Dogs help young readers

The Columbus (OH) Dispatch ran a great article on April 7th on therapy dogs used by teachers to help chldren with their reading. I had never heard of this specific purpose for dogs, but it sure makes sense. My dogs listen to me sing and tell them stories; why not dogs providing a rapt, nonjudgmental audience for young or reluctant readers.

The article, by Jane Hawes, notes the New Jersey-based Therapy Dogs International and you can learn more about their "tail-waggin' tutors" by clicking on this LINK. There are 19,000 "reader dogs" in the US and Canada!

As the parent of a special needs kid who struggles to read, I am all for this. Dogs love to feel included, to have a job. Kids love dogs. Dogs love to listen. Kids love to learn. Kudos to all involved!

Honda's Dog Friendly Element

Check this out: Honda has shown the Honda Element SUV at the recent NY Int'l Auto Show.

It has:

• a cushioned pet bed with safety restaints in teh cargo area
• a spill-resistant water bowl
• a ventilation fan
• a folding ramp giving dogs an easy way to get in the car.
• a pet carrier in the backseat
• machine-washable seat covers
• rubber floor mats with dog patterns

This car should be available in the fall and is assembled in East Liberty, Ohio (yeah!).

Personally, I think the Element is a really strange looking car. I've got a Chevy Venture Van, 2001, and it works great for our three dogs (and a parrot in a traveling cage on long trips). I can put my plus-size son, his girlfriend and her wheelchair, plus two small dogs, and various picnic supplies easily in the van. I've had a Toyota Rav4 in the past, and very much prefer a van over an SUV. I don't like climbing up into a car.

But what interests me is that Honda has listened to what consumers want in a car and how to fit the car to their lives. A lot of what they are offering in this car may be easy to get a la carte and put into the car you already have. For instance, our Pekingese goes ballistic when left in the car (window cracked or a/c left on, of course). My son recommended I set up the extra dog cage in the back of the van for him, so he will feel he's in his "den." (He loves his crate at home and goes in there on his own at 10:00 pm when he feels everyone should be sleeping.) So, I'm going to try that soon, for our summer out and abouting.

A few years ago I purchased an "adapter-thingy" that fits into the cigarette lighter and has 2 electrical outlets on it (for same son's laptop with poor battery). Perhaps I could pull this out of a box in the garage and put it in the car with one of those little fans you can get at Walmart.

Washable car seat covers should be easy to find. We've already got a gallon of water and extra bowls in the car.

Sometimes making do is best in the long run. We won't be purchasing the Element, but it's an interesting trend, no?

First Dog, Bo

I'm really glad that the president's promise to his daughters, to get them a dog, has brought to the forefront so many issues surrounding acquiring a pet. What is the best way to find a pet for your family? What is the best pet for your family? At the very least, all the hype over the First Dog has gotten people thinking about how these decisions are made--and that is a good thing. (Click here for a link to the video on the First Dog.)

Pets should not be an impulse purchase, but often they are. Shelters are full of impulse purchases. The problem is not with the animals, but with the lack of knowledge on the part of the "purchaser."

So, what sort of questions should families ask themselves before aquiring a pet? You can download a PDF of questions and important points to consider before acquiring a pet. Go to www.dreamtimepublishing.com and click on the button for Free Downloads (lower left column).

Now, back to the First Dog. The Christian Science Monitor has a good column up today asking "What about the President's promise to adopt the first dog?" Read the article and see what you think. Did Obama go back on his word, or did he find an acceptable medium (i.e. adopting a dog that had been returned by it's purchaser. It needed a new home, and Obama provided it)?

In addition to writing about animals (in this blog and in the book Open Your Heart with Pets), I am also a publisher. I publish a book on African Grey Parrots that has a chapter on breeding. This book is one of our big sellers; anyone with an African Grey parrot needs to read this book because they are very intelligent, complex pets and there are not a lot of books out there with the level of detail contained in Bobbi Brinker's book. As the same time, as a person who has fostered rescued parrots (one of them in his 30s, and two in their 20s), I feel uncomfortable with the idea of bringing still more parrots into the marketplace.

I'm not a person with strong, polarizing views on things...I tend to be a middle-of-the-roader and look with respect and a bit of awe at those who are so sure their views are correct. But I recognize that since my parents bought me my first dog (a Dachshund named Joey) at age 6 or so, my understanding of animals/pets has evolved over these many decades. Even what I considered acceptable 10 years ago has changed. I can only believe that in 10 more years, my views will have evolved more. What will those views be? Everything I learn about animals leads me to believe that still waters run deep, and we humans haven't treated them as we should. Of course, I also feel this way about the elderly, disabled, children, and the disenfranchised, hungry, poor people throughout the world. But, let's stay on topic...

Sometimes there is so much that needs to be done, it's easier to close our minds to everything, rather than realizing we can specialize as individuals in what we care about. But funny how environmentalism, fair trade, organic gardening, animal rights all seem to overlap. Thank god for books and universities and museums and magazines and newspapers and the Internet where we can learn about diverse viewpoints and new ideas about animals and the world.

