san diego pets magazine, september 2011

www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | SEPTEMBER 2011 3

PUBLISHER/EDITORCasey Dean

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSClaire Harlin

Kendra Hartmann

Martin Jones Westlin

Sindi Somers

GUEST WRITERSDr. Stefanie Schwartz

K.R. Johnson

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERSCasey Dean

Claire Harlin

CARTOONISTBarbara Fuscsick

Puppy Paws Productions

www.puppypawsproductions.com

ADVERTISING

Casey [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

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SEPTEMBER 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com6

n the blink of an eye, one's life can change forever. That'swhat Alfredo and Michelle Iglesias learned the hard waynearly three years ago while on their honeymoon in Mex-

ico. As the young couple waded side-by-side in the ocean, Al-fredo dove out into the water, bottoming out andinstantaneously suffering a major spinal cord injury that lefthim paralyzed from the neck down.

"The bottom must have gotten shallower instead of deeperas it went out," said Alfredo, now 31. "I rolled my head andinstantly ruptured my C-4 vertebrae."

In the following months, Alfredo regained limited move-ment in his arms and was confined to a wheelchair.

"I was forced to rely on Michelle for even the simplest things,like brushing my teeth." he said.

Alfredo and Michelle have since relocated from Miami toEncinitas to be part of the Carlsbad-based Project Walk reha-bilitation program, which focuses specifically on those whohave been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries. And as of lastmonth, their loving little family gained a member — who willhelp both Alfredo and Michelle gain independence.

The two were united with Jobin, a black Labrador/golden

retriever mix, on Aug. 12 at the Canine Companions for Inde-pendence (CCI) service dog graduation at the organization'sOceanside facility. Alfredo was one of about 20 other peoplein need who were carefully match by the CCI staff with dogswho posses compatible traits and have been specificallytrained to provide a service to their owner.

For example, if Alfredo falls forward out of his wheelchair,Jobin is trained to jump into his lap, lifting him back into thechair. Alfredo's fear that he will drop his phone, not being ableto call anyone in case of emergency, has also been solved byJobin's ability to retrieve objects.

Michelle has been by Alfredo's side all day every day tohelp with daily activities such as dressing and eating, but nowJobin will be able to accompany Alfredo, allowing Michellethe opportunity to work or run errands.

"Jobin is not only giving him independence, so he won'thave to rely on me as much, but I will get some independencetoo," said 27-year-old Michelle.

Before being handed the leash, the couple underwent anextensive two-week program in which they were taughthow to properly handle the dog, train and care for the dog,

Alfred's journeyEncinitas family one of many changed

by Canine Companions for IndependenceB y CLA IRE HARL IN | SAN D I EGO PETS

LEFT: Alfredo Iglesias and his wife Michelle pose for a photo during their honeymoon in Mexico. RIGHT: Alfredo Iglesias with Jobin, his family’s newservice dog trained by CCI. ON THE FRONT COVER: Alfredo and Michelle spend their first day with Jobin. Photos by Claire Harlin

C O V E R S T O R Y

I

JOHN AND GABY

John Kieley lost his mobility 22 yearsago, and Gaby joined him on Aug. 12following the extremely difficult loss ofhis previous service dog of many years,Gobi.

Gaby picks things up and opensdoors for John, especially using thehandicap push plates at the mall, saidCandy, John's wife. The two have al-ready developed an unbreakable bond.

"The first new command she learnedwas 'Go to John,'" Candy said.

For John, having a canine companionis especially helpful in that the dogdraws attention away from John's dis-ability and helps in social situations.

"We often encounter that the dog is agreat icebreaker and helps people feelmore comfortable," said Candy. "Whenthe dog is around it breaks that barrier."

More importantly, Gaby will be a con-

stant companion for John."John can't do a lot, but he can care for

Gaby," said Candy. "It gives him a senseof accomplishment and, of course, un-conditional love."

CCI spokeswoman Katie Malatinosaid she got to know John and Candywith their previous assistance dogwhile working a CCI event in PalmSprings — John and Candy are verypassionate about and active with the or-ganization.

"My immediate reaction when Ifound out they were getting a new as-sistance dog was 'What a lucky dog!'"said Malatino. "Gaby will be so loved,and I know how much John appreciateshaving a 24/7 companion by his side."

MATT AND BYRD

Matt Cleland is all smiles on Aug. 12at CCI's canine graduation, where hewas united with Byrd, his new servicedog. Cleland, 16, has been on waiting

H BdD 5COVER STORY


as well as how to work together inpublic. Also during that time, saidCCI spokeswoman Katie Malatino,Jobin learned commands that werecustomized specifically for Alfredo.

"Having owned a dog before, I wentinto the program believing I knew whatthere was to know," said Alfredo. "Butboy was I wrong. I learned a lot andbuilt a lot of respect for these servicedogs and trainers. All these dogs gothrough an extensive program in whichonly 30 percent of dogs make itthrough. All the dogs I met during thetraining were brilliant and well-be-haved. They each had a unique person-

ality, but also a common desire to help."Alfredo said Jobin is "one of, if not the

smartest dog" he's ever met. The twohave become a loving team, and Alfredosaid he is extremely thankful for CCI.

"They have given me a greater op-portunity to regain my independencewithout asking for anything in return,"said Alfredo. "They are an amazinggroup of people who have gone aboveand beyond in every aspect."

To learn more about CCI, visitwww.cci.org. For information about afoundation set up to help Alfredo inhis recovery, visit www.alfredigle-sias.blogspot.com.

A service dog trainer hands Gaby over to Johnand Candy Kieley at Canine Companions forIndependence's (CCI) graduation on Aug. 12.

Photo by Claire Harlin

SEE GRADUATION, Page 8

lists with various organizations forthree years and was finally placed witha CCI dog to help him with day-to-daydifficulties that come with having mus-cular dystrophy. Byrd was trained byJan Ford in Santee, Calif. and will helpCleland open and close doors, pick updropped objects and serve as a com-panion for many years.

