metro pet magazine march issue

MARCH ‘09

Free to Readers

PET LOSS IN THE WORKPLACE 18KC PET EXPO 28CELEBRATE THE GREEN 32

MARCH 2009 • MetroPetMag.com 3

In Every Issue4 Welcome Pet Lovers

Happy Saint Paddy’s Day! Springtime is here!

8 Dog HoroscopesDo you really know your dog?

13 How Cute is Your Pet?This month’s winners of the metropetmag.com contest.

21 Chip’s Corner Oh, No! Puzzle Pooch?

25 Ask A VetHow soon do you start treating for fleas?

26 Cat HoroscopesHow well do you know your cat?

34 Upcoming Events

34 Subscription Form

34 Ad Index

MetroPet Resources12 Scoopy the Poo

Feature Articles6 Thinking of Having a Baby?

Barking may not be your only problem?

10 Sit and Stay for a Legal TreatWe love our pets, but does the law love them too?

14 Benefits of Mobile Pet GroomingA mobile groomer brings a full-service pet grooming salon right to your doorstep.

16 Underneath the Dog CapeIts mission is to help kids with disabilities assist people with disabilities

18 Pet Loss in the Work PlacePets are our children. How do you deal with the loss of them in the work place?

22 Don’t Whisper — TranslateUnderstanding your dog through body language.

28 5th Annual KC Pet ExpoVisit the KC Pet Expo celebrates its Fifth Anniversary this year on April 18 & 19.

30 Evaluate Your Pet FoodWhy the variety among pet foods?

32 Celebrate the Green by Going GreenCheck out pet friendly and Earth friendly products!

6 1810

MARCH 2009

22

Happy St. Paddy’s!2009 has started out with a bang. MetroPet is ready to

celebrate the green and all the other exciting events plannedfor March and beyond!

WHAT IS METROPET? MetroPet was created to provide pet lovers with local resources. This means that when

you need a day care provider or groomer, check out our advertisers. During February,MetroPet was at three different non-pet events and we handed out over 3,000 magazines toarea residents. As we handed out the magazine, we explained the purpose of the magazinewas to provide readers with quality information from local writers and qualtiy productsfrom local resources.

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!When you need a product or service for your pet, visit metropetmag.com. Please mention

that you saw their ad in MetroPet magazine, so they will know their advertising dollars areworking. Our advertisers provide quality services which enhance our lives with our

pet companions. Getting this kind of value for your dollar, is money well spent.

WHAT IS NEXT?During the next few months you will continue to hear MetroPet on the radio

(Mix 93.3, 94.1 KFKF, Star 102 and Q104). We will announce upcoming eventsand pet care tips. In addition, you will see us at both pet and non-pet events. In

April, we will be at the Pet Expo on April 18-19 at American Royal Center,see article on page 28. See other upcoming events on page 34 in this

issue and at metropetmag.com.

Barbara Riedel, Publisher

P.S. This magazine is FREEto you — because of ouradvertisers support. Please

tell them you saw their ad inMetroPet. Happy Spring!

Publisher’s Message Staff &Contacts

PublisherBarbara Riedel

[email protected]

Editor/ProductionManagerDan O'Leary

[email protected]

Layout/GraphicDesign

Alison [email protected]

Web MasterJon Dunn

[email protected]

Advertising [email protected]

Contributing AuthorsMichelle Chappell, DVM, CVA

Sarah DixonAnna GepsonPat HennessyAnita Larson

Suezanne LawPat Riha

Lea Ann ShearerJoel Zand

PhotographerDan O'Leary

Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065

Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433

Fax: 816.941.4655

Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPetMagazine express the opinions of the individual authors and donot necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPetMagazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily consti-tute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine.

Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for considerationfor publication to [email protected]. All materials are sub-ject to editorial review.

© 2008 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Requestreprint permissions at [email protected].

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are full he can understand your directions,but also remember to practice the hand sig-nals so he can be successful when baby’ssleeping, too. And if your dog has ever, evershown aggression or even discomfort towardshumans of any age, consult a professional dogtrainer or behaviorist now — before bring-ing up Baby takes precedence over trainingthe family dog.

NEW SENSESBabies bring all manner of new sights and

sounds and smells with them when theyarrive. Some of these stimuli will excite yourdog, some will intrigue or possibly annoyhim, and some may scare his little furry pantsoff! But all these things are a natural part ofbabyhood, and as such, they are not going togo away anytime soon. Help your dog learn toassociate all things Baby with good things forhim, rather than with chaos and change. Buybaby sounds CDs and make them the sound-track to your daily routine: begin with the vol-ume adjusted low so the sounds are just bare-ly audible, and as everyone in the familybecomes accustomed to the noise, beginincreasing it until you reach the ear-splittinglevels of real life. Also, as you begin setting upthe baby furniture, introduce your dog to it inways that teach him appropriate behaviors topractice once it is occupied by your little bun-dle of joy. And reward him for picking up toysor items that smell like him while directinghis interest away from Baby’s things —remember dogs will always do what’s mostrewarding to them at the time, so practicegood housekeeping, too!

HEAVY PETTINGTeach your dog to enjoy a little “heavy pet-

ting” so that he remains comfortable whenchubby hands pull and poke and pat. Firmlystroke his fur while offering him some tastychicken. Gently tug on his ear while he muncheson bacon. Let him slurp peanut butter off yourpalm while pull his tail this way and that. At the

6 MetroPet Magazine MARCH 2009

by Suezanne Law

Baby’s homecoming should be a joyous event for everyone in the family. Butunfortunately, the pitter-patter of little feet — not to mention the crying, chaoticschedules, and cranky parents that follow close on their heels — strikes fear inthe heart of many a brave dog. Too many dogs lose their homes when, in a sleep-deprived haze their families decide that something has to give. You don’t have tomake such a heart-breaking decision if, while you plan for Timmy’s arrival, youhelp Lassie get ready too. Here are some important things to consider.

BRUSH UP ON YOUR DOG’S SKILLSMake sure his Stay stays put and his Come comes running the first time you say

each cue. Make sure your dog responds to verbal cues so that when your hands

Help your dog learn to associate all thingsBaby with good things

for him, rather thanwith chaos and change.

Thinking ofhaving a baby?

Barking may not be youronly problem

same time, teach your child gentle touches to share as he grows upalongside his new best friend.

A NEW ROUTINESchedule changes confuse and disturb many dogs, so begin living

your schedule as though Baby were home several weeks in advanceof his arrival. Buy or borrow an appropriately sized baby-doll andpractice feeding, changing diapers, and playtime so that your dogknows what you expect of him in each of these situations. Get up inthe night, turn on the lights, and rattle around in the kitchen if youwill be preparing bottles so that your dog doesn’t mistake you for anintruder. And think about how you will prepare your dog (and Baby,too) for your eventual return to work if that is part of your plan.

WELCOME

HOME MOM!And finally, when

Mom comes homefrom the hospital,have someone elsecarry the two-leggedbaby so she can properlygreet her four-legged one! If she has had a difficult delivery, or if shehas had surgery, leash Fido so Mom can enter safely and sit downbefore saying hello. Never, ever punish your dog around your child.Your dog should see your child as just another wonderful human inhis life, but if he receives punishment every time the little nippercomes out to play, he may become a little nipper (or, rather, biter)himself.

