Many people like to adopt dogs in the summertime when they may have more time to train the dogs and get them accustomed to their new homes. That’s a great strategy because most dogs take some time and work to adjust. I am frequently asked about the best way to introduce a new dog to a dog already in the home. There are several things to do to ensure the most successful match:
The more dogs in your home, the more need for obedience training and structure. But it’s always best to train your dogs so that they know what you are saying to them!
It appears that the new dog law passed last year is finally showing some evidence of working. Once again, the Almost Heaven kennels in Emmaus was raided today by the PA SPCA, the HSUS and the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. Reports vary but anywhere from 250 to 300 dogs were removed and taken to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg for shelter, evaluation and eventual distribution to rescues. There is no word on the condition of the dogs.
If you recall, this kennel was raided last year by the PA SPCA and was on the Animal Planet show Animal Cops: Philadelphia. Almost Heaven owner Skip Eckhart was cited and prohibited from increasing the number of dogs on the premises. Apparently, he violated that order, among other issues.
Progress!
Please read the article in Saturday’s Philadelphia Inquirer about the efforts of our own Rep. Caltagirone to move the Anti-Cruelty bill (H.B. 39) through the House: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090620_Anger_over_dog-cruelty_bill_could_freeze_legislature.html
This is important legislation that, if passed, will stop anyone who is not a veterinarian from performing surgical procedures on dogs such as caesarian sections, tail docking and ear cropping. As you may know, many breeders do their own surgeries, and often without anesthesia. Rep. Caltagirone intends to stall all other bills that come into his committee until H.B. 39 is moved on. Good for you!
Thank you for standing up for our dogs’ welfare and for listening to your constituents.
I am dumbfounded. A columnist in the Harrisburg (of all places) newspaper wrote on Monday about taking her children to buy a puppy from a pet store. She gleefully tells about the Peke-a-tese puppy (Pekinese/Maltese mix) they bought and how their vet saw a picture of the puppy and okay’d the purchase. Wow. Has she and the vet been living under a rock? Where was she last year when all of us were working so hard to get the Dog Law passed? Take a look at the column: http://www.pennlive.com/columns/patriotnews/reeves/index.ssf?/base/columnists The story is from June 15.
Please write to her and nicely express your displeasure at how she singlehandedly is setting us back in our attempt to educate the public about puppy mills and pet stores. When I wrote to her, I encouraged her to shop at her local animal shelter instead of browsing pet stores when she is “looking for something fun to do” as she puts it. I also asked that she use her column to educate the public that animals in shelters are not always turned in due to behavior problems. There are so many wonderful pets just waiting for someone to love them.
Undoubtedly, Chihuahuas are adorable. They get carried around like babies and stuffed animals. Yet, how many people realize how feisty they are? They are not your typical toy breed. Chihuahuas are protective and can get quite nasty if not trained properly. Case in point: Check out this story from California where three Chihuahuas, each weighing only about three pounds each, cornered a mountain lion! http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-garage-cougar,0,224308.story The dogs surrounded the cat in the garage and wouldn’t let it out. I guess the lion felt pretty intimidated – he didn’t eat them!So here’s the moral of this story: If you want a watch dog, forget the larger breed dogs – get a Chihuahua!
Well, not exactly. But we will be discussing it. The ARL frequently has people call about or even bring wildlife into the shelter that they have “found.” Some of the animals have been legitimately injured; others are not. Someone found a peregrine falcon who may have been hit by a car and brought it to us just this week. The ARL is not the right place to bring wild creatures. These animals need specialized care.
Please tune in on Monday night at 7:00pm to learn more about how to handle the situation if you find a wild animal.
Do you dread thunderstorms because of your dog’s storm phobia? Join the club! Many people experience sleeplessness when storms hit in the middle of the night due to their dogs’ excessive pacing, trembling and attempts to escape from the house to “get away” from the terror-inducing flashes and tremors. Dogs’ reactions can range from moderate, they just want to hide somewhere, to extreme where the dog destroys the home in an attempt to run away from the noise. I knew a dog who jumped out of a second story window during a storm. Miraculously, he was not injured.
There are many theories about what causes some dogs to overact, and there are just as many remedies. Some work for some dogs, and some don’t. One theory is that the dog is feeling the change in the static in the air, an overabundance of electric charge from the storm. A product called the Storm Defender, an anti-static cape that the dog wears during a storm, is supposed to help. The Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science published a study on this product. They had groups of dogs wear either the anti-static cape or the regular cape. Interestingly, the dogs in both groups showed improvement! After wearing the capes during four different storms, they showed a decrease in the severity of reactions. The anti-static cape wearers were slightly more improved. Here is a link to the journal where the abstract can be found: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681591
I know people who have tried this cape with no luck but of course every dog is different. It may be worth a try for your dog.
Other remedies with varying effectiveness are: Rescue Remedy, essential oils, herbal supplements, Anxiety Wrap, melatonin, Benedryl, and of course good old fashioned prescription drugs like Valium. Stay away from acepromazine. Studies have shown that when this is administered to dogs for thunder phobia, it causes the phobia to get worse.
I have worked or volunteered for several shelters and rescues in my career and I’ve found that with every one, we can’t make all of the people happy. And this is probably true for ALL places that handle animals. The “kill shelters” get blasted for putting animals down and the “no-kill” shelters are censured for keeping animals in kennels all of their lives. Some people say that rescues have too stringent adoption policies, and on and on... It’s a dilemma that I wish someone would find a resolution. The real problem is that there are too many animals and not enough homes.
People are so quick to criticize an organization, and they have the right to do so. It helps to keep the place on their toes! But I challenge every single person who talks disparagingly about an animal welfare organization or the people who work there to put actions with words. Try working in a shelter for a week, or even a day! Just one day will be eye-opening, I guarantee you! The public in general has absolutely no idea what horrors are encountered on a day-to-day basis. The way some people treat their animals is beyond disgraceful. You think that Michael Vick is alone in his actions? Guess again! It’s all around you.
Last week, I heard about a young Pit Bull in Baltimore who was doused with gasoline and set afire. A policewoman saw the dog and covered her with her coat. She was burned over 95% of her body. Main Line Rescue in Chester Springs volunteered to have her treated. I saw the pictures of her when I was there on Friday. I didn’t want to look but I had to see what the monsters had done to this innocent. Turning away won’t make it go away. Sadly, she lost the struggle because her injuries were just so severe. But if you see this kind of abuse constantly, like we do in animal shelters and rescues, it stops you in your tracks if you want to criticize the people who clean up after the selfish individuals who make having animals shelters a necessity.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it again and again, we need to join together to help the animals.
My goodness, the birds have arrived at the ARL! We have lovebirds, parakeets and a cockatiel (who loves to imitate the rooster also in the critter room!). Here are some tips for keeping birds, and if you are looking to get one, below are a few guidelines to make your selection. Please adopt!
Cage:
Make it as roomy as possible so that your bird can stretch her wings and flap them. It would be best if the bird is able to make short flights in the cage as well. Horizontal bars on the sides of the cage are very important for birds that like to climb. Bar spacing needs to be small enough that the bird cannot get its head through them. The cage should be placed in a draft free area, not in direct sunlight, and against a wall or in a corner.
Bowls, Perches and Toys:
Ceramic or stainless steel bowls are best; bigger birds will often chew up plastic bowls which can be harmful.
A perch give the bird a place to stand but also gives them an opportunity to exercise their beaks and keep their beaks trim. Perch size should fit their feet. Variety in both size and shape is important to exercise your bird’s feet. Natural branches are great for providing this variety.
Toys for birds are designed in lots of combinations of woods, leathers, ropes, chains, bells and even acrylics. Toys such as swings and ladders are designed for chewing and climbing, and add a stainless steel mirror so your bird can see how pretty she is!
Vet Care
Find a vet who specializes in aviary care. Not all vets know about birds – it’s definitely a specialty and they may be difficult to find. Ensure that your bird has an annual checkup. Familiarize yourself with sign of illness: Change in color of the bird’s droppings, change in eating and drinking habits, change in behavior, e.g. not as vocal, huddled low, lethargic, feather condition, etc.. or any symptoms of respiratory problems such as wheezing or open mouth audible breathing, discharge from eyes or nostrils, etc.
If You Are Considering Getting a Bird:
I was speaking with a friend the other day, an otherwise intelligent lady, and was shocked when she said that “any pet you get from a shelter will have behavior problems.” Lucky for her that she’s a very good friend and I didn’t blast her too badly! But this statement was eye-opening for me. I guess since I’ve worked for shelters and rescues for over 10 years, I know what she said is untrue. Do most people share my friend’s opinion? If so, then we all have a lot of educating to do.
There are a multitude of reasons why pets end up in shelters. Tops on the list are: Financial reasons, divorce, moving to a place that doesn’t accept pets, children’s allergies to the pet, no time for the pet and even that the pet’s owner passed away or had to go into a nursing home. Without a doubt, pets are turned in for behavior issues too. Cats who have litter box problems, dogs who bite or have housetraining issues. Most reputable shelters will screen the pets for behavior issues and those with severe problems will not be placed up for adoption. However, there are no guarantees that if a pet passes this temperament testing process at the shelter, it won’t have behavior issues once it gets adopted. Pet behavior is highly tied to the way it’s treated by the family. A shelter pet may need a little extra training in order to help it adapt to the new home. Or it may not! Many adopted shelter pets fit right into their new homes right away.
So to say that all pets in shelters have behavior problems is very unfair. There are no guarantees in life. That the cute little puppy someone bought or the sweet fuzzy kitten their neighbor gave them are just as likely to have behavior issues as a result of genetics or improper treatment. It's time to dispel the myths of shelters pets. Will you help spread the word?
Do you remember my blog post from April 15 about a dog hit by a car? Well guess what? He’s healed and ready to find his permanent home! Nicknamed “Bumper,” this handsome Sheltie and possibly Border Collie mix is the best dog. He gets along with everyone – people, children, and pets. He sleeps in his foster parents’ bed and loves to be snuggled.
Another incredible dog is awaiting a forever home. She’s Liberty, a sweetheart of a Rottie/Shepherd mix. She’s a big girl with a big heart. Yes, she could use a bit of a diet (I know I can too!) but Liberty will make someone very happy with her loving nature. She’s currently in foster care too.
Won’t you please consider either one of these special dogs? Their information is posted on the Adoptable Pets page of the web site – http://www.berksarl.org/adoptable_pets.htm.
Please tune into the ARL’s monthly BCTV show tonight at 7:00pm. We will be discussing proper care of pet birds. Believe it or not, the ARL receives birds who have not received the proper care. Some have lost most of their feathers. Also, we will be announcing the new ARL foster program for older and special needs dogs. And as always, we'll have a parade of adoptable pets. Please tune in for an informative show!
Our temperatures are now getting into the 70’s regularly so it’s time for the annual reminder - please do not keep your pet in your car, even if it’s just for a few minutes while you run an errand. The temperature in the car can climb very rapidly. I tried this for myself on a day that was about 75 degrees, and I encourage you to do this too just so you know how the pet feels. Shut the engine off, crack the windows slightly as you would if you’re leaving your pet in the car. Sit for a while and notice how uncomfortable it gets. Now…put on a coat. Yes, a coat. Because your pet is wearing a perpetual fur coat and what seems comfortable to you will be hot for your pet. Not good, huh?!
Here’s an article from msnbc.com with more information: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30723511/
Against my principles, I had to watch the Dog Whisperer on Friday night because he did a show about puppy mills. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like some of Millan’s methods. He is not the magician he claims to be. I have worked with so many clients who have tried some of his methods, only to create worse behavior problems. Anyway, I was thrilled that Millan was putting a spotlight on the puppy mill issues. His show is very popular and I hope that some people got the message not to buy puppies from pet stores and over the Internet as a result. However…I was completely unimpressed with how Millan supposedly “rehabilitated” the behaviors the mill dogs. It was a joke!! Those dogs no way near exhibited the behaviors of mill dogs! The Pekinese was very aggressive to people approaching him, however he was walking nicely on a leash and not at all shut down. When they showed the scene with Millan “rehabilitating” him, the dog was obviously drugged. Any professional could see that. Another dog supposedly had an obsessive-compulsive disorder which Millan demonstrated he could “cure” by simply doing a poke at the dog and saying “shhh.” Again, what a joke. Either this dog was not truly OCD or they drugged her. It was downright silly.
The other dogs whom Millan worked with no way near exhibited the extreme behaviors of puppy mill survivors. They showed a couple of small white dogs with happy, wagging tails and nicely groomed hair. The Akita that Millan worked with walked nicely on a leash and took treats from him. All things that most mill dogs will not do…
If Millan really wanted to show the world how badly these dogs are treated, he would have put his enormous ego aside and showed a dog who freezes in place at the sight of a human, flattens to the ground when you put a leash on her, is so severely matted that you can't get a brush through their hair, or bolts away like a wild animal. That would have been an impressive show.
The Animal Rescue League and many other rescues are often criticized that our adoption policies can be too strict, that we may refuse to adopt to someone if they do not meet our requirements. These policies have been developed in order to protect the pets, to help ensure that they do not get returned to the rescue, and to attempt to educate people about how to treat their pets. As an example, we request that pets do not live outside or are left to roam freely. This has been a controversial policy for some people.
