june 2013
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Urban Paws MagazineTRANSCRIPT
See how Bark Busters changedthe life of an Airforce dog han-dler or, view the “Aspen’s Story”video on YouTube.com
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Issue 5: Volume 7
Cover photo and this photo by Paw Prints by Jamie PetPhotography.
contents
EVENT CALENDAR 6June 2013
THE SCOOP 7Canine News and Happenings
TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 14The Sport of Lure Coursing
TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 16Top 10 Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know
HEALTH & WELLNESS 18Part II: What You Need to Know About CancerTreatments
BODY & SOUL 20Peace, Zen and Harmony with Dogs
ADOPTION 24Humane Animal Rescue Program (HARP)
VETERINARY DIRECTORY 26
PublisherJennifer Kitchens-Street(281) [email protected]
Advertising(281) [email protected]
Contributing WritersJan DavidsonBob WilliamsKatie RediskiMichelle Spencer
Staff PhotographerJamie Fincherwww.pawprintsbyjamie.com
Urban Paws MagazinePO Box 1556Spring, TX 77383www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Web:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
© Copyright 2013. No part of thispublication may be reprinted orotherwise reproduced without thepublisher’s written permission.Urban Paws magazine assumes noresponsibility for unsolicited manu-scripts, feature and idea submis-sions, or photographs, and suchmaterial will not be returned. UrbanPaws magazine assumes no liabilityfor the contents herein and has theright to refuse advertising for anyreason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product orservice contained herein; we doencourage you to support ouradvertisers whenever possible.
Please tell our advertisers thatyou heard about them in UrbanPaws Magazine!
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6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
June 2013For a full listing of events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events
JUNE 1Cold Ones for Kitties fundraiser. Southern Star
Brewery, 1207 N. FM 3083 E. in Conroe from 6:00
- 10:00 p.m. Beer, Music, Food and Fun benefiting
the Montgomery County Animal Society and the
Bruce Kapp Memorial Animal Fund to raise funds
to continue our feral/free roaming cat sterilization
program. Admission is $20 in advance or at the
door entitles attendee to 5 craft beers. Purchase
tickets in advance at
www.southernstarbrewing.com.
JUNE 1PugHearts Garage Sale at the Woodedge
Subdivision’s club house, 10403 Greencreek. 8:00
a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PugHearts goal is to raise $2,000
for the dogs in their care. Visit
www.pughearts.com to donate items.
JUNE 2Strykers Bark in the Park presented by Barker
Street Gourmet Dog Bakery. Nothing says summer
like baseball. Grab your leash and head to the ball-
park for The Woodlands Strykers Dog Day. Gates
open at 5:30 p.m. Game starts at 7:05 p.m. For
more information, visit
www.barkerstreetbakery.com.
JUNE 10-14Houston SPCA Critter Camp. Kids can spend a
week with their favorite critters and learn about
the animals cared for by the Houston SPCA. For
additional dates and to register, visit
www.hspca.org.
JUNE 12Visit Mission Burrito on June 12th, from 4:00 pm-
10:00 p.m. and let the staff know you are dining
for Special Pals. A percentage of each meal will
benefit the shelter. Mission Burrito LaCenterra,
23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd in Katy. For more informa-
tion, visit www.specialpalshouston.org.
JUNE 21Take Your Dog to Work Day. On this day, thou-
sands of pet owners will work with their dogs to
celebrate the 15th annual TYDTWDay. In addition,
the entire week, June 17-21, has been designated
Take Your Pet To Work Week™. So, if your compa-
ny is closed on Fridays or if you want to invite all
types of pets, select any day during the week to
host a special event at your workplace. To learn
more, visit www.takeyourdog.com.
