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Volume 11 No. 9 An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. –– Martin Buber september 2008

Summer's over...
take your pet
back to school!
Tips for teaching
your old dog
new tricks!

For the birds

tale of The
cockatoo
cage klepto
What’s Your Pack caper
Leadership Style?
Tough love, timid or tender?

Who is America's top dog? Find out on Page 11

 Cover
Top Cat
of the Month
“Rastus”

R
astus is a
three year
old Maine
Coon Cat. When we
first got Rastus the vet
said it would be a very
big cat because they
could see that the size
of his paws were large.

O
ur cover illustration is
from a collection of art-
work created for the Pet
Gazette by students at  Bostons'
Mass College of Art. Ryan
Dougherty is the artist of this
month's colorful cover illustration.
For more information on Ryan
Dougherty's art work contact ryan.
mcgd@gmail.com.
The Pet Gazette
The Pet Gazette is published by
Clipper Press, a family-owned
company based on the South
Shore since 1950.
They were right!
Rastus currently
weighs 25 lbs and is
difficult to carry. He
has received the nick-
name the East Street
Lion because of his
size. Rastus always likes to sleep in our grandmother's chair and we
have to find new ways to keep him off like putting pillows on the
chairs. Rastus gets along pretty well with older sister Stella, our nine
year old Golden Retriver but sometimes Rastus gets mesmerized by
Stella's tail and viciously attacks! But Stella always defends herself!
We think our cat should be the top cat of the month because Rastus is
the king of our house. He is basically our little brother as we think he
wants to be human instead of a cat. He is a local attraction here in
Hanover because of his size! He is a great cat and a cuddly compan-
ion!
Sam and Jack Gardner
Hanover, MA

Pet Gazette Staff

Production: Lindsey Gardner
Layout: Sandra Guidetti
Advertising: Robin Nudd
Publisher: Josh Cutler
Contributors: Becca Manning, Justin
Graeber, George Sommers, Nicole
Birkholzer, Kristin Kames.

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Pet Friendly Accommodations
Contact US
Phone: 781-934-2811, ext. 23
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Advertising

A rare and delightful passage through time

Wingscorton Farm Inn, a working New England farm, is an
historical landmark situated on the North Side of Cape Cod.
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your pet to Cape Cod for a visit! Hours by
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2 September 2008
Pet Gazette
 Loving, expert care.
Full Surgical & Diagnostic Services,
Including Ultrasound & Specialty Services
by our Board Certified Cardiologist & Internist
Our Medical Director Team
Mary Reynolds-Callahan, DVM Special Offer

OFF
Charlie Patterson, DVM

Brad Moses DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Laurie Pearlstein, DVM
Pamela Martin, DVM
Dental Procedures
Pre-surgical exam and bloodwork must be
Laura Fong, DVM completed prior to the procedure. Discount
increases to $125 off for geriatric pets that take
Joseph Martinez, DVM advantage of our geriatric wellness screening in
Alice Hadden, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine) place of the regular preop bloodwork.
Megan Hwang, DVM Offer expires 10-31-08.

Amina Johnson, DVM Month of October

Join us in congratulating Appointments

Alice Hadden DVM, DACVIM, Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 8:30 pm
who is now board certified in Internal Medicine. Saturdays: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday : 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Please welcome our new doctors
Klaus Earl Loft, DVM -
Residency trained in Dermatology - Accepting dermatology referrals Urgent & Emergency Care
Geri Lake-Bakaar, DVM Mon - Sun : 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Mary Clark, VMD

VCA Roberts Animal Hospital

516 Washington St. • Hanover, MA 02339
781-826-2306
VCARoberts.com
We are located 2.5 miles south of the Hanover Mall on Route 53.

September 2008
PET GAZETTE 3
 Pe t p o u r r i
Send items for the
Petpourri page to
editor@petgazette.net

The Deadline is
the 12th of each month.

Whole-pet health Web site launched

A new Web site is the pet version of Web
MD, where pet owners can go online to get
answers to their questions about animal
health.
The site, webvet.com, was founded by two
passionate pet owners, Hope Schultz and Bill
Zaccheo, who identified and met this growing
need for a “whole-pet” online health and well-
ness resource. The two have previously worked
for big-name companies like MSNBC, HBO,
E! Entertainment Television, ESPN, and
friendly hotels, and a “vet finder” service.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Visitors to the site can also sign up for an
The site has sections for owners of cats,
e-newsletter.
dogs, birds and small animals.
All content on WebVet is reviewed annu-
Health topics range from allergies to
ally by vets to guarantee its timeliness and
zoonoses. There are articles keeping pet lovers
accuracy.
up-to-date on the latest recalls, how to find pet-

Food diva dishes doggie treats

Daytime host, author and pet lover Rachael meat as the first ingredient – Real Chicken and
Ray launches a new line of premium dog food Veggies and Real Beef and Brown Rice. There
and treats called Rachael Ray Nutrish. Ray’s are no by-products, fillers, artificial flavors or
proceeds from each sale will be donated to sup- preservatives.
port Rachael’s Rescue (rachaelsrescue.org), “I love my dog Isaboo and as a member of
which is dedicated to my family I need to make sure that she eats as
helping at-risk animals well as the rest of us,” says Ray. “With the
through adoption, med- launch of Nutrish, I now have the opportunity
ical care and educa- to share with other pet lovers some of her
tional programs, along favorite meals, flavors and special treats.”
with training and out- Rachael Ray Nutrish is available almost
reach initiatives. everywhere you shop for pet food. The Nutrish
Rachael Ray dog food line retails anywhere from $8.99 -
Nutrish includes two $16.99, depending on the package size. Isaboo
varieties of all natural dog treats retail for $3.99. Visit nutrishforpets.
dog food featuring real com.

A new solution for pet nail clipping

A new tool will allow pet owners to trim
their pets' nails without the pain and difficulty
associated with traditional nail clippers.
The PediPaws trims nails by filing them
down with a high-speed rotating wheel that
gently strips away layers of nail. The unique
cap allows only the perfect amount of nail to be
removed and contains all the filings. The trim-
mer costs $19.99 and takes two C batteries.
Using the PediPaws will keep your furniture
and floors free from scratches.
For more information or to order the
PediPaws visit pedipaws.com.

A full service hospital caring for the needs

of your four-legged family members.

WELLNESS FOR ALL AGES

• Internal Medicine • General Surgery
MARSHFIELD • Dental Services • Oncology Services
Jeffrey M. Barrow, D.V.M. Jennifer A. Johnson, D.V.M.
ANIMAL Randolph M. Adams, D.V.M. Sarah E. Lafaver, D.V.M.

HOSPITAL www.marshfieldvet.com

(781) 837-5005 490 PLAIN STREET, ROUTE 139

(NEAR HIGH SCHOOL), MARSHFIELD, MA 02050
4 September 2008
Pet Gazette
New chew toys for your chihuahua
These unique tightly-woven, crochet fetch
toys are great chew toys for your dog and can
be used indoors or out. The internal “Sqweek”
device keeps dogs entertained and curious and
the crochet mesh helps to clean teeth and
strengthen gums. The toys come in ball or bone
shapes. $29.99 gets you five balls or four bones
as well as a mesh storage bag. Visit petzen-
products.com.

Sequel to Dog Whisperer hits DVD

The creator of the Animal Planet show
“Dog Whisperer” has just released a three-
DVD set called “Cesar Millan: Mastering
Leadership.” The DVDs are a video guide that
extends the lessons and methods
introduced in the “Dog Whisperer”
episodes and best-selling books
Cesar’s Way and Be the Pack
Leader.
With humor, compassion and an
uncanny grasp on the roots of canine
behavior, Millan educates dog own-
ers on how to develop a happy,
healthy relationship with their
dogs.  Cesar Millan: Mastering
Leadership is comprised of three
DVD volumes of instructional lessons, includ-
ing “People Training for Dogs,” “Becoming a
Pack Leader” and “Your New Dog: First Day
and Beyond.” The set will be available Oct. 7
for $49.99.
Cesar Millan: Mastering
Leadership is not only an impor-
tant educational tool for dog
owners, it is an entertaining
journey to understanding canine
and human behavior. According
to Millan, it’s all about creating
a “calm and assertive” demean-
or, which can be effective in
human-to-human relationships
too.

Lloyd’s Animal Medical Center of Stoughton

is proud to announce the opening of their
Pets plight
in Katrina state-of-the-art animal rehabilitation facility
revealed ’Animotion.’
Lost in the human tragedy
of Hurricane Katrina is the toll This brand new facility is located at Lloyd’s Animal Medical Center,
the storm had on the animals
of New Orleans. Nearly three 1995 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072.
years after Katrina, a new book
is documenting what was one
of the largest animal rescue ef-
forts in history.
• Underwater Treadmill • Spa Pool
Veteran journalist Cathy
Scott, who has written for the • Home Treatment Plans • Therapeutic Ultrasound
New York Times, Los Angeles
Times, George Magazine and
other publications, traveled to
• Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
New Orleans post-Katrina at
the request of the Best Friends
Animal Society to document
the plight of pets displaced by Why rehab in animals?
the flooding. Eventually, Scott
put aside her journalistic de- • For post-op of any orthopedior neurologic surgery
tachment and became a rescuer • Reduction of pain and swelling
as well as a reporter. The book
covers rescues, heartwarming • Improve function Open Hou
Coming S se
reunions, and the stories of the
efforts of strangers who spent
• Strength building and endurance
their time and risked their own • Accelerate and maximize recovery
safety to save these animals.
The book also contains 50 • Help prevent further injury oon !
color photos, as well as black-
and-white photos throughout
• Obesity and deconditioning
the book.
Pawprints of Katrina is Animotion, 1995 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072
published by Howell Book
House, retails for $19.99
hardcover. For more informa-
For more information contact 781-344-1701
tion visit wiley.com.

