Another Kind of Dog Fight

Fenced in recreational areas where dogs can exercise off-leash are very scarce where I live. For a group of local residents who wanted to take their dogs to a safe, enclosed area to socialize, Memorial Park seemed like the ideal place.  Located on property belonging to Albany High School, the park had been a gathering spot for many years for canines and their guardians. An informal agreement with the school allowed the dogs to use the large, grassy area when the students were not.  

Last year there were complaints from coaches and several neighbors that the dogs had become a nuisance. It became clear that the future of the dog park was in jeopardy.  A committed and responsible group of dog guardians organized to fight the proposed closure.  Petitions were routed and meetings were held with Parks and Recreation to hear arguments from all sides.  The City Council had tough decisions to ponder in a town known for trying to accommodate the varied needs and interests of its 18,000-plus citizens.

The pro-dog people were open to compromise to ensure continued use of the space.  The most vocal anti-dog people countered that a “no dogs allowed” ruling was the only answer.  Following many months of negotiation and compromise on both sides, a decision was reached by the City Council.  A fence was erected separating the canines from the kids, creating a much smaller space for the dogs.  The park was then closed from November through February to re-seed the lawn, an expense kindly born by the city.  

The dog park is once again open, now with a lengthy list of rules and regulations posted in several places.  I walk past the park every day as I did before all the disagreements ensued.  The dogs rarely number more than ten at any given time, all engaged in play while their humans enjoy each other’s company.  It’s hard to believe that so few dogs could be a the center of such acrimony.  

There is talk that several neighbors have not yet given up the fight to close the dog park.  I hope this rare and precious urban resource will remain available to the dogs.  For those of us who reap so many benefits from our canine companions, it is nice to be able to offer something in return.

Downtime at the dog park

 by Elizabeth Sundstrom

An Education in Compassion

Several weeks ago you read about Cindy, whose father had given her a kitten as a young child, hoping the feline would fill a void in the girl’s life.  Squeaky the kitten did much more, providing Cindy with a lifelong love of cats that would lead her on a mission many years later when she worked as a high school teacher in a rural Northern California town.

While at work one day, Cindy noticed a young Siamese cat cowering under a portable classroom at the country school where she ran the Health Academy program.  As Cindy approached the cat she saw that the Siamese was guarding the remains of another feline.  Scrawny, scared and apparently feral, Cindy decided to feed the talkative Siamese, hoping to prevent her suffering the same fate as her late companion.

Soon more strays appeared from hiding places under buildings and in shrubs near the tennis courts, eventually rounding out the total number to 12.  The school was a good location for a feral colony since it provided shelter and a food source of garbage and field mice.  Because several of the 42 students in Cindy’s classroom were participating in internships with a local veterinarian, volunteering 160 hours of their time over the course of the school year, Cindy engaged their efforts in saving the cats, who were considered a nuisance by many school officials. Even the janitor joined in by contributing food.

Through their internships the students already knew about trap-neuter-return (TNR) and obtained humane traps from a local rescue organization called H.A.L.O.  Four adults were caught, fixed, and their ears were clipped prior to release.  The vet allowed the interns to witness the surgeries and also provided free shots to the cats.  A litter of kittens and two of the cats were not yet feral so the students found them homes by participating in adoption days at Pet Smart .  

Cindy’s students developed a strong consciousness about strays in their rural area where many people did not consider altering their animals a priority.  Their awareness empowered the students to make a difference.  Not only were their efforts making life better for the cats, the school eventually started a veterinary science class, expanding learning options for other students.

In the meantime, Cindy was wrestling with bureaucracy.  School officials, including Cindy's boss, hoped the cats would starve or disappear if Cindy’s class stopped feeding them, thus eliminating the “problem.”  Cindy did not consider that a humane way to address the issue and did not want the students to view it as a viable option when dealing with strays.  She was warned to cease her efforts and when she did not, a written reprimand was placed in her file.

