metropet magazine september 09

September 2009September 2009 Free to ReadersFree to Readers

SEPTEMBER 2009 • MetroPetMag.com 3

In Every Issue4 Back to School

Fall is on its way and exciting events are occurring!

8 Chip’s Corner Chip says “be kind to animals.”

10 Dog HoroscopesHow well do you really know your dog?

15 Ask the VetDoes your pet have an allergy?

26 Cat HoroscopesHow well do you know your cat?

33 Upcoming Events

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

MetroPet Resource32 Natura Pet Products

Feature Articles6 Keeping Your Back-to-School Cool

Find time for your dog after the school bell rings.

9 Recipes for Your Dog & CatA low cost way to prepare and cook treats for your pets.

12 Bladder Stones and Your Dog’s DietUnderstanding the impact a pet’s diet has on his health.

16 Leaving Pawprints on HeartsPeople helping dogs — dogs are giving back too.

18 Herkle ManiaDo you love your pet more than your possessions?

20 Puppies on the GoWorking hard to help enhance lives.

23 KC PetConnetReuniting pet with owners in the KC metro area.

24 The Pet You Want vs the Pet You NeedLooking for a new pet? Consider adopting a shelter.

28 Zoonotic DiseasesWhat is your risk?

30 Only the Nose Knows for SureA look at Canine Scent Work.

6 10 14 30

SEPTEMBER 2009

Photo of Jenny Matthews and Tyson by Scott Pribyl, www.pribylphotography.com

Back to School!Wow! We are back at school, and Fall is almost here!

Exciting things are happening. As I write this message wejust filmed our first TV commercials promoting MetroPetmagazine. These ads will air on Animal Planet and ABCFamily in September. You will also be able to see them on our website —www.metropetmag.com!

EVENTS! EVENTS! EVENTS!Want to get out and about with your pet, and support local shelters and rescue

groups? There are some terrific events occurring all over town during the next twomonths. MetroPet will be at most of these events, see details on page 33! Most eventsare fundraisers for local shelters and rescue groups — please support them. If youcan’t attend the events, consider donating needed items to shelters, or your time.Each group has special needs and appreciate volunteer support.

WHY READ METROPET & WHY SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS?MetroPet was created to be the resource for lovers owners. Our mission is

to connect pet lovers with local vendors and provide quality articles of interest andinformation. In each issue you will find advertisers who purchased an ad to provideinformatino about their products and services to readers. When you need a day careprovider, weekend boarding facility, trainer, vet, groomer, pet food, etc., please turnto our advertisers. They provide quality products and services, and theycare about you and your pet.

THANK YOU AGAIN! Please continue to spread the word that MetroPet is the Pet Owner’s Resource. And,

check out all the great stuff at www.metropetmag.com.

Have a great Fall!

Barbara Riedel, Publisher

P.S. Please remember to support our advertisers. Tell them yousaw their ad in MetroPet! Thanks.

Publisher’s Message Staff &Contacts

PublisherBarbara Riedel

[email protected]

Editor/ProductionManagerDan O'Leary

[email protected]

Layout/GraphicDesign

Alison [email protected]

Web MasterJon Dunn

Advertising SalesEric Novak

[email protected]

Contributing AuthorsChris Baker

Patricia ChaneyDebbie Corum

Sean Delaney, DVM, MSMichael Groh, DVM

Pat HennessySuezanne Law

Emi MeadSally Rosine

Lori StilesTrish Stinger

PhotographerDan O'Leary

Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065

Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433

Ad Sales: 913.579.3815Fax: 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 necessarilyconstitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine.

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

© 2009 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Requestreprint permissions at [email protected].

MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI MarketingServices, all rights reserved. 4 MetroPet Magazine SEPTEMBER 2009

Sympawtico.com 913.424.5072

Private Instruction

Need One-on-One Training?

Etiquette: (et’i kit, ket’), n. Conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion.

Petiquette: (pet’i kit, ket’), n. Same definition, four legs.

Contact Suezanne for an evaluation

“We adopted Max into our family determined that it would work despite all challenges. Suezanne’s insight into animal behavior and training techniques ensured Max is part of our family.”

Lori and Justin Brinker, Johnson County, KS

As summertime and its freewheeling splendor gives way to thecool orderliness of fall, and our natural nesting instincts pull us intopatterns of sheltering and taking care, the rigors and routines ofback-to-school fall into place as leaves settling onto pavement. Dickand Jane skip off to school and Spot waits patiently, loyally, by thedoor for their hop-scotch return. It’s an idyllic picture. But nothing atall like what happens at my house.

At my house, the first day of school swoops down like an end-of-sea-son tornado, leaving us all disheveled and quite breathless. Firstthere’s the shopping: for school supplies, school clothes, school

6 MetroPet Magazine • SEPTEMBER 2009

by Suezanne Law

shoes; then the scheduling: of work around carpool,homework around activities, sleep around life; andfinally, the ubiquitous “three-weeks-ago-my-teacher-told-me-I-had-to-have-this-tomorrow-or-I-will-flunk”frenzies. Before I know it, it’s Christmas, my husband nolonger recognizes me or our children, and I have forgot-ten that I even have a dog — Oh, yeah! The dog!

SPOT ONScheduling time for the dog may seem like the least of

a busy family’s worries when the school bell begins toring, but schedule-change anxiety, coupled with theboredom that comes with suddenly spending longstretches of time alone can negatively impact Spot’sbehavior. You see, behavior is not static: even behaviorsthat have been taught and reinforced during, say, thoseeight weeks of puppy school you attended together fiveyears ago will go away if they are not actively maintained.You’ve heard the saying “Use it or lose it”? When itcomes to dogs, it is oh-so-very true.

But how — how? — you ask, can I possibly cramanother thirty-minute block of time into my already 27-hour day so that Spot continues to think his name isGood-boy and not Bad-dog? You can’t. And the goodnews is you don’t have to.

SESAME STREET, NOT 60-MINUTESDog training need not be an endurance sport. Neither

must it be carried out with military precision and to thesteady tap tap, of a drum-and-bugle corps. Rather, likemuppets singing about happy cooperation — and notAndy Rooney’s curmudgeonly exhortations of duty —living well with dogs is about symbiosis: a mutually ben-eficial relationship between two dissimilar organisms.And the key word here is relationship.

For, in every interaction that you have with your dog,he is learning something from you: either what youexpect or what he can get away with. Every interaction:from the moment he nudges you awake, through therush of walking and breakfast and saying good-bye,returning and dinner and saying goodnight. Each ofthose interactions, each of those moments is an oppor-tunity to build the relationship you want. It only takes amoment here, a moment there; sound-bites of trainingstrung together throughout the day to form a coherentmessage: I deserve respect; I will respect you, too.

INCH BY INCH, LIFE IS A CINCHAs a wise woman once told me, taken by the yard, life

is hard, but in small increments, we can get by. So here’san inch-by-inch training schedule that fits into thebusiest of lives and focuses on the most important inter-actions we have with our dogs to make living well togeth-er a cinch.

Keeping Your Back-to-SchoolCool


6:00 am: Ask Spot to sit by the back door while you unlock andopen the door. Reinforce his good behavior by giving him access tohis outside potty-area.

