Prohibited Pets

My husband and I love to attend charity walks.  We have many that are close to our hearts.  Naturally, we also love to take our fur babies with us.  Typically, we are the “talk of the walk,” so to speak.  It is a bit unusual to see five dogs in a huge pet stroller.

 

While double checking the itinerary for PurpleStride 2013, there was a large note at the bottom of the screen in bold print.  It read:  Pets are prohibited at all Pancreatic Cancer Action Network events.

 

What?  We have been attending PurpleStride for 3 years and have taken our dogs for 2. The volunteers used to hand out purple bandannas specifically for dogs.  So, why the sudden ban on pooches? 

 

We have been to enough dog events over the years to realize that not everyone pays attention to their dogs the way that we do.  My husband and I bring a backpack filled with items that we might need:  doggie sun screen, treats, Paw Stick, water bottle with drinking tray, etc.  But, many in attendance place their dog (s) on a long leash and hardly watch what they are doing.  We have heard and seen several dog fights.  On the other hand, we have seen very responsible owners that have the leash/muzzle combo on their pooches and who NEVER leave them unattended.

 

I realize that the problem is not just whether or not the dog owner (s) are responsible.  A great deal of it has to do with children.  This also bleed into the responsible parent issue.  Allow me to share our very scary child/dog incident:

 

Matt and I had loaded the fur babies into the stroller and were happily walking around Cricket Park for the Missouri Humane Society’s annual Bark in the Park event.  We loved looking at all of the dogs and vendors.  It was almost time for the costume contest, so we decided to grab a seat early and start dressing up our babies.  Once the babies were dressed and placed back in their stroller, Matt and I began to talk.  We were not looking at the stroller because we were sitting right next to it and knew that we had it zipped shut.

 

That’s when we heard the sound of a zipper.  I whipped my head around in time to see a little boy opening the front zipper to the stroller to get at our dogs.  Matt jumped up and told the boy, “No!” and quickly closed the flap.  Where were this boy’s parents?  How could you leave your child unattended in an area that is filled with dogs?  Dogs that you don’t know.  Big dogs that could easily hurt a small child.

 

I was shocked and scared.  Our dogs are very well behaved, but, they have all been abused.  Theo was even abused by children.  But, try telling that to an angry parent whose child has just been bitten by said dog.  Do you really think that they will want to hear that it is their fault for not watching their child?  Of course not!  The dog is demented and needs to be euthanized!

 

Thankfully, none of that happened.  We calmly explained to the boy that he needs to ask to pet one of our dogs and we will be sure to pick out our friendliest pooch.  That is when Matt came up with a great idea.  He purchased a small padlock that fits very nicely through the bottom two zipper holes.  When we head to an event, the front flap stays zipped and locked, leaving only the flap on top to contend with.  And I doubt that there is a toddler tall enough to reach the top of the stroller.

 

That being said, flash forward to PurpleStride.  We sadly left our dogs at home and made the journey to Forest Park.  When we met up with the rest of our team, I noticed something:  THERE WERE DOGS PRESENT!  I was furious!  Had the e-mail been wrong?  Had I left my dogs behind for no reason?  That’s when I saw the sign, bold as brass on one of the event gates: NO PETS ALLOWED (SERVICES DOGS ACCEPTED).  Let me tell you, these dogs were definitely NOT service dogs!  And having a certified therapy dog, I know what types of identification that service dogs need to have:  special tags, special vests with service dog patches, etc.

 

And none of the owners were told that their dogs could not stay!  What gives?  If you are going to make a rule, then you need to be fair across the board and say, “I’m sorry, not pets allowed.”  It was on the e-mail that all participants received.  What I wonder is if the number of dogs comes into question.  If I would have just brought Penny, would the volunteers have said anything to me?  You can rest assured that if I rolled up with all five in the stroller, I would have been told to leave.

