Recently in Pet Columns Category

By MIKE ARGENTO, Daily Record/Sunday News

The first time I saw Homer, I didn't know he was going to be my dog. He knew it, though.

We were in the yard at Nittany Greyhounds near State College. He saw me and ran over, clacking his teeth, jumping up and down on his front legs and barking. I remember thinking that the greyhound people said these dogs don't bark.

Apparently, nobody told Homer that.

He wasn't supposed to be my dog. My then-girlfriend Cine -- now my wife -- had always wanted a greyhound. She read books about them and was all prepared to get a greyhound. She liked the idea of rescuing a dog that was seen as a disposable commodity.

From Steve Dale's "Pet World":

Q: Windy, our 3-year-old Bengal (cat), goes crazy when I leave the house. He really doesn’t play much with our other cat, though they do get along. Someone suggested we also get a kitten, but two cats is all we can handle.

We play with Windy a lot, and his activity level matches our children’s. When we arrive home, we never know what we’ll find.

Once, Windy trashed her own litter box, spreading litter all around. He’s toppled the blinds more than once, knocks things off shelves and has left us little poopy presents at the door.

What’s going on?

From Steve Dale's "Pet World":

Q: I know Chow Chows can be willful, and our dog is trying to dominate us.

The first hint was the Max would jump on the sofa when we weren’t home. He knows he’s not supposed to be up there, yet we find his hair on the sofa when we arrive home. The other day, I even caught him on the sofa.

I have to repeat over and over what I want him to do. I tried the Cesar (Millan) method, with mixed success.

How can I show my dog who’s boss?

From Steve Dale's "Pet World":

Q: My 3-year-old cat has a problem with constipation. I’ve had him to the vet three times since January to be ’unblocked.’

The first two times, I didn’t realize what was happening; he was vomiting and acting lethargic. The problem was so bad they had to put him under (anesthesia) at the clinic to remove the stool.

We now have the cat on a high-fiber prescription food and enulose twice daily. I’m hoping we can avoid this from happening again — or will it always be a problem?

From Carrie Trimmer, the owner of Who Let the Dogs Out:

We all want our pets to be healthy and happy, but in going about our daily routines we can easily forget to give things like nutrition, exercise and potential hazards active thought. By nature, we are creatures of habit and I encourage you to rethink your usual pet routines and see where you could improve and make life better for your devoted, furry family members.

Nutrition is probably the single most important thing we can supply for the long-term health of our pets. Poor nutrition can lead to many health problems, such as allergies, organ failure, cancer and even behavioral abnormalities.

Take a look at the list of ingredients in your pet’s food. Because pet food manufacturers are required to list the ingredients in their product according to dry weight, in descending order, the first 10 ingredients are most important. Here's what to look for:

Quality animal protein sources such as chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, salmon - not "meat" or "meal"

Healthy fat sources such as fish, flaxseed, sesame or sunflower oils

Quality whole grains such as brown rice, barley or whole oats

Natural preservatives such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E or Rosemary

Here's what you want to avoid:

Peanut hulls, wheat/wheat gluten, soybeans have very little nutritional value and can produce chronic constipation.

Beet pulp sugar and other sweeteners can create hyperactive and depressive behavior and could also lead to diabetes.

Artificial colors and preservatives

By educating ourselves on proper nutrition, we can help ensure a long, happy, healthy life for the pets who give so much to us.

Please consult with your veterinarian about proper nutrition for your pet. The guidelines above do not take into consideration any special dietary needs of pets with known health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a diet based on your pet and its particular needs.

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Who Let the Dogs Out? provides professional in-home petsitting and daily dog walks to pets residing in the York area. To learn more about the company, visit www.letdogsout.com.

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full -- we are lost, but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie -- come fetch your new ball!

But now we sit here and think of the days...
we were treated so fondly -- we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?

We "jump on the children," "don't come when they call,"
we bark when they leave us, climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse -- let to roam --
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."
So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.

We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads...
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears --
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the inn --
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year --
can you give more than hope to everyone here?