6:15 am: Provide Spot with a comfy mat on which to practicea down-stay while you prepare his breakfast. Reinforce hisimpulse-control by putting his food bowl within his reach andreleasing him to eat.

6:30 am: Cue Spot to wait in the kitchen while you head to thefront door to retrieve your shoes and his leash. Reinforce hispatience by calling him to you, clipping the leash to his collar, andtaking him for a walk. On the walk, practice sits and downs at everycorner, and throw in some eye-contact just for fun. And remember:if the leash is tight, stop walking! Only move forward again to rein-force him for coming back to your side.

7:15 am: Practice your kennel-up cue (or “go to your bed”)as you complete your preparations to leave for school and work.Provide Spot with a long-term chew like a hollow toy stuffed withgoodies or a marrow-bone to reinforce his compliance.

12:00 pm: Work on appropriate greetings (four-on-the-flooror sit) when you come home to give Spot a mid-day break.Reinforce his polite behavior with a short walk or playtime beforeheading back out to finish your workday.

5:30 pm: Greet your dog again, but this time, throw in a high-five or shake to celebrate the end of a long day. Then, ask him tosit-stay in the living room while you head to the back door, prop itopen, and disappear outside. Reinforce his trust in you by callinghim out for a potty break and pre-dinner romp.

6:00 pm: Practice a settle with your dog while you prepare din-ner — both his and yours. Time in your company, along with tidbitsof healthy food will make this long, relaxed down-stay even more fun.

6:30 pm: Ask Spot to wait while you set his food on the floorbefore him. Reinforce his tolerance by adding a tasty treat to thebowl as you release him to eat.

7:00 pm: Take your dog to watch your kids play in the biggame, and practice polite greetings with everyone you meet.Reinforce calm sitting with access to the people from whom Spotcraves attention. Remember to practice leave-it anytime your dogbecomes too interested in the excitement on the field. Make hisself-control pay off by providing him with some sidelines fun in theform of a quick game of fetch or tug.

10:00 pm: Time to wind down! Cue one more settle andindulge yourself (and your dog) in a little canine-cuddle-and-mas-sage while you read or watch the news. Breathe in the scent ofhappy dog and allow yourself a contented smile: the four-leggedapple of your eye is just the prize for his Teacher.

Suezanne M. Law is a canine-human relationshipcounselor and accredited dog trainer. She openedSympawtico Dog Training, LLC to better tailor hertraining curriculum to the needs of her community.Visit her at www.sympawtico.com.

Chip Says “Be Kind To Animals”Be Safe Around Dogs

Across:2 - Medical treatment to keep animals healthy6 - Dog that helps people do things7 - Animal doctor8 - Dog that visits schools and nursing homes

11 - Crate to contain an animal when neces-sary

12 - Item to keep an animal secured in anautomobile

14 - Person who will pick up and dispose ofdog waste

17 - Person who will walk your dog for you18 - Procedure to keep male animal from

reproducing21 - Person who comes to your home to care

for your pet23 - Give a permanent home

Answers on www.metropetmag.com

Down:1 - Home where animals are kept until adopted3 - Activity where dog goes over and through

obstacles4 - Goes around an animals neck5 - Helps keep animals safe and off the streets6 - Place where homeless animals are kept9 - Activity where dog moves groups of animals

10 - Tool to control a dog12 - Place where homeless animals are kept13 - Wild animal without a home14 - Place where puppies are mass produced and

marketed15 - Training that helps a dog learn to obey16 - Procedure to keep female animal from repro-

ducing19 - Activity where dog follows a scent trail to find

a person20 - Way to identify a lost animal22 - Act of helping a lost animal24 - In nature a dogs home8 MetroPet Magazine • SEPTEMBER 2009

Chip’s CornerPawzzle by Heddie Leger


MOUSEBURGER BITESYour cat will love them!3 oz sausage meat or finely ground

beef

2 tbl oatmeal

1 egg, to bind

whisker of catnip, finely chopped

Serves one

Knead the ingredients together very thoroughly and form into

a flat oval. Broil under a medium heat for 5-7 minutes, turning

frequently, until the outside is crisp. Wait until cool, then slice

into bite-sized chunks.

www.divinerecipes.com/recipes.cfm/cid/20/cat-treats-recipes

SNICKERPOODLESHomemade Dog Treat Recipe1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup honey

2 eggs

3 3⁄4 cups white flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄2 cup cornmeal

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix vegetable oil, shortening, honey with eggs. Beat well.

Add flour, soda and cream of tartar. Knead dough until

mixed well. Shape dough by rounded teaspoons into balls.

Mix the cornmeal and cinnamon together in a bowl and roll

balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie

sheet. Press the balls down with a fork. Bake for 8-10 min-

utes at 400F. Cool on a rack. Store in airtight container.

www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Recipes.htm

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Strong Silent Type This canine is fond of theoutdoors and a drive around the countryside in thecar with the window down (rather than a walkthrough the same area) will be thoroughly enjoyedby the Taurus Dog. This can be a persistent andstubborn soul and, if possessed with the power ofhuman speech, would probably argue more oftenthan not.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper To this little soul, everything will benew...the house, the people, the garden...and thehappy pup will be more than content to explore,anxious to learn everything about his or her newsurroundings and those with whom he or she isgoing to be living.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)The Home-Lover Superficially a timid and retiringtype of canine, content to be left unnoticed, this dogwill, in fact, be quite the opposite. Moodier and moresensitive than most, he or she is prone to deepextremes of emotion.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper Unfortunately, this canine is also thehypochondriac of the dog world...a single flea, forexample, and he or she will be convinced the peskyparasites are covering the entire body from head totoe...or a simple stomach upset, and the Virgo Dogwill be certain that he or she has salmonella poison-ing. The Virgo puppy will be easy to handle in thebeginning, but as he or she gets older, trouble isbound to start.

Canine Signs


Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Boss-Dog To this canine, his or her home is a personal palace in which to“hold court,” probably issuing invites to each and every neighborhood dog who canbe found. Here, the Leo Dog will entertain his or her guests until it is time for the“walk-about,” when they will all trail out...with Leo in the lead, of course.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Shop-Steward The Libra Dog has one purposeand one purpose only...to improve the lot of the work-ing or owned dog. This canine expects to start at thebottom but, within a year or two, will have ascendedto a senior position in the household with quite a lot of“say” in things.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Paragon Social interaction is where the AquariusDog really comes into his or her own. The home of thisdog is likely to be full of his or her friends and acquain-tances...not all of whom will necessarily be of thecanine persuasion.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Problem Dog Physically, the Gemini Dog is likelyto be slightly underweight due to the fact that he or shegoes everywhere “at the double.” An alert and grace-ful creature, the nervous energy of the Gemini Dogenables this canine to keep going all day, should theneed arise...and even when there is no need.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Social Climber It is sometimes said of the CapricornDog that he or she looks old from the moment of birth, butimproves with age. Canines governed by Capricorn tendto favor those breeds which can withstand cold climates,such as the Saint Bernard or Husky.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Friend Often, this dog possesses traits that evenother canines find to be quite peculiar. Usually well-built and often on the tall side for his or her particularbreed standard, the Aquarius Dog will have eyes thatare deep and widely set apart.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Interpreter Physically, there are no particularattributes or peculiarities associated with the PiscesDog. He or she will be active and playful...on occa-sion...and unfortunately prone to leg and foot ail-ments since the ankles and paws tend to be weak.Any sign of limping by this canine should be investi-gated immediately.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack A home with plenty of space isvital to this canine, who hates to be restricted inany way. Any owner cooped-up in the averagehouse with an Aries Dog all day will soon becomeutterly exhausted. A small cottage is also no suit-able home for this canine and individuals who livein an apartment should give the Aries Dog a verywide berth. It is foolish to think that this dog can becontained with fences or gates.



