pet guide 2012

HoovesPaws&

If it walks,

crawls, talks or

sings, this Guide can help

you! Helpful information

for Cat & Dog Owners,

plus information on

Horses & Alpacas!

Pet Resource Guide

Spring 2012

Essex Agway 364 Essex Rd.

Williston, VT 0 5495 802-878-3301

Richmond Home Supply 99 Railroad St.

Richmond, VT 0 5477 802-434-2887

LD Oliver Seed 26 S unset Ave.

Milton, VT 0 5468 802-893-4628

St. Albans Co-op Store 140 Federal St.

St. Albans, VT 0 5478 802-524-9366

OC M cCuin 3337 VT Rt. 78

Highgate Center, VT 05459 802-868-3261

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2 - Hooves & Paws 2012

How a cat helped awidow get on with life

Pets can provide laughter andcompanionship. While humanscan’t talk with the animals, like

fanciful Dr. Dolittle of children’s bookfame, we probably do communicate withthem on some basic emotional level.

As many pet owners claim, cats anddogs and other domesticated creatures dounderstand our needs on some primallevel. Some animal researchers andobservers point to meaningful bondings,perhaps even psychic ones, betweenhumans and animal companions.

For Sandy McNamara of Panton, life ischallenging as a senior citizen shut-in.But that’s where her constant companion,Frip the cat, plays an vital role in leadinga life of joy.

“I'm elderly and disabled and Frip ismy solace,” she said. “I adopted himwhen I was living in New Mexico. Hewas two at the time. I later moved toVermont. Now he is nearly nine years old

and we have grownvery close. “

Sandy’s lifechanged in 2006 whenher husband of 22years died. Frip hadbeen the couple’s catsince their NewMexico days, but theanimal hadn’t playeda major role inSandy’s current life– at least not untilone special night inPanton.

“Something changed,”she said.“Thethird night after my husband died I guessit finally hit me he was gone for good.”

That night, while Sandy was alone inbed crying uncontrollably, Frip jumpedup on the bed. The cat began whatappeared to be intentional behavior toconsole the grieving widow.

“Frip used to be kind of standoffish,but when he heard me sobbing he insist-ed on snuggling me,” she said

“From that night on, Frip has sleptwith me and I don't mean just to be on

the bed. He actually snuggles me andwraps his legs around my neck. He loveskisses and will press his mouth to mineso he gets a kiss,” she said.

For Sandy, Frip is four-legged friendwho is funny and a loyal companion.

Frip gets along well with Sandy’sgrand daughter, too.

“One day back in 2004, my baby granddaughter Bella was with me; she didn'twant to go to sleep. But as you can see inthe photo, Frip came to the rescue. Hemakes everyone feel special,” she said.

— Lou Varricchio

Panton resident Sandy McNamara’s constant companion, a cat named Frip,sleeps next to her grand daughter Bella.

‘Frip is my Solace’

Majestically set among the Green Mountains of centralVermont, The Mountain Top Inn & Resort offers theperfect getaway for equestrian enthusiasts and dog

lovers alike. The friendly and accommodating staff membersinvite guests to bring their dogs along on vacation; riders canbring their own horses, if they prefer.

Why leave your dog behind in a kennel or even with friends,when together you can enjoy the beauty of Vermont, a variety ofhiking and cross-country ski trails, acres of freedom, crisp freshair and 30 miles of horseback riding trails (June throughOctober). This classic mountain resort has five pet friendly cab-ins and a selection of pet friendly vacation rentals available yearround. These accommodations are in high demand so it is bestto book far in advance.

When you and ‘Fido’ arrive, you’ll check in at the front deskof the Lodge and receive a welcome letter outlining some guide-lines for our canine guests and their “human parents”. A bag ofall natural dog treats from Vermont Gourmet Dog Treats is a

well-received welcome treat. In addition there are dog bowlsand dog beds to help make your dog(s) feel at home at TheMountain Top Inn & Resort!

Out of respect for our guests who may not be as comfortablewith pets, owners are asked to keep dogs on leash when in thecompany of others on the property. In winter you’ll have 15 kmof pet friendly xc ski and snowshoe trails; in winter the hikingtrails and beach are available to all well-behaved furry friends.

The Mountain Top Inn & Resort welcomes pets with warmhugs and friendly “good boy” or “good girl” smiles. Call802.483.2311, visit www.mountaintopinn.com and follow us onTwitter and Facebook.

