Issue No. o1 • Fall 2015 • FREE

Valiant Animal Rescue andRelief

A VALIANT EFFORT

page twenty-one

Rescue dogs rehabilitate

HEALING SPECIES

page thirty-siz

Dog walking tips from theexperts

WALKING 101

page forty-eight

WeARE 

BACK!

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONScontact@lowcountrydog.com

LOWCOUNTRYDOG.COM

Our Staff

DOGYOUR SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS

LCDM believes that our dogs are our bestfriends, and that’s why we need a reliable

source to turn to for information on all things“dog” in our community. Our mission is to be the

number one local resource for dog ownersregarding regional dog-centric and dog-

welcoming events, health & wellnessinformation, dog training, trends, and local

news. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to thepublic for various lowcountry-based pet non-

profits, and we promote pet adoption and otherresponsible pet care practices.

Founded in Charleston, South Carolina as aprint magazine, we have been consultingsince 2005 with the area’s pet experts tobring you a complete guide to living yourbest life with your pet in the lowcountry.

Brian FosterPublisher, BUSINESS RELATIONS

Vanessa ZuloagaPublisher, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

TacoChief Canine Correspondent

PeanutColumnist

CONTRIBUTORS

Southern Vintage Design and Photographywww.southernvintagedesign.com

WritersLindsey MathiasDr. Helen Smith

CONTENTSCOVER STORY

FEATURES

WWW .LOWCOUNTRYDOG .COM

10

04

06

08

14

20

24

DOG WALKING 101A VALIANTEFFORT

COSTUME PHOTO CONTEST

WE ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!MEET THE NEW PUBLISHERS OF LCDM! PAGE 10

WE ARE BACK AND BETTER THANEVERBY: BRIAN FOSTERCOVER PHOTO & PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED SOUTHERN VINTAGEDESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Check out the winners and allentries in our contest / page 14

Your guide to walking it out! Page 06

Carolina Flooding leads toabandoned animals. Page 24

LETTER FROM LEAH ENGLAND

DOG WALKING 101

YEAR ROUND PREVENTATIVE

HALLOWEEN PHOTO CONTEST

HEALING SPECIES

A VALIANT EFFORT

YOUR LOCAL SOURCEFOR ALL THINGS DOG

EST. 2005

I am incredibly thrilled to announce that the Lowcountry Dog brand has been purchased by

Brian Foster and Vanessa Zuloaga. Brian and Vanessa will carry on the magazine’s legacy

to be a resource for dog owners regarding regional events, health & training information,

rescue & adoption, products & services, & the southern dog lifestyle.

A long time animal advocate, Brian Foster has spent a great deal of time as a volunteer for

Pet Helpers in shelter administration, rescue, adoption and fostering, and now works with

Valiant Animal Rescue. You might recognize him from his appearances on the

internationally syndicated reality series “Give Me Shelter” or remember him from his tenure

at Lowcountry Dog as an advertising executive.  He is also a very successful sales and

research consultant and parent to his furry children, Peanut and Calliope.

Vanessa Zuloaga is a vintage clothing buyer, and will no doubt use her signature style to

craft the creative direction of Lowcountry Dog. Vanessa also volunteers her time as a foster

parent, and enjoys discovering the area’s most pet friendly places with her rescue

Pomeranian, Taco.  She also has two rescue cats, Gentlemen Jack and White Lightning.

Brian and Vanessa have many exciting things planned to breathe new life into Lowcountry

Dog, and will shortly prove that you can teach THIS old dog new tricks.  I know you will

show them all the love and support you have shown to the publication during my ten years

as founder and publisher, because Lowcountry Dog, fans are true blue!

Leah England

Lowcountry Dog Founder, 2005­2015

lowcountry dog 4

lowcountry dog 4lowcountry dog 4

Hey you, new pooch parent—yeah, you withthe cute puppy who can’t stop pulling!

Want some tricks to keep Trixie on task? Orperhaps you’re already an old pro but wantto make your outdoor excursions more funfor both you and your dog. Follow ourinsider tips and your pooch will be eager toget going as soon as you pick up the leash!