The old adage “you are what you eat” rings true, evenfor our pets. Understanding the impact a pet’s diethas on his overall health and appearance is an impor-tant part of pet parenting and in many cases the keyto the prevention of many common ailments, such asbladder stones..

WHAT ARE BLADDER CRYSTALS AND STONES?When crystal and stone precursor levels become too high

in a pet’s system due to infection or diet, crystals form.These crystals can potentially grow and develop into stonesin a dog’s bladder, creating a painful and dangerous situa-tion for your pet.

by Dr. Sean Delaney, DVM, MS

Bladder Stones & Your

Pet’s Diet

Understand the impacta pet’s diet has on his

overall health andappearance

The two most common canine bladder stones are calciumoxalate and struvite. Other varieties of stones exist, but thoseare typically breed-specific problems. When calcium bindswith oxalate, which most often comes from fruits and vegeta-bles, the result is needle-shaped crystals in the urine. It wasonce believed certain urinary pH levels were correlated tothe development of calcium oxalate stones; however, thistheory is no longer believed by the veterinary community.

On the other hand, struvite stones are almost exclusivelythe result of a urinary tract infection in a dog, unlike in cats.During an infection, bacteria release ammonia which satu-rates the urine causing the formation of crystals. In this case,the solution is surgical removal of the stones or dietary dis-solution with special veterinary foods and treatment withantibiotics to clear the infection.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?For many pet owners, the first introduction to bladder

stones is after they have already developed. The symptomscan be very alarming, ranging from mild discomfort duringurination to bloody urine to an inability to urinate at all.

Potentially serious indications of stones include anincreased frequency in elimination, straining when relievingthemself, an incomplete stream during urination in maledogs, or bloody urine. In the event of bloody urine, pet par-ents should keep in mind that blood works as a very effec-tive dye; so a very small amount will make an entire blad-


der’s worth of urine appear like it ispure blood. Occasionally, with anincrease in the frequency of urination,your dog may take in more water. Thesesymptoms should alert any pet owner tocall and most likely set up an appoint-ment with his or her veterinarian.

However, if you see that your animal isnot relieving itself at all, the situation isa true emergency because the urine iseither being blocked or not being pro-duced at all. If the urine is beingblocked entirely by a stone, the buildingpressure will go upstream into the kid-neys, prohibiting them from excretingcertain toxins such as potassium. Thisbuild up of toxins could be potentiallyfatal if untreated and requires immediatemedical attention.

While stones can develop during anylife stage, it is often a middle aged prob-lem — generally defined as four yearsor older in large breeds or about sevenyears or older in small breeds. Thus, it isless common for a dog not predisposedfor stones to develop the problem for thefist time during his senior years.

WHAT IS THE PROPER

TREATMENT?For crystals in the urine, a slight diet

modification may be all that is needed.With struvite stones, there is no need fordietary modification unless a veterinari-an recommends a temporary prescrip-tion diet to dissolve larger stones still inthe bladder. Stones that have passed tothe urethra and become lodged must besurgically removed.

However, with calcium oxalate stones,surgery is typically required for removal.Since these stones cannot be dissolvedthrough diet, prevention is vital. Today’srecommendation is moderate levels ofcalcium, and to minimize fruits and veg-etables, but not to the point of elimina-tion from the diet. Increasing your dog’swater intake by adding a high-moisturefood, for example, can be absolutelycritical in minimizing the likelihood ofreoccurrence.

WHY DO STONES OCCUR IN PETS?There are a wide range of speculations among the pet food industry’s leaders,

experts and veterinarians as to the underlying causes of bladder stones. Forinstance, it has been suggested that since indoor dogs do not have free access tourinating, the urine sits in the bladder longer, increasing the risk of crystalsforming. There are also breed considerations. While it has been shown that obe-sity increases the likelihood for stones, the reason is not known. Another theorysuggests that heavier pets become less active and do not get up to urinate as

Continued -->


often; while another premise suggeststhat the intake of excess calories alsomeans that excess minerals and othercrystal precursors can form into stones.

HOW DO I PREVENT

REOCCURANCES?Yet even with the best of diets, it is

still possible to have reoccurrence dueto the body’s natural ability to generatesome stone precursors. Since prevention of over-weightedness/obesity may play an important role, it’scritical that you take advantage of the resources avail-able to you to help manage weight. For example, manypet food manufacturers include body condition chartsonline and on every bag to provide the insight youneed on your dog’s current weight condition. Somebrand name pet foods and treats offer a variety of lowfat food and stew alternatives to aid in weight loss aswell as to increase water intake. There are also online

<-- Continued from 13

diet planners to help you create anideal diet plan for your dog, cus-tomized to his specific needs.

As responsible pet owners, it is up tous to protect and care for our loyalfriends in any situation. Regular checkups with your veterinarian and a nutri-tious diet are fundamental and essen-tial to promoting a healthy lifestylethroughout all your dog’s years.Bladder stones are a relatively common

and frustrating disease, but by being truly observant of your dog’sbehaviors, you can line up the best defense for a healthy companion.

Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Nutrition, is a board-certified veteri-nary nutritionist and Chief Medical, Scientific andNutrition Officer of Natura Pet Products, manufactur-er of EVO, California Natural, Innova, Karma, HealthWise,and Mother Nature natural pet foods and treats. For moreinformation, visit www.naturapet.com

Pet food manufacturersinclude body condition

charts online and on everybag to provide the insight

you need on your dog’scurrent weight condition.


Q My Labrador Retriever has been

scratching since last fall and now her

body has just a few brittle hairs left,

and her ears are swollen and stinky. We

have been using anti-itch medications

and shampoos, but they aren’t very

effective anymore. How can we find

out what she is allergic to?

A First, we shouldn’t assume that allergy is the only reason forscratching. Only about one third of these cases have an aller-gic component. Infection with bacteria and fungi and infesta-tion with parasites like fleas and mites are much more likelyto be the cause. And even when allergy is present, a diagno-sis is almost impossible to make until the secondary infec-tions and infestations are resolved.

FIRST STEPSamples from the ears and skin are spread onto a glassslide and examined under the microscope. This simpleprocedure will demonstrate most bacteria and fungi, atwhich time your veterinarian can either select the properantibiotics and shampoo or decide to resample the skinand/or ears to submit a bacterial culture and susceptibilityto identify resistant infections.