JUNE 1-30 Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. Visit your localanimal shelter to find the perfect furry felinefor your family.
event calendar
Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the most up-to-date information, news and events!
the scoop
Rover Oaks Pet Resort to HostOperation: War Dogs, a Month-LongDonation Drive to Support U.S. MilitaryK-9 Fund
Rover Oaks Pet Resort is preparing to launch itsthird annual month-long donation drive,Operation: War Dogs, to support US MilitaryK-9 Fund and United States War DogsAssociation (USWDA). The drive officiallybegins on Memorial Day and ends onIndependence Day, July 4, 2013. Last year,Rover Oaks raised over $10,000 for US MilitaryK-9 Fund through Operation: War Dogs.During Operation: War Dogs, donors can stop
by Rover Oaks Pet Resort in Houston nearReliant Stadium or Rover Oaks Katy near KatyMills Mall to make a contribution or simply maila check to Rover Oaks made out to US MilitaryK-9 Fund. Rover Oaks will be giving away a freenight of lodging at their facilities to every donorwho contributes $100. Donations of $25 willreceive a commemorative army dog tag neck-lace. In addition, Rover Oaks will decorate theirfacilities with patriotic paw prints presenting thenames of the clients and community memberswho contribute to US Military K9 Fund. Everydollar counts and anyone interested in donatingis encouraged to stop by either Rover Oaks loca-
Urban Paws Magazine 7
tion to make a contribution in their name or inhonor of a soldier they wish to recognize.These donations will help provide an abundanceof critically needed items including K9 medica-tions, food, grooming tools, bedding and othernecessities.
Donations will be accepted at either RoverOaks location. Rover Oaks Houston, 713-662-2119, is located at 2550 West Bellfort, Houston77054. Rover Oaks Katy, 281-693-7687, is locat-ed at 24250 Kingsland Blvd., Katy 77494. Tolearn more about Rover Oaks or for directions,visit www.roveroaks.com. For more informationon US Military K-9 Fund, visit:www.usmilitaryk-9fund.org.
Special Pals’ Board of DirectorsAnnounce Change in Leadership
The Board of Directors of Special Pals, a limit-ed-intake, no-kill animal shelter located in westHouston, announce that Yvonne David has lefther post as executive director of the organiza-tion. “We are grateful for Yvonne David’s years ofservice and commitment to the mission ofSpecial Pals, and we wish her luck on futureendeavors,” said Joycelyn Urech, Chairman ofthe Special Pals Board of Directors.The Board has appointed shelter staff veteran
Elizabeth Trick as the interim executive director,and has established a transition team to ensureseamless operations during this time. Trick willsupport the board’s oversight and the shelters’ongoing work during the interim period, during
8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
the scoop
which time the team will assess Special Pals’executive leadership needs."I am pleased to accept the position as inter-
im executive director and I look forward to pro-viding leadership and continuing our mission asa no-kill organization,” says Trick. “I am dedi-cated to making the necessary changes toimprove our performance, broaden our scopeand enhance our impact in the community." During the transition period, Special Pals will
continue to host low-cost wellness clinics onscheduled Saturdays and perform spay andneuter surgeries, while also continuing its pri-mary mission: finding permanent, qualifiedhomes for the over 65 cats and dogs currentlyresiding at the shelter.
Local Brewery to Host ‘Cold Ones forKitties’ to Fund Stray Cat Spay/NeuterEffortsSouthern Star Brewing Company in Conroe, TXwill host a fundraising event on June 1 from6pm – 10pm to benefit local efforts to spay andneuter Montgomery County’s stray and free-roaming cats. The Bruce Kapp MemorialAnimal Fund (BKMAF) and MontgomeryCounty Animal Society (MCASociety) havepartnered to promote ‘Cold Ones for Kitties’ toprevent the birth of unwanted litters of kittens.The event will feature beer, food and a perform-ance by country music recording artist GradySkelton.