September 2008 5
Pet Gazette
 Rover’s
Recipe Corner
Cosmo & Gypsies Favorite Cat Soup
Also Enjoyed By Husbands
W
By Lisa Alvanas
hen making
Cat Soup our
recipe always
changes. All amounts are
approximate, ingredients are
organic.
1lb cooked chicken or
turkey, skinless and boneless.
1/2-1/4 C. each:
Carrot, Sweet Potato,
Celery, Zucchini, Corn, Peas,
Grain - brown rice, barley,
Legume - Lentils, 2 Cloves
crushed garlic
For flavor add 2 table-
spoons Braggs Amino Acids
or Seaweed.
6 Cups water - filtered or
spring
Dice all ingredients into
cat bite sized pieces.
Cook chicken or turkey
and set aside.
In a large pot cook raw
veggies in water until tender.
Add chicken, any frozen
veggies, flavorings and cooked
grains and legumes.
Freeze soup in small
batches, bring to room tem-
6 September 2008
Arts for
Animals
Reception
The first annual New
England Arts For Animals
Invitational fund raising Arts
Exhibition will run through
October 4.
An opening reception is
scheduled for Saturday
September 6 from 1:30 to 4
p.m. at the South Shore
Natural Science Center, Vine
Two Malteses, Lulu and Lolly, launched their first music video Gallery at 48 Jacobs Lane in
on YouTube, called “Rescue Dog Rock!” The song is a col- Norwell.
laboration of professionals who were all impacted by Hurricane There will be a silent
Katrina. The dogs’ cross-country adventures are also chroni- auction, with refreshments
cled in “Lulu & Lolly’s Road Trip” – a creative calendar, web and music. Proceeds for will
site and series of products at luluandlolly.com. go to programs/individuals
perature to serve. that support therapy and com-
We feed our cats the soup panion animals, both domes-
along with a high quality dry
can cat food to ensure they get
Wine Tasting tic and wild.
Friday, September 26 6-9 p.m. at the Masonic Temple
adequate nutrition. Detailed
at 1170 Hancock Street in Quincy.
information on homemade cat
The Quincy Animal Shelter is holding its 3rd annual
food can be obtained from
Fall Wine Tasting fundraiser. Sample wonderful wines,
these books:
mingle with friends, enjoy the refreshments provided by
"All You Ever Wanted to
local restaurants, and help Quincy's homeless dogs and cats.
Know About Herbs for Pets‚"
Take chances on valuable raffle prizes.
by Mary L. Wulff-Tilford &
All proceeds will benefit the animals. Monies will be
Gregory L. Tilford, "Dr.
used for direct care and adoption of the Shelter cats and
Pitcairn‚" Complete Guide to
dogs. Examples include purchase of food, medical exami-
Natural Health for Dogs and
nations and medication, and training.
Cats" by Richard H. Pitcairn
Tickets are $25 and are available at the door. Sponsors:
D.V.M and Susan Hubble
Atlas Liquors, National Wine & Liquors, Presidential
Pitcairn, "The Natural Cat‚"
Liquors, Inc. and Shop-N-Save Liquors. For more informa-
by Anitra Frazier.
tion contact the Shelter at 617-376-1349.
Pet Supplies & Food
K-9 Nutritional Specialist
• Canidae, Innova, Evo
• Wholesale/Retail
1975 Washington St • Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Rte. 138
Stoughton, MA 02072
• All Natural/Holistic Foods
• Flea and Tick Products
(781) 344-2581
www.greatscottkennels.com
Pet Gazette
 Big doings at Blue Dog
T
he Brockton Blue include Police K9 Demos, led by the Brockton Blue
Dog Shelter was hamburgers and hotdogs, face Knights and offers police
founded in late painting, low cost microchip- escorts. Registration is $25
2000 thru our parent facility ping, doggie DNA testing and and includes a t shirt (while
J.M K-9 Training at 760 West much more! supplies last) and a cookout
Chestnut St. in Brockton when SEPT. 14: Annual and music following the ride.
a dog named “Blue” needed a Motorcycle Ride. SEPT. 13 & 14: YARD
second chance at a forever
home, and some costly
orthopedic surgery. Since
its inception the Brockton
Blue Dog Shelter has
placed over 1500 dogs into
loving homes.
Most of the dogs that
we place are local dogs
that have either been relin-
quished to the shelter, or have Join us for our 3rd annual SALE. 9am-3pm at the
been found as strays in the Ride for Blue Motorcycle Brockton Blue Dog Shelter.
Easton or West Bridgewater Ride. The ride starts and ends Donations of “gently used”
areas. We also work in close at the shelter located in items can be dropped off at the
partnership with a humane Brockton, and last about an shelter both mornings between
society in Tennessee to help hour long. Registration is 8am-9am. Due to space con-
rescue many of their puppies, from 10-11am, and the ride straints we can ONLY accept
who would otherwise be euth- starts promptly at 11am. This yard sale donations at these
anized for lack of space and ride has been designed and is times.
funds.
Every dog that is available
for adoption through the
Brockton Blue Dog Shelter
gets a physical exam, age
appropriate vaccines and tests,
is spayed or neutered, is micro-
chipped and comes with a free
month of pet insurance. The
Blue Dog Shelter is not just an
adoption facility, as it truly
prides itself on placing dogs
into their final home. They
provide follow up care and
advice regarding health care,
training and nutrition for the
life of the dog.
If you can’t make it in per-
son, please consider making a
tax deductible donation the
Brockton Blue Dog Shelter.
Every single dollar helps, and
all donations go to the care of
the dogs, including medical
needs, food, training and
upkeep of the shelter.
Sept. 8: GOLF
“FORE” BLUE DOG. Join
us at the Easton Country Club
to make a day of golf count for
the dogs. $125 per golfer
(includes golf cart, dinner and
a goodie bag) There is still
room for more players, and
sponsors are needed as well.
Sept. 13: Annual
Bluefest & Blue Dog
Walk. Join us at J.M K-9
Training at 760 West Chestnut
St. for our annual walk which
starts at 10am, then stay and
enjoy our Bluefest activities as
we celebrate all things DOGS!
The walk registration is $10
and all Bluefest events are
free. The walk is even better
this year because all dog par-
ticipants get free bandanas and
there are different distances
for different level walkers if
they choose to get a ride back
half way. Of course we will
have water stations and prizes
galore! We would love for you
to get your sponsors for your
walk. You can get your walk
forms online at bluedogshel-
ter.com Other events that day

September 2008 7
Pet Gazette
 Vet of the Month:
Dr. Sarah Lafaver
By Kristen Kames
Pet Gazette Columnist