NEXT STEPBecause some flea infestations are hard to diagnose, I havebeen using a newer anti-flea product called COMFORTIS.Not only is it exquisitely effective, it is very safe. The onlysignificant side effect is vomiting if the pill is given on an

Ask the VetDoes your pet have an allergy?by Michael Groh, DVM

empty stomach. After a few days, if scratching persists,fleas (seen or unseen) were NOT the problem. Somemites can be detected with a skin scraping for micro-scopic examination. Other mites, like scabies (sarcopticmange) are rarely seen microscopically these days, soanother trial with an anti-scabies drug like Revolution orin some cases, an off-label use of ivermectin can be used(WARNING: herding breeds and their cross-bred rela-tives have a one third chance of severe or fatal drugreaction with this drug).

FINAL STEP(S)If after resolving the infections and infestations, the petremains significantly itchy, then allergy testing canbegin. Intradermal skin tests can be done or blood testscan be submitted for air borne allergens. A search fordrug reactions or home cooking trials to identify foodallergies would be next and with a little perserveranceand good cooperation between the pet owner and theirveterinarian, most of the common skin diseases and thesuffering that comes with it can be eliminated or at leastreduced to a level where the wholefamily can be happy and content.

Michael Groh, DVM, is the staff dermatolo-gist at Animal Emergency and ReferralHospital, Lee’s Summit, MO. Visitwww.aerh-kc.com for more details.

Infection with bacteriaand fungi, and infestationwith parasites like fleas

and mites are much morelikely to be the cause.


He arrived at my daughter’s door at dusk. She’s not sure whyshe even looked out to notice him but the look in his soulful eyes toldher he was searching for help. Was this dog just lost, my daughterwondered, venturing too far from the place he called home or had hebeen deliberately abandoned?

AN ACT OF KINDNESSShe was cautious when she opened the door to approach him

because she didn’t want to frighten him and was also unsure of howhe would behave toward a stranger. Maybe he didn’t look at her as astranger since he seemed to seek her out. Maybe he somehow,instinctively knew that he found a friend or, maybe, just plain divineintervention stepped in. He was skeptical but let her scratch his earsso she knew he had no intention of harming her. By doing so, he musthave known that she meant no harm to him. When she put a bowl of

water out for this parched traveler, he appearedgrateful and drank as if no one had ever given himwater or offered any kindness to him before.

The late evening air had become chilly and shethought he should spend the night in a more com-fortable place than her patio. He must have thoughtso also, because he guardedly tried to come into herhouse. Seeing him in full light made her eyes fill withtears. He wore a collar but it was so tight it wasimbedded into his filthy fur and gave no clue as tohis identity or if he had a home. The only clue wasthe remains of a broken hook, apparently brokenwhen he pulled loose from having been chained tosomething. My daughter’s conscience told her sheshould try to find his rightful owners but her hearttold her his pitiful condition showed he had been

Leaving Pawprints Leaving Pawprints on People’on People’s Hears Hear tsts

by Emi Mead


badly neglected and didn’t deserve to be sent back to wher-ever he broke free from.

If he was to spend even one night in her home, though, thefirst thing on the agenda was to feed him. That proved easy.The second thing was to give him a bath. That was not soeasy, but he politely tolerated her efforts knowing, I think,that it was a condition of him being able to have a warmplace to sleep and more food.

IN LESS THAN 24 HOURSMy daughter had fallen in love with this loving, grateful

mutt who, by now, even answered to the name she thoughtappropriate for him. Whatever his name was before, hewould now be known as “Jake.” The following morningbrought her back to her senses when she was forced toadmit that this could never be a long-term relationship. Herwork requires that she travel most of the time and taking himto work with her was not an option.

“Maybe I could pretend he is a seeing-eye service dog”,she said. “For a flight attendant??” I asked? Admittedly, it wasnot her best solution.

In the weakened moments the night before, she envisionedhim living with her permanently and asking friends and fam-ily to care for him while she was gone. In the reality of day-light, she knew that was probably not one of her better ideasso she began calling animal shelters and vets to inquire ofreported lost dogs. Fortunately, he did notmatch any descriptions they had. Just as sheknew Jake found her for a reason, she knewshe had to keep working for him on hisbehalf. One of the no-kill shelters told her ofa program called Safe Harbor Prison Dogswhere dogs are placed with foster families andthese special dogs are then inducted into aprogram to work with prison inmates untilthey can be adopted. Their program, however,was currently full (with a waiting list) and theywere not accepting any new applicants.Maybe, if they just saw him, they would changetheir mind, she thought. She drove him to theshelter to introduce him to them, knowing ifthey could just meet him, they too, would fallin love with him and would make an exceptionto include him in their program.

I’m happy to tell you this story has a happyending and Jake is now gainfully employed —with Safe Harbor Prison Dogs. She knew ifthey would just meet him…

To learn more about their program, go towww.SafeHarborPrisonDogs.com. (And,as my daughter’s mother, I wasn’t the leastsurprised when she told me she cried all theway home.)

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By the makers of Evoand Innovawww.barkerybath.com

T he moment their gazeslocked, I should have known wehad a problem. Maggie’s keen,watchful eye fastened upon Herkle’srich, mesmerizing pools. It was amatch made in heaven…or theother place. But, as with all hind-sight, it’s all too clear…and all toolate.

I’ve never been attached to astuffed animal before, but themoment I glanced into the gift bagmy sister presented me and caughtsight of Herkle’s gorgeous peepersfixed upon me, I was putty. Thoseeyes! They delved into the depths ofmy soul. Why, I hardly noticed hisadorable spider monkey arms andlegs as I reverently lifted him fromthe tissue papers and hugged him tomy chest.

Maggie loved him too. She’s ourWelsh/wire-hair fox terrier mix; shelives to search and destroy. Ofcourse, who can blame her forplacing Herkle in her scopes. She’sterrier through and through. Godmade her that way.

So, I’m to blame, I guess. I insistedupon housing Herkle in a basketbeside our bed so we couldexchange glances each night when Ilaid my head upon the pillow. But,Maggie refused to be denied.Repeatedly, I found his body drapedover the edge of her doggie bed ordisappearing around a corner asshe dragged him into the nextroom. I would reprimand her, butto no avail. The war was on.

The final showdown came oneafternoon when I realized Maggiewas missing in action — a sure signof foul play. Through experience,my husband and I know to firstcheck her secret lair behind thecouch. Anytime she does somethingnaughty, she does it behind thecouch. So, behind the couch I creptand sure enough, Maggie glaredback at me from the murky shad-ows. Herkle’s body lay partially

shrouded beneath hers andhis eye pleaded with me

to rescue him. His eye? Iyanked the couch awayfrom the wall andrushed in as Maggie

slipped it into

reverse. With agonizing dread, Iwhisked Herkle from the threshingfloor to investigate the damage. Mygaze riveted from the fuzzy socket toMaggie, who kept a safe distancefrom me with head tilted to one sidein mock innocence. “Maggie! Howcould you!” My shoulders sagged.Why had I been so obstinate tothink I could win? I didn’t knowwhether to scream at her or breakinto tears at the sight of the disfig-urement.

