Year End

2017 has flown by!  When I was a child, I couldn’t wait for my birthday so that I could be another year older (because, of course, everyone knew that adults had all the fun).  Little did I know that it was the other way around.  Getting older isn’t so bad, though.  At each year end, you get to look back on your past year to see the joys and also the mistakes you’ve made.

I look back through the filter of the happiness and health of my human family as well as my four legged one.  It's been a healthy year for my human family, not so much for my dogs.  Before this year even began, Emma developed a large cataract at only the age of three which had to be dealt with.  She was too young and full of life to not let her absorb all of life’s beauty.  Then, this summer, Kiowa broke his rear leg.  Another trip to a specialist and then a long recuperation for him.  Both of our kids are well and happy, now.  The only thing that still stings a bit is our pocketbooks, but in retrospect, it is a minor sting.

When I talk to people who live alone, and I suggest a dog for company, they sometimes look at the negatives.  They’re obligated to walk the dog, and feed it.  Then, there’s the dog hair, and the training (although by the behavior of some dogs, that is last on the list if at all).  I tend to think of the positives - the unquestioning love they give, the endless doggy antics that keep laughter echoing, their soulful company when feeling alone or abandoned by the world.  These are the gifts they share unselfishly with humans.  How lucky we are to have a couple of these blessed creatures, not just at Christmas, but all through the year. 

I look forward to 2018, and to all the possibilities it may bring.  I wish all of you health and happiness, and the boldness to promote greyhound rescue whenever the opportunity arises.  Keep espousing the benefits of adoption.  You'll never know whose mind you'll change.

   Merry Christmas    

   Happy Dog Year!!

  

To Take or Leave

                                                                                Travel to learn,

                                                                                              Travel to teach,

                                                                                                            Spreading the word

                                                                                                                              is in our reach.

We recently dropped our four-legged kids off at their doggy Pet Resort for Thanksgiving.  They didn’t get turkey with all the trimmings, but they still had loads of fun.  As we gave them over to their caretakers, they didn't even bother to watch us leave.  They were too enthralled with all the different doggy smells to notice.  I often wonder what they think when they realize we aren’t there anymore. 

Leaving the dogs behind when we can't take them with us always makes me feel a bit guilty. When my husband and I worked, the dogs knew the routine.  They understood the schedule and adapted.  Since our retirement, our dogs have a free wheeling schedule because we have no schedule. We do follow a morning routine, but after that all bets are off.  They like to hang with us during the day, and if we travel and can take them, they enjoy that too.  Dogs are so resilient that a small change in routine doesn’t throw them off too much.  I think it bothers me more than it bothers them when we have to leave them.

Actually, we don't leave them behind that much.  We like to bring Kiowa and Emma with us when we travel, but we only bring them when invited to dog friendly homes.  Our friends have a German Shorthair and a Weimaraner who we laughingly call our dogs' cousins.  When we visit, we bring our dogs.  It’s always funny observing their doggy interaction as our guys grab their hosts’ beds.  Their friends don’t seem to mind much since they jump up to recline comfortably on the furniture. They get along really well, and when all four are sitting waiting for a biscuit, it is quite the picture.

For Christmas this year, we will travel to Williamsburg with our four legged companions.  Some of you may think we are over the edge (and maybe that's true), but our dogs are part of the family.  They love to go to new places and meet new people who always make a fuss over them.  

When I speak to dog lovers who no longer have one, they say they enjoy the freedom to travel without worrying about their pets.  It would be easier not thinking about where the dogs will stay or the monetary considerations involved.  But to live without our greyhounds wouldn’t be a possibility for us.  They remain part of our lives and mission.  Spreading the word and showing others their loving ways cause our travel and our mission to coincide.  Our dogs are well behaved and people are amazed at their demeanor and sweetness.  We are happy to share that with them.

If you do not travel with your greyts, consider doing so.  You will make new friends and enjoy the dogs' company as well.  Start by taking them to a Greyhound Reunion like Gettysburg or Dewey Beach in Delaware.  (Greyhound reunions pop up all over the country, so you can find one near you.)  It will be great practice, and your guys will really enjoy sniffing all the butts.  Then you can graduate to other trip locations.  It may take a bit more effort to find a good place to stay, but it is well worth it.  Have fun with your greyhounds, and let them enjoy all the fuss they create.  

Celebration Sanctuary

Emma
 By aBrown

                                                                                 

                                                                                          Guardians of greyhounds,
                                                                                                  be aware this season
                                                                                                        of holiday dangers
                                                                                                              that lurk beyond reason.  

