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News

Inside:Frisky Businesses

Six Steps to Crate Training

Diabetic Kitty Freckle Face Finds a Home

Profiles in Giving featuring Andrea Baranyai and Oma’s Pride

Take Me Home - Hank

Issue 3Fall 2007

Recently, Our Companions learned of Hank and his dire circumstances and we are on a mission to find him a good home. We hope you can help.

Hank is a Bluetick Coonhound. A handsome fellow, he is happy,

outgoing and fun-loving. More than anything, Hank dreams of being your hiking partner and exploring the outdoors by your side. And after

some outdoor adventures, Hank would love to snuggle next to you on the sofa or in your lap.

While Hank loves running and playing, he’s been unable to partake in much activity since his previous owners surrendered him last summer. For nearly

a year, he’s known nothing but loneliness, homelessness and a life in a ken-nel run.

Hank’s ideal home is an adult home without cats and preferably headed by people familiar with the hound breed. Hank is good with other dogs and would

welcome being part of a pack. And given his long term confinement, Hank will need a family willing to help him readjust to living in a home environment.

If you or someone you know might be able to provide Hank with the right home, please contact Sue calling 860.242.9999 X6 or via email at [email protected].

Take Me Home

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARTFORD, CTPERMIT No. 751

Pets and KidsPreparation and Supervision Make a Happy Home

Pets and KidsPreparation and Supervision Make a Happy Home

P.O. Box 673Bloomfield, CT 06002

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

About Our Companions News

Our Companions News is published three times per year by Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary. A nonprofit

organization, Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary is a leader in the movement to end the unnecessary euthanasia

of pets in Connecticut.

Our Companions Officers and Directors

Susan Linker Marie Joyner Laura Jordan Henry Petrofsky

Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer Secretary Treasurer

Gail Perkins Debby Hyde Chris Shivery Janet Bailey Adam Zweifler

Director Director Director Director Director

Our Companions News Editorial Board

Susan Linker Jessica Beganski Kelly Alver

Jennifer Barrows Mitchell Linker Judith Ivie

Our Animal Helpline regularly receives

child related calls from pet owners. Some

owners don’t know that there are steps

they can take to ensure pet-child harmony

in the home and are happy to work out

a solution. Other owners are not willing

to make adjustments in order to keep the

pet and Our Companions steps in to find

it another home. One of the people who

takes these calls is Andrea Baranyai, our

featured volunteer.

Our cover story shows that it is possible

to provide a safe home for children while

giving them the valuable experience of

growing up with a pet. Shawn Mateo is

one such child who grew up seeing

the value in pets with special needs as

caretaker for two diabetic cats in “A

Pawsitive Ending.”

One tool that has helped many families

manage dogs in homes with children is

the crate. In “Marie’s Den,” Marie Joyner

offers a step-by-step guide on using crate

training to manage your dog’s behavior

while providing him an improved sense

of well-being.

This edition also features several

businesses dedicated to serving pets and

their owners: Miller Foods, Hoof, Paw &

Claw, Planet Bark and There’s No Paws

Like Home. These pet lovers show how

to incorporate animals into successful

businesses.

Thank you for reading!

Susan Linker

Chief Executive Officer

Something to Chew On

Our Companions News Fall 2007

Marketplace

Our Companions News Fall 2007 Page 17

227 Upton RoadColchester, CT 06415

Phone 860.537.3648Toll Free 866.4DOGMANwww.4dogman.com

DoggieParadise

Found

DoggieParadise

Found

Boarding

Daycare

Grooming

Training

Pet Fencing

Hoof, Paw & ClawAileen D’Angelo

Reiki Master/Teacher, Cn. TPM

Energy Work for Animals & PeopleAnimal Communication

Canine Triggerpoint Myotherapy

Phone:Phone: 508-393-3684E-mail: [email protected]: www.reikiforcritters.com

Our Companions Domestic Animal SanctuaryP.O. Box 673, Bloomfield, CT 06002(860) 242-9999 www.ourcompanions.org

BOARDINGGROOMING

Dr. W. Barriosnuevo Dr. L. Kane Richter109 Connecticut Blvd.

East Hartford, CT 06108(860) 282-8989 www.drbarrios.com

Supports the work ofOur Companions.

Caring for your pets andanimals less fortunate.

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Custom sooware applications and database systems to help

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Sales Support Ordering SystemsReporting ApplicationsInformation solutions that enhanceefficiency, save time and reduce costs

Marketplace Pets and Kids Go Together


For many people, pets are a big part of

family life. They provide joy, love, loyalty

and companionship, and in some cases,

they may be the family’s first “baby.”

A pet’s status as the center of attention

can change when the family expects its

first child, but with proper planning and

training, the pet can readily adjust to the

new addition and share in the family’s

happiness.

There are a number of tips and resources

available to help parents prepare their

pets for the arrival of a new child.

