Letter From Dog

Dear Human,

I want to start by saying thank you for all you do for me. You have provided me a home with a big fluffy bed, food and water, yard to run around in and a lot of love and companionship. You take me for walks and spend time playing with me. You let me curl up and sleep next to you at night. You keep me safe when I am scared. You take me to the vet, even though I hate going, if I get sick or need a check-up. You are my world.

To you I promise these things. I will stand by your side always. No matter where we go, I will be with you. When we are home, I will be at your feet waiting with a devoted love to protect and serve your needs. I will let you know when people come to the house or enter the yard. I will be there to protect you if you are in harm’s way. For I am YOUR dog and family member, I value your life more than mine.

When you are sick, I will lay with you and try to make you better…even when you do it to yourself. I do not judge…I just love you unconditionally. I will always wait for you when you leave. I do not care when you come home, I just care that you come home. I may smell you up and down to see who or what you have been around, but I will always be happy to see you.

Though people have come and gone in our lives, I will never leave you. I know there have been hard times and good times. I am always there with you and feel your pain and happiness. Your happiness makes me happy; your sadness makes me sad. I will kiss your tears away and snuggle up with you until you are better. I promise to love you always and try to make you happy. I will never leave you no matter what. My love and loyalty is unconditional.

Please teach me through love and kindness what you want from me. I will try my best to learn. My entire existence revolves around serving you…I am dog.

Faithfully Yours,

Dog

Being a Responsible Pet Owner: Part II

As we talked in the last blog, there are many so many things that go into making someone a responsible pet owner. We talked quite a bit about the psychological and environmental needs of dogs; now, I want to focus on the responsibility for the physical well-being of our dogs. I am going to apologize now for offending some of you. I am in no way suggesting that anyone is a bad dog owner for not doing any of these.

Healthcare, let’s just get this one out of the way first. It is a touchy topic for both people and pets. Our dog’s count on us for their healthcare, it is our responsibility to make sure that they are receiving the care and attention they need for a long and healthy life. Like with people, this healthcare is not cheap.  Our dogs should be taken to the vet for regular check-ups and preventative care. Here is a short list of some preventative care to do with your dog:  

              Regular Health Checks,

              Dental Cleaning,

              Vaccinations,

              Heart Worm testing and Meds (Check with your local vet to see if it is needed),

              Healthy Dog Food and Treats,

              Dog Safe Toys,

              Exercise.

Unfortunately, the last one on the list is the only one that may not cost a little more than the alternative. However, the preventative care will save you money in the long run. Being a responsible dog owner is expensive and should be considered when deciding to get a dog.

In addition to the preventative care, there are the emergencies that come up. Some breeds are more prone to health issues than others. As the owner, you want to take the steps to decrease/minimize any common health concerns for your breed. Again, the preventative care is always cheaper than waiting for something more serious to arise.

Please do not let this scare you away from getting a dog if you want one. Yes, owning a dog can be expensive…about $10,000+ during its lifetime, but the love, loyalty and companionship is worth every dollar.

I would like to mention that there are a number of companies that sell health insurance for your pets. If you are interested in pet insurance, please do your due diligence. If you have questions about pet insurance, you should check with your vet for information and to make sure that they accept the insurance company you are considering.

Remember that our four-legged family members count on us for everything from day to day healthcare to the unexpected emergencies. We need to all plan accordingly so we are able to provide the necessary care to allow them a full, long and healthy life.

Being a Responsible Pet Owner: Part I

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? This is a question that has as many answers as there are pet owners. Luckily, there are some areas of consistency that hold true for most pet owners. In this first installment, we are going to focus on the pet’s position in the family.

When we decide to get a pet and welcome him/her to our family, that is exactly what we are doing…adding a member to the family. Our four legged family members deserve and should be treated with the same respect as every other member of the family. More importantly, he/she should be treated the way you would want to be treated…in every facet of their life.