Suezanne M. Law is a canine-human relationship counselor and accrediteddog trainer. She opened Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC to better tailor her train-ing curriculum to the needs of her community. Visit her at www.sympawti-co.com.

Get up in the night, turn on thelights, and rattle around in thekitchen if you will be preparingbottles so that your dog doesn’t

mistake you for an intruder.

This new life-style will effectmore than just you. Be ready for itby preparing everyone in your life!

MARCH 2009 MetroPetMag.com 7


Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper Much like the “Elephant’s Child,” whoalways wanted to know more, this canine will beinquisitive and enquring. This dog thrives in newenvironments and will love it if the owner houseshe or she with a friend for a few days. This is, how-ever, a dog which tends not to be overly-faithfuland, given the opportunity, may run away forever.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Home-Lover This canine possesses a nestinginstinct and will establish their corner and then setabout filling it with treasures which will be protect-ed. If those treasures happen to belong to anotherthen that is unfortunate, for it will literally hang onto anything that they feel is a personal belonging.In the eyes of this canine, possession is nine-tenths of the law.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Boss-Dog This canine rarely knows what itmeans to be afraid and makes for an excellent policedog, relentlessly pursuing criminals, entering blazingbuildings without a second thought and tenaciouslysniffing-out bombs. The Leo Dog, however, cannotbear to be ignored. The vanity of this canine knows nolimit and he or she adores being the center of attraction.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper This dog is never happier than whenthey are doing something for their owner. This caninewill take over some of the many chores which pile upduring the day... bringing in the laundry, counting thesocks, clearing the table. However, this truly helpfuldog does not always get it right. As a creature of rou-tine and habit, they will expect to be fed and walkedat the same time every day.

Canine SignsPisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Interpreter Country walks have atendency to turn into swimming galas as this dog rolls in every puddle and will run formiles to find a stream. The Pisces Dog becomes extremely excited at the sight of rainand when an owner takes a bath or shower, it is not unusual for the Pisces Dog tojoin in the ablutions. They will also come running with every flush of the toilet.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Shop-Steward The Libra Dog will refuse to bebanished to an outside kennel, unless the owner isalso willing to take up residence within. Thus, thiscanine will only be truly happy with an owner who isprepared to put themself out for the sake of the dog.This dog will never stand for being treated like a dogwhile their owner is permitted to live like a person.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Paragon It will be important for any owner of aScorpio Dog to remember that, as the human, youwill always be bigger than this canine. Even when theScorpio Dog attempts to tower over an owner byleaping upon the table, the human should remindthemselves of that fact.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Problem Dog In short, life with a Sagittarius Dogwill never, ever be dull. This dog is an independentcreature, preferring to make a personal choiceregarding who their living companions will be. Thefact that an owner may have paid through the nose,and chosen this canine with great care when theywere only a small pup, carries no weight whatsoever.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Social Climber Problems arise with a CapricornDog if their living standards fail to improve. The olderthis canine becomes, the more beset by deep

depression they will be once realization sets in thatthere is no possible opportunity for social further-ance. Under such circumstances, the Capricorn Dogis liable to adopt a defeatist attitude and will nolonger try to please.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Friend The most humane of the species, peo-ple are most assuredly this dog’s “thing” and theywill get on brilliantly with an owner...as well as witheveryone else for that matter.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack The end relationship betweenthe Aries Dog and their human will largely be one ofcompromise...usually on the part of the owner...butcan be most enjoyable once the owner is “trained.”In short, the Aries Dog is basically a warm-heartedcreature who will prove to be amusing, and he or sheis incapable of sulking or holding a grudge for long.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)The Strong Silent Type This is one canine who lovesto eat and is often aggressive around food. It is notunusual for the Taurus Dog to dig holes and lay awaya goodly supply of kibble for a rainy day. Physicallyvery strong when young, this dog is prone to get fatwith age. In fact, it is somewhat rare to find an olderTaurus Dog who is not overweight. For the sake oftheir health, it is sometimes necessary to put thiscanine on a diet in order to avoid obesity.



We love our pets, but does the

law love them too? Today, the

answer is often a resounding

“Yes.” There are laws to help you

avoid choosing between giving up

your home or your dog, pet trusts

that guarantee care for your

animal when you die, and a

variety of other laws. Here is a

closer look at some of the most

commonly referenced laws.

DOG BITES AND THE LAWIf you are the victim of an animal or

dog bite, you should seek medical helpimmediately. If an animal bit you, it maybite others too. Local public health offi-cials will need to test the animal forrabies, and a bite victim will likely needshots. Rabies vaccines are generallyeffective only for a few years, and needto be repeated regularly.

If your dog bites someone, or if youhave been bitten by another dog, don’twait to investigate your legal rights.Animal bite victims may be entitled tocompensation for injuries, medicalexpenses, and more. States have differ-ent owner liability standards in dog bitecases. California and Nebraska, forexample, impose strict liability on own-ers for bites, even if their pet had neverbitten anyone before. Other states have a“one-bite rule” which doesn’t makeowners liable for a dog bite unless a

by Joel Zand

Pet Law:Sit and Stay for a

Legal Treat!


victim can show that the doghad a history of biting.Contact a local lawyer if youhave questions about bites andyour rights.

DOG INJURY LAWSUITS:WHAT’S YOUR POOCH

OR KITTY WORTH?If your pet is injured or killed

by a neighbor, you could sue fordamages. If the death was inten-tional, the perpetrator of thecrime could also face jail time.But how much can you be compensated foryour loss? Generally, not a lot of money. InConnecticut, owners can sue for the negligentkilling of a pet, but there’s a catch. State lawrequires courts to treat Fido or Fifi as “per-sonal property.” That means you are unlikelyto get significant damages, but rather anamount equal to your pet’s “replacementvalue,” the same legal standard many insur-ance companies use for car accident claimsor damaged items in your home after a fire.

BREED-BASED BANSA number of cities and towns across the U.S.

have laws banning particular dog breeds. SanFrancisco, Miami, Sioux City, Iowa, and otherlocalities passed laws restricting the owner-ship or breeding of pit bulls. People whoowned and licensed them before these lawswere enacted may be exempt “grandfatheredout” from complying with the law for their cur-rent dog(s). You should check whether breed-specific restrictions exist where you live. It isalso wise to see if your homeowner’s orrenter’s insurance policy excludes liabilitycoverage for particular dog breeds and otheranimals. Many do.

PET TRUSTSApproximately 40 states have laws that allow

you to create a legal trust for your pet. A trustmanages the distribution of a person's prop-erty by transferring its benefits and obliga-tions to different people, or if your state per-mits, to different pets! Leona Helmsley setaside $12 million in pet trust for her dog,Trouble. Tobacco heiress, Doris Duke did thesame thing.

If you live in a state that recognizes pet

trusts, you can set money aside to provide foryour pet’s care during its lifetime long afteryou’ve died. An attorney can do that for you,making sure the appropriate legal language isadded to your will to protect your pooch. Even ifyou don’t have a will, but want to provide foryour pet, now is a good time to have one madespecifically for your needs. continued-->

PETS AND HOUSINGMany people with pets first

encounter legal problemswhen renting an apartment orbuying a home. “No pet claus-es” in rental agreements andcondo association rules havebecome standard language.Pet owners, however, mayhave legal options to preventthem from having to choosebetween giving up an animalor giving up their home.