What Are the Benefits of Raising Kids

with Pets? Not only will the pet benefit

from having another person to care for

him or her, but the child will also benefit

from interacting with a pet. According

to the American Academy of Child &

Adolescent Psychiatry, having a pet can

contribute to a child’s self-esteem and

self-confidence as well as help in forming

relationships with others. Pets can also

help children develop social skills and

compassion for others. Individuals who

grow up with animals often have very

fond memories of their childhood pets as

confidantes and playmates.

”Our animals have given us so many

gifts,” says Jennifer Shryock, a certified

dog behavior consultant and mother of

three with several dogs and cats of her

own as well as numerous fosters. “Hav-

ing pets has helped my children learn

valuable life lessons, including a power-

ful one about the lifecycle of pets when

one of our cats passed away.”

Joelle Coretti, mother to newborn son

Kyle and two large dogs says, “I can’t

wait until Kyle is old enough to start

playing with the dogs. They’re going to

have a ball! Plus, Kyle will learn how to

care for them and having dogs will help

him build immunities to allergies.”

Preparation is Key. To help pets adjust

to a child’s arrival, prepare your house

gradually and allow pets to become

accustomed to seeing the new furniture,

baby equipment and toys. Give pets, es-

pecially cats, an opportunity to check out

the furniture and other equipment.

“New moms often worry about cats

suffocating a baby,” notes veterinarian

Christine Terninko. “This is simply an old

wives’ tale. Allowing the cat to scope out

the baby’s room ahead of time will help

the cat make a smooth transition.”

Marie Joyner, chief operating officer and

lead trainer at Our Companions, recom-

mends that dogs be taken to obedience

classes prior to the baby coming home

so that parents can practice the sit and

stay commands to help manage the dog

once the child arrives. Training can also

strengthen the bond between pets and

their caregivers.


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Call Susan Linker(860) 242-9999, ext. 1

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Don't end up in the doghouse!!I will find you the purrrfect home.

Real Estate with Pawsitive Results.

L-R: Zack, Joe holding baby Kyle, and Phoebe.

“Having a pet can

contribute to a child’s

self-esteem and

self-confidence.”

by Kelly Alver

Our Companions News Fall 2007 Page 15Our Companions News Fall 2007 Page 2

Pets and Kids Go Together, more

Any pet training and behavior problems

should be addressed before the baby

comes home. If your pet shows signs of

fear or anxiety, seek help from an animal

behavior specialist.

“If your dog hasn’t interacted with kids at

all, it’s a good idea to expose them to kids

before the baby is born,” says Marie. “It’s

also important for parents to plan ahead

for when the child becomes mobile.”

Marie also noted that dogs sometimes

need to be taught how to walk away

from the child, and the child needs to

understand not to follow the dog when

this happens.

When Jennifer Shryock, who is also a dog

trainer, was pregnant with her third child

she started Dogs & Storks, which pro-

vides seminars to help families with dogs

adjust to having a child in the home.

“People don’t know what to expect with

parenthood,” says Jennifer. “Having a

plan for addressing any issues that might

come up with your pet once the child ar-

rives can assist pets with the transition.”

Jennifer recommends that families discuss

with their vet any special test for senior

dogs that may help indicate potential

medical concerns. Older dogs with arthri-

tis may be more sensitive over time as a

baby grows and becomes active.

To help prepare her dogs, a 5-year-old

German Shepherd named Zack, and a 3-

year-old Golden Retriever named Phoebe,

for her first child, Joelle Coretti attended a

Dogs & Storks seminar in Connecticut led

by Michelle Douglas.

“We learned a lot of great tips that helped

when Kyle arrived,” says Joelle. “Neither

of our dogs is crate trained so we use

baby gates to cordon off certain areas,

which has worked very well.”

In some cases, crate training your dog

may be recommended. Refer to the article

on page 11 for tips on crate training.

Baby Has Arrived! Before the baby comes

home from the hospital, bring something

with the baby’s scent on it home, such as a

T-shirt, blanket or newborn hat, and allow

the pets to sniff it so they become used to

the child’s smell.

When you bring the baby home from the

hospital, your pet may be very excited to

see you. Have someone else take the baby

into another room while you spend time

calmly greeting your pet. After the initial

greeting, take your pet with you to sit

next to the baby. Be sure to reward your

pet with treats for appropriate behavior.

“It’s also important that pets are never

left alone with a child,” says Dr. Terninko.

“Pets should always be supervised when

they are with children.”

Michelle Douglas, a professional dog

trainer and certified behavior dog special-

ist, notes that the baby should always

equal something positive for the dog.

“Your dog should learn that all good

things happen when the baby is present.

Treats should fall from the sky for a dog

that’s behaving appropriately with the

baby.”

“Set up a dog zone and a kid zone,” sug-

gests Michelle. “You can use baby gates to

separate your dog from the child. Make

sure you give your pet a treat or fun toy

to play with while it’s separated from

the baby. It shouldn’t be punishment – it

should be fun for your dog behind the

gate.”