What’s the best type of leash? “Usewhatever you feel most comfortableholding,” recommends the ASPCA AnimalBehavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT.

• Flexi-leads are best reserved for walks inthe park, when it’s safe for a dog to explorea bit further away from her pet parent. Theyare NOT a good idea if you’re walking in anarea with high foot traffic or off-leash dogs,as the long line may get wrapped aroundyour dog, a person’s leg or another dog.

SOURCE ASPCA

DOGWALKING 101

IT'S THE LEASH YOU CAN DO

Try using a head halter to walk a dog who’sexcitable on leash. “They provide powersteering for dog parents!” says Collins. “TheGentle Leader® by Premier® Pet Productsis my personal favorite.”

Our experts at the ASPCA Poison ControlCenter want you to keep your walks toxin-

free.

During the warmer months, it’s importantto keep your pet safe from toxic lawn andgarden products. Insecticides and certaintypes of mulch can cause problems for ourfurry friends—during neighborhood strolls,please be sure to keep your pooch off thelawns of others.

Even though popular spring bulb plantslike tulips and daffodils add much to our

STAY OFF THE GRASS (AND OUT OF THEFLOWER BEDS!)

lowcountry dog 6

landscape, they cancause significant stomachproblems for our furryfriends. If your pooch likesto stop and smell—or nibble—the flowers, please keephim on a short leash duringyour walks.

It’s great that your friendlypooch loves meetingpeople during walks—butnot so great that she jumpsup on them. “The basic ideais to teach your dog how tosit on cue and then require

her to sit to interact withpeople,” says Collins. “Nositting, no greeting. But ifshe sits, she gets to enjoythe reward of greeting herfriends.” It doesn’t hurt toreward the dog with a treat—or ask the person whomshe’s greeting to offer atreat.

1. If you’re planning anextended walk, be sure tobring water for your dog—especially if it’s warmoutside.

SO NICE TO MEET YOU!

Don’t forget the goodies!Walks are great trainingopportunities. Bring Fido’sfave treats along, andpractice tricks andobedience while you’re outin the world. “This willsolidify your dog’s skills andconvince him that going onwalks is fantastic fun!” saysCollins.

Don’t get caught withoutextra poop bags,particularly if you’re goingon a long walk. (P.S. This isa great way to recycle allthose plastic grocery bags!)

1. Mix it up! Try taking yourdog to new places. He’lllove experiencing the newsights, smells and sounds ata novel location.

2. Choose fabulousdestinations. If possible,

walk to fun places, likefriends’ houses or the dogpark.

3. Walk with buddies. Ifyour dog likes other dogs,consider group walks. Youcan either borrow a friend’sdog to accompany you, orinvite family and friendswho have dogs to meet yousomewhere.

3 THINGS TO BRING!

TACO'S TIPS!

Year Round Preventativeby Dr. Helen Smith, Tidewater Veterinary

Living in the South we are blessed with temperate weather year

round. Unfortunately, this weather also allows fleas, ticks and

heartworm carrying mosquitos to thrive virtually all year long, and

with them, the parasites and diseases they carry.

Heartworm disease is one of the most concerning diseases

carried by these parasites. It is carried by mosquitos, which can

infect your dog by biting them, drawing blood and depositing the

larvae within the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream these

larvae migrate to the heart and other blood vessels. Missing one

month of heartworm preventative can allow these larvae to grow

in to adult worms that can then cause serious health problems

for your animals. It is possible, but very costly and risky, to treat

your dog for a heartworm infection.  At this time, there is no

treatment for heartworms in cats. The best course of action is

monthly preventatives that help provide protection for your pets.

Given the recent weather, and the resulting standing water,

mosquitos will be a much bigger problem this year than normal.