New York City, for example,lets you fight a landlord’sattempt to evict you, even ifthere is a “no pet” paragraph in your lease. If you prove thatyour landlord, doorman, or building superintendent knew aboutyour pet for 90 days, but did not act to get rid of it, you can fightan eviction attempt.

Tenants and homeowners with therapy or “emotional supportanimals” have legal rights under the federal Fair Housing Act tohave animals in a home that doesn’t allow pets. New York Citylawyer Maddy Tarnofsky notes that this federal law makes “theidea of an emotional support animal... no longer laughable.”

POOPER SCOOPER LAWSMany cities have pooper-scooper laws fining owners if they

don’t pick up their dog’s waste. “If you’ve ever stepped in dogdoo,” said former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, “you know howimportant it is to enforce” the Big Apple’s canine waste law. Evenif your city doesn’t legally require it — something that doesn’toften happen — picking up your pet’s waste is the responsiblething to do.

PET CUSTODY DISPUTESDivorcing couples generally resolve custody issues of their

pets without heading to court. Today, however, that is not alwaysthe case. Some people sue to get a pet back after a bitterbreakup.

If you are getting married, resolving pet custody issues via aprenuptial agreement can be prudent. Don’t think of it as plan-ning to divorce, but rather, a way of protecting you and your petif married life doesn’t turn out so well. A well-written prenupcan get you and your pet out of a potentially challenging time.

Pets play an important role in our lives. Their unconditionallove (for you and that bag of treats!) is worth defending whenyou’re in a legal crunch. Just remember thatyou and your animal companions may havemore legal rights than you ever imagined.

Joel Zand is responsible for Partnershipsand Consumer Content at FindLaw.com, andhe is the attorney who created DogLaw.com.


WHO? Scoopy the Poo — Lori & Alan Stiles

WHERE? Lee’s Summit, MO Equipment Sales: 816-412-9000Service: 816-524-0606 www.scoopythepoo.com

email: [email protected]

HOW LONG IN BUSINESS? Since 2005

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT?We completely understand the trials and tribulations of dog

waste removal. Therefore, our company provides two convenientoptions. If you clean your yard, we sell durable equipmentprofessional pooper scoopers use. If you want your yardprofessionally cleaned each week, we provide affordable,dependable and superior service.

BENEFITS OF SCOOPY THE POO

Scoopy the Poo is the only company in the world thatsells professional grade dog waste removal equipment.Until now, individuals have had to struggle with equipment avail-able at retail stores. Unlike retail equipment our product is san-itary, durable, efficient, affordable, and has an ergonomic backsaver handle and height adjustable rake. We are currently receiv-ing worldwide recognition that our equipment is superior to anyother product on the market. In addition, our equipment hasmulti-functions such as yard debris cleanup and general dustpan use. You can now eliminate bending over to pick up leaves,grass clippings, pulled weeds, and clippings from hedges. Justrake it all into the bucket.

As for our service, we maintain weekly communication withour clients by leaving notes on each visit. The output of dog waste(anything abnormal) allows us the opportunity to be the front-line of defense against any potential illness for our client’sdog(s). Output that is normal provides our clients with peace ofmind that their dog is happy and healthy.

REASONS CUSTOMERS COME BACK! Our equipment is receiving fabulous testimonies of

praise and adulation. The feedback is phenomenal regarding theease of use with no mess and frustration. Individuals who havenever cleaned their yard are telling us how easy the equipment isto use. As for our service, we enjoy building relationships withour clients and their dogs. We are in this business because weabsolutely love dogs!

See our ad on pg. 11

METROPET RESOURCE


How Cute is Your Pet?Enter your pet in our contest!

Submit your pet’s photo at MetroPetMag.com

ENTER THE ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST AT WWW.METROPETMAG.COM

Dolly and Darlyn — Dolly and Darlyn,our pets. Pomeranian and Main Coon! Whata pair...they romp and play. Submitted byCarolyn.

Tug — This is our new little boy, Tug. He’s a shipoo and the sweetestlittle guy. We almost lost him due to low blood sugar, but our local vetsaved him just in time. This photo was taken after his first grooming!Submitted by Kathryn

FULL-SERVICE RIGHT TO YOUR

DOORSTEPA mobile groomer brings a full-service pet

grooming salon right to your doorstep. It’s likea private pet spa on wheels. The mobile salon,filled with professional grooming equipmentand operated by a professional groomer, is agreat way to help you keep Fido and Fluffy cleanand healthy. There are no cages and no otheranimals, creating a stress-free environment foryour pet. Usually, the mobile unit is operated byone groomer, meaning that your pet is handledby the same person from start to finish. Thisallows the pet to develop a relationship with thegroomer and ultimately look forward to beinggroomed. Wouldn’t it be great if your pet actuallyenjoyed the grooming process?

Most mobile groomers canprovide the same services youwould find in a traditional groomshop. They have the tools andexpertise to:• Bathe and dry your precious pooch• Perform puppy cuts• Breed clips or shavedowns• Clean eyes and ears• Trim nails and brush teeth

Additional services offered:• Special shampoos• Skin and coat conditioners• De-shedding treatments• Remedies for fleas and ticks.


Benefits of MobilePet Grooming

Just like humans, dogs and cats require regular grooming to stayhealthy. Without regular bathing, pets are more susceptible to ringworms,mites and other skin conditions, as well as, infections in the nose, mouth,eyes and ears. Matted or unbrushed fur can pull uncomfortably on skinand lead to hot spots; improper nail care can lead to difficulty walking andeven early arthritis. Eyes & ears should be cleaned regularly for optimalhealth. Thanks to the growing number of mobile grooming services,caring for your furry friends no longer requires time-consuming, gas-guz-zling, stressful visits to the groomer.

by Anna Gepson

Thanks to the growing number of mobile grooming

services, caring for yourfurry friends no longer

requires time-consuming,gas-guzzling, stressful visits to the groomer.


WHAT IF I HAVE A LARGE DOG?While some can accommodate any size pet

(even those over 150 lbs.!), others haveweight limits. If you have a very large dog,make sure the groomer can handle him orher.

WHAT IF I HAVE A CAT?Some mobile groomers are even brave

enough to groom cats! Mobile grooming isespecially good for cats that require sedation ina regular groom shop. In the low-stress envi-ronment of a mobile salon, most cats are muchmore relaxed and will tolerate being bathedand blow-dried, brushed, evenshaved with no sedation what-soever. The groomer can alsotrim the cat’s claws and cleantheir ears.

WHAT ABOUT MY OLD

PETS?Mobile grooming is an excel-

lent alternative for geriatric pets,as well. Since there are no traumat-ic car rides or uncomfortable cages,your older pet can benefit from anice warm bath, blow-dry and brushin the safety of his or her own drive-way. If the mobile salon is equippedwith windows, the pet can lookoutside and see their front door,which can be very reassuring.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?Some mobile groomers operate a state-of-

the-art self-contained unit, complete with itsown water and power sources. Others requireaccess to your water and electrical supply, sobe sure to ask if you’ll need to provide theseservices.

WHAT ABOUT SCHEDULING?Appointments are prearranged at a time that

suits you. Most mobile groomers work week-ends and some work evenings, as well. Manycustomers set up regular appointments (everythird Friday at 9:00 a.m., for example). Onceyou and your pet are comfortable with thegroomer, you can even have your pet groomedwhile you’re away. Imagine coming home fromwork or errands to a clean and happy pet… itdoesn’t get any more convenient than that!