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Hooves & Paws 2012 - 3

The perfect getaway for animal lovers

Mountain Top Inn & Resort

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It all started one day,when my cousinNicholas was mowing

the lawn at his house. There,in the grass, my cousin foundseveral abandoned kittens.Most of them were dead; theirmother must have left themfor some mysterious reason.

There were, however, twosurviving kittens. They wereboth black and gray tabbymackerels with white chest,mittens, and socks (that justmeans the paws are white).

My cousin wasn't going tokeep them all, so they kepttwo, Salt and Pepper.

The kittens still had theireyes closed and had to be fedwith a little bottle.

One had a gray nose, so wenamed her Gray Nose; theother cat had a pink nose sowe named her Pink Nose.

Their names were slowly

changing though. Gray Nose’snew name became Gracie andPink Nose’s new name becamePeachy.

Peachy liked sleeping in mytoys when I was little. Shealso liked watching the birdsat the bird feeders. Gracieliked stuffed animals, or morelike drooling and clawingthem. They were very cute. Igrew up with these creatures;they are a part of my life.

One tragic night, Peachywas killed by a passing truck.To me, the world had ended. Iwas so sad over the accident. Iwanted to skip going to schooland do nothing but cry insidethe house.

But one thing kept mehappy–little Gracie. Then, Iasked myself a question: Whyshould I mope over Peachy’sdeath when I still had Graciealive and well?

Today, I love Gracie evenmore than I did when Peachywas alive. The cat enjoyssleeping on the top of ourcomputer, drooling on mystuffed animals, and beingloved.

I think Peachy is happy outthere, somehwre. She mustknow that I am taking goodcare of Gracie and that I stilllove her.

The author, Jeanine Angier,10, lives in Vergennes.

The unique ballad of ...Peachy and Gracie!

Ten-year-old Jeanine Angier with her cat Gracie.

“Stand still, O Beautiful End,for a moment, and say your lastwords in silence. I bow to youand hold up my lamp to lightyou on your way.” -Rabindranath Tagore

The vet walked in andexamined the ailing cat, “I’msorry it’s time.”

Dr. Bob sat on the recliner as the wife held theseven year old black and white tuxedo cat on her lap.Everything seemed relaxed until the vet injected the sedative.

Commotion erupted as the cat jumped clawing the husband’shand.

“Oh no,” she uttered, running and grasping her Baby... carry-ing him to his bedroom where she second-guessed everything.She sat on the floor caressing him from head to toe, and hepeered at her through his sleepy eyes.

Dismay and distress watching the vet attempt the final, dead-ly injection. He could not reach a vein finally jabbing thetummy where the mass had grown. The couple cried as theycaressed their Baby. All along, his bushy tail wagged until thefinal breath.

Dimness and mist lay ahead. The cat walked to a distant receding horizon where it entered a por-

tal, which led to a tunnel of luminescence–a transition to a new placesuspended from space and time.

“Hi, I’m Satchmo, known as Baby. I don’t know how, but I’mdead.

“Although I was healthy in April, I lost five pounds by June.It started with a urinary tract infection, and I could no longereat or drink. For three and half weeks Mommy took me everyday to Dr. Bob for I.V. and a feeding tube.

I really miss my caretakers. I loved sleeping with them andcrawling under the covers licking their toes.

Daddy saved my life, as the passing cars whizzed by. Hescooped me up when I was only six weeks old, and I crawled allover him as he drove.

At the house, I met my grandparents. Grandma said some-thing about Mommy, “Oh, my, what is Cat going to think aboutthis?”

While napping, I heard Mommy walk in and everyone sound-ing strange. They said, “Why don’t you go out on the deck andrelax?”

The screen door slid open and Mommy said, “What anadorable bundle of fur!”

She picked me up and fell in love with me instantly. I mustadmit I was adorable, black and white with green eyes andwhite markings on my nose with an all white fluffy tummy andpaws, and I had the greatest bushy tail salute.

Mommy took me to the vet and found out that I had ring-worm, so I had to be sequestered. I didn’t mind because I hadthe best room in the house—it became my own bedroom where Ispent hours playing with the neighbor cats, watching birds,deer, as well as viewing the mountains thinking about how gift-ed I was to have such a home.

