Perfect Endings

At bedtime, I used to love holding my cat Zoe pressed against my chest, listening to her purr contentedly as I nuzzled my face into the soft fur of her neck.  Truthfully, it’s hard to hold onto a bad day when that’s how you’re ending it.  We know that pets provide many health benefits for their humans, including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.  While we may be feeling mellow listening to the cat purr, what is she feeling?

Any cat lover will tell you that cats purr as a sign of contentment.  Newborn kittens are able to purr by the second day of life and often so do while nursing.  Relaxed felines purr while eating, drinking, and while giving or receiving affection.  However, cats also purr when they are in distress or pain.  A mother cat may purr while delivering her kittens while other cats purr as they lie sick or dying.  Purring can also communicate submissiveness or non-aggressive intentions from one cat to another.  

Scientists theorize that purring is caused by a release of endorphins into the brain, explaining why cats purr while in pain.  There are several theories regarding how the body produces a purr, none of them definitive.  The frequency range of a purr is between 25 to 150 Hz.  This frequency range is beneficial to healing so a cat may purr to aid in healing herself.  Researchers also believe that a sick or frightened feline might purr to psychologically comfort herself.

Our domesticated house cats are not the only purring creatures.  They share that attribute with mountain lions and bobcats.  Like the house cat, these cats cannot roar.  Cats such as lions and tigers that can roar lack the ability to purr due to structural differences surrounding the larynx.  Surprisingly, purring is not exclusive to cats.  A number of other creatures purr as well, including rabbits, raccoons, bear cubs, hyenas, and bats!

While we still have much to learn about how and why cats purr, according to current science, this is some of what Zoe’s purring most likely did for me: reduced blood pressure, triglycerides and risk of heart attack and stroke, to name just a few things.  People with cats may also live longer (and certainly happier) lives.  Most important of all, Zoe was a loyal and loving friend.  The emotional and physical health benefits of that cannot be measured. 

One of my colleagues in the field at Pet Allies Network, Sandi Cain, reminded me today that it is “kitten season.”  There are more babes and adults than homes.  Statistics indicate that 60 percent of American households have at least one pet and cats have edged out dogs as the pet of choice.  However, many thousands of cats die every year for no reason other than lack of homes.   You and I can make a difference.  Please spay and neuter your pets.

Wishing all of my readers more purr-filled endings to stressful days.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Altering Our Views on Spay/Neuter - Part II

In last week’s blog, we looked briefly at the positive aspects of spay/neuter for dogs and, as promised, this week’s blog looks at the upside of vasectomy and tubal ligation as less invasive forms of sterilization.  Before we get started, our feline-loving friends (which includes me!) may be wondering if the same rules apply to cats.  According to petMD, it is always advisable to spay/neuter cats at or before maturity for some very good reasons.  

First of all, an adult, non-castrated feline will spray his territory both indoors and out.  Non-spayed females have heat cycles during spring and fall but can experience estrus several times during the season.  What many people don’t know is that both cats and dogs can become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, making spay/neuter an important step towards insuring good health for one’s pets.  Opting for vasectomy or tubal ligation for a cat would not eliminate any of the above mentioned behaviors or health concerns.

Back to dogs.  I have to say that finding information regarding the benefits of vasectomy and tubal ligation for dogs is not easy!  That’s mainly because the arguments in favor of these surgeries tend to bump up against what many veterinarians and rescue organizations have worked for decades to convince people to do: be proactive in reducing the pet population by having your cat or dog spayed/neutered as early as possible.  More on that in a minute.

After spending a week scouring a number of reputable online sources hoping to provide readers with a list of reasons why vasectomy/tubal ligation could be a viable alternative to other forms of sterilization, this is the short list of what I found.  Most people who opted for vasectomy/tubal ligation for their dogs had the following reasons:  1) in-tact dogs are more competitive/athletic, 2) questions about the health benefits of spay/neuter, 3) concerns about the surgery and long-term health risks, 4) the belief that Fido has no current behavior or health problems requiring spay/neuter, and 5) keeping open the option of future breeding.

The arguments I read in favor of vasectomy/tubal ligation did not convince me.  One of the best arguments indicated that canine endocrine and immune systems are negatively impacted by early spay/neuter but there has been no long-term study comparing dogs who are sterilized via spay/neuter vs. vasectomy/tubal ligation.  While there is a growing body of evidence supporting that argument, for now it remains unproven.  However, there is strong evidence that spay/neuter can prevent certain life-threatening cancers and infections.  

Since U.S. shelters euthanize approximately two million dogs per year in this country and many shelters have alarmingly high (70 percent or more) kill rates, the current best answer to that problem still seems to be spay/neuter.  Vasectomy and tubal ligation will prevent pregnancy but they pose other health and behavior problems that are not worth the risk.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

Altering Our Views on Spay/Neuter

Last week while reading an interview with Ted Kerasote, author of a new book called Pukka’s Promise, Kerasote discussed his bias in favor of having his dogs sterilized via vasectomy or tubal ligation rather than neutering or spaying.  Frankly, I never knew that was an option.  Evidently, most veterinarians don’t consider it one either so this alternative is rarely if ever offered.

After doing some research of my own, I learned on petMD that even in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live, as of 2010, only two vets were performing these alternative forms of sterilization.  Since vasectomies and tubal ligations are easier to perform and result in less pain and a quicker recovery time for Fido, I wondered why vets were so resistant.  And what is the difference between spay/neuter versus vasectomy/tubal ligation?

A vasectomy involves severing the ducts leading to the testicles.  Although the dog can no longer father pups, he can have sex and also retains the aggression associated with testosterone.  With castration, the testicles are removed entirely and the dog’s testosterone levels drop, showing a decrease in aggression towards humans and other male dogs.  It also eliminates the male’s constant urge to roam in search of a partner.  In addition, neutered dogs suffer fewer prostate problems, hernias, and perianal tumors.

With females, sterilization is invasive; the recovery process is longer and involves more pain.  The spaying procedure is known as an ovariohysterectomy (OHE) which is the complete removal of the reproductive tract.  The female will no longer produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone - hormones that are believed to be potentially harmful later in the dog’s life.  Lastly, she will no longer have twice-yearly heat cycles.  A tubal ligation involves the oviducts only.  A third procedure is a hysterectomy which means removing only the uterus and leaving the ovaries, which continue to release hormones into the body.   

 While some people struggle with the idea of sterilizing a beloved pet, there are known medical benefits in doing so, particularly for females.  Many rescue organizations are now performing spay/neuter on puppies as young as eight weeks.  According to the North Shore Animal League the benefits for females include fewer ovarian and uterine tumors, a reduction in mammary cancer (particularly if the procedure is performed early), and elimination of health risks and stress involved in pregnancy.

Next week I’ll be writing about the perceived benefits of vasectomy and tubal ligation.  For those of you wondering how cats fare in this argument, I’ll also address that issue.  In the meantime, I would love to hear from readers who have opted to sterilize their dogs via vasectomy or tubal ligation.  Do you see any benefits or drawbacks?   What prompted you to make that choice?

For now, I’m just happy that more people are making the connection between sterilization and pet overpopulation.  Sterilization is still the most humane way to address that problem.  And if it provides additional health benefits to our companion animals, then it’s a win-win situation for all concerned.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom

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