Please make a donation to pay for the heat...
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

-- Author Unknown

A few of us dogs got together yesterday and decided we need some clarify some things.

We do so much for you. We guard your house, keep your feet warm, laugh at your jokes and pick up your spills. We do all this because we love you; however, there are some things that need to change.

1. It's not our fault mud sticks to our feet. YOU make us go out in the rain! Don't get so upset when there are muddy skid marks when we come back in.

2. It's not our fault our tails knock things over. You like it that we get excited to see you! Stop putting the knick-knacks on low tables and then getting upset when they break.

3. We don't understand about the furniture. If no one else is using it, what's the problem??

4. We don't understand about food on the kitchen counter. If you're not eating it, what's the problem??

5. You're giving us the toys to play with. It's FUN to take all the stuffing out. Isn't that why yo u bought the toys to begin with, because you thought we'd have fun??

6. Stop blaming ALL the bad smells on us. It's not always the dog!

7. We don't understand about the hide-and-seek game. We KNOW you're in that small room! We FOUND you, don't we get a treat?

8. Doesn't your behind itch sometimes?

9. If you weren't driving, wouldn't you like to hang out the window?

10. How many times do we have to tell you? The trash guy is stealing our stuff!! Ya gotta let us go get him!

Sincerely,
Your Dogs

From Poynter Online (by Al Tompkins):

I had never heard of pet hospice until I read about it in The Denver Post. The paper reports:

America is undergoing a cultural sea change in how we say goodbye to our pets. A growing hospice movement is teaching pet owners how to administer late-stage care to animals with terminal illnesses. Vets make house calls to euthanize pets in the comfort of the home; bereavement counselors work with humans grieving over their four-footed dead. It's a long way from picking up a rifle and saying goodbye to Old Yeller, the old farm and frontier model. And it speaks to the increasingly complex relationship many people have with their animals.

We expect our children to outlive us. Not so with our animals. Yet we take them into our homes and hearts knowing this is the contract: We will come to love them, but we will lose them. Mo< This translates to a lot of Kleenex: An estimated two- thirds of American households have pets, with more than 65 million dogs, 77 million cats and about 40 million birds. That doesn't count dozens of other varieties of animals large and small, hooved and clawed.

I wonder if you know that there are grief counseling hotlines in many parts of the country for people who have lost their pets.

by Carrie Trimmer

My friend Rachel has a beautiful Boxer named Emma. Emma is a wonderful dog. She quickly responds to commands, walks well on leash and has been completely housebroken since 10 weeks of age.

But when Rachel leaves the house, Emma tries to redecorate the place, and not in a way that her owner is particularly fond of. You can almost picture the fun she is having as she un-stuffs pillows, shreds magazines or chews the heels off Rachel’s favorite shoes.

This little hobby of Emma’s has cost Rachel hundreds of dollars and countless hours of cleaning each day upon returning home from work. I tried to tell her there’s a better way, but it wasn’t until the day Emma destroyed Rachel’s wedding album that she would listen.

Stopping destructive dog behavior is actually very simple. Try the following suggestions and see for yourself:

1. Prevention: This is the easiest step because it’s something we should be doing anyway. Remove temptation by putting things away, closing doors to rooms that your pet does not need access to, and putting items up high where they can’t be reached. Gate areas of your home that are not pet-proofed -- or better yet, gate your pet in a room that is pet-proofed. Crating is the best solution if you’d rather not arrange your household items based on your dog's chewing preferences. Crating allows a safe place for your dog to spend his day without worries of damaged property or accidents. Even adult dogs can be crate-trained; it may take a little effort, but is well worth it in the end.

2. Diversion: Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs; you can’t stop it, but you can provide your dog with an appropriate outlet. There is a wide assortment of chew toys available; buy a few and figure out which ones your dog prefers. The Kong is very popular and can be stuffed with a variety of healthy, tasty treats your dog will have to work to get. (Send me an e-mail at carrie@letdogsout.com if you’d like a few "recipes.") Working for his treat will distract him from the fact that you’re gone and give him something constructive and fun to do. Try making a game out of it each day by creating a treasure hunt for your dog. Fill a few Kongs, hide them and let your dog start his search once you leave. This will help your dog associate your departure with pleasure, not pain.