LANCE AND AUGGIELance Weir, 39, was recently paired

by CCI with Auggie, Lance's secondservice dog. After Weir, a marine re-serve, was injured in a diving accident

years ago, he was given his first servicedog, which recently retired. Lance's lifewas impacted so much that he becamean employee for CCI after receiving hisfirst dog, and he still serves as a boardmember for the organization, working

closely with the Wounded Veterans Ini-tiative, which places assistance dogswith disabled veterans.

BREN AND STEFANOBren Denney, of Alpine, was paired

by CCI with Stefano, who is trained topull a wheelchair and help his owner inand out of a wheelchair. Last fall, Den-ney, a Navy serviceman of 22 years, felland broke both ankles, later losing oneleg to an infection. He wears an exter-nal fixator to limit movement in hisother foot, which he hopes to use againin its full capacity. In the past threeyears, he has undergone 11 surgeries,and Stefano will help him in more waysthan one. The Labrador will keep hisowner from having to bend down topick things up, but Denney said "thebiggest thing is happiness and joy."

"I can't just sit around all day and feelsorry for myself with him there," hesaid, adding that he is not the only onewho benefits from Stefano.

"I take him to church and all the olderladies just love him," said Denney. "Hekisses them all and brings a smile toeveryone's face. More people can bene-fit from him than just me."

H BdD 5 COVER STORY


GRADUATIONCONTINUED FROM Page 7

For more informationabout CCI, visit theirwebsite: www.cci.orgOr call toll free:(800) 572-BARK (2275)


arolyn Peters is fairly aware of what it’s like to live witha disability. She knows how it feels when people stare ather when she brings a service dog into a public place.

She knows how it is to have to teach that dog to retrieve thingsfor her and perform tasks based on specific needs. She alsoknows how things may change as that dog gets older and howshe would deal with being responsible for another livingcreature. She is not, however, disabled.

Peters has been volunteering as a service dog trainer withPaws’itive Teams, a local nonprofit service and therapy dogcenter, for eight years. She has made the minimum two-yearcommitment to train dogs three separate times, and shows nosigns of stopping.

“Working with dogs is a wonderful gift,” Peters said. “It hastaught me a lot of patience and positive reinforcement in myeveryday life.”

The commitment to volunteer as a service dog trainer is notone to be taken lightly. Trainers receive the puppies when they

are about seven weeks old, and not until they are at leasttwo years old do they get placed with a person with limitedmobility. During those two years, the trainer goes everywherewith the dog. Peters, an athletic trainer at San Diego StateUniversity, has taken each of her trainees to work on a regularbasis — where they easily make friends with the studentathletes that come to her for physical therapy.

Peters attempts to show her dogs how to behave in anysituation. She takes her dogs-in-training not only to the officeand back, but pretty much everywhere she goes, especiallyplaces they might go with their future partner. She takes themto the movies, to dinner with friends, to places that offer plentyof distractions (Seaport Village, she said, is a personal favorite— she calls it “the mecca of distraction”).

“We try to acclimate the dog as best we can so the applicantcan become more comfortable in those environments,” she said.“Because they’re not only dealing with a disability — they sud-denly have this animal that depends on them for all their needs.”

Carol Davis and her team of volunteer service dog trainers have a tight-knit group. Because they are small and locally focused, they often get togetherwith people who have received a service dog for them, and they organize regular group outings — both for socializing and for continuing to help trainthe dogs as a person’s needs change. Photo by Casey Dean

Paws’itiveTeams

C

Baylee Barry Stanley Autumn SachiLeft to Right: Lynne Hiatt, Chris Marckese, Charli King, Alesha Thomas, Rhiannon Ward, Carol Davis and Marcy Piasecki.

H BdD 5PAWS’ITIVE TEAMS


• THERAPY DOGS DON’T HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS RIGHTS.They are usually personal pets whose ownerswish to train to provide a service. They canprovide comfort in hospices and hospitals, workin schools with children to help them developconfidence and social skills, or brighten the dayof someone living in a nursing home. Paws’itiveTeams offers a “Therapy Dog Prep School,”wherein owners and their dogs can learn aboutdifferent ways they can be of service and willreceive training skills to figure out where aparticular dog — and its human — might make

the best use of his or her skills. Davis said theprep school doesn’t provide any certification,since different places where therapy dogs areneeded often have different standards andneeds, and should be contacted directly forcertification requirements.

• FACILITY DOGS ARE PLACED WITH A PROFESSIONALAND HELP FACILITATE THAT PROFESSIONAL’S JOB.They may help calm children who have to testifyin court, provide comfort and confidence towounded soldiers and work with speechtherapists and counsellors. Paws’itive Teams

certifies dogs to be facility dogs, usually whenit becomes clear the dog will not be comfort-able as a service dog. Facility dogs have accessto the professional settings in which they work.

• SERVICE DOGS MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITHDISABILITIES.Paws’itive Team trains dogs only forpeople who have limited mobility, and the dogscan perform tasks such as retrieving itemsdropped out of reach, pulling a wheelchair,opening doors and cupboards, turning lightson and off and helping with balance. Servicedogs have full access to all public places.

Paws’itive Teams trains dogs for service at threedifferent levels: therapy, facility or service dogsThe biggest difference — between therapy and service dogs — is the legal right to have access to public places.

Carol Davis, cofounder of Paws’itiveTeams, started the organization as analternative to big, nationwide traininggroups. When she and her partnerconceived the idea for the organization,they decided they would work witha team of all-volunteer trainers, asopposed to paid trainers. They alsodecided that they would place the dogsonly within San Diego County and that,unlike other groups that use themethod of a “puppy trainer” (whoworks with the puppy for the first fewmonths of its life), they would place adog with a volunteer from the get-go,so the trainer could get to know theanimal from its infancy.

“Our volunteers devote so muchtime, they want to start off right awayand build a foundation with thepuppy,” Davis said.

