san diego pets magazine, december 2011

DECEMBER 2011—JANUARY 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com2

Our next issue will be out February 2012! www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2011— JANUARY 2012 3

PUBLISHER/EDITORCasey Dean

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKendra Hartmann

Sindi SomersMartin Jones Westlin

GUEST WRITERSJudith PierceKaren HamletK.R. JohnsonMark Carlson

Dr. Stefanie Schwartz

COVER ART Some Like It Shot Photography

www.somelikeitshotphotography.com

CONTRIBUTINGPHOTOGRAPHERS

Alison GieseCasey Dean

Karen Hamlet

CARTOONISTBarbara Fuscsick

Puppy Paws Productionswww.puppypawsproductions.com

ADVERTISINGCasey Dean

[email protected](619) 573-5615

Marjorie “Kirby”[email protected]

(858) 775-4432

San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing,Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. No partof this publication may be duplicated or reprinted withoutexpress consent from the publisher. Editors reserve theright to edit all content. Submissions are welcome, andmay be edited for content and clarity. Please forward allunsolicited material to the editor. Views and opinionsexpressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher.The publisher reserves the right to approve or acceptadvertising orders and content. All contents are copyrighted2011. All rights reserved.

San Diego Pets MagazineP.o. BoX 601081San Diego, ca 92160-1081(619) 573-5615SanDiegoPetSMagazine.coM

/SanDiegoPets

Dear Friends,

The past nine months have been a true joy. From meeting

Sam the Cooking Guy in his TV kitchen to witnessing the

Paws'itive Team's service-animal graduation, being the

Publisher and Editor of San Diego Pets Magazine has been

one amazing moment after the next for me and my family.

Our classy city has pet events year round with hoards of

selfless volunteer organizations and individuals giving their

all for the welfare of our animal companions. Its no doubt

that the greatest pet community in the world is ours.

Our next issue will be out the first week of

February 2012 and continue from there on a

monthly schedule. We at San Diego Pets Magazine

want to wish you a happy holiday season and

look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

Casey Dean Casey, Linda, Buddy & Noodles


Chopper and Spike:an unlikely union turned perfect partnership

Spike and Chopper, however, are not themost likely of friends. Spike, a tiny papillonwho was abused for much of his early life,

is quiet and small and enjoys spending an after-noon curled up on his human mother’s lap. Atthe other end of the spectrum is two-year-oldBoston terrier Chopper, whose idea of a good

time is riding high on his remote-controlledHarley Davidson.Yet Spike and Chopper have one very impor-

tant thing in common: they are members of anelite group of San Diego canines that use theirtalent and good looks for charity — a club thatseems to thrive here in Southern California.

B y KENDRA HARTMANN | SAN D I EGO PETS

Just like in the world of humans, dogs have friends and acquaintances. Andjust like us, they gravitate toward those with similar interests and hobbies.That’s how Spike and Chopper came to be buds: a shared interest in doinggood and helping others.

H BdD 5COVER STORY

www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2011— JANUARY 2012 5

Spike and Chopper first met almostexactly one year ago, when Mark Shaf-fer, Chopper’s human father and fel-low Harley rider, noticed a post onSpike’s Facebook page that made men-tion of a tiny wagon. In possession of asmall wagon himself, he decided to getin touch with Spike and his owner,Jocelyn Taylor, on the chance they’dgo for a joint Harley/wagon towingadventure.Taylor, it turned out, was more than

game, and the group met up at the 2010Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade for a trialrun. Chopper, as usual, helmed the bikewhile Spike rode in the wagon, both re-splendent in their signature sunglasses.Taylor and Shaffer figured they’d givethe arrangement a try, and if Spikejumped out or otherwise rejected thewagon, they’d just walk alongside eachother in the parade.

Neither dog so much as hinted at re-sistance to the arrangement — Spike, infact, loved his wagon so much that afterthe parade was over and Taylor andShaffer were packing things up, Taylorlooked around for Spike only to findhim sitting back in it, waiting for an-other round. The pair were a smash hit— so much so, they’ve been invitedback this year as Grand Marshals.But this is only the latest in Spike

and Chopper’s individual stories.Each has, in fact, built up a legacy inhis own right, long before theirunited debut in a motorcycle/wagonmotorcade.

chopper’s story:Chopper, as those who are familiar

with him know, is not the first Harley-riding dog in San Diego. His predeces-sor, Bandit, was Shaffer’s first Bostonterrier who developed a love for theopen road when he was just a couple ofmonths old. Bandit launched the ideaof the biker dog that gives back and es-tablished quite a legacy — big boots forChopper to fill. Shaffer first decided Bandit could do

more than just look good on a bikewhen he started to notice the attention-grabbing potential of his biker buddy. “We started gaining a lot of notori-

ety,” he said. “I never really thought alot about charity work, but it sort ofevolved. I started seeing the good it wasdoing, and I really wanted to do more.”And do more he did. Shaffer started

SEE CHOPPER & SPIKE, Page 6

The accomplishments of Chopper and Spike’scombined efforts can be easily spotted in thesmiles of those they spend even a moment with.

H BdD 5 COVER STORY


making appearances with his dog anywhere he thought theycould help: San Diego Hospice, Children’s Hospital of OrangeCounty, the San Diego VA Medical Center and Rady Children’sHospital, among others. He knew the value of the fundraisingpotential for those places, but it was the stories from the peoplehe visited that drove his desire to do more. “One time, after we had been to the hospice, I heard from a

nurse that worked there,” he said. “She told me one of the guyswe visited had been there for weeks, and when Bandit rode intohis room, she said it was the first time she had seen him smile.”Another time, Shaffer recalled, a mother wrote him a letter

shortly after he visited the Children’s Hospital in OrangeCounty. “She said her son forgot he was in pain while we were there,”

he said.Chopper now continues Bandit’s work as a certified therapy

dog, specializing, Shaffer said, in “making a positive difference,even if it just means bringing a smile to people’s faces.”Chopper travels (often in a makeshift sidecar fashioned from

a saddlebag on Shaffer’s Harley) to all of Bandit’s former loca-tions — and more — bringing cheer and charity to those in need.He supports a variety of causes, including the San Diego

CHOPPER & SPIKECONTINUED FROM Page 5

police and firefighters, Wounded War-riors, Helen Woodward Animal Cen-ter, the San Diego Humane Society,and rescue groups and shelters all overSouthern California. His born-to-be-wild reputation precedes him — he’seven been invited to appear at charityevents involving members of Guns N’Roses and FX’s “Sons of Anarchy.”Chopper, for his part, doesn’t seem to

mind all the attention.“Once he’s in costume, he knows he’s

in character and he loves it,” Shaffersaid. “I just figure, why not bring hap-piness to people who need it?”

