts. Most are raised outside and left to fend for themselves, so they either make it or don't. (One friend said they must know not to eat sea slugs. Nope. It's just that those that do, die.)
Since garbage is everywhere and dead cows on the side of a road are not uncommon, there seems to be enough for them to survive. They are savvy to cars, people and other dogs. If they aren't, they don't last. They aren't fighters as it serves no purpose. Not all seek people out, but they aren't skittish either, and will often come over for a pat. I've seen a couple with mange, however, so I always looks before I pat!
Of course, not all owners are oblivious. You can tell some are well loved, if somewhat neglected. Every once and while, you'll come across a little mongrel that is beautiful and you wonder where are its parents? Most of the dogs are on the small side (40 pounds and under).
The gringos have been instrumental in caring for many of the strays—of which there are too many. There is a loose organization of people who take in and foster them, paying for medical care and neutering as well as trying to rehome them.
A friend here is one of those people. She found a beautiful little girl with Dobie markings who at around a year old had already had one litter and when spayed, had eight little pups in her. But the dog, named Lola, was wonderful. Definitely smart, interested in people and in pleasing, with great doggie communication skills. However, Jeanie already had a dog and because of her current circumstances, couldn't have two, so was trying to find a forever home for Lola. Enter stage left—ME!
 |
| Meet Lola/K2, our new neighbor! |
I emailed them about Lola and sent pictures and added the kicker that in three days the foster parent was flying back to the states and could bring Lola with them. Quite an abrupt decision-making period, but with pictures and videos to view, and a time constraint on deciding, they chose to buy dog food, bed, toys and leash and welcome this sweet little girl into their hearts and home. They have renamed her K2 (they are climbers) and are blissfully in love.
January 24, 2012
Messing with Sea Slugs
I've written numerous times (search this blog or click here) about the danger of dogs ingesting sea slugs, sea cucumbers or puffer fish. The neuro-toxins they carry can kill a dog within 24 hours. No one has been able to tell me if that means merely nosing them is lethal, though I do know mouthing (but not swallowing) is.
Having been here about a month now, I've heard many personal reports of the what happens and it went from a vague, yet awful story to horrendous. I also mentioned the lack of success with Bella wearing her muzzle, so since the first couple of days here, she has not been on the beach and thankfully, she does not seem to mind.
The past two weekends there have been huge, local paddle boarding, wind surfing and kite boarding events that followed a Thursday-Sunday schedule. These are large fundraisers for the local areas. In our case, the La Ventana Classic raises money for the local schools and is critical in the community for acquiring much needed educational supplies and fixtures. We attended both and brought Bella, on leash without a muzzle.
In Los Barriles, the beach was spotless and we felt it would be good for her to learn how to deal with a crowd of people, children and dogs. In fact, she was stellar. Calm, curious, but not frantic to leave nor get in the water, which I had initially feared she might want to do seeing it so close. In La Ventana, after first checking out the beach where the event was being held, we determined it was also safe, and brought her there also.
Of course, you know where this is heading. At one point, Bella decided it would be fun to excavate the sand and began digging to China. Out of the hole, popped a dessicated sea slug which she immediately dive-bombed and began rolling on. It took only seconds. I hauled her back, shouted for my husband who was busy volunteering for the event and left. Luckily he had driven there with the dog while I had walked. We didn't know if she had touched the slug with any membranes—edges of her eye or mouth—or if bacteria was on her coat, could she ingest it via licking? We wanted to wash her down immediately.
The bath she received was the longest, must sudsy one she's ever received. We were careful not to spray forward toward her face, though it was also thoroughly and delicately cleaned. My husband performed like a surgeon. He was meticulous in how he handled her, the soap, water and direction in which he scrubbed and rinsed. The towel we dried her with was later bleached in a tub of water, then cleaned and dried.
That evening, we were invited to a friend's house for dinner and although they choose not to have pets and are very strict about shoes off upon entering, they understood the circumstances and allowed Bella inside. We had read and heard the progression of symptoms, so spent the evening watching her closely for jerky movements, unsettled behavior and nausea. Periodically, we'd call her to us from wherever she was in order to monitor her gait.