Once the puppy is placed with atrainer, they take on the responsibilityfor teaching the animal the necessarybehavior for a life led largely in public.Though volunteers set out to traindogs to go into service for people withlimited mobility, the dogs may have adifferent idea. Paws’itive Teams, whichoffers different opportunities forcanines to make use of their skills, canusually find a place for dogs thatdisplay behaviors not ideal for service(such as a desire to run or chase smallanimals).

No two dogs Peters has trained havebeen alike — and all have gone on toserve in equally unique ways. Her firstdog, Annie, was a golden doodle(a cross between a golden retriever anda standard poodle). Annie turned out tobe the perfect candidate for becoming a

facility dog, and she now works withat-risk teens at a high school. Hersecond dog, Sunny, a golden retriever,displayed signs of stress when doingdifficult tasks, so she found her callinghelping out a woman who works withdisabled primary-age children. Thewoman, it turns out, also has a daughterwho is autistic, so Sunny will play adual role of facility dog for the disabledchildren and service dog for her boss’daughter. She will help create space forthe girl, something people with autismoften need more of.

“We could tell Sunny was stressingwhen doing difficult tasks,” Peterssaid. “So, keeping her quality of life in

mind, we didn’t want to force her tobecome something she wasn’t com-fortable with.”

Davis said about 60 percent of dogsin training to become service animalsactually get placed in that capacity.About 20 or 30 percent of them go on tobecome facility dogs, where their workis determined by the professional theyget placed with. Only about 10 percent,Davis said, get released from the pro-gram to become house pets. Those dogsmight display behaviors that will not bebeneficial in a service capacity.

“In a way, it’s like choosing a spouse,”

SEE PAWS’ITIVE, Page 12

On Aug. 20, the group met at a UTC bus stop and practiced appropriate public behavior with theirdogs as they rode the bus to UCSD and toured the campus. Photo by Casey Dean

H BdD 5 PAWS’ITIVE TEAMS


Sixteen-year-old Morris Frank lost more than his sight in afight at school in Nashville in 1923—lack of independence, andwholesale frustration, would mark his life for the next fouryears. He'd eventually hear of dog trainer Dorothy Eustis, whohad conducted several successful experiments in Switzerlandon the abilities of German Shepherds to act as assistance dogsfor blinded World War I veterans. Eventually, he would enlisther help—and in 1927, he and dog Buddy crossed a busy NewYork street on their own. That marked the beginning of what'sknown as the largest and best guide-dog school in the world.

Since 1929, The Seeing Eye has matched shepherds, retriev-ers and boxers with more than 15,000 clients, at a cost that has-

n't increased since 1934. Students pay $150 for a first visit and$50 for each subsequent visit to the Morristown, N.J. facility;the fee includes the price of the dog, the instruction, room andboard during the 20 to 27 days the student spends at the school,round-trip transportation from anywhere in the United Statesor Canada and lifetime follow-up services. No one has everbeen turned away for lack of funds.

The New York Times ran a lengthy obituary on Buddy uponhis death in 1938, citing his place as history's first Seeing Eyedog. His legacy has meant independence for the thousands ofowners who have taken their places as members of an evermore demanding society. — Martin Jones Westlin

World-class guide dog school has Buddy to thank

Davis said. “You have to match the skills and personality ofthe dog with the lifestyle and needs of the individual. Findingthat right match that will maximize what the dog has to offeris very important.”

As for Peters, her third dog is taking a different route fromher first two. Autumn, a golden retriever/black lab mix, willactually go on to be a service dog. She’ll be placed with AleshaThomas, a student at UC San Diego who has cerebral palsy. Anideal situation, Peters said, since she’s already comfortable oncollege campuses due to Peters’ job at SDSU.

“That’s the nice thing about Paws’itive Teams,” Peters said.“They’re very active and selective in choosing placement.”

Davis confirmed that the organization takes great pains tomake sure the partnership between human and service dogwill be a successful one. Once an applicant expresses interestin a dog from her team, Davis puts them through severalrounds of interviews to make sure the match is good. After a

phone interview, every member of the household must visitPaws’itive Teams’ facilities for a face-to-face interview. Davisthen conducts a home visit, where she can decide if the dog’sfuture environment will be sufficient. The organization is soselective, in fact, they only place about two dogs per year.

“One home we visited was too cluttered for a large dog. An-other had a roommate that didn’t like dogs,” she said. “We rulepeople out at all different stages of the process.”

Once the dog finally finds its match, the trainer spends aboutfive months working with both dog and person during whatis called the “transition training.” Peters is currently in thisphase of her training with Autumn, working with Thomas.Once that period is complete, the trainer hands over the leash.Their work, however, is not done.

What starts out as a minimum two-year commitment is ac-tually a commitment for the life of the dog (and no trainer, itseems, would have it any differently). Peters is still active inthe lives of her first two trainees, working with them and theircurrent human partners to make sure they’re still comfortablewith the work they perform. Annie, her first dog, has been di-agnosed with bone cancer, and Peters and Davis have bothbeen involved in decisions regarding her treatment and care.With Autumn, Peters suspects she’ll be active in helpingThomas — who is pre-med — equip Autumn with new skillsto help her maneuver around labs and other places.

“The applicants are very reliant on us for support,” Peterssaid. “And we’re happy to do it, of course, because of the bondwe develop with the dogs.”

That bond makes the successful placement of a dog with anapplicant a somewhat bittersweet moment. Peters said watch-ing the two develop a bond and grow to love each other stillcauses her to get “teary eyed.”

“There are many people who approach me and say theycould never do this because they would get too attached to thedog,” she said. “We definitely bond with them — I mean,they’re this little soul we have with us for 24 hours a day fortwo or two-and-a-half years. You have to have the mindset ofa foster parent. You know it’s not permanent.”

PAWS’ITIVECONTINUED FROM Page 11

Alesha Thomas, a student at UC San Diego, works with her soon to beservice dog Autumn on campus. Photo by Casey Dean

H BdD 5SUMMER FUN


HALLOWEEN PHOTO CONTEST: Post your Halloween themedphotos (we know you have them) on our Facebook. Those that can getthe most “likes” by September 26 will be published in the October issue.Start by going to www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPets.