The arrival of a new child is an exciting

time, but it can also be a stressful time for

pets. Remember that pets are part of the

household and need attention too.

“Set aside some uninterrupted time each

day to spend time with or play with your

pet,” recommends Dr. Terninko.

Continued on Page 13

Marketplace

Children and pets can co-exist happily with

preparation and supervision.

MissionOur Companions is a leader in the movement to end unnecessary euthanasia of pets in Connecticut.Our mission will be accomplished by:

Creating a sanctuary that will rescue pets who would otherwise be destroyed;

Providing progressive animal behavior programs and educational services; and,

Initiating partnerships among the animal welfare community to create state-wide programs that address the root causes of pet homelessness.


A Pawsitive Ending

Labeling a special needs pet “unadopt-

able” is an all-too-common practice at

shelters and almost inevitably leads to

euthanasia, according to Our Compan-

ions CEO Susan Linker, but doing so is

often premature and unnecessary. In

Susan’s experience, “There are many

people out there who are looking to

rescue a special needs pet—angels who

are very willing to do what needs to be

done to give an already challenged pet

the opportunity to lead a good life.”

When Dawn Mateo’s beloved cat Critter

was diagnosed with diabetes two years

ago, her first reaction was sheer terror at

the thought of giving insulin injections.

“I was terrified of getting injections, let

alone giving them, so I went through the

usual ‘poor me, what am I going to do’

reaction. But I love my pet.” With

coaching from her vet, Dawn soon over-

came her fear. “I decided to handle this

like you would any other tragedy in your

life. You learn how to deal with what you

are handed.”

Two years later, Critter was doing fine,

and even Dawn’s 14-year-old son Shawn

had learned to give meds. When an older

cat in the family passed away,

Dawn knew there was room in

her family for another disabled

animal. Our Companions

volunteer Andrea Baranyai

contacted her about a 10-year-old

calico who not only had to be re-

homed but had also recently

been diagnosed with diabetes and a

related skin condition, and Dawn knew it

was a perfect match.

Several months later, Freckle Face is a

happy member of the Mateo family. She

gets along well with her human and

hirsute companions, including the family

dog, and her skin condition and diabetes

are almost entirely regulated. “Life is

not that difficult with diabetic cats,” says

Dawn. “You have to be home every 12

hours to give meds, but most people are

home during those hours anyway.”

“Shawn is a big help,” says his mom. A

sophomore at Manchester High School,

Shawn “can’t remember to clean his

room, but he would never let 8:00 p.m.

go by without making sure the cats have

their meds. I could not be more proud of

him.”

Whatever the work involved, Dawn

firmly believes it is worth it. “The benefit

to having special needs animals is that

you are a hero. You saved a life. I am not

a very religious person, but I think that

God might give me some brownie points

toward getting into heaven!”

“It’s a philosophy that works for Our

Companions,” says Linker. “As a no-kill

organization, we are honored to meet the

‘angels’ who make our mission of saving

hard-to-adopt pets possible.”

Freckle Face

Above From L-R: Shawn holds Freckle Face,

Dawn with Critter and Crazy, their dog.

Right: Shawn and Critter relax together.

It may be riskier than working for a large

organization, but despite the gloomy sur-

vival statistics for new businesses general-

ly, many people believe that the potential

rewards of setting up shop for themselves

outweigh the chances for failure. Accord-

ing to the Small Business Administration,

over half of all new businesses fail out-

right within four years, and many close

the doors because their owners have lost

interest in the original premise. So in ad-

dition to creating a realistic business plan,

an important element in small business

survival seems to be finding a way to get

paid for doing what you love to do.

That was the goal for Aileen D’Angelo,

Beth Graywolf, and Myra Wahl, who in

recent years found a way to combine

their love for animals and their entrepre-

neurial instincts to launch successful

businesses. In addition to tapping into

their passion for animals, our featured

business owners are part of the growing

“pet economy,” now estimated to be $41

billion and rising annually according to

BusinessWeek magazine.

Hoof, Paw & Claw

Energy work for animals and people, animal

communication and canine triggerpoint

myotherapy.

After being laid off from the high-tech

industry for the second time, Aileen

D’Angelo decided it was time to see if she

could make a living doing something she

loved instead of just making a living. “I

wanted to do something that could make

a difference and help animals and their

people.”

As a practitioner of Reiki, an energy heal-

ing technique, she started out working

only on people, but a Greyhound named

George came into her life and changed all

that. “After using the Reiki with him and

seeing the benefits, I realized how open

animals are to the energy and started

shifting my practice toward working with

them.”

The risks seemed huge, as Aileen had a

house payment, five animals to support,

and did not know of anyone else who was

doing this type of work full time. It took a

leap of faith to believe that she could

really do this and find the clients to

support her new business. She also risked

paying for additional training in animal

communication so that she could expand

the services she offered, but eventually,

she became a certified Canine Trigger

Point Myotherapist.

