Home For Paws - Where Life Matters

Pet First Aid

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Marta Banat

When we first get a pet we don’t necessarily think of all the things that can go wrong. Sure, we might do some research into breed specific health problems, maybe we look into pet insurance, and hopefully when we get a kitten or puppy we proof the house to make sure their curiosity doesn’t get them in trouble. But we certainly don’t lay awake at night trying to come up with various scenarios of things going haywire. Well, maybe some of us do…

After Rocco’s bizarre accident, sitting at the vet’s, my mind was going miles a second storming through all the “usual” mishap: dog gets its tail caught in the door, cat falls off the balcony, dog gets hit by a car, dog twists its paw, cat gets its eye scratched, poked, stabbed….and so on….ad nauseam.

That’s when I realized that even though I have years of experience living and working with animals, I am not fully prepared for potential accidents. I decided to do some research and that’s when I found about Lisa and her pet care business Walks’n'Wags. Amongst many other excellent services, she also offers Pet First Aid classes. Not giving it a second thought, I signed up right away, and believe me that was money well spent! It does not matter if you work in the pet industry or you’re simply a pet owner, I highly recommend taking a pet first aid class. You can ask your vet or do a search on the internet to find classes offered outside of Vancouver.

I had a very general idea of what pet first aid is going to be about, but it turned out to be so much more than just CPR and securing a broken tail. Most of the class we discussed how to PREVENT accidents from happening, how to recognize and avoid dangers and how to look for symptoms of conditions that that can be easily treated before they turn into something more serious.

The class offers something interesting to all pet owners as it is not divided into cat or dog blocks. Issues are discussed as they apply to both, and it should be kept in mind that what applies to a cat is often true for a small dog. There was, of course, a practical component to the class. We started out practicing on plush toys:

After mummifying our little plush buddies, we moved on to the live subjects who graciously allowed us to touch, poke and probe them. We had Lisa’s dog, Buddy, and Rocco to test our skills on.

Rocco was very patient with our attempts to save his life. A bit confused…but patient.
After passing a practical life saving, attending to injured animal test, we had just under an hour to complete a written exam (multiple choice, easy-breezy). I am happy to report that all participants passed and are out on the streets, ready to assist a pet in distress. And as to Rocco: he survived!

I must say that having these skills and resources (first aid kit and a book and pamphlets) made me feel much better prepared to handle an emergency situation. It is empowering to know the proper steps and actions rather than trying to make educated guesses in an already stressful situation.

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The Joy of Paws

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Anna S. Christie 2010

Whenever we had kittens around the farmhouse we didn’t need the TV. Right around prime time we’d just settle in for the show. Let’s face it: pet ownership is fun. We especially get a kick out of pets when they’re young. Baby mammals of all varieties like to kick up their heels or play-fight with one another, and humans are amused by this.

Kittens play to learn to practice hunting skills, but since cats have been so domesticated most don’t have a clue how to actually hunt, so they just play for the hell of it. Hilarious! I discovered that building a huge cat post resembling a tree, and covering it with catnip before the carpeting went on just adds to the fun.

Puppies are a whole other thing. I’ll never forget the first time our 8-week-old Golden Retriever barked. She scared herself and, in a manner I can’t even describe with a keyboard, tried to run away and hide … from herself. I laughed so hard the tears ran down my legs.

The nice thing about cats and dogs is that there’s always a little bit of puppy and kitten in them no matter how old they are. I have a cat who’s so lazy his idea of exercise is to jump from the floor onto a chair. The chair with the heating blanket on it. Nevertheless, if you wave a feather in front of him he’ll go after it like Muhammad Ali. Tie it to a string and run around the house with it and he’ll, well, watch you. But it’s funny.

Our German Shepherd is a working dog. She knows obedience training, tracking and protection work are serious business and she carries herself with all the majesty of a police dog. About 10 pm every night we take her out to the field and let her off the leash. If the field has any water puddles she will race back and forth between two of them at the speed of light, making a big splash as she flips to change direction. Drying her off in the garage isn’t much fun, but the image of her in those puddles is priceless. And if we ever decide to give her one of those squeaky balls with little feet on it… let’s just say we call those “doggy crack.” Too funny!

