Present Pets

As soon as our eyes locked, I knew he was the one.  His body was tan with a white stripe running down to his snout.  And his tail curled into a tiny “q.”

My husband thought I was crazy.  But, despite his protesting, I filled out the adoption paperwork.  After all, this dog wasn’t going to be mine.

I was purchasing this gorgeous puppy for my mother.  She just recently lost her Chihuahua due to a careless veterinarian.  And she had been broken hearted ever since Theo (our first Chihuahua) came to live with me and Matt after we got married.

Mom did adopt an adorable mutt, but, her heart was always longing for another Chi.  I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this little guy was perfect for her.  I couldn’t wait to get home and surprise her.

As soon as we got home, I called her over.  When she was seated on the couch, I presented her with the little puppy.  Mom thought we adopted it for ourselves.  Her eyes lit up when I told her the dog was for her.

My dad on the other hand….he blew a fuse.  And told me point blank that the dog was not staying with them and needed to be taken back.  I was devastated.  I couldn’t understand what went wrong.

Looking back, I know that the main problem was that I chose to think with my heart and not my head.  And I believe that many people that try to gift pets are doing the same.  Adopting a pet is a big decision.  One that should not be made for you.

Here are some things that I had not considered:

1.      This dog will need to be neutered.  Do mom and dad have an extra $100 for this procedure?

 

2.      This dog will need yearly check-ups.  Again, could funding be an issue?

 

3.      How will Declan (mom and dad’s first dog) react to the puppy?

 

4.      Adding a second dog will increase the pet food bill.

 

5.      Do mom and dad have time for another dog?

 

6.      Do mom and dad both want another dog?

Luckily, mom convinced dad to keep the puppy now known as Tito.  And dad adores him.  He even gives Tito his empty yogurt cup every morning.

But, not all pups are this fortunate.  Many dogs that are gifted without the potential owner’s consent are taken to the nearest humane society where they are typically euthanized within the week.  No animal deserves this.

I understand how our country has come to think of gifting pets as a good idea.  There are tons of movies and television shows that involve a child receiving a puppy for Christmas.  Who doesn’t want to see their child’s face light up with excitement and joy?  But, what happens when the dog isn’t a puppy anymore?

Not everyone that adopts a pet keeps him/her forever.  Some only want to keep a pet until it is no longer a puppy or kitten.  While others simply become tired of caring for the animal and seek to rid themselves of the “burden” as quickly as possible.  This is how many animals end up on Craig’s List or dumped alongside of a road.

There are other sticky situations to think about as well.  What if you gift a pet to your significant other…and you break up?  Who gets the animal?  This was the case with Trooper.  He was just a puppy when the owner and his wife got a divorce.  The soon-to-be-ex-wife then enlisted the help of her son to tie the puppy to the back of her ex-husband’s pick-up truck. 

Poor little Trooper was dragged down the Interstate in Missouri for over a mile, unbeknownst to the driver.  Thankfully, the staff at the Missouri Humane Society and their partnering vet were able to save his life.  After being rehabilitated, Trooper found a loving forever home.

Sadly, there are quite a few mentally deranged people out in the world that would think nothing of harming an animal like this.  All the more reason to fight the urge to gift a pet.

Additionally, choosing a pet is a very personal decision.  Not everyone’s version of a Chihuahua is the same.  While my mom was delighted with my choice, others may not have been.

While I believe that most people who want to gift a pet have the best of intentions, I feel that this practice should no longer be an option on adoption applications.  It tends to leave the door open for trouble.  If you would like to adopt a pet for a loved one, include them in the process.  Your significant other and pet will thank you for it!

Proper Pet Etiquette

Since I was a little girl, I can remember being around dogs.  My Grandma went through a series of dogs that included a Poodle, Pomeranian and Shih Tzu.  From owning Spots, a Border Collie, I was also used to handling large dogs.

After attending several dog centered events with my husband, we quickly discovered that many parents (both fur and human) and children do not exercise the proper etiquette when around dogs.  So, I would like to share our top etiquette rules that we enforce when out with our pack.