 

While I will continue to support pancreatic cancer research, I will forever be disenchanted with the enforcement of rules and policies at the PurpleStride event.  Hopefully, more dog owners will stand up and voice their unhappiness as well.

Penny Turns Two

Penny Eats her Birthday Cookie

Little Dog On The Prairie

Would you have guessed that underneath this covered wagon is a cute, female doxie with a wheel chair??  Too cute!

Branded Beagles

While checking my daily Facebook new feed, I discovered something horrific.  What I thought was going to be a cute video of Beagles playing in the grass turned out to be one of the saddest videos that I have ever seen.

 

A group of Beagles was recently rescued from a  United States laboratory.  A laboratory!  They each had a federal government i.d. number tattooed behind their ears!

 

I have never been more ashamed to be an American.  I remember occasionally reading the label on my make-up and noticing that it said, “We do not test our product on animals.”  Quite honestly, I thought it was a government regulation.

 

Then I find out that it is our government that is allowing this heinous behavior.  Why would you ever test anything on an animal?  Especially a dog!  While I love all animals, great and small, I do not have a problem with testing medical treatments on rats.  Probably because they are, well…rats!

 

But dogs?  They are meant to be companions.  The one friend that you can always count on to love you unconditionally.  They are NOT science experiments!

 

What also greatly disturbs me is that this is reminiscent of the Holocaust.  The Jewish people in Germany were tattooed with i.d. numbers.  Inhumane “experiments” were conducted on them as well.  If we, as the United States of America, thought this was bad enough to go to war over, why are we doing the exact same thing only to our animal population?

 

Thankfully, none of the Beagles appear to be harmed.  None have any body parts missing or “altered.”  But these poor pups first experience with humans will haunt them forever.

 

I cried as I watched the rescue group let the dogs outside for the first time in their lives.  At first, they huddled in the back of their crates.  Why in the world should they trust humans?  I’m sure that they probably thought another “test” was about to be inflicted upon them.

 

Slowly, but surely, one brave Beagle stepped out onto the grass.  Seeing that their fellow friend was safe, the other dogs quickly followed suit.  The Beagles finally had their freedom.

 

Freedom.  We, as Americans, pride ourselves on having this luxury.  Yet, we seem to deny freedom to so many.  And now, we are subjecting defenseless animals to life in a box.

 

My dog, Adriel, was rescued from a breeder where she had been kept in a cage her entire life.  Due to being on the cage flooring, she never developed her leg muscles.  Adriel cannot jump like other dogs.  I have to pick her up and place her on the couch, bed, etc.

 

Domino, my Blue Merle, was an owner return.  His previous owner was an older woman that had two other dogs, whom she confined to a small space.  When I first brought him home, he would just run in tight, small circles.  This is called “circling.”  Because he had been in such a small space, he was not used to being able to have room to roam.  He, like the Beagles, had never been outside.

 

I cannot fathom why our government is taking part in this despicable process.  The sickening thing is that I am sure money is involved. At least there are some rescue agencies out there who are not afraid to fight for those that do not have a voice. 

 

To see the Beagles enjoying their first taste of freedom, click on the following link:  http://cutedogpix.com/savedbeagles/

Brazen Breedism

My husband and I love to attend dog events.  We love to show off our fur babies.  But, no matter which event we attend, we always run into the same issue:  breedism.

 

Yes, I have created my own word for this horrible act.  Breedism is the act of judging a dog based solely upon the dog’s breed.  Often, the basis for this judgment stems from a stereotype about that specific breed.

 

Case in point, we own three Chihuahuas.  When we bring our dogs to events, like Bark in the Park, people always ask us the breed of our dogs.  When we tell them “Chihuahua,” we hear, “I could never have one of those.  Aren’t they always yapping?”  Or my personal favorite, “They like to bite ankles, don’t they?”

 

Matt and I have trained our dogs to not bark excessively.  And Theo, Adriel and Domino have never bitten a single ankle.  So, why do Chihuahuas get such a bad rap?