I, like so many of my friends, consider my dog as my "kid". I am not saying that everyone has to do this, but it does help create that healthy and nurturing home environment. Just like with kids, we need to try and make sure that our home is “kid” proofed. This may include things like kid locks on cabinets, locks on the fridge, child gates, trash picked up and out of reach, etc. I have actually had to do all of these with my basset hound. Our “kids” look to us for protection from outside dangers and themselves.

Another area that people often overlook in the environment is the psychological needs of dogs.  Dogs have a great need to see the outside world. One of the easiest and best things we can do for our “kids” is make sure they have access to at least one window somewhere to enjoy the outside world. This is one reason why dogs get so excited to go on walks. It is a connection to the outside world.

Let’s just take a minute to look at the psychological benefits of “the walk”. We talked about the connection to the outside world, but how about the bonding that occurs with you, the owner. Too often, sad to say, this may be the only one-on-one time he/she gets with the owner. Also, walking your dog is a critical part of maintaining their health through exercise. Just like with people, dogs need their exercise.

We as pet owners need to be aware of the attention that different animals and breeds need on a daily basis. Too often we neglect our pets accidently by not understanding their needs. Do your research when deciding to get a pet and find one that is compatible to your lifestyle based on the traits of the breed. Every breed has different characteristics and needs to be happy. This will make for a much happier living situation for both of you.

Remember, just like people, dogs need a certain amount of undivided attention from us. This does not include having them by our side while we sit at the computer or in front of the TV.  I am talking about time spent where he/she is the only thing in the world that matters. It could be time spent playing or even cuddling. Believe it or not, he/she will be able to tell if you are giving them your full attention or not. Remember, every breed is slightly different, do your research to learn what the recommendations are for your “kid”.

Part of being a responsible “parent” is making sure that your “kid’s” diet is healthy. There are so many types of pet foods on the market. Do your research and find an appropriate food for him/her. As much as we may be tempted and want to feed them table scraps, these scraps could end up killing them. There are a number of foods that can be dangerous to our four legged “kids”. Please see my blog from May 23 to get a list of these foods.

The last topic I want to touch on is one that I personally believe can fit in the category of animal cruelty. I know it is not going to be a popular viewpoint by some people, but here it goes. Our “kids” do not deserve to spend a large portion of their life chained up in the yard or living in a crate or cage. Would you want to be chained in the yard every day for long periods of time or be put in a cage every time you came inside? Then, why do we think it is acceptable for them? This goes back to what I was talking about before with finding a breed that is appropriate for your lifestyle.

Our pets are some of the most amazing animals on earth. They have the ability to demonstrate a type of unconditional love, loyalty and companionship that is so rare to find in the world. We need to do everything we can to foster, nurture and encourage this behavior by giving back what they bring to our life. These four-legged family members should be the real role-models to how we live our lives.

A Different Look at Volunteering

Volunteer? That was something people who did not have to work full time did. It was not for the average American struggling to make ends meet. There was always an excuse, although not always a valid one. Whether it was time or fear of commitment to an organization, I always found a reason not to volunteer. This was ironic for someone that would regularly donate and support pet rescues. For me, it was always “I wish I had the time to volunteer and help.” I had even adopted my last to dogs from rescues.

For 10 years this pattern continued for me. I would donate to rescues and say someday I would love to be able to work with a rescue group. Then, less than 2 months ago, someday became today. I woke up one morning and decided I was not going to wish about helping and doing something. I was going to be proactive and seek out how I could help.

It just so happened that I was doing some shopping that afternoon and noticed a rescue group doing an adoption event in the parking lot , so I stopped by to talk to them. I stood out there talking to them and visiting some of the sweetest dogs. Little did I know these people where just like me. They had “real” jobs and a passion for animals. But, we all had that common bond of wanting to help animals. The difference was that they were actually doing something. I have to admit, they did inspire me to take action.