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The holidays… a time of excitement and preparation for many of us.   Halloween with costumes, candy, and reverie, Thanksgiving’s foods, family get-togethers, and thankfulness, and finally Christmas, culminating all of our previous celebrations with joy.  We rush around completing our to-do lists in this short time of a few months, as our pets watch in confusion.

Although our dogs see and feel our excitement, they have no concept of why.   We dress them up to join us in our Halloween diversions not asking them of their preference.  At Thanksgiving, good intentioned relatives may feed them foods (dogs are always hungry) that aren’t healthy or wise for them to consume.  And at Christmas, decorations can pose their own series of complications.  Knowing how much we love our animals, it is a good time to think about the dangers that lurk for them at this fun and joyous time of year.  Following that thought, a reminder of some simple ways we can protect our fur kids during this holiday season might be helpful.

images.google.com

Halloween is right around the corner.   (I still haven’t completed my costume for a party tomorrow night, YIKES.)  It’s fun to dress up for Halloween, but that doesn’t mean that your dogs will like wearing costumes.  Both the ASPCA and PETMD suggest that you don’t dress up your animals unless you are sure that they like it.  It can cause undo stress if they can’t breathe, see, or hear properly.  Keep them away from pumpkins with candles or other lighted decorations.  Those yummy treats are a great enticement to them (as well as to me), so keep them out of reach.  Front door activity with scary creatures arriving every few minutes may cause anxiety to your dogs.  Make sure that their temperament is good for greeting ghouls and goblins and that they don’t escape through that door.  Having up-to-date id tags on them is a must, but putting them in a quiet room might be the safest bet.

Whew!  That was a lot of information, and that was just the first holiday.

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Thanksgiving is all about family and food.  Again, that party atmosphere may be puzzling to your greyt-hounds causing unease, and the food smells are sure to drive them a little crazy.  (Just talking about this is making me gain weight.)   AKC reminds us that turkey bones can cause a choking hazard, so keep them away from your pets.  They can also splinter once digested.  Your holiday table as well as tempting garbage smells may lure your dogs into risky behavior.

Now for Christmas.  That Christmas tree with all of the lights and ornaments means festive times to you, but can be a cause of danger to your greyhounds especially the ones who have just become members of your family.  They have never seen anything like this before and may inadvertently do some damage.  Take care to watch your animals around the tree.  Ornaments, tinsel, electrical cords can trigger your dogs curiosity and make them want to investigate.  Mistletoe and Holly can cause problems if ingested so opt for some artificial plants or keep them well out of reach.  Lastly, make sure that those pretty burning candles are not left unattended.

images.google.com

Did I scare you yet?  This post was not to scare you off from your holiday fun, but rather to avoid potential problems before they happen.  We humans get so wrapped up in our responsibilities that we sometimes overlook simple things that keep our pets safe.  Being aware before is much better than being sorry later.

Have an extraordinary holiday season with your greyhounds and enjoy every minute.  Their enjoyment rests on nothing more than your presence and love.

Picabay.com

Happy Holidays!!

Resources:

aspca.org,  General Pet Care, Halloween Safety Tips

aspca.org,  General Pet Care, Holiday Safety Tips

akc.org,  Dogs and Holidays

petmd.com,  10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

petfinder.com,  Banfield Pet Hospital article, Holiday Foods that are Hazardous                  

                           to Pets

A Plan for Disaster

                                                

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                                                           High winds roar through

                                                           with water on their tail,

                                                           The bluster of a spiral curl

                                                            makes the earth wail.

                                                                                                     People clutch their pets

                                                                                                      in hopes of safety found,

                                                                                                      Make a plan, work it out,

                                                                                                      for you and your greyt hound.

                                                                                                                               Alice Brown

pixabay.com

                                                         

A hurricane blows through your area, a tornado’s high winds corkscrew through your yard, or possibly an earthquake shakes your house.  With all the press given the scourge of disasters lately, my worry quotient has risen a notch.  Between hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and flooding as well as who knows what else, the prudent course of action would be to determine what I would do if a disaster struck my area.  Since I live on the coast of Virginia, my attention seemed drawn to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria.  

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My dogs are my fur children, and I would never consider leaving them if a hurricane struck.  Most human shelters refuse to accommodate pets so for many of us, an alternative must be found.  Researching this problem on the internet, I found sites that give significant direction to developing a disaster preparedness plan.  I must say I felt overwhelmed by it all, but know that this preemptive advice could be life saving.