Happily, with mobile pet grooming services as an increasingly available optionfor time-strapped consumers, being a pet owner today is truly a dog’s (or

cat’s) life.

Anna Gepson is the owner/operator ofAussie Pet Mobile. You can reach her byphone at 913-461-9442, by email at

[email protected] or atwww.aussiepetmobile.com


“Great dog! What is he being trained for?” is a frequent question trainers hearwhile on public outings with service dogs. As the director of Paws for Freedom,Inc. (PFF), a service dog nonprofit in Overland Park, KS, I strive to prepare mystudent trainers and recipients to answer this question. As I tell them beforetheir first public outing, the sight of a person with a dog wearing a cape in pub-lic attracts attention!

WHAT IS PFF?PFF is the only service dog program of its kind in the metro area. Its mission

is to help kids with disabilities assist people with disabilities. Through a part-nership with Horizon Academy, a private school in Roeland Park, KS, eight mid-dle and high school students are learning to train service dogs in an afterschool club called START (Student Trainer and Retriever Teams). The dogslearn to retrieve items, turn lights on and off and open and close doors. It gen-

erally takes two years to train a service dog.After training, these dogs are placed with peo-ple who use wheelchairs.

DOGS GO TO SCHOOL?Horizon Academy is a private school for chil-

dren with learning disabilities. The dogs go toschool for one hour a day, five days a week.Once a week, the dogs go on public outings.Each student trainer is paired with one dog forthe school year and is responsible for groom-ing and training. The student trainers receiveanimal assisted therapy through training thedogs. Dogs, as many pet owners know, arenonjudgmental animals. They do not seek per-fect owners, or in this case, trainers. The dogsare eager to discover what pleases their

UnderneathIts mission is to help kids with

disabilities assist people with disabilities

Dogs, as many pet owners know,are nonjudgmental animals. They

do not seek perfect owners, orin this case, trainers. The dogs

are eager to discover whatpleases their individual trainers

and then do just that.

the Dog Cape

by Lea Ann Shearer

Caesar, doing the “nose it” command with thepink/white button — with student trainer Alli P.

Riccardo and Duncan — 4 mths. old, wearing his cape.

individual trainers and then do just that.They never tire of receiving praise,whether it is verbal, tactile, edible or allof the above! The student trainers’ com-munication skills and self-esteemimprove throughout each school year.They also obtain important skills forfuture employment, such as dependability,consistency and following directions.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE

PARTNERSHIP?Having the student trainers involved is a

great help to my nonprofit. At first, onemight think that they are the main groupreceiving the benefits of this partnership.This is true, but it is not the only purposeof the partnership. The national averagewait list time for a person who needs a

service dog is three to five years. TheSTART Club allows me to have twice thenumber of dogs in training at one time.Ultimately, the wait list time for one of myservice dogs is shortened. As one recipi-ent described her service dog, a femalelab named Fonda, in a letter to PFF, “Sheis my right hand and my friend. She givesme freedom.”

WHAT ARE IN THE PLANS TO

COME?Currently, PFF plans to graduate three

service dogs in early summer 2009. PFF willhave its fourth anniversary in February, 2009and is actively seeking potential applicantsfor its service dogs. Through our volunteerprogram, presentations, START Club andwebsite, awareness of my young program’sexistence is growing. If you know of a per-son who might benefit from a service dog orhas expressed interest in obtaining a servicedog, please have him or her contact PFF.Whether your dog is your pet, your servicedog or a service dog in training, what thedog gives you is trulyimmeasurable.

Lea Ann Shearer, is theDirector for Paws forFreedom, Inc. She can bereached at Paws ForFreedom at (913) 901-9400 or email:[email protected].

Group picture from June graduation. L-R — Hannah Glidewell, Libby Lunn, Allie, Julie

Lunn, Ted Lunn, Lea Ann Shearer.

Student trainer Chris H.and his assigned dog, Cruiser



The evidence is all around us. Given the statistics in the chart below, it’sno surprise that nannies, daycares, spas, memorial centers and other busi-nesses are popping up across the nation to exclusively serve the needs of ourpets. Pet owners are “pet parents.” Pets are our children. Why haven’temployment practices kept up with the times? No one blinks an eye when anemployee takes time off after the death of an aunt he sees three times a year,

but they do when the same employee requeststime off after the death of a loyal pet companion.Don’t misunderstand. The loss of a beloved auntmerits workplace understanding and accommoda-tion, but workplace policies and practices don’treflect the reality that pets are family.

HOW DO YOU GRIEVE?When a precious pet passes on, a pet parent

goes through the same stages of grief that shewould go through after the loss of a human familymember or close friend. Although there are manystages of grief and not everyone experiences themall or in the same order, frequently a pet parentwill experience feelings of denial, anger, guilt, anddepression. Grief is a very personal process.Regardless of the stages of grief a pet parentexperiences or the length of the grieving process,the loss of a beloved pet is devastating. It isphysically and emotionally draining.

GRIEF IS MONEYGrief is a costly in the work place. As Russell

Freidman, co-director of the Grief RecoveryInstitute, notes “When your heart is broken, yourhead doesn’t work right.” Researchers at the GriefRecovery Institute once estimated that the mini-mum annual loss for U.S. businesses in productiv-ity and on-the-job errors resulting from the deathof a loved one is nearly $38 billion. The instituteestimated an annual loss of $2.4 billion related topet loss. This estimate seems low, but assumingit’s correct, dealing with an employee’s loss of abeloved pet in the workplace is a very importantmatter.

A business’s most valuableassets are its human assets. Ifpets are vitally important toyour employees, what steps

should employers andco-workers take when an

employee loses a beloved pet?Here are a few to consider.

Never minimize the lossBe careful not to say “it’s just a pet”, it’s not.

Such a reaction deepens the feelings of isolationand loss the pet parent is experiencing, and maycreate long term resentment on the behalf of theemployee toward the employer. You should treat

by Anita Larson

Pet Loss in the Work Place

%% Pet Parents That…Pet Parents That…84% Call themselves mom or dad

63% Celebrate pet’s birthday

43% Wrap their pet’s gifts

79% Sleep with pet

37% Carry wallet photos of their pet

31% Have taken time off to be with sick pet

20% Admit to breaking off a romance due to a pet dispute


the loss as the loss of a family member or closefriend. Also, you should keep in mind that,unlike in the case of a human family member, apet parent may have had to make the heartwrenching decision to have her baby eutha-nized. Even though this was the most lovingdecision, the pet parent may be experiencing

heightened feelings of guilt.Actively listen Active listening means you stop emailing, ask

the pet parent to have a seat, let her talk andreally listen. When you speak, try to paraphrasewhat the grieving pet parent has said. Ask ques-tions using “who,” “what,” “where,” and“how.” If the pet parent is not ready to openup, don’t force it.

Don’t avoid the pet parentOften people are uncomfortable with grief.


Pets are our children.Why haven’t employment

practices kept up with the times?