In that instant, the sight ofHerkle’s estranged eye lodgedagainst the dusty baseboard caughtmy attention. It nearly took mybreath. Could my poor littleHerkle’s face be salvaged with onedrop of glue? I was elated. ButMaggie, reading my thoughts, beatme to it. She rushed in and gobbledup the beloved organ right beforemy eyes. Well, the rest is history —part of our history. Together. Weboth survived the experience andthough I can’t say she’s the better

for it, I am the wiser.

Herkle Maniaby Debbie Corum


The final showdowncame one afternoon

when I realizedMaggie was missing

in action...


Waldo Pub Crawl October 244-10 pm

TJ McEntire, Tito and SkitchMary McKenna, Gregg and their Westies!

Dexter with Dave Fogel

are the backbone of the organization,” says ChapterPresident Karen Tyler. “We currently have six puppy rais-ers and many other supporting volunteers. At Christmaswe wrap gifts at several Border’s stores; in the spring weserve as carhops at a Harrisonville Sonic; and at othertimes we participate in programs that will create aware-ness of CCI and assistance dogs in general. We also havea lot of fun such as outings to malls, picnics, and baseballgames. Not only does it give the pup a chance to socializewith people and other dogs, but it provides the opportu-nity for CCI volunteers, family members and friends to gettogether.”

Puppies onthe Go...

Have you ever seen a puppy with a yellow cape trimmed in blue,walking beside a grocery cart at Price Chopper, or sitting with hishuman at Starbucks, or “shopping” at a mall? If so, then you have seena Canine Companions for Independence® (CCI) puppy working with hisvolunteer puppy raiser. From Parkville to Leawood, from Kansas City toDesoto, these puppies live all over the metro area.

OUR MISSIONCCI’s mission is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities, other

than blindness, by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongo-ing support to ensure quality partnerships. CCI is a national, non-prof-it organization founded in 1975 in Santa Rosa, California. With fiveregional training centers, CCI is the largest non-profit assistance dogorganization in the country.

OUR CHAPTERThe Kansas City Metro Chapter meets once a month to discuss

“issues” on puppy raising and CCI fundraising events. “The volunteers

by Patricia Chaney CCI Volunteer & Sally Rosine CCI Puppy Raiser

Working hard to help enhance lives

Drew (14 months) andDaniels (nine weeks) working

on their commands.

2008 CCI’S VERY SPECIAL DOGS STATISTICS

960 Active puppy raisers687 Puppies born in the breeding program206 Teams graduated1,403 Active assistance dog teams 3,000 Volunteers


“It is wonderful towatch these little wiggly guys grow

into well mannered,interactive dogs.”

OUR TRAININGCCI trains several types of assistance dogs.

Some are matched, one-on-one, with peoplewith mobility issues; some are matched withboth a person with a disability and that per-son’s caregiver; and some are paired with aprofessional caregiver who works in an insti-tution such as a school or hospital. Otherpairings are made to persons with hearingloss. Some CCI assistance dogs have beenplaced to assist individuals with autism anddevelopmental delays.

THE PUPSThe puppies are either Labrador Retrievers,

Golden Retrievers or crosses of the two andcome from CCI’s breeding program inCalifornia. At eight weeks of age, the puppiesare sent to the assigned puppy raiser. For 12to 14 months the pup lives with the puppyraiser. It is the responsibility of this “surro-gate parent” to teach the pup about 30 com-mands and to “socialize” the pup to manyenvironmental settings.

Charon Fisher, raiser of seven puppies forCCI says, “It is wonderful to watch these littlewiggly guys grow into well mannered, interac-tive dogs. I am currently raising my 7th pup

and each one has been different. Each has its own personality and thereforedifferent challenges. It is a very rewarding experience for me.”

ADVANCED TRAININGWhen a puppy reaches about 15 months, it is returned to the regional center

for advanced training… or college as some puppy raisers say. There, the basicskills that have previously been learned are expanded. The dog learns how toturn on and off lights, pull wheel chairs, open refrigerator doors, pick up keysand perform many other tasks a disabled person might need. At the end of “col-lege” the dog’s capabilities are matched with a recipient’s needs. This team

MaxCollins is

working withfour month

old Donner to reinforce thesit and stay command.

learns to work together for two weeks during Team Trainingbefore going into the human’s world.

The latest addition to the KC Chapter is Polly Vader and herFacility Dog Falla II. Polly is a school counselor at Mill CreekMiddle School in the De Soto Unified School District #232.Polly says, “Falla will aid in the daily life skills classes for stu-dents with various needs including physical, cognitive andintellectual disabilities such as down’s syndrome, traumaticbrain injury, ADHD and Aspergers syndrome. These studentswill be assigned such chores as feeding, grooming, toiletingand exercising Falla.

“Because of Falla’s unconditional, non-judgmental compan-ionship, she also will be used to help students diffuse anger,relieve stress and anxiety and help with the grieving process,”Vader explains, “Falla provides tremendous benefits to the staffand students at MCMS.”

WHAT IF THE DOG’S DON’T MAKE THE CUT?Because of CCI’s stringent standards, only 40% of the dogs

are placed. The remaining 60% find jobs such as search andrescue dogs, bomb and drug sniffing dogs or become a pet ofa family who will continue to reinforce the skills the dog hasdeveloped.

ALZHEIMER’S UNITMarty Letourneau received such a dog. “Stanton was released

from advanced training but his skills and demeanor allow himto visit an assisted living facility and an Alzheimer’s unit,” saysLetourneau. “Many of the folks we visit had pets of their own atone time. They truly enjoy his visits and the opportunity to petand talk to him. And, he of course, loves the words of love andpraise.”

CHILDREN’S READING PROGRAMLetourneau also involves Stanton in a children’s reading pro-

gram. “Often these children lack confidence in themselves,”she explains, "Stanton will rest patiently next to them as theyread aloud. This encourages the children to read and hopeful-ly find enjoyment in reading. Although Stanton did not gradu-ate from the CCI program he has made a difference in so manylives in the community.”

For more information about Canine Companions, call 1-800-572-BARK,visit www.cci.org, or contact the Kansas City Metro Chapter atwww.puppyraisers.us.

Wanna Go?What: CCI Open House

When: September 27, 2009 from 11:00 am-3:00 pm

Where: Tails R Waggin’, 6976 W. 152nd Terrace,Overland Park, KS 66223

Cost: FREE

Details: The open house will provide the opportunity tolearn more about Canine Companions forIndependence and to see local CCI graduateteams and puppies in training.

Call (913) 212-8007 OR 685-9246 for details.


WHO? NATURA PET PRODUCTS

WHERE? FREMONT, NE (800) 532-7261 • www.naturapet.com

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?Founded in 1989 by John and Ann Rademakers, and PeterAtkins, Natura is recognized as a trusted name behindhealthy dog and cat food products.

WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS DIFFERENT?Natura’s products are formulated, manufactured, and pre-pared to the highest standards of quality and safety in theindustry. Natura owns and operates its own dry food manu-facturing facility in Nebraska where superior manufactur-ing processes and strict quality control programs set itapart from all other pet food companies.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF YOUR BUSINESS?In addition to becoming the first pet food company toguarantee its products are 100% safe from melamine andcyanuric acid, Natura was the first to guarantee that noneof the ingredients it uses are sourced from China. Natura’sQuality Control Program has also helped the companyachieve many certifications from the most respected foodsafety and quality control agencies and auditing firms inthe United States. All of this is backed by a team of dedicat-ed and highly trained professionals including board-certi-fied veterinary nutritionists.