Please tag your submission(s) with, “#CONTEST.”

PHOTOCONTESTWINNERS:We asked our Facebook fans to post photos of how they were spendingthe summer with their pets. Winners recieved the most “likes.” Thanks for your participation!

Fostering through the Chula Vista Animal Shelter. Wendy Mastin Grebbien Sunbathing FrogDog. Rebecca Starr

Sprinkler Time. Alely WrightWe love taking our corgi, Liberty, to the beach! She is a true water baby!Jessica Lynette Pritchett

H BdD 5


SEARCH & RESCUE

Dogs enjoy such a sweet life most ofthe time in this day and age. They getinvited to sleep on owners’ beds or areprovided with a plush mattress all tothemselves. They get pampered at petsalons, taken on walks by humans hiredjust for that purpose and often havetheir own designer wardrobe.

In this era of canine overindulgence,it sometimes seems strange to thinkthere are still some dogs out there whoearn an honest living—one that requiresmore than just being cute.

San Diego—though not lacking inthe pooch-pampering department—has plenty of these hard-working dogs.They come in all shapes, sizes andbreeds and they provide any numberof services that, while sometimesunnoticed, are ultimately essential.

Take Fletch. A black lab/hound dogmix, Fletch works with his humanpartner, Brent Brainard, for the SanDiego Fire-Rescue Department con-ducting search-and-rescue missions.Fletch and Brainard, a second-generationfirefighter and paramedic, use up mostof their free time training for variousscenarios that might arise. Brainardtakes Fletch out at least twice a weekfor training, during which they maytravel all over San Diego and LosAngeles counties practicing rescueefforts in different situations, includinglocating a person in a pile of rock orwood rubble or in a deep canyon.

The job, he said, is not an easy one.“It is such a time commitment to be a

part of this,” he said. “Just the trainingtakes so much. I can stop Fletch from200 yards away and tell him where togo with just hand movements. We geta lot of people who say they want to bea handler, but when they come outand see what it is, they realize it’s notfor them.”

The training starts with the humanpartner acting as a victim—an importantpart, Brainard said, of the process.

“In order to learn to be a good handler,you have to learn to be a good victimfirst,” he said. “When you’re a victim,you start to get a feel for how the dog

moves, how he alerts. You start to get amental picture of how they move.”

Brainard worked with trainersfrom the National Disaster SearchDog Foundation for a year and a halfbefore Fletch—who is trained to de-tect live bodies, not cadavers—wasofficially placed with him. The pair goalmost everywhere together. IfBrainard, who also works with TaskForce 8, an urban search and rescueteam that can be deployed at anytime to disasters anywhere in theworld, goes on vacation, Fletch usu-ally does too. This is because they both

have to be prepared to deploy at anytime should a disaster occur.

Fletch and other working dogs likehim don’t always lead lives similar tothe ones led by regular pets. Training isof utmost importance and, as Brainardsaid, it’s imperative the dogs under-stand what their job is.

“We put so much weight on thesedogs,” he said. “In the aftermath of9/11, when dogs went in and didn’tdetect any live bodies, the search teamsstopped looking. That’s how much of aburden they have on them. We have tomake sure their entire focus is on the

Adog’s life: working canines hustle to serve

L-R: Elsie, Tessa and Murphy pose in front of a search helicopter. Elsie is certified as a trailing dog, orone that searches for live bodies. Murphy is certified in both area certification (where the dogsearches a wide region and off-leash) and in human remains detection (cadaver retrieval). Tessa, aGerman shepard, is currently being trained for certification. She showed signs that she wasn’t com-fortable trailing, and is now being trained for human remains detection. Courtesy Photo

B y KENDRA HARTMANN | SAN D I EGO PETS

H BdD 5


search. We can’t risk that they mightthink, ‘playing with this toy is more funthan searching.’”

That said, Brainard pointed out thatevery dog is different. One canine inthe fire-rescue department runs freethrough the stations and has no prob-lem focusing when it comes time towork. Others, he said, need strict ken-nelling and other limitations in order todo their job efficiently.

Other working dogs have a bit lesspressure on them. Dalece Carson, avolunteer with the San DiegoCounty Sheriff’s Department Searchand Rescue (SAR) Unit, has workedwith canine partners in rescue effortsfor 14 years. Her commitment to trainher dogs (she currently has three—Murphy, Elsie and Tessa) is also an im-pressive undertaking. Those whochoose to join the team in the K9 unitmust train with their dogs for twoyears before they can be certified forduty. After that, they go out—muchlike Brainard and his team—forregular weekly training sessions tocontinue the learning process.

The difference between Fletch andCarson’s dogs (apart from public accessrights—Fletch has full access rights,while volunteer dogs like Carson’s onlyhave certain rights and only whenthey’re on official business) is that Mur-phy, Elsie and Tessa aren’t making orbreaking a career with their rescueefforts. Though Carson’s training in-volves many of the same tasks asFletch’s does, and though she takestheir training quite seriously, they—simply put—don’t have the addedpressure of being part of a teamthat gets paid for a job in which thesole focus is on what they might doin a disaster.

For Carson, the payoff is in the looks

she sees on the faces of family mem-bers when she’s out searching for oneof their loved ones.

“When you see those families that arehurting so much, and you see howmuch they appreciate the work you’redoing, it’s all worth it,” she said. “Yourealize you’re really helping someone.”

Brainard, whose father also had aK9 partner in the fire department andwho grew up with a working dog inthe household, has similar reasons fordoing what he does.

“All of us handlers love doing whatwe do,” he said. “We’re not in it for themoney. We’re a close-knit group thatloves helping people. We demand a lotfrom each other.”

The kicker, he said, is that the learn-ing never stops.

“I still learn something new everytime I go out to train with Fletch,” hesaid. “One of our running jokes is thatyou don’t train the dog, the dog trainsyou. When the dog’s behaviorchanges slightly, we don’t look to thedog. The first question we ask is whatwe changed.”