 

Perhaps, people have seen too many video clips on “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”  Maybe they have come to know a Chihuahua who is “yappy.”  But, this does not mean that ALL Chihuahuas behave in such a manner.

 

But, Chihuahuas get off easy.  I truly feel sorry for the Pit Bulls.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say, “You know those Pit Bulls.”  And honestly, I just want to punch these people in the face.

 

Dogs are born into this world as creatures that are set to do one thing:  love unconditionally.  Unfortunately, some dogs are often born into abusive homes, raised by cruel breeders or adopted out to a less than desirable person.  None of this has anything to do with the dog’s actual breed.

 

Pit Bulls tend to be viewed as guard dogs.  Countless movies have shown them to be the protection of mob bosses and gang leaders.  Not a proper portrait of the breed.  Is it any wonder that people have such a distorted perception of these poor pooches?

 

So, ignorant people who refuse to do research and learn base their judgments upon these stereotypes.  Whether Hollywood creates these or not, we are more than happy to pass them on.  To our family, our community, our children.

 

Is it any wonder that some children are absolutely terrified of dogs?  While I am not suggesting that children be raised to think that every dog is a sweet puppy (we have had children try to stick their hands in our dog stroller), but they should not be made to believe that all dogs are evil and out to eat them.

 

The deplorable conditions that Pit Bulls have faced are the very reason why some have become aggressive.  This actually happened to my Chihuahua, Theo.  He was abused by his previous owners to the point where no one in animal control could handle him.  He was placed in his “cell” where he snarled and snapped at anyone who came near him.  Needless to say, he was quickly scheduled to be euthanized.  He was seen as “dangerous.”

 

But, one woman had the courage to see behind the barred teeth and constant growling.  She saw what no one else could see:  Theo’s pain.  So, this woman sat with Theo for 2 hours, talking calmly to him, trying to gain his trust.  Within that time, Theo allowed the woman to pet him.  The staff at the Humane Society were amazed.

 

Theo’s life was saved all because one woman took the time to get to know Theo.  He was not a bad dog.  He had just been the victim of an abusive family.  And now, he is the best trained dog that I own.  He knows how to sit, stay, leave it, and shake with both paws (he’ll switch paws when you say, “Switch!”).  Theo loves his other fur siblings and meeting new people.  Unfortunately, he is still not a fan of children (I wonder why).

 

Dogs will adapt to their environment.  If they are being threatened or beaten on a daily basis, chances are pretty high that they will become aggressive.  This is purely a defense mechanism.  If you were being abused every day, would you just sit there and take it or would you eventually find the strength to fight back?  How can people blame these creatures for fighting for their lives?

 

How many Pit Bulls and other dogs have died needlessly because of sweeping generalizations?  Too many than I care to think about.    This cycle cannot continue.

 

What if one human being served as the representation for all human kind?  Would this person place humans in a positive or negative light?  How can we be judged based upon the actions of one person?

 

It is bad enough that racism still exists in 2013, but to extend this cruel behavior to defenseless dogs?  Something needs to be done to erase these damaging stereotypes from existence.  People need to use the technology that runs rampant throughout the nation to educate themselves about dogs and their behaviors instead of playing Candy Crush.

Festive Fall

It’s that time of year again!  Dog events are popping up on calendars all across the country.  Fall is the perfect time to parade your pooch in the great outdoors.  The leaves on the trees are beginning to turn beautiful colors, the air has a slight chill in the morning that turns into a lovely breeze in the afternoon.  What could be better?

 

Here are a few of the dog-centered events that are occurring in my area:

 

Races for Rescues

 

This event is hosted by the Belleville Area Humane Society and is being held at Belleville West High School.  There will be a 5k run and fun walk for you and your furry friends.  The run/walk beings at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 6th.  Entry fee is $20 and includes a t-shirt.