Unfortunately for many of our furry friends, when the 24-7 fun of kitten or puppyhood wears off, the animals end up at the pound. People don’t realize that pets are also a huge responsibility. They require not only food and water but daily exercise, spaying/neutering and other vet bills, and for dogs, hours and hours of training.

I wonder if life isn’t a bit like pet ownership? Sure, it’s fun when you’re a kid but we all have to grow up. Or you’d think. We need to figure out how to feed and house ourselves, be responsible with sex and train ourselves to be better social beings. People who don’t do any of the above are considered immature. Interesting, now that I think of it. The more mature you are, the better pet owner you’ll be.

Anna Christie is a clinical counsellor and freelance writer in Richmond, BC.
She owns two German Shepherds and two rescue cats. Anna is the author of the
award-winning self-help book Evoking Change and of the humorous blog and
twitter account “MikeyTheBrat.” Learn more about Anna on her website:
www.evokingchange.com

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Being There

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Anna S. Christie 2010

When I started writing for Home for Paws, I didn’t intend to write more than one column on pets and grief. But I also didn’t intend to lose one of my pets any time soon. So… unapologetically ….here’s all I’ve got this week on the emotional experience of pet ownership.
I did my early training in counselling as a clergyperson. It was our job to be with people who were dying or who were being told that a loved one either had died or was going to die. Laypeople often asked me how I could do it, and remarked that it must be the most difficult part of the job. Unlike the therapist who hears about the trauma after the fact and only needs to engage the person for an hour, the clergyperson is often there for hours and hours at a time – sometimes even days.
Difficult? They couldn’t be more wrong. It’s actually one of the easiest things to learn how to do because you don’t have to say anything. You don’t need any particular expertise. All you have to do is sit there.
“But isn’t it difficult emotionally?” my students would ask me in later years.
“Difficult emotionally is not the way I’d put it,” I might reply. “It cuts you to the heart – like someone reaching in and ripping all your guts out, rearranging them and shoving them back inside.” Something like that anyway. Nevertheless, “the ministry of being there” is one of the most important ministries that clergy and many people in the medical community provide.
I had to euthanize one of my two cats yesterday. He was old, and he was very very sick. A thousand dollars in tests and supportive care later, he was only getting worse. I’ve had the same veterinarian for twenty-five years. In that time we’ve seen the end of many a pet together, so he asked the question even though he knew the answer: “do you want to be there?”
Being there when a pet dies is pretty tough emotionally, but so is not being there and just walking away. When you do that, you’re left with not only your grief but this horrible hollow feeling inside and a sordid sense of reality that can mess you up for days.
So yes, it’s better to be there. Since I’m the emotion-theory person,however, I do advocate sobbing your heart out and honking your nose on as much free tissue as the vet’s assistant can pass your way. Don’t keep your pain inside – it will come out in some other awful way and make you sick. And when it does, the medical community isn’t legally allowed to put you out of your misery. So cry like a baby. But for gosh sakes, be there – no matter how tough it is. This is the furry little creature who brought you so much joy and comfort and laughter and peace over all those years. You owe it not only to yourself but to him to journey these last few steps together. Even if it rips your guts out.
Next week I’ll explore people and pets and the emotion of joy. I promise!

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Emotional Training

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Anna S. Christie 2010

Often people remark on our dog training when they see my daughter and me walking our dogs on busy city streets. “How do you get them to do that?” they ask – usually about the fact the dog keeps perfect eye contact, whether we stop or are on the move (heeling).

“Hundreds of hours of training,” I answer. The next question is inevitably about training methods and the lines are usually drawn in the sand: do you use positive reinforcement or punishment? Motivation or correction? I submit that training method is not the issue: the emotional stability of the trainer is.

I actually train my Shepherd 100% with motivation – but only after 30 years of training dogs did I finally figure out how. Her motivation is a ball on a string, otherwise known as doggie crack. Do what I want, you get the ball.