Well, off my soapbox for now. Congratulations First Dog Bo, for finding your forever family. May the Obama daughters enjoy many years loving you and whispering their thoughts into your soft coat. If only dogs could talk!

Designer Dogs

Newsweek magazine has an in-depth article this week (April 13, 2009) on "A (Designer) Dog's Life. Written by Suzanne Smalley. This is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in the humane treatment of pets, dogs in particular, and the pros and cons of breeding, purebreds, and mixed breeding for profit, as well as the story behind the idyllic Amish and Mennonite farms in Ohio and Pennsylvania who sell puppy mill dogs at auctions.

I won't attempt to re-cap Ms. Smalley's article: she's done the research and writing, and Newsweek visited the farms and also talked to the farmers and to animal-rights activists. Please read the full report yourself at Newsweek.

Here is a fact I found interesting.

"According to Bob Baker, who investigates puppy mills for the ASPCA, these dogs typically receive little if any vet care, are kept in tiny cages 24 hours a day and rarely interact with humans. 'The difference all comes down to raising a dog as a loving pet versus cash crop,' says Baker, who estimates there are between 5,000 and 10,000 puppy mills in the United States, with as many as 2,000 in the Amish and Mennonite countryside."

Five to ten THOUSAND mills...that's not puppies, that's mills. A farmer with one male dog and four females might produce 48 puppies a year (in one example given by Smalley). That would mean 240,000 to 480,000 puppies per year! And I wouldn't be surprised if some farmers had more than five dogs breeding.

I don't know how we can change the fate of dogs in shelters without also going to the source. Free spay/neuter programs should be available to seniors, folks with disabilities, and families on public assistance. Low cost spay/neuter should be available to others. Legislation must address puppy mills. North Carolina, Washington, Oklahoma and about 24 other states, Smalley says, "are considering or have recently passed bills to improve conditions in puppy mills."

Here in Athens, Ohio, every Saturday morning you can see a few faithful protesters holding signs along the highway fronting Petland (see Petland protests here). Hats off to them! Long before I knew better, I purchased a Pekingese from Petland. The few faults that he has I am sure are due to his early non-socialization, and the first five months of his life spent confined in a small cage. He is a wonderful dog, but I will never purchase a dog, cat, or bird from a pet store again.

For more information on this subject, visit:

A Designer Dog's Life: Newsweek 4/7/09

Inside the Puppy Mills: Newsweek 12/13/07

The Oprah Winfrey Show: Investigating Puppy Mills 4/4/09
Also: What You Need to Know Before Getting A Dog
And: The Truth About Animal Shelters and Responsible Breeders

North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

The Humane Society of the U.S. (Stop Puppy Mills.org)

Petland Rallies:

Another nationwide demonstration is taking place at Petland stores from 1 to 3 p.m. (unless otherwise indicated) on Saturday, May 9, and we want you to be there! At these peaceful, lawful demonstrations we will be asking Petland again to please stop selling puppies! Contact your local organizer with any questions that you may have. We will supply the signs and flyers; all you need to do is show up. Unless otherwise noted where to meet, please assemble only on the public walkways in front of the strip mall.

Regulation of Commerical Animal Dealers (US Dept. of Agriculture)

Animal Welfare Act (US Dept of Agriculture, PDF)

Puppy Mills: Dogs Abused for the Pet Trade: Factsheet from PETA

Puppy Mill Rescue: 501(c)3 that finds new homes for breeding dogs from puppy mills

United Against Puppy Mills
Also: Finding a Reputable Breeder

Note: September 19, 2009 is the annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day.

Pet Food Banks

When families are struggling to have enough food to put on the table, they can turn to gardening, food banks, community gardens, programs like Share...but where can they go for pet food?

Here are links to several places online that are working to see that all pet-guardians have enough food for their precious pets.

Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs updated their national list of food bank programs on 3/28/09. Click on their link to pull up a PDF of the list, or visit this webpage.

This link at Pet/Expo also has some good tips.

Save Our Pets (Atlanta) Includes a state-by-state list of pet food banks.

The Humane Society of the United States, (click on "pet tips").

The Pet Food Bank (Since 1997, TPFB has supplied over 50 different animals rescues with much needed food and supplies through generous donations from manufacturers and retail stores. With the help of volunteers, we are able to collect and transport these items to the shelters throughout Southern California and Mexico.)

Pets during flooding in ND

While my husband and I watched the news of the rising Red River and flooding, my thoughts turned to the pets; the beloved companions of people forced to leave their homes. Today, I see this AP article about provisions made for pets... What can we say to the people who gave their time, energy, money, supplies, and compassion to this effort? Thank you doesn't seem like enough, but it is all we know to say. "We see your work on behalf of pets and those who love them. Thank you."

