Throughout the country, there are countless groups dedicated to improving the lives of animals in any way possible. Most of these groups fly under the radar in terms of recognition and appreciation. But the truth is that without the tireless efforts of so many amazing people, the state of animal homelessness would be in much worse shape. Periodically, I want to shine the spotlight on some of these deserving individuals and organizations. This is the third installment in this series. Think back to when you were 10 years old. Most of us were probably blessed to experience carefree days that focused on fun and frivolity and not much responsibility. But what if, at that tender age, you and your friends decided to start an animal shelter and ended up caring for hundreds of homeless animals? It’s a hard concept for most adults to wrap their brains around because of the More
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Spotlight on Dogs on Deployment
Throughout the country, there are countless groups dedicated to improving the lives of animals in any way possible. Most of these groups fly under the radar in terms of recognition and appreciation. But the truth is that without the tireless efforts of so many amazing people, the state of animal homelessness would be in much worse shape. Periodically, I want to shine the spotlight on some of these deserving individuals and organizations. This is the second installment in this series. Great ideas are often born from necessity. Ideas that, in retrospect, seem rather obvious but don’t surface until there is a desperate need. Such was the case with Dogs on Deployment. Husband-and-wife-team Shawn and Alisa Johnson served in the US Navy and US Marine Corps, respectively. They had a dog named JD who was a beloved member of their family. When the couple learned that they both would be deployed More
Give Your Pet a Chip
Today, August 15th, is National Check the Chip Day. Microchipping is one of the latest technological advances that helps keep our pets safe. Microchips are permanent IDs that are implanted into your pet’s skin. They don’t replace a tag and collar but they can make a significant difference in bringing home a lost pet. Consider these stats: • 1 in 3 family pets will get lost sometime during their life • Microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be returned to their owners • Microchipped cats are more than 20 times as likely to be returned to their owners But a microchip is only effective if the information that’s stored in it is current. When a microchipped pet isn’t returned home, it’s usually due to incorrect or missing owner information in the microchip registry. So that’s what National Check the Chip Day is about. It’s a reminder to More
A Dog’s Nose Knows
Here’s an impressive statistic: the average dog’s nose is tens of thousands of times as sensitive to odors as a human nose. What that means in simpler terms is that while we may notice if there’s sugar in our coffee, dogs can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or the equivalent of two Olympic-sized pools. Because of their amazing olfactory receptors, the University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology founded Conservation Canines (CK9), a dog-detection program that trains dogs to sniff out the scat, or feces, of endangered species. Why track scat? Scat is the most abundant and accessible wildlife product in nature. It contains a huge amount of genetic, physiological and dietary information about animals. From scat samples, researchers can extract DNA, hormones and toxins and use the data to determine the causes of population decline within a geographical area. The ideal scat detection More
Blind Faith
I recently witnessed a blind woman and her guide dog navigate across a busy intersection. I was in awe as I watched their connection, which is obviously founded on a deep level of trust and intuition. As soon as the duo crossed the street, I saw a mother and her two small children approach the dog and try to pet it. The guide dog’s owner seemed caught between trying to accommodate the excited youngsters yet continuing on her journey. There’s a lot that goes into getting a guide dog ready to be a reliable partner. On average, guide dog candidates spend two years learning basic commands, getting accustomed to wearing a harness, learning how to clear their person around obstacles and more importantly, learning intelligent disobedience, which means refusing to go when it’s not safe. Once a dog has successfully completed its guide training, additional time is spent training the More
Dog Days of Summer
In case you’ve somehow missed it, they’re here. The infamous dog days of summer. Days that seemingly go on forever with their unforgiving and relentless heat — and depending on where you live, it’s evil twin, humidity. We’ve all heard the saying the “dog days of summer,” but what exactly do they have to do with canines? As it turns out, not much. Historians claim the phrase dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who tracked the seasons by following the stars. The star Sirius was known as the “dog star” because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, or large dog. When Sirius would appear in the sky near the end of July, it marked the beginning of the 40 hottest days of the year. The Romans referred to this period as the “days of the dog star,” which eventually got shortened to just “dog More
Travel Tips for Fido
Summer travel is heating up and many folks enjoy taking their pets with them on vacation. Recognizing that Baby Boomers are a much more mobile society and want their pets with them, airlines have improved their processes for transporting animals. Here are 6 things to consider if you and your furry friend are planning to take to the skies: Air travel can be risky for some pets. Dogs with “pushed in” faces such as Bulldogs and Pugs, as well as Persian cats have short nasal passages that leave them vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke. If your pet is small enough, he can travel in the cabin with you for an additional fee. Different airlines have different restrictions so be sure to call in advance to find out what those limitations are. If you find it too overwhelming to navigate all the different regulations, contact a company that specializes More
July 4th Pet Safety Tips
We all look forward to celebrating the holidays with our family and friends. And because we consider our pets to be part of the family, we often include them in the festivities. But July 4th is one holiday where we should take extra precaution in keeping our pets safe. Pets are terrified of fireworks and often panic at the loud noises they produce. Because of this, the American Humane Association reports that July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. A dog’s instincts tell it to run away from loud noises, like fireworks. Even a dog that is in a yard might be so scared that he jumps a high fence or digs a hole under the fence to get out and run in fear. Here are 6 preventative measures you can take to make sure your beloved pet doesn’t become an Independence Day statistic: Get your More
Plan B
Learning that your pet has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease can be devastating. What can make that horrible news even more heartbreaking is discovering that conventional treatment is either cost prohibitive or might not dramatically increase your pet’s life. Enter the clinical trial. Clinical trials focus on discovering new treatments for many conditions, including cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and osteoarthritis. Many of the medical therapies that are now considered conventional treatments were originally tested in dog or cat clinical trials. Most clinical research involves testing new drugs; other trials focus on experimental treatments or new approaches to surgery. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat life-threatening diseases. Participation in a clinical trial may help your pet’s prognosis and will advance veterinary science, helping future generations of animals to have better outcomes. Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits More
The Skinny on Pet Health Insurance
Everybody seems to have an opinion about pet insurance. Some feel it’s a waste of money, while others think it’s one of the most important investments they make when it comes to caring for their pet. According to the American Pet Products Association, 27% of the cost of owning a pet goes to veterinary care. And with veterinary costs on the rise, you might consider pet insurance as a way to provide affordable long-term health care for your furry friends. Here are 10 points to consider before signing on the dotted line: Your pet will need to see a veterinarian from babyhood to its golden years. The costs will depend on if it’s a routine visit or emergency care. Pet insurance is designed to help pay for unexpected bills if your pet has an accident or becomes seriously ill. While a variety of pet insurance plans exist, all plans are More