REASONS YOUR CUSTOMERS COME BACK?Natura is a family-owned pet food company dedicated tousing the highest quality ingredients — quality meats,whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and completevitamin and mineral supplements — to meet our compan-ion animals’ needs.

See our ad on the Back Cover

METROPET RESOURCE

The remaining 60% find jobs suchas search and rescue dogs...

Reuniting Pet Ownerswith Lost Pets — KC PetConnect


I n early 2003, Theresa (TC)Sachsenmaier, who had always been an ani-mal lover and always had animals aroundher, founded KC PetConnect, a non-profit(503[c]) business, as a common-senseapproach for reuniting lost pets and foundstrays with their owners.

On November 25, 2007, TC lost a three yearbattle with cancer. Ironically, all of TC’sbeloved pets, except for one cat, passed awayof natural causes during the late stages ofTC’s illness. Today, the work she began isbeing continued by her father, Gene, and sis-ter, Chris.

THERE IS A BETTER WAY!Typically, when a pet goes missing, search-

ing for it requires multiple calls or trips toAnimal Control Offices, local police, CountySheriffs, Animal Shelters, such as WaysideWaifs, and other organizations. This is stress-ful and brutally time consuming to us whohave lost a dearly beloved pet.

TC designed a website and started the“Lassie Alert” program. Pet owners from allaround the KC Metro are encouraged to reg-ister on our site and become a Lassie Alertmember. Registration is free, quick, and easyand amounts to no more than agreeing toreceive “All Points Bulletins” (Lassie Alerts)via broadcast e-mail.

LASSIE ALERTSLassie Alert e-mails contain details about a

lost pet including contact information, petdescription, reward information (if applica-ble) and quite often a photo of the pet.Registering for Lassie Alerts is simply agree-ing to “keep your eyes open” for dearlymissed, lost pets.

TOTALLY NEW AUTOMATED SITEWith the launch of our new, fully-automat-

ed website in July 2009, KC Pet-Connect is

by Chris BakerKansas City’s most successful and up-to-date online service for posting and locatinglost pets and found pets in the Kansas City metro region and surrounding areas.

We encourage Kansas City metro pet lovers to visit www.kcpetconnect.com andregister today. You may be a key in reuniting a lost pet or found stray.

When people are looking toadopt a pet, sometimes they are con-vinced they know exactly what kind ofdog or cat they are seeking. However,many adopters tell us afterward thatwhat they “thought” they wanted, was-n’t what they really “needed.” Now Iknow you are re-reading the last lineand thinking, “isn’t that backward?”No, you read correctly.

LOOKING FOR A PERFECT

MATCH? Take the case of adopter Olivia. She

adopted her dog, Puck on July 19,2009. She wrote to Wayside Waifs to tellof her experience. “I went up and downeach aisle writing down the names ofdogs that seemed to fit what I “want-ed.” Finally I came to the last aisle,almost missing Puck. When I interactedwith him, they explained that he wasdeaf and might go blind in the future. Itdidn’t matter to me; I was looking for adog based on personality and was will-ing to work with any dog. I left thatnight and sat at home staring at his

photo on the website. Later that night I dreamt about him.” Olivia hadan image of a dog she “wanted” but in the end she wrote, “Somethingjust clicked and I decided Puck was the one for me.”

She and her husband adopted Puck the next day. “He is my wonder-ful little deaf boy,” she wrote. “Who is the brightness in my day. He hasbeen quick to learn and has not had any accidents. He has done noth-ing but show us what it means to be loved. Puck has taught mepatience and courage, and I’ve learned that what you want in a dogand what you need isn’t always the same thing.” This story is notunusual and it’s always interesting to hear reactions from people whocome to our shelter for the first time.


by Trish Stinger

The Pet You Need,

may not be the one you want

“I didn’t even knowyou could get a

purebred animal ina shelter. I thought

you had to go toa breeder.”


PURE BREEDS IN SHELTERSIn 2008 of 3,571 animals, 931 were purebred

animals. On average 25-30% of the animals inour shelter are purebred. They come frombreeders who have been shut down by theMissouri Department of Agriculture, or fromowners who have had to surrender their pet dueto hard economic times.

“I thought it would be so depressing,” saidadopter Susan. “But, it’s so clean and happyhere. The staff really cares about the animals.”Susan was also surprised to see so many pure-bred animals in the adoption area. “I didn’t evenknow you could get a purebred animal in a shel-ter. I thought you had to go to a breeder.” WhileSusan and her family did not adopt a purebreddog, they did adopt a gorgeous and energeticRetriever/Labrador mix.

We often see a rise in purebred owner surren-der pets when there has been a movie featuringa special breed of dog. Families rush out toadopt that particular breed and later find it isnot a good fit with their family. This happenedearlier this year when Chihuahuas where in sev-eral movies. Two months ago, Wayside Waifsreceived its first French bulldog. As of this writ-ing, we have a Papillion Poodle ready to find aforever loving home.

FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCHI encourage people who are looking to bring a

new pet home to go to their local shelter andtake their entire family. When you adopt fromWayside Waifs, your pet has been spay orneutered, is current on vaccinations, and youreceive a five pound bag of food. At WaysideWaifs it’s not about selling animals. Its abouthelping humans find their perfect match andmaking sure that everyone’s needs are met,especially the animal. Each one of our waifsholds a special place in our hearts and everystaff member is truly committed to making surethe animal is going to a home that will give himthe utmost care and love.

VISIT US ONLINEBefore you come to Wayside Waifs, check our

website, www.waysidewaifs.org to take a lookat all of our available animals. Along with pho-tos there are descriptions about each animal. Itis important that everyone in your family isinvolved in the process and has a chance tointeract with the animals once you come to theshelter. There are a lot of wonderful dogs, cats,puppies and kittens just waiting to find a new

family and get a second chance at life. I was only on staff at Wayside Waifs a fewmonths when my husband and I found our perfect match, Lucy, a toy poodle.Sometimes people who are looking for a pet don’t realize that“the right” animal can be as close as your local shelter.

Trish Stinger worked in television media for 14 years. She is the WebMarketing Manager at Wayside Waifs and loves working with animals.Trish and her husband, David adopted Lucy, a toy poodle, from WaysideWaifs in March 2008. You can learn more about Wayside Waifs atwww.waysidewaifs.org

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)The Earth Mother Physically, the Taurus Catwill be a large specimen...the kind of felinewhose size is often a conversation piece andone remarked upon by all. He or she will alsopossess big, beautiful eyes and an equallyhuge appetite, which results in the health prob-lem eventually experienced by most TaurusCats...obesity.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Though adverse tobeing restrained for such basic tasks as baths andnail-clipping, the intelligent nature of the GeminiCat will allow an owner to prevail...provided thenasty experience is supplemented with lovingpraise and a favored treat.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Crazy Cat Humans are simply consideredto be “extra furniture” to the Cancer Cat,deemed useful only if regular meals are servedand the surroundings kept warm. This felineuses the home as a place to sleep away thedaylight hours.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat From behind and in profile, thiswill be a handsome cat and to those who canignore the disdainful sniffs and raised eyebrows,this feline can be attractive. With a wiry bodyand strong, muscular build, this cat is athleticand agile. Most of the time, the Virgo Cat willworry his or her owner to death from continual-ly trying to do too much.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Top CatExcessive climbing about on rooftops will prove to be a constant risk and itwould be better for any owner to allow this cat exit through an open door ratherthan leaving him or her to manoeuvre through a cat-flap.