I’m not a dog training professional but I am an emotion professional and one thing I have observed over the years is that people often make the mistake of training their dogs emotionally.

The first emotion that has no place in dog training is anger. Not only is it inhumane to take your anger out on a dog, it’s also useless. Your anger remains long after the dog has received the message and you yelling at him further won’t make him remember it better.

If you’re prone to anger don’t choose a training method that’s harsh and involves corrections – you’re playing with fire. Your anger is likely about your mother and your dog is not your mother even though they both might be bi….never mind.

Do what your mother probably never did with you: spend time with your dog, exercise him, play with him, feed him, and teach him tricks with treats or a toy as a reward. Set boundaries by teaching commands with a reward (such as “mark” or “leave it” or “down”). Then when it’s necessary to have the dog go to his mark, lie down, or leave something alone, he will do it swiftly and happily.

The other human emotion dangerous to dog training is pity. Pity and love are two different things. Pity means you treat your dog like a human baby. The dog learns that he can get whatever he wants just by sticking with you and keeping all other animals away. This looks like love but it’s not – it’s just animal behavior. Humans who pity dogs have emotional issues because dogs are incapable of understanding pity. If you pity your dog and treat it like a baby, I recommend spending some quality time with people who train large powerful dogs. Like the police. I train my dogs with the police and I promise you, we love our animals deeply and would never hurt them. But our animals don’t run our lives. And nobody talks baby talk to an 80-lb German Shepherd or dresses him up in a sweater.

So when you’re thinking of choosing a dog from a rescue shelter, decide on a breed and size that you can train without letting your emotions get the better of you – and your dog.

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We Find the Defendant: Confused

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Anna S. Christie 2010

Yes, we were working all day. Yes, we came home and took her out for a long run. But then we did something unusual: we went for dinner and left her alone in the house again. We came home to find our new “green can” strewn across the living room. The first thing my husband Charlie said when we opened the door was “oh no.” We found the dog skulking under the kitchen table, head low, eyes up. It sure looked like guilt. But my psychology-oriented brain had to wonder: do dogs really feel “guilty” or is it something else?

Guilt is a complex brain function – it requires deriving a conclusion from two separate events– and although dogs are intelligent, the part of the brain they would need to do that simply does not exist. I try explaining this to Charlie and he gives me that what-are-you-psychobabbling look.

Experiments have been done on this very phenomenon. Owners were told the dog ate a treat after they had given him a “leave it alone” command. The dogs all looked “guilty” even though they hadn’t done anything. What the human being sees is the dog’s reaction to them coming into the room – their facial expression, their words, even their smell. Dogs don’t experience guilt but they can smell a guilty verdict the second the judge walks in.

A dog’s “guilt” looks exactly like submission. They know you’re mad, but no amount of explaining or “showing” them what they did has any meaning for them. They’ll just crouch and/or walk around looking guilty as long as you stay mad. So if you come home and find that Fido has destroyed an entire stack of your plastic picnic plates (don’t ask), you have to just suck it up and start cleaning– don’t waste time trying to teach him something and whatever you do, never project your anger onto an animal.

Charlie was pretty skeptical of all this. “She knows,” he insisted. So I suggested setting up an experiment of our own. Pointing him to scientific journal articles on dog psychology would have been a useless exercise. He reads too many law journals as it is. So we purposely left Guinness alone downstairs with a pair of slippers I was going to throw out anyway. She was well aware of the “no shoes” command we taught her from day one.

We came downstairs and paused at the door to ensure we were feeling bright and happy, no matter what we found. Opened the door. Guinness led us immediately to the slippers – in pieces no bigger than a quarter – and stood there with tongue out and tail high and wagging. It was as if to say, “Look Charlie! Toys!”

Now is that pride or are dogs also incapable of that?