“When you see thosefamilies that are hurt-

ing so much, and you seehow much they appreciatethe work you’re doing, it’sall worth it”

SEARCH & RESCUE

H BdD 5 CATS


I laughed out loud when my friend Briansaid, “We adopted two kittens at the shelter,and now we’re training them.”

“You’ve never had cats before, have you?” I replied.

“No… .” The eyebrow raised quizzically, and Brian’s

blue eyes reflected something betweencuriosity and dread.

“Well, you are about to discover that youand Melanie are the ones being trained.”

“They’re only 8 weeks old!”I just smiled. Again.Thus began Brian’s dissertation on why

I was wrong. “No, they aren’t allowed on the furniture.

They have to sleep in the laundry room. AndI’m the boss of the house.”

(Me—laughing out loud.) As a lifetime cat person (not “cat owner”;

any cat person will tell you that we do notown our cats), I’m here to tell you that cats areextremely good at training. My Coco came tome after she appeared on the doorstep of myfriend Shondra in Big Bear, apparently lost ordumped by some schmuck. Shondra took

her in but couldn’t keep her due to thebehavior of her two Jack Russell terriers,which didn’t want to share their person witha cat. So I got a phone call, and then, onesummer evening, I got Coco.

The cat training began at first light. Coco

walks on me until I wake up and get out ofbed. She escorts me downstairs to the sliderdoor so I can let her out for her morningconstitutional /patio patrol. Then I get abreak of, oh, about 30 seconds until shemeows to come in. She escorts me to thekitchen for her breakfast. After that, shewants to be brushed (a must for all long-haired cats to guard against matted fur),and then my little Coconut wants toplay/frisk/race around the house. Then shesettles in for her morning bath/nap. Woe tome if I dare pet her during her bath!

It took about one week for Coco to trainme to this routine. She gave me a C+ andcalled me a slow learner.

And Brian? I ran into him a couple weeksago at the pet store.

“How’s the cat training going?” I asked.“I have the flu, but I had to come here to

get cat food,” he grumbled.Training complete.

KR Johnson is an author,speaker, and Improv performer. Check out her websiteat www.LivingCreativity.com and send her an email!

The real master of the houseB y K .R . JOHNSON | GUEST COLUMN


Dr. Stefanie Schwartz isa board certified veteri-nary behaviorist basedat California VeterinarySpecialists in Carlsbad,CA. She also sees pa-tients at the VeterinaryNeurology Center inTustin, CA. For more in-

formation, please call (760) 431-2273 andvisit www.californiaveterinaryspecialists.comand www.veterinarybehavior.org.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,My late sister had a service dog who

helped her when she had an impend-ing seizure. Glory is a five year old Aus-tralian Sheepdog who came to live withme when my sister died this pastspring. Her epilepsy was barely con-trolled with many medications and shedied of a heart attack, we assume dur-ing a seizure. Neighbors called mewhen they heard Glory barking andhowling for over an hour; we arrived assoon as we could and found Glorytrembling uncontrollably by my sister’sbody. It was horrible. Since then, Gloryseems to be withdrawn. She eats fairlywell with coaxing, but she has lost herspark. She paces up and down, andseems to startle at little noises thatnever bothered her before. She is notsleeping well either, and whimpers a lotduring her dreams. Please help my sis-ter’s best friend recover…

Glory Days

Dear Glory Days,Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

is a possible consequence in people anddogs who experience traumatic, life al-tering events. Glory was witness toyour sister’s final seizure, from whichshe never returned. Service dogs areuniquely bonded and attentive to theirowners. They cue in on their pre-dictable routine, facial expressions andmotion, and body chemistry, too. All ofthese things change in a serious seizureevent, but body chemistry changes dra-matically in death. Glory must haveknown that was not just anotherseizure.

We can only imagine Glory’s horror.She was not only traumatized by thisfinal departure but is also sufferingfrom your sister’s absence. People ex-

perience grief when a loved one dies; sodo our pets. They don’t need to under-stand the concept of death to react emo-tionally to the absence of someone theylove. Glory is stuck in a pathologicalform of grief, complicated with PTSD.She is in pain, and deserves immediaterelief. Please call me so that we can talkabout improving her quality of life.Psychoactive medications are oftenhelpful to chemically recalibrate thebrain’s biochemistry so that she willemerge from the shadows of bad mem-ories and enjoy her new life with you.Your sister would have taken greatcomfort in knowing that Glory will seebetter days.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,I am wheelchair bound since suffer-

ing spinal cord injury in a car crashwhen I was seventeen years old. I havelimited movement in my arms and liveat home with my parents, who bothwork. My cat Sparkie is great company,but he is a rascal. He races around thehouse like a tornado and hurls himselfoff the furniture. He sleeps curled up inmy lap in the afternoon and stays nextto me in bed when I sleep. Before myfolks come home, I like to watch TVand that’s when it happens. Sparkiegoes on the prowl and I’m his prey. Hewill slink steadily toward me and thenpounce on my legs or jump on me andnip. He’s biting harder these days andI’m really afraid my parents will makeme give him up. I love this cat; hemakes me smile even on bad days.Please help?

Sparkie’s Pal

Dear Sparkie’s Pal,From what you tell me, Sparkie is a

smart, playful boy looking to rumble.Because you are confined to yourwheelchair, you are an easy target forhis mischief and his only playmate aswell. Solitary young male cats are morefrequently associated with rough playthat can evolve into territorial anddominance aggression that can causeinjuries.

We know that he will begin his playattacks at predictable times in his dailyroutine, so let’s shake it up a bit. Beforeyou settle in to watch TV, play with himfirst. He’s an action boy that needs ac-tion toys. You can hang stuffed toyswith string from your wheelchair to en-tice him to chase these objects whileyou move or even reach down to swingthem around for him while you remainstationary. Keep a laser pointer aroundyour neck or in an easy to reach placeso that you get him to chase it at a safedistance. Keep him going for as long asyou can and he won’t need to use youfor target practice!