The top 3 runners in each 5k age division will receive medals.  The top overall winners in the male and female divisions will receive trophies.  And new for 2013, you can run with your dog and receive a prize!  There are three categories:  Small - 25 lbs or less, Med - 26-50 lbs and Large - 51+ lbs.

All proceeds from the run benefit the Belleville Area Humane Society.  If you have any questions, e-mail: raceforrescues@gmail.com or call Shelly at: (618) 410-6376.

 

 

Canine Carnival

 

Looking for a carnival for your dog?  You have found it!  This event will be  held at Tilles Park in Ladue in St. Louis, Missouri on October 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The day is filled games, contests, food and fun!  Owners can have their pooch’s paw dipped in dog-friendly paint and then placed on their official Canine Carnival t-shirt to create a one-of-a-kind memento of your special day together.  Games are set up throughout the park for your dog to play and win prizes!  One of my fur babies, Theo, won a big box of dog treats.  He was very excited!  There are also performances by the Purina Incredible Dog Team.  And don’t forget to sign your pet up for one of the many contests such as:  Best Dressed, Best Kiss, and Best Trick!  Vendors are also on hand selling everything from custom collars to personally designed dog clothes.  On site adoptions are also offered.

 

All proceeds from this event benefit the APA (Animal Protective Association of Missouri).  Head to www.apamo.org to learn more!

 

 

Celebrate Spot

 

This event is very special, indeed.  Not only does it showcase your wonderful dogs, but it also supports breast cancer research!  The event will be held on October 13th in the Upper Muny Parking Lot in St. Louis, Missouri.  The morning kicks off with a 5k walk beginning a 9:00 a.m. and a 1 mile walk beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Once the walks have concluded, everyone heads over to the food tent to receive their FREE lunch.  Then, the games begin!  Every year, one special dog is honored for helping his/her master through their difficult battle with cancer.  While emotionally charged, the event is fun for the whole family.  Doggie yoga is offered before and after the walk, along with a station to create your very own custom collar for your dog.  And don’t forget to bring a costume for the Best Dressed event.  My little Adriel won in 2012 for being…what else?  An angel!  

Don’t miss this year’s first ever First American Fido competition!  Only 12 dogs will be selected to compete for the title of American Fido.  Head on over to the Celebrate Spot Facebook page to cast your vote!  I would LOVE it if you would vote for my special three-legged dog, Penny!  She is going to be performing her amazing trick of jumping over a 3 foot pet gate.

 

All proceeds from this event benefit ywbcp & Director's Discovery Fund, Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes Jewish Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

 

St. Louis Pet Expo 2013

 

This annual event is for animal lovers everywhere!  Dogs, cats and bunnies are all allowed into this pet and family friendly indoor expo.  The Pet Expo is the largest expo for everything pets.  More than 150 exhibitors are lined up wall to wall and include anything that you can think of!  Vets and animal chiropractors are also on hand to answer any of your questions.  

This year, Shorty Rossi and his dog Hercules from "Pit Boss" will be at the expo!  Onsite adoptions are also offered along with your chance to donate to animal rescue agencies from throughout the area.

The expo will be held on  October 26th at from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Convention Center.  Visit http://www.stlpetexpo.com/ to learn more!

 

 

 

Running Scared into Halloween

 

The Coalition for Animal Rescue and Education (C.A.R.E.) is hosting its annual benefit - Run for Rescues.  The event offers a 5k run as well as a 1 mile fun run.  Registration is $20 per person.  Prizes will be offered for the Best Runner Costume and Best Dressed Companion Dog or Cat.

This event kicks off at 9:00 a.m. at the Arnold City Park on Bradley Road in Arnold, Missouri.  To register, visit: https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=19642

All proceeds benefit homeless and abandoned animals.

 

 

 

So, leash up your pooches and head to one of these pawesome events!

Dog Park Petition

My husband and I attended a very unique event in March.  It was the St. Louis Senior Dog Project Reunion.  This event encouraged anyone who had adopted a dog from this organization to come out and enjoy a day of fun at one of the local dog parks.  And we did exactly that.