We don’t know what to say, so we avoid the person. Unfortunately, this only leadsto feelings of further isolation and loss. If you don’t know what to say, just saythat you are sorry about their loss and that you know they loved their pet dear-ly. You can admit that you don’t know where to begin to find the right words toexpress how sorry you are. Don’t say that you know exactly how the pet parentfeels. No one can ever be sure how someone else feels. Finally, if you can’t talkto the pet parent, a handwritten note can be very comforting and supportive.

Don’t put a timeline on the processOften people place a time limit on how long they believe the grieving process

should take. It’s different for everyone. There is no typical process or time limit.Don’t adopt a “snap out of it” attitude after a certain period of time. Patience,understanding and support are your best tools in helping a grieving pet parent.

Offer helpMany people take food to a co-worker who has lost a family member or friend.

When appropriate, do the same upon the loss of a pet. If a pet parent is havinga difficult time, suggest grief resources. Your local pet memorial center is like-ly to have information on pet grief. They may also have a grief counselor on staffor sponsor a pet loss support group. Your workplace may have an EmployeeAssistance Program. If it will help, get the EAP contact information and provideit to the pet parent.

Offer bereavement leaveNot all pet parents want to take time off work after a beloved pet passes on. In

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fact, some pet parents may want towork more to distract them fromtheir loss. Some will experiencegrief in a way that reduces theirproductivity, increases errors, andmakes it difficult for them to evengo through the motions. Grief canmanifest itself physically, too, suchas through headaches and insom-nia. Giving a grieving pet parentbereavement leave could save abusiness owner money through theavoidance of costly errors andcould win long-term loyalty. If anemployer worries employees willabuse the policy, there are fre-quently supporting documents. A receipt from a vet or a certificateof cremation or passing from a pet memorial center can providesupport. Employers should not be overly suspicious or demand-ing. The statistics shown earlier in this article demonstrate thatpets are truly members of the family.

The following are some additional suggestions based upon anarticle published by Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS, in 2002 and posted onthe website of The University of Houston-Downtown www.uhd.edu.


EXPECT TEARS AND SADNESS• Expect to listen to the same story again

and again.• Respect the pet parent’s desire for pri-

vacy, if indicated.• Include the pet parent in social plans if

you have in the past. He can accept ordecline.

• Be willing to accept less than theemployee’s best performance for a rea-sonable period.

• Don’t judge how the pet parent grieves. Just remember that pets are children to

many of us. A pet parent’s grief is notfeigned, it’s real. Be sensitive, understand-ing and supportive!

Anita Larson is co-founder of Precious Pets Memorial Center™ a premierprovider of compassionate pet cremation services and memorialization mer-chandise located in Overland Park, KS. Anita is a graduate of the KU andproud mom of two Yorkies, Spanky and Alfalfa. A hobby writer, Anita’sarticles have been published in national and international publications. Shecan be reached at 913-685-PETS (7387). For more details visitwww.preciouspetsmemorialcenter.com.

Chip

’sC

orn

er

Help put him back together again by drawing his ears, eyes, mouth, legs, and tail to create:

1. An anxious dog who is scared of you.

2. An angry dog who is dangerous for you to be around.

3. A friendly dog who is happy to meet you.


Oh, No! Puzzle PoochPUZZLE POOCH FELL TO PIECES WHEN HELEARNED HE WAS GOING TO MEET SOMEONE NEW!

Read the article “Don't Whisper; Translate!” and discuss it with your parents if you need help!

Thanks to Dog 101Productions & SharonWoodrum of Personable Pets

1. 2.

3.

Can you smell it? Rain swelling the breeze; thequickening of seeds beneath the soil; the citrus scentof the sun? Spring is here, and whether or not yournose knows, your dog’s proboscis is all aquiver. Andsoon he will beckon you outside to seize these sunnydays. You know the signs: the gentle nudging of yourhand as you sit before the computer screen; a whineboth plaintive and inviting; the wistful look, farawayand yet intimate as he wills you to put on your shoesand just go.

In fact, many of us know our own dogs’ communica-tion signals as well as we know the mannerisms of ourhuman loved-ones. But understanding the broaderaspects of the canine vocabulary can help us not onlyto communicate more effectively with our four-leggedfriends, but to stay safer when we are faced with anunfamiliar dog. And with an estimated 70 million dogsliving in America, many of whom will also be out andabout this spring, communicating well and keeping outof harm’s way is essential.

TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY THINKHumans and dogs are different creatures, from dif-

ferent cultures, and they speak very different lan-guages. While most human communication is built ona language of words, dogs communicate almost entire-ly with body language. Just like any other language,communicating well with dogs depends on your under-standing of the most important aspects of the caninevocabulary.

A dog’s body language cantell you• What he is feeling at that moment• What he is inclined to do next• How you need to proceed to remain safer while

interacting with himCommon dog body language can be broken down

into three main categories: relaxed dogs, anxious


by Suezanne Law

Don’t WhisperTranslate

And soon he will beckonyou outside to seizethese sunny days.


dogs, and threatening dogs.While you will almost always besafe interacting with a relaxeddog, and threatening dogs areoften clearly dangerous, interac-tion with anxious dogs poses thegreatest risk due to our tendencyto misunderstand and disregardthe dog’s communication signals. Itis essential, then, to bone up on yourcanine vocabulary. What follows iscertainly not a complete doggy dictionary.Rather it should be thought of as a phrase-book for the canine tourist; but these simpletools will at least help get your interspeciesconversation started.

A PICTURE — WORTH A THOUSAND

WORDSWhen we communicate with other humans, we take

into account their words, but also how they use thosewords, the tone and volume in which they speak, plusthe nonverbal signals they give us their body lan-guage and facial expressions. Those five differenttypes of communication signals tell us more aboutwhat the other person is saying than their wordsalone could ever convey.

We can also focuson the five mostimportant signals theyuse to communicate• Muscle tension you observe in a dog’s

body, along with his overall body pos-ture: whether he is standing neutral, push-ing away from you, or thrusting forward

• Carriage of the dog’s tail: neutral andrelaxed, tightly tucked, or high and tense

• How the dog is holding his mouth:open and loose, clamped tightly shut, orpuckered with teeth showing

• The look of the dog’s eyes: soft andsquinty, wide with fear, or direct, intent,and hard

• The set of the dog’s ears: neutral andfloppy, pinned low to the sides of his head,or high and alert.

These signals will help you to deter-mine whether the dog you are facing isrelaxed, anxious, or threatening.

THE CASUAL CANINEMany of the dogs you will meet are relaxed and

Wanna Go?What: Puzzle Pooch dog body-language classes

and workshops are available for childrenand adults.

Who: Personable Pets Inc. Dog Training andSympawtico Dog Training, LLC

When: Tuesday, April 7, 6:30 — 7:30 p.m. atTails R’ Waggin, by Personable Pets Inc.Dog Training. Cost is $10 per person,children 8 and under FREE!)

Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 — 8:30p.m. at the Sympawtico Studio in Lenexa,by Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC. Cost isMay 13 $25 per family (up to four kids)

For More Details: Visit www.personablepets.comor www.sympawtico.com

Pre-registration is required.

greet the world with an easy confidence.They appear comfortable and happy, andtheir behavior is usually not at odds withhuman safety.

Communication signals ofrelaxeddogsinclude

• An open, relaxed mouth• Soft eyes, coy eye contact• Neutral, relaxed ears• A relaxed body• Neutral posture, loose tailThough all dogs have teeth, and any dog can

bite, relaxed dogs are less likely than eitheranxious or threatening dogs to bite first andask questions later. Take care and be polite,but enjoy your interactions with these fun-lov-ing ambassadors to canine culture.