W
hy did you
decide to
become a vet-
erinarian? As a kid, I was
always interested in science,
even in grade school. In col-
lege, I studied science but I
didn't want to become a doc-
tor for people. In my junior
year, my father suggested that
veterinary medicine might be
something I'd be interested in
and he was RIGHT!
What do you love about
being a veterinarian? I love
that I am able to help clients
with all of their pets' life stag-
es. It is rewarding to know a
pet and its owner from puppy/
kitten hood to adulthood and "I love working here at Marshfield Animal Hospital because
The most experienced, knowledgeable beyond. I enjoy developing a we are committed to working with all our clients to make sure
rapport with people and the they have a positive experience. Our staff is knowledgeable,
and compassionate rehabilitation team
day to day interaction with friendly and approachable. We are also in the process of
has a new state-of-the-art Physical Therapy Center them. expanding the physical layout of our practice so that we can
For those readers who provide even better (and more spacious!) service."
Sterling Impression Animal are considering working in
Unfortunately, when he bit which was your favorite and
Rehabilitation Center of New England the veterinary field, what
advice would you share with
me, he wouldn't let go and I why? When I was working in
1008 East Street,Walpole, MA 02081 Connecticut, a client came in
them? The veterinary profes-
508.668.7946 (SWIM) • fax 508.668.7973 with a puppy who had an
sion is an emotional line of
Marjorie C. McMillan, DVM, DACVR, CCRP abnormal heart vessel and sur-
Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP work. You need to be pre-
gery was the only option to
pared not just academically,
save him. The client had sig-
Physical therapy treatments available but also to be compassionate
nificant financial constraints
Spa pool – Range of motion exercises – Massage – Joint mobilization and patient with clients of all
Therapeutic ultrasound – Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and couldn't afford the sur-
different levels of understand-
Underwater treadmill – Land exercises – Home therapy plans – Custom orthotics gery. As an intern, I offered to
ing. There are daily highs and
do the surgery in return for the
For treatment of…
Osteoarthritis – Hip dysplasia – Discs (pre and post-op)
lows and compassion fatigue
is something that can affect
Teacher’s Vet puppy to teach me more about
how to perform the necessary
Tendon and ligament injuries veterinarians. Spotlight on Veterinarians
Fracture repair (post-op) – Total hip replacement (pre and post-op) operation to help him. The
What was the most
Cruciate surgery (post-op) puppy grew to be a healthy
unusual case you have ever
Neurological injuries (degenerative myelopathy, tick paralysis, etc.) The Lafaver File adult, the puppy's owner was
been presented/treated? A
Arthritis – Cruciates – back surgery – Neurological deficits so grateful and I learned so
Weight management client brought in a box turtle VET. DEGREE: Tufts University
much...It was a win, win, win
that had been caught in his YEARS IN FIELD: 4
for everyone!
What we do… own shell! Box turtles have a PETS: A black Lab, Boomer and
Pre-op conditioning – Post-op rehabilitation – Orthotics – Therapy groups It’s September. What
hinge on the bottom of their 2 cats, Juliette and Garland
Cancer rehabilitation – Cardiac rehabilitation – Conditioning advice do you give pet own-
shell. Somehow this little
PRACTICE: Marshfield Animal ers this month? Summer may
guy's hinge got stuck and he
Hospital, 490 Plain St. (Route be coming to an end, but it is
was imprisoned with his own
139), Marshfield essential to continue with
body! I used a lot of lubricant
heartworm and flea/tick pre-
and a dental instrument to PHONE: (781) 837-5005
ventative programs.
gently pry his shell back open WEB: marshfieldvet.com What kind of food do
without hurting him. He was
you feed? Treats? I feed
perfectly fine and maybe even
had to walk around with a liz- Purina One. For treats, I give
a little relieved to have come
ard attached to the end of my my dog organic, whole grain
out of his shell!
hand until another doctor got a cookies and carrots or beans.
What is one of the funni-
tongue depressor to pry him What is a book you could
est stories you can tell from
off! I think I looked pretty recommend for pet lovers?
your practice? I had been
silly with this little lizard Since I have a Labrador, I
working with a lizard in the
attached to my hand! really loved Marley and Me
clinic only to have him bite
Out of all your experi- written by John Grogan.
the tip of my finger.
ences working with animals, What is an important
lesson an animal has taught
you? There is nothing quite
like the unconditional love
Attention Veterinarians you get from pets. At the end
of the day there is no obliga-
& Animal Control Officers tion: They ask for nothing in
return except to be by your
side.
The Pet Gazette wants to highlight your service to our animal
friends. Let us profile you in the Pet Gazette. There is no cost or
obligation. Email us at editor@petgazette.net and let us know Kristen Kames is a high
you are willing to be profiled. To our readers: If you have a school teacher on the South
favorite Vet or Animal Control Officer please tell them to drop Shore. She lives with her two
us a line and you might see them profiled in a future issue. “dogters” and has been a
member of Dog Addict’s
Anonymous for 15 years.

8 September 2008
Pet Gazette
 The cockatoo cage klepto caper
By George Sommers, from a chain pet store was to catch droppings, but also to

A
Pet Gazette Columnist on a special discount sale provide the bird with a better
lthough it’s that night. grip.
September, we In lieu of flying, wing Sometimes, Pippy stays
still may be able clipped Pippy enjoys sitting in her travel cage at the beach
to squeeze out a few New on my shoulder for bike rides as I read the newspaper and
England beach days. We along the beach. She spreads enjoy the bikinis, oops I mean
applaud the comeback of pip- her wings as the wind rushes sights. Inevitably, every year,
ing plovers to even some of by! While most onlookers one particular woman comes
the more urban beaches. Pet make remarks to the effect by and mutters under her
birds, too, can enjoy the fresh of “Hey, that’s cool!” – I’ve breath how “sad it is to see a
air, sunshine and change of also heard second hand from bird in a cage”. Ironically, in a
scenery. Goffin’s cockatoo some of my neighbors that I perfect world, I’d probably
Pippy joins me on many a look like “a nut”. Oh, well. agree. In the real world, it’s
beach excursion, which will Speaking of looking quite possible the Goffin’s
doubtlessly continue into the nutty, on outside bird walks cockatoo is extinct in the wild.
fall. A scarlet macaw accom- nature does occasionally All in all, I think Pippy would
panied its human flock on a call, and the calling card prefer being a pampered pet in
fall foliage tour of Mt. Pack leaves a mark on my shirt a cage to extinction.parrot,
Monadnock in New Hampshire resulting in people behind could count from 0 to 6 and
one year when I happened by. my back laughing and mak- identify colors and shapes.
First, a cautionary tale. ing snide remarks. A good Birds of a feather don’t
Companion birds should have way to alleviate this is to necessarily all flock together!
a portable travel cage for fun have a special towel draped
outdoor trips and vet visits, New travel cage replaces one stolen in cockatoo cage klepto caper. on the shoulders – not only
wing and claw trimming Photo by George Sommers
errands, etc. One day I left
Pippy’s cage on a Wollaston
Beach bench as I’ve done
many times before, strolling
with her on my shoulder much
to the delight of children and
pet lovers. (We recommend
using a tether when bringing
your bird loose outdoors.)
Upon my return, the cage had
vanished! Scoping out the
immediate vicinity, I noticed
the cage bedding had been
dumped in a trashcan. I asked
a couple in the area if they
noticed anything and yes, they
saw someone drive up in a van
and help themselves to the
cage. Okay, it was old with a
busted door and a food cup
that no longer fit in place but
it still was an annoying incon-
venience – and a couple of
nice bird toys were absconded
in the caper as well. I had to
drive home with my cockatoo
on my shoulder, hoping for no
bird distraction generated
major accidents. Minor conso-
lation: the replacement cage