I have no clue what they were thinking when I showed up and said I wanted to volunteer to help.  I was so nervous talking to them, but they made me feel so welcome and explained how easy it is to volunteer.   I was completely surprised by the simplicity of the application process. I went home and filled out the application to take back to them the next day.

I had finally taken that first step and was hoping I could follow through and be someone they could count on for help. Well, by the next day, the volunteer application process was over. I was now an official volunteer with a rescue group and three days later, I was doing my first transport of an animal.

The feeling of that first day volunteering to help animals is something I struggle to explain to people. I was so excited and nervous going into it. The transport was really my first time doing something with the group and I did not want anything to go wrong.  When it was all said and done, I was just thinking how easy it was. The recue group had the process down to a science. It only took about 1.5 hours, out of the 168 hours in a week, to help an animal. I could not help but wonder why I waited all these years to do this? It was so easy and no time at all.

Well, as it turned out, I was able to do it again the next week. Being able to help like this had me feeling like one of the luckiest people around. This little act of transporting an animal was one of the highlights of my week. It felt so good to be able to help and give back; especially something as easy as picking up an animal and driving it somewhere. It gave me such a sense of pride and fulfillment.

It is hard to imagine that just about 2 weeks later I am sitting in a meeting for a new rescue group that was starting. It was at this meeting that I truly started to understand the depth of these groups and how much help they need for various departments. The most surprising realization was that they had opportunities for anyone who wanted to help. If you had 2 hours a month, they would find a way for you to help. Many of these volunteer possibilities were jobs that could be done from home on your own schedule, so there was something to fit everyone’s schedule. In addition, it was so comforting how no one was ever looked down upon based on experience with rescues or available time to give.

I now find myself working with 2 different rescue groups with some of the most amazing people I know. I cannot speak for all rescue groups’ personnel, but the people I work with are some of the most dedicated, caring, passionate and professional people I know. They all give so much of themselves for the better of the group. Whether it is the person that spends an hour a month helping to those of us spending hours each day; everyone works together.

If you truly are thinking about and wanting to help, take that first step and ask what you can do. I would be willing to bet there is something that fits your schedule. I am even more certain that like so many of us that are volunteering, it will change your life forever. It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.

I hope you too will experience the joy of helping our four legged friends experience a life that otherwise would not be possible.

Abandoned- A True Story as Told by a Dog

It’s mid-March in the Mojave Desert and I suddenly found myself abandoned along Interstate 10 to fend for myself. I am just a few weeks old and miss my mom. What is a cute little basset hound to do? What did I do? Why did these people drive me out to the desert to dump me all by myself?

I am so scared, hungry and thirsty. I don’t understand how to survive on my own. All of these cars and trucks going by so fast, I am not sure if they scare me more or the unknown dangers of the desert. I guess I will stay on this smooth surface for a little while…please don’t hit me. Why hasn’t someone stopped to help? I am getting so tired and weak. Please, someone help me.

Wait, I see a car stopping and someone getting out. I do not know what to do, should I run away? The last person took me from my family and left me out here. As scared as I am, I am too tired to run. I hope they take me back to my mommy. I am thirsty. Do you have any water? Where are we going?

I am going to just curl up on your seat and sleep. Thank you for picking me up and giving me some water. How far are you taking me? It seems like we have been driving for a really long time.

Wow, what is this place? I have never seen anything like this. I hear other dogs; this can’t be all that bad. Oh goody, I will have someone to play with. Wait; wait…your leaving me too? Don’t go! You were so nice to pick me up and give me water. Please don’t go!

Now where are you taking me? What are all the cages? Why is everyone in a cage? What kind of a place is this? What did I do to end up here? The day started off so nice curled up sleeping with my mom.

At least I feel safe here. Although I do not understand the fear I am sensing in some of the other animals. I just keep trying to look really cute so these people will keep holding me and making me feel safe. I like it when they hold me.