Behavior Bytes

Stefanie Schwartz, DVMDiplomate, American College of Veterinary BehavioristsCalifornia Veterinary SpecialistsCarlsbad, CA (760) 431-2273


REPTILES AGT;T

“It takes a lot of time and there is asignificant cost to care for a Beardie,“ ac-cording to Dr. Jeffrey R. Jenkins, DVM,founder of the Avian & Exotic AnimalHospital in San Diego. Jenkins is an ex-otic animal veterinarian, which he ex-plains is one that practices on"non-conventional" pets. This includeslizards, snakes, turtles, birds, rabbits,mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets,arachnids, marsupials and primates.

Although cold blooded Beardies canoverheat, Dr. Jenkins has found that“most of their problems arise frombeing too cold.“ Because “their tem-perature always reflects their environ-mental temperature, owners mustcarefully monitor the environment’stemperature.”

Besides harmful temperature imbal-ances, Dr. Jenkins said, “other commonhealth problems include metabolic bonedisease (MBD) from lack of heat, cal-cium in the diet and lack of exposure toUV-B/sun light, wounds from fightingwith each other, dog and cat bites, intes-tinal parasites and pneumonia.”Beardies can also get viral diseases.

“Lethargy and anorexia are the mostcommon signs of illness the owner no-tices.“ Other symptoms include, “goingtoo long without shedding, diarrhea, nasaldischarge and regurgitation of food.“

Proper sanitation is helpful in reduc-ing chance of illness. Dr. Jenkins says,“Sand should be scooped daily.” Avian& Exotic Animal Hospital veterinarian,

Dr. Jane Stout also recommends daily“spot cleaning,“ as well as a full cagecleaning a minimum of once permonth.“ Handlers should wash theirhands with soap and warm water afterhandling the lizard, cleaning the cageand feeding.

Proper diet is essential. It includesvarying amounts of plant materials andinsects. Their specific menu changes de-pending on what age and stage of lifethe Beardie is in. Dr. Jenkins says that“the hard exoskeleton of many insects

fed to lizards are not digestible. This in-cludes the large jumping legs and wingsof adult crickets and the exoskeleton ofmeal worms.”

Dr Jenkins also recommends having,“water in their bowl all the time andspray (Beardie) with water twice daily.”Christine Hancock, Senior VeterinaryTechnician (SVT) at the Avian & ExoticAnimal Hospital has written severalhelpful articles that are available ontheir website, including one on BeardedDragon care. www.drexotic.com

Interesting Facts and Essential Care Tips for Bearded Dragon Caregivers

B y S IND I SOMERS | SAN D I EGO PETS

Friends of Cats 82nd Open House15587 Olde Hwy 80, El CajonSaturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 12p.m. Proceeds will be donated to Friends of Cats.www.friendsofcats.org

Pugtober Fest6977 Temple Terrace, San DiegoSaturday, Sept. 24, 2 - 5 p.m.Proceeds will be donated to PugRescue San Diegowww.pugsandiego.com

Doggie Café SDHS5500 Gaines St., San DiegoFriday, Sept. 30, 6 - 8 p.m.A reading is included with the$10 suggested donation forevent. There are only 20 time slotsfor readings. www.sdhumane.org

In addition to writing for San Diego Pets Magazine, Sindi is an animal communicator, energy healer and reader for people and pets. She alsooffers pet nutrition, behavior and training consultations and teaches meditation to people. Sindi welcomes your emails at [email protected] calls 619-384-0761. Visit her online at www.wildtame.com. Sindi will be offering readings for people and pets at the following public events.Please note that companion animals do not have to be present to receive a reading.

H BdD 5 PET PRESS


Super smiley—therapy dogSuper Smiley, the giant mutt who in-

spired The Super Smiley Flash Mob 4Pet Adoption Tour, danced in SanDiego at the National Dog Party Event,and his first official therapy dog visitrevealed a healing energy not only forthe people he visited, but also for hisperson, Megan Blake, actress and petlifestyle coach.

Megan's mother, Sarah, lived her lastsix months at Camden Place in NC

with Megan by her side. Sarah was setto recover and return home, but in Sep-tember, the tide turned and Sarahpassed. After her passing, Smiley cameto Camden Place to help. He comfortedSarah’s friends with his truly thera-peutic giant mutt smile. A resident whonever spoke whispered to him. Anotherwho never moved slid a finger over tofeel his velvet ear.

Smiley also visited, Robert Harris(pictured here with Megan). Robert,who often accompanied Sarah to theballet, is a veteran actor and played op-posite Megan in the Sci-Fi film Eye-borgs and danced on stage with her inThe Greensboro Ballet’s Nutcracker.

Smiley’s gift was not only for theresidents, but he also helped Megan.Taking Megan into this place whereher mother had last lived, back intothat world of Sarah’s friends beganMegan's healing and closure. The painwas transmuted through the sharingof joy. Super Smiley is indeed supersmiley - a healer and teacher as are allof the therapy and household pets weembrace.

Extra frosting helps Fido!What could be sweeter than “

Cupcakes for Critters?” On Saturday, September 17, 2011 join

us as we combine our passion for cre-ative confections with our commitmentto our animal friends by kicking offthe first “Cupcakes for Critters” cam-paign in the Helen Woodward Center’sTherapeutic Riding arena. Until De-cember 8, 2011 friends and supporterscan get involved in a couple of ways –they can log onto our animalcenter.orgweb site and order cupcakes from oneof our retail partners or they can hosttheir own cupcake bake sale and do-nate the proceeds to the Center. Either

way your donations will support our ef-forts to help animals and people in need.

This unique program allows everyoneto get in on the act whether they like tobake or not. As Event and SponsorshipManager, Nedra Abramson, explains“Maybe the best thing you make in thekitchen is reservations, then orderingcupcakes from one of our wonderfullydelicious retail partners is the way togo.” Not only will you have a uniquedessert that guests will be talking aboutfor days to come, but you will be pro-viding critical dollars to help orphanedanimals in need.