Feline Signs


Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Copy-Cat The Libra Cat is a fair creatureand will expect to be treated as well by his or herowner as that owner treats himself or herself.Completely indecisive, this feline will never knowwhether he or she wants to come in...or go out.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Cat’s Pajamas However, a native of Cancerwould also a good choice, despite the fact thatboth are strong-minded, tenacious and com-plex. The next best owner would likely be aPisces subject, although such an owner wouldneed to be careful lest his or her “watery”instincts add further confusion to the ScorpioCat’s inclinations.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Stable Cat Although cats are born hunters,the Sagittarius Cat will innocently watch a bird ormouse go on about its business and never onceattempt to pounce. Since the Sagittarius Catloves to chew...often on things that are danger-ous, such as plastic bags, electrical wires,yarn,plants, and the like...it is vital that the environ-ment be kept safe.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan 20)The Cat Burglar The Capricorn Cat is a seri-ous and shy creature, rarely taking time out

for fun. In addition, this feline is probably oneof the most selfish Zodiac. A prudent soulfrom the start, the Capricorn Cat will workcalmly and deliberately toward the achieve-ment of his or her life’s ambition.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Hip Cat Deep down inside, this cat is atomboy...regardless of gender...and adores any-thing that requires running around. The AquariusCat also loves to climb.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Ship’s Cat Yet, this cat’s extraordinarygrace of movement and unparalleled delicacy ofgesture helps to counteract such a boring visualimage. Every attitude adopted...and there will beplenty of them...is worthy of being immortalizedin clay. The Pisces Cat is frail and susceptible tovague, niggling ailments if not carefully lookedafter.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)The Stray Cat Physically, this feline is the epito-me of the species, being lithe and athletic with asuperb coat and a resolute gait. Perpetually onthe move...climbing, jumping and flying...he orshe is determined to make the most of theproverbial nine lives.


A Zoonotic disease is the transfer of illnesses from animals to humans;and anyone in contact with animals (domestic or wild) is at risk. Prospectiveways we can become infected is through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungusthat can be found in animal feces, saliva, blood, urine and fur. Oddly enough wecan simply become infected by casual contact. Zoonotic diseases can hitch aride on your hands, cling to clothing, jump on you through fleas or ticks or sim-ply float through the air.

HIGH RISKIt is extremely important to make sure your newly adopted pet has a complete

examination by a veterinarian of their fur, feces, urine and blood. This proce-dure is critical for determining if your pet has any zoonotic diseases. Peoplewho are at the highest risk of contracting zoonotic illness are young children,pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.Even if you do not fit in the high-risk categories, the importance of a full exam-ination of your new pet should not be overlooked. Yearly examinations of yourpet(s) are extremely critical for their continued health and yours.

SYMPTOMS IN ANIMALS AND HUMANS

Viruses, Bacteria & ParasitesMost viruses, bacteria and parasites are contracted through animal feces, sali-

va and fur. Fecal matter has a high risk of transferring various diseases such asGiardia, Roundworm, and Hookworm to humans.

GiardiaGiardia is a parasite that finds its way to dogs and cats through contaminated

food or drinking water. This is why it is important to not let your dogs drink outof puddles of water, lakes, streams and rivers. The symptom (diarrhea) for petsand humans are comparative. Cleaning your back yard of dog waste and fre-quent cleaning of your cat litter can help you detect this problem early. Giardiais contagious and can spread easily from animals to humans.

RoundwormsRoundworms are 3-5 inches in length, reside in the intestines of a dog and is

transmitted through dog waste. Young children are most susceptible of obtain-ing roundworms since they stick their hands in their mouth quite often. Anotherway it can be transmitted to humans is by your dog stepping in dog waste andthen jumping up on you or others. The fecal matter can be transferred onto yourhands, clothes or skin. Symptoms in dogs are potbelly, diarrhea, gas, and vom-iting. Most infections in humans are mild and cause no symptoms at all. Somesymptoms (but not limited to) are diarrhea, vomiting, cough, cramping, feverand itching. However, there have been some cases where roundworms have


migrated to the liver, brain, and eyes inhumans. Please remember to take all symptomsand illnesses seriously.

HookwormsHookworms are easily transmitted through

dog waste to other pets and humans. Animalsthat are infected pass hookworm eggs in theirstools. In favorable conditions (moisture andwarmth) the eggs hatch within 12 to 18 hoursand a tiny new hookworm emerges. These free-living organisms can penetrate the skin of petsor humans and continue to thrive. So be care-

PREVENTION• After contact with animals fur, skin or dog

waste, wash your hands thoroughly withwater and soap.

• If your dog or cat has diarrhea two days ina row, take your pet to your veterinarian.

• Do not walk barefoot or contact the soilwith bare hands in areas there is likely tobe dog waste in the soil or sand.

• Make sure your pets are de-wormed whenyou adopt and make regular visits eachyear to make sure your dog or cat is ingood health.

• Check your pet often for flees and ticks.• Do not allow your dog to drink water out

of lakes, streams, lakes or puddles thatmay be contaminated with infected organ-isms.

• Refrain from having animals lick you,especially in the face.

• Disinfect dog waste removal tools aftereach use.

• Clean litter boxes and dog waste from youryard frequently.

• If you have a professional pooper scooperthat cleans your yard, please make surethey disinfect their tools and the bottom oftheir shoes after each yard they clean. Ifnot, zoonotic diseases can be easily trans-mitted to your yard and infect your pets,you and your family.

by Lori Stiles

Zoonotic DiseasesWhat is your risk?


ful not to walk barefoot in grass that is notclean of dog waste. People can get painfuland itchy skin infections when hookwormlarvae moves through their skin. Some of thesymptoms in dogs are weight loss, pot-bel-lied appearance, coughing, low energy level,diarrhea and vomiting.

In actuality, humans and pets are muchalike when transferring illnesses or germson to others. We pass our germs throughcoughing, kissing, human contact with ourhands, and not washing hands after going tothe bathroom. Being very aware of our ownpersonal hygiene and the well being of ourpets can prevent most, if not all, zoonoticdiseases that can threaten our health. In themeantime, enjoy your furry pets and keepthem healthy with a lot of love and attention.

Lori and Alan Stiles founded Scoopy the PooTM in2005. Scoopy the Poo provides professional dogwaste removal services and is the leader in theUnited States that designs equipment used byProfessional Pooper Scoopers and is now availablefor sale to the public. For additional informationabout services and equipment go to www.scoopy-thepoo.com or contact Lori or Alan at 816-412-9000.