   1. Not all dogs are friendly.  I know that everything most people have learned about dogs comes from television and movies.  With superhero dogs like Lassie and lovable cartoon characters such as Disney’s Bolt, it is easy to see where people are taught this misconception.  Children especially need to be taught that not every dog will want to be petted by a complete stranger.  Some dogs can become quite territorial around their owner as they feel the need to protect him/her.  This does not mean that the dog is vicious.  It simply means that the dog takes his/her role as his owner’s guardian very seriously.

    2. Dogs are not toys.  Being the owners of three Chihuahuas, we know all too well the idea that this breed is nothing more than a living toy.  Again, movies like “Legally Blonde” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” portray these pooches as being nothing more than an accessory that is carried around in his/her owner’s purse while she shops, hits the spa, etc.  Children appear to be drawn to Chihuahuas because of their small size.  I believe that they do not feel intimidated when approaching such dogs.  However, since this breed is known for being tiny in stature and weighing very little, many children like to simply grab at the dog, attempting to pick him/her up without the owner’s permission.  We have also seen cases where children pull on the dog’s ears and tail and poke at its’ nose and eyes.  Please, teach your children that dogs are no different than people.  They deserve respect and should never be manhandled.

   3. Never pet a dog without the owner’s permission.  While this seems like a no brainer to most of us, you would be surprised at how many children come running up to our pack at events like Bark in the Park and the Canine Carnival and just stick their hand in the dog’s face.  One year, we even had an unattended child unzip the flap to our pet stroller while my husband and I were eating lunch!  We have since purchased a set of locks for both the top and bottom flap so that this does not happen again.  As parents, we know our fur babies very well.  We know their quirks and their history.  People typically cannot tell an abused dog when they see one unless it has been burned or beaten.  Theo, our eldest dog, was abused by children and wants nothing to do with them.  He will snarl and bare his teeth (which is why he no longer attends such events).  Domino is very particular about strangers coming into our home, but loves to be petted while on territory that is not his.  While he, too, was abused, he seems to be fine when meeting people outside of the house.  Cole becomes spooked if you approach him from behind.  Again, these are things that you don’t know until you ask.  To avoid a potentially dangerous situation, please, encourage your children to always ask the dog’s owner before attempting to pet him/her.

 

   4. Do not bring retractable leashes to pet events.  I cannot tell you how many events we have attended where this etiquette rule was actually listed on the event poster.  But, despite the rule, some pet owners still insist on bringing this type of leash.  There is a reason why most venues are banning the retractable leash:  people can easily become tangled and fall.  While attending the Celebrate Spot event, one woman had nothing but trouble with her large dog.  He was hooked to a retractable leash and pulled his owner the entire time.  Plus, she did not think to lock the leash so as to limit the dog’s mobility.  Instead, he would race out to the end of the leash and entangle himself in the runners that were passing by.  The woman kept apologizing, but everyone seemed very annoyed.  Not only could this cause injury to other event participants, it could end up choking your dog.  Please, respect the rules of the pet event that you are attending and leave the retractable leash at home.

 

  5. Proper petting techniques should be enforced at all times.  Remember the reference to children simply sticking their hand in a dog’s face?  Unfortunately, this is how many children have approached our dogs.  Matt is always so patient in showing them how to properly pet a dog that you are meeting for the first time.  His rules are:

a.      Ask the dog’s owner if it is okay to pet his/her dog.

b.      Crouch down to the dog’s level so that he/she does not feel that you are trying to dominate or intimidate.

c.       Slowly, place you hand in front of the dog’s nose (your palm should be facing you).

d.      Remain calm and allow the dog to sniff your hand.  He/she is learning a great deal about you from this initial sniffing.

e.      Read the dog’s reaction.  Is he/she wagging her tail?  If so, you may proceed with petting the dog.  If he/she is pulling away or cowering, you should probably not try to pet him/her.