THE CONCERNED CANINEWhether because of biology or experi-

ence, some dogs view the world as a dan-gerous place. Strangers, sudden move-ment, or unfamiliar noises can send thesepanicky pooches into a literal tail-spin.

To avoid conflict with anxious dogskeep an eye out for these body language signals

• A tightly closed mouth, snake-like lip-licking, or uncontrollable yawning• Wide, fearful eyes, minimal eye contact; ears pinned flat to the sides of the

dog’s head, worry wrinkles• A stiff, tense body

• Lowered or pushed-back posture, tucked tailNot every anxious dog will show every one of these signals — but if yousee a dog display even one sign of stress, that is a clue to how he’s feeling,and you would be wise to step back for a moment and assess the situation. Important: Most dog bites come from dogs who are fearful, rather than dogs who

are angry, so it’s essential that you take the time to notice the anxious signals a dog maybe giving you and behave appropriately to remain safe.

THE COMBATIVE CANINESome dogs are just plain dangerous. Usually you can spot them, but sometimes their

aggression seems to come out of the blue.

Avoid dogs who display any of the follow-ing warning signs• Puckered lips, a show of teeth• Direct, hard eye contact or whale-eye (a gaze in which a large crescent of the white

of the eye is present)• Erect, controlled ears• A body, neck, and face that are stiff and tense• Forward posture, high or controlled tailOnce again, a threatening dog may notdisplay all of these signs at once, but anyone of the signals should give you pause.The dog is communicating with you — it iswise to listen to what he has to say so thathe doesn’t have to use his teeth to makesure you understand.

Suezanne M. Law is a canine-human relationship counselorand accredited dog trainer.She opened Sympawtico DogTraining, LLC to better tailorher training curriculum to theneeds of her community. Visither at www.sympawtico.com.



Ask the Vetby Michelle Chappell, DVM, CVA

Q. How soon should I begin flea prevention — what options do Ihave?

A. Fleas may already be a problem in households where the fleashave “over-wintered” on the cat or dog. I saw an indoor cat todayloaded with fleas — probably a couple brought in on the ownersshoe got them started. We started that cat on a new medicationcalled Comfortis. It is a chewable tablet that can be crushed andgiven with food and kills fleas withing 15-30 minutes and lasts awhole month! I used this last summer when two other topical fleaproducts didn’t work for my 4-legged kids, and was amazed atthe results. I also like the fact that Comfortis won a “green chem-

istry” award (it is a by-product of rum distillation — go figure!).

You can reach Dr. Michelle Chappell, at Mariposa Veterinary Center by calling 913-825-3330or by visiting mariposavet.com.

American Red Cross FirstAid/CPR Training

Dogs and CatsMarch, 2009

Sunday, March 810:00am to 3:00pm

Sunday, March 2210:00am to 3:00pm

Location: Barkville Pet BoutiqueCost: $40 per person. Please

register in advance.

For information contact SarahDixon at 816-527-8087 or

Diana Park at 816-452-6267(Dates and times subject to change.)

Red Cross First Aid & CPR


Gemini (May 21 - June 21)Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Problems often surfacewhen this cat is expected to do something that theydo not want to do... like staying in at night. Undersuch circumstances, the Gemini Cat will respondby collapsing in a heap of nervous exhaustion,refusing to move and expecting to be waited onhand-and-paw until the restriction is lifted.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Crazy Cat In a somewhat distant type ofway, the Cancer Cat can be a loving creature toanyone who is around long enough and up lateenough to get to see him or her on occasion.Akin to ships that pass in the night, an ownerwill pick up on dim signals that indicate theCancer Cat considers his or her human as morethan just a stranger.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Top Cat A born entertainer, the Leo Cat willcharm company, wrapping around a favoredperson’s leg before leaping into his or her armswithout warning. Provided an owner can keepup his or her end and show that the pretence ofthis feline may be penetrated to reveal the cud-dly inner-cat then, as a friend, there will be nonebetter than the Leo Cat.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat This feline is fanatical aboutkeeping clean and may spend more time preen-ing than any other cat in the Zodiac. There aretimes when the Virgo Cat tends to drive theirowner to the point of distraction, but banish-ment to the garden might ease the situationsomewhat.

Feline SignsPisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Ship’s CatThis feline is extraordinarily sensitive to those with whom he or she lives, sharing theirinnermost problems. Many Pisces Cats are psychic, instinctively aware in advance ofwhat owners are going to do and will quickly become scarce if the anticipated activity issomething unpleasant... such as a worming pill or a dose of de-fleaing.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Copy-Cat With a Libra Cat in an owner’s lap(this feline's most stategic vantage point), therewill be little or nothing an owner can get away withand privacy will be a thing of the past. This catwants to be close to his or her owner all day, everyday... watching, learning, thinking and copying.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Cat’s Pajamas This feline is deeply intuitiveof others where feelings are concerned, possess-ing the gift of empathy, and the ability to reademotions. This feline senses when an ownerdesires companionship and when they wouldrather be left alone.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Stable Cat This feline be a mixture of factand fantasy, unable to tell the difference betweenthe two. He or she may be a cat today and ahorse tomorrow... or even a dog the day afterthat. It will be the responsbility of the owner tosort out this confusion since the Sagittarius Catwill be even more befuddled than his or herhuman.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan 20)The Cat Burglar The Capricorn Cat is frequent-ly frightened by things that do not normally both-

er other cats...shadows on the wall, the dark orhigh places, for example. In fact, it is likely thatthis feline feels most secure when sleeping underthe bed or tucked behind shoes in a closet.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Hip Cat The tendency to be aloof is a qual-ity often associated with the Sign of Aquarius,but there will be occasions when this felinebecomes worried that the owner may not contin-ue to provide if they don’t appear more depend-ent upon human generosity, and any ownershould make the most of it when the AquariusCat comes down to play and amuse.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)The Stray Cat During the holidays when this catdecides to hang around, the owner will findshredded curtains, snagged clothing and uphol-stery, and dents in all the cushions. This willleave an owner with plenty of clearing up to dountil the Aries Cat decides to drop by again.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)The Earth Mother Laid-back, calm, tolerant andnear impossible to ruffle, this feline could bedescribed by some as boring and dogmatic. Onthe other hand, some believe that being arounda Taurus Cat can lower blood pressure, curemigraines and add years to the life of an owner.



The Kansas City Pet Expo celebrates its fifthanniversary this year on April 18 & 19 at theAmerican Royal Center. In addition to the morethan 60 non-profit rescue organizations and breedclubs, 100+ commercial vendors are expected toshowcase products and services for pets and petowners. The Pet Expo is presented by No MoreHomeless Pets KC, and benefits area animal shel-ters including Animal Haven, KC Animal Health &Publilc Safety, the Humane Society of GreaterKansas City, and Wayside Waifs.

Highlighting this year’sentertainment andeducational programs are:

• The DockDogs® National Dock DivingChampionship (Zone Qualifier), with more than150 teams participating.

• A regional Fly Ball Tournament sponsored by the

Tractor Supply Company and hosted by theOmaha 4-Play Fly Ball Club.