3. Exhaustion: You’ve probably heard that a tired dog is a happy dog; nothing could be more true! Dogs need exercise, and lots of it. A dog with excess energy is going to take it out on everything around her. A brisk 30-minute walk first thing in the morning will help drain her of the destructive liveliness that causes her to chew up your sofa cushions. In addition to a walk (just the act of the walk is instinctually good for your dog, but that’s a whole other article) some breeds might benefit from a vigorous game of fetch or a romp in a fenced yard with a dog friend. But keep in mind, those activities are not a substitute for a walk. The walk is the single most important element in creating a happy dog without destructive tendencies.

As you can see, it’s not very difficult to keep your dog from wrecking your home – it just takes a little planning and persistence in finding what works for both of you. Pets can enhance our lives in so many ways, but don’t expect them to know what is right and wrong until you teach them. The more you train your dog what he may and may not do, the happier you will both be in your life together.

I am happy to report that Rachel did take my advice and Emma now spends her day happily crated with her snuggly blankie and favorite toys! And Rachel no longer has to buy new shoes every week. (Although I don’t think she minded that part so much!)

Carrie Trimmer is the owner of Who Let the Dogs Out?, an in-your-home petsitting service that provides care to domestic animals in the York area. To learn more about the company, visit www.letdogsout.com.

This is an editorial that ran in the Aug. 5, 2006, edition of the York Daily Record.

That the York County SPCA desperately needed a larger shelter was amply demonstrated by recent news.

Within two weeks of opening the new, 17,000- square-foot shelter, the facility was full. "We actually thought we had plenty of space," said Tom Norris, president of the SPCA board of directors.

They didn't.

You could attribute the problem to a number of factors. Perhaps the SPCA under-estimated the need for its services — especially since the shelter is now easily accessible off I-83. Or you could blame our short-attention-span culture and its disposable nature. Or you could blame the sick people who abuse and abandon animals.

Rather than assess blame, it would be more productive to look at the issue and seek solutions. One measure of the health of a society is how it treats creatures that cannot care for themselves. How we care for animals — and how we perform as stewards of this community and planet — is an accurate indicator of the compassion of a community.

In this instance, we're in jeopardy of failing.

One solution would be expanding the new shelter, in Manchester Township, just off the Emigsville exit. That would be costly and complicated. And it's not exactly clear how that would provide a long-term solution to the problem of disposable pets. It's obvious from the recent news that the supply of unwanted and abused pets would quickly fill and exceed the number of kennels added in such an expansion.

Still, it is something to consider. These animals have to go somewhere, and inadequate shelter space would only mean that more and more animals would be harmed, or abandoned, or even killed.

Another solution — and one that caring people are loathe to even mention — is euthanizing more animals. Nobody wants to do that.

But there are some smaller,
common-sense things we all can do to ease pressure on the shelter and make this a better world for our furry friends.

• First, spay and neuter your pets. Doing so obviously controls population and reduces the number of unwanted animals. It is simply the responsible thing to do.

  
  

• Second, before going to the pet store or to a breeder or to a puppy mill to adopt a new member of your household, visit the SPCA or one of the other animal shelters in York County. Rescued critters make great pets; your kindness and loyalty toward them is often returned tenfold. And it makes you feel better about yourself, that you were able to make a small difference by saving the life of a helpless animal.

  
  

• Third, volunteer to help the SPCA. The shelter almost always needs volunteers, and caring for the animals is one way you can make a difference. If you're feeling more ambitious and have the time and space to do so, you might consider opening your home to foster care for animals awaiting adoption. Every animal that you would foster is one that would not be put down and one that would not be a blemish on the soul of our community.

  
  

A recent storyin the York Daily Record illustrated not only the need for the expanded shelter but also our role in making it successful. The SPCA cannot care for all of our unwanted, abandoned and abused animals by itself. It needs our help — let's give it.

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TO HELP: For details on donating or volunteering,, call the York County SPCA at (717) 764-6109 or go to .

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