As risky as Aileen’s situation was, it

was also exciting. “For many years, my

favorite saying has been ‘Listen to the

whisper, or wait for the brick.’ I believe

that my second lay-off was my brick from

the Universe saying it was time to take a

new path. Each time a new client came

my way, it was a thrill, each step becom-

ing less scary and more exciting. Each

animal I work with is a gift and a teacher

for me. Each has left their mark on me

and left me a better person and better

practitioner.”

If getting paid to do something you love

is your definition of success, Aileen is

definitely successful. “Each day I wake

up wondering who I am going to meet

and what kind of difference I might make

in their life. I was amazed, and I still am,

that even though I do not make nearly the

money I used to, my needs are met, my

bills are paid, and my critter kids are well

cared for. I cannot imagine doing any-

thing other than what I do.”

There’s No Paws Like Home

Dog walking, pet sitting, other pet care in the

home.

During her 25 years with the Connecti-

cut Humane Society, Beth Graywolf did

everything from kennel management to

law enforcement, vet technician to foster

care coordinator; but perhaps because

her mother had been self-employed, Beth

always dreamed of having her own busi-

ness. With two dogs and four cats of her

own, the one thing she knew for certain

was that she wanted her business to

involve animals.


Frisky Businessby Judith Ivie by Judith Ivie

Aileen and George.


Profiles in Giving

Our Companions is fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers and donors. Through their stories featured in this section, we hope you will become inspired to help animals in your own way.

Andrea Baranyai - Volunteer

Andrea Baranyai began volunteering at

Our Companions in January 2006 and

quickly became an expert in dealing with

some of the most complex cases that

come through our Helpline. Not only is

Andrea a Helpline volunteer, but she also

completed the Ambassador program, is

a regular spokesperson at the Petco in

Manchester, coordinates available adopt-

able animals, designs animal placements

fliers, aligns animals for showcase in

rescue outreach, plans and manages the

Our Companions Pet Adoption Days,

and much more. Andrea is willing to do

anything she can to help pets in need and

Our Companions.

By day Andrea uses her marketing

background as an assistant to a financial

advisor. Much of her time outside of this

is spent on activities to support Our Com-

panions, which has allowed Andrea to

fulfill her dream of working with animals.

We caught up with Andrea recently to

learn more about the experience she has

gained with Our Companions as well as

the important services she supports.

OCN: How did you become involved in

Our Companions?

As a child, I grew up with five cats and

we also tried to take care of the local wild-

life by making peanut butter

sandwiches each night for the

raccoons, opossums, skunks

and the three-legged fox near

our house. My parents taught

me to respect animals at a

very young age – even bugs

– I always remove them with

a cup!

Like most kids, when I

went to college I had no

idea what I wanted to do

with my life. I dreamt

of going to Africa and

playing with the lions,

but that wasn’t really an

attainable occupation. So I

got a degree in marketing

and after graduation I fell

into event planning and

administrative jobs, but I always felt like

I needed something more to make my life

complete. I still wanted to work with ani-

mals, but without a specialized degree or

experience, I didn’t think it was possible.

However, I started a new job where I

met Diane, a co-worker who volunteered

for Our Companions, and that was it. I

had found my opportunity to work with

animals!

Not only do I get to work with animals

through Our Companions, but I also have

a number of pets of my own. I have two

dogs, a 5-year-old female black Lab-Rott-

weiler mix named Doobie, a 3-year-old

male Lhasa Apso named Lhasa, three

rescue cats with Feline Immunodeficiency

Virus (FIV), Lucifer, Sassy and Franklin,

and three rescue birds – two Cockatiels

named Buddy and Lola and a white-

capped Pionus named Vicious.

Andrea with Doobie on

her lap and Lhasa at her feet.

by Kelly Alver

From Page 5

been very understanding about the time I

spend supporting Our Companions. I’ve

found an organization that represents

exactly what is needed in the animal

welfare community and it is incredibly

well organized. Even though I have a

marketing degree, I’ve never been much

of a salesperson, but I’ve discovered that

it isn’t hard to promote something that

you truly and 100 percent whole-heart-

edly believe in. I came in to the organi-

zation very green, but I have learned so

much and I love sharing information with

people to educate them about animals. If

you love animals and think that because

you don’t have formal experience with

them that you can’t do anything to help,

please volunteer for Our Companions

or another animal rescue organization.

You’ll learn a great deal and your efforts

will benefit animals in need.

Profiles in Giving, more

From Page 2

“Showing your pet that it’s a loved

member of the family will help him or her

adjust to the change.”

“We make an effort to be sure the dogs

have play time without the baby as well

as time with the family together,” says

Joelle. “The dogs sit next to us while we

hold Kyle and they have been very gentle

with him.”

If you do have any concerns about your

pet’s behavior after your child comes

home, contact your veterinarian or an

animal behavior specialist for advice.