September 2008 9
Pet Gazette
 What’s Your Pack Leadership Style?
Some dogs need more order. Some need more love, caring and
guidance. Some need more exercise and stimulation.
By Tana Watt
E
Pet Gazette Contributor
very mammal has
a social structure—
especially those
who live in groups. Packs are
the social structure that dogs
understand, and every pack
requires a leader who can
accommodate the pack’s
complex decision-making
requirements, such as food,
entertainment, shelter and
how the pack spends time
together. To best meet a dog’s
needs, the dog should feel
part of safe and fulfill-
ing pack.
Every dog requires
order, consistency and a
healthy social structure.
The absence of structure
creates stress in dogs. In fact,
most of dogs’ problem behav-
iors can be traced to humans
wanting the structure the pack
to be different from the struc-
ture the dog wants.
If the pack is not struc-
tured properly according to
the dog, he will make chang-
es to improve the situation.
For instance, when a dog
feels he must tell his owner
when he needs to be fed, he
asks for food and his owner
feeds him. This can lead to
begging and manipulating.
The owner should instead
10
feed the dog at a standard
time and ignore the dog when
he begs—demonstrating that
the owner is the decision
maker when it comes to how
food is managed.
Unfortunately, there is no
hard-and-fast rule about how
to be an effective lead- er
for your dog. You
have to first under-
stand who your
dog is and
what he
needs.
Some dogs need more
order. Some need more love,
caring and guidance. Some
need more exercise and stim-
ulation.
Perhaps your dog is a
working breed. He is a tena-
cious, hard-working canine
who requires stimulation
(entertainment) and a strong
leader. Your dog’s brain
moves fast, sorting out prob-
lems and creating solutions.
If he doesn’t feel your leader-
ship is adequate, he w i l l
resolve issues for himself.
If yours is a timid dog, he
needs to understand that you
are not a threat—that it is
safe for him to trust and bond
with you. Tough love is not
part of this equation with this
dog.
This is why it is often the
dog who determines which
leadership style you should
Pet Gazette
have. A common mistake of
owners is to pattern their
leadership behavior after
what worked with a previous
dog. Each dog has different
needs, requiring that you
recalibrate your leadership
style to each individual dog.
Communication is
another
issue. Your dog
might know you are the
leader, but he might not agree
with the choices you make.
He cannot explain the situa-
tion in words—instead, he
shows you with behavioral
patterns and body language.
As a social animal, you
have the skills to read body
language and infer the feel-
ings and motives behind it.
Stop your brain. Just be quiet
and look at your dog. He is
telling you something. Don’t
fixate on the details of the
problem—that is, on what
form the problem takes.
Focus instead on the function
of the problem.
Dominance gestures—
jumping up, biting and bark-
ing—are a good example.
The dog is saying, “You’re
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The Pet Gazette!”
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the supposed leader, yet I
control you. I’ll make the
decisions and you’ll have to
respond to me.”
As your dog’s leader,
assess the payoff for your
dog when a behavior pattern
arises. Help him understand
the situation better to make a
choice that aligns more with
what you want. If
your dog is the
one who chooses, you
don’t have a basis from
which to fix problem behav-
ior.
All dogs need a balance
of love, trust and respect.
Different owners show these
emotions in different ways,
and different dogs need these
emotions in different amounts.
Solving that equation with
your dog will lead to the most
fulfilling relationship for both
of you.
Tana Watt is a dog behav-
ioral therapist and trainer
with Bark Busters, the world’s
largest dog training company.
Bark Busters trainers are
authorities in correcting dog
behavior with all-natural,
dog-friendly methods. For
more information, call 1-877-
500-BARK (2275) or visit
www.BarkBusters.com.
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September 2008
 America's Number One Dog: The Lab
These lovable oafs are usually terrible bed hogs
By Sirena Van Schaik,
I
Pet Gazette Contributor
suppose that I could
start by listing off all
the wonderful qualities
of the Labrador Retriever;
singing their praises. I am
after all a happy owner of one
and they are truly a wonderful
breed. I am sure though that
their praises have been over-
stressed.
Many already know that
they are an excellent working
dog, intelligent enough to be
used as police dogs, search
and rescue dogs, drug and
explosive detection, guide and
service dogs. They also excel
as hunting companion and
family pets. Everyone knows
that they are active and happy,
that they seem to love every-
one and make an exceptional
pet for families with or with-
out children. Let’s face it,
these are the reasons why the
Labrador Retriever has been
BY THE BREED
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Color: Black, Yellow Chocolate
Life Span: 14 or more years
Size: 55 to 80 pounds, 21.5 to
24.5 inches
Companionship: 33333
Suitable for Kids: 33333
Good with Strangers: 33333
Grooming Needs: 33333
Exercise Needs: 33333
Good in Apartments: 33333
Popularity: 33333
Shedding: 33333
America’s Number One dog
for fifteen years running and it
isn’t just about their obvious
traits.
Although the goofy nature
of the Labrador Retriever is in
high demand, this wasn’t
always so. The breed was
established in Newfoundland,
Canada and was originally
known as the St. John’s Dog,
which was used as both a fish-
ing dog and as family com-
panions. Many English sports-
men saw merit in the breed
and the first St. John’s Dog
was imported to England in
the early 19th century. From
there it looked like the breed
would gain significant popu-
larity but unfortunately it
didn’t. Instead, the Labrador
Retriever came close to extinc-
tion many times and the found-
ing breed, the St.. John’s Dog,
became extinct in 1981. It
wasn’t until the late 1920’s
that the Labrador Retriever
began to see a rise in its popu-
September 2008
floor and clothing than is thing and can create heart
seemingly possible. With stopping trips to the vets where
daily brushing, however, the rings and other questionable
amount of hair can be kept to material needs to be extracted.
a minimum and Labrador Labrador Retrievers can gain
Retrievers make up for all that weight very quickly and need
hair by showering their own- to be kept on a healthy diet
ers with love. with the proper proportions
Labrador Retrievers and exercise to keep them
can do well in apartments but trim.
exercise is the key no matter Despite their idiosyncra-
where you live. This is a sies, they are truly a wonder-
working breed and they enjoy ful breed that love to spend
playing, retrieving and long time with their family. They
walks. They can be couch will be a constant companion
potatoes but this is usually whether at home or abroad.
only after they have been exer- They will hike, swim, retrieve
cised enough. and are game for almost any
Labrador Retrievers are a type of sport. The only real
Let’s face it, these are the reasons why the Labrador Retriever very mouthy breed and will problem to work out isn’t
has been America’s Number One dog for fifteen years running chew hands and anything else training or exercise but the
and it isn’t just about their obvious traits. if they are not trained properly. fact that these lovable oafs are
They will eat just about any- usually terrible bed hogs.
larity. mixed with Weimaraners.
Labrador Retriever look Labrador Retrievers are a
very similar to the St. John’s large breed of dog that truly
Dog but there are some differ- defines the term. They have a
ences do to selective breeding. large size, large appetite, large
Where the St. John’s Dog was heart and an extremely large
primarily black with white on tongue that can soak you with-
its muzzle and toes, the in seconds. On average, the
Labrador Retriever can be Labrador Retriever ranges in
found in three different colors, size from 21.5 to 23.5 inches
yellow, black and chocolate. and 55 to 70 pounds for a
There is a lot of confusion female and 22.5 to 24.5 inches
about their colors but this and 65 to 80 pounds for a Specialty Service Consultations
mainly deals with variations in male. In recent years there has Available Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM
two of the color shades. A yel- been a change in the overall
low coat can range from a size of the Labrador Retriever The Cape’s only 24 hour
very pale, almost white yellow and puppy buyers now have Critical Care and Emergency Center
to a deep red known as Fox the choice of either buying SURGERY
Red while a chocolate coat from show lines, which can be Garrett Levin, DVM, DACVS
can range from light milk slightly heavier with some
INTERNAL MEDICINE
chocolate to a dark chocolate dogs weighing over a 100 Paul Henricks, DVM, DACVIM
that almost appears black. pounds, or the smaller, some- ONCOLOGY
When these shade variations times more energetic, field
Andrew Abbo, DVM, MS
are registered, they are regis- lines.
CARDIOLOGY
tered as either yellow or choc- Although the Labrador
olate, not any other color; Retriever is considered to be Jean Betkowski, VMD, DACVIM
black is always black and there an average shedder, they really OPHTHALMOLOGY
is no shade variations. In the aren’t. On a regular basis they Marcia Aubin, DVM, MS, DACVO
RADIOLOGY
last 50 years there has been a seem to deposit more hair
emergence of a new color on furni- Matthew Wright, DVM, MS, DACVR
known as silver but despite ture, EMERGENCY MEDICINE
claims that silver is a Pamela Levin, DVM • Lisa Abbo, DVM, MS
natural color for the Corey Blake, DVM • Jenn Gargano, DVM
breed, the validity William Kaser, DVM • Barbara Kmiecik, DVM
of those claims Jim Lear, DVM • Kevin Haynes, DVM
are under ques- VETERINARY REHABILITATION
tion and many Nancy Bishop, CVT, CCRP
Labrador Retriever ACUPUNCTURE
breeders feel that the Pamela Levin, DVM
coat color comes from SONOGRAPHER
lines that have been Pamela Harrigan, RDCS
BREED RANK 2007 2006 2002 1997 24 Hour Emergency/Critical Care
Doctors & Staff 365 days a year
Lab. Retrievers 1 1 1 1
Yorkshire Terriers 2 2 6 9
German Shepherd Dogs 3 3 3 3 Appointments available for Exotic Patients
Golden Retrievers 4 4 2 4
Beagles
Boxers
5
6
5
7
4
7
6
13 Proud to provide the first CT
Dachshunds 7 6 5 7 Scan services availible to the
Poodles 8 8 8 5
ShihTzu 9 9 10 11 South Shore and Cape Cod.
Bulldogs 10 12 18 26
Miniature Schnauzers 11 10 11 14
Chihuahuas 12 11 9 12
Pomeranians 13 14 12 10 79 Theophilus Smith Road
Pugs 14 13 14 19 South Dennis, MA 02660
Rottweilers 15 17 13 2
Tel 508-398-7575 • Fax 508-398-7506
SOURCE: AKC Dog Registration Statistics
www.carevet.net
11
Pet Gazette
 Back to school Time!

Old Dog,
New Tricks?
With the right training, a mature
dog can get a second chance
dog gets from reacting

D
By Becca Manning, Pet Gazette Staff in a negative way, the
awn Archibald-Corby was volunteering at the less likely it will be to
Scituate Animal Shelter when she fell in love turn to those bad
behaviors. If, for exam-
with a one-year-old black Lab and German
ple, after a certain num-
shepherd mix who had been brought in when her owners ber of brush strokes a
moved and left her behind. dog starts to curl its
The dog, Maxine, was pregnant when she came to the lip, the owner should
shelter and eventually gave birth to nine puppies. Archibald- learn to cut that activ-
Corby said she knew she wasn't ready for a puppy. "Puppies ity short.
are like little kids; they’re just all over the place. You have to “Don’t let the dog
realize you’re taking on a baby,” she said. get to that threshold,”
Archibald-Corby said.
Instead, she
Michelle Carlin of Wicked
adopted Maxine. Good Dog in Quincy said
training an older dog “It’s kind
“When I first got requires a little more per- of J.M. of like
Maxine, she was severance. K - 9 with chil-
dragging me down the “The big difference Training in dren,"
street,” Archibald-Corby said. between older dogs Brockton and
generally have a longer says Jeni
She enrolled in a group obedi- and puppies is that founder of Brockton Blue Dog
attention span than puppies Mather of K-9
ence class to learn how to get older dogs have had a long Shelter, said each dog that
— older dogs also come with Training in
the dog to walk with her. time to practice all the wrong comes through her shelter
their own baggage, and they Brockton. "If you put chil-
“Maxine took to training things,” Carlin said. starts out with “decompres-
can’t easily tell you what that dren in with a bunch of
like a fish takes to water,” she She finds that clicker train- sion time,” during which they
baggage is. children that aren’t well
said, and Maxine’s owner, too, ing, which combines clear are isolated from
With Maxine, Archibald- behaved and who are not
enjoyed the experience so communication with positive other dogs
Corby said she could tell that
much that she decided to reinforcement, works best but setting good exam-
the dog’s previous owners had ples, those are the
become certified as a trainer. clipped her nails too closely with shelter dogs and helps
owners bond with their pets. examples they
Since then, Archibald-Corby because, “When I tried to cut
has been helping owners work her nails she was like a buck- “Lots of times the dog is learn by.”
with their pets for 13 years ing bronco.” But as Archibald- trying to figure out, ‘Is this When dogs
through her Halifax-based Corby continued to slowly and just another foster family see other
training business, Canine carefully clip the dog’s nails or is this my new pack?’” dogs get-
Etiquette. Through her experi- without hurting her, Maxine Carlin said. “An older ting posi-
ence with clients as well as grew accustomed to the activ- dog that has been tive rein-
with her own dogs, Archibald- ity, and grooming time became bounced around more force-
Corby has learned that while, painless for all involved. has more need to really ment,
yes, you can teach an old dog The key, Archibald-Corby bond with its owner.” they want
new tricks — and mature dogs said, was time. The further a Jeni Mather, president to get the
same
treatment.