I investigated everything, and how I loved to play with mywater bowl. Mommy could not understand why water pooleduntil she saw me splashing my paws into it. I caused damage tothe mahogany desk, but I was forgiven. She replaced the bowlwith a gravity feeder, but I figured out how to empty that.

Set free from my room, I had the entire houseas my playground. I loved crawling up the

screen door on the deck, and I lovedplaying in Mommy’s closet. I

could go far back and play hideand seek with everyone.

Known as the racehorse, Iflew around curbs and downthe staircases. No matterwhere I lounged in the house,

I always met up with Mommyin the bathroom to play with her

sweatpants’ drawstrings. As the mischievous one of the fam-

ily, my siblings, Tabatha and Miles,learned from my antics. I taught them how to

run out the front door among other things. Mommy left her new leather boots and a package of toilet

paper in the den, and boy did I get in trouble. I first shreddedthe toilet paper and gnawed on the fine-smelling leather—Imade a new design from the ankle to the top of boot. Mommyscreamed causing me to run to the safety of my bedroom. I triedto run out the front door, and she said, “Go ahead you bad boy.It took me forever to find those boots, and I only wore themonce!” Needless to say, I got lucky because a shoemakerrepaired the boot.

How I loved to chew on leather. I also damaged Daddy’smaroon desk chair. Leather wasn’t the only thing. I foundspeaker and telephone wires, twist ties, and rummaging throughthe garbage for Q-tips, a real treat.

Freelance writer Catherine M. Oliverio is an English teacher atPoultney High School in Vermont. Pictured above are Baby andMiles.

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O beautiful end

The National GreyhoundAdoption Project

Tens of thousands of greyhounds are bred every year forthe 27 racetracks in the United States, according to theU.S. Humane Society. They’re intentionally over-bred so

there will be ample to replace old and underperforming grey-

hounds at the tracks. Each year, thousands of these retired dogsdo not find a home; they are killed.

The National Greyhound Adoption porject, a reminder foranimal lovers that there is an industry that “throws away dogslike they are defective products,” according to retired policeofficer Irvin Cannon, a dog lover whose new book, For the Loveof Dog Tales (www.FortheLoveofDogTales.com), gives voice toman’s best friend.

Cannon said there are some things to remember for those con-sidering adopting a greyhound:

• Greyhounds tend to be intelligent, timid: These dogs areconsidered gentle and reserved, but stubborn. If they sense theycan take control, they will, so owners should quickly establishauthority.

• Not used to other breeds: Greyhounds are born and raisedaround people and other greyhounds only. They may becomeconfused or frightened by other dogs, and may need to getaccustomed to cats.

• No fat, little hair: No dog should be left outside in the coldor heat. Greyhounds are especially sensitive to extreme temper-atures and rain.

• Sweet affection: They do not bite; they show affection bylicking, leaning and rubbing, much like cats.

Although there is a well-known and dedicated effort to findhomes for aged-out greyhounds, Cannon said there is only oneway to fix the racing industry – it must be ended. 83075


One day my wifeNancy, saw an arti-cle in a popular

magazine about a terrier mixfemale that was nursing a goatkid.

According to the article’sauthor, “One of the breeders,of the North West FarmTerriers (NWFT) Susan, had agoat doe that was not nursingher kid. A female dog,Marilyn, was nursing her litterand kept coming in where thegoats were and was chasedaway a few times until shepresented herself to the kidand nursed it. Marilyn contin-ued to care for the kid for twoweeks.”

The NWFT is a medium-sized breed of dog originatingin the northwestern UnitedStates.

The breed was developed byGreg Houghton and his wifeDeeDee McCarty of PortAngeles, Washington, over thelast 20 years. While this breed

has yet to achieve recognitionby the American Kennel Club,an active breeding programmakes it a likely candidate forfuture recognition.

The breed has in its lineagedogs of the following breeds:Airedale Terrier, Jack RusselTerrier,Welsh Corgi, BorderCollie and Irish Terrier.

Nancy at this point, said shewanted a NWFT puppy andcontacted the breeder Susan.Two years later the time wasright and a litter was avail-able. Not just any litter, but aMarilyn litter. They were bornon June 6th 2007 and a femalewas chosen for us. SueGrisaitis is the breeder andshe shipped our Sarah inAugust 2007.

We picked up Sarah at theAlbany Airport.

She was tired and a littleconfused, but ate, drank andpottied as soon as we took herout of her crate. She traveledhome in Nancy’s lap and slept

most of the way. When shewas three years old ,we founda male NWFT “Lee”.