Planning Ahead Helps Pets Adjust

Having a plan in place for when the baby

arrives and then becomes mobile will

help pets become acclimated to having

another person in the household.

“Most people feel better by having a plan,

says Michelle. “They feel better being

more informed and understanding what

to watch for.”

Children and pets have coexisted for

centuries and there’s no reason why

families can’t have both. With a little

advance planning, pets can share in the

happiness and joy of their family’s new

addition.

Pets and Kids Go Together, more

Oma’s Pride Natural Pet Food - Corporate Donor

Andrea Baranyai - Volunteer

From Page 7

from Our Companions regarding a dog

who was about to be euthanized. Later

that day, three of us from Miller Foods

visited the veterinary clinic where he was

being boarded. As soon as I walked into

the room where he was, his powerful tail

started wagging uncontrollably. He

was so happy and excited, and I knew

we were meant to be together, especially

when he started smothering me in kisses.

In conclusion

At the end of our visit, Cam gave me

some wonderful raw food products to try

with my cats – who, incidentally, are

hooked – seems they know a good thing

when they try it!

While my visit with Oma’s Pride certainly

helped me to better understand the ratio-

nale of providing a raw food diet to my

companion animals, equally important, it

restored my trust in the pet food business.

Step Five: Time to Close the Door

Once your dog is accustomed to working

on the Kong while lying down, you may

close the door and immediately open it

up again. Repeat this over time so your

dog doesn’t even notice the door has been

closed.

After some time, you may close the door

and leave it shut until just before your

dog finishes the Kong. Always open the

door before he finishes. You may also

remove the rope at this time.

Step Six: Make it a Habit

If you haven’t stopped

giving the Kong to your

dog outside of the crate,

do so now. It is impor-

tant that your dog only

receive the Kong while

he is in the crate. Time

permitting, have your

dog practice going into

the crate with the Kong as

often as possible without

ever leaving.

You may now lengthen the time he

spends in the crate with a closed door

after the moment he’s finished the Kong.

Each time he’s in the crate, wait a little

longer – at first for only a few seconds

until eventually the dog falls asleep.

“Never open the door if the dog is fuss-

ing. Panic is one thing but if you follow

this program, your dog should not feel

panicked. He may, however, need a little

reminding that he needs to lie down and

be quiet while he’s in the crate,” says

Marie.

Your dog can spend more and more time

in the crate while you’re home, even be-

ing fed dinner there or any time either of

you need a little quiet time. If your dog

behaves well in the crate, show him you

appreciate it and throw in a few treats.

Gradually you can begin to wander

around the house and eventually go

outside and back in again. As long as the

dog is not showing any signs of being

stressed, you will be able to leave the

house with your dog safely licking the

Kong. To test this, you may want to wait

outside your door to hear if your dog is

making any sounds or to

leave a video camera re-

cording him while you’re

gone.

If at any time your dog be-

gins to make noises while

in the crate, you will want

to practice reinforcing

quiet time while you’re at

home.

OCN: How has your involvement with

Our Companions changed since you

started to volunteer?

When I went to the Our Companions ori-

entation, I started with the Helpline, even

though I don’t like to talk on the phone. I

really wanted to be involved and wanted

to volunteer where they needed the most

help, plus it would be a challenge, which I

love. The Helpline is very challenging, but

can also be really rewarding. As I gained

more experience, I learned to specialize in

FIV-positive cats and began to handle the

most complex calls dealing with people

who are going into a nursing home and

need to have the pets cared for or owners

who have died unexpectedly. These cases

often involve older cats, some who haven’t

been to the vet in a long time, or a large

number of cats in a home.

I’ve become involved in a number of

other activities because I’m really inter-

ested in helping in any way I can. Besides

my Helpline responsibilities, I currently

arrange quarterly adoption events in

Manchester and I organize the pets that

will appear at the adoption events. I also

participate in the Petco events, providing

information and answering questions. In

addition, I coordinate adoptions, show pets

to prospective adopters, and deliver pets to

new homes or foster homes.

OCN: What are some of the most complex

cases you’ve handled?

One of the most complicated cases in-

volved 10 cats in New Britain whose owner

passed away and there were no provisions

for taking care of the cats. Most of these

were senior cats and all of them required

medical attention. In fact, eight of the cats

needed extensive dental care. We recruited

a vet to provide medical care for the cats. I

was in New Britain several nights a week

helping with the cats, and I contacted the

New Britain Herald about the cats and

they ran a story on the situation. As a

result, many members of the New Brit-

ain community came forward and either

adopted a cat or helped in some way. In the

end, all of the cats were adopted. This case

was the impetus for the Our Companions

Feline Fur-Get-Me-Not-Fund, which raises

money to help cats that have been left

behind and need serious medical attention.

OCN: How has your relationship with Our

Companions fulfilled your need to work

with animals?

I can’t go anywhere without spreading the

word about Our Companions. My friends

and family, especially my husband, have



Profiles in Giving, more

Above: Franklin supports Our Companions, too.