The nights here scare me. It is really dark and I am all alone. I find myself staring through the cage door crying most of the night. It is not a bad alternative to the nightmares I have when I am finally able to fall asleep. Where are the dogs going when the people take them down the hall? I never see them again. Are they getting to go home? Whatever I did I am sorry. I just want to go home.

Oh good, my friend is coming to get me. She is so nice. She lets me run around and holds me so close I can hear her heart beat. It is such a calming feeling.  Why does she look so sad? What’s wrong? Why are you taking me this direction? Suddenly, a strong sense of fear is starting to come over me as I realized that this is not a place I wanted to be. I now know why she looks so sad. My little body is trembling in fear as we move further down the hall and into one of the back rooms. I can sense the death all around. We were doing so well. What happened? Why are you bringing me to this place? Don’t go! Please stay and protect me! I do not want to be alone in this room! Come back!

Who is this lady? What does she want? She has such a sweet, peaceful voice.  Sigh…what a gentle caring touch she has. Where is she taking me? I still can’t stop trembling in spite of her attempts to calm me down. I am not sure if I am still scared of that room or afraid of where I am being taken next. I am just happy she is holding me in her lap for this car ride.

What is this place? I can sense a different feel here. All the dogs look alike and are running around out of cages. This is different. Who are these people and dogs? They all seem so happy to see me. This is looking better. Yea, this is more like it. I am getting one hug after another. Finally, I am starting to stop trembling. My tail is going so fast right now; I can feel my entire body shifting back and forth. I am a happy doggie…for the moment.

I am not even 2 months old…as far as I know and I finally found a home. As the week goes by, I am happy in my new home playing with the friendly people and other dogs. The only scary moment has been a trip to some place where I fell asleep and woke up with a big cut between my legs. I had no clue what happened, I just remember it hurt afterwards and really itched. They also, poked, prodded, inserted something up my rear, and gave me shots. I do not like that place.

Like I said, all was going well. Then it happened again…someone came and took me away. I did not want to go, but they seemed nice. My life is again turned inside out. I have no clue what these people want from me. I am trying so hard to please them and make them happy. I am showing all the love I have. Why do you keep yelling at me, hitting me and throwing things at me? I am sorry! I am trying! Please don’t. I just want to be back in a loving home and be happy. Why can I not find a happy life? What did I do to deserve this?

Once again I find myself crying a lot and hoping someone will rescue me from this place. This goes on for a couple of weeks. Uh oh, where are you taking me? Please not the car. I want someone to come rescue me. I do not want to go on a car ride with you. Please no! Where are you taking me? Please do not dump me in the desert. I am so scared curled up in a tiny ball trembling, not knowing what is to come. All I know is that car rides are not good.

What is this house? I remember a place like this from before. The people and dogs are different, but the environment is the same. I just do not understand why I keep getting left at different places with different people. At least these people and dogs seem nice. I think I can be happy here. I hope this one lasts. I am tired of being abandoned places.

Why? Why? Why are they letting someone else take me away? Why doesn’t anyone want me? I promise I will be good. All I ever did was love you. Don’t let them take me away from you! Another terrifying car ride to the unknown, I just want this to stop. I hope these people are nice.

Please stop throwing things at me. No, don’t hit me again. What am I doing wrong? I don’t understand. Teach me through love not violence. How did I end up in another abusive home? Won’t someone ever love me and want to keep me.  Will you please just take me back to the nice place where you got me? Why are they so mean to me? I am so tired of hiding from people and crying.

Oh no…another car ride. I hope they are at least taking me back to that happy home. No such luck, but it looks like another happy home with lots of friends to play with. This one even has a cat and dog door so I can go outside whenever I need. This could be good. Hopefully these people will love me and want to keep me. I really do not want to be taken away or abandoned somewhere again.

Oh great…here I go again. Why did this guy pick me? Is he nice? Is he going to abuse me? I hate car rides! Maybe if I run all over the car climbing everywhere, he will turn around and take me back. No such luck.