The Humane Society, along with Adopt-A-Pet and emergency managers in Fargo and Moorhead, Minn., turned a pavilion normally used for horse and cattle shows into a flood shelter and started accepting pets late last week.

By Sunday, the shelter housed 71 dogs, 79 cats, 37 horses and a variety of other furry evacuees. Another 200 "pocket pets" such as guinea pigs, birds and rabbits were being housed at the Red River Zoo in Fargo. North Dakota State University's Horse Park had between 200 and 300 horses.

And a press release from United Animal Nations:

UAN 2009 Press Release
EARS Volunteers Helping Pets Displaced by Red River Flooding
UAN deploys volunteers trained in emergency animal sheltering to Fargo, North Dakota
FARGO, ND (March 27, 2009) – Today California-based United Animal Nations (UAN) began deploying trained emergency sheltering volunteers from across the Midwest to care for animals being displaced by the rising Red River in Fargo, North Dakota.
Volunteers with UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) will care for animals as they are evacuated or rescued from flooding at a temporary emergency shelter located at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. UAN will deploy 15 EARS volunteers per day to the emergency sheltering operation; so far, volunteers have traveled to Fargo from Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana to help the animals.
“Our EARS volunteers are trained in emergency sheltering, and they are ready, willing and able to come to Fargo at a moment’s notice to help the animals in harm’s way and to provide peace of mind to their families,” said Diann Wellman of Hartford City, Indiana, a volunteer Regional Director for the EARS program who is at the temporary shelter in Fargo.
With more than 4,000 trained volunteers, UAN can deploy its Emergency Animal Rescue Service when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving large numbers of animals. In its 21-year history, UAN has responded to more than 80 natural disasters and other crises, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; the Greensburg, Kansas tornado in 2007; and the flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2008.
UAN is deploying EARS volunteers to Fargo at the request of the Fargo-Moorhead Humane Society and The Humane Society of the United States.
Visit our Emergency Response Blog for periodic updates and photos from the field.
For disaster preparedness tips for animals, visit our Web site at www.uan.org/disastertips.
To support our efforts, donate to our Disaster Relief Fund.
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and into care through a variety of programs, including emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services, financial assistance for urgent veterinary care and humane education. Learn more at www.uan.org

Parrots who save people

Check out this story on NPR, also found on most major news venues, about a parrot who alerted the babysitter to a toddler's choking.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102322618

Anyone who has spent years with pets knows their uncanny ability to sense danger. In my own life, I've had a dog who knew a guy leaving an apt. next door was a burglar, even though I didn't. Another dog who could smell cancer and also recently alerted me by throwing himself against my leg as I was doing T-shirt transfers--right before I realized the paper was burning and just before the smoke alarm went off (that's Tyler, as you may have guessed).

If only we could learn from animals intuitive/instinctive intelligence. We'd be able to have a heads up when someone was lying to us...when strangers had been in our yard...when a storm was turning dangerous...when our bodies were giving off subtle scents and changes signaling illness.

As we progress in the 21st century: I look forward to our understanding of animals increasing...there is so much to learn!

The following is a list of books that I found helpful in writing my book "Open Your Heart with Pets."

Animal Miracles by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 1999)

Beauty in the Beasts: True Stories of Animals Who Choose to Do Good by Kristin von Kreisler (New York: MJF Books, 2001)

Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan with Milissa Jo Peltier (New York: Harmony Books, 2006)

The Character of Cats by Stephen Budiansky (New York: Penguin Putnam, 2002)

Dogs Never Lie About Love by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (New York: Crown Publishers, 1997)

The Dogs Who Found Me: What I’ve Learned from the Dogs Who’ve Been Left Behind Ken Foster

Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons with Sarah Wilson (New York: Warner Books, 1992)

The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas (New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993)

Jack Hanna’s Ultimate Guide to Pets by Jack Hanna (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1996)

New Perspectives on Our Lives with Companion Animals by J.A. Serpell (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1983)

Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp (New York: The Dial Press, 1998)

Post-Trauma Stress: A personal guide to reduce long-term effects and hidden emotional damage caused by violence and disaster by Frank Parkinson (Boston: DaCapo, 2000)

One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter by Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer (Santa Cruz, CA: No Voice Unheard, 2003)

Best Friends: The True Story of the World’s Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary by Samantha Glen (New York: Kensington Books, 2001)

Pets and People: The Psychology of Pet Ownership by Barrie Gunter (London: Whurr Publishers Ltd, 1999)

Speaking Out for Animals: True Stories about Real People Who Rescue Animals, Kim W. Stallwood, Ed. (New York: Lantern Books, 2001)

Successful Dog Adoption by Sue Sternberg (Indianapolis: Howell Book House, 2003)

A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas (New York: Harcourt Books, 2006)

The Wonderful Thing about Pets: Remarkable stories about the animals who share our lives from Gary Burghoff and the editors of Pets: part of the family™ (New York: Rodale, 2000)