Below: Lucifer shows off his scarf.

Marie’s Den, more

Your dog will eventually view his crate as his home and he will be very happy for it.

There is no better way to honor your pet than to help other

animals who are less fortunate. By including Our Companions

in your estate plans, you will become a member of our Forever

Home Society which will help us fulfill our promise to help

thousands of abused and neglected animals who have no other

place to turn.

William James wrote, “The greatest use of a life is to spend it

on something that will outlast it.” Giving is one of life’s great

satisfactions, especially when you know that your gifts will

improve the lives of deserv-

ing animals for generations

to come.

Please contact Susan

Linker at (860) 242-9999,

ext. 1 to learn more

about leaving a timeless

gift to the animals.

Become a Member of the Our Companions Forever Home Society

While spending time in a crate may not

appeal to you or me, it’s a natural fit

for most dogs. Like their wild relatives,

domesticated dogs seek the security of a

den to guard against perceived dangers.

By crate training your dog, you are giving

him a place to call home as well as a sense

of well-being and confidence.

For humans, there are many advantages

to crate training our dogs. Dogs instinc-

tively do not like to mess in their home.

By establishing the crate as the dog’s

home and controlling when he is inside

it and outside of it, you are giving him

a routine as to when he can eliminate

outside of the crate and when he should

“hold it.”

Additionally, crate training has a positive

effect on a dog’s behavior outside of the

crate. Crate trained dogs tend to be more

confident and happier. They also are less

likely to have problems with excessive

barking and chewing. According to Our

Companions’ lead trainer, Marie Joyner,

“I do see a difference in dogs that are

crate trained. They are accustomed to

being managed and crate training teaches

them manners.”

Marie has six steps for dog owners

to follow when crate training.

Trained correctly, your dog

will probably choose to

be in the crate on his

own because it feels

that good to him!

Step One: Buy the

Perfect Crate

When choosing a crate,

size is the most impor-

tant consideration.

Your dog should be

able to stand up,

turn around and lay

down in the crate.

If the crate is too

small, your dog

will be uncom-

fortable. If the

crate is too big, he

may be able to mess in

one part of the crate and

not be bothered by it.

Step Two: Introduce the Crate

Once you’ve set up the crate, open the

door and toss in a few treats. Let your

dog walk in and out of the crate a few

times. Repeat this several times, leaving

the door open at all times. Do not close

the door.

Step Three: Introduce The Kong Toy

If your dog doesn’t already know that

a Kong toy equals yummy stuff, start

teaching him. Marie recommends that

you train your dog to eat from the Kong

separately from the crate. “You want

him to get hooked on the toy with-

out associating it with the crate,”

says Marie.

Begin by putting something tasty and

easy to get in and out of the toy such as

low-fat Liverwurst, canned dog food,

cream cheese, Cheez Whiz or peanut

butter. Once the dog becomes proficient

in getting soft foods out of the Kong, try

stuffing it with food that’s a little more

challenging such as biscuits or bully

sticks. You may also freeze the Kong to

make the treat harder to get.

Step Four: Put the Kong in the Crate

Once your dog is regularly receiving

treats in the Kong, you can begin to put

the Kong in the crate. Tie the Kong to the

crate (the Dental Kong is recommended

because it can be tied with a separate

rope). Using a simple loop, make the rope

as long as needed so that your dog

can lie down and lick the Kong. The

purpose is to mold your dog into lying

down while he is in the crate. Again, do

not close the crate door.


Yes, I was one of the millions of consum-

ers thrown into a tailspin over the pet

food recalls of this past spring. Talk about

feeling helpless – and even a little naïve

– even brands recommended for years

by veterinarians were implicated and

withdrawn from the shelves. I was sad-

dened to think about those animals who

perished as a result of unsafe manufactur-

ing practices, and I wanted to ensure that

I would not face the same fate with my

own pets – but after disposing of all the

product I had purchased, what were the

alternatives?

Initially my concern (and paranoia,

admittedly) led me to begin cooking fresh

chicken and turkey for my cats – and of

course, using only free-range, organic

meat. For weeks I performed this task

– sometimes late at night after a busy

day at work. It was okay at first – the cats

certainly relished having the fresher meat

– and I felt a little better about what

I was feeding them.

But eventually that

routine got old

and I knew that my

days as a short-order

cook for my cats were

numbered.

If anything good came

out of this pet food trag-

edy, it is increased aware-

ness about the true nature

of pet foods and what

alternatives exist beyond

the mass-marketed brands

we all know of, but know little about.

Much was made clear to me through a

recent visit with Miller Foods, of Avon,

makers of Oma’s Pride natural pet food.

Oma’s Pride has long been a major donor

to and sponsor of events for Our Com-

panions. The company regularly donates

food, is a major corporate sponsor for

the annual golf tournament, the Dogman

Classic, and sponsors many of our feral

cat initiatives including feral cat confer-

ences.