– Anna Christie is a clinical counsellor and freelance writer in Richmond, BC.
She owns two German Shepherds and two rescue cats. Anna is the author of the
award-winning self-help book Evoking Change and of the humorous blog and
twitter account “MikeyTheBrat.” Learn more about Anna on her website:
www.evokingchange.com

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Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Marta Banat

Living in the Lower Mainland we are truly privileged to be able to come in contact with such a diverse population of flora and fauna living just outside of our doorsteps. We are proud that so many magnificent species feel safe and at home in our local parks and neighbourhoods. Coming from Ontario I can still remember my wonder and amazement at seeing an eagle, Blue Heron or Coyote in Stanley Park or Queen Elizabeth. A lot of us are curious about the animals we co-exist with, we want to be able to see them up close and observe their behaviour. Many animal lovers, against their better judgement, will try to lure them closer with food offerings; others will hand out food with the best of intentions hoping it will help them survive harsh conditions. However, feeding wild animals is the greatest disfavour we can be doing them.

At first having a cute squirrel come around each morning for her treat of peanuts might seem adorable, but soon this squirrel will depend on you for its steady source of food. Not to mention the fact that peanuts are actually not a healthy food choice for them, they will dig in your garden, build nests in your roof, have babies and soon you will have a hungry colony of squirrels on your hands. They won’t be afraid of people and will start pestering all your neighbours for handouts.

You may think you are helping the animals to survive by providing them with food; however, the chances are that you might actually be putting their health or even life in jeopardy. Young animals may never learn how to forage or hunt their own food and once they leave their parents territory (i.e. your backyard) they are at risk of starvation.

Birds whose bellies are full of breadcrumbs will not feel hunger; however, bread – especially white bread-has very little nutritional value and will cause them malnutrition. Even worse: ducks and other water fowl fed bread in the winter may die – the bread mixed with water can freeze in their bellies. And the sweet pastry crumbs we like to feed to birds in front of coffee shops? Those may cause obesity and diabetes.

You might intend on attracting just one kind of species to your backyard, but you have no control over who will show up for the feast. Not only are you risking uninvited guests, but they might arrive in unnaturally large numbers which may trigger aggressive or territorial behaviours. Not something that any of us or our neighbours would like to experience.

Many of the animals that are attracted by our hand-outs are predators. These animals being opportunistic hunters will be more than happy to go after our tabby or bunny in the absence of any other meal. Animals who expect to be fed by people are more likely to come up to children as they look less threatening and often smell of food. And besides, what kid doesn’t want to pet a cute fluffy raccoon? Such encounter can often end with a bite or scratch.

Feeding wild animals not only makes them less wary of people but also makes them associate people with food. This is probably the most dangerous outcome for both the animal and human. According to B.C.’s Ministry of Environment records all coyote attacks, none of which were ever fatal, were caused by animals that were fed by people. After each incident police and conservation officers search for the coyote and if the suspected animal is found they remove it (kill it). Necropsy performed on the located and destroyed coyotes show bones, chicken strips, stew or soup type substance (meat chunks, animal fat, corn and celery) in their stomachs (for more information: http://www.stanleyparkecology.ca/programs/conservation/urbanWildlife/coyotes/conflictStats.php)
A WILD coyote poses no danger to a human. It is imperative not to feed them in order to co-exist peacefully.

In other words, feeding wildlife can cause property damage, put children and pets at risk, cause unnatural behaviour in animals and put their health and even life at risk. If we truly want to help our wild neighbours, we should look into naturescaping, which will provide animals with natural sources of food and shelter (for more information: http://www.paws.org/habitat-improvement.html)

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Tips for Finding Your Lost Pet

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Dianna Wise

The nightmare of a lost pet is ever-present. As pet parents, we see our fair share of ‘missing’ flyers stapled on neighbourhood posts. But only when our own beloved pet disappears do we feel just how daunting a search can be. Where to even begin?
The sooner you search, the better. Here are some tips to help, should you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.