Fleas are anothercontinuous

problem in thisarea. They thrivein the warmer

weather and canaffect not only

your pet, but yourfamily as well.

lowcountry dog 8

Fleas are another continuous

problem in this area. They thrive

in the warmer weather and can

affect not only your pet, but your

family as well. They cause skin

irritation, and in some animals

severe allergic reaction. They can

also transmit various diseases

and infections such as tapeworm

infections. Fleas can survive the

colder winter months by living in

your house. Once inside your

house they can cause an

infestation that affects not only

your pet, but your family as well.

Ticks are another parasite that

thrives in this environment, and

are responsible for various tick­

borne diseases such as Lyme

disease, Rocky Mountain spotted

fever and Ehrlicia, to name a few.

In addition to monthly

preventatives, it is strongly

encouraged that you check your

pets for ticks. This is particularly

important after they have spent a

significant period of time doing

outdoor activities, such as hiking

or playing on the beach.  

We have a responsibility as pet owners to protect our pets from

these parasites through monthly preventatives. There are many

options for monthly preventatives out there to help provide your

furry family members with adequate coverage and protection.

Talk to your veterinarian about what method will work best for

your animals lifestyle. If there has been a lapse in their coverage

of heartworm preventative it is recommended to get them tested

for heartworm disease prior to reinitiating monthly prevention.

The best treatment is prevention, so contact your veterinarian

today.

WE ARE BACK ANDBETTER THAN EVER

BY BRIAN FOSTERPHOTOGRAPHY BY SOUTHERN VINTAGE DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY

I have been an avid reader of LowcountryDog Magazine since I first discovered it at alocal pet food store. A few years later, afterbecoming involved in animal welfare, I wasso inspired by the magazine, that I beganselling ads for the magazine in my sparetime. When I first learned that themagazine would no longer be published I,like so many others, was incrediblydisappointed. This launched me into actionas I had always thought that I would loveto run the magazine some day.... and thatday is today!

When I first met Vanessa Zuloaga inSeptember of 2014, we bonded over ourlove of dogs, Star Wars and music. Wequickly became best friends and when Idecided to approach Leah England aboutbuying LCDM, I wanted Vanessa to be mypartner. Her passion for dogs was asstrong as mine and together I knew wecould take things to another level.

I'd like to introduce you the newLowcountry Dog Family!

18

lowcountry dog 10

Vanessa Zuloaga is the creative

force behind Lowcountry Dog

Magazine. Born in California,

she has lived all over the US but

has called Charleston her home for

almost 10 years. Her rescue

Pomeranian, Taco, is always by her

side as well as on her leg as her

newest tattoo shows. Vanessa

lives in Park Circle and is often

seen walking Taco twice a day.

Taco is a natural model

My passion for animals began

at a young age, inspiring me to

learn every facet of my dog

encyclopedia! My childhood

dog was a special part of our

family and after I left home I

had a hole in my life that I

knew must be filled. At 20

years old, I met my best friend

and filled that hole with a 2

month old black chow puppy

named Jasmine. As many of you

can relate, she was my constant

companion and the best side-

kick ever! After beating cancer,

she lived to be 15 years old and

she will always hold a special

place in my heart.

I didn't think I would ever own

another dog until a few months

later when I walked into Pet

Helpers for the first time and

fell in love with a beagle lab

mix named Peanut. Peanut

changed my world forever.

Because of her, I began to

volunteer at the shelter and

initiated their offsite adoption

program. I volunteered with Pet

Helpers for 6 years and have

helped adopt out thousands of

animals and have personally

fostered hundreds. I was

fortunate to be a part of the

Docu-Reality show, GIVE ME

SHELTER, that aired in over 110

countries on Animal Planet and

NatGeo Wild.

Peanut smiles for the camera

Peanut smiles for the camera

As we begin the new chapter of

Lowcountry Dog Magazine, we

want our readers to know that

we are here for them and for the

dogs of the Lowcountry. We

strive to bring you the latest

news, helpful information, fun

events around town and of

course, cute puppies.

If you have any questions or

suggestions, we would love to

hear from you. You can always

email us at

contact@lowcountrydog.com

Popular Vote Winner CAPTAIN

Judge's Vote Winner OLIVE

COSTUME PHOTO CONTEST

Thank you to all our contestants!