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12 September 2008
Pet Gazette
receive lots of controlled
walks and care. Once they
have been fully vetted, the
dogs receive socializa-
tion as a reward.
The shelter uses
the “leadership by
pack” system,
putting dogs
with other well-
behaved dogs —
supervised, of
course — so they
can learn the right
behaviors.
“It’s kind of like
with children. If
you put children in
with a bunch of chil-
dren that aren’t well
behaved and who are
not setting good exam-
ples, those are the
examples they learn
by,” Mather said.
When dogs see other
dogs getting positive
reinforcement, they
want to get the same
treatment.
What's the
problem?
Because older dogs
come from a variety of back-
grounds, owners should never
make assumptions about how
a dog might react to a certain
command or activity. When
she teaches obedience classes,
Carlin said she typically starts
from scratch, assuming the
dog hasn’t been trained at all.
“I’ve seen shelter dogs
change behavior in a day
because the problem was they
had poor management or
training by the previous own-
ers and the second someone
put effort into it, they
changed,” she said.
Carlin once tried to get a
dog to sit and stay, “and every
time I said ‘stay,’ he ran behind
the couch.” But when she
changed the word from "stay”
to “wait,” Carlin said the dog
obeyed almost immediately.
“He had baggage with
‘stay,’” she said.
Archibald-Corby recalled
having some trouble with
Gwen, a Lhas Apso she
brought home from the shelter
because she was afraid the
dog would eventually bite
someone. At home, she paid
close attention to the dog, who
“must have thought I had eyes
in the back of my head,
because every move she made,
I was on her.” But though she
was behaving most of the
time, the dog still had issues
that needed to be dealt with.
Once, when Archibald-
Corby’s mother came up
behind the dog while she was
eating the cat’s food, Gwen
bit her, hard. Obviously, she
was protective of her food.
“You shoot in the dark, and
you don’t know until a situa-
tion presents itself, and then
you have to deal with it,”
Archibald-Corby said.
September 2008
Take
Charge
To success-
fully train a dog,
owners must have
patience and main-
tain control.
“You have to
realize this dog for
whatever reason
was given up
and just
bounced
around and
the reason it
reacts might
not be the root
of the problem at all. That’s
when you go out and find a
good trainer and you work
through it — especially if
you’re dealing with aggres-
sion, because aggression will
never go away on its own.
You have to meet it head on,”
Archibald-Corby said.
A dog owner has to be a
disciplinarian, she said. “You
don’t do any dog any favors
by being a marshmallow and
just lavishing it with love.”
A lot of dogs dropped off
at shelters are entering adoles-
cence and in some ways have
the same “go ahead and make
me” attitude as human teenag-
ers, Archibald-Corby said.
“This is why you have to
become an assertive owner.
You can’t be a doormat. You
have to set the boundaries.”
She has seen owners at
both ends of the spectrum:
some too harsh and others too
easy. Often times, different
family members will have
conflicting training styles.
“As a trainer, I’ve had to
play referee,” Archibald-
Corby said. “I kind of like to
be the bad guy, to tell them
they’re not being assertive
enough or they’re being too
assertive.”
Showing dominance is key,
but “losing it” with a dog
defeats the purpose, Archibald-
Corby said. “You’ll never get
anywhere by losing control.
That will show weakness to a
dog,” she said. “You have to
be a leader. Leaders are always
under control no matter what
the crisis is.”
Mather suggests several
simple steps owners can take
to become the leader of their
pack. First, owners should
never let a dog sleep in their
beds. This tells the dog they CAPE COD KENNEL CLUB, INC.
are equal to their humans and
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Secondly, Mather said free Puppy Kindergarten • Beginner Obedience
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“If you put the dog’s food
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what you’re saying is that
food bowl belongs to them For more information, please call:
and you are the servant that
feeds them whenever they
508-394-1272 • www.capecodkc.org
want,” she said. Cape Cod Kennel Club Inc. established 1947
Instead, the owner should
take charge of the food bowl,
Mather said, putting the bowl
away after the dog finishes
eating and bringing it out
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Another way to assert $70 for neuter
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Nail Trim Surgery
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One of the most important Dr. Ann-Marie Roche
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which is essentially “please” or for more information visit
in dog language, Mather said. www.TheStopClinic.com
People instill manners in their
DOES BREED MATTER?
T
hough certain dog because you’re not fighting
breeds more the dog — you’re building
often make the a cooperative relationship.”
news with cases of “Bully” breeds, such as
aggressive behavior, rottweilers and pitbulls,
trainers say an owner might be more keen to fight
shouldn’t rely on breed alone to other dogs, but if well trained,
determine how a dog might they won’t naturally fight a per-
behave, or how it might train. son, said Archibald-Corby, who
“A Bassett hound’s not has both a rottweiler and a pit-
going to train like a German bull mix at home along with two
shepherd. A shepherd has young children. She said she never
attention, drive and endurance” Archibald- worries about the dogs being around her
Corby said. kids and calls her rottweiler “docile”
Understanding the history of a breed can — “even to bark at you takes too much
help an owner determine their dog’s motiva- effort.”
tions or the instincts they are following, but “A lot of people are ignorant. They
“typically, you still have to get to know the would rather label than educate themselves,”
individual dog,” Carlin said. she said. “[Rottweilers] are wonderful dogs
“You might have a Lab that thinks fetch- as long as they’re in the right hands. …
ing has to be the biggest reward ever, but There are a lot of great dogs out there, and I
I’ve known Labs who hate to chase a ball hope people become far
and I’ve known pitbulls who have been joy- more educated
ously happy to run and collect a ball than what
over and over again. Breeds come they are.”
with their own quirks,”
she said. “Even ‘bully’
breeds will really
respond to clicker
training
13
Pet Gazette
 You can teach an old dog new tricks
children and should do the or another high-energy dog.”
same with their pets. Instead Training shouldn’t be as
of jumping on visitors or hard as a lot of people make it,
demanding attention, the dog she said. “The biggest thing is
will wait politely to be recog- making the commitment.”
nized. Archibald-Corby said she
“When you use these demo- is against sending a dog off to
tions in leadership [for the be trained by someone else,
dog], you put your entire fam- because a dog has to learn to
ily at a higher level in the behave from the person they
leadership pack,” Mather will be living with.
said. Owners also should pick a
training style that works best
for them, Carlin said.
Know Thyself “You’re really matching
Successful dog training what’s going to work with the
isn't just the result of getting to person’s style as well. It’s
know your pet well. It's also really a partnership. You have
about knowing your limits. to find that key that’s going to No matter how old the dog is, training him is a commitment and
“You can’t expect to take in help that person train and live takes patience and leadership, professionals say.
a dog and all of a sudden with that dog. It’s a fine art,”
you’re going to change who she said. “The person in the family that Common Sense
you are,” Archibald-Corby Owners with more than one works with the dog — that’s
said. “You have to be honest person in the family should the one the dog’s going to Whatever the dog’s breed
with yourself. If you are a keep in mind, too, that just respond to,” Archibald-Corby or personality might be, train-
couch potato, then go out and because a dog is trained that said. ing will go nowhere without
get a Bassett hound. If you’re doesn’t mean he or she will common sense.
an athlete, go get a Weimaraner react the same to everyone. An owner should keep an
eye on a dog while it is being
trained, and should put it in its
pen or cage when it's not being
watched, Archibald-Corby
said. Dog owners should think
of their pet as they would a
toddler. “You wouldn’t let a
toddler just wander off. When
you don’t hear anything, you
We Train Any Issue, Any Breed go and check to see what’s
going on,” she said.
UÊomiÊTraining Also important is establish-
ing clear communication.
UÊ aturaÊMethods “Just say what you mean
and mean what you say. Your
dog doesn’t have a crystal
UÊViÌÊRecommended ball,” she said. If an owner
tells a dog to sit and it does
and then it gets up and the
UÊLifetimiÊGuarantee owner gets frustrated,
Archibald-Corby asks, “Well,
did you tell him to stay?”
“It’s not rocket science,”
she said.
Though in some ways you
can compare an untrained dog
to a toddler, it’s also important
to understand pets are not “lit-
tle people,” Carlin said. For
one, they don’t generalize the
way humans do. If you teach a
dog to “sit” in the kitchen, he’s
not necessarily going to know
to sit when the word is said
outside. A child will.
Understanding these differ-
877.500.BARK
ences can reduce frustration.
It’s also important to
address an issue from the start
— particularly if the problem
www.BarkBusters.com is an aggressive dog, Archibald-
Corby said.
“If you’re seeing it [aggres-
sion] out of a puppy, don’t
wait until that dog is six years
old to try to correct it,” she
said. “You see that puppy lift
its lip at you and you have to
react to that. You can’t back
away. It’s only going to get
worse from there.”
Archibald-Corby said many
people have the misconcep-
tion that if they shower a dog
with love and affection it will
react accordingly — “like
Dog Tested. Vet Approved. Lassie.”
14
Pet Gazette
“People have to remember:
Lassie had a lot of training put
into him,” she said.
MAKE IT COUNT
Training a dog is a commit-
ment, whether owners hire a
trainer or attempt to correct
behavior on their own.
Archibald-Corby expects
her clients to work with their
dogs between lessons and tells
owners to practice with their
dogs at least 10 minutes twice
a day every single day while
going through basic obedience
training.
“The more you train, the
better off you are,” she said.
“Practice makes perfect.”
That kind of attention can
be daunting in today's world,
and as the mother of two young
children, Archibald-Corby
said she understands that even
attentive dog owners can get
overwhelmed. Owners should
make up for missed opportuni-
ties when they can.
“Life happens,” she said.
“You do the best you can when
you can, and you make those
moments count.”
It's also important to
remember that every dog will
have his bad day, too.
“If your dog is having a
bad day and you’re just not
getting anywhere at all, you
should end your training ses-
sion on a good note and pick it
up again later,” Archibald-
Corby said. “It doesn’t make
sense to just keep hammering
away.”
The bottom line with posi-
tive training is to set it up so
that all a dog’s good behaviors
pay off, Carlin said.
“We go to work because
the boss pays us. If he stops
paying us, we stop going to
work. For some people, it
might take them a little longer.
They might stay through the
week just to see what will hap-
pen, but eventually we all stop
working. It’s the same thing
with a dog,” she said.
SECOND CHANCES
Though shelter dogs some-
times come with baggage,
Archibald-Corby recommends
taking a chance. In Maxine,
she found a sweet companion
who brightened her life for
more than 10 years.
“A lot of people think shel-
ter dogs have all these prob-
lems. Maxine’s only problem
was that she had an irrespon-
sible owner. It wasn't her fault
her owner moved and left her
behind,” she said.
With any dog, an owner
has to earn trust and respect,
Archibald-Corby said. And
with the right person —  and
the right training — a dog can
get a second chance.
“When they’re in the right
hands, they just blossom,” she
said.
September 2008
 14th Annual