Lee’s owners agreed to breedhim to Sarah for the pick of thelitter. On June 12, 2010 Sarahhad one female and threemales. They grew up beautiful-ly. Males were temporarlynamed, Piglet, Brother andJunior, the female Muffin.

All four live nearby exceptMuffen, (now Willow) wholives part time New York City,where everyone knows herfrom her romps in CentralPark. and part time inVermont. Piglet (now Dodger),lives on a potato farm and has

been highlited in a Vermontmagazine recently.

Brother, now HuckleberryHound, lives happily andactively with one or out bestlocal Chefs and Junior, nowZiggy, lives with his father ona Vermont farm.

Susan Graisaitis is bringinga 12 week old male to us inJune.

In her honor we are havinga NWFT reunion her at thefarm. We are looking for a for-ever home for “Buster.” Theplan is to breed him to afemale a litter of Willow’spups.

— By Fred Simon

The NWFT ...

A Fine Breed of Terriers

The NWFT is a medium-sized breed of dog originating in the northwesternUnited States. The breed has in its lineage dogs of the following breeds:Airedale Terrier, Jack Russel Terrier,Welsh Corgi, Border Collie and Irish Terrier.

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According to a spokesperson ofthe Rutland County HumaneSociety, the animal shelter in

Pittsford responded to a call for help in aRutland-area case of animal hoarding sit-uation recently.

According to the American Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Animalswebsite, “animal hoarding involves keep-ing higher than usual numbers of animalsas domestic pets without having the abili-ty to properly house or care for them,while at the same time denying thisinability.”

Sending a RCHS press release to newsmedia April 4, Gretchen Goodmanannounced that an elderly Rutlandwoman was hospitalized and removedfrom a home. The animal shelter werecalled by her out-of-state family to inter-vene. The woman’s name and specificlocation was not released by RCHS.

“Animal hoarding is a complex issueand one not easily addressed,” accordingto Goodman. “The effects can be devas-tating to the animals and humansinvolved and impact public safety. Withthe family’s permission, we entered a

home that no one other than the ownerhad been in for up to 15 years.Conditions in the home were difficultmaking it necessary for RCHS to work forseven hours the first day to remove 12cats. In the next three days, three morepregnant cats were removed and placedin foster homes. To date, ten kittens havebeen born.”

RCHS staff and volunteers issued felinevaccines and performed check-ups andspay and neuter surgery.

“While they are physicallyready to be adopted they areemotionally still a bit shutdown,” Goodman stated in therelease. “These cats receivedaffection from their caretakerbut were isolated from the larg-er world and will need plenty oftime to adjust to the shelterand, eventually, to new homes.”

This recent case of animalhoarding in Rutland in notunique to Vermont. The tragicphenomenon is on the rise hereas similar stories can be foundin statewide news on a semi-

regular basis.There may be a mental health compo-

nent in animal hoarding including delu-sional, attachment, obsessive–compulsivedisorders, as well as zoophilia, dementia,and addiction, according to the AmericanSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals.

If you suspect animal hoarding in yourarea, contact the office of the nearest ani-mal shelter and report what you know.

—Lou Varricchio

‘Animal hoarding:’ Cases on the rise

Founded in 1996 by Hilary Davis, All Breed Rescue inSouth Burlington is a privately run and funded rescuethat has saved the lives of over 4,000 dogs. This compas-

sionate non-profit rescue organization is dedicated to saving thelives of dogs in Vermont and from high-kill shelters in thesouth.

Until this past autumn, ABR has relied on foster homes andvarious kennels in the area for boarding all of rescued dogs.Due to this, there was a lot of coordinating in terms of gettingthe necessary food and vetting, in addition to arranging adop-

tions at multiple locations. Now, thanks to an exclusive arrangement with a new doggie

daycare and boarding facility in South Burlington, all dogs areable to be under one roof and we are conducting adoptions byappointment five days per week.

“We have already seen a drastic increase in the number ofdogs that we have been able to place,” according to Mia Troy-Vowell of All Breed. “Our goal is to at least double our efforts insaving the lives of dogs that would have otherwise been eutha-nized. That is just to give you a little background on who we areand what we do. The reason I am writing to you today is to tellyou of an incredible effort this weekend by over 20 volunteersthat left me speechless and tearful.”