Thanks to our prize sponsor, Hairy Winston

HEALINGSPECIES

By L indsey Math i a sPho tog raphs by Hea l i ng Spec ie s

Healing Species is a non-profit organization dedicatedto love and second chances. They are well known forbeing one of the few no-kill shelters in South Carolina,and they take only the most extreme cases of abuse andneglect. They also, however, reach out to humans inthrough a variety of different programs. One inparticular, their prison program, helps reform inmatesthat are being released back into society through theunconditional kindness of these formerly abusedanimals. Nine out of ten inmates will be released backinto society, and through this program, the organizationand these dogs help give these men and women secondchances. Only the most willing to change and growwill participate with these dogs, all who would bereleased in the next two years. With their programreaching into multiple facilities in South Carolina,Healing Species is working to teach selflessness andcompassion to convicted criminals through theunconditional love of those who know how it feels tobe forgotten. The dogs create a serene, calmingpresence in which the prisoners can feel morecomfortable and open, giving them a smoothertransition into society.

N O M A D I C | 2 4lowcountry dog 20

One facility in particular, PerryCorrectional Institution, started withan experimental meeting to see how

the presence of the dogs wouldaffect the prisoners. The program,

called the CBU Service andTherapy Dog Project, started with avisitor, Elvis. The prisoners, and the

staff, fell in love with him almostinstantly, and both Perry and

Healing Species decided to continuewith the program. The staff couldsee visible changes in the inmates,and tensions were lowered with thepresence of these loving animals.The goal of Healing Species is tofind loving homes for these dogs,and the dogs help to change manylives upon the way. Unfortunately,because they are no-kill, they areflooded with cases of dogs whohave been mistreated. They areconstantly looking for loving

families. If you are interested inadopting a new edition to your own

family or donating to this non-profit, please contact Healing

Species atwww.healingspecies.com, or call at

803-535-6543.

A $40 donation gets the shelter

or rescue of your choice an ad

in our holiday issue for a

homeless dog. This ad will also

be featured on our website as

well as social media. Net Profit

from all donations go to the

rescue or shelter ot your choice

Email

contact@lowcountrydog.com

to donate now.

SPONSOR A DOGNEEDING A HOME

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A ValiantEffort

By Staff WriterPhotos by Michele Reid

Valiant Animal Rescue + Relief is an organization that is nostranger to working in disaster areas. In fact, their ExecutiveDirector, Michelle Reid, has worked in most of the disastersthat have occurred in the southeast over the past 15 years,including Hurricanes Floyd, Irene, Rita, Katrina, andnumerous other hard hitting storms and floods.

Certified as an emergency responder with extensivetraining through FEMA, the American Red Cross and otheragencies, Michelle always felt compelled to use herexpertise and organization’s resources to lend help whencommunities were in most need. During Hurricane Floyd in1999, which triggered the third largest evacuation in U.S.

history, Michelle and her volunteers recognized that asfamilies suffered during these trying times, so did theiranimals, and oftentimes families lost their ability to care fortheir animals as they faced unexpected crisis. Making morethan five, week-long trips into the most devastatedcommunities in eastern North Carolina, they organized thedonation and deployment of thousands of pounds ofanimal food to families as well as to animal shelters, whoseabilities to feed an ever increasing supply of animals hadreached the point of desperation.

C A R O L I N A F L O O DR E L I E F E F F O R T S

lowcountry dog 24

Since that time, Michelle has done similar relief work in other majordisasters, and was embedded with National Guard and national humaneorganizations to perform animal search and rescue work during Katrina inthe Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish in New Orleans, where herteams searched homes and public facilities. She has also developedspecialized expertise around animal forensics, which has advanced herwork in the region working on major animal cruelty investigations andmanaging large scale animal seizes (a long list of these cases can be seenon the Valiant website: valiantanimalrescue.org). Michelle’s advancedtraining and many years of experience learning about the challenges thatour state’s local governments, shelters and animal control agencies faceduring times of need, has positioned Valiant to be a critical go-to resourcewhen these agencies need emergency help, or have cruelty cases thatneed seasoned expertise. Among other things, Valiant provides help withcrime scene and evidence processing using national standards and bestpractices, and adds capacity to these cases through trained volunteers andveterinarians.