FOLK & FUR

FEST 2008
Standish Humane Society’s
Benefit Walk for Animals
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, MA • Registration: 10am - 2pm (Rain or Shine)
Why Should I Walk?
Your participation is important whether you raise
$10 or $300; any amount is appreciated.
The success of this WALK depends
upon a large turnout of people like
you who care about animals. Your
donation will be used to provide shelter
to homeless animals and to support
our reduced-cost sterilization program.
Standish Humane Society is...
...a non-profit, tax-exempt organization of volunteers
dedicated to the care and placement of lost, stray and
abandoned pets in southeastern Massachusetts.
Founded in 1969, Standish Humane Society’s mission
is to reduce the tragedy of pet overpopulation through
active adoption and reduced-cost spay/neuter programs.
Twenty-two area veterinarians participate in Standish’s
reduced-cost spay/neuter program.
In 2007, Standish subsidized $48,000 in sterilizing 808
needy animals.
“We speak for those who cannot speak
for themselves.”
Join The Fun! Features
Before and after your walk, enjoy the exhibitors and
v A three-mile walk. Paved route, handicapped accessible.
vendors under the tents.
Your walk begins as soon as you sign in.
v Dog Microchipping
v Free T-shirt for every registration donation of $50 or v Live Folk Performances
more. Donations over $250 get a garment with the
v Massage – Canine & Human
Standish Tall Tails logo. Collect donations from friends
v Merchandise Mart
and neighbors as sponsors. Prizes awarded to the top
three fund raisers on the day of the walk. v Rescue Groups
v Refreshments
v Bring a can of cat/dog food to donate to the local pounds.
v Bring friends – human and canine (leashed and friendly)!
Sorry, no cats or other animals allowed. Dog Contests
Enter your dog in one or more of the following
v All dogs must be wearing a current rabies vaccination categories:
tag and have an up-to-date vaccination.
v Largest Dog
v To make this event fun for everyone, use good judgment
v Smallest Dog
regarding the temperament of your pet. Please don’t v Loudest Bark
bring a dog whose behavior could be dangerous to
v Best Tail Wagger
others and keep females in heat at home! (We reserve
v Best Trick
the right to refuse entry to aggressive animals.)
v Best Smoocher
v Be a courteous and responsible owner by cleaning up v Best Pound Dog
after your dog. Plastic scooper bags will be available.
v Best Costume
v Best Owner-Dog Look Alike
All contributions are tax deductible. www.standishhumanesociety.com

Walker’s Name __________________________ Bring your donations with this form to the walk. To save the expense of follow-up,
Address ________________________________ please collect all donations prior to the walk, and turn them in with this form.
Town _____________________ Zip__________ Collect $50 or more and receive a T-shirt, collect $250 or more and receive a
Email Address ___________________________ unique garment with the Standish logo as our thanks on the day of the walk.
How did you hear about the walk?
Q Mailing Q Marshfield Fair Q Radio QWeb Q Vet Office Q Poster Q Newspaper Q Pet Gazette Q Groomer/Trainer
Sponsor Address City State Zip Phone Donation

Total Donations Enclosed

(Xerox additional sheets if necessary)
O Sorry, I am unable to join you, but I want to
support Standish’s Walk. Enclosed is my
contribution of $________
Standish is a non-profit organization; your contribution
is tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
I, the participant, assume all liability for accidents, personal injuries • Checks should be made out to:
(including injuries to my pet) and damages to property and I hold the
Standish Humane Society, its sponsors, employees and volunteers
Standish Humane Society
harmless from any and all claims arising out of any connection with the • All money is due on the day of the Walk
above-described event. • Money pledged, but not collected, will not be
Signature _________________________ Date __________ counted toward prizes
(if under 18 years of age, must be signed by parent or legal guardian)

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September 2008 15
Pet Gazette
When the test comes back positive
Feline leukemia brings a range of emotions for this special litter
By Stephanie DeMello,
I
Special to the Pet Gazette
t was a call like most
every other call that
comes through the lines
at Habitat for Cats….A woman
needed help with a cat colony
in her yard that had become
unmanageable. What made
this call a little different was
that the woman’s neighbor had
begun trapping the cats and
bringing them to the local
Animal Control Office for
euthanasia.
On a quiet residential road
in the North End of New
Bedford, what started as a few
cats that this woman was feed-
ing, had grown to 30 adults and
20 kittens. Most of the cats
were feral, or unsocialized, run-
ning and hiding behind trees
and stonewalls. What could
have been a picturesque scene
of cats under sweet honeysuck-
Your help is needed
Habitat for Cats is an all vol-
unteer cat rescue organization.
If you aren’t able to adopt a
cat or kitten, then consider a
donation to help these home-
less kitties. Send your check to
Habitat for Cats, PO Box 79571,
N Dartmouth, Mass. 02747. You
can get more information about
all our programs by visiting
HabitatforCats.org
vÊޜÕÊ`œ˜½ÌÊLiˆiÛiÊÊ
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˜>̈œ˜½ÃÊ>˜ˆ“>ÊVœ˜ÌÀœÊ«œÕ˜`ÃÊ
>˜`ÊÅiÌiÀÃÊ>Àiʎˆi`°Êœˆ˜ÊœÕÀÊ
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9

/° " ,  lover can hear. It was like get-
16
Regardless of the final diagnosis, these babies are looking for forever homes. They need a
special person who is truly an angel, who is willing to open their heart and homes. They have
been healthy and have not shown signs of the disease. If you are interested in adopting one of
these kittens contact Stephanie DeMello at kjmcandrew@juno.com or call Habitat for Cats at
508-961-CATS.
les and sitting on fences, was
marred by that fact that this was
a serious situation, where cats
were being put to sleep. When
we began looking into the dog-
houses that the woman had
placed for shelters, we found
litter after litter of kittens. There
were so many kittens and so
many females that it was impos-
sible to know what litter went
with what mother cat.
It took several days to trap
the colony. The cats were
brought back to Habitat for
Cats for assessment and then
brought to Animal Associates
7 7 7°
 