Troy-Vowell is clearly proud of All Breed’s volunteers andtheir efforts for the dogs, but it is a temporary solution.

“If I had my druthers,” she said, “we would place every dogafter the week quarantine is up. However, we do have some forweeks, months even, still in the program.”

Troy-Vowell noted that the facility where the organizationboards dogs is basic, esentially two large warehouses.

“The floor is concrete, we have received many donations ofblankets and towels but those are inevitably shredded, soiled,and discarded or washed but we have a lot of laundry whichresults in a lot of bills,” she said.

But every cloud has a silver lining and Troy-Vowell said one“amazing woman” stepped into the lives of All Breeds humanvolunteers and animal charges.

“Her name is Joyce Girard,” Troy-Vowell noted, “and she hassingle-handedly spearheaded efforts to raise funds for KONGs,which were then stuffed and distributed to all of our dogs onChristmas day, coordinated a volunteer training program, andmost recently secured volunteers, funds, and materials to build100 elevated beds to keep our dogs off of the cold concretefloors. These beds are lightweight, easy to clean, and comfort-able for the dogs. Through her efforts, she was able to securefunding, material donations, and volunteers to build thesebeds.”

She also added that donor, who wishes to remain anonymous,donated $1,000 towards this program, the single-largest donationour program has ever received. Haartz Corporation in Acton,Mass., donated marine industrial fabric (free of charge),Independent Pipe and Supply Company in South Burlington(donated PVC for 40 beds), screws were donated by SAC Fastenersin Williston, corners were bought at a discount from C and SPlastics in Winter Haven, Fla., St. James Episcopal Church in EssexJunction donated the use of a hall for construction, and Joyce'snumerous friends, family, and coworkers from General Dynamicsvolunteered their time and tools to complete this project.

Pictured above: Volunteers at All Breed Rescue in South Burlington help con-struct needed furnishings for the non-profit rescue organization.

Rosemary Root AQHA Professional Horseman Essex Jct., VT • 802-878-8683

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Vermont Large AnimalClinic - Equine Hospital

The Vermont Large Animal Clinicand Equine Hospital offers exten-sive equine veterinary services to

Vermont and upstate New York, for allages, breeds, and disciplines.

The clinic’s mission is to deliver caring,professional service with a large variety ofdiagnostic and treatment options. Thestaff takes pride in offering a high level of customer servicethroughout our practice. They offer the peace of mind that yourhorses will be cared for by veterinarians who have undergoneequine specific training. This ensures your horse will receive thehighest standard of health care.

VLAC – Equine Hospital serves as a referral equine medical andsurgical hospital for Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate NewYork with two board certified equine surgeons, a board certifiedequine internist, and a certified equine acupuncturist.

One focus of VLAC – Equine Hospital is on client education,allowing clients to make the best and most informed decisions fortheir horses.

Veterinarians:Philip D. van Harreveld, DVM, M.S.Board Certified Equine SurgeryDr. van Harrevel’s special interests include lameness examina-

tion, soft tissue and reproductive surgery, and the management ofmedical and surgical equine colic.

William Valentino, DVM, M.S.Board Certified in Equine SurgeryDr. Valentino special interests include equine orthopedic imaging,

arthroscopy, lameness evaluations and orthopedic surgery, includ-ing fracture repair.

Lorie Valentino, DVM, M.S.Board Certified in Equine Internal MedicineDr. Valentino brings much needed expertise in equine internal

medicine to the region.Kathy Murphy, DVMEquine Acupuncture and MesotherapyDr Kathy Murphy’s special interests include the diagnosis and

treatment of lameness, sports medicine, and acupuncture.Kristen Clapp, DVMDr. Clapp has a strong interest in the equine sector of veterinary

medicine.Services provided:•Ambulatory•Emergency•Laboratory•Lameness evaluation •Shockwave Therapy•Medicine•Reproduction•Surgery•Spinal Manipulation

Vermont Large Animal Clinic-Equine Hospital1054 Lake Rd.

Milton, Vt. 05468802-893-6800

802-893-6808 fax802-860-8266 (emergency after 5 p.m.)

E-mail address: [email protected] schedule appointments: [email protected]

Ibecame sick after I delivered my youngest son in 1978. Iwas diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease on July 4, 1979. Istarted spending a lot of time in and out of hospitals for

treatments. My first surgery occurred in 1986 and was quickly followed

by another in 1987. Several years passed and it felt like I hadmy life somewhat under control.