When the catastrophic raining and floodingcame in October to South Carolina, Michelleknew that agencies in the most affectedcounties, and particularly the rural ones, wouldneed help. As Michelle says, “Typically in theseconditions, these areas have to deal with a hostof challenges that range from displaced animals,to animals needing to be rescued, to influxes ofanimals into the shelters, to increased needsaround animal food and supplies. Oftentimes,agencies aren’t prepared for these crises andmany are already under resourced.”

Michelle targeted the help of Valiant this time onWilliamsburg County, where there was a clearneed. Partnering with the Williamsburg AnimalShelter and Williamsburg County EmergencyOperations Center located in Kingstree, Michellehas deployed a strategy to provide bothimmediate and long term assistance. A numberof animals have needed emergency medical carefor various major injuries. Making multiple tripseach week to the shelter,

Valiant has organized the donation and deliveryof rounds of much needed supplies and animalfood, and then worked with the shelter andanimal control to systematically evaluateanimals coming into the shelter, to providemedical care when necessary to injured floodanimals, and to develop proper procedures andcontrols for re-homing animals that areavailable for foster or adoption. She has alsoaccompanied Williamsburg County Sheriff’sdivision on trips to evaluate animal situationsthroughout the county.

According to Michelle, “It has been such apleasure to work with all of the agencies inWilliamsburg who have been working aroundthe clock to meet the needs of families throughrapid response and recovery. We have apartnership that will be long lasting, and welook forward to continuing our efforts to notonly meet the immediate needs of animals inthe county resulting from this recent floodevent, but to developing ways to assist theirlong term animal needs as well.

ABOVE PHOTO: Flood rescue diagnosed with respiratory infection and congestion.

So much credit should go to Vincent McCrea,

the County’s Supervisor of Animal Control, andhis staff. They have responded swiftly and reallyadapted well to unusual and challengingcircumstances.”

Michelle also credits a host of organizationsthat have worked with Valiant to contributemuch needed food and supplies. The BeaufortCounty Animal Shelter collected jugs of water,litter, cat food and dog food and drove thesupplies to Pethelpers in Charleston.

Pethelpers then transported a load of suppliesto Valiant in Williamsburg and took back fivepre-flood animals to make room for incominganimals after the floods. Another organizationnamed South Carolina Awareness and Rescuefor Equines (SCARE) organized the donationand delivery of 100 bales of hay and 50 bags ofhorse feed. “These organizations went the extramile and really came through in a big way.”

Readers can learn more about Valiant Rescue +

Relief on their website, but are encouraged tocontact the organization if they are interestedin contributing specifically towards their effortsin Williamsburg County. Valiant can bereached through their site or emailarrinc@yahoo.com. Be sure to check them outon Facebook also.

ABOVE PHOTO: North Charleston, SC onOctober 4th, 2015

EMERGENCYANIMAL

DISASTER RELIEF

SUPPORT SERVICESDURING ANIMALCRUELTY CASES

REHABILITATION,RE-HOMING

OF ABUSED ANDNEGLECTED ANIMALS

www.valiantanimalrescue.org

Add heading

COMING UP NEXT ISSUEHome for the Holidays- Adopt a New Friend!

Holiday Gift Guide for your Furry Familyand Fellow Dog Lovers!

Come in, WE’RE

DOG FRIENDLY

Our Pets- They love usunconditionally and we

treat like family, becausethey are family

It comes as no surprise that more andmore pet parents are including their

furry family members in their lifestyles. We're incorporating pets into exercise,visits to restaurants, shopping andtravel­not to mention the largest

purchasing decisions of our lives suchas where to live or what car to drive.

Lowcountry Dog will be introducing in2016...HOT SPOTS!  An online guideto all things dogs from where to eat, totravel, to live or just do for the day.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A LCDHOTSPOT

contact@lowcountrydog.com