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Making and following a plan can save time and lives when a disaster strikes.  One of the first steps in this process is to stay informed.  Ready.gov suggests having access to a NOAA weather radio, getting information from www.weather.gov/nwr, or downloading the Fema app.  Having advance information concerning weather conditions can aid in advanced preparation for any disaster.  

pixabay.com

According to my source material having a viable evacuation plan is of utmost importance especially when pets are involved.  Identifying shelters in your area that are available and accept pets like pet-friendly hotels, boarding facilities, or possibly out of town friends are a smart first step.  Microchipping pets and keeping up-to-date medical records helps to maintain your pet’s safety.  



Emma in resting mode.

A disaster supplies kit for your pet assembled and ready to go makes leaving at a moments notice easier.  Food and water should be number one on the list.  Sources vary in setting aside a food supply of three days to a supply of two weeks so use your best judgment.  Stored food should be rotated every three months for freshness.  Your pet’s important papers and medical records as well as a first aid kit, collars with id and rabies tags, and leashes should be added.  Having a crate or carrier available, items for sanitation purposes, and treats, toys, and bedding to make your pet feel comfortable complete the kit.  Having a picture of you and your pet together in case of pet loss would also be wise.



Kiowa just looking cute.





By planning ahead for a disaster and then developing a disaster kit, I will feel better prepared in case the unforeseen happens.  Consider what might happen where you live and plan accordingly.  Even if your kit isn’t totally assembled, you will at least know what items are needed.  We should all have an idea of where to find safety for ourselves and our pets when the unexpected occurs.



images.google.com

RESOURCES:

Pets & Animals, www.ready.gov

Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/features/petsanddisasters/index.html

Pet Disaster Preparedness, Red Rover, redrover.org/pet-disaster-preparedness

Mollie's Safe, Greyt Holiday

Mollie & Emma

                          Dogs and Kids,

Mollie & Kiowa

What a greyt rich mixture!

                          Stir the bowl,

Add respect and gentleness,

                          Thought and love,

And the recipe you create,

                          Becomes a forever fixture.

        

Summer is a wonderful time to spend with grandchildren.  Our lives proved lucky to have our granddaughter, Mollie, visiting us this past week.  She’s five years old, and she had never been with us at our home without her parents.  We prepared ourselves by anticipating activities she might like.  We explored several beaches, motored around in the boat, stopped by a friend’s farm to meet the animals, and had things at the house to keep her busy.  But, by far, she enjoyed the companionship of Kiowa and Emma the most.  

Quite the movie star

Our granddaughter loves our greyhounds, and they feel the same about her.  I felt this the perfect time to teach Mollie some dog safety rules.  She already knows not to put her face in the dogs’ faces and not to disturb them while eating or sleeping, but I thought it wise to expose her to some general rules about being safe.  

According to njsheltierescue.org, “the Humane Society of the United States says that 50 percent of children will be bitten by a dog before their twelfth birthday” with more bites connected to children under five.  Children dart around quicker than adults, and a dog’s chasing instinct and prey drive could be triggered.  

Their high pitched voices can surprise and alarm a dog.  They are also closer to the dog’s eye level which could prove threatening.  Less knowledge of dog body language limits a child’s ability to understand what the dog thinks.  Supervision of dog and child by a responsible adult goes without saying.

What a cutie!

All children need instruction when meeting a dog they do not know.  They should always ask the dog’s owner if petting the dog is allowed.  If the answer is yes, have them extend their hand with a closed fist, palm down, to let the dog sniff it.  If the dog isn’t interested, respect its space.  If the dog wants to be petted, pet his back not on the top of his head.   

Our greys are very mellow, don’t jump, and love Mollie.  Some other dogs may jump on small children so I spoke to Mollie about becoming a tree.  According to doggonesafe.com, dogs get bored with trees.  If a strange or too energetic dog approaches a small child, they should become a tree.  A tree stands perfectly still, tucks in its branches (arms), and looks at its roots grow (feet).  I explained that the excited dog will get bored (except, of course, if he’s a male dog, and he needs to lift his leg-LOL), and leave her alone.  She became the perfect tree.

Putting Kiowa to bed

This year was the first time I allowed Mollie to walk one of the dogs without me holding part of the leash.  She learned how the leash goes around her wrist and how to shorten the leash so the dog walks right next to her.  We use a six foot regular leash.  She learned that the dog should be on her left side.  (Since she’s a leftie that wasn’t too difficult.)  I also explained that she needed to be the boss of the dog, to be kind but stern.  She became a very astute dog walker while she visited us.

Njsheltierescue.org suggested some important rules for children’s safety around dogs:

Feeding the dogs with Pop Pop

1. Never touch an unknown dog.
2. Always ask permission from the owner before petting a dog.
3. Respect the dog’s body space.
4. Never stare at a dog or put your face close to a dog’s face.
5. No teasing allowed.
6. If a dog is tied up, keep hands to yourself.
7. Respect the dog’s space while it is eating or sleeping.
8. If dog is playing with a toy, leave him alone.
9. Be a tree.  Don’t make loud noises or run away from a dog.  
10. If you don’t know a dog’s intentions, back away to a safe place.
11. If you see an unknown dog loose in your neighborhood, tell an adult.
12. A dog is an animal not a cuddle toy.  Be gentle.