Spike’s story:Spike’s beginning was not a smooth

one. Sold to someone along with an-other papillon for the purpose of be-coming a show dog, Spike had themisfortune of being a runt. While mostpapillons grow to about 8 to 10 pounds,Spike, Taylor said, “tops out at 5pounds after a full meal.”Spike, therefore, was “worthless” in

the eyes of his first owner.“To this day, it still angers me,” Tay-

lor said. “I don’t think anyone is worth-less. We all have a purpose and we’reall here for a reason.”Spike’s apparent uselessness brought

the wrath of his first owner, and whenTaylor finally entered the picture, Spikewas emaciated, covered in filth and histeeth were almost entirely rotten.“He couldn’t eat and was just beaten

to pieces,” Taylor said. “He was a bro-ken dog.”Taylor eventually discovered that

Spike also had a heart condition. After

a particularly alarming trip to the vet,Taylor was told he probably had aboutsix to eight months to live. That wasseveral years ago.Spike has since become the mascot of

Taylor’s charitable initiatives, her to“little catalyst for creating happy end-ings.”One of those initiatives is Operation

Pet Pals, an effort to provide comfort tothose who don’t get it elsewhere. Taylorconceived of the idea when visiting hermother, who was suffering from de-mentia, in an assisted living home. “I noticed the people in those homes

tended to be very lonely,” she said. Taylor started bringing small stuffed

animals to some of the residents and re-ceived a lot of positive feedback. “You might think, ‘What’s this adult

going to do with a stuffed animal? Buta lot of them were reverting back tochildhood in their minds, and they geta lot of comfort out of [the toys],” shesaid. “They give them names and carrythem around. It becomes a companionfor them, and if you’ve got dementiaand you talk to your stuffed dog, whocares if it gives you comfort?”Spike has become the face of the ini-

tiative, which recently went public on-line, in the hopes, Taylor said, thatpeople across the country “will be in-spired to do something similar.”Spike, like Chopper, also lends his

celebrity to various causes and organi-zations, like rescues and shelters and,in particular, Taylor’s effort to encour-age people to “adopt, don’t shop”when looking for a new pet.Taylor, much like Shaffer with Chop-

per, hopes she and Spike can, if nothingelse, brighten someone’s day. “Even if we’re doing just a simple,

small thing, it’s something,” she said.“And if you can put together a wholebunch of little somethings, it becomeshuge.”

More photos and video online at www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2011— JANUARY 2012 7

To learn more about Chopper,visit www.chopperthebikerdog.com or www.facebook.com/chopperthebikerdog.

To learn more about Spike or to donate new orgently used stuffed dogs or cats to Operation Pet Pals, visit www.operationpetpals.com, www.sandiegosun-coast.com or www.facebook.com/SpikeStripTaylor.

H BdD 5FEATURE


The perfect place for a pet project

Asimple search of “pet stores” inSan Diego on www.yellow-pages.com returns 218 results,

which may seem like a lot or a little, de-pending on your point of view. Thenumber only takes on real meaningwhen you compare it to other large U.S.cities. Take New York City, for example.

The same search returns 434 pet-relatedbusinesses, almost exactly twice asmany — in a city with more than sixtimes the population of San Diego. LosAngeles proper, whose population isabout three times that of America’sFinest, shows 226 pet stores, whileChicago — about twice the size of SanDiego — has 167. Yes, it’s no secret that San Diego

loves its pets — and its pet industry.The fact that pet owners make no bonesabout the way they love to dote ontheir furry friends — and how muchthey’ll spend to prove that — gives riseto a specific and unique niche for busi-ness owners. Here, for example, you can head out

B y KENDRA HARTMANN | SAN D I EGO PETS

for a personal training session withyour dog (complete with doggy train-ing — of the obedience and fitnesskind) before taking a trip to the dogsalon for some primping and the dogboutique for some new apparel. By thistime, it’s lunch so head over to the mar-ket for some organic dog treats beforefinding your inner canine chi at a yogaclass for dogs and their human com-panions followed by a session withyour holistic pet healer to take care ofthose aches and pains. If you’re reallyin the mood for some pampering, youcan end the evening at a five-star hotel(but only one of the ones that providesgourmet room service for pets). Andwhen you return home, of course,there’s no need to worry about cleaningup — because you paid someone to

come by and poop scoop the yard whileyou were out.San Diego’s pet industry has taken

on a life of its own, and many pet-re-lated business owners in the area havea good idea why. Most of them cite afew common themes for why SanDiego is a pet-owner’s paradise —weather generally being the highest ontheir list. “Other people who have tried to start

a business like mine in other parts ofthe country can only do it seasonally,”said Dawn Celapino, owner of LeashYour Fitness, a personal training busi-ness that incorporates human and ca-nine fitness and obedience into a jointdog/owner workout. “If you try to dothis somewhere cold, you can only doit in the summer, and if you try to do itsomewhere like Phoenix, you can onlydo it in the winter.”San Diego weather is obviously a

draw for tourists and transplants, but itcan’t be the only reason the local pet in-

The images above show how the Some Like It Shot Photography team compile several photos into a final masterpiece. The cover image of this issue ofSan Diego Pets Magazine is another example of thier fine work. Photos courtesy of Some Like It Shot Photography

SEE PET INDUSTRY, Page 11

Yes, it’s no secret thatSan Diego loves its pets— and its pet industry.


dustry enjoys a perpetual boom.Though services like Celapino’s benefitfrom the outdoor activity-friendly cli-mate, there are plenty of businesses thatdon’t need sunny days to operate. Alisha McGraw, who specializes in

pet photography through her businessSome Like It Shot, agreed weather def-initely has a hand in drawing pet own-ers to San Diego. She admitted, however, weather

couldn’t be the only factor. McGrawhas lived in several different cities,some — like Los Angeles — with simi-lar climates to San Diego. And none ofthem, she said, could claim a pet cul-ture like ours.“Here, there are dog beaches every-

where,” she said. “In LA, the closestdog beach we could find was in LongBeach — not an easy, short car rideaway.” Celapino, in turn, pointed out that

pets in San Diego get the royal treat-ment — more so, perhaps, than in othercities. Where she grew up in Pennsyl-vania, she said, there was a clear delin-eation between what was suitable for adog and what was suitable for ahuman. Not so in San Diego.“Here,” she said, “the dogs in my

classes lay on mats like their owners.They don’t even have to touch thegrass.”McGraw and Celapino are classic ex-

amples of how San Diego engendersthe pet industry, making it a no-brainerfor those leaning toward a pet-relatedbusiness. Like Celapino — who wasstrictly a human personal trainer untilshe realized how many people weretaking their dogs for a walk and thenheading to the gym, instead of combin-ing both workouts — McGraw didn’tset out with the purpose of creating fineart pet photography. Several years ago,she was photographing dogs for aboxer rescue shelter’s website whenshe realized she had a talent. The natu-ral progression led to taking photos forowners who would pay for a visualmemoir of their pet.Other less-conventional businesses

flourish here, too. Take Linda Troup’s

business, Touch N Paws. Born out of aneed to find an alternative way to treather French bulldog’s spinal and nerv-ous system ailments, the holistic heal-ing business was founded after Troupheard about the Tellington T-Touch, ahealing method designed to relievepain by bringing the animal into “phys-ical, mental and emotional balance.”