I had been told by the physicians that I would probably notlive to be over 50 so I started a list of things I wanted to accom-plish and set out on a mission to succeed crossing items frommy list. I guess the modern term is a “bucket list”.

Like every little girl, I had wanted to learn to ride so I startedtaking lessons at the age of 35. After a year of lessons, I reallywanted a horse to call my own. I purchased a western pleasurehorse named Leo. He taught me well about patience, persist-ence, and practice but decided I needed more of a challenge.Now was the task of finding my horse.

It just so happened that the owner of the farm had taken in aseven-year-old palomino paint mare. She was definitely in poorcondition and ornery but the owner wanted me to take a look ather. I very carefully went into the pasture because I had heardthe stories about how she would charge people who went intothe pasture to either feed or get her and they would end up run-ning back to the fence for safety.

Cody locked eyes with me as I walked gingerly towards her.My heart was racing and my body was tense. As I got closer sheseemed to understand my trepidation and ever so slowly cameto me and placed her head on my shoulder. That did it. Fromthat day on Cody was my horse.

Cody has now been with me for nearly 15 years. I have had many more surgeries and hospitalizations since and through itall Cody is there for me. I can go to her crying or needing some-one to listen and she understands. On the bad days we saddleup and take a ride that leaves us breathless and in awe.

I had to retire early from working due to my health. I waswondering what I was going to do to fill the gap in my life.Cody lovingly kept me busy. I now have a farm with 11 horsesand am still enjoying life.

The “bucket list” isn’t important to me now. I found my pur-pose. She came into my life during one of my darkest momentsand has lighted a path for me to follow. I believe without her Iwould not be sitting here writing this story. She has been mycompanion, friend, advisor, counselor, etc. She and I have abond that will not even be broken by death as I know spirituallyour souls will always be intertwined.

— The author, Tori Lathrop lives in New Haven, Vt.

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Cody:A Friend Forever

Pictured above, left: Cody and Muffin. Above: Cody and Tori ride the bed of the New Haven River in Vermont.

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Just like humans and dogs,horses can become infectedwith Lyme disease. Lyme dis-

ease is caused by the organismBorrelia burgdorferi and is trans-mitted by the deer tick. The preva-lence of B. burgdorferi is particu-larly high in the northeasternUnited States. The transmission of Lyme occurs anytimethat ticks are active, but is highest from late summer toearly winter.

The clinical signs of Lyme disease are nonspecific andcan involve multiple body systems. Some of the more com-mon signs include fever, change in attitude, shifting orvague lameness, muscle tenderness, swollen joints, anterioruveitis (eye inflammation), and depression. Left untreated,horses can develop long-term effects.

Diagnosis of Lyme disease can be difficult. There areblood tests available that identify antibodies to the bacteriain the bloodstream. While diagnostic blood-work is oftenhelpful, results can be vague depending when in the courseof disease the blood was collected. For instance, early inthe disease, the body has not had time to produce enoughantibody to provide a positive result. In such an instance,your veterinarian may make a presumptive diagnosis basedon clinical signs and the results of diagnostic testing. Animprovement in clinical signs following treatment is, attimes, the best diagnostic indicator.

The sooner a horse is diagnosed and treated, the morelikely they will be to make a full recovery. Treatmentinvolves a long course of antibiotics. Depending on theseverity of the disease, a veterinarian may choose to startthe horse on intravenous antibiotics, intravenous antibi-otics followed by oral antibiotics, or oral antibiotics alone.The treatment length can range from 3-8 weeks, dependingon the method of treatment. Follow-up blood-work can berun following treatment, but can be frustrating, as somehorses will maintain a high titer for many months.Relapses, unfortunately, are not uncommon.

Currently, there is no vaccine against Lyme diseaseapproved for use in horses. There is a dog vaccine whichhas been shown to be useful in preventing Lyme infection,and many veterinarians have started using this vaccine tohelp prevent infection. Tick management is essential, anddaily grooming is important. An infected tick must beattached for 24-48 hours before bacterial transmission ispossible. Because of this, daily checks and removal of tickscan play a role in preventing infection. Be sure to checkyour horse's chin, neck, mane, and under the tail as tickstend to hide in these places. Keeping pastures mowed canalso help with tick control. If you think your horse may besuffering from Lyme disease, contact your veterinarian assoon as possible because recovery can depend on earlydiagnosis and treatment.

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Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott continued his “VermontEveryday Jobs” tour last month spending a morningmaking house calls with Dr. Alison Cornwall, a large-

animal veterinarian working in central Vermont. Their itinerary for the morning’s work included a horse barn

in Montpelier, a goat dairy in Cabot, and an alpaca farm inMiddlesex.

At the Saudek horse farm, Dr. Cornwall had Scott’s assistancein examining, vaccinating, and giving dental exams to a coupleof horses. Lt. Gov. Scott also learned how to disbud, or removehorns, from baby goats at their second stop at the RockwellFarm in Cabot. Their final stop was at the Hall alpaca farm inMiddlesex, where Lt. Governor Scott assisted in a few malealpaca castrations.

“It was a really interesting experience,” said Scott. “Each‘Everyday Job’ generates information that I can bring back toMontpelier, and this visit showed me how much our state needscapable large-animal vets like Dr. Cornwall.”

According to the Vermont Veterinary Medicine Association,veterinary medicine as a whole employs nearly 1,200Vermonters. However, the large-animal veterinary industry inparticular is facing a current shortage of doctors. Last year, theVermont Legislature and the governor enacted a loan forgive-ness program for large-animal vets, with the hope that moreyoung Vermonters would study veterinary medicine and helpfill this need.

“With more Vermonters choosing to raise their own animalsfor meat and produce, having regular and timely access to vet-erinary services will be essential to protecting the safety of ourfood supply,” said Lt. Gov. Scott. “It’s an important invest-ment.”

“I’m really grateful that Lt. Gov. Scott took the time to makethese calls with me today and to experience what’s happeningin Vermont agriculture,” said Dr. Cornwall. “I was also sur-prised at how hands-on he is. In addition to talking about poli-cy issues, Lt. Gov Scott was also able to repair the igniter on mybutane burner, which unexpectedly quit on me as we were dis-budding the baby goats. All in all, I truly appreciate having himalong.”

— By Nancy Driscoll

How a Vermont politicianlearned to love Alpacas

Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott with Dr. Alison Cornwall (in blue vest) and farmowner Susan Hall (in plaid jacket).

Photo by Jeannette Wulff

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The staff and volunteers at theAddison County Humane Society areexcited about a new renovation and

expansion project that is well underway inMiddlebury. The project is increasing the facil-ity’s square footage by 65 percent to care forAddison County’s homeless, abandoned andabused animals. The new space is ready foroccupancy.

The current facility, located at 236Boardman St. in Middlebury was built in1990. Although the shelter was originallydesigned to house 60 animals, the overcrowd-ed space is now shared by 140 cats, dogs, rab-bits and hamsters.

“In 20 years the shelter has become outdat-ed and inefficient and has fallen far belowcontemporary standards and requirements foroptimal animal care,” according to JackieRose, executive director of ACHS last year.The new facility includes an entrance/recep-tion area to welcome guests and potentialadopters; intake/admission area which willprovide greater privacy for persons needing

to surrender their pet and/or theintake of stray or lost animals; incom-ing area designated for all newlyadmitted animals, providing quietspace for new animals to adjust to thefacility and be medically cleared foradoption; “meet and greet” rooms forpotential adopters to play andbecome familiar with animals theyare considering for adoption; med-ical quarantine area; Expanded med-ical examination room; “cat land”housing (free range, cage-freerooms) and public viewing area forcats that are available for adoption;separate “dog barn” offering hous-ing (14 kennels) and public viewingarea for dogs that are available for adoption;education/conference room for meetings,humane education/training events, resourcelibrary; private bereavement room; officespace for staff and volunteers with adequatefurnishing and computers to allow for effi-cient daily operations; and expanded laundry

and storage areasACHS conducted a capital campaign to

raise the $1.12 million needed to design andbuild the new addition and renovate existingspace. Called the “Homeward BoundCampaign,” ACHS experienced considerablecommunity support.

Drop by and visit ACHS’s newest addition.

Addison County Humane Society’s

All New Annex

SHOVEL READY — Work is well under way at the AddisonCounty Humane Society’s new annex, but this is what theground-breaking event last year looked like with Jim Stuart,ACHS board member; Liz Holm, campaign co-chairwoman;Jackie Rose, executive director, ACHS; Sarah Cowan, seniorvice president, National Bank of Middlebury; Michael Bard,USDA representative.