Stray and free-roaming cat sterilization,referred to as Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR),is touted by national stray-cat expert group AlleyCat Allies as the only proven method to slow the
overpopulation of stray cats and reduce thenumber of unwanted kittens entering ournation’s shelters.Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS)
may take in as many as 60 kittens in one day dur-ing ‘kitten season’ – the spring and summermonths when kitten births are at their height.“During ‘kitten season’ we cannot even hope tosave them all. Not enough adopters, not enoughfoster homes. Many kittens die needlessly whenthose deaths could have been prevented just byspaying and neutering,” laments Jane Holman,MCAS Kennel Manager and BKMAF Director.“It’s truly a shame. And it’s time our communi-ty banded together to make a serious impact.”Holman has recruited a network of volunteers
to locate, trap and transport cats for surgery andpartnered with veterinarian Dr. Todd Haydenwho can perform around 30 surgeries in oneday. BKMAF and MCASociety together havefunded the spay/neuter of nearly 250 cats. Itcosts these non-profit organizations $40 to alterand vaccinate each cat but the groups say it isworth it.Rosanna Russell, MCASociety board member
states, “We’re hoping this will make a lasting dif-ference and that soon in the future we will seefewer and fewer litters of kittens ending up atthe shelters.” Russell goes on to say, “Othercommunities have implemented successful TNRprograms. I know we can too.”Admission is $20 per person and includes full-
size samplings of five Southern Stars premiumcraft brews. Those in attendance are encouragedto bring folding or lawn chairs as seating is lim-ited. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance
Urban Paws Magazine 9
the scoop
The Shotwell family participated in the fundraiser atThe Village at Gleannloch Farms on Saturday andadopted their latest family member Shyla.
A pet fair attendee visits with dog Odie at the recentPet Adoption and Fundraiser at The Village atGleannloch Farms.
The Village at Gleannloch Farms resident EvelynJones enjoys a hamburger with staff member Gina atthe Pet Adoption & Fundraiser.
online at southernstarbrewing.com.For more event information email mcasvolun-
The Village at Gleannloch Farms PetAdoption and Fundraiser EventThe Village at Gleannloch Farms teamed upwith Abandoned Animal Rescue (AAR) ofTomball to host their second annual PetAdoption & Fundraiser on May 4th. The no-killshelter run entirely by volunteers is full to capac-ity and is raising money to expand its space. Thefundraiser brought in over $300 in monetarydonations and received over $500 in requesteddonated items. “This is our second year to team up with AAR
and we really enjoy being able to help them raisemoney to save these animals,” said KathyJohanns, executive director at The Village atGleannloch Farms. “AAR runs completely ondonations and the work of about 25 volunteers,and our residents enjoy being able to help raisemoney to see these animals be saved and adopt-ed.” “We are so grateful for everyone who came
out to The Village at Gleannloch Farms todonate money and items and adopt animals,”said Debbie Allison, volunteer coordinator andexecutive director of AAR. “We want to do thebest thing for these animals and are in the mid-dle of a building campaign trying to build a newfacility in the back for more space. We are still inneed of monetary donations, sponsors, and ani-mals to be adopted to progress even further.”For more information on AAR, please visit
www.aartomball.org.
SOLID GOLD FREEZE DRIED RAW BEEF
Many pet owners like to feed raw meat, but the
constant recall of raw meat with salmonella poisoning
or ecoli has put a stop to many sales. Solid Gold Freeze
Dried Raw Meat has solved this problem. We dropped
the temperature of the beef to -120˚ below zero. This
kills all diseases. Then, we put in a nitrogen fl ush which
takes out all the moisture. The fi ve pack is almost equiv-
alent to 7 pounds of raw meat with the water removed.
The single patty pack is equivalent to a pound and a
half of raw meat. Spread out pieces or concentrate as
needed. Break apart with fi ngers and mix with kibble
or use as a treat or bait. Not greasy. No need to carry a
freezer box.
SOLID GOLD FREEZE DRIED RAW BEEF
kills all diseases. Then, we put in a nitrogen fl ush which
takes out all the moisture. The fi ve pack is almost equiv-
The Cute Story It had been a long day at the dog show. The owner of two Rho-desian Ridgebacks was exhausted. She was going to rush into a fast food place, grab a sandwich, and the go back to the hotel. She had bought two 5-count Buckaroo Beef packages to mix in with the dry Solid Gold dog food that night. It was easier than trying to open a can of meat. Her two Ridgebacks were sleeping quietly in the van. Should she leave the new packages of Buckaroo Beef in the front seat or not? The two fi ve packs were equivalent to almost 14 lbs. so they couldn’t possibly be that hungry. She had planned to break up the patties for supper, for a bedtime snack and breakfast with kibble. Sounded like a good plan. Rhodesians are very smart. When she returned to her van, all ten patties were gone, they had very carefully opened the packages and enjoyed every bite. Now for a little water, please. So much for the best laid plans---
Ask your local pet store for a free catalogue. If they don’t have a SunDancer catalogue, call us at (619) 258-7356, M-F, 10am to 5pm Pacifi c time. Or e-mail us at [email protected]. You can also visit our website at www.solidgoldholistic.com.
Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center1331 N. Cuyamaca, El Cajon, CA 92020
The 5 count package is $19.74 plus shipping Single count package is $4.27 plus shippingWe accept all major credit cards as well as checks.
To order, call (619) 258-7356, Monday thru Friday 10 am to 5pm pacifi c time, or go online to www.solidgoldholistic.com.
“When mostof us talk to ourdogs, we tendto forget they’renot people.”
Julia Glass
mutt mugs
12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
training & behavior
14 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
The Sport ofLure Coursing
Icelandic Sheepdog: Gaia's Bjort CGC "Ruthless"
Urban Paws Magazine 15
ure coursing, originally a sport that was
exclusive to sighthounds, is a growing
sport for all dogs now that the AKC has intro-
duced the Coursing Ability Test (CAT). The
sport of Lure Coursing is based on live game
coursing but now, instead of live game, plastic
bags are used as "prey." The CAT involves dogs
chasing the prey, or lure, around a predesigned
course. The length of the course that each dog
runs depends on their size and breed with small
dogs and flat-faced breeds running shorter dis-
tances than taller dogs. Many dogs take right to
the sport, as it plays on a dog's natural prey
drive. Still, even dogs who don't chase the lure
the first time can learn to love it after a couple
of tries. This is a sport that is fun for dogs and
their humans!
Before taking your dog to a CAT event you
will need to make sure that your dog is in good
physical shape. Many dogs run at full speed
when chasing the lure and it can be very hard on
a dog that is not used to that type of activity. If
you are not sure that your dog is healthy enough
for the sport, make an appointment with their
veterinarian to get their opinion. Also, work on
a reliable recall command with your dog. For
this sport, dogs run in a large, open field and
you will want to make sure that your dog will
come back to you after they've finished running
the course. For owners, make sure that you wear
comfortable shoes and, if you cannot easily hold
on to your dog when he is excited, consider
bringing a friend to help! Finally, bring water for
you and your dog and consider bringing his
crate as well.
For more information on Lure Coursing, eli-
gibility for participation, and events near you
visit the American Kennel Club website at
http://www.akc.org
L
By: Katie Rediske
Doberman Pinscher: UKC Ch Mystery of Spanish Chest CGC "Dreizehn"
1) A dog is a dog. The greatest misconceptionmany dog owners have is to assume their dogscommunicate the way people do. Dogs instinc-tively follow the same rules and exhibit many ofthe same behavioral patters as their wild ances-tors. To effectively train your dog, you must firstunderstand his instinctual pack behavior.
2) All dogs think in terms of survival.Dogs instinctively know that living with others,under the leadership of an assertive pack mem-ber, increases their chances for survival. As adog owner, one of your responsibilities is tomodel a leader’s strong and consistent character-istics so that you will be accepted as the leaderand your dog will learn to respect and obey you.Your leadership will help your dog feel safe andeliminate many behavioral problems.
3) Dogs don’t understand English. In
addition to barking, growling and other gutteralsounds, dogs rely heavily on body language. Andyet, your body language can easily be misinter-preted. By understanding how dogs communi-cate, you will avoid the mistake of telling yourdog one thing while your body language andvoice tone tell him something completely differ-ent.
4) Dogs are neither spiteful nor deliber-ately naughty. There are three reasons why adog misbehaves or disobeys: 1. He does notunderstand what you want. 2. He does not con-sider you his leader, or 3. He is suffering fromsome kind of stress or fear. Understanding thiswill help you address your dog’s problems andbehaviors.