Cindy and her class nurtured the colony for two years.  Following their graduation, three of Cindy’s students became veterinary technicians.  But Cindy knows that all of her students became better people through compassion in action.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Memee - The Montclair Hostess

“Dogs have always found their way to me; I never went looking,” Julie says of the many canines who have graced her life beginning in childhood.  So it comes as no surprise that she has spent the last 40 years as a groomer and boarder.  Her current dog, Memee, is as much partner as friend in their joint endeavor.

For many years Julie donated her time to a local shelter, grooming strays to help increase their chances of being adopted.  It was during one of those visits that Julie noticed a very young puppy in a nearby kennel.  The dog was tired, sick, and had a few tubes indicating she had been through a rough time.  Julie was informed that the Dutch Shepherd with brown paws and large black ears had been found cowering under a car.  What attracted Julie’s attention was the dog’s whimpering, which sounded a lot like she was saying “Me, me.”  Julie stuck her fingers through the bars of the kennel and the pup crawled over to make contact.

By the time Julie arrived home, she knew she wanted the dog, whom she could not stop thinking about.  She informed the shelter and made a subsequent visit the next day.  Then another visit a week later to fill out the forms and pay the necessary fees for spaying and shots.  Memee came home with Julie the week after Thanksgiving.  That was six-and-a-half years ago.  The once frightened and sick pup has grown into an “unusually sweet and lovable dog” weighing in at 65 pounds.

Memee not only found a safe and secure home with Julie, she found a community of dog pals and an important role to play in Julie’s business.  Julie boards dogs year-round, usually four at any given time.  Memee plays hostess, greeting regulars like Roxi, the German Shepherd, with a kiss or showing new dogs around and consoling fearful canines.  “Memee loves having dogs come and go.”  She has never met a dog she couldn’t abide, including the 20-pound Fox Terrier who likes to nip at her heels for fun. 

Life with dogs has been very satisfying for Julie.  There was a time in her career when she doubted her choice. What was a woman with a master’s degree in English literature doing cleaning up dog droppings?  The death of her beloved Saint Bernard/Australian Shepherd, Lucy, prompted Julie to write a book about living with dogs.  As the book took form, she realized that just as education had opened her mind, dogs had freed her spirit.  They made her laugh, ushered many good friends into her life, and gave her purpose.

If Memee could speak, she might say the same about Julie.

Memee (2nd left) on the job

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Lucy - The Road Warrior

People have many reasons for wanting pets in their lives. For Bill and Wanda, both avid outdoor people who enjoy hiking, biking, and bird watching, having a dog means including her in their vacations as well.  Lucy, a 7-year-old rescue, was spotted on-line by Wanda when the pup was just two months old.  “Her large, brown eyes instantly captured me,” Wanda recalls of the Poodle/Australian Shepherd mix.

Since joining the family, Lucy has seen most of the American northwest and recently accompanied her humans to San Antonio, Texas, on a road trip that meandered through Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico.  Traveling with Lucy requires careful planning but Wanda says that some of her happiest vacation memories include Lucy or one of her predecessors.  Their family tradition started in the 1970s with a Golden Retriever named Willie.  After all these decades, “It feels unnatural to be on a trail or a beach without a dog,” Wanda states.

Lucy knows when Bill and Wanda are preparing to go away and when the day finally arrives, she is seated by the front door to ensure they don’t forget her.  By then, Wanda has carefully researched the trip on-line, scouting for dog-friendly campsites, beaches, and parks; nearby kennels in case Lucy needs to be boarded for several hours or a day; and veterinarians in the event of an emergency.  Many national parks have increased restrictions in recent years regarding where dogs are allowed and if they can be off-leash.  Knowing this information in advance helps minimize problems and make the best use of time.  

When traveling with a dog, Wanda stresses the importance of considering the canine’s welfare and enjoyment.  Wanda would not include Lucy on an urban adventure that involved many indoor activities and required her to be left alone in the RV or boarded most of the time.  Weather is also taken under consideration with the couple choosing to travel during spring or fall to avoid extreme temperatures that can pose health problems for pets.  For her safety, Lucy has a harness that is attached to the seat belt in case of a car accident. Easy access to a spill-proof water dish in the small RV plus her own blanket round out her comforts.     