If you do like to bake then it is yourlucky day! You have the opportunity tohold a special bake sale and your deli-cious wares will help us to provide lov-ing homes for orphaned animals.

In addition to generating valuablefunds for orphaned animals, we alsohave special contests for those who wantto show off their culinary expertise ortheir hard-driving sales techniques.Prizes for the most creative cupcake, themost “extreme” cupcake, and the personwho sells the most cupcakes will beawarded. We will be announcing andhonoring the winners at our closingevent tentatively scheduled for West-field’s North County Fair on December8, 2011. Sign up to show-off your skillsat animalcenter.org and go under Eventsand Cupcakes for Critters to link to oursign-up site at www.animalcenter.org.

Fur Ball successThe 25th annual Fur Ball was at-

tended by 550 people and more than 200dogs! The event raised more than$250,000 that will be used directly insupport of the animals and the pro-grams and services of the San Diego Hu-mane Society.

Pet therapy volunteersneeded at Elizabeth Hospice

Do you have a certified pet therapydog or cat that would like to bring joy tothose in need? The Elizabeth Hospice islooking for certified pet therapy animalsto join our volunteer team. You andyour therapy animal would volunteer inyour community to bring comfort tohospice patients. Please call The Eliza-beth Hospice Volunteer Department formore information about the upcomingorientation at (760) 737-2050.

The Elizabeth Hospice has a 33-yeartradition as the premier provider ofmedical, emotional and spiritual sup-port to the terminally ill and their fami-lies. Since opening its doors, TheElizabeth Hospice has provided servicesto more than 75,000 patients and fami-lies in northern San Diego Countyneighborhoods regardless of their abil-ity to pay. To learn more about The Eliz-abeth Hospice, call (760) 737-2050 orvisit www.elizabethhospice.org.

H BdD 5PET PRESS


BRING PUCK HOMERetired decorated Search and Res-cue Border Collie lost in Del Mar

He is trained to not allow anyonetouch him. So please do not approachand call if you see Puck. There is a $1000reward for information leading to safereturn.

CONTACT: Paul (970) [email protected]/pages/Bring-Puck-Home

Bring Puck Home

MORE PET PRESS ONLINEwww.sandiegopetsmagazine.com

The San Diego Humane Society and the Escondido Hu-mane Society have reported a recent increase in puppiesand dogs that come to the shelters with parvovirus. Par-

vovirus is a highly contagious disease that is easily transmit-ted by unvaccinated animals. Keeping current on all animalvaccinations is vital to the animal’s health and safety and willhelp to prevent further spread of the disease.

The San Diego Humane Society reports that they saw 24cases of parvo from May – July of this year. The Escondido Hu-mane Society saw 21 cases of parvo in the same time period.During the same three months in 2010, there were 11 cases atthe Escondido Humane Society. Care for the animals that areaffected requires isolation and treatment that can cost up to$2,000.

“The disease spreads at a rapid rate when dogs and puppies

do not receive the proper vaccinations for prevention, and thecost of treatment is beyond what most pet owners can afford”said Dr. Cynthia Mitchell, Sr. Veterinarian for the San DiegoHumane Society. “The best thing you can do for your pet iskeep their vaccinations current so that they can stay healthy.”

Tips for PreventionThe most effective way of protecting your dog from parvo is

to vaccinate them. “One round of shots for your puppy is notenough to keep them protected from disease,” said Mitchell.“Regular vaccinations are needed throughout the first year andthey should be maintained throughout the life of your pet.Consult your family veterinarian to establish a vaccinationschedule.”

In addition to vaccinating your dog, the following tips canhelp to protect them from contracting parvo:

Keep young puppies away from any public places for thefirst 22 weeks of their lives.

It's a good idea to limit your puppy's contact with other dogsuntil he's had his first two vaccinations, to ensure that his im-munity is adequate.

The stability of the virus makes it important to properly dis-infect any contaminated areas, even after your dog has beenvaccinated. Always be sure to disinfect any food or waterbowls, bedding, crates, or kennels with a 1:30 ratio of chlorinebleach and water solution.

More About ParvovirusCanine Parvovirus is highly contagious and often fatal disease that af-fects the lining of the intestinal wall. Parvo may affect dogs of all ages,but is most common in dogs less than one year of age. Young puppiesless than five months of age are usually the most severely affected, andthe most difficult to treat. Even though parvo can be prevented, thereare still puppies that continue to contract the disease every day, be-cause they have not been vaccinated.


Canine Parvovirus Disease on the Rise

When Baby Kitty’s pet-parents could nolonger care for her, she was brought to theSan Diego Humane Society and SPCA onFebruary 10, 2010. More than a year later,Laurie saw her resting in her habitat. Lauriewas looking to give a cat in her golden yearsa very special life, and that’s exactly whatshe’s done for Baby Kitty, now named Sniffles.Laurie looks forward to coming home to Snif-

fles every day and like clockwork, Snifflesasks for a long petting session the momentLaurie walks in the door. The two are “veryclose” and “very happy”. Laurie says that herpersonality seems to grow bigger with eachday. While it took Sniffles about a week towarm up to her new environment, she nowowns the place and has actually become veryvocal around dinner time. Laurie feels so

lucky to have found such a lovable cat. Lauriesays, “Thank you San Diego Humane Societyfor never giving up on Baby Kitty/Sniffles andfor caring for her so long until she found thehome of her dreams.”

The San Diego Humane Society and The Escondido Humane Society Encouragethe Community to Vaccinate Pets to Avoid Further Spread of the Disease

H BdD 5HONORARIUM


I N H O N O R O F P U D G Y

The BeardedDragon with aheart of goldThe July issue featured the heartwarm-

ing story of rescued Bearded Dragon andSan Diego resident, Pudgy. We are sad toreport that less than a month after thatstory ran, Pudgy passed away.