 

   6. Never feed someone else’s dog.  Matt and I have witnessed many a dog being fed chips, hot dogs and even hamburgers!  We choose to listen to our vet and not give our dog’s “people food.”  Some may say, “What’s the harm?”  Our dog, Theo, found the answer to that question.  He began to urinate all over the apartment we were living in.  The truly frightening moment was when he urinated inside a Petsmart and we saw blood.  It turns out that he had developed bladder stones.  Our ex-vet said that there are a variety of things that can cause this.  One of them, eating certain kinds of food.  For years, my mom allowed Theo to do a “pre-wash” of the dinner plates.  His little tummy was exposed to cheese, bread, meatloaf bits and everything in between.  She thought that she was treating him, but in the end, it did more harm than good.  Theo needed surgery to remove the stones and now has to be on a special (and expensive) form of dog food for the rest of his life.  Other dogs have skin conditions that require a special diet as well.  And certain breeds, like Dachshunds, need to be particularly careful about packing on the pounds.  So, even though you are trying to be friendly, do not “treat” someone else’s dog.

I hope that these etiquette tips have been helpful as well as informative.  By following these few simple guidelines, we can all continue to share our love of dogs with each other and the world. 

BSL BS

My husband and I recently spent a fun weekend adoption hoping.  We are not looking to add another addition to the family.  We simply enjoy looking at all of the beautiful animals and donating where we can.

Stray Rescue St. Louis was hosting their annual "The One" event.  All pet adoptions were just $14!  And they do not let people traipse in and out of the areas where the dogs are kept.  Instead, they have a large binder that contains photos and biographies of all of their adoptable dogs.  We were very impressed.  The binder was even organized in alphabetical order by the dogs' first name!

One thing that we did notice was that they seem to specialize in rescuing Pit-bulls.  I am not a breedist by any stretch of the imagination.  I think that it is wonderful that so many Pit-bulls were saved from being euthanized.

However, upon looking at their website, I noticed that it mentioned to check for Missouri's BSLs before adopting.  What the heck is a BSL?  Thankfully, they provided a link to dogsbite.org.  BSL stands for Breed Specific Laws.  Some cities in some states have BSLs in which they tell people which breed of dog (s) they are and are not allowed to have.

I am outraged!  How can someone tell you what breed of dog you are allowed to have?  That is almost as ridiculous as saying that you are only allowed to have a certain type of human.  "Sorry, you can only have boys if you live in Fenton, MO."  Seriously?

But what I find even more appalling are the cities reasons for not allowing Pit-bulls.  Bonne Terre, MO states that "Pit bulls are declared "vicious"".  Hazelwood, MO claims that Pit-bulls are"dangerous".  As for the other cities?  They have simply banned Pit-bulls altogether.

What is even more heartbreaking is the tag line on the top of the dogsbite.org website: "Some dogs don't let go."  Really?  Why are they placing the blame on Pit-bulls and Rottweilers?  These are not the only types of dogs that bite.

In fact, all dogs have the capability of biting.  But, what these "law makers" are failing to look at is why the dogs are biting in the first place.  Was someone on the dog's property that should not have been?  If so, the dog was merely protecting his/her territory and owner.

Was a child involved in a biting incident?  If so, where were the parents?  Why were they not watching the child to make sure that the dog did not become provoked?  Did the child poke and prod and pull on the dog's eyes, ears, nose and tail? For some reason, many parents teach their children that all dogs are friendly and that all dogs love children.  And the worst "lesson" they can teach?  All dogs are play things.

We own a Chihuahua that was abused by children.  How do we know?  He hates kids.  He cannot be anywhere near children between the ages of 4-12.  That's when he becomes snarly and bares his teeth.  Oddly enough, he loves babies.  And he adores meeting new people and dogs.  So, should our town ban Chihuahuas because my dog doesn't like children?  My husband isn't exactly a fan of them either.  Should he be forced to move elsewhere?

I appreciate the following statistic that is listed on the website as well:

"In the 9-year period from 2005 to 2013, pit bulls killed 176 Americans and accounted for 62% of the total recorded deaths (283). Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 74% of these deaths."

