Can’t you just feel the excitement building for the holidays already? Jack-o-lanterns grin at us from front porches, decorations are hung from the outside trees in scary attempts to entertain passersby, candy is being stocked, and kids as well as adults are selecting their costumes. I’m sure your pets are tuned into the fun, too. Some may have their own costumes! As October 31 approaches, remember that your pets might not appreciate the excitement of the day. It may be a hugely stressful event for them. Think about the dog who barks hysterically when the doorbell rings. The poor thing will be exhausted by the end of the night! Some dogs may be tempted to dart out the door as people are distracted by trick-or-treaters. And of course, if your dog is not particularly friendly when people come to the door, your house may be even scarier than you intended! Cats who don’t show their stress by barking instead will run and hide to escape the frenzy. Consider your pets’ personality, and if he or she is not a happy camper with the continual ding-dongs, find a quiet room away from the door. Turn on the television or radio and give your pets a favorite treat or toy to distract them.
Also remember that sweets are not good for pets, especially chocolate. Worst case, several ounces of dark chocolate can kill a small dog, but any kind of chocolate in any amount may cause unpleasant-to-serious gastrointestinal problems. Keep candy out of reach of your pets so that your holidays stay fun and safe!
I often hear people talk about one of their pets that they rescued and they say that the pet was abused in its previous home because the pet exhibits a certain behavior. For instance, I spoke with a man the other day who has two cats. One cat is very friendly and loves to crawl into his lap for petting. The other cat, however, loves to be petted but will not allow the man to place him in his lap. When he does, the cat jumps off. The man deduced that the cat had been abused. And then there was a woman who has a dog who runs at the sight of a man. She assumed that the dog was struck by a man. That may well be true, but not always.
Without a doubt, we here at the ARL encounter a large number of pets who have been abused. Sometimes the abuse is so obvious because of the physical wounds on the animal. And the emotional abuse of a dog who has lived in a puppy mill or who has been punished by hitting or obedience trained with improper methods are easy to spot as well.
But not all behaviors are a result of abuse. With a true understanding of animal behavior, it’s important to realize that every animal has its own unique personality, likes and dislikes, just as humans. They are distinct individuals. I love dark chocolate but you may despise it and prefer licorice instead! The cat in the example above simply may not like to be confined on a lap. This is not abuse; it’s the character traits of the animal.
I read an excellent article in the September/October issue of The Bark magazine that discusses how a dog’s behavior can be shaped in the mother’s womb. We all know that behavior is a combination of genetics and environment (nature vs. nurture) but new research is showing, according to this article, that many character traits come directly as a result of the condition of the dog’s mother. Think puppy mills?? It’s a great article; please take some time to read it!
Several years ago, I read a book called Animals in Translation by Dr. Temple Grandin. It made such an impression on me and I use quite a few of the concepts from the book to help people to understand their dogs’ behaviors. I believe it made me a better behavior counselor and trainer. Dr. Grandin released a new book this year called Animals Make Us Human, and I just got around to reading it. I recommend this book for every pet owner. She discusses dog and cat behavior, and helps us to see how each animal species think and behave differently and why. And she explains how they are different from humans. This is one important concept that I frequently see people not understanding. They assume that their pets think just like they do.
What I particularly appreciate is Dr. Grandin’s discussion of positive reinforcement training for animals versus the old-style punishment-based training. She does a great job of helping the reader to see why animals learn better when positive methods are employed and how unwanted behaviors can be changed. And one other concept that she talks about which is near and dear to my heart: dominance theory. So many people still believe that humans need to be an animal’s leader by exerting physical force on the animal by using such methods as alpha rolls (dominance downs), choke chains, prong collars and shock devices. She explains that this theory has been wrong all along. And anyone who has studied animal behavior realizes that this is so true. Sadly, many uninformed dog trainers still recommend these methods.
The book discusses other animals besides companion pets. You might find this information interesting and informative too. I highly admire this woman who is autistic and overcame her handicaps to be one of the leading experts in animal behavior in this country. Please read her books if you have a chance.
There are support groups for people who have lost their beloved pets but there are no resources for help when you have a pet who is terminally ill and you need to make the decision when to put the pet down. The pet’s veterinarian can provide some guidance but that’s usually a clinical opinion, not an emotional one. Sadly, only the pet’s family can decide, and it’s a very personal choice. I’m going through this right now with my Golden Retriever, Archie. He was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in June and I’ve watched him run out of energy like a wind-up toy whose batteries are draining. Life with Archie is like living on a roller coaster – one day he’s up, the next day he’s down. On the down days, I make up my mind to call his vet for an appointment. Then that night and for a few days, he’s back up again! Everyone I talk to says that “I’ll know when it’s time.” Guess what? I don’t know. The stress and sorrow of the situation is so smothering at times that I feel I can’t breathe.
I’ve heard people say that they’ve waited too long and that their pet was suffering when they put it down. I don’t want to do that. But I’ve also talked to people who have put their pet down while he or she was still happy. I don’t want to do that either! Every day, I tell Archie to please spare me from making the decision. He’s a stubborn guy. He’s not going anywhere without a fight. I think this morning I saw the fight beginning to leave him. He took his usual morning walk but flopped on the floor not long after we came in the house. He usually goes over to the cabinet where the treats are stored. Not today. He turned his head away when I offered him a treat. I think that’s the sign I’m looking for. A dog who refuses his favorite treat is not feeling well. My Archie loves to eat, and if this one happiness is now gone, then it’s probably time for him to leave. I think my decision is made, but who knows what will happen when I walk through the door tonight? Will he greet me with a wagging tail or will he just lie there, too tired to get up?
My heart goes out to all of you who are going through this pain, or have done so in the past. It’s the price we pay for loving our pets so dearly.
The 2nd Annual Carnival for the Animals was held on Sunday, October 11 at the ARL and it was a huge success!! The weather was wonderful and the turnout was terrific. This event was planned solely by the ARL staff who enlisted the help of their families and friends, making it truly a family affair.
If you've never planned an event this large, you don't realize how many details need to be covered. The staff made it look easy but behind the scenes, they worked long hours ensuring the carnival's success.
The money raised from the event goes directly to caring for the animals. We thank everyone who attended and the staff deserves a great big round of applause for a job well-done!
I hope that everyone saw either the article in the Eagle or the footage on WFMZ Tuesday evening about the search and seizure the ARL assisted with in Schuylkill County last week. Because of our expertise with horse rescue, the Hillside SPCA called on our Animal Control Officers to accompany them to a barn where 15 horses, 2 goats and 2 dogs were living in squalid conditions. The animals were standing in mud and manure up to their ankles, and there was no food or water in sight. All animals were malnourished and in need of veterinary care. The barn was on only .7 acres of land, and anyone who knows anything about horses realizes that this is nowhere near enough property for 15 horses. And the dogs were tied up on short chains, unable to even roam the small property.
The ARL brought back 5 of the horses and are caring for them now at our barn. This is an enormous financial burden to the shelter. Our mission is our name and we are here to help these poor animals. We see so many cases where well-meaning people take in animals but then either don’t understand the animals’ needs, or they become overwhelmed financially. Sadly, the animals wind up suffering from neglect. And, of course, there are the cases where people just like to collect animals without regard for the animals’ welfare. We call them hoarders, and thankfully, we don’t see too many of them.
Can you help us? We could use Purina Senior Horse Feed, Purina Omolene 100 Horse Feed, rice bran pellets and good quality hay and straw. Of course, cash donations or gift cards to local feed stores would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
We cheered last year when the new dog law was passed, with renewed hopes that the law would improve the conditions for dogs in breeding kennels in this state. The law takes effect on October 9. But there seems to be a down side to this law. Some of the breeders are dumping their “breeding stock” as they like to call the dogs, so that they can remain under the 26-dog limit which exempts them from the new law. What are these “ingenious” people doing? They’re shipping the dogs to Ohio to go to auctions where they will be sold, sometimes for as little as $1, to breeders not only in that state but they come from other states as well. The conditions of some of these auction houses are just as horrendous as the puppy mills themselves – the dogs are crammed into crates with no food or water for hours, not to mention how terrible the trip to Ohio must be.
Many of the auctions are held in Holmes County, Ohio, home to the largest population of Amish in this country. So, have we solved our puppy mill problem here in PA, or just moved it to another state? The bottom line still remains the same – it’s up to the public to stop buying puppies from pet stores and farms. It’s Economics 101. If the demand is high, that fuels supply and then more puppies will continue to be bred by mills. However, if the demand goes down, that cuts off their cash flow and the breeders can no longer afford to breed puppies. It’s in our hands, everyone. We DO have the power, believe it or not.