The autumn weather will soon be upon us; the hotsummer days are a fading memory. Taking your dog to thelake (or the park) for a swim is no longer an option. Youcould certainly consider an indoor class like agility if youwant something active, or Doga (doggie yoga) if you want tosomething less aerobic. But if you still want to enjoy natureand you are not ready to give up being outside, there is asport that is calling your name. Your dog would be morethan happy to sign you up. In fact, if you put her on leashand follow her, she will take you to it.

UTILIZE YOUR DOG’S NATURAL ABILITIESThere are a couple of sports that utilize your dog’s natural

abilities and the only way you get to play is to give your doga hint. The more common one is Tracking. A newer, lessfamiliar sport is Canine Scent Work. Tracking is a teameffort between a dog and her person (handler), to follow ascent trail (track), and find a missing item (article). CanineScent Work is also a team effort between a dog and her per-son, to locate a specific scent hidden in a natural environ-ment and disguised among many other odors in the sur-roundings.

You can participate in these activities for fun or for sport.If you have a dog that is really shy or doesn’t play well withothers then Tracking or Canine Scent Work would be goodchoices because they are non-competitive, meaning thedog/handler team works on their own for a judgment, notagainst other teams. You won’t be encountering problem sit-uations and you will still be getting your dog out for somefun and stimulation. These events are also ideal for dogs(and people) that don’t do well under the physical pres-sures of other sports.

THREE STAGES OF TRACKINGThe sport of Tracking has 3 stages that vary in difficulty as

you move through them. It starts with a simple track of 440-500 yards (on a vegetative surface, such as an open field),with 3-5 turns, is between 30 minutes and 2 hours old, andends with an article to be found. You progress with moreobstacles (such as a ditch, tree line, or road to cross), moreturns, longer time limits, and several articles including oneat the end. The final test of Tracking is on variable surfaces(i.e. blacktop, concrete, rocks, mulch, etc., and limited veg-etation), has multiple turns, the same length of aging as thesecond level, and multiple articles including the one at theend of the track. It more closely resembles what you mightsee with search and rescue missions, presenting more chal-lenges, but certainly showcasing the talent of your dog.

by Pat Hennessy

Canine Scent Work

Only theNose Knowsfor Sure

GET STARTEDTo track you only need a few things to get started: a 20-40 foot

line, a harness for your dog, and a few flags to mark your track.Grab a bandanna (or piece of fabric) to place at the beginning,a glove to place at the end, find an open grassy area or a field,and get out there and start enjoying nature. If you ever wanteda friend (or your spouse) to go for a walk with you and youcouldn’t get a willing participant, ask your dog. Not only willshe jump at the opportunity, she will lead the way.

It is easy to train and work with your dog independently, butonce you get going it is more fun (and to your advantage) if youcould partner with another (dog/handler) team. You can recip-rocate by laying tracks for each other. It creates a better learn-ing environment for you to “read” (or interpret) your dog asshe is working, when you don’t know where the track or scentobjects are placed. It allows your dog an opportunity to followa human trail other than your own. It also provides you prac-tice at laying tracks while improving your observation skills andhelping you understand the overall process.

Tracking is an intense activity for your dog, taking informa-tion in through the nose and processing it through the brain. Itis important to carry water with you and offer it to your dogperiodically to help keep the membranes in the nasal passageshydrated. It is also essential to monitor your dog’s health forthe ability to walk distance, duration, and surface challenges.You can see why this is not a summer sport. If the heat didn’tdo you in, the mosquitoes and ticks would certainly be a deter-rent. But come fall, what better way to watch theseason change than to be out in it. And don’t giveup in winter; don’t let the cold stop you. Put onyour boots and a few layers and get on out there.Then when it snows, look out. Nothing is more funthan following a track in fresh snow.

We are lucky in the greater Kansas City area tohave several settings to practice Tracking, andquality locations to hold tests. Smithville Lake ishome to one of the largest Tracking tests offered inthe country. We are also lucky to have severalTracking judges located in the metro and sur-rounding area. They provide a wealth of knowl-edge and experience. For more information aboutTracking visit: www.akc.org/events/tracking.

CANINE SCENT WORKCanine Scent Work is a fairly new sport, and was

started in California by a trio of trainers that hadbeen involved in scent detection work. Since“scenting” is a natural instinct for dogs, enjoyedby dogs, and is stimulating for them, these train-ers thought, “Why not offer classes for people todo this with their companion animals?”

Canine Scent Work (or Nose Work), also doesnot require much equipment: a harness andleash, essential oils, cotton swabs and small con-


same time. Happy trails make happy tails (happy tales indeed).

Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC, anorganization that provides companion animal carethrough behavior education, energy work, and WholePet Positive Training methods. Pat is a certified TTouchPractitioner, CPDT, and member of the IAABC, IAATH,and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005, or visit thewebsite www.n2paws.com.

tainers to use for target placement of the scent. You canstart training by using toys in your own backyard to deter-mine your dog’s interest and willingness to play “hide andseek”.

Like Tracking, Canine Scent Work, has levels of difficul-ty when you get into it for sport. It starts out with onescent, four scenarios (boxes, building interior, buildingexterior and vehicles), with a maximum time limit perscenario. The next stage includes two scents, distractions,and the locations are broader and scenarios more com-plex. The final level requires three possible scents, largersquare footage, more vehicles and more complex scenar-ios (i.e. possible decoy set up). For more informationabout Canine Scent Work visit: www.nacsw.net.

The stimulus factor and the bonding time with yourcanine companion are invaluable with activities like these.There is truly no feeling like the one you get from follow-ing your dog when she is on track or on scent, and havingher find the article or object. You just beam with pride as ifyour child had won an Olympic gold medal. And what is evenmore amazing is how your dog performs. It is not only won-derful that our dogs are so loyal and devoted to us, but whattalent they have to find something as obscure as an article inthe middle of a field or as microscopic as a few cancer cellsin a lymph node. What better way to celebrate the partner-ship between you and your canine companion, than doingsomething that comes natural to them and having fun at the



Strutt with Your Mutt Sat, Sept 269:30 am - NoonBrookside, KC, MODetails: www.waysidewaifs.org

Waldo Pub Crawl Sat, Oct 24, 4-10pmRegister: Oct 24, 4-6 pmDetails: metropetmag.com

Paws in the Park Sat, Sept 199 am - NoonEnglish Landing Park, Parkville, MODetails: www.pawsinpark.com

Upcoming Events

Links to events atwww.metropetmag.com

Bark At the KSun, Sept 27, 11:30 amTickets: $25 for a comboDetails: royals.com

How Cute is Your Pet?Do you think you have the cutest pet in KC?

Snap a photo of your pet and submit it at metropetmag.com.

Lyn-Z — Lyn-Z is an 8 month oldScottish Terrier. She loves flowers.Sheloves smelling them, sitting on them,and digging in the flower garden.Iplanted a flower in every hole she dug,and the garden looks great!Submitted by Dayna Castro


Parsons — What dog can say they have their own fire-hydrant?Luna can! Luna came into our lives May, 2008, at 8 months. Nowjust a little over a year, we are quite the pair... she has her ownFace Book network, loves to spend time at the area parks, andloves being in front of the camera. She even had her first walk-onrole in an independent film. Submitted by Robert L. Fleming

metropet magazine september 09

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