Troup has expanded her business toincorporate Reiki, aromatherapy andtherapeutic massage and has helpedanimals locally and remotely, some asfar away as Australia (“I don’t knowwhy, but I’m still amazed when itworks,” she said of the alternative heal-ing methods).San Diego, Troup said, is the perfect

place to open pet owners’ minds tothings like holistic healing.“The thing I’ve noticed is that San

Diegans are very in tune with takingcare of their pets,” she said. “Their petsneeds are going to get met, one way oranother. They’re not just animals, they’refamily members. People here are veryloving and giving to them, and that’svery good for pet-related businesses.”

PET INDUSTRYCONTINUED FROM Page 9

H BdD 5FEATURE

To learn more about Leash Your Fitness visit themonline at http://leashyourfitness.com


Dr. Stefanie Schwartzis a board certified vet-erinary behavioristbased in Southern Cal-ifornia. She sees pa-tients at CaliforniaVeterinary Specialists inCarlsbad and at TheVeterinary Neurology

Center in Tustin, CA. For more information,please call (949) 342-6644 or visit www.vet-erinarybehavior.org.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,We have a number of important

events coming up this holiday season.We are giving our daughter’s engage-ment party, Thanksgiving dinner andChristmas Eve celebrations at ourhome. The problem is that we have 4shy cats, 1 Chihuahua and 2 big Re-triever mixed breed dogs. Do you haveany advice?

Thanks, Party Palace

Dear Party Palace, Well, first of all congratulations!

There sure are a lot of good thingsgoing on in your lives right now. Typi-cally, the busier we get the less attentionour pets get. This happens despite ourbest intentions; sometimes life just getsin the way of caring for the ones welove. Honestly, the soundest advice Ican give you is to keep your life as sim-ple as possible and keep your pets outof the party madness if you can. The best thing to do would be to

board them all at your veterinarian’s orat a boarding kennel you trust the daybefore each event, picking them up theday after. This will free you up to focuson planning your events and enjoyingthem, too. We don’t want you or a guestto trip over any of the pets during thefestivities; someone might unintention-ally let any of the cats or dogs out thedoor and into the night. Some peoplearen’t pet people and you probablywant to be accommodating to yourguests. You wouldn’t want any of yourvisitors to get bitten or scratched by astartled pet, and you wouldn’t want thecats or Chihuahua to get injured bythose who are not used to living withsmall pets. Also, you don’t want yourkitties getting into the dip, or your dogsstealing food from holiday plates. Ulti-mately, I think it will be worth board-ing them for 1 or 2 nights. Keep yourstress level down and focus on the fun.

Your pets might not like being awayfrom home, but sometimes that’s thebest place for them.Another option would be to secure

the cats in a locked room, or crated in aquiet part of the house. This will keepthem safe and minimize their stresswith so many strangers in their home.The same can be done for the dogs(although this is not the time to startcrating them if they are not used to it,of course). Prepare your dogs with along walk before each event begins andthen get them settled in with a specialtreat to enjoy during their confinement.Check on your pets when you have amoment to make sure all is well, but becareful not to let them escape!Holidays are a stressful time. Event

planning is busy and fun, but stressfulnonetheless. Brief separation from yourpets may not be fun for any of you, butit will prevent them from getting intotrouble. Sometimes short term discom-fort is worth long term contentment! Sorelax and enjoy!

Dear Dr. Schwartz,We are planning to get a puppy

around the holidays. It’s not our idealtime frame with so much going on, butour kids (ages 13, 8, and 6) have beenbegging us for a pet for a while and wecouldn’t take their nagging anymore.Do you have any tips to keep ournewest family member safe?

Puppy on the Way

Dear Puppy on the Way,I’m glad that your children are old

enough to appreciate the care and de-votion your new puppy will need.Children should be on their way tobeing responsible before a pet is intro-duced; so many parents think they willbe teaching their children responsibil-ity by getting a pet. The family pet isalways the responsibility of the adults,not the children. It’s always importantto give your children basic instructionon gentle handling of any pet, and tomonitor them when a young pet is firstintroduced. Supervise your children asyour pet matures to ensure that theirrelationships remain healthy and thateveryone is safe.During the holidays, be careful of

small toys, ribbons and bows, tinsel,food and anything that might be irre-sistible to young pets who are prone toingesting things they really shouldn’t!Pet proof your home before yourpuppy arrives and instruct your chil-dren to keep their rooms tidy and theirdoors closed to minimize accidents.Keep your puppy in a safe place whenyou cannot be there to monitor him,such as a puppy pen or large crate inthe kitchen area, or even a playpen inthe den. Your puppy should sleep nearyou at night in a dog bed or crate sothat she will feel safe. For additionaldetails, please visit www.petbehav-ior.org; on the Quickfix page there arehelpful handouts you can downloadfor a small fee (it goes to supportingthe website) on basic obedience andhouse training and more. Congratula-tions on your new addition andHappy Holidays everyone!

Behavior BytesStefanie Schwartz, DVM, MSc, DACVBVeterinary Behavior [email protected]

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DECEMBER 2011—JANUARY 2012 | GIFT GUIDE14

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DECEMBER 2011—JANUARY 2012 | GIFT GUIDE16

A s we enter the holiday season, feelingsof joy and goodwill often prompt us to

want to give heartwarming gifts like cute,cuddly and innocent pets. However, liveanimals are not appropriate gifts. They requirelove and commitment during their entirelifespan. It may seem like a good idea, butbefore giving a pet as a gift, please considerthat there may be negative consequences.

After the nostalgia wears off in a fewweeks, when the person realizes how muchtime, attention and money an animal requires,they may end up resenting you. Time andexpenses are usually not considered by thegift giver or the recipient, and, as a result,these animals are often abandoned, neglectedor end up in shelters when the holidays areover. This is why it is especially important forparents to think twice before gifting a pet tochildren. Pets require adult care and commit-ment. Do not get your child a pet unless youare ready to take on the commitment.