Though it sounds labor intensive, Wanda says the rewards are well worth it.  They have stopped at many interesting locations they would have sped past if Lucy didn’t need a break.  And years ago while traveling across country with Willie, the Golden Retriever, they were also the recipients of an act of kindness resulting from having Willie with them.  When their 1967 VW bus broke down and left them stranded at a campsite in Elco, Nevada, Willie made friends with two fellow campers.  After several days passed and the local mechanic could not repair the car, these campers offered to tow Bill, Wanda, and Willie to Salt Lake City for a quick fix that would allow them to continue their journey.  Wanda credits Willie for igniting this good will between humans.

Despite the fun they have, life on the road can be tiring and Lucy is always happy to get home and curl up in her bed while Bill and Wanda unpack the RV.  Another long-held family tradition; another memory to cherish. 

Lucy, Corpus Christi Lake, 2013

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Life Stinks...Sometimes

We finally joined the club.  It happened when I least expected it, plus it occured on my watch much to my chagrin.  Last Thursday, as we do every morning at 5:30, the dogs and I were standing on the front lawn so that they could relieve their bladders.  We often play a game where I release their leads afterwards and they race each other to the door in anticipation of a treat.  This time they bypassed the door, racing straight ahead through the bushes down the side of the house, cornering a humor-impaired skunk.

Sydney staggered out first, looking quite literally stunned. Coco immediately followed.  The look on Sydney’s face betrayed her dilemma a fraction before the odor assaulted my senses.  Sydney had taken the brunt of the attack, getting sprayed directly in the face.  By then Paul was on the porch having heard me hollering their names to no avail.  Our plight quickly became apparent and he was dispatched to the computer to determine how to proceed while the girls and I remained outside, me holding my nose and keeping a firm grip on the leashes.

Ten minutes later when Paul emerged from the house, having scoured the internet for information, he immediately asked if Sydney had been injured.  Skunks can bite and scratch in addition to spraying.  If your dog gets sprayed, be sure to check for other injuries including redness or discharge from the eyes.  Do not ignore “small” injuries because they can abscess within days.  Sydney's ego was deeply bruised but there was no evidence of physical damage.  Fortunately, we had all the ingredients on hand for a home remedy, which include hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap.  Sydney was more than happy to submit to Paul’s ministrations.  Despite that, we struggled to rid her and the house of the odor over the next two days.

Here’s our take-away from this fiasco.  One, don't forget our wild nocturnal neighbors.  As Paul reminded me several times, the dogs know we have company even before we hear or see these creatures and giving chase is a natural response.  The consequences are potentially dangerous, not to mention stinky.  The girls will receive a proper escort to the door in the future.  Two, keep the necessary ingredients on hand just in case a skunking occurs despite our best efforts. 

With the weekend behind us and the odor of our angry friend nearly gone, we can reflect on recent events and laugh.  It’s surprising how many friends, family, and colleagues have similar stories of being initiated into the skunk club.  Sometimes more than once!  Not a reassuring thought.

Sydney - pondering the wisdom of leading the chase

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Pippa - The Teacher's Pet

When the last of Holly’s two Bearded Collies died three years ago, she knew there would be another canine in her future.  It was just a question of when.  “They were the love of my life,” she says of Tasha and Maddie who lived to be 15 and 14 years respectively.  “They came to me as four-year-olds with a roommate.”  The roommate eventually moved out but the dogs stayed.

After a year of being alone and feeling like “there was no life in the house,” Holly began searching on Petfinders, the Milo Foundation, and several other rescue sights.  Her search was prompted in part by her cousin Susan with whom Holly went hiking on a regular basis.  Susan complained one day that Holly spent more time talking to the dogs they encountered along the way.  Holly laughingly admits it was true.  

Holly knew she could provide a dog with a good life and it was certain a dog would make her life better.  After a seemingly exhaustive search, Holly adopted a black, four-and-a-half month old Poodle mix whom she named Pippa.  A grade school teacher, Holly timed the adoption to coincide with summer recess, which began on June 11. Pippa joined the household on June 12.