5) Aggression is instinctual in everybreed. Whether Chihuahua or German
training & behavior
16 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Top 10 Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know
Urban Paws Magazine 17
Shepherd, a dog’s breed has nothing to do withaggression. Instead, aggression is instinctual andcaused most often by fear of the unknown–thatis, whatever the dog cannot understand or doesnot recognize as normal. When a dog becomesfrightened, he will do one of two things: fight ortake flight. By reinforcing leadership with yourdog, you can avoid unacceptable or uncontrol-lable aggression.
6) You can teach an old dog new tricks.Dogs are continuous learners and have goodmemories. The three things that primarily influ-ence a dog’s behavior are association, experienceand instinct. By conditioning your dog andeffectively showing him what you consider goodand bad behavior, you can help him change hisbehavior.
7) Bad behaviors may be natural, butthey do not have to be normal. Most peo-ple consider digging, chewing and jumping asunacceptable dog behavior–but to dogs, theseactions are natural. As our dog’s primary educa-tor and leader, it is our job to teach him thatwhat he considers natural behaviors are not nec-essarily acceptable in our households.
8) It’s illogical to get angry with yourdog. Dogs do only what comes naturally orwhat they’ve learned through association, sogetting angry–or using physical force–is bothinappropriate and counterproductive. Moreover,never use your hands for disciplining, becausedogs find this provocative and threatening. Useyour hands as little as possible when train-
By: Bob Williams, Bark Busters Home Dog Training
ing–and when you do, make sure your dogalways associates your hands with gentlenessand pleasure.
9) Correct your dog on the spot. Becausedogs learn from association, they will compre-hend your message only if it is delivered in atimely manner. A correction must be issued atthe precise moment the dog is either contem-plating or actually doing something wrong.Because it can be difficult to catch your dog inthe act, find ways to simulate situations in whichyour dog would normally misbehave so that youcan then correct him immediately and guide himto the appropriate behavior, while praising hiscorrect decisions.
10) Dogs experience the world different-ly than humans. With 25 times more olfacto-ry receptors than humans, dogs can sense odersat concentrations millions of times lower thanwe can. In addition, a dog’s eyesight has beendescribed to be like that of a person who iscolor-blind. Dogs use other cues (such as smell,texture, brightness and position) rather thanrelying on color. With acutely developed hear-ing, dogs can hear sounds four times fartheraway than humans–but dogs also hear selective-ly. They can sleep beside a blaring television, butwake up as soon as they hear something unrelat-ed to that.
Bob Williams is a Master Dog Trainer and BehavioralTherapist for Bark Busters Home Dog Training. To schedulean appointment, call 713.771.2275.
elcome to our series on companion
animal cancer. In the previous arti-
cle, we discussed events that typi-
cally occur after your pet has been diagnosed
with cancer. In this article, we answer some
questions about chemotherapy treatments and
present tips on how to find the best oncology
team for your pet.
Choosing a treatmentVeterinary oncology is still a growing field. In
some cases, usually due to geographical or
financial concerns, your choices may be limited.
If you do have the opportunity to choose from
more than one treatment facility, ask yourself a
few questions:
• Is your doctor a board certified Veterinary
Oncologist?
• How far away is their office? How well does
your pet handle the trip? Will you be able to
travel there weekly, monthly, etc? Do they have
hours that will accommodate your schedule?
• Do they offer financial plans, counseling, assis-
tance?
• Will your pet remain with you during treat-
ments? Will you drop your pet off for the day
for treatment?
ChemotherapyThe word itself makes you cringe. But, remem-
ber, the goal of cancer treatment in pets is to
control or eradicate cancer cells while preserv-
ing a good quality of life. Cancer treatment is
fluid and there is room for assessment at each
step in the road.
Some cancers normally respond very well to
chemotherapy, while others do not. Your veteri-
nary oncologist will be your most reliable
source of information on this subject and will
guide you through the decision making process.