Pudgy definitely helped make theworld a brighter place, warming heartsand evoking smiles. She enjoyed outdooradventures, including walking on aleash, playing with her rabbit friends inBalboa Park and cuddling up with her fa-vorite dog, cat and people. She will bemissed, but her legacy will live on thanksto Pudgy’s human, Heather Wilson. Wil-son plans on continuing with her goal ofpublishing the educational book series,“Pudgy and Pals.” The first of severalstories is currently in the illustrationstage. She will be holding a coloring con-test for children to help choose the colorsfor the “Pudgy and Pals” logo. Follow@pudgyandpals on Twitter and likePudgynPals on Facebook for updates.

Donations can be made in honor ofPudgy to www.beardeddragon.org, anonline community serving Beardie’s andtheir caregivers. Rest in peace sweetPudgy and thank you for sharing yourstory with us.

By SINDI SOMERS | SAN DIEGO PETS

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 9am 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.RCHumaneSociety.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


LA JOLLA

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

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

VISTA

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

FeaturedServices

ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Scan with yoursmart phone, orvisit SanDiego

PetsMagazine.com

From our homepage, click on PetBusiness Directory. From thereyou can search for businesses byzip code, type or by name.If your a business owner, Claimyour listing now. It’s simple, quickand FREE.

Need a pet service?

We have a spot for you.

(619) 573-5615

H BdD 5PET RESOURCES


SERVICE DOG PROGRAMSCanine Companions for Independencewww.cci.org •760-901-4300 or 800-572-2275Online application on their website.

Canine Support Teams, Inc.www.caninesupportteams.orgTemecula, CA951-301-3625Online application on their website.

Paws’itive Teams Service Dogsfor San Dieganswww.pawsteams.org858-279-7297Online application on their website. SanDiego County residents only.

Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs, [email protected] or 800-385-1282Online application on their website. San Diego County residents only.

The Seeing [email protected] application on their website.

THERAPY ANIMAL PROGRAMSP.A.A.T. - Pawsitive Animal Assisted Therapy and Personal Paws ProgramPaws’itive Teamswww.pawsteams.org858-279-7297

P.A.T. - Pet Assisted Therapyand Welcome Waggin’San Diego Humane Society and [email protected] ext. 2271

P.E.T. - Pet Encounter TherapyHelen Woodward Animal Centerwww.animalcenter.org858-756-4117 ext. 322

Pet Therapy and Pet Education ProgramsEscondido Humane Societywww.escondidohumanesociety.org760-888-2261

Read to Your BreedSan Diego County Branch Librarieswww.sdcl.orgChildren practice reading to a trained ther-apy dog to build skills and confidence.

THERAPY AND SERVICE DOG CLASSESCape-Able Canineswww.cape-able-canines.comaleita@cape-able-canines.com619-463-3647

Love on a [email protected]

Paws’itive Teamswww.pawsteams.org858-279-7297

FREE PET FOOD, SUPPLIESAND SERVICESFor chronically ill, disabled, elderly and low income individuals and familys

P.A.W.S. - Pets Are Wonderful SupportSan Diego County, Inc.Geraldine De [email protected] or toll free 1-866-348-7297

For volunteer opportunities email [email protected].

Provide free services for chronically ill, dis-abled, elderly and low income people for upto two pets per client. Pet food, cat litter andother supplies, dog walking, litter mainte-nance, transportation for veterinary visits,vet vouchers, after care if a person or animalpasses away while in the program.

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN(CGC) TESTCGC Test sometimes required and often suggested for Therapy Dog Training.

San Diego Humane Society and SPCAwww.sdhumane.org619-299-7012 ext. 2334Online registration is available for this class.

San Diego Dog Trainers Directorywww.sandiegodogtrainers.orgLocal dog trainers who are certified CGCTest Evaluators.

FREE DOG WALKING SERVICEWalks For Love • Anne [email protected] (858) 367-0505

This service includes, but is not limited toservice dogs. Free dog walks provided forsenior citizens, ill or disabled persons andanyone with challenged abilities, lack of freetime or other situations that interfere withregular walks for their canine companions.

Scan with yoursmart phone, orvisit SanDiegoPets-Magazine.com

MORE PET RESOURCES ONLINE

GO ONLINE FOR MORECOOL THINGS TO DO!

Surf Dog Surf-A-ThonDog Beach - Del MarSunday, September 11, 2011www.surfdog.kintera.org

Cupcake for CrittersSaturday, September 17 2011www.cupcakesforcritters.kintera.org

Bunnyfest 2011San Dieguito Couty Park - Del MarSunday, September 18, 2011www.sandiegorabbits.org

Pugtober Fest6977 Temple TerraceSaturday, September 24, 2011, 2-5 p.m.www.pugbutts.com

Friends of Cats (82nd Open House)15587 Olde Highway 80 - El CajonSaturday, September 24, 2011, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.www.friendsofcats.org

Kayaking with the DogsSunday, September 25, 2011, 2–4 p.m.www.leashyourfitness.com

Dog Yoga Yappy Hour ClassMeeting at Dog Beach Dog WashFriday, October 7, 2011, 6–7 p.m.www.leashyourfitness.com

Kindred Spirit Animal Ministry Holistic Animal FairCorner of 6th and Laurel - DowntownSaturday, October 8, 2011

APDT Annual EducationalConference and Trade ShowTown and Country Conference Center500 Hotel Circle North - Mission ValleyOctober 12-16, 2011http://www.apdt.com/conf/

San Diego Pet ExpoDel Mar Fairgrounds - Del MarOctober 15 & 16, 1011www.sandiegopetexpo.net

Tails at TwilightEscondido Humane SocietyOctober 22, 1011www.escondidohumanesociety.org


H BdD 5 MARK YOUR CALENDAR Full event listing are availible online. You can also add your event for free!

www.SanDiegoPetsMagazin.com/events

H BdD 5MARKETPLACE

Tell em’ San Diego Pets Magazine sent you! www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | SEPTEMBER 2011 27

san diego pets magazine, september 2011

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