In response to this, I would like to know what type of Pit-bulls these were.  I'm not inquiring about their coloration or markings.  What I am in reference to is the heinous act of dog fighting.  The preferred breed among dog fighters is Pit-bulls followed closely by Rottweilers.  Were any of the dogs that were involved in the 176 American deaths former fighting dogs?  Or current fighting dogs?

Unfortunately, fighting is all that some dogs know.  That is how they were raised by their demented "owners."  This is not the dog's fault.  So, why are we so quick to blame the breed?  Why not blame Hollywood for placing such stereotypes in movies?  And how about MTV for their rap videos that feature these dogs as the "protection" of a pimp or drug lord?

These creatures are not naturally vicious.  They are not born that way.  All dogs want is a loving home filled with cuddles, food and clean water.  They want to love and be loved.

Someone is teaching these dogs to be overly aggressive. We need to take a stand and prosecute animal abusers to the fullest extend of the law.  There needs to be a public record of these abusers, just as there is one for rapists and child molesters.

BSLs are not helping these dogs.  In fact, they are aiding in quickly sending them to a shelter where they will be euthanized due to lack of space.  Please, speak to your local legislature about getting these horrific "rulings" overturned.  We need to be a voice for the voiceless.

An Act of Dog Project

I love to connect with people via social media and blogs.  As I was perusing people on LinkedIn, I came across Mark Barone.  This man has started a phenomenal project called "An Act of Dog."

Barone is creating a memorial for dogs that have been euthanized in shelters simply because their "time was up."  He will be traveling across the United States and hand-painting 5,500 dog portraits.  Why 5,500?  This is the number of dogs that are euthanized daily. 

I could not believe the staggering number!  How is it possible that we, as human beings, are just sitting idly by while this murdering rampage continues?  We need to make a change!

The purpose of Barone's project is to spread awareness about the No Kill Solution.  Barone also has ideas about specific programs that can be incorporated into any shelter that will put an end to the senseless killings.  He is in hopes that all shelters in the United States will become No Kill.  

Each dog featured in the project is an actual dog that was euthanized at a shelter in the United States.  The paintings are truly moving as Barone captures the pain and heartbreak that the dogs must have felt from being abandoned in a cold, cruel shelter.  He believes that each dog has a story to tell and he will use his brush and paints to give a voice to the voiceless.

When the project is completed, it will be half the size of the Sistine Chapel!  And 100% of the money that is raised from the project will go towards reforming our shelters and saving all our companion animals.  The project is also being made into a documentary by PBS.

To watch Barone at work, visit:  https://vimeo.com/77233186

To learn more about the "An Act of Dog" project, please visit:  www.anactofdog.org.  You will also find links to their Facebook and twitter pages as well as ways to help turn your local animal shelter into a No Kill shelter.

Please, join us in the fight to help reform our shelters so that they can become just that:  shelter to an abandoned animal.

Abominable Adoptions

I fell in love from the moment I saw him.  His name was Cliff.  He didn’t look like most cats.  Cliff had a cleft palette!

Matt and I had made the mistake of going to Petsmart to purchase food for our cat, Miracle.  Little did we know that this day was part of the National Adopt-a-thon weekend.  Bad news for an animal lover like me.

While I was looking at the dogs, my husband gravitated toward the cats.  That’s when he discovered Cliff.  Of course, I wanted him.  However, his adoption fee was $100.  Matt said that we would need to think about it, and we left.

That night, I e-mailed the rescue agency inquiring about Cliff.  I received a very curt response the next day stating that Cliff had been adopted…that very day that we were there.  I was heartbroken, but, also a bit angered.

Adoption events, like the Adopt-a-thons, are great, in theory.  I love the idea of several rescue groups coming together to help their furry friends find forever homes.  But, some use high pressure “sales” techniques.

The idea of “better buy it while you see it” is NOT the way that animals should be adopted out.  Adding a fur baby to the family is a huge decision.  It requires careful thought and consideration.  Which is what Matt and I were trying to do.