Nice Pose

These were just some of the rules in the article, Guide to Children and Dog Safety, on njsheltierescue.org.  If you want to read more, check it out.

Taking off a collar

We had a great Mollie visit, and she had a safe and fun time with Kiowa and Emma.  When she left with her parents to go home, she hugged the dogs good-bye first.  I guess you know where we are in the pecking order. 

Bye-Bye

Resources:

www.njsheltierescue.org:  Guide to Children and Dog Safety, Victoria Stilwell, 

www.victoriastilwell.com

www.doggonesafe.com:  Dog Bite Prevention Through Education, Dog Safety 

for Kids

www.avma.org:  Teaching Children How to Prevent Dog Bites

A Mad Dash

Kazi

Summer fun on the way,

What will we do today?

Beach or park, walk or play,

Sun and heat, keep at bay.

Summer, the time for sun, fun, and adventure.  It may be sun and fun for you and your four-legged friends, but the adventure part may not be what either of you anticipated.  The heat and the sun can be both friend and foe.  Our pets can't tell us when their tolerance of heat has reached its peak.  We have to be on alert to any behaviors that signal their distress.  A few years ago, a summer adventure with my dogs turned into a mad dash for help.

I love Duckie

My husband and I and Rusty and Kazi,the greys before our present two, went for a short walk on a small beach not far from our home.  The beach was on a neck of land that was a distance from the main roads.  It was a warm day, but we knew our time there would be limited.  As we walked the beach, the dogs moseyed along side us, cooling their feet in the water.  Soon Kazi began to lag behind.  As I turned to her, I saw what I thought was her sticking her nose in the water.  Close to her nose seemed to be a foam. (I later realized she had vomited.)  As I looked to coax her along, I noticed her panting and staggering.  Since I was sure she hadn't had a cocktail, I urged my husband to get the car.  And the mad dash began.

Rusty and me

I had never seen heat stroke before, but I was pretty sure this was it.  After putting her in the car, we offered her some water, but she wasn’t interested.  (It would have been wiser to wet a towel in cool water wrapping it around her as she was transported.)  Of course, it had to be Sunday after 5 PM.  As my husband drove frantically down the road, I called the emergency number of my vet.  Being so far out on that neck, there was no signal.  I tried again and again.  Finally, a signal!  I left an anxious message and within 5 minutes, got a call back telling us to go directly to the vet’s office.  This gave us some relief, but we knew this was not good.

Mom dressed me up
again

Upon our arrival, Kazi was quickly lifted into a large tub, and we began to cool her down with a cool bath of water.  Periodically, we would take her rectal temperature.  It remained high, so we removed her from the tub.  The doctor, then, administered an intravenous fluid.  Eventually, this brought her temperature back down to normal as we all felt a surge of relief.  

Afterward, the vet thought it prudent to have her watched overnight.  We drove Kazi to an emergency clinic where she was cared for until the next morning.  After this scare, we became more alert to the heat and how it affects our dogs.

According to webvet.com, heat stroke, the common term for hyperthermia, requires "safe, controlled reduction of body temperature".  Cool water or towels "may be placed on head, stomach, underarms and feet".  Application of rubbing alcohol to
foot pads is also helpful.  Monitoring the rectal temperature until it returns to 103 degrees F is important.  Rectal temperature becomes life-threatening when it reaches 109 degrees F.

Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting which is less effective than perspiration.  We all know that leaving an animal in a car, even with windows open, in warm weather should never happen.  But leaving your dog outside for an extended period during hot weather or letting them run excessively can also cause heat stroke.

Webvet.com suggests:

Ready for fun

  - During hot weather, check your dog for the following:

- drooling or vomiting

- twitching muscles

- bloody diarrhea

- pale gums

- staggering or stumbling

- a wide eyed look
- difficulty breathing and increased heart rate

- 104 - 109 degree body temperature

If you suspect your dog of having heat stroke:

- Get your dog into the shade immediately and douse with cool 

    water.

  - Apply wet, cool towels to your animal as you transport them to the

  vet.

 

Have a great time this summer.  Play with your dogs and enjoy their company, but keep in mind that heat can be an enemy.  Be vigilant, and the mad dash you take will only be in fun. 

Resources:

www.webvet.com

Credit:  Written and review by John A. Bukowski, DVM. MPH, PHD and 

Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS