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pring time is finally upon on! Time to getout and enjoy some fresh air with ourfour-legged ones. For many, this time of

year means weekend landscape projects. Whilesome dogs will merely admire your work, othersmay lend a helping paw and turn your hard workinto a pile of dirt. For helpful tips on how tocurb your dog’s digging, turn to page 16.

We have come to acknowledge our pets as mem-bers of our family. When we lose them, it can bejust as difficult as the loss of a human. LauraSpringer with Fond Memories Pet Cemeteryoffers some suggestions on how to cope withsuch a loss and how to honor and remember ourpets with dignity.

Editorial

S

Issue 1: Volume 5www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Our adoptable cover dog Hamill comes to usfrom Guardian Pit Bull Rescue. As a new rescueresource, they are truly dedicated to advocatingfor this great breed and have developed anambassador training program to promoteresponsible pit bull ownership in our communi-ty. To read about Hamill and other dogs avail-able through this organization, flip to page 20.

Be sure to check out the calendar for fun pet-related events. And for more up-to-date infor-mation, become a fan on Facebook or follow uson Twitter.

Happy Spring!

Jennifer Kitchens

URBAN PAWSMAGAZINEP.O. Box 1556Spring, Texas 77383www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com

Design and layout by:ZOECOCREATIVE

© Copyright 2011. No part of this publication may bereprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publish-er’s written permission. Urban Paws magazine assumesno responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, feature andidea submissions, or photographs, and such material willnot be returned. Urban Paws magazine assumes no lia-bility for the contents herein and has the right to refuseadvertising for any reason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product or service containedherein; we do encourage you to support our advertiserswhenever possible.

Please tell our advertisers you hear about them inUrban Paws!

On the CoverHamill, photographed byAshlee Newman Photography.

6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Calendar

March 2011 Events For a full listing of events, visit:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

MARCH 5Harness up your faithful Dachshund for thefirst annual Wild West Wienerfest. Enjoywiener races, vendor booths, concessions andentertainment. Event proceeds benefitDachshund Rescue of Houston. For moreinformation, visitwww.dachshundrescueofhouston.org.

MARCH 5Fetch your sneakers and your furry friend forthe 2011 Houston SPCA Mutt Strut andRunway Race. Win great prizes by raising $25or more in pledges to help give Houston’shomeless, abused and neglected animals a sec-ond chance at life. For more information, visitwww.hspca.org.

MARCH 5-6SpringFest Wine and Art Festival in Old TownSpring. Several rescue organizations and theiradoptable dogs will be on hand at this freeevent. 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Saturday and10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday. For wine tast-ing tickets and information, visitwww.oldtownspringtx.com.

MARCH 12Discount vaccination clinic at Four SeasonsVeterinary Hospital from noon - 4:00 pm. Formore information, visitwww.fourseasonsvet.com.

MARCH 13The Houston Rockets have selected SNAP asone of the beneficiaries of their annual Tux &Tennies Charity Gala. The gala takes place onMarch 13, 2010 at the Toyota Center. Doors

open at 6:30 p.m. Dinner, the program and alive auction take place from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.Attire is black tie/cocktail and tennis shoes.

MARCH 24Dock Jumping classes at Rummy’s Beach Club.6:00 - 7:30 pm. To register, visitwww.rummysbeachclub.com.

MARCH 26Bark Busters Group Training Sessions begin at6:30 - 7:30 pm at Prestonwood Kennels. Formore information, call 281.890.9090.

MARCH 27The Houston Humane Society hosts Poochesof the Caribbean, the 30th Annual Fun Runand Walk at Sam Houston Park. One milecompetitive run or one mile non-competitivejog/walk begins at 10:00 am. Registration is$25 and includes a limited edition shirt, doggybandana, race bibs and a goody bag. For moreinformation, visit www.houstonhumane.org.

MARCH 26-27Two days of fun kicks off on Saturday morn-ing at 10:00 a.m. with the HEB Plus! Pet andOwner Fun Run followed by the national DockDiving competition presented by MeadowlakePet Resort. Other demonstrations include:Flyball, Agility, Hunting Poodles, Obedience,and Grooming. Vendors are also on hand sell-ing pet novelty items, giveaways and discounts.For more information, visitwww.cityofpearland.com.

Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the mostup-to-date information, news and events!

Paw Press

News &Happenings in the Houston Area

HOUSTONAREA PETWASTE REMOVALCOMPANYHAS ANEWNAMEThe pet waste removalcompany formerly knownas Call to Doody will now

be known as All About Doody. With moretrucks, more employees and expanded serviceroutes, All About Doody will continue withtheir number one priority - keeping yardsdoody-free. New pet waste products for bothresidential and commercial clients have alsobeen added to the company’s growing list ofproducts offered. If you are considering a petwaste removal company, ask about their newclient special. Rates and specials are availableonline at www.calltodoody.com.

PET FRIENDLYHOTEL TOOPEN INMEMORIAL CITYOpening in March 30, 2011, The Westin

Houston Memorial City promises to beHouston’s newest upscale area destination hotelfor local professionals, civic and charitableevents as well as business and leisure travelers.Located in the heart of the bustling

Memorial City District with close proximity tothe Energy Corridor, Westchase District andCitycentre, and conveniently connected toMemorial City Memorial Hermann Medical

Center and Memorial City Mall via skybridge,the new Westin Houston Memorial City willoffer guests a refuge from the challenges ofthe day and an oasis away from home.Visitors with pets can take advantage of the

hotel’s pet friendly amenities such as theWestin’s Heavenly dog beds, leashes and collars.

HDPA SEEKS PARTNERSHIPWITHLOCAL DEVELOPERS FOR ANORTH-WEST AREA DOG PARKThe Houston Dog Park Association is lookingto bring a dog park to Northwest Houstonthrough partnerships with greenspace develop-ers Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition andCypress Creek Greenway Project. A possiblelocation is a 40 acre park development plot atthe Northeast corner of Beltway 8 and 249,slated for 2011. Proponents of the Northwestdog park can join the initiative by attending thenext Northwest Area Dog Park Committeemeeting or a GBCC or CCGP meeting. Formore information on how to support thedevelopment of a dog park at this location,visit www.houstondogpark.org.

PAW IT FORWARD TRAININGANNOUNCES NEW PAWPARTNERSPROGRAMPet lovers will soon be able to join the PawPartners program sponsored by Paw it ForwardTraining. Annual subscribers will receive exclu-sive invitations to fundraising socials benefit-ting rescue organizations, discounts and othergoodies sponsored by Houston area businesses.Subscribers will also receive a Paw Partnersmembership card and a tag for your their pet.For more information, visitwww.pawitforwardtraining.com.

Urban Paws Magazine 7Pets Enjoying Westin’s Heavenly Dog Beds

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Ask Genevieve...monthly memoirs of a furry genius

Dear Genevieve,

My humans are always talking about somethingthey call the "stock market." They seem to behappy when something is up and mad when it'sdown. Can you explain it all to me?

Love,your fan, Sadie

Dear Sadie,

I have the same problem with Denny. He thinkshe can play at the stock market instead of get-ting a real job. Obviously something has gonewrong with his plan because he's still workingfor me and I pay him minimum wage. I don'toffer benefits, either, other than the honor ofhaving me be his boss.

The stock market is just a big roulette wheel inNew York City, and you can bet on it withoutleaving home. But instead of putting yourmoney on a number, you put it on companieswith names like Enron, Chrysler, and Bank ofAmerica. People who lose a lot of money atroulette are called "sick gamblers." People wholose a lot of money in the stock market arecalled "investors."

People should take a lesson from us dogs. Buryyour money in the backyard. Years from nowyou can dig it up and it will still be there.

Kibbles and Kisses,Genevieve

Genevieve’s Joke of the Month

A guy walks into a bar and orders a drink. Helooks into the back room and sees four men anda dog sitting around a poker table. He says to thebartender, "Why do they let the dog sit at thetable like that?"

The bartender looks at him like he's dumb andsays, "Because the dog is playing poker withthem."

The guys, astonished, says, "C'mon, no dog canbe that smart."

The bartender says, "He's not smart at all. Hewags his tail every time he gets a good hand."

I love that joke because it makes fun of humanswho think we're not as smart as they are.Actually, people who read my books often getthe impression that I think humans are dumb. Idon't think that at all. I rate human intelligencesomewhere above turtles' and a bit belowgophers'.

Email your questions to Genevieve at:[email protected].


Healthy Tails

CopingWith the Loss of a Pet

truggling to survive the rest of our lives

without our pets is often a topic we do

not consider when we are searching for that

ideal pet. As pet owners, we spend a consider-

able amount of time consulting books, friends,

vets and the internet looking for special qualities

that fit our lifestyle. Cat or dog? Do they shed?

Are they athletes or just couch potatoes? No

one seems to think about how their death will

affect us later in life, or if even the type of pet

makes a difference. As an emergency vet, I sur-

mise that it does matter and it ought to be con-

sidered.

As people make the agonizing decision to euth-

anize their pet, they have one objective in com-

mon, regardless of how the pet fits into their

lives, they do not want their pet to suffer. For

some, as soon as the pet passes away, the first

wave of loss is immediate. As an owner myself,

I know that it is the loss of pure and uncondi-

tional love. A pet will greet you at the end of a

bad day, soothe your troubled mind, sit beside

you in your hour of sorrow, play with you in

your days of glee, rise with you in the dawn to

help tend your sick children, beg for food, jump

on your guests, leave hair on the sofa, lick your

tears, nudge your face, sit beside you while you

ignore them, engrossed in TV or the internet.

They are always there, whether silent or noisy.

And when they are gone, you feel that loss like

the loss of a spouse or a child. It is your loss of

pure unconditional love and the loss of a soul

that knows no end to true joy. It is a soul that

tried to show us how to do that, to “be” more

like them.

Animals live in the moment, loving every minute

of it. They don’t waste their time blaming them-

selves about yesterday’s mistakes and they don’t

fret about tomorrows challenges. They have

something to teach us and they model those les-

sons for us every day. When the silence of night

creeps up on us and there are no food bowls rat-

tling around, no scratching in the litter box, no

jingling collars and clicking toenails that is when

the second wave of grief hits. They are gone.

The sadness and overwhelming grief can be too

much to handle. It’s okay. We’ve all been there.

There is no time limit on grief and don’t let any-

one tell you that there is. Find friends who have

lost their soul mate pets, they’ll understand.

There are pet loss grief support groups that can

help. If you can’t find one, start one. The

American Veterinary Medical Association has

several hotline phone numbers available. Finally,

there are therapists that can help. A therapist

friend of mine once told me that grief over a pet

often gives us permission to grieve over other

things in our lives. In this way, pets have given us

yet another final gift, the gateway to the gift of

grief. Grieving is necessary to healthy living and

your pet only wants and has always wanted what

is best for you.

S

ByDr. Laurie Noaker,Veterinary Emergency Referral Group, Inc.

o you remember the day you

brought your pet home? Did

you pick them or did they pick

you? At Fond Memories Pet

Cemetery & Crematorium, we know it was a day

filled with excitement, joy and anticipation of

finding just the right pet for you and your fami-

ly. Whether you decided on a young pet or an

older pet, they immediately stole your heart!

You bring them home, having made all the

preparations for your new addition, with expec-

tations for a long, healthy, wonderful life together.

Sometimes the unexpected happens and the

last thing you are thinking about is what to do if

your pet suddenly becomes ill, or tragedy strikes

and your pet passes away. Maybe you have had

your pet for a long time and they are growing

old. At some point they will no longer be with

you. How will you handle that? What should you

do? How will you cope? These are things no one

wants to think about but never the less, the time

will come and you will be faced with having to

make decisions for their final care. In this article

we hope to help guide you through this difficult

time, so that you can feel comfortable with the

decisions that you will make.

Fortunately, you now have choices and you

don’t have to leave it up to your veterinarian to

make decisions when your pet passes away. You

have the right to choose who will handle the

arrangements. By planning ahead and knowing

your options, you can make this difficult and

heart-breaking experience a little less over-

whelming. There are pet cemeteries and crema-

tories available to assist you with making

arrangements.

Pet cemeteries can provide a private cemetery

burial for your pet, much like a burial for people.

You can choose the burial site, casket and mon-

ument, then decide if you want a viewing and a

grave-side service. Make sure the cemetery you

choose is a dedicated pet cemetery and it is

recorded this way at the

county courthouse. If at

all possible, visit the

cemetery and meet the

staff who will be helping

you and taking care of

your pet. This way you

can make all of your

plans and decide when,

where and how your

pet’s funeral will be han-

dled.

Forever My Best FriendRemembering Those We Have Loved and Lost with Compassion

DBy Laura Springer, Fond Memories Pet Cemetery & Crematorium


Urban Paws Magazine 15

There is also the option of cremation. There

are a couple of choices for cremation and you

should research the options for each one to

determine what is best for you and your beloved

pet. You can choose cremation with ashes

returned, which is an individual cremation that

will assure that you receive only your pet’s ashes.

For an extra fee, most crematories offer a cre-

mation service at which you can actually be

present for the cremation. The specific details of

the services offered vary and is something you

need to ask about. Don’t be afraid to call and ask

questions about their procedures, how long they

have been in business, who takes care of the cre-

mations, how long it will take to get your pet’s

ashes back and what type of urn they will be

returned to you in. This information, along with

the conversation itself, can help you make the

right decision for your pet’s final care.

The other option you have with cremation is

to request cremation with ashes not returned.

This is a group cremation where several pets are

cremated together, without maintaining their

identity and the ashes are scattered and covered

with earth. At Fond Memories, this takes place

in a special area on our cemetery grounds.

Generally with this choice for final care, some

types of memorials are sent to the owner so

they can have closure and be certain their wish-

es were carried out. Our facility has a memorial

wall, where pet owners can place a plaque to

honor the memory of their beloved companion.

They are also welcome to visit anytime during

regular business hours, just to remember and

reflect on the life of their faithful friend.

Sometimes, even after you have made advance

plans, and possibly struggled with the decision

of euthanasia, the grief is just so overwhelming

you feel that you can’t cope. There are people

and organizations out there to help. Don’t think

you are the only one who is or who has strug-

gled with grief over the loss of a companion. It

is normal to feel the same feelings of grief you

would if this were a person that you loved and

cared for. While we are not licensed psychology

professionals or doctors, we do understand your

sorrow and sometimes it helps to just talk about

your loved one and how you felt about them.

We would love to hear your stories and maybe

share some of our own stories with you. We

would also be happy to give you some names of

professionals that can help with overcoming

your grief. You are not alone; there are people

who care and are available to help.

While most choices for your fun, furry or

feathered friend are endless, your choice for

their final care is up to you. Planning is essential,

just as it is for each one of us. Knowing what

you will do and who you will turn to in your

time of need will ease the burden of your pro-

found loss. We genuinely care and are here to

help in any way we can.

Gone but not forgotten, although we are apart.Your spirit lives within me, forever in my heart.


Training & Behavior

Is Your Dog Digging in Your Newly Landscaped Yard?

ogs love to dig, and for a variety of reasons that could include instinct, temperature control,

exploration, or just for the fun of it. If you have recently landscaped your yard, or are planning to do

some weekend landscaping, you certainly don’t want your dog to ruin all of that hard work.

Here are some tips to redirect and stop the digging. Remember, what works for one dog may not work

for every dog. Trial and error will play a part in this matter, but being consistent once you find what

works is a key element. Reward behaviors you want, and do not reward those undesirable behaviors.

One of the most important aspects of training to remember is be confident in yourself, stand your

ground and do not give in to the adorable eyes staring back at you!

D

ByChrissie DeCesare,Paw it Forward Training

Photo by Dawn Huczek


• There is the possibility your dog is bored by

not being challenged enough, physically or men-

tally. If your dog is still full of energy after a long

walk, give him an interactive puzzle. For exam-

ple, find a muffin tin and some golf balls. Put

your dog’s favorite treat in the muffin tin and

cover the treats with the golf balls. Do not

put a treat in every hole to create more of a chal-

lenge.

• Confine your dog when you can't supervise

him.

• Blow up some balloons and bury them in the

area your dog likes to dig. When a balloon is

popped, the noise of it popping startles your

dog. This is considered negative association and

many times is effective to extinguish a behavior.

Please supervise your dog if you try this because

you do not want your dog to swallow the balloon

pieces.

• If your dog has a favorite spot he likes to dig

try burying some chicken wire just under the sur-

face. Dogs tend to not like the feeling of their

nails scraping against the chicken wire.

• The Poop and Pineapple Combination. It

doesn’t sound appealing but it is effective. Place

your dog’s feces in the holes your dog created.

Most dogs do not like their own feces and will

be somewhat offended such a disgusting thing is

in the hold. The pineapple comes into play

because when your dog relieves himself with

pineapple in his system, the smell is extremely

offensive. This is also a great tool to use for

dogs who like to eat feces. Mix about one tea-

spoon to one

tablespoon of pineapple with your dog’s food.

Please consult your veterinarian before making

any diet changes.

• If none of the above methods work, you may

want to consider a remote electronic training

collar or e-collar. This method does work,

although this is not something commonly rec-

ommended to Paw It Forward Training clients.

In reality it works the same way as many of the

other techniques because it provides a negative

association to the act of digging.

Please remember that basic dog obedience train-

ing is a key element to correcting any dog behav-

ioral problems. We want to build trust and

respect, not fear. Our goal is to have your dog

eager to please you in all situations.

Have Dog, Will Travel

Adventures in the Lone Star State

pparently it's not just me. It seems as ifmost dog owners I speak to have some

version of the Travel with your dog “insert des-tination here” book gathering dust in a forgot-ten corner. Some, like myself, even have a stackof said books.

It's a new year. Time to eat better, join the gymand spend more time with family, especially ofthe four-legged variety. This past year was hecticand sometimes, Ben, my erstwhile companion,didn’t receive all of the attention that he so rich-ly deserved, or better yet, needed. Did I mentionthat Ben's a cocker spaniel? As a consummatemulti-tasker, I have for this new year, managedto roll two resolutions into one: Spend moretime with the dog and see more of the gloriousstate of Texas.

A

ByLauren Gittens,Gannette Professional Pet Sitting

Tromping through the Piney Woods, camping atEnchanted Rock, floating the Guadalupe - everymonth we're going to try something differentand visit a new place. It might not all be highadventure, maybe Sunday dinner at a restaurantwith a dog-friendly patio and then a stroll aroundMontrose. And we'll definitely be checking outsome of those dog-friendly B & B's.

2011 will be a year of work AND play. And whatbetter companion than one who comes for thecompany and not necessarily the destination?


Co-Pilot Protection PlanProtect your Pet’s Health with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Your enrollment helps homeless pets!

GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws

Gimme ShelterJoin us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!


Hamill is about 3 years old and is a specialneeds dog. He is deaf, but fully trainedwith basic obedience hand signals and e-collar. He has a wonderful personality anda solid temperament, enjoying the compa-ny of all people, cats, and dogs. Mostpeople don’t realize he is deaf because he’salways looking for your next direction.Unfortunately, most people can’t look pastthe fact that he is deaf once they find out.He is an easy-going, well-mannered, medi-um-sized package of happiness waiting forhis new partner in life! He is a true ambas-sador for his breed, offering love and loy-alty to everyone he meets!

Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however,there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes.

Ourcover dogHamill!

Guardian Pit Bull Rescue

http://guardianpitrescue.petfinder.com

Guardian Pit Bull Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of Pit Bulls. Our goalis to educate people by providing accurate information about this amazing and misunderstood group ofbreeds and find good homes for these great dogs. Our mission is to be advocates for this great breed inour community. We will attempt to rescue pit bulls in our local shelter and place them in great homes.

Check out our web site to view more adoptable dogs. Volunteer or foster opportunities are available.

Sarah is about two years old andhas already survived a miracle! Shewas pregnant and at the shelter.Once she started having her pups,it was evident things weren't goingtoo well. None of the babies madeit and Sarah had to have an emer-gency c-section, a blood transfu-sion, and lots of fluids and TLC inorder to survive. Now Sarah isthriving in her long-term fosterhome and we're getting to knowher. She is a mild mannered dogbut has a definite wild side (don'twe all?). Sarah loves playing fetchand tug, respects cats, and dislikessmall dogs. Like most moms andpit bulls, she feels the need to"correct" other dogs who mightbe acting up. Sarah needs a goodleader and will do best in a calmhousehold getting moderate exer-cise daily. She's a great apartmentdog, loves her crate, and is a biglover!

My name is Rahjah and I am a 21/2 year old male. I was rescuedby my foster family at GuardianPit Bull Rescue from a shelter inMontgomery County. Though Imay look intimidating, I am any-thing but. The best thing in theworld to me is being able to laydown next to you on the couch orin bed so you can pet me. I getalong with most other dogs andgreat with people. I sometimesdon’t realize how big I really am,so I will need an experienced andresponsible owner that will makesure I mind my manners. I amlooking for the right forever homethat can continue to give me thesame support and love that I willcertainly give my new family. I amcrate trained, house broken, andknow how to sit, stay, and laydown. If you’re looking for a bigguy that has just as big of a per-sonality and an even bigger lovefor people then I’m your dog.

My name is Hemi. I am a two-year-old neutered male, and yes, Iam full grown. I adopted my fos-ter family when I came into theiryard and started playing with theirtwo dogs. I refused to leave andkept coming back to play. Finally,they agreed to foster me. I loveplaying with other dogs, nappingin my crate and cuddling up nextto my foster parents to watch anoccasional TV show. I don’t barktoo much, but I will remind youthat I’m outside if you forget tobring me in. Although I am a bitshy at first, I’m very affectionate.When we first go outside, I justmight run circles around you andwag my tail up in the air to try toget you to play with me. I have agreat temperament and will be aloyal companion and will offer youunconditional love at the end ofevery day.

Buffy is a two-year-old female that has been spayed, is heartworm negative,micro-chipped, current on all shots, and on Heartguard and flea prevention.She is full of energy and more puppy like even though she is two! She lovesto run around the yard full blast! She is learning a few manners and she willmake an awesome pet/family member. She is great with all people and chil-dren. She is crate trained and is currently working on her manners. Buffy is avery sweet girl, loves attention, affection and just wants a family of her ownto love. She rides well in cars and does really well on a leash.

Alize is a 1.5 year old female,weighing about 45 lbs. She is fullof energy and still very much apuppy! Alize is crate trained andhouse trained. She has beenspayed, heartworm negative,micro-chipped, is current onshots, Heartguard and flea preven-tion. She loves being around peo-ple and playing fetch, most of thetime bringing the ball all the wayback. A very sweet girl that justwants to be by your side.


Sarah Rahjah Hemi

Alize

Buffy

adly, many among us have been condi-tioned by the exalted pit bull-related stories putforth in the media. And whether you are a sup-porter of the breed or not, it’s important toknow that the vast majority of these stories aremisinformed, limited accounts that represent aminority of incidents. The fact-based reportsand statistics on this breed offer an entirely dif-ferent picture. For starters, did you know that pitbulls were, actually breed to be nannies? Yes,they were breed to watch over children. In the1940’s and 50’s they were referred to as “thenannies of America”. After all The LittleRascals had a pit bull and so did Helen Keller.

The Pit Bull’s HistoryPit bulls have not only been trusted to care forhuman infants, but also have been branded asspokes-dogs for products and causes. Their pro-fessional portfolio includes serving as the facefor RCA and they were America’s choice to con-vey loyalty and integrity on WWI and WWIIcampaign posters to enroll troops.

Sergeant Stubby was the most decorated dog inmilitary history, and the only dog to have beenpromoted during battle. He fought in thetrenches of France for 18 months during WW1.Stubby was responsible for the capture of aGerman spy and succeeded in saving his pla-toon by warning them of a poisonous gasattach.

Presidential figures, such as Woodrow Wilson

and Jimmy Carter both owned a loyal pit bullcompanion. And General George S. Patton'sfaithful bull pooch, Willie, was noted to havemourned his master's loss for a long time afterthe general's passing. More recent celebrity fig-ures, such as Jon Stewart, Justin Timberlake,Brad Pitt and Jessica Alba, have been spotted,walking proud with their rescued pit bull com-panions.

So why is it that only pit bulls are publicized fortheir bad behavior? Any dog can be an aggres-sive dog. Labs, terriers and retrievers are all onrecord for biting. The truth is that statisticallyAmerican Pit Bulls are the least likely breed tobite.

Pit Bull Bias

The Little Rascals’ pal Petey

Fact vs. Fiction


By Jennifer Kitchens

S

Contrary to popular belief, pit bulls are natural-ly people-friendly dogs. In a recent study con-ducted by the American Temperament TestingSociety (ATT), the American Pit Bull Terrierachieved a passing rate of 83.9%, better thanbeagles (78.2%) and golden retrievers (83.2%).

How Far is Too Far?The question of banning the breed has sparkedanger on both sides of the debate. Proponentsof the ban believe that pit bulls are aggressive innature and are ticking time bombs. Opponentsdefend the breed saying that they are simplyprotective and can be loving members of thefamily.

Texas attorney Cynthia Stevens Kent is pushingto have all dog breeds that fall under the term“pit bull” outlawed in the state of Texas.Possession of a “pit bull”, as defined by Kent,would result in a third degree felony.

In a nutshell, the first proposal would ban all pitbull type dogs in Texas, making it a felony toown one. An alternate proposal would allowlocal government entities to ban or restrict pitbulls in their jurisdiction.

Justin’s Law is the legislation aptly named afterJustin Clinton, a 10-year-old boy that wasmauled to death in 2009 by two pit bulls. Afterwinning a $7 million civil suit against the dog’sowner, the Clinton’s are now proposing the leg-islation, though it currently has no sponsors ofthe Legislature.

Regardless of the breed, all dog owners are ulti-mately responsible for their canine companions.It is only with proper education and training thatwe can prevent the negative media that sur-rounds pit bulls.

A Proactive SolutionAaron Ogden, founder of Guardian Pit BullRescue, a non-profit pit bull specific dog rescue

Decorated military dog, Sargeant Stubby

in North Houston, is taking the necessary andproactive steps to change the public’s view ofpit bulls. “We take steps beyond just rescue andadoption, for us that’s only a small part of ourduties. We educate the public by working withlocal schools, advocating against breed discrimi-nation and breed specific legislation, and pro-moting responsible pit bull ownership in ourcommunity through our Ambassador Trainingprogram where we create ambassadors on bothends of the leash.”

Ogden says that running any dog rescue is achallenge, but running a dog rescue for a breedmany believe should not even exist is complete-ly different. Despite legislation aimed at banningbreed entirely and the media demonizing the pitbull’s reputation, he feels fortunate to be able tostand up and be the voice for these great dogs.While Ogden is often reminded that this is along and uphill battle, he feels confident thatgreat strides will be made, with the support ofour community.


The Scoop

Canine news, Reviews and Cool stuff !

Today there are over 300,000 apps availablethrough Apple. We’ve located some of themost useful and practical apps for dog owners.Download them to your iPhone, iPad or iPodTouch to find dog friendly parks, pet first aidtips and more. Many of them are free, whileothers cost just $3.99.

Dog Park FinderNear home or on the go, the Dog Park Finderapp powered byDogParkUSA.com has youcovered with listings of 2,400+ dog parks.Using your phone’s GPS, it finds the nearestpark, and includes photos, user reviews anddetails, such as if it’s fenced, has small dogareas, and the hours and days of operation.FREE.

Paw CardWith the Paw Card app, create an unlimitednumber of profiles for your dogs, cats, andother pets to keep track of their vital informa-tion and always have it with you. Record yourpet's ID tag numbers and vet contacts, andtrack your pet's medications, medical and vacci-nation history, and more. That’s not all, emailyour pet's Paw Card to your dog walker, pet sit-ter, or vet. FREE.

iSqueekAlways have a squeaky toy on hand to get yourdog’s attention, thanks to the iSqueek app, avirtual squeak-toy that reacts realistically toyour touch. Press on any of the 18 toys, eachwith it’s own sound, to create long or shortsound bursts to which your dog will respond.$1.99.

Pet First AidBe prepared with the Pet First Aid app andyou’ll have instant access to clear, conciseadvice for common pet emergencies. Withdetailed articles, video, and illustrations, you'llknow exactly how to care for your pet. Learnhow to handle bites and stings, bandaging,burns, bleeding, fractures, poisoning, and muchmore. $3.99.

FidoFactorLocate all the dog friendly spots in your areawith the FidoFactor app – dog parks, dogfriendly restaurants, bars, pet stores, hotels, andmore. And not only will you find directions,hours and contact information in its growinguser-generated database, you’ll also find userreviews too. FREE.

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