• “Reptiles Up Close & Personal” a stage pro-gram and exhibition of reptiles by David Nieves.

• A canine fashion show presented by K9 closet.

• Acro-Cats — the multi-talented acrobatic andmusically felines. This group had standing roomonly crowds last year!

by Pat Riha

More than 10,000 dogs areexpected to participate inthe DockDogs competitionsin 2009. DockDogs events

are broadcast on ESPN and its affiliates.

5th Annual

KC Pet ExpoApril 18 & 19

More than 10,000 dogs are expected to participate in the DockDogs competi-tions in 2009. Many of the DockDogs events are broadcast on ESPN and its affil-iates, often drawing a larger viewing audience than “people” sports. For moreinformation on DockDogs go to www.dockdogs.com.

Pat and Kate Riha own Pat Riha Productions, a marketing and production company. Thiscompany produces a wide variety of events including the Metropolitan Lawn and Garden Show,the Mid-America RV Show, the Mid-America Boat Show and the KC Pet Expo. The 2005 KansasCity Pet Expo was selected by EXPO Magazine as the Best New Show, Consumer Show category.This years show will be held at the American Royal Center. It celebrates the joy pets bring toour lives and our responsibilities to our pets.

• Dog Agility demonstrations coordinated byDog Obedience Group.

Celebrating 5 Years! The KC Pet Expo was founded in 2005 by con-

sumer tradeshow producers Patrick and KateRiha. As owners of two rescued shelter dogs, itwas their goal to produce the Midwest’s largestpet event for the purpose of educating peopleabout the various animals commonly adopted aspets, their healthcare and welfare. The motivebehind the Pet Expo is to educate the public inmaking better informed decision in selecting apet so that fewer pets end up in shelters or withrescue organizations.

Dock Dogs FlyThe Zone Qualifier DockDogs Tournament at

the KC Pet Expo will be the area’s first regionalqualifying event for the National Championshipslater this year in three events:

• Big Air: dogs race down a “dock” andleap after a tossed float. In simple terms, thedog that goes the farthest in the air wins!

• Extreme Vertical: As in Big Air, thedogs leap off the dock, but in this case theyare going for the highest leap.

• Speed Retrieve: this event is about tim-ing. How long does it take a competitor to getto a “decoy” and return it to the dock? Thefastest dog wins.


Wanna Go?What: 5th Annual Kansas City Pet Expo

Who: The KC Pet Expo was founded in2005 by consumer tradeshow pro-ducers Patrick and Kate Riha.

When: April 18 & 19 2009

Where: American Royal Center

Cost: $8.50 for adults, $6.00 for children 6 - 12 years of age; children 5 andunder are free.

Details: Visit www.kcpetexpo.com or call816-931-4686

A $1 discount per ticket is availablewith a Price Chopper Shopper Card.

We’ve all seen the flashy commercials and colorful advertise-ments where pet food companies are showing off the fresh cuts ofmeat in their product. They highlight the meat because meat is impor-tant to our pets, especially our cats since they require animal tissueto deliver vital nutrients and fatty acids. But how much fresh meat,and more importantly, how much animal protein is actually in petfoods? We’ve all heard about protein and we’ve been given advice byprofessionals, our friends, and neighbors about how much protein adog or cat should or should not have. We’ve read the back of the bagof pet food and most of us have discovered that next to crude protein,there is a figure of 24%, or 18%, or even 42% in a high-protein diet.Why the variation between pet foods? What does it mean to the healthof our pets? These are common questions that I receive about thismisunderstood nutrient.


Evaluate Your

Pet’s Food

Q. WHAT IS PROTEIN?Let’s start with a better understanding of what protein

really means. There are many types of proteins — struc-tural (hair, skin), transport (blood), and contractile(muscle tissues). Proteins are composed of differentarrangements of twenty different amino acids. Aminoacids are the structural units of protein. Imagine a pearlnecklace. The pearls on the necklace are amino acids.The amino acids are strung together by a peptide bond(i.e. the necklace string), creating a protein. Each pearlor amino acid has its own specific function. An exampleof an amino acid is Tryptophan (found in meat sourceslike turkey). Tryptophan is a precursor of niacin in dogsand the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin.

Dogs and cats have a dietary requirement of ten essen-tial amino acids, plus cats have a specific requirement forthe amino acid taurine. Essential means that the bodycannot make these amino acids on its own; therefore toproperly function, the essential amino acids must comefrom the pet’s diet. Note that if one of the essential aminoacids is deficient in amount, it is possible to combine twoother incomplete amino acid sources to obtain the prop-er quantity of amino acids.

Q. SO, WHERE IS THE MEAT?In commercial pet foods, there are two common

sources of amino acids (i.e. protein): animal protein andplant protein. I often speak on the importance of animaltissue as the main ingredient in pet food. It is a wellknown fact, biologically speaking, that animal tissuessupply a more complete source of the essential and non-essential amino acids. In fact, the egg white is the goldstandard used to compare all other protein source’s bio-logical value (composition of amino acids). The eggwhite contains all essential amino acids in the right bal-ance. Milk and animal meats (chicken, fish, and beef)are high in biological value, whereas oats, soy, corn,wheat, corn gluten and wheat gluten are deficient in oneor more amino acids.

Many pet food companies use cheaper sources of pro-teins like wheat-gluten, soy protein and corn-gluten astheir main protein source. These proteins are deficientsome essential amino acids such as tryptophan, lysineand methionine. To make up for this deficiency and pro-vide a balanced amino acid profile, they combine theplant protein with animal tissue protein. So the food hasall the essential amino acids — right? Well, technicallyspeaking, yes two protein sources can be combined inthe recipe to supply the essential amino acids. However,

by Sarah Dixon

Consulting. PFNC’s mission is to educate pet owners about petfoods, diet, health, and nutrition.Sarah has over seven years of inde-pendent research in the pet foodindustry, including four years of one-on-one consulting. Sarah enjoys

working with pet owners and businesses about petnutrition. She can be reached [email protected] or visit her website atwww.petfoodnutritionconsulting.com.

there is an issue of digestibility. The plant sources corn-glutenand wheat-gluten are foundationally a carbohydrate.Carbohydrates require specific digestive enzymes (more pro-teins) to break down and become useable for the body. Cats,our obligatecarnivores,do notmetabolizec a r b o h y -drates efficiently. Dogs have a better capacity for carbohydratedigestion, but there are reports of dogs that are intolerant ofwheat and corn products. If proper digestion does not takeplace, then the nutritional value to the body is diminished. Thistrade-off made by pet food companies that includevegetable proteins produce a food that can belabeled as having a sufficient amount of protein,but it is a food that potentially has poor digestibil-ity.

CRUDE PROTEINPet food labels report a guaranteed minimum

crude protein. Crude protein estimates the totalprotein content of a food. When measuring crudeprotein, the nitrogen content of a food sample isdetermined. Since proteins contain 16% nitrogenon average, the nitrogen value is multiplied by afactor to calculate the crude protein content of thefood. Since crude protein level includes both trueprotein (amino acids) and non protein nitrogen,it does not provide information regarding thequality or availability of the protein in a particularfood. Therefore it is important to keep in mindthat when you are reviewing pet food labels forprotein content, you are only reviewing a crudeprotein content calculation, not that food’s pro-tein quality or availability.