If you still have the desire to gift a pet, whynot wrap a stuffed animal in a box with a mes-sage? Your friend or loved one can then de-cide whether they want the living version oftheir present. For a child, you might considerincluding books about the proper care andfeeding of a new family pet. It would be wiseto have many pointed discussions with yourchild about the new responsibilities they willassume once a new pet joins the family. Then,make the choice of a new pet a family eventwith the strengthened commitment to providethe love and attention your living creature willneed . By following these guidelines, you willhelp stem the growing tide of abandoned andneglected animals after the holidays.

Think twice before giftingan animal for the holidays

Article and photos by Karen Hamlet, www.karenhamlet.com


Senior Animals Create a Life Changing BondAfter losing her owner and canine companion in the same

week, 10-year old Sheba, a husky mix, was relinquished to theSan Diego Humane Society and SPCA. These combined lossesof close companions caused Sheba to become extremely de-pressed and thus uninterested in leaving her habitat or inter-acting with people. In an effort to cheer her up, Sheba was introduced to another

senior, Ranger, a 12-year old shepherd mix. That was the firsttime Sheba stood up and wagged her tail. She made greatprogress with Ranger’s support and it quickly became clear thatthe two could not be separated! They found love in each other and now all these sweet seniors

needed was a family to love and cherish both of them. Theirdreams came true during November’s “Adopt a Senior Pet”adoption campaign. A lovely couple saw Sheba and Ranger onKUSI so they paid a visit to the San Diego Humane Society thatvery day. It only took moments to fall in love with the bondedpair, so the couple happily adopted them. Now Sheba andRanger have a caring home with lots of space to play, take longnaps and receive plenty of love for their golden years!

Serving San Diego County since 1880, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA’sscope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. The Humane Society of-fers San Diegans a wide range of programs and services that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty/neglect, provide medical care and educate thecommunity on the humane treatment of animals. www.sdhumane.org

About the San Diego Humane Society & SPCA

If you’ve ever considered a rabbitfor your family, consider openingyour heart and your home to a rab-

bit who’s been rescued from a past lifeof neglect.Rescued dogs and cats are well

known as “rescue pets,” but domesticrabbits are the third most relinquishedanimal to shelters and humane soci-eties. In San Diego, nearly every shel-ter in the county has a rabbit adoptionprogram. Rabbits come to them fromowners giving them up, found strayon the streets, or from confiscation dueto lack of care. In our area alone, thereare well over 300 rabbits looking fornew homes on any given day. San Diego House Rabbit Society,

our local rabbit rescue organization ispromoting a “Home for the Holidays”program throughout the month ofDecember. Adoption fees have beengreatly reduced to $40 for a single rabbit,and $60 for a bonded pair. Adoptersmust be 21 years of age or older, andcomplete an adoption application andscreening. The Society adopts only tohomes where the rabbits are kept as in-door family companions.Adoption is a great option for rabbit

companions as one of the first thingsthey need is to be spayed or neutered.Altering your pet rabbit makes him orher a much better companion, en-abling litter box training, reducinghormonal tendencies such as digging,chewing, and spraying urine, andcalms their personality. Altering yourrabbit also prevents reproductivecancers, which is a great concern inrabbits over the age of three years old.However, this is a costly procedure,running an average of $300 or more inSan Diego County.By adopting from a shelter or rescue

organization, your rabbit companionwill already have been spayed orneutered, litter box trained, be put ona healthy diet, and been checked outby a veterinarian that specializes inrabbit care. With local adoption feesrunning from $20 to $50, you’veachieved a significant savings, whilegetting a family-ready pet. Rabbits make great family compan-

ions for the right people. They flourish


Mr. Love Buns found his new home after

being rescued from a hoarding situation.

A Home for the Holidaysin a home where they can be their“rabbity” selves. When provided witha roomy living area, plenty of out-of-cage (or pen) play time of three to fourhours a day, they can run and play andshow off their normal rabbit behaviors.Rabbits also thrive on routine. Theyare much like small children who needto know what to expect and what isexpected of them, in order to live anorderly life.When adopting from a rescue or

shelter, great care is taken to match theright rabbit with the right adopter. Youcan learn more about which might bethe best match for you, by visiting rab-bit information sites such as www.rab-bit.org or www.sandiegorabbits.org.There, you’ll find advice on properhousing, diet, normal rabbit behaviors,and see rabbits available for adoption. After learning about rabbits and

their care, we hope you’ll consider of-fering a “Home for the Holidays” to aneedy rabbit who just needs a lovingfamily to call their own.


If you’ve been wanting a companionpet but don’t feel you have the roomfor a cat or dog, or your housing

complex does not allow them, considera smaller pet to keep you company.Smaller pets can be mice, gerbils, ham-sters, rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, orrabbits. Many smaller pets make greatcompanions. Rats love attention; ham-sters are great for people who tend tobe “night owls,” and guinea pigs singlovely songs consisting of chirps, rum-bles, and chattering; they are a delightto listen to. Rabbits can learn tricks andtrain their humans, and chinchillas arehysterical to watch, as they fly throughthe room, jumping from the tops ofcages to furniture. The first step in adopting a smaller pet

is to learn about its care, in advance ofbringing one home. There are many web-sites that can give you great advice: Forrats, try www.ratclub.org an excellent sitefrom New Zealand. Guinea pig advicecan be found at www.guinealynx.info. Formice, try http://tinyurl.com/7bu29lx.Care guides for each of these species

can be found at http://www.weecom-panions.com/resources.htm.Guinea pigs make great pets for fam-

ilies with children, with parents as thechief caregivers. Guinea pigs are alsoknown as cavies. They can live up tonine years, with five to seven yearsbeing the average. As with any pet, youmust be prepared to keep and care foryour guinea pig throughout its entirelifetime. The fun aspect of guineas iswatching them putter about, makinglittle nests in their bedding, and singing

their sweet little guinea songs. Guinea pigs are strict vegetarians

and eat fresh vegetables, hay and forti-fied pelleted foods. Pigs are adopted orhoused in same-sex pairs, as spaying orneutering surgeries are too risky. Breed-ing guinea pigs is not recommended, asit’s very risky for the mothers. The ges-tation period is about 70 days and pigscan give birth to one to four babies. Themortality rate for pregnant guineas isabout 20% with one in five dying dur-ing the birthing process. Hamsters have long been thought as

good pets for kids, but that’s rarely thecase. Nocturnal animals, hamsterssleep throughout the day and are activeat night; just the opposite of your chil-dren. Hamsters are very delicate ani-mals, therefore not a good choice forchildren who may have trouble hold-ing them securely. For individualswhose schedules include late evenings,these tiny animals can provide hours ofentertainment. The Humane Society ofthe U.S. provides a great video on theircare at http://tinyurl.com/7zbs6ll. Besure to provide them with the righthousing, and many play things to keepthem occupied and well exercised. Rats can be controversial as pets,

E X P L O R E T H E S M A L L E R S I D E O F C O M P A N I O N P E T SB y JUD ITH P I ERCE | SAN D I EGO PETS

Keegan and his rat, Blizzard, enjoy hangingout together.