 

The dog park was in a nice, quiet part of the neighborhood.  It was beautifully landscaped and had a double gated entry to ensure the safety of the its dogs.  There was a water spigot at one end of the park along with four plastic water bowls.  If your pooch was parched, you could simply turn on the faucet and your dog could drink to his/her heart’s content.

 

Adriel (one of our fur babies) loved running from one end of the park to the other.  She played with little dogs, big dogs and soaked up as many belly rubs from the other dog owners as she could.  It was a truly wonderful day.

 

That is when I realized that my town needs a dog park.  Every day on my way home from work, I see at least one person walking a dog.  On the weekend, that number easily doubles.  But, they are doing just that:  Walking on the same sidewalk on the same path in the same direction as always.  While I love walking my dogs, I have to admit, that would get a little boring.

 

Plus, the sidewalks run parallel on either side of main street.  Why is this a problem?  One of my dogs, Cole, is afraid of cars.  He was found as a wandering stray in St. Louis by the St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  While on a walk one evening, I could not believe how “bad” he was behaving.  He refused to walk on the sidewalk closest to the street and ended up pacing (tangling me up in his leash) whenever a particularly noisy car or motorcycle went by.  That’s when my husband gently reminded me, “He was a stray.  Remember?  He probably does not feel safe around cars.”

 

How could I have been so foolish?  If I had been in Cole’s situation, I’m sure that I would have reacted exactly the same way.  The goal as a stray is to stay alive.  And avoiding cars is a key way to achieve that.

 

So, I began to think, where else could we take our dogs so that they can romp around in the fresh air?  We are blessed with a large back yard, but it would be nice to interact with other fellow dog lovers.  And Theo does not like having other dogs on his territory.

Yes, there are other dog parks in the area.  However, the park in Belleville requires that you be a resident of the city and pay a membership fee.  There is even a keypad on the gate of the dog park so that only members can get in.   In O'Fallon, there is a very lovely dog park, but it is a very long drive to get to the park location.  Plus, the sign indicates that the city would like you to be a resident as well to use the park, although it is free.

That left me with the same question:  Where can we take our dogs to safely play and interact with other dogs?

 

I decided then and there that I would do something about this.  Surely, Cole is not the only dog in my town that feels this way.  And truth be told, I am not a fan of walking my fur babies by the street.  I'm sure that other Freeburg residents do not like the idea of having to drive for 25 minutes to get to the park in O'Fallon and then walk for another 15 before actually arriving at the park.

Building a dog park in Freeburg would be the perfect solution.  Adding one to the large park that is already in existence would be easy.

 

But, I have learned that there is much planning that goes into a project like this.  Thanks to the American Kennel Club, I had a place to start.  Their pamphlet, “Establishing a Dog Park in Your Community” was very informative and laid out all of the steps that I need to take to  (hopefully) make the park a reality.

 

I started small by asking my friends on Facebook if they liked the idea of a dog park in town and they loved it!  I then went out to the local park with my husband and took pictures of possible locations for the park.  Now, I am currently creating a Powerpoint presentation (24 slides and counting!) to someday, present to the Village Board.

 

In the next few weeks, I will be posting a notice in the local newspaper, handing out fliers to the local vets and groomers and be staging a live petition drive at various locations throughout the city.  But, I wondered, how would I get signatures from my friends that used to live in Freeburg, but have since moved away?  Luckily, I stumbled upon the www.change.org  website.  This website allows you to begin and electronic petition for your cause.  It will even track how many signatures you obtain.  Plus, you can personalize your cause by adding photos and updates about the project.

 

I would love your support!  Please click on the following link to sign the virtual petition:

https://www.change.org/petitions/i-want-to-petition-the-freeburg-village-board-to-want-to-build-a-dog-park-in-freeburg

 

So, I will press on for now!  That’s one small step for man, and one huge leap for our four-legged friends!