Search your home and neighbourhood. Make sure to bring a picture of your lost pet to show anyone you meet along the way. If your dog is lost, bring a leash. For a cat, or other small animal, bring a carrier with you as a means of securing your pet. Check under porches and shrubs, and take note of garages and sheds; your pet may have accidentally become trapped inside. Be aware of any construction going on in your neighbourhood. Treats are helpful when trying to lure a nervous pet. Used litter can be left in a trail outside your home to help a disoriented or lost cat find his way home.
Contact local animal shelters and animal control. Also contact veterinary clinics and hospitals, local rescues and other pet-related businesses. If your pet has a tattoo or microchip, make sure this information is updated or these methods of identification may not be effective.
Create and distribute a flyer. Be sure to include a picture of your pet, your contact details and the area in which your pet went missing. Post these in your neighbourhood and in any businesses willing to help.
Use the internet and social media. Many websites have ‘pet’ and ‘lost and found’ listings. Remember to email your friends and post messages to social media pages, animal and community forums.

Please remember, animals can travel distances too. It’s a good idea to continue your search beyond your immediate area, should you not find your pet right away.

Most important: don’t give up hope! Many lost pets find their way home.

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Getting Started as a Volunteer

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Diana Wise

Each year, countless animals are abandoned, lost or injured. Some lucky souls are turned in to shelters or rescues, reunited with their families or placed in new homes. However, many animals spend endless hours within these shelter walls, waiting for the right person to come along.

Many of these organizations depend on the kindness and dedication of volunteers. Becoming a volunteer for your local shelter or rescue is one way you can help. While waiting for a forever home, animals need walks and socialization. Cages need to be cleaned, and phones answered. At times these animals must be transported to and from veterinary appointments and foster homes. Much of this work is done by volunteers.

If you have the time to dedicate, you can also apply to foster a dog or cat. This experience is great for people who work from or near home, who are retired, or looking to adopt in the future. Not everyone has had a lifetime of experience in raising pets, and becoming a foster is a wonderful way for the little-experienced to gain much needed knowledge in pet care, and to develop an understanding of the impressive bond between humans and their animal companions.

However, some people prefer to work behind the scenes. Fund raising is one such way. Food and bottle drives, sponsored runs and walks, and gala events are just a few ways to raise the much needed donations for shelters and rescues.

Another way to volunteer behind the scenes is to help with the adoption process, of which a home check is a very important part. Once a suitable application has been received a home check is needed. Training is provided and volunteers know what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to approach each situation. There is nothing better than conducting a successful home check and knowing an animal will now be adopted into a good home.

As a volunteer you do need to make a solid commitment. But remember, the experience of helping those animals in need, is both rewarding and essential to the well-being and care of animals.

– Dianna Wise is a proof reader and office manager at a forensic engineering firm in Vancouver, BC. She graduated with both a BFA and MA in Creative Writing from Canadian and UK universities. Dianna spends much of her spare time writing and editing her novel, taking care of her family’s four cats, and volunteering for a local rescue.

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Grieving the Loss of Your Pet

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Anna S. Christie 2010

We never dreamed it could happen to Polar. Named for his pure white coat when we rescued him as a kitten, Polar was the embodiment of “alley cat.” He was a strong, muscular, healthy delight and just three years old. So his sudden demise sent our family into waves of shock and disbelief. He came home one night and just fell on his side yowling in pain from a “saddle thrombosis” and he had to be immediately euthanized.

I took it like a stiff line-drive to the gut. My 20-something kids and even my tough lawyer husband cried like babies. Perhaps it spoke to us, a little too closely, of just how tenderly we are held and sustained by the universe that gives us life.

Losing a family pet triggers a natural grief response in human beings. There’s no need to feel embarrassed about crying over it. You have lost something you were emotionally attached to – something you loved, cared for and that brought you comfort, laughter and joy. Now it’s gone. Forever.

Don’t hold back on your grief response because people tell you “it’s only a cat” (dog, bird, fish, snake). Agreed, it’s not as bad as losing a child or a spouse but your body doesn’t get that. Your body goes into automatic grief-mode and no amount of logic can convince it otherwise. The best thing to do is let all of those feelings flow: sadness, guilt, anger, fatigue and irritability. Let them happen and your body will process the grief in a healthy way and move you forward – to the inevitable stage of “acceptance” – when it’s good and ready to do so.