Why do we have this rule? First and foremost, it’s for the safety of the pet. Pets who wander are more likely to be hit by cars, attacked by other animals, be a nuisance to neighbors, and could even be a target of abuse from deviants. A pet left outside has no protection from the weather.
I completely support this guideline because I have a dog-aggressive dog. My worst nightmare is when I am walking my dogs and a loose dog runs up to my dog. All bets are off if that dog gets in my dog’s face. My dog will not be happy and he will show it! And the offender simply doesn’t get it – their dog could get hurt – and it baffles me why someone would subject their pet to harm.
The ARL and other rescues are not trying to prevent people from adopting, as some may accuse. In reality, we’re attempting to make the world a better place for the animals.
Predictably, the ARL has had quite a few pet rabbits surrendered lately. It happens every year at this time when people buy bunnies as pets and then either tire of them or cannot take care of them. I hope that you were able to view my show on BCTV last week. I gave a ton of information about how to care for a pet bunny. Here’s a summary of the items discussed:
Many thanks to Karen at Safe Haven Rabbit Rescue. Their information is:
Safe Haven Rabbit Rescue, Inc.www.SafeHavenRR.orgemail: adopt@SafeHavenRR.org
Some of you may know this already because the story went around the Internet several years ago, but it's worth reminding everyone. Beware of using mulch made from cocoa beans. It can be toxic and lethal if your pets ingest it. The mulch smells like chocolate and is therefore very enticing to pets, and especially inquisitive puppies and dogs who like to chew. But the mulch, since it is made from cocoa bean shells, contains the same chemicals that can harm a pet if he or she eats chocolate. Dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals, theobromine and caffeine, which can cause gastrointestinal problems, increased heart rate, seizures and death. Some manufacturers of the mulch claim that it has been processed to remove these chemicals. To be on the safe side, it's best to avoid this kind of mulch altogether.
Remember also not to feed chocolate to your pets because of the toxicity.
I have an hour commute to work, so that gives me lots of time to look at the scenery – some pretty and some not so nice. As I was driving through a small town in Chester County last week, I see a big sign on the front lawn of a house “Pit Bull puppies 4 sale.” Oh great, I think. As so many Pit Bulls are euthanized every day in shelters, how can these people justify breeding more? But that’s not all. In the window of the house was a great big “Beware of Dog” sign AND a snarling dog peering out the window. Yes, they bred this dog and of course the pups will have aggressive tendencies too because aggression can be genetic. Oh, and there’s one more thing. Next to the Beware of Dog sign was a great big “It’s a Boy” birth announcement. Wanna bet that this dog ends up in a shelter soon because it doesn’t like the child? How can we break this cycle? It’s so very sad and frustrating.
And while I’m ranting, here’s another one. Today, there was a man "driving" the car in front of me with a cell phone in his right hand and a cigarette in his left hand PLUS a baby in the back seat and a dog jumping all around the car. Wow, I must have missed that autopilot feature they recently added to cars! (Yes, I know this blog is supposed to be about animals but let’s get real here folks!) The guy is not only exposing the child (and the dog) to the cigarette smoke but he's endangering their lives by having his hands off of the wheel and not concentrating on driving. And the dog was unrestrained which causes more distraction to the driver. Have you all heard of seat belts for dogs? They’re wonderful. It’s simply a harness that goes around the dog and attaches into the car’s seat belt. It helps the dog to feel more secure in the car, keeps the dog safe and cuts down on the distractions for the driver. They’re available at most pet stores. I can’t criticize this driver in this blog for simultaneously smoking and talking on a cell phone while driving, but I can comment on keeping his dog safe!
The ARL picked up a dog last week in Washington Township who had been hit by a car. No ID, no microchip. This guy is as cute as can be, so how can he be a stray and nobody’s looking for him??!!
He has been recovering in the kitchen of our boarding area under the loving care of Pam, Temporary Mom to the Boarding Pets. She cleverly named him “Bumper”! He had no visible physical injuries such as lacerations or scrapes, but he’s having trouble walking on his left front leg. The vet found no broken bones which is good, but his muscles, tendons, or ligaments could be torn from the impact, or worse, he could have neurological issues. I carefully did some massage and Reiki (an energy healing modality) on him, and a wonderful ARL volunteer came in yesterday and brushed him and did some more Reiki. Through all of the handling, Bumper was calm and loving. The volunteer took him home with her to get more therapy and to see if he improves.
If anyone recognizes this sweetheart of a dog, please contact the ARL.