Cal Miller-Stevens, one of several family

members in the business recounts how

Oma’s Pride became involved in Our

Companions: “My sister, Sandi, met Su-

san Linker several years ago at a fundrais-

er, and the connection was immediate and

profound. People who love animals

have a natural affinity toward this kind of

work – wanting to ensure the health and

vitality of pets. In a way, it feels like we

share the same soul, separate pages in

the same book, all connected and con-

tributing to an important whole – in this

case, the well-being of humans and their

companion animals. “

Cal, Cam Miller and Sandi Trudeau are

three of several family members of the en-

terprise, which prides itself on providing

products of the absolute highest quality

– including its natural, raw pet food line,

derived from human-grade USDA-ap-

proved meats.

Although Miller Foods has been in the

business of marketing meats and other

fresh foods to consumers, restaurants,

and institutions since 1954, the Oma’s

Pride brand was created in 2000.

Camlyn “Cam” Miller-Stevens,

Vice President of Marketing

and Distribution, explains that

the raw pet food business

sprang up in part as a result

of requests from customers

for leftover meat parts for

their pets. “They would

come into the market

to purchase meat for

the family, and would

inquire about leftover

product suitable for

their pets,” says Cam.

Oma’s Pride Natural Pet Food - Corporate Donor

Profiles in Giving Marie’s DenCrate Training Success in Six Steps

Marie Joyner and her training partner, Jack.

by Jessica Beganskiby Jennifer Barrows

Camlyn Miller-Stevens and the 2006 Westminster

Kennel Club “Best in Show” winner, who is fed a diet of Oma’s Pride.

Around the same time, Sandi’s dog,

Harley, became very ill – nearly to

the point of having to be euthanized

– and in a final effort to save him,

Sandi started him on a totally raw

food diet. Within three months,

Harley was in perfect health. “Pretty

soon we realized that we were onto

something, and Oma’s Pride was

born,” says Cam.

In the beginning, Sandi took respon-

sibility for marketing the new product

line, staffing an informational table at

kennel club shows, educating consumers,

and increasing awareness of the raw food

alternative. This grassroots marketing ap-

proach contributed significantly to where

the company is today. In fact, the 2006

Westminster Kennel Club “Best in Show”

winner is fed an Oma’s Pride diet.

I had the opportunity to visit at length

with both Cam and her mom, Carolyn

“Cal” Miller-Stevens, and posed the fol-

lowing questions:

OCN: Why is a raw food diet so impor-

tant?

Cam: As far as commercial kibbles are

concerned, most are 70% filler, additives

and/or preservatives. A raw food diet

minimizes problems associated with

stools, allergies, skin, coat, and diges-

tive system, as well as tartar build-up on

teeth, and contributes to the overall well-

being of the animal. Since humans in this

country typically consume the muscular

components of animals, feeding the other

components (meat, bones, organs, etc.)

to pets completes the circle of life. In the

wild, cats and dogs would consume most,

if not all, components of the animals they

hunt. Cats and dogs actually need to

have meat, bones, and organs as part of

their diet to ensure that they get complete

nutrition.

While the Oma’s Pride offerings for both

cats and dogs contain whole bone, bone,

meat, and organs, the dog food line also

includes vegetables in its composition.

Cats are carnivores, while dogs are omni-

vores.

OCN: Have you

found increased

interest in Oma’s

Pride products

from consumers

worried about the

recent pet food

recalls?

Cam: It was a

sad and unfortu-

nate way to get

business but the

fact remains that

dogs and cats are

healthier when fed a raw food diet.

We have seen an increase in business

as a result of these events.

OCN: Do you conduct any formal

advertising? How do people find out

about your business?

Cam: Mostly by word of mouth.

Satisfied customers spread the word

for us – they are our best resource.

OCN: Tell me about any important

animals in your life.

Cam: It was actually through Our

Companions that I rescued my dog,

Gabriel, in March of this year. “Gabe”

is an American Staffordshire Terrier-

Boxer mix. He’s my shadow, and even

accompanies me to work.

OCN: How did you know Gabe was the

one for you – had you been looking for a

while?

Yes, in fact, I had been looking for some

time – waiting for the right one to come

into my life. One Friday we got an e-mail



From Page 3

Beth prudently decided to minimize

the financial risk by starting out part-

time and working from her Bloomfield

home. In October of 2006, she gathered

her courage and placed small ads in

the Yankee Flyer and Wethersfield Life

for her new pet-sitting business, There’s

No Paws Like Home. To her delight,

she received a few telephone calls that

turned into assignments, so she placed a

few more ads. Each week, the number of

calls grew, as did word-of-mouth public-

ity she received from satisfied clients. By

November, she had to resign from her

full-time job to cope with increasing client

volume.

Today, she is logging over 1,000 travel

miles per week as she moves enthusias-

tically among her charges from Rocky

Hill to Avon to North Granby. “I love my

clients, and I love their pets,” Beth says.