If you fully live-out your grief, rather than shutting it down, you’ll know instinctively when you have come to accept the loss. Only then will you be ready for another wondrous pet experience.

About a month after losing Polar, our family became the proud owner of Biscuit – another rescue cat who’s happy to stay indoors and blort around on the couch as a lazy, overweight bum. He’ll probably live twenty-five years.

For more about the grief and loss process in general visit Anna’s blog

– Anna Christie is a clinical counsellor and freelance writer in Richmond, BC.
She owns two German Shepherds and two rescue cats. Anna is the author of the award-winning self-help book Evoking Change and of the humorous blog and twitter account “MikeyTheBrat”

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What to do when a pet goes missing

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Home For Paws

By Marta Banat
Summer months see a drastic increase in the number of lost pets. There are many factors that contribute to it. Whatever the reason, when a pet goes missing all we want is to have them back home with us safe and sound. Below are some tips that can be very helpful if your pet disappears:

Start looking right away: don’t leave it off to “see if they come back on their own” the more time passes the further away they may be, especially in the case of dogs and birds, and the chance of injury increases.
Don’t panic: make sure to check the house very carefully. When scared, animals tend to find the most unusual hiding places
Call your neighbours: ask them if they’ve seen your per around their property, ask them to check around their houses, sheds, garages, cars, basements or in any rooms with open windows (cats can climb up and go in through an open window).
Do a memory scan: when was your pet last seen, where, what where the circumstance?
Go around the neighbourhood: bring their snacks and favourite toy – shake the snacks and make noise with the toy to get their attention.
Keep your eyes and ears open: Pay careful attention to all the nooks and crannies, give passerby’s a description of your pet, ask if they’ve come across it. Listen carefully for any cries, if they are stuck or hurt they will try to get your attention.
Call around: shelters, local vet clinics, and the city pound, provide them with all the necessary information, ask them if you can post a flier on their premises, and check their “found” boards.
Print fliers: post them around your neighbourhood and anywhere else you think your pet could have wandered, you would be surprised at the distances dogs can travel. Maybe he went to the pet sitter, his favourite park, or a store that usually gives them treats?
Post on the internet: the pet community is a very active group of people who have the best interest of animals at heart. The more people have their eyes out, the bigger chances someone will spot your pet.
Ask for help: ask friends and family to walk, bike or drive around your neighbourhood ask them to keep their eyes open.
Help them find their home: make sure you leave your pets bedding, litter box and toys outside. They are probably scared and confused and they might be able to follow their scent back home. Do this even if you live in an apartment. If it is a bird that flew out, leave their open cage by the window or on the porch; if they have a companion place their cage by an open window as well.
Remember: Dogs can travel very far distances (up to 10km a day), don’t limit your search to just the neighbourhood,
Know when to search: It is best to look for cats early in the morning or in the late evening, pay special attention to areas that emit heat.
NEVER LOSE HOPE. This is probably the most important point, keep on looking.

Upon finding your pet DON’T scold them. Make sure they know you are happy to see them back. Take action to avoid such incidents in the future (fix fences, keep windows and doors closed, buy a baby gate etc.). Schedule a vet visit to get your pet microchiped or tattooed, licence your dog with the city. Make sure to keep your address and telephone number up-to-date with the vet’s office, the microchip registry and on your pet’s tags.

—As a little girl I preferred hanging out in the dog house rather than the sand box. Most of my life I was surrounded by animals and now as an adult my house is full to the brims with four-legged creatures. Even though working with animals was not my original career choice, after working a few office jobs, I decided to do what comes natural: spend time with all sorts of creatures and, hopefully, make a living from it. You can also find me here: http://www.turbolifepedals.com
Marta Banat

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Pet First Aid

The Joy of Paws

Being There

Emotional Training

We Find the Defendant: Confused

Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

Tips for Finding Your Lost Pet

Getting Started as a Volunteer

Grieving the Loss of Your Pet

What to do when a pet goes missing

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