I had read that in humans, a symptom of neuro-toxin poisoning is a numbness in the mouth. I am a very light sleeper, so in the middle of the night, when I heard Bella licking her lips over and over, I sat bolt upright. We turned on lights, asked her to stand and walk, offered her water. How much was she licking? For how long? Were her eyes tracking? Her gait steady? We were a wreck!
Remember we are miles and miles from the nearest city where there is no emergency vet. If something was wrong we wouldn't have been able to do anything until the morning, then a 45 minute drive into town and fingers crossed we could get in immediately. There was also the very real issue of our rudimentary Spanish not being able to understanding them or them us. It was absolutely nerve-wracking.
Luckily, in the morning, Bella seemed fine although we continued to assiduously monitor her for the next 24 hours. It was a tough lesson, but luckily one where the outcome was positive. It just solidified our desire to keep her off the beach—no matter how clean it might look—as something nasty could be lurking below the surface.
Having been here about a month now, I've heard many personal reports of the what happens and it went from a vague, yet awful story to horrendous. I also mentioned the lack of success with Bella wearing her muzzle, so since the first couple of days here, she has not been on the beach and thankfully, she does not seem to mind.
The past two weekends there have been huge, local paddle boarding, wind surfing and kite boarding events that followed a Thursday-Sunday schedule. These are large fundraisers for the local areas. In our case, the La Ventana Classic raises money for the local schools and is critical in the community for acquiring much needed educational supplies and fixtures. We attended both and brought Bella, on leash without a muzzle.
In Los Barriles, the beach was spotless and we felt it would be good for her to learn how to deal with a crowd of people, children and dogs. In fact, she was stellar. Calm, curious, but not frantic to leave nor get in the water, which I had initially feared she might want to do seeing it so close. In La Ventana, after first checking out the beach where the event was being held, we determined it was also safe, and brought her there also.
Of course, you know where this is heading. At one point, Bella decided it would be fun to excavate the sand and began digging to China. Out of the hole, popped a dessicated sea slug which she immediately dive-bombed and began rolling on. It took only seconds. I hauled her back, shouted for my husband who was busy volunteering for the event and left. Luckily he had driven there with the dog while I had walked. We didn't know if she had touched the slug with any membranes—edges of her eye or mouth—or if bacteria was on her coat, could she ingest it via licking? We wanted to wash her down immediately.
The bath she received was the longest, must sudsy one she's ever received. We were careful not to spray forward toward her face, though it was also thoroughly and delicately cleaned. My husband performed like a surgeon. He was meticulous in how he handled her, the soap, water and direction in which he scrubbed and rinsed. The towel we dried her with was later bleached in a tub of water, then cleaned and dried.
That evening, we were invited to a friend's house for dinner and although they choose not to have pets and are very strict about shoes off upon entering, they understood the circumstances and allowed Bella inside. We had read and heard the progression of symptoms, so spent the evening watching her closely for jerky movements, unsettled behavior and nausea. Periodically, we'd call her to us from wherever she was in order to monitor her gait.
I had read that in humans, a symptom of neuro-toxin poisoning is a numbness in the mouth. I am a very light sleeper, so in the middle of the night, when I heard Bella licking her lips over and over, I sat bolt upright. We turned on lights, asked her to stand and walk, offered her water. How much was she licking? For how long? Were her eyes tracking? Her gait steady? We were a wreck!
Remember we are miles and miles from the nearest city where there is no emergency vet. If something was wrong we wouldn't have been able to do anything until the morning, then a 45 minute drive into town and fingers crossed we could get in immediately. There was also the very real issue of our rudimentary Spanish not being able to understanding them or them us. It was absolutely nerve-wracking.
Luckily, in the morning, Bella seemed fine although we continued to assiduously monitor her for the next 24 hours. It was a tough lesson, but luckily one where the outcome was positive. It just solidified our desire to keep her off the beach—no matter how clean it might look—as something nasty could be lurking below the surface.
January 18, 2012
Emergency!