“I can’t wait to see them,” and apparently,

the feeling is mutual. “A client called me

recently and said her dogs were glad to

see her when she got home, but then they

looked around as if to ask, ‘Where’s Beth?’

That’s because my visits are fun for them.

I take them for long walks or for a ride,

and maybe give them a yummy cookie.

It’s kind of like being a grandparent!”

Planet Bark LLC

Luxury boarding for dogs, doggie daycare,

massage and basic grooming.

When Myra Wahl was a sales manager at

UPS and traveling extensively, she fretted

about how best to care for her dogs dur-

ing her frequent absences. Her Weima-

raners needed continual socializing with

people and other dogs in order to thrive,

so a simple pet-sitter was insufficient to

meet their needs. Having experienced the

problem herself, Myra knew there was a

niche for a higher-end service to accom-

modate working professionals while they

were away on business or pleasure.

Leaving a stable, 12-year career with a

Fortune 500 company was an enormous

risk, but Myra invested all of her sav-

ings, including her stocks and thrift plan

balance, into the venture. It was sink or

swim, but in a scary sort of way, it added

to the excitement of the new venture and

increased her determination to make a

success of it.

As it turned out, she need not have

worried. “My biggest challenge was that

I was not prepared for the explosion of

growth. I had 60 clients on a wait list

before I even opened the doors.” Today,

Myra manages the needs of over 1,400

clients. In 2005 she received a Connecticut

Businesswoman of the Year award. Planet

Bark is currently organizing The First

Annual Dog Leg Golf Classic to be held at

Gillette Ridge on September 29 to benefit

Our Companions. For more information,

visit www.doglegclassic.com.

In conclusion.

The fun of being able to work with

animals on a daily basis helped each

of these intrepid women overcome the

risks of self-employment and create a

“frisky business” that offers much-needed

services to pet owners throughout the

region. Equally important is the inspira-

tion that they offer to all of us who have

ever dreamed of working for love, as well

as for money. They’re living proof that it

is possible.

Frisky Business, more Profiles in Giving, more

Camlyn Miller-Stevens behind the counter at Miller Foods.

As carnivores, cats appreciate a raw diet.

Myra Wahl, owner of Planet Bark.

Beth Graywolf of There’s No Paws Like

Home

Please visit out www.ourcompanions.org for some recent updates:

Capital Campaign Case Statement. Fundraising is integral to the success of Our

Companions. Without financial support, we cannot offer services to the com-

munity or continue to build the dream of New England’s first domestic animal

sanctuary.

One of the most important tools we have in raising funds is our case state-

ment. The case statement allows us to summarize our mission, goals and

achievements so that people across the state can participate in the vision of

Our Companions. Recently, we had our case statement redesigned and are

proud to unveil it.

Even if you’ve been involved in Our Companions since inception, we invite you to

get to know us again. In it, you will find heartbreaking and heartwarming stories

of animals in need and how Our Companions responded. We hope that you will

become reinvigorated with a passion for animals and continue your support. Also,

we want you to see how much we

have achieved with your

assistance so far.

Sanctuary Virtual Tour. Our Virtual Tour has also been updated. The tour will

take you step-by-step through Our Companions’ ambitious project to trans-

form the site of a former commercial egg farm into a place of hope and beauty

for homeless pets. Visitors to the Web site will see the updated site plan, more

detailed plans and sketches of the individual buildings including the Rescue Cot-

tage and Adoption center, plans for the pet housing buildings, and even a look at

what the typical day for a resident in a Cat Condo or Dog Cottage might be.


Our Companions News

New Online - Capital Campaign Case Statement and Updated Virtual Tour

Last summer, we hosted a ceremony announcing the ground

breaking campaign to raise money to demolish the buildings and

clean up the site that will be home to Our Companions Domestic

Animal Sanctuary. Thanks to your generous support and the

demolition contractor’s generous donation of services, the buildings

in Ashford are coming down.

The contractor has already demolished one of the large commercial

chicken coops. Idle for the last decade, the “Triple Decker” was the

oldest and most dangerous of the buildings on the site and was first

to go, even though it was the smallest of the buildings.

Over the next few months, the contractor will tear down two addi-

tional, larger chicken coops as well as the egg processing plant. Soon,

the biggest buildings in Ashford will be gone.

Demolition Update

Studio 970 Pet Calendar -Vote Today for Your Favorite Cover Pet

Photos of demolition.

by Jessica Beganski

During the last two years, dozens of Our Companions supporters have

had their pets photographed by Studio 970 as part of the “Love Your Pet”

fundraiser to benefit Our Companions.

This year, Studio 970 is putting together a calendar of some of the pets photo-

graphed. Before the calendar is printed, Studio 970 wants your help in select-

ing the Cover Pet. To see the contestants and to vote for your favorite photo, go

to www.studio970.com. Hurry, voting ends on September 30.

The calendar will be available for purchase in the fall. Contact Susan Linker at (860) 242-9999, ext. 1 for more information.

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