It has been 8 years since he picked me up and drove me home. In that time, he has provided me with more than I could have ever dreamed of having. More importantly, he has loved and protected me, never once hitting or throwing things at me. He has spoiled me, trying to help me forget about those first three months of my life. Yes, the above all happened in my first three months. It took me about 2.5 years to get over my abandonment issues and to this day, I am still afraid of unfamiliar objects in someone’s hand. The memories of cruelty run deep, but it was all worth it to find a home where I am loved.

Thank you random driver, basset rescue, foster homes and of course, my loving, loyal companion and friend whom I sleep next to every night, for finding and saving me.

Dangerous Foods For Dogs

For many of us dog owners, our dogs are our kids. These beloved members of our family look to us for love, companionship and protection. So often though, that last part gets overlooked in regards to the environment these family members live. It is our responsibility as responsible dog owners to "dog proof" our living environment to try and protect our dogs from getting into things that could harm them. Many dogs will eat anything they get a hold of...especially human foods. What most owners do not realize is the number of foods dogs should not eat and severity of the the consequences for eating them. Below is a comprehensive list of dangerous foods for dogs and an explanation to why these foods are bad. The dangerous quantities of each food is not listed. Please consult your vet if you have any questions about the list.

What to avoid Reasons to avoid Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Avocado (fruit, pit, & plant) Can cause difficulty breathing; fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart; or pancreatitis. Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Bones (cooked) Can splinter and tear a dog’s internal organs. Caffeine (from coffee, coffee grounds, tea, or tea bags) Stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems, and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations, and even death within hours. Cat food Generally too high in protein and fats. Chocolate, coffee, tea, & other caffeine Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems. Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. But any chocolate, in large enough amounts, can kill a dog. An ounce of chocolate can poison a 30-pound dog, and many dogs will happily consume more than this. The symptoms may not show up for several hours with death following within twenty-four hours. Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting. Dairy products Can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhoea. A small amount of non-fat, plain yoghurt is usually safe. Egg whites (raw) Raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin, which can deplete your dog of biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin is essential to your dog’s growth and coat health. The lack of it can cause hair loss, weakness, growth retardation, or skeleton deformity. Fat trimmings Too much fat or fried foods can cause pancreatitis. Fruit pips, seeds Apple seeds, cherry pits, and peach pits, pear pips, plums pits, peaches, and apricot pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous. Grains (large amounts) Grains should not be given in large amounts or make up a large part of a dog’s diet, but rice is generally safe in small amounts. Grapes & raisins Can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill him. If the dog doesn't eat enough at one time to be fatal, he can be severely damaged by eating just a few grapes or raisins regularly. Ham & bacon Contain too much fat and too much salt, and can cause pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called bloat. This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing death. Hops Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death. Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys. Liver (large amounts) Raw liver or too much cooked liver (three servings a week) can lead to vitamin A toxicity. This can affect muscles and cause deformed bones, excessive bone growth on the elbows and spine, weight loss, and anorexia. Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. Can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. These symptoms are usually temporary. Marijuana Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate. Milk & other dairy products Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhoea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. Mouldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhoea and can also affect other organs. Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. Wild mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, coma, or death. Nutmeg Can cause tremors, seizures and death. Onions & garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Pennies (made from the 1980s to today) Contain zinc, which can cause kidney failure and damage to red blood cells. A dog that consumes even one penny can become quite sick, or even die, if the penny is not removed. Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract. Potato, rhubarb, & tomato leaves; potato & tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock. Potato peels and green potatoes are dangerous. Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances and kidney problems. Large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may then drink too much water and develop bloat, which is fatal unless emergency treatment is given very quickly. String Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body." Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus. Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed. Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death. Tomatoes Can cause tremors and heart arrhythmias. Tomato plants and the most toxic, but tomatoes themselves are also unsafe. (All parts of the plant except the tomato itself are also poisonous to humans.) Walnuts Walnuts are poisonous to dogs. Xylitol Diet products containing the sweetener Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Unless treatment is given quickly, the dog could die. Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.