The two bonded immediately despite a brief rough patch (Pippa started her day at 6:00 a.m. while Holly was looking forward to sleeping in during her summer respite).  They filled their time with puppy classes and hiking many of the nearby trails.  Holly wanted to involve Pippa in all aspects of her life. When classes resumed Holly brought Pippa to campus after school once a week to expose her to the children.  

With hundreds of kids in after-school programs, Holly and Pippa quickly became a welcome part of the routine.  Because she has hair rather than fur, children with allergies were able to touch Pippa.  Some were petting a dog for the first time in their lives.  Ranging in age from Kindergarten through 5th grade, the children lined up to take turns throwing Pippa's ball and rewarding her with kibble when she retrieved it.  “Kids without dogs were drawn to the opportunity,” notes Holly, further convincing her that this socializing strategy was beneficial for both Pippa and the children.

Adopting Pippa has enriched Holly's life in the ways most meaningful to her.  She understands and embraces the responsibility that comes with being an animal guardian.  "Dogs depend on you for everything and you have to organize your whole life around them because they never outgrow it."  For Holly, who admits her relationship with Pippa is no less important than her relationship with humans, the joy she receives in return makes the sacrifice a privilege.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Vaccinating Your Pet - Helpful or Harmful?

Several weeks ago my colleagues at Pet Allies Network asked me to write about the titer (pronounced tighter) test as an alternative to annual vaccinations.  Coming from a non-scientific background as a writer, I was reluctant to take on the assignment.  Then the notice from the vet arrived in the mail reminding my husband and me that our 16-year-old cat, Mrs. Bean, was due for her annual FVRCP and 3-year rabies shots.  The subject suddenly became very timely.  

The titer test is a simple blood test that determines the “level of antibodies to disease in the blood.”  The results are used to evaluate whether your pet needs to be revaccinated.  There is growing concern among many veterinarians that repeated vaccinations are both unnecessary and unhealthy.  A research study published as far back as 1996 connects vaccinations in dogs with a serious immune disease that “attacks red blood cells as though they were foreign.”  No less alarming is the evidence pointing to vaccine-associated sarcoma in cats.  It results in uniformly fatal tumors located in the neck and leg areas where the shots are administered.

Though the titer test is simple, the cost can be prohibitive, starting at about $100 depending in part on whether the blood is tested in-house or shipped to a lab.  My vet quoted me $350!  She also indicated that Mrs. Bean most likely did not need either the rabies shot or the titer test based on numerous previous vaccinations and lack of exposure to infected animals.  While those opposed to the titer test argue that it would need to be done annually, those in favor suggest that it is a one- or two-time expense at most and much less costly than treating some of the diseases associated with over-vaccinating.

To be sure, all puppies and kittens should be vaccinated at the appropriate ages.  But are we over-vaccinating our pets by doing so annually, spending more money than necessary and perhaps needlessly jeopardizing their health?  To help people understand the practice and potential drawbacks of vaccinating, Drs. Will Falconer and Janet Tobiassen Crosby have written several comprehensive yet easy-to-understand articles on the subject.  The two questions Dr. Falconer would like pet guardians to keep in mind are 1) are the vaccinations beneficial and 2) are they safe?  Further complicating matters is the fact that the law requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated in order to be licensed.

Much to my relief, my vet was eager to discuss titering and help me make a decision that would best serve Mrs. Bean.  We decided to forego another round of vaccinations for now.  Our collective goal is to do what is best for the cat, allowing her to live a long and healthy life.  Since Mrs. Bean often collaborates with me on these articles, I hope to have my partner around for a long time.

I realize that the subject of vaccinating is as controversial as it is complex so I have noted my sources in the article above.  There is much more information on both sides of the argument.  Ultimately, we all want to make the right choices for our pets and we at Pet Allies hope this helps start or further the discussion in your household. 

Mrs. Bean at work

by Elizabeth Sundstrom