Adopters need to think about the following:

1.      Why does he/she want the pet?

2.       Do they have the money to support said pet (i.e. vet visits, food, crate, pet bed, etc.)?

3.       Will the new addition get along well with other pets/children?

4.       Do they have the time to devote to the new pet?

I fear that many of these adoption events create the tendency to impulse buy.  And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to adopt the cute little puppy that is wagging its’ tail and giving you kisses?  But, people need to see beyond the cute and actually think about the pet’s well being.

My husband and I had a brief stint as a foster home for a local rescue agency.  I remember a young couple coming in and adopting a Bulldog puppy.  It was the cutest little thing and got along great with their other dog that they were smart enough to bring with them.  When they left, they were all smiles and the puppy was the happiest of them all.

Two hours later, the couple was back returning the puppy!  They said that they “didn’t realize how much work it would be” to take care of a puppy.  Seriously?  A puppy is the equivalent of a human baby and you didn’t stop and think that he/she might require more attention than your already established adult dog?  

I truly don’t believe that the couple was stupid.  I think that they were lazy.  They don’t want to take the time to train the puppy.  What they were looking for was another dog that was already potty trained, had good manners and would get along with their dog.  Dream on!  No dog is perfect.  Each one of my fur babies has a quirk or two.  But, you work WITH the dog to help him/her be the best that they can be (as long as the behavior isn’t extreme aggression).

Another local rescue group is having a February special.  All adoptions are just $14 for the first two weeks in February.  This includes shots and spaying/neutering.  What a great deal!  However, my fear is that some cruel intentioned people will “stock up” on these “cheap” pets and end up torturing them. Or put them on Craig’s List and try to sell them for a higher price to make some quick cash.  While I see the agency’s intention behind the event, I just feel that this will attract the wrong crowd.

Many of the animals that are currently in shelters and with rescue groups have had a very rough life.  Some have been abused, others have been over bred, while still others have never even seen the outside world.  These creatures need to be adopted to loving homes that will keep them forever, not just until they cease to be a puppy/kitten.  

I feel that shelters and rescue agencies need to be more strict in their adoption policies and procedures.  Simply filling out an adoption application and paying the fee is not enough.  Background checks and home visits should be required.  After all, the animals' happiness and lives depend upon their adopter.

Vicious Vets

I will never forget the day that my very first dog, Spots, passed away.  He was the most beautiful Border Collie in the world.  His fur was black and white and his tail curled in a “Q” like the top of a Dairy Queen ice cream cone.

What really bothers me is the fact the he could have, quite possibly, been saved.  It was summer time and my parents had noticed that Spots was panting way more than usual.  He was an outside dog and we made sure to always keep his water bowl filled.  

Spots also began to lie around.  Very unusual for how active of a pooch he was.  One particularly hot day, we knew something was wrong because he refused to get up off of his side.  My mom raced to the phone and called his vet.  It was very early in the morning, but, the vet had listed on his card that he is “on call” for emergencies.

I suppose he didn’t think that this was one of those times.  He told us to come in at 7:00 a.m., which is when his practice opens normally.  That agitated me.  This is an emergency.  How could he be so…cold?  As it turns out, Spots had a rare form of lymphoma where his white blood cells were attacking themselves.  My parents paid $500 for an IV bag loaded with medicine.  It was Spots’ only hope.

Sadly, we lost Spots later that day.  The vet had made some sort of comment about “catching it earlier.”  Something about how maybe he could have survived.  Really?  Then why did he refuse to make a house call?  Spots could have had his IV 3 hours earlier and may have even lived….

Interestingly enough, this same vet was taking care of my grandmother’s Pomeranian, Frills.  He had recommended that Frills have her teeth cleaned.  My grandma, God love her, will listen to anyone wearing a name tag.  So, she made the appointment.

As I rounded the bend coming home from college on the day of the appointment, I noticed that not only was mom’s car in the driveway, but grandma’s as well.  “Uh-oh,” I thought.  “Something must be wrong.”  Sure enough, the idiotic vet gave Frills too much gas and she died.  To this day, everyone in my family refuses to get their dogs’ teeth cleaned.  And I think you can see why.