Chemotherapy typically comes in the form of
pills or liquid injectables. Intravenous, intra-
muscular and subcutaneous injections must be
given at your veterinary office by qualified doc-
tors and technicians. Some injections take just
minutes, while others are delivered over a peri-
od of hours. At some clinics, you may be
allowed to stay with your pet if they are receiv-
ing a short injection. Intravenous chemothera-
py can be dangerous if it leaks outside of a
vein, so it is best for your pet to remain calm
and still during treatment. If your presence
seems to excite your pet, the staff may ask you
to wait outside for a bit while the treatment is
in progress. In rare instances, some pets may
require medication to help them relax during
the injection.
If your pet is receiving a treatment that is given
over a number of hours, you will be asked to
leave them at the facility during that time.
Normally, in such cases, there are rules and reg-
ulations in place to keep both you and your pet
W
Part II - What You Need to Know About Cancer Treatments
health & wellness
18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
safe during lengthy chemotherapy infusions.
For instance, only a qualified staff member can
attend to urine, feces and vomit should they
occur during an infusion.
Chemotherapy treatments tend to follow a
proven protocol or schedule. You should be
presented with a schedule prior to treatment.
The schedule should also include information
about when certain blood tests must be run.
While these blood tests normally do not indicate
the cancers response, they will provide critical
information about how your pet’s organs are
handling treatment and alert you to infections.
Some pets may also qualify for a clinical trial.
Normally, your veterinarian will present this
option to you if they
think it may be appropri-
ate for your pet.
Occasionally, some com-
panies will provide you
with free or discounted
medications for partici-
pating in their trial.
Speaking with your veteri-
narian about the common
and not so common side
effects of chemotherapy
and the proper precau-
tions needed when cleaning up after a pet who
has recently received a chemotherapy treatment,
is a very important step. These issues will be
addressed further in an upcoming article.
In our next article, we will discuss common side
effects of chemotherapy agents, and the med-
ications used to treat them.
“New England Pet Hospice & Home Care supports those car-ing for ill, elderly and special needs animals at home followingthe human hospice and palliative care models of interdiscipli-nary care. Learn more and get your FREE subscription toWag & Purr: Your Guide to Comfort Care for Pets atwww.NewEnglandPetHospice.com"
By: Michelle Spencer, Veterinary Technician, Oncology Specialist
body & soul
By: Jan Davidson, Elegant Hippy
yours!Diffusing essential oil blends also helps with
everyone’s body-mind balance. Lavender isalways a good choice, but there is also ClarySage, Cedarwood (great for pest control, too!)
a n dBe r g amo t .These arejust a fewthat can beblended withother essen-tial oils tocreate won-derful aro-matic blends.C u s t o mblends canalways be
developed to support emotional well-being;however, make sure that you are using essentialoils and not fragrance oils. Essential oils havetherapeutic constituents,; while fragrance oils donot.
Lastly, Reiki energy healing is anotherapproach. However, I am always careful not totry to Reiki the dogs if I am not centered–thehealing energy doesn’t flow well when the prac-titioner is not centered.There you have it, a three-pronged holisticapproach to achieving Peace, Zen, andHarmony: Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, andReiki.
Jan Davidson is a certified natural products manufacturer, aro-matherapist, holistic health consultant, and Reiki master. Sheis part owner of Elegant Hippy. www.eleganthippy.com.
am all about holistic living. Peace, Zen, andHarmony…with three dogs in the house-hold. Hmmmm…so how do I keep it all
together? Sometimes I don’t. Have you ever hadone of those days (but you don’t realize how ithas affectedyour atti-tude)? Mythree let meknow. Likewhen youare sick andyour bestb u d d ysnuggles upwith you,my three tryhard tobring meout of the funk. Most times they manage it. Have you ever noticed your little four-legged
friend acting out-of-sorts? What is your firstthought? More training? Discipline? Thosemight help; however, you might want to checkyour attitude first, then check your little (or big)buddy’s health, and medications.Two of my four-legged buddies take medica-
tion to help control immunity. Both medicationscan cause behavior and personality changes.They also reflect back attitude shifts that I have.Holistic methods help in both areas.
Bach Flower Essences in their water helpseven out temperament. Because it is safe, eventhe dog not on medication can enjoy its benefits(so can you!). Rescue Remedy (also a Bach for-mulation) also helps with anxiety – theirs and
I
Peace, Zen and Harmony with Dogs
20 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Co-Pilot Protection PlanProtect your Pet’s Health with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Your enrollment helps homeless pets!
GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws
22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
While human safety is paramount, we have
learned valuable lessons from previous hurri-
canes about the importance of incorporating
disaster planning for animals.
When a hurricane threatens you and your fam-
ily, be sure to also make plans to keep your pets
safe.
Before there is a need to evacuate your home
due to a hurricane, it is wise to make sure that
your pets are all current on their vaccinations.
Pets that will be boarded will need proof of cur-
rent vaccinations at many boarding facilities.
Determine where your pet will stay during the
storm, if you have to evacuate.
Check with family and friends who are not in
the path of the storm to see if they can watch
your pets. If there is no one who can help,
check with specialized pet shelters, veterinary
clinics or animal control shelters. Once you find
someone who can care for your pets, work the
location where you will drop them off into your
evacuation route.
When severe weather threatens, bring your
pets inside well before the storm begins. Remain
calm, and calm your pets if they become agitat-
ed. Call ahead to confirm your selected pet shel-
ter is still able to care for your pet.
Once the storm has passed and you return
home, it is important to remember that your
pet's surroundings may have been changed by
the storm. Familiar scents and landmarks may
no longer be there. Your pet can easily become
confused or lost.
You should walk all pets on a leash until they
are able to reorient themselves. This will also
help keep them safe from hazards such as
downed power lines, debris and reptiles that
may have been brought in by high water.
Plan for your pet's safe evacuation before an
emergency arises to ensure a smooth and easy
evacuation process.
If your pet becomes lost during the storm, call your local animal control officefor information on where lost pets can be claimed. Bring your pet's photo withyou for easier identification.
Urban Paws Magazine 23
WHAT TO BRING:
• Enough pet food for one week
• Food bowl
• Water bowl
• Bottled water
• Leash
• Harness or collar
• Proof of vaccinations
• Rabies tag
• Portable kennel
• Litter box and litter for cats
• Trash bags for stool disposal
• Newspaper or towels for crate lining
• Heartworm preventative
• Flea and tick protection
• All medications
• For exotic pets, bring their entire habitat,
including heat lamps and extension cords
Your pet’s kennel should be large enough for
him to stand and turn around. Collapsible wire
crates are best if your pets might be in a non-air
conditioned environment for an extended peri-
od. A battery-operated fan that can attach to the
cage can be a much appreciated addition.
Molded plastic airline-approved crates make for
easier transport and are best for animals that
don’t travel well in the car.
WHAT TO DO:
• Don’t leave your pet at home! While most
evacuations last only a few days, there are times
that you may not be able to return quickly. The
safest place for your pet is with you.
• If you are going to a hotel, call ahead and
make sure, in advance, that animals are wel-
come. Many hotels relax their policies during
times of crisis, but don’t assume that this will be
the case. For on-line information about pet-
friendly hotels, check out
www.bringyourpet.com, www.petswelcome.com
or www.pets-allowed-hotels.com.
• If you are staying with friends or family, make
sure that your pets are invited as well. If not, ask
for recommendations of nearby veterinary hos-
pitals or boarding kennels and make reserva-
tions in advance.
• Be sure that your pets are up-to-date on all
vaccinations and bring proof of vaccinations
with you. It is a good idea to ask your veterinar-
ian now for a copy of your pet’s vaccination
record. Keep this with your emergency kit.
• If your pet is on medication, bring at least a
two week supply.
• Identification of your pet is crucial! The ideal
form of identification is a microchip or a tattoo.
At minimum, your pet should have a tag with his
name, your name, and your phone number on it.
Pictures of your pet that capture identifying fea-
tures are also a good idea.