Wooly Bear was recently rescued and is avail-able for adoption through Wee Companions. Tickleish Guinea Pig

with many parents cringing at thethought. But they are great for kids be-cause they love attention! Rats want tohang out with their humans and beheld, a lot. This is perfect for childrenwho really want that hands-on interac-tion with their pet. Rats live an averageof two to three years, with the rare ex-ception living up to five. They are verysocial and should be adopted in same-sex pairs so they will have a friend.They need your attention too; ratsshould get out-of-cage time of at leastone to two hours per day. Rats are in-expensive to adopt, but their medicalcare can be pricey. They have a ten-dency toward growing tumors; regularvet checkups are a must. Rabbits are a popular family com-

panion and come in many breeds, col-ors and sizes. They run from a tiny 2½pounds, up to 16 pounds or more. Theyare often sold and advertised as “dwarfbreeds” by pet stores, only to grow tosix or seven pounds. Their averagelifespan is 8 to 12 years. Rabbits are ex-tremely social and enjoy the compan-ion ship of their own species andinteraction with humans. They havevery individual personalities so it’svery important to adopt a rabbit whosepersonality is a good match for you.Learn about rabbit care and behavior atwww.rabbit.org.Smaller animals are available for

adoption through local shelters and res-cue groups, including www.weecom-panions.org. Information on the care,housing, and adoption of these preciouslittle creatures is on their website.

H BdD 5 CATS


the inSiStent MeoW. Humans areverbal. Even though we cats prefernonverbal communication, we mustlower ourselves to meow at them sothey will know when it’s time to feedus, pet us, let us into the backyard, playwith us and provide the other atten-tions we require in exchange for ourmagnificent presence in their lives. Besure to use different tones for each be-havior so they can tell by the soundwhat it is you want from them. Bonus:You are teaching them the art of real lis-tening.the arMPit SnUggle. If your humanignores your noises, then more aggres-sive tactics are needed. For this to

work, get your motor running on high(humans find the sound of purringsoothing, so it helps to get their atten-tion) and simply dig your nose into thearmpit and nuzzle hard. The colderand wetter your nose, the better. Re-peat as needed. It will certainly gainyour human’s attention and has a 94percent return rate on a massage.the artfUl Poke.When verbal com-munication isn’t effective, I find it use-ful to unsheathe one claw (only one; wewant to be noticed, not to carve ourperson like a turkey). Ever so gently,hook it into the shirt your person iswearing. My person, KR, will alwaystune into me and give me her full at-

the cat’s meowFive tips for training your human

B y KR JOHNSON | SAN D I EGO PETS

Hi everyone—this is Coco, KR’s cat. I finally got control of the keyboard,having distracted KR enough that she’s forgotten to turn off the computer

before she went to bed (mwa-ha-haaa)! This last column of 2011 contains valuableinformation for cats only. I, Queen of All Catdom, offer my top tips for trainingyour humans for the new year.

tention when I use this technique. Itworks because, no matter how manytimes she asks me not to poke her, Ijust purr louder, poke again andenjoy the resulting pets and scritchesunder my chin. the SUrPriSe attack. If your humanis watching a movie, this technique isquite effective in getting them down onthe floor to play. First, stealthily removeyourself from the room. I especially rec-ommend going upstairs, if you have anupstairs. Then, launch your attack. Tailstraight up and frizzed, race throughthe house, attacking your toys, scratch-ing posts, any papers lying around, feetand then racing around from room toroom. Fly upstairs and back down-stairs, jump up behind your human onthe couch and produce a long, drawn-out mmmrrrroowwwww! KR alwayslaughs and gets down on the floor toplay with me after these sessions, but ifyou happen to have a human with aless developed sense of humor, use thiswith caution. We want to educate them,not send them into an early grave.the foot Weave. (Caution: This mustbe used only by cats agile enough tospring out of the way. Do not attempt ifyour springiness is on the fritz.) Whenyour person exercises, you have thepurrfect opportunity for you to distractthem and reassure yourself of yourtotal dominance in the home. Placeyourself on the floor right in the path oftheir moving feet. This forces them tomove around you. Keep staring up atyour person with the most patheticallylonely face you can muster. Every oncein a while, utter a “mah” or a “mroo”just to tug at their heartstrings andmake them pause the DVD player topet you. For those of you with ad-vanced skills, try this: As soon as theDVD player is paused and your personis reaching for you, run away. See howmany times in one session you can getyour person to turn off the DVD player.Send me an email on how you did, andthe winner will get a free bag of organiccatnip!Those are my best tips. Use them

wisely, and you will soon have the hu-mans in your household in tiptop shapefor serving your every whim.

KR Johnson is the author of the laugh-out-loud book, The Eleventh Sense, avail-able on amazon.com—San Diego Petsreaders can request an autographed copyby going to KR’s site at TheEleventh-Sense.com and sending her an email.

Rule!

H BdD 5DOGS


Some people wear their heart ontheir sleeve. Dogs wear theirs ontheir butt. A dog’s tail is a flag, an indi-cator of the dog’s mood and intention.When they’re scared or guilty it’s

tucked between their legs; if they’resad, it droops. Excited dog tails twitchand happy dogs wag theirs.I don’t know what the tail of an ag-

gressive dog does. I’m too busy avoid-ing the teeth.If people had tails, there would be

fewer bar fights, domestic violence andwar.My dog Musket is a Yellow Labrador,

a breed known for being friendly he isalso a Guide Dog. Musket has a certain something

which sets him apart from the rest ofthe pack. With very beautiful expres-sive eyes and that Labrador smile he isvery popular.But on the other hand, or should I say

‘end’ is his tail. He has a heavy tail andcould batter down condemned build-ings with it. But Musket has no ideawhat his butt is doing.Musket’s tail broadcasts his emo-

tions; happy, sad, guilty, nervous, ex-cited or sick.When he sees a friend or family

member his tail wags so hard it createsa breeze. I might tie a fan on it for hotdays. His all-time love, the holder of hisheart is my wife Jane.Musket snores like a longshoreman

sleeping off a hangover in Singapore,but when Jane comes in his tail knowsit before he does. Just the end. Twitch, twitch.“Where’s my Musket?” Jane asks.His tail goes active, rapidly patting

the floor. Whapwhapwhap.“There’s my Musket!”Then the pile driver. Wham! Wham!