More than 80 4-H club members from around theGreen Mountain State competed at the Vermont 4-HHorse Hippology Contest in Castleton this year.

Spectators were welcome to attend the free event, which was co-sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension andRutland County 4-H.

The action was held at the Tedesco Stables at Angier Farm onRoute 4A where the horse judging component of the competi-tion took place.

At the conclusion of the judging, which consisted of one hal-ter and one performance class, the event moved to Castleton-Hubbardton Elementary School.

Following lunch, the contestants participated in a written test,which included testing of cognitive and hands-on skills such astack assembly, knot tying or balancing a feed ration, and identi-fication stations. For the latter, they were judged on their abilityto identify tack and equipment, forages, horse breeds and ori-gins and other equine-related items.

The 4-Hers, ages 8 to 18, were divided into groups based onage. Rosette ribbons were awarded to the top scorers in each divi-sion through tenth place. All others received participation rib-bons.

The four highest scorers in the senior division, ages 14 andup, earned a spot on the Vermont 4-H Horse Hippology Team,which will compete at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up in Louisville, Ky. in November.

A separate senior novice division was open to any teen, 14and older, who was either new to 4-H or a first-time participantin the state hippology contest. However, anyone competing inthis division was not be eligible for the state team.

To learn more about involving your child in horse hippologyor other Vermont 4-H horse events, contact Wendy Sorrell at802-656-5418 or toll-free at 800 -571-0668, extension 2.

Pictured above: More than 80 Vermont 4-H club members competed at theVermont 4-H Horse Hippology Contest in Castleton this year. Photo courtesy of UVM

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Pond Hill Ranch in Castleton is about as close to openrange as it gets up here in Vermontana. While the GreenMountain State may be about as far east of the

Mississippi as you can go in many ways, the fact is that horsesand cattle—even cowboys and sheepmen—have always been apart of Vermont’s northern-frontier heritage.

Dating back to the early 1900s, Pond Hill Ranch was foundedby the O’Rourke family and began as a draft horse and cattleoperation. Nearly a century later, it remains an O’Rourke opera-tion and has grown to become a genuine 2,000-acre ranch com-plete with free-roaming broncos, unusual cattle stock, and weeklyrodeo shows.

Harry O’Rourke, Jr., and his wife Josephine expanded the orig-inal family ranch during the 1930s; they added horses and moreacreage to the spread. Today, five O’Rourke siblings—Debbie,Dick, Judy, Harry and Colleen and families—manage the ranch.

“We primarily buy and sell horses,” said Harry O’Rourke, “sowe buy and sell animals and also lease horses to camps, resorts,etc. We do a lot of traveling for the ranch.”

Currently, over 800 Pond Hill horses are scattered across theregion providing pleasure riding for tourists and other enthusi-asts in New England and New York. “New England has anEnglish riding tradition,” said O’Rourke, “But our tradition hereis Western although we offer both styles of horseback riding.”

At the Castleton ranch, visitors can go on an exciting trail ride,view an operating ranch close up, or simply shop at the ranchtack shop for a new Stetson or a pair of boots.

In addition to providing Vermont’s best trail ride—throughopen meadows, woods, and across a Taconic mountain ridge—Pond Hill Ranch boasts Vermont’s only professional rodeo, partof the American Professional Rodeo Association and NationalRodeo Association. The ranch’s rodeo show had its start at LakeBomoseen back in the 1960s, but was subsequently moved ontothe ranch to better accommodate growing audiences.

Eight rodeo events, held each Saturday at 8 p.m., are offeredbetween July 4 and Labor Day.

While the rodeo season is short up here, roping, riding, steerwrestling, bull riding, and much more, are offered to eager audi-ences.

If you’re simply a fan of westerns, country and western music,want to ride a horse, or are just curious about rodeo, Pond HillRanch is close to home, and it’s guaranteed fun for the wholefamily.

So, saddle up and head west—to Pond Hill Ranch!Hours and directions: The ranch is open daily during the summer 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. Rodeos are held every Saturday, at 8 p.m., between July4 and Labor Day. The ranch is located in Castleton just south ofCastleton State College, off old Route 4, at 1683 Pond Hill RanchRoad. For details or the arrange a trail ride, call the ranch at 802-468-2449 or 802-468-0578.

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