Humane Animal Rescue Program (HARP)www.harp-rescue.com
H.A.R.P. or Humane Animal Rescue Program is an animal rescue group that was created in early 2008by a group of young adults who saw the need for change in a world so cruel to animals. HARP strivesto help every animal it comes in contact with whether the problem is big or small. We are fighting toput an end to animal abuse and over population and to reduce the statistics of animal euthanasia.HARP's goal is to make the un-adoptable adoptable We are a 501(c)(3) organization and are complete-ly volunteer based. For more information on adopting, donating or volunteering, contact [email protected]
adoption
Meet Lola! Lola is a spayed female pit mix. She is
about 4 years old. Lola and her best friend,
Mattie, were found locked in a warehouse in the
middle of June. They were confined to a small
area surrounded by pallets with no food or water.
Temperatures were far above 100 degrees that
day, and there is no telling how long they had
been in there. We took them straight home.
Mattie, was quickly adopted to her forever home,
but Lola has been looking ever since. She is
extremely friendly to all people and animals. She
Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.
Our cover dog, Lola!
24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
gets along very well with every dog she meets,
but gets a little too excited with cats. The cats
tend to get annoyed, so she would do best with
no feline friends. Lola has a lot of energy and
would benefit from a family that does as well. She
is very loyal, loves to please, and loves to give kiss-
es. Lola will make a perfect addition to a very lov-
ing family. She is spayed, microchipped, and fully
vaccinated. If you are interested in loving Lola,
please email us at [email protected].
Urban Paws Magazine 25
Amber
Meet Amber! Amber is afemale Australian Shepherdmix. She is about 5 years old.Amber was found by her fos-ter mom tied to a sign at anelementary school. She wasvery hungry and thirsty so wetook her straight home.Amber had a lot of adjustingto do. She had to learn how tobehave as an inside dog. Itwas clear she had spent herwhole life outside. That wastwo years ago, and Amber is atotally different dog. She isvery friendly, and just general-ly loves life. She loves to playwith toys and bones and reallyenjoys being loved on. Asmuch as she enjoys playing,she also looks forward to agood nap. Amber is spayed,micro-chipped, and vaccinat-ed. If you are interested inAmber, please email us [email protected].
Zachary
Meet Zach! Zach is a neuteredmale shepherd mix. He is about3 years old. Zach was savedfrom the City of Houston's ani-mal control facility, BARC. Hewasn't considered adoptable,because he was heartworm pos-itive and very timid. Zach wassaved just in time, becauseshortly after bringing him homehe became very sick. Zachbecame very lethargic, lost a lotof weight, and contracted pneu-monia. After a lot of medicalattention and tons of TLC wedetermined Zach had barely sur-vived Canine Influenza. One dayhis fever broke and he’s beendoing better ever since. He isvery healthy and happy to bealive, and he appreciates all theattention he now gets. He isneutered, micro-chipped, andvaccinated and is being treatedfor his heartworms. Zach is veryloving and very protective of hisfamily.
Join us in helping our four-
legged friends find loving
homes. Adopt a dog today!
vet directory
VETERINARY DIRECTORY | 2013
Laurie Noaker, DVM, DACVIMVeterinary Emergency Referral Group,Inc. (VERGI)8921 Katy FreewayHouston, Texas 77024(p): 713.932.9589(w): www.vergi247.com
Christie Cornelius, DVMLast Wishes In-Home Pet Hospice and Euthanasia1302 Waugh Drive, Suite 968Houston, Texas 77019(p:) 713.452.0474(w): www.petslastwishes.com
Rick Wall, DVM, CCRPCenter for Veterinary Pain Managementand Rehabilitation10807 Kuykendahl Road, Suite 406The Woodlands, Texas 77382(p): 281.298.5509(e): [email protected]
Nicholas J. Millichamp,BVetMed, PhD, DVOphthal, DipECVO,MRCVSEye Care for Animals17395 Tomball Parkway #3-HHouston, Texas 77064(p): 281.890.3937(w): www.eyecareforanimals.com
Angel Ibanez, DVMAngel’s Pet Hospital24734 Kuykendahl RoadTomball, Texas 77375(p:) 281.290.0360(w): www.angelspethospital.com
Clara Scott, DVMMy Family Vet20120 Kuykendahl RoadSpring, Texas 77379(p): 281.288.0500(w): www.myfamilyvet.com
The Woodlands
Tomball
Mobile
Spring
Northwest Houston
Greater Houston
26 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com