Wham!Then he wakes, slobbering her with

loving kisses.He’s furry Prozac without the side ef-

fects.My co-workers adore him. His tail

against the metal of my filing cabinetsounds like Rosie the Riveter making aB-17.

Zen and the Art of Tail-waggingBy MARK CAR L SON | S AN D I E GO P E T S

Nothing a ball-peen hammer andsome Bondo won’t fix. When Janecomes by the office to visit, Musketknows it right away. ZOOM! He’s like a Tomcat on a car-

rier catapult, propelled by his madlythrashing tail.I don’t try to stop him.I’m blind, not insane. I like my arm

right where it is.Musket’s tail makes me laugh. And he

likes it when I am happy. It’s a perfectcircle of cause and effect, harmoniousand unbroken. Sort of Zen-like. Paws bewith you.

Mark carlSon, 51 lives in San Diego with his wife Jane and his Guide dogMusket. A docent at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and aviation historian,Mark writes for several national aviation magazines. He is a featured speakerfor many local adult education programs. His first book, ‘Confessions of aGuide Dog – The Blonde Leading the Blind’ is a humorous memoir about theadventures of life with Musket. It is available in through Amazon.com,Barnesandnoble.com and iUniverse.com. You can reach Mark and Musketthrough www.musketmania.com.


iB Pet is playing a goodgame of catch with humanhealth trendsRuss Blauert has two golden retriev-

ers, two cats and a bunch of chickensand fish. And since he’s the co-ownerof IB Pet, it’s a cinch those animals arein the best of hands. IB Pet, after all,brands itself a full-service store—theImperial Beach facility stocks foodsfrom a variety of companies and placesemphasis on healthful, raw-diet com-ponents. It offers free-range and organictreats as well as obedience classes; now,it even has a pet food delivery servicethat covers San Diego County.Blauert, a New Mexico native who

runs the store with his wife Lori, is fol-lowing a pet-wellness trend that he saidhas been growing for many years—theperception of the benefits from health-ful living. “California’s at the forefrontof it,” Blauert explained. “As peoplefocus more on their health, the pet isgoing to get their health focused onmore as well.”

While that philosophy is true, it’s alsolagged behind its human counterpartfor close to a generation. Human healthpractitioners have embraced holisticmedicine for 30 years and more, mak-ing an enormous dent in mainstreamtraditions—yet only now does the petindustry seem to be catching on. There’sa reason for that, Blauert explained. “In the past,” Blauert said, “the food

companies didn’t think the consumerwould spend as much money on theirpet’s health as they’re willing to do. Theconsumers are showing a willingnessto take care of their animals, and inturn, the companies are bringing outmore and more good products.”The American Pet Products Associa-

tion estimates that owners will spendnearly $51 billion on pet food and serv-ices in 2011, a 5 percent increase overthe $48.3 billon from the previous year.Blauert cites a similar statistic thatstems from personal experience.“My parents,” he said, “had a pet 20

years ago, when the premium dog foodtrade was 5 percent of what it is now.” IB Pet is doing its part to include the

area’s animals in the health-intensiveuptick. Blauert said the philosophy be-hind the trend is simple: If your pet istruly one of the family, it oughta be fedaccordingly.IB Pet is located in Imperial Beach’s

Silver Strand Plaza, 600 Palm Ave.,Suite 127. The number is 619-822-1610.For more information, see ibpet.net orsandiegopetfooddelivery.com

compounded Medicine: A key to healthier – & happier – petsBy Chris Simmons, RPhAnyone that has ever had to med-

icate a pet already knows: most of themdon’t care for it. Try to give a pill to acat, in particular, and you’re off to theKitty Rodeo! But all types of pets pres-ent their own challenges, to the pointthat 75% of treatment failures in veteri-nary medicine are due to noncompli-ance by the animal.There is, however, a solution avail-

able through pharmaceutical com-pounding. Compounding is the art andscience of preparing customized med-ications, where pharmacists make byhand all the medicines that doctors pre-scribe. And it’s particularly effectivefor animal patients.There are two main ways com-

pounding can help pet owners followveterinarians’ orders: customizationand delivery methods. Many times,there are simply not manufactureddrugs available to treat specific types ofanimals, and choices of flavoring are

Dog Beach Dog WashDo-It-Yourself•Service•Accessories4933 Voltaire St., San Diego, CA 92107(619) 523-1700 http://www.dogwash.com

Fuzzy Wolf CanineTraining AcademyCert. Trainer Program, Group & PrivatePet Parent training. (831) [email protected]

347 Barkers PlaceThe Most Creative Collection ofDog-Friendly Products Imaginable!20% OFF FIRST ORDER (CODE: SDPETSMAG)www.347BarkersPlace.com

County of San Diego Department of Animal Services(619) 767-2675 • www.sddac.com

Iceland PureThe Clean Power of NatureUnscented pharmaceutical-gradesalmon oil for your pets.http://www.icelandpure.com

EasyTurf A Field Turf CompanyRequest a FREE DESIGN consultation2750 La Mirada Dr, Vista, CA 920811-800-550-7270www.sdpets.easyturf.com

Home Buddies by Camp Bow WowDog Walking, Pet Sitting & Dog TrainingBonded and Insured (619) 889-7767www.myhomebuddies.com/LaJolla

California Veterinary Specialists 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008,(760) 431-2273 • 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

Leashes and LovePet Sitting and Dog Walking CompanyServing San Diego and surrounding areas(619) 296-4928www.leashesandlove.com

BUSINESS LISTINGS List your Business, call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

H BdD 5 PET PRESS

H BdD 5PET PRESS


limited in bulk products. So, medicinescan be customized with this in mind.Also, the way medicine is given can

make a big difference: Beside pills,there are several dosage forms availableto help deliver medications to pets. Forinstance, medicine that normally comesin a tablet can instead be made into anoral liquid or even sometimes put intoa transdermal cream that carries themedicine right through the skin. Otherdosage forms include making tastymedicated treats and oral pastes or gels.Flavor is key: it if tastes good, they’ll eatit! And pharmacists that compound forpets will have numerous flavors avail-able to use. At the end of the day, whichever

method results in a pet receiving all ofthe prescribed medication – at the cor-rect time intervals – is the right solu-tion. So if your pet needs medicine, andyou know to expect resistance, youmight ask your vet: “Is this a situationwhere compounding can help?”Chris Simmons is a pharmacist and

serves as Vice President of CreativeDevelopment at Professional Com-pounding Centers of America (PCCA).He has worked in pharmaceuticalcompounding for nearly 20 years andhas been on staff at PCCA for morethan a decade, providing educationaland consultative support to com-pounding pharmacists throughout theU.S., Canada and Australia. To find a compounding pharmacy

near you, go to findacompounder.com.For more: www.pccarx.com

gaslamp holiday Pet Parade, Sun Dec. 11Chopper the Biker Dog is only 2

years old, but he’s handling his sched-ule like a seasoned executive. In fact,he’s already a veteran of the GaslampHoliday Pet Parade and costume con-test, taking Best of Show last year—andthis time, the Gaslamp Quarter Associa-tion has seen fit to sit up and take notice.Chopper and his companion Spike

Taylor have been named grand mar-shals of the fourth annual pet parade,set for Sunday, Dec. 11 in downtownSan Diego’s famed Gaslamp Quarter.Pets and their owners will dress up intheir favorite costumes for a prome-nade through the neighborhood, vyingfor prizes and titles, including Best of

Show, Best Costumed Duo, Best PetCostume and Cutest Critter. The parade is set to begin at 3 p.m. at

Gaslamp Hilton Park, at the corner of4th Avenue and K Street. Competitorsmust check in two hours before paradetime. For an entry form and further in-formation, see gaslamp.org

home 4 the holidays sets1.5 million adoption goalHelen Woodward Animal Center is

hoping its 13th annual pet adoptiondrive will be its luckiest.Iams Home 4 the Holidays is running

through Jan. 3, with the goal of findinghomes for 1.5 million orphaned pets.Iams and HWC are teaming up withmore than 3,500 animal organizationsworldwide to encourage pet adoption.Iams is also donating 5 million meals

to animals at adoption and rescue cen-ters through its Bags 4 Bowls program. The Helen Woodward Animal Cen-

ter, headquartered in Rancho Santa Fe,founded the program in 1999 with just14 San Diego County animal shelters.Since then, the program has foundhomes for nearly 6 million orphanedanimals, including 1.1 million in 2010.The center provides services for nearly60,000 people and thousands of ani-mals annually through adoptions andeducational and therapy programs. For more information on the adop-

tion program and the Helen WoodwardCenter, visit animalcenter.org or call858-756-4117.

BUSINESS LISTINGS

Lu Meyer, Obedience AcademyK-9 Family Matters, Only the best will do!Trusted, Experienced, Award WinningObedience Training. (760) 436-3571www.EncinitasObedience.com

National Cat Protection SocietyA shelter whose mission is dedicatedto the protection and welfare of cats.9031 Birch St. • Spring Valley(619) 469-8771 • http://natcat.org

Leash Your FitnessFitness class for you and your DOG.Classes / events throughtout San Diego.619-822-3296http://www.LeashYourFitness.com

Puptown Doggie Daycare205 16th Street.San Diego, CA 92101(619) 234-5778 www.puptown.net

San Diego Humane Society & SPCA(619) 299-7012www.sdhumane.org

PoopPac Dog Walkers CaseBAG IT – PAC IT – TRASH IT!Enjoy your walk in styleNo Odor - No Mess - It Works!www.pooppac.com

SD House Rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

The Screen Machine1-800-700-TIGER (84437)Pet Proof Screen Guaranteed!Patio, Swing & French Doors, Window Screenswww.petproofscreendoors.com

Shelter Dogs To Dream DogsLearning With Love Dog TrainingAnimal Behavioral Specialist(619) 813-1252, [email protected]

emergency hospitalsBonita/chUla viStaPet emergency & Specialtycenter of South county (619) 591-4802885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 www.PESCSanDiego.com

carlSBaDcalifornia veterinary Specialists(760) 431-2273 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

encinitaSvca north coast veterinary & emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.VCANorthCoast.com

eSconDiDoanimal Urgent care of escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 7Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.com

kearny MeSa/claireMontanimal er of San Diego (858) 569-06005610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.

la MeSaPet emergency & Specialty center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, 7 Days 24 hrs.www.PESCSanDiego.com

MiSSion valleyvca emergency animal hospital & referral center (619) 229-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA92108,7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCAEmergency.com

MUrrietacalifornia veterinary Specialists(951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562, 7days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

PoWayanimal emergency clinic (858) 748-738712775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m. to8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.www.AnimalEmergencySD.com

San MarcoSveterinary Specialty hospital(760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069www.vshsd.com

Sorrento valleyveterinary Specialty hospital(858) 875-750010435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA 92121 7Days 24 hrs.www.VSHSD.com

animal Shelters & humane SocietiesaccePt StrayS & have aDoPtionBay Park/MiSSion valleycounty animal Services5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

Bonitacounty animal Services5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

caMP PenDletoncamp Pendleton animal Shelter4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120

carlSBaDcounty animal Services2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92011 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

chUla viStacity of chula vista animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123Hours: M-F 10am to 5pm Sat. 10am to 4pm

coronaDoanimal control facility700 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 8:30am to 4:30am

el caJoncity of el cajon animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5:30pm

eSconDiDoescondido humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.comHours: 7 days 10am to 5pm

oceanSiDeSan Diego humane Society-north (for dogs)2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

San Diego humane Society-north (for cats )572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

accePt oWner relinqUiSheD aniMalSBay Park/MiSSion valleySan Diego humane Society-San Diego campus5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat-Sun 11am-5pmel caJonfriends of cats15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm

encinitaSrancho coastal humane Society389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.sdpets.orgHours: 11am -5pm every day except Tues. 11:30am-5pm

rancho Santa fehelen Woodward animal center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11am to 6pmSPring valleynational cat Protection Society9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5pm

H BdD 5 PET RESOURCES

DECEMBER 2011—JANUARY 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com

a Passion for Paws (akita rescue)(818) 925-4827www.AP assionForPaws.org

Baja Dog rescue(619) 407-9372www.bajadogrescue.org

Bat rescue(619) 225-9453www.batrescue.org

Boxers n Birds (all breeds rescue and adoption)Like us on Facebook. 3308 Mission Ave.Oceanside, CA 92058. (760) 433-3763 x224www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA1647.html

cat adoption Service(760) 550-2287www.sdcats.org

chihuahua rescue of San Diegowww.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.com

german Shorthaired Pointer rescue(760) 726-4813www.GSP-Rescue.org

greyhound connection(619) 286-4739www.GreyhoundConnection.org

independent therapy Dogs, inc.A non-profit therapy dog organization providingtherapy dog visits for anyone who would like one.e-mail: [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/idtdinc/

it’s the PitsSpecializing in the Bully Breeds(858) 484-0985

list Srv 4 therapy Dog teamsA listing service/electronic bulletin [email protected]

operation greyhound(619) 588-6611www.OperationGreyhound.com

Paws of coronado(619) 522-7371www.PawsOfCoronado.org

Pit Bull rescue of San Diego(858) 693-7331www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.com

rescue house(760) 591-1211www.rescuehouse.org

San Diego house rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

S.D. turtle & tortoise Society(619) 593-2123www.SDTurtle.org

Second chance Dog rescue(619) 721-DOGS (3647)http://secondchancedogrescue.org

Westie rescue of california(619) 579-6395www.WestieRescueCA.com

rescue, adoption andService organizations

24


Start @ www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com, then clickon Pet Business Directory. From there you can searchfor businesses by zip code, type or by name.

If your a business owner,Claim your listing now. It’ssimple, quick and FREE.

Scan with your smartphone, or visit SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com

VetDepot Discount Pet Meds &Supplies • Save up to 60% on all leading brands including: Frontline,Cosequin, Greenies & Heartgardwww.vetdepot.com

Sophie Bella's StudioProfessional PhotographyCall Us for Your Holiday Photos858-717-6200www.sophiebellasstudio.com

Silva’s Dog TrainingTraining Puppies and Adult Dogs“From the Moment They Arrive Home!”(760) 613-3175www.silvasdogtraining.com

Star Grooming on FifthProfessional Pet Stylist1845 Fifth Ave (Between Elm & Fir)(619) 571-1795 www.stargroomingonfifth.com

TouchNpaws & MakeNscentsComfort * Wellness * MobilityServing the North County area (Mira Mesa up)(619) 405-4144 • www.TouchNpaws.com

The Total Dog, Swim & Gym3060 Industry St., Ste. 108Oceanside, CA • 760-721-1DOG (1364)www.mytotaldog.com

TTouch for dogs, cats and rabbitsBy certified practitioner Mary E. Cannon858-361-8038www.crittertouch.com

eMergency veterinarycare aSSiStanceaaha helPing PetS [email protected](866) 443-5738Provides financial assistance to AAHA ac-credited veterinary practices for emergencyand non-elective care of pets.

face foUnDationwww.face4pets.org • (858) [email protected] assistance for critical and emer-gency veterinary care for life threateningconditions.

laBraDor [email protected] aid for private citizens and non-profit rescue organizations to help fundveterinary care, behavior intervention andother health related needs of Labrador Re-trievers.

reD rover [email protected] • (916) 429-2457Financial assistance for good samaritans,veterinarians and pet owners for animals inneed of urgent veterinary care. An onlineapplication form is available on their website.

the Pet [email protected] assistance to owners of domesticanimals who need veterinary care. If email-ing put “The Pet Fund” in the subject head-ing of the email.

vaccinationS and general veterinary careSan Diego coUnty aniMal ServiceSwww.sddac.org • (619) 767-2675

Pet [email protected] • (760) 744-5300Clinics provide low cost vaccinations, bloodtests, de-wormers, microchipping.

St. vincent De PaUl village1501 Imperial AvenueThe third Sunday of each month veterinar-ian care is provided on a first come, firstserve basis beginning at 11a.m. Space islimited to the first 15 people who sign up.

ProJect k.e.P.P.t - keePing PeoPleanD PetS togetherSan Diego Humane Society and SPCA,North Campus, 572 Airport Rd., Oceansidewww.sdhumane.org(760) 757-4357 ext. 2237A vaccination clinic and animal food bank is

provided for Oceanside and Vista residentsonly the first Sunday of each month from 1-3 p.m. This program’s daily services includebehavior and training advice and referralsfor pet friendly housing and available vet-erinary financial aid programs.

vetco [email protected] • 1-877-838-7468Low cost vaccinations provided at Petcostores throughout San Diego County.

ServiceS for PetS of the hoMeleSSget reaDy! get Pet! [email protected] pet food for the homeless in thedowntown area approximately twice permonth and has other resource informationfor homeless people and pets.

PetS of the hoMeleSSwww.petsofthehomeless.orgNational resource listing of services forhomeless people with companion animals.

BUSINESS LISTINGSList your Business, call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

Capturing the Soul of Your Pet in Print.http://www.karenhamlet.com

H BdD 5 MARK YOUR CALENDAR


Sunny & angel Save christmas(helen Woodward center)Experience the magical story of when Sunny& Angel help Santa Claus save Christmas. December 3, 4, 10 & 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.www.animalcenter.org

la Jolla christmas ParadeThe 54th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival on Girard Avenue.Sunday, December 4, 2011, 2 p.m.www.ljparade.com/Home.html

give a rabbit a home for the holidays (SDhrS)Reduced fees in December! $40 single, $60bonded pair. Open your heart & home to rescue a rabbit. (858) 356-4286Sundays, December 4 & 18, 2011www.sandiegorabbits.org

cupcakes for crittersCupcake decorating demonstrations, cupcakecoloring contest (for kids). More info online. Thursday, December 8, 2011www.animalcenter.org

annual holiday Wine & food Pet festivalSeaport Marina Village Embarcadero Park.50 plus exhibits and displays. See ad page 6.Friday, December 9, 2011, 1-8 p.m.Sat, December 10, 2011, 10 a.m-4 p.m.www.thekidsofamerica.org

all-Breed adoption eventSaturday, December 10, 2011, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Hosted by Eastlake Veterinary Clinic in thefront parking lot of the Clinic which is locatedin the Von’s shopping center in Eastlake. To register your organization in this event orif you have questions, please contact EastlakeVet Clinic at (619) 482-9100. RSVP by Nov 25,to reserve space for your organization. www.eastlakepets.com

San Diego house rabbit Society holiday PartyVegetarian potluck, bunnies welcome.Saturday, December 10, 2011, 4-8 p.m.www.sandiegorabbits.org

lions tigers & Bears holiday PartyThis holiday party is a great way to make yourholiday shopping fun & meaningful. Saturday, December 10, 2011, 1-4 p.m.www.lionstigersandbears.org

4th annual gaslamp holidayPet Parade and Pet expo$10 to enter the parade. 50% off entrance feeif you go to the downtown Ace Hardware.Read more on page 4 & 23. (619) 233-5227Sunday, December 11, 2011, 1-5 p.m.(The parade starts promptly at 3 p.m.)www.gaslamp.org/pet-parade

intro to k9 nose Work®A sport nearly any dog or human can do!January 28, 2012www.coachingcreativecanines.com

Full event listing are available online. You can also add your own events for free!

You will find more events posted online:www.SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com/events

Next issue of San Diego Pets Magazinewill be availible February 2012

H BdD 5


MARKETPLACE

san diego pets magazine, december 2011

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san diego pets magazinep

san diego pets magazinewant

yearoldboston terrier

pet events year

casey dean casey

new year

comsandiegopetsdear

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