This is a great article from the wonderful Bark magazine on how to lessen stress for yourself or your pet's caretaker in case of an emergency—and your absence. Heaven forbid this would ever be necessary, but living in a foreign country makes me very aware how critical these pointers are, especially as my Spanish is so rudimentary.
Last year my in-laws took care of Bella for a month in our absence. Luckily our mindset is similar enough that they would have done exactly as I would have in an emergency situation, But to ask anyone to make a decision for someone else to put down a dog would be gut-wrenching at best. I like the idea of using a health directive. This may not be necessary with family or friends, but would be very important if you are boarding your dog.
Having Bella with us on this particular trip still requires me to be prepared for the unthinkable. I have the name, phone and address of three different, recommended vets in the closest city. Bella is young and healthy, so her records consist of her recent shots. Yet I carry those records with me along with recent photographs of Bella from the front and side. She wears a different collar down here, both with our home information, but more importantly, the phone number of a friend who is local as we don't have a phone here.
When we were traveling with dear Lucy, who was so ill that last several years of her life, we not only brought her prescription drugs, but had backups...and again, names and numbers of locally recommended vets. (This can be found via the Internet if you don't know someone locally who can make those recommendations.)
This article offers some great advise to lessen the stress in an emergency situation. As much as you'd like to think nothing could ever happen, being prepared is insurance that a traumatic situation isn't insurmountable.
Last year my in-laws took care of Bella for a month in our absence. Luckily our mindset is similar enough that they would have done exactly as I would have in an emergency situation, But to ask anyone to make a decision for someone else to put down a dog would be gut-wrenching at best. I like the idea of using a health directive. This may not be necessary with family or friends, but would be very important if you are boarding your dog.
Having Bella with us on this particular trip still requires me to be prepared for the unthinkable. I have the name, phone and address of three different, recommended vets in the closest city. Bella is young and healthy, so her records consist of her recent shots. Yet I carry those records with me along with recent photographs of Bella from the front and side. She wears a different collar down here, both with our home information, but more importantly, the phone number of a friend who is local as we don't have a phone here.
When we were traveling with dear Lucy, who was so ill that last several years of her life, we not only brought her prescription drugs, but had backups...and again, names and numbers of locally recommended vets. (This can be found via the Internet if you don't know someone locally who can make those recommendations.)
This article offers some great advise to lessen the stress in an emergency situation. As much as you'd like to think nothing could ever happen, being prepared is insurance that a traumatic situation isn't insurmountable.
January 14, 2012
Breaking Rules on Purpose
All of us have been victims of silly rules. Rules can be made for bad reasons, but most are created with good intentions and then get tangled in themselves. I came across this link from City Dog/Country Dog regarding a shelter for abused women. The story tells of a woman who was saved from her abuser by her dog. Though injured, they were both able to escape and sought refuge at a local shelter only to be told that the dog was not allowed in. The woman refused to accept that and, thank heavens, the person she spoke with saw reason and allowed them both in.
The shelter is renovating their building so that women can now stay with their pets. The organization understands not only that some women will remain in an abusive relationship fearing for the safety of the pet left behind, but also the enormous therapeutic affect a pet provides for the psyche of the person to whom they offer sanctuary. Three cheers to them for recognizing that particular rule was no longer applicable. Another cheer for offering a separate area for those with pets, so that women, who might find dogs frightening, can be separated and avoid being further traumatized. What a great example of truly serving the needs of those who seek a safe haven in which to get back their lives.
UPDATE: More on this story here: The Rose Brooks Center.
The shelter is renovating their building so that women can now stay with their pets. The organization understands not only that some women will remain in an abusive relationship fearing for the safety of the pet left behind, but also the enormous therapeutic affect a pet provides for the psyche of the person to whom they offer sanctuary. Three cheers to them for recognizing that particular rule was no longer applicable. Another cheer for offering a separate area for those with pets, so that women, who might find dogs frightening, can be separated and avoid being further traumatized. What a great example of truly serving the needs of those who seek a safe haven in which to get back their lives.
UPDATE: More on this story here: The Rose Brooks Center.
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