for spaying/neutering and vac-
cination. Many of the cats were
relocated to the backyards of
Habitat volunteers, some were
returned to their quiet North
end neighborhood, the kittens
went into foster homes to await
adoption and the colony care-
taker had a 6 foot fence installed.
She was also given instructions
to have any cat that found her
back yard refuge to be spayed
or neutered promptly. All this
effort and coordination satis-
fied the angry neighbor.
As a volunteer for Habitat
for Cats I took on a mixed litter
of 5 kittens. They ranged in
ages, sizes and personalities.
They had eye infections and
were underweight, but they
were happy little fur balls and I
was their foster mom.
Eventually, their eyes cleared
and they grew by leaps and
bounds. They ran and played
and behaved like kittens should.
Then the day came for leuke-
mia testing….it was positive.
It’s one of the most devas-
tating statements that an animal
ting the wind knocked out of
Pet Gazette
kittens is very slim. Like most
volunteers at HFC, I have a
multi-cat household of 13 (all
but one a rescue cat), including
a hospice cat with cancer and
an FIV positive male. Feline
Leukemia is contagious to other
cats and the kittens would have
to stay separated.
According to Cornell
School of Veterinary Medicine,
there are three outcomes for
leukemia positive cats and kit-
tens: The can fully recover and
eventually test negative, the
virus can go latent and hide in
bone marrow, or the virus will
multiply and the cat become
symptomatic. Feline leukemia
is a very complex disease, but
simply put, it suppresses the
cat’s immune system, making it
difficult to fight of sickness.
Two of the kittens have
been adopted into a wonderful
home. Their new family has
stayed in touch and reports the
me. A million thoughts run kittens a vibrant and happy.
through your head. Volunteering Two other kittens remain at my
in the field of cat rescue, you home, Pork Chop and Tater Tot.
know that the chance of finding The kittens will be retested for
homes for leukemia positive leukemia in a few months.
Signs of disease caused by FeLV?
During the early stages of infection, it is common for cats to exhibit
no signs of disease at all. However, over time—weeks, months, or
even years—the cat's health may progressively deteriorate or be
characterized by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of rela-
tive health. Signs can include:
• Loss of appetite & poor coat condition
• Slow but progressive weight loss, followed by severe wasting late
in the disease process
• Enlarged lymph nodes & a variety of eye conditions
• Persistent fever & diarrhea
• Pale gums and other mucus membranes
• Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and mouth (stomatitis)
• Infections of skin, urinary bladder, and upper respiratory tract
• Seizures, behavior changes, and other neurological disorders
• In unspayed female cats, abortion of kittens or other reproductive
failure
Source: Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine
September 2008
 Caring for Laminitic mare
By Nicole Brkholzer,
I
Pet Gazette Columnist
t is time for an update
on our laminitic mare
Kaylaa. About two
weeks ago Kaylaa watched
me closely when I pulled up
the trailer to take the geldings
for a ride. Her head hung over
the fence, her nose pointed at
the trailer, clearly she wanted
to come along. I acknowl-
edged it by telling her if she
was ready to head out as well
I would take her the next day
to a local arena where she
could move around in the soft
footing.
The next morning, right
after I placed the breakfast
buckets in the stalls, I opened
the side gate that leads into
her paddock to remove the
overnight manure. Before I
could get the wheelbarrow
through the gate into her pad-
dock Kaylaa had whipped
around in her stall and exited
halfway through the gate to
come out of the paddock.
Whoa, she was ready to go
indeed.
I backed the trailer up to
the barn and led her toward
the back. I figured the step up
into the trailer could cause a
problem…but, Kaylaa took
one deep breath and placed
her first foot on the rubber mat
and quickly pulled up the rest
of her body. Those front feet
were working again.
To keep Kaylaa company
we took the filly along for the
ride.
Kaylaa and Shana trotting along
September 2008
When we got to the arena
my husband and I led both
mares into the arena and tenta-
tively removed the halters.
Kaylaa had not been off the
property for eight months, we
Mindful
Connection
hoped that she would take
care of her body and not
explode in sheer delight over
the new found freedom.
After a good roll both girls
trotted off around the perime-
ter, only to follow it up with a
20 meter circle at a nice can-
ter. We could not believe what
we saw. Ten weeks prior we
were wondering if Kaylaa
would survive this round of
acute founder, and here I was
taking pictures and videos of a
very happy mare cantering in
circles.
As difficult as it has been
over the last months, the learn-
ing has been incredible.
Since I wrote the initial
column a few months back I
have become aware that
according to Dr. Thomas (the
founder of “For the Love of
the Hose”, Chinese Herbs)
“The pituitary adenoma
(tumor) model is extremely
outdated and completely
invalid. The research is very
clear that the actual presence
of pituitary tumor in horses is
so remote that it is a “freak”
occurrence in nature if it does
occur. This notion in horses
came about when the veteri-
nary world started labeling
horses with
”long, thick,
curly coats
that did not
shed out in the
usual time” as
h a v i n g
Cushing’s syndrome; which is
a disease in humans that does
actually involve pituitary
tumors most times. “
According to Kaylaa’s
extensive blood work, her
white blood cells were too low
to effectively ward off infec-
tions, while a form of anemia
affects her peripheral blood
circulation. Since she has dia-
betes this will be an increased
risk for future laminitic epi-
sodes. Therefore she contin-
ues on the Herb program until
we take another blood sample
after 6 months.
While I don’t know if
barefoot trims and Chinese
Herbs will work forever, I do
know that it worked this time.
Nicole Birkholzer, Founder
of Birchwood Farm Equine
Inspired Coaching. Nicole and
her horses facilitate Life
Changing Horse Experiences,
while coaching clients to find
their path and believe in them-
selves.birchwoodfarm.us ~
508.846.5001
Specializing in Morgan Horses
YOUR AD HERE! • Boarding • Training
• Lessons-Adult & Children
• Leases- Show or Pleasure
Join our Horse • Breeding • Sales
Farm Directory! 2008 Riding Camp Dates
• Aug 4-8 • Aug 18-22
Call Robin 25 Center St.
Rte 14.
781-934-2811 Pembroke, Ma.
781-294-7448
ads@petgazette.net
www.Azeedad.com
17
Pet Gazette
 Boarding

Writers Wanted
The Pet Gazette is looking for
freelance contributors.
In particular we are seeking pet fans who
can offer some expertise in a particular
aspect of the pet industry. Examples might
include an attorney knowledgeable about
pet-related legal matters, a doctor or veterinarian
who can inform our readers about pet health
or a wildlife expert who can write about
non-traditional pets and animals.

We cannot offer compensation, but we do

offer recognition and advertising for your
business or organization.

If interested please email Josh Cutler at josh@

clipperpress.com with writing
samples, column ideas and or
background materials.

18
Pet Gazette September 2008
 WonderDogs & Friends
~where training is a positive experience!~

Agility • Rally • Obedience • Puppy

• Behavior Modification •
• Certified Pet Dog Trainer •
Group, Private and In-Home Lessons on
Cape Cod & the South Shore

508-542-1512
www.wonderdogs-and-friends.com

September 2008
Pet Gazette 19
 PET SITTING

ADD A BITE TO
YOUR BUSINESS!
ADVERTISE WITH US!
Ads@petgazette.net
Ocean Bluff Pet Services
Serving Marshfield

Daily Dog Walks

In Your Home
Pet Sitting

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Certified by National Association
of Professional Pet Sitters

Carol Spooner, Sole Proprietor 781-254-7521

oceanbluffpetservices@verizon.net

20
PET GAZETTE September 2008
 VCA Roberts
Animal Hospital
516 Washington St., Hanover, MA
Open 7 Days a Week

“A Lifetime
of Veterinary
Care”
781-826-2306 • www.VCARoberts.com

Sterling
Impression Animal
Rehabilitation Center
of New England
1008 East Street,Walpole, MA 02081
508.668.7946 (SWIM) • fax 508.668.7973
Marjorie C. McMillan, DVM, DACVR, CCRP
Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP

What we do…
Pre-op conditioning – Post-op rehabilitation – Orthotics –
Therapy groups
Weight Management – Conditioning

ADD A BITE TO YOUR BUSINESS!