HEALTHY EATING FOR HEALTHY PETSDiet is the one factor of health that we can con-

trol for our pets. You can learn more about yourpet’s food by contacting the pet food manufactur-er and requesting the nutritional analysis of theformula that you are feeding. The nutritionalanalysis will provide information about the nutri-tional value (amino acids) and the digestibility ofyour pet’s food.

It is my hope this article provides you with moti-vation to review your pet’s food for the type ofprotein source used and that you open a dialogwith your veterinarian about the subject related toprotein quality and quantity. Consult your veteri-narian before making any dietary changes foryour pets.

Sarah Dixon is the founder of Pet Food & Nutrition


Diet is the one factor of healththat we can control for our pets.


by Pat Hennessy

Celebrate the Green byGoing Green with Your Pets

I t’s time to put on that green sweater or shamrockpin and become Irish for a day in celebration of thepatron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland (eventhough most people think it’s about leprechauns withpots of gold or sending the snakes out to sea). While weare wearing our green with pride we can actually becomegreen and take pride in caring for our planet. And our compan-ion animals can come along for the ride.

FRIENDLY PRODUCTS FOR THE

EARTH AND YOUR PETSWe know using environmentally friendly

products is better for the Earth, but it is alsobetter for us and our furry and featheredfriends as well. You can start your green jour-ney by taking a look inside your home forhealthy improvements.

Take a good look at the cleaning productsyou use. Are the ingredients safe for the environment and are they safe for you andyour pets? Many products have harsh chemicals that produce strong fumes, are hardon our skin, and not as effective as natural products at reducing bacteria anddeodorizing. You may like your carpet or tile cleaners, but are the ingredients safe?Remember that your pets are on the floor and they are absorbing, or even licking,those chemicals.

Other products that you want to look at for pet friendly (and environmentallyfriendly) ingredients are pet shampoos and flea repellants. There are safe and natu-ral products available that are effective and reduce your pet’s exposure to harmfulchemicals that can cause skin irritation or contribute to other health issues.

TAKE A FRESH BREATHAnother aspect of your in-home environment is the air you breathe. Air pollution

is not just an outdoor issue. There are many harmful pollutants in your home

(bacteria, mold, fungus, radon,etc.), not to mention typical house-

hold pollutants (dust, pet dander,smoke, etc.). The Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) has cited thatindoor air can be up to 100 times more pol-luted than outdoor air and it is 1000 timesmore likely to reach your lungs than out-

door pollution. One wayto combat those chemi-cals is to use a good airpurifier, one that actual-ly eliminates the pollu-tants. Remember thatyour pet’s lungs aremuch smaller and deal-ing with the sameamount of pollution, so

you would not only be helping yourself youwould be helping your pets tremendously. An airpurifier can be especially helpful if you have catsor birds, due to the dander and dust that accu-mulates and the associated allergies that follow.

After thoroughly going through your home tomake environmental improvements, you need toturn your attention outside the home.

ARE YOUR LAWN PRODUCTS SAFE?You must be very cautious when selecting

products for your lawn. Many of the products tokill weeds can be harmful to your pets. Ignorethe picture on the front of the bag with the chil-dren and a dog playing on a beautiful lawn and

While we are wearing our greenwith pride we can actually

become green and take pride incaring for our planet.

Last but not least, if you don’t think you’ve doneenough with your pets, you can also help wildlife onyour quest to be Earth friendly. Next time you have some

stale bread or left over pizzacrust or biscuits, crumble itup and scatter it around atree. The birds and squirrelswill love it and it’s betterthan just throwing it in thetrash.

While you are celebratingthe day of the Irish, wearingyour green, eating or drink-ing green, remember to “be”green the rest of the year.When you think of all theways that our Earth benefitsus: the water, the minerals,the air that we breath, andthe beauty to take that breathaway — it is a bountiful gift.It is a small effort on ourpart to give back to ourMother Earth.

Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC,an organization that provides companion ani-mal care through behavior education, energywork, and positive training methods. Pat is acertified TTouch Practitioner, CPDT, and mem-ber of the IAABC, IAATH, and AWA. You may con-tact N2Paws via email [email protected],phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com.

read the ingredients or the fineprint instead. Some bags will saypet-friendly, but in smaller printit says to keep pets off of areaswhere the product is used, forseveral hours up to a couple ofdays. You may think your pets willbe safe by keeping them off thelawn for a bit but remember dogslike to eat grass, especially theearly spring sprouts, and grassthat has been treated can beharmful.

You may think it is good for thelawn to leave pet waste as fertilizer, but it is actuallybetter for the environment and your companion ani-mals if you remove it. Feces contain bacteria that createa breeding ground for fleas, so getting rid of it reducesat least one source of flea habitat. The bacteria in fecestravel through the rain run-off process and end up innatural (unfiltered) water sources, such as streams andlakes, where it decomposes using up oxygen. Duringthe warmer months the low oxygen levels, combinedwith the ammonia output, can kill fish. We can’t reallypick up after wildlife, but we can clean up after our ani-mal companions.

HELP YOUR LOCAL SHELTERSFollowing St. Patrick’s Day, April brings us Earth Day (a day to celebrate

cleaning up the planet). If you want to celebrate Earth Day on behalf of com-panion animals, one way is to take your newspapers and cardboard flats toyour local animal shelter. They use the newspapers to line cages and cratesand they use the cardboard flats for litter trays. If you have unused or slight-ly used bowls, beds, collars, leashes or toys, you can donate them as well.As an extra gesture, you could save up your aluminum cans for a month,cash them in and donate the money to your local shelter when you take thenewspapers. You not only recycle, but you helphomeless animals until they can find a new family.

STILL FEELING “GREEN”?If you are still feeling “green” and have a green

thumb, do some planting to give back to the Earth.A vegetable garden is very rewarding because notonly is it home-grown, but it provides healthyoptions for you and your pets (but be carefulwhich vegetables they consume). If you have roomyou can plant a tree. Your dog will enjoy that — ifit’s close to the house it could be a lovely shadetree, if it’s close to the street it could be an infor-mation gathering spot (like people standingaround a water cooler). For your dog, sniffing atree is like you reading the newspaper; they gath-er information about every animal that came byand left its mark (and it will prompt your dog toleave his mark for the next guy to read)


For your dog, sniffing atree is like you reading

the newspaper...

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Mail To: MetroPetPO Box 480065 • Kansas City, MO 64148

Aussie Pet Mobile aussiepetmobile.com • Pg. 15

Bark Busters barkbusters.com • Pg. 9

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Pete And Mac’s www.petemac.com • Back Cover

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ROI Marketing Services 816.942.1600 • Pg. 25

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Woof ’s Play and Stay

woofsplaystay.com • Inside Back Cover

Wilks Radio GroupKMXV-FM, Mix 93.3 • mix93.com • Pg. 8, 27

KFKF-FM, 94.1 • kfkf.com • Pg. 8, 27KCKC-FM 102.1 • star102.com • Pg. 8, 27KBEQ-FM 104.3 • q104kc.com • Pg. 8, 27

ADVERTISER INDEX


Saturday,March 147:00 - 11:00 p.m.

BoulevardBrewery2501 Southwest Boulevard, KCMOFor more info contact Alexandra at 913-742-7307or visit www.momorehomelesspetskc.org

UpcomingEvents

Egg-StravaganzaSunday, April 51:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Sponsored by:

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