Flash forward to 2010.  My husband and I had barely been married a year when we decided to get another dog.  Adriel, our little Chihuahua therapy dog, came into our lives and we couldn’t have been happier.  One day, I came home from work to find her literally shaking uncontrollably on the floor.

Immediately, I grabbed my cell phone and called the other vet in town (who had been seeing Theo for 2 years).  

The young, teenage girl answered the phone and I did my best to calmly and quickly explain the situation.  “I think my dog is having a seizure,” I said.

“I’m sorry, but we’re booked today,” was the reply.

I was stunned.  “Booked?”  Seriously?  I decided to try again.

“Ma’am, I think my dog is having a seizure.  Can’t the doctor see her now?”

“No, we are booked.  You can take her to Hawthorne Animal Hospital.”

I hung up on her.  I couldn’t help it.  I thought my dog was dying and she tells me the doctor can’t help her and that I should drive an hour to the animal hospital, hoping that Adriel doesn’t die on the way there.  Nice!

I called my mother in tears.  Luckily, she is a teacher and one of her student’s mothers is a vet at Belleville Animal Clinic.  She called the clinic and explained the situation.  Their response, “Come right over!”

Thankfully, Adriel was not having a seizure.  Her white blood cell count was a bit high and it was determined that she had a cold, which would explain the shaking.  The next day, I marched myself in to our previous vet’s office and demanded that my dog’s records be transferred to Belleville Animal Clinic.  Honestly, it was the best decision we have ever made.

I just wish that my mom would have done the same.  After I got married and moved out, Theo, the family dog, came with me.  Mom was suffering from empty nest syndrome so, she and dad adopted a purebred Chihuahua from a breeder.  While I am not a fan of breeders, as my loyal readers know, this little guy was super cute.  

My mom named him Popi.  Yes, like on Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  When Popi was old enough, mom made the appointment to have him neutered.  That’s when I received the call at work.  This incredibly stupid vet also gave Popi too much gas.  Now, he was having seizures every 10 minutes.  He was kicking his legs like crazy.  He needed help and fast!

I didn’t know there was such a thing as a doggie ambulance, but, there is.  He was whisked away to an animal hospital, where my brokenhearted father worried and waited.  Mom was still at school teaching and couldn’t just up and leave her class.

The doctors and nurses at the hospital were wonderful, according to my dad.  They did everything that they could to try to stop the seizures.  They also informed dad that Popi may not be the same dog if he did survive since his brain had taken such a beating.

Popi did not survive.  But, what happened next will absolutely enrage you:  THE VET CHARGED MOM FOR THE NEUTERING SURGERY!  Yes, down to the last penny.  How could he be such a cold, heartless murderer?  He killed mom and dad’s dog, but he thinks he deserves to be paid?  For what?  His incompetence?

I wanted so badly for my parents to sue him.  And I am not the vengeful, revenge seeking type.  However, not only did this man ruin my parents’ happiness, he MURDERED their dog and wanted money to boot!  I wanted (and still want) this man to get shut down.  He does not care about animals or the lives of the animals’ owners.

Theo actually had bladder surgery from this same vet.  I thank God every day that Theo survived. 

How can vets like this be allowed to practice?  These are not just dogs and cats that they are treating.  These are furry family members.  They deserve to receive the same exceptional care that a human child would.

I hope that none of you have experienced anything as horrible as the above situations.  My purpose behind writing this post is to encourage ALL pet owners to do your research before selecting a vet.  Just because a vet’s location is convenient, does not mean that it is the best choice. 

 I also hope that if you have had a similar experience that you will stand up and fight for justice for these voiceless creatures.  Unlike my mom, who didn’t want to “make waves” in our small town, I want everyone to rally and petition vicious vets wherever they may be.

These “doctors” need to be shut down.  No one should have to suffer the pain and emotional trauma that these situations produced.  Especially not the animals.