ADVERTISE WITH US!
Ads@petgazette.net

RESCUE GROUPS

German Shorthaired Pointer

Rescue New England, Inc.
www.gsprescuene.org
888-450-2519

September 2008
PET GAZETTE 21
 The Transformation of Miss Jackie
JACKIE entered the Taunton Shelter in the summer of 2007. She was a sweet
loveable senior female Beagle about 8 years old, and although Beagles are a
popular breed of dog and often adopted very quickly - Jackie was passed over
time and time again because she was extremely over-weight. She was so over-
weight that she even had trouble walking across the street when she first came
into the shelter. Believe it or not, Our "Miss Jackie" weighed 72 pounds! After
some time at the shelter, and being walked by volunteers on a daily basis,
Jackie was able to walk farther and to come up the couple of small stairs in
front of the shelter. Unfortunately, she was still quite obese and was still being
passed by by potential adopters. Sadly, some people even chuckled and made
jokes about her. :( Jackie had sores on her legs from
laying down so much and mostly on the same side.
One day, one of our long-time volunteers, Cheryl, who
has fostered dogs for us before and has adopted sev-
eral dogs from the Taunton Shelter, came to meet
Miss Jackie. It did not take more than a minute for
Cheryl to fall in love with "Miss Jackie" and to want to
try to help her get to a healthy weight and, therefore,
more apt to be adopted. JoAnn Laughlin, from Silver
City Canine Training, recommended that Cheryl put
Jackie on a "Green Bean Diet" - which consists of a
measured amount of dry dog food with green beans
(YES! The kind you buy in a can or frozen at the super market). With Cheryl's
consistent routine of daily walks, the Green Bean Diet, and lots of love and TLC
- Jackie began to lose weight. She was able to walk farther all the time, she was
able to climb stairs, and eventually, she was able to even run around the yard
with her "foster brothers"! Eventually, Cheryl and her family decided to officially
adopt "Miss Jackie" and now, one year later, Jackie weighs approximately 45
pounds and has transformed into a happy, energetic, typical Beagle - enjoying
life to its fullest and loving every minute of every day!
Mass HumanE
781-335-1300 - www.masshumane.org
Barry is a very sweet and quiet 11-year old
black lab mix. His owners could not take him
on their move, so he is now looking for a
home for his later years. Barry is used to
resting his day away and likes the quiet life,
so he would do best in an adult home as the
only pet. He likes to eat, go on short walks
and just being petted. Do you know a senior
who wants some company of an older, gentle
dog with a few age spots? Do you know of
someone who has some love for a sensitive soul? Barry deserves that. Please call
the Mass Humane Society for an appointment to meet Sweet Barry at 781-335-
1300 or email masshumane@aol.com or masshumane@gmail.com
Pumpkin is a one year old spayed female
Calico cat— a very sweet and affectionate
girl with beautiful green eyes. Poor
Pumpkin was found outside in the cold
crying for help and was brought to Mass
Humane. Now all she needs is a real lov-
ing and caring home of her own. She does
OK with one other cat in the household; no
dogs or small toddlers. Up to date on
shots, combo tested negative, micro
chipped and dewormed. If you are inter-
ested in Pumpkin contact Mass Humane
Society 781-335-1300 or email
masshumane@aol.com or masshumane@
gmail.com fa
Put your ad
in The Pet
Gazette!
send to
ads@
petgazette.net
22
Pet Gazette
German Shepherd Rescue of new england
978-443-2202| www.gsrne.org
BUDDY: Happy-go-lucky Buddy is a delightful dog who
wasturned into GSRNE at 10 months old because he was
not getting along with the female Shepherd in the house.
Since then, he’s turned a year old and has made great
strides with other dogs. He currently resides with two
other GSD’s (female and male) and gets along famously.
He does well with other dogs that are calm and respectful
of him, but still has some issues with other dogs occasion-
ally. He knows sit, down, stay, come, wait, heel, drop,
off and leave it. He loves baths, and getting brushed!
STACIA:Stacia is a sassy two-year old black and red
spayed female. She loves to run and run and run and
run! She has a high energy level and will need that energy
to be run off daily in order to keep her (and her new fam-
ily) happy. A good sized fenced-in yard will be in order for
this girl, as well as a feline-free home.. At only two years
of age, Stacia is a sweet adolescent who has plenty of
time to become the well-mannered companion that we
believe she can be.
HOOPER: Everyone who has met Hooper says he is a
beautiful dog with a gentle soul. This 7-year old male
came to us from a very good home. When his former
owner had to be hospitalized, we were called and asked if
GSRNE could find another home for Hooper. He loves
going for walks, rides in the car, and meeting new people.
He's very gentle when greeting adults and children and
likes to lean against you for a back rub. He's been calm
around other dogs, showing an interest and curiosity but
no aggression. He's completely housetrained.
KIRA: Kira, an adult white German Shepherd female
has very nice house manners and loves playing with
toys, especially fetching a ball and returning it for you
to throw again. Kira does quite well with the two cats
in the home. Kira's foster Mom wrote, "Kira is very
sweet. Her whole body wriggles with excitement
when she is happy. In the mornings, she will run to
grab her ball and carry it with her as she goes around
the fenced yard. She'll bark to let you know when
there is a visitor; otherwise, she's very quiet and
content in the house."
A Helping paw inc.
508-743-8406 | www.ahelpingpaw.org
Yoshi is a senior Shitzu, he is lov-
ing and very friendly. Does great
with cats and dogs. He just needs
his own special people to pamper
him.
Simba: is an older adult kitty with a
cute bob-tail. Everyone falls in love
with him but nobody gives him a
home. Won't you please give him your
love.
Cali: and tons of other kittens. Save
money, adopt one of our adorable kit-
tens, they come fully vetted.
September 2008
 People for cats
508-540-5654| www.peopleforcats.org
PIXIE was found in the small vestibule between the
screen door and the front door at the PFC shelter.
Although she was abandoned, she quickly relaxed
and purred as loud as can be. Pixie is a very svelte
orange tiger that probably has some other exotic
heritage beside alley cat. She has a distinctive tri-
angular face, very long legs and a pert tail. Come
and meet her. Pixie is ready for the comforts of a
loving home and in no time you will have found a
devoted and grateful companion.
ELSIE is a 3-year-old loveable short
hair black and white female who is
most happy when she is given atten-
tion and petted. She is a wonderful lady
who was given her name because of
the black cow-like patches she carries
on her body! Her owners surrendered
her because they weren¬πt home
enough to give her the care and atten-
tion she deserves. Elsie is an indoor cat
and is very sweet. She has been spayed,
has all her shots and loves treats.
WILL is a young, adult male cat. He is
a handsome combination of tiger and
Siamese and has been declawed. Will
has a wonderful manner and is a gen-
tle personality. He was found as a
stray, but no one has claimed him. Will
has adapted to life in the busy People
for Cats Shelter and gets along with
the other cats, even those who like to
be "the boss". He has all his shots, is
neutered and is ready to go to live in a
home where he can be part of the family.
MEME (may-me) is a robust 5 year old who
is white and orange. She is enjoying meeting
the other cats and exploring People for Cats
Center. Her owners had to give her up when
they moved to a smaller home. Meme loves
attention, petting and rubbing and is ready
to find a new home. She is spayed, has all
her shots and her bags packed ready to go
to a new home.! Drop in the shelter during
adoption hours - Wednesday from 4:00 p.m.
to 6:00 p.m. or Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If these hours don't work
for you, call our HOT LINE 508-540-5654 to arrange an appointment
Quincy animal shelter
617-376-1340 www.quincyanimalshelter.org
Marco. I'm Jessie. It seems like I've been at the
young, hand- Shelter a long time. I'm a sleek, trim
some, and all black four year old. My favorite
very energet- activities are playing, purring, and
ic! There is occupying warm laps. Having been a
still a lot I stray I know I never want to live like
have to learn that again. I'm FIV+ so would proba-
so my new bly do best as an only cat or a a com-
family should panion to another FIV+ cat. Come by
continue by the Shelter and let me try out your
obedience lap! It could be the start of a long
training. I wonderful relationship.
can be stub-
born so I
need to work on that. Cats are not my
favorites and I'm not sure I'd want to
share you with another dog. Some
folks may hesitate because I'm a
Staffordshire terrier, but Shelter vol-
unteers will tell you that I'm a good
boy who deserves a loving family. My
smile is as wide as the state of MA
(OK a slight exaggeration-but it is a
big smile!) Come meet me. See for
yourself that I would be a loving addi-
tion to your family.
September 2008
Pet Gazette
Brockton Blue Dog Shelter
508-436-6446| www.bbds.org
Rebel – Rebel came to our shelter after being found as a
stray. Since no one has claimed him, he is looking for a
home that can accommodate a lively small dog. With the
typical MinPin personality, Rebel thinks he is a big dog
and wants to let you know what he thinks. Rebel plays
well with other small dogs in our play group. When he is
in his crate , he lets us know when he needs to "potty". The
ideal home for Rebel will be with a family who sets limits
and is willing to train Rebel to be a good family pet. Rebel
is not suitable for young children as he does not like to be "pestered". If you would
like to meet Rebel, please come to our shelter during regular hours.
Texas Ned – Arkansas
Texas Ned was Red –
found as a Arkansas
stray. He is a Red is a
solid pup sweet puppy
weighing 35 lbs with lots of
at about 4 months of age. At his foster puppy ener-
home he loved to play with other puppies gy. He is
and with balls and sticks. He has been about 4 months old and about 15 lbs.
socialized with men and women but not He likes to play games like fetch and
with children. He is a mellow, happy boy tug, and likes playing with other dogs.
and has been introduced to some obedi- He is well socialized around children
ence commands, He will thrive in a fam- and people of all ages. Arkansas Red
ily where he gets lots of play and exercise is looking for a family with lots of time
to help him manage his energy, and to devote to training and socialization.
proper obedience training so he can be a He is at our shelter and ready to meet
dependable family member! families during regular hours.
Brutus - Brutus is a wonderful American Bulldog who wan-
dered into our founder's yard. After many attempts to
reunite him with his owner, we decided that he had been
abandoned and we are trying hard to find him the home he
deserves. He is about 2.5 years old and loves people. He
will let you rub his belly for hours! He is BIG and
HANDSOME and STRONG and will need a family that is
committed to lots of regular exercise. Brutus's ears were
cropped short when he was younger in what we call the
"combat cut" which can make him look and seem intimidating, but his waggle and
wiggle give him away as a big ham and a softy. Because of his size, we recom-
mend a family with no small children as his mere strength and "bull in a china
shop" nature might be too much for small children. We are also looking for a
person who is experience with American Bull dogs or "bully breeds" as he is very
typical of these breeds. (Loyal, bonding, Pushy, and STRONG!, he will also have
the tendency to walk over an owner who is a push over.) He is very good natured
and has proved to be a shelter favorite.
Taunton animal Shelter
508-822-1463
JACKIE: My name is JACKIE, and I am a female
DSH Calico. My owner could not take me with her
when she moved, so she brought me and my two
children Cheekie and Nicki to the shelter. OMG
what just happened to my life? I am so frightened
here that it is hard for me to raise my head to look
at visitors to my cage. A cage-I never thought that
my life would involve living here and not in a
home. I am 7 yrs old and medically up to date so I
am ready to find a home where I will be cherished
forever. Please call the Taunton Shelter at 508-
822-1463 or e-mail ds4paws@hotmail.com
PRINCESS: Approx 9 yrs, Princess is a wonderfully sweet
senior girl. She has just been surrendered to the shelter
due to an illness in the family and does not understand why
she no longer has a home or family. Princess is somewhat
shy of new people, but warms up quickly and would make
a wonderful companion for a person of any age and excel-
lent addition to any family. She is a favorite among many
of the volunteers already! Princess LOVES belly rubs and
putting her head in your lap when you sit on the floor with
her! She seems fine with most other dogs. If you are look-
ing for a loving and faithful companion, who would bring
much love and companionship to your life than look no further. Please call the
Taunton Shelter at 508-822-1463 or e-mail deanie7243@aol.com
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Pet Gazette September 2008
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Pet Gazette September 2008