On service dogs

A friend who has multiple sclerosis was recently telling me that she was going to have her golden retriever trained as a service dog, primarily to help her with her balance and picking things up.

During our conversation I learned that there is no ‘official’ certification or licensing of service animals. It seems that an individual with a disability may have a dog trained to perform whatever service they might need and then the dog is a service dog. While some dogs might wear something like a coat that states that they are a service dog, this is not required.

I found this news somewhat surprising.

Recently, in my workplace, we had an issue related to a service animal needed to assist with hearing impairment. Since this wasn't your typical "guide dog for the blind" service dog, its presence caused a certain amount of conflict in the office. The building management wanted to know what a dog was doing in the building. Then, some people were afraid of the dog (a little terrier type, go figure) and others found the barking to be distracting and unprofessional (a young dog, still in training). The person had to present documentation about their disability and the fact that the dog was a service dog to HR before the dog was officially 'allowed' to come into the work place.

My research reveals that allowing a service dog into the workplace is different from allowing access to public places or “privately owned businesses that serve the public.” Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require automatic access to the workplace for service animals. Instead, allowing a service animal into the workplace is a form of reasonable accommodation (like agreeing to provide an ergonomic chair). An employer must consider allowing an employee with a disability to use a service animal at work unless doing so would result in an undue hardship (presumably on the organization).

On the other hand, Title III of the ADA is about public access, and service animals must be allowed access to anywhere the public can go. This includes in “privately owned businesses that serve the public” -- including, interestingly I thought, taxis. The answers to some commonly asked questions can be found on this Department of Justice page.

While allowing reasonable accommodation and access are important, at the same time, it seems to me that the absence of any type of certification or licensing might open up the possibility of abuse. (Note yesterday’s post where Chicago dogs have to be licensed just to go drink water on a restaurant patio.) Someone could declare their dog to be a service dog if they wanted it to be allowed access to places where dogs are not typically allowed. What is to stop me from taking Phoebe into a restaurant or the post office and stating that she is a service dog? Like my friend who has MS, disabilities are not always obvious.

Just another something to ponder for today....

Dog-friendly developments in the Windy City

While anticipating yet another snowstorm, a doggie companion’s thoughts naturally turn to warmer weather and the opportunities for Phoebe and me to get out and about. This causes me to appreciate one of the newer dog friendly developments in Chicago. As of January 1, 2008, dogs can enjoy a liquid refreshment along with their human companions on outdoor patios of restaurants and bars.

It must be said that a fair number of the city’s outdoor patios, particularly in residential neighborhoods, already allow dogs on their patios. To me, the presence of a dog gives a place a particularly friendly feel, don’t you think? Phoebe and I have been to several bars and restaurants together that are within walking distance of home. However, for some reason (liability?, public health? surely not as a creative revenue generating opportunity?) the City Council felt the need to sanction the practice in writing.

Allowing dogs is at the discretion of the restaurant owner, so it's not as if dogs will be running amok on every restaurant patio.

Here are some of the guidelines to keep restaurants both dog and human-friendly:

• dogs will only be allowed in restaurants that have been licensed and registered to have dogs on their patios. (I wonder how much the license costs….. we may have stumbled upon a reason for the new ordinance!)
• dogs must have a city license and proof of vaccinations to utilize dog friendly patios (another fee collecting opportunity related to the ordinance…. Hmmmm. Do I have to carry papers in my pocket?)
• If a restaurant won’t allow dogs, a clear sign must be displayed to notify pet owners of the restaurant's dog unfriendly policy.
• The ordinance does not apply to establishments where patrons must pass through an indoor seating area to reach the patio.
• Dogs cannot be served food, only water, and servers can’t pet them.
• Dogs will not be allowed to sit or place their paws on furniture.
• If an attack occurs, 311 must be contacted by the establishment (this is Chicago’s non-emergency phone number).
  

It will be interesting to see how the new ordinance shakes out in practice, never mind how it is enforced. I wonder if it will be enforced by the same folks who are enforcing our bans on foie gras and indoor smoking.

The Daily Scoop - Poop!

Wags, thanks for bursting everyone's bubble about the Winter Poop Elf. Winter is the best time for cleaning up after your dog. After all, you can find poop so much more easily, even at night. It’s just sitting on top of nature's white frozen snow cone, begging you to pick it up. You can't miss it in my neighborhood during the winter we've been having.

In any event, there is more to dog poop than we think.

When I was a kid in suburbia, we cleaned up dog poop only to be a nice neighbor. It didn’t seem right for our neighbor to inadvertently step in it. There were only a couple of dogs in our neighborhood and anything left on the front lawn could be recognized and traced to your front door. Today, it’s a much bigger environmental problem.

Consider that 2,200 tons of horse manure were plopped out each and every day over the streets of New York in the 19th century. They say that the architecture of the brownstones of NYC, with the entrances on the second floor, reflect the environmental mess outside the door. They were built to distance its owners from the odiferous and unsanitary conditions rising from the horses in the streets below. All this according to Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt, authors of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything." (See their archived column in the New York Times.)

The answer to this problem? The car, the bus, the subway. End of that environmental problem, beginning of another. . .

It's not quite as bad with dogs, but still a major consideration. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 74.8 million owned dogs in the U.S.; 39% of U.S. households own at least one dog. That’s a lot of poop. For most us, cleaning up after our dogs isn't just a nice thing to do for the neighbors, it's the law. But what’s the best way to do this?

There is a whole dog poop industry. You can pay people to go out to your backyard and clean it up for you. For we “do it yourself-ers,” a simple visit to the bricks and mortar or virtual pet store will offer many ways to clean up after Jake and Phoebe. Some are even designed to help the most reluctant, compulsive, hygienic person to do the right thing.

Of course, like many people, Wags will take any old plastic bag that brought something home from the store and transform it into something useful, like a pooper scooper. She’s so creative and practical! As for me, I am so averse to picking up poop that this almost prevented me from bringing a dog home. And when I brought Jake home, for the first couple of weeks, I’d be nearly retching my way down the street holding a bag off to the side.

So, believe me, I definitely don’t want to see or inhale Jake’s creation for any longer than I have to, nor do I want to take a chance that my Wall Street Journal delivery wrapper will have a hole in it in just the wrong place. So, yes, I buy “Bags on Board Refill Bags” for the two plastic holders (in the shape of a red hydrant) that are attached to each of Jake’s leashes. Yes, it seems silly to pay for something you can get for free, but at least it helps me do the job and get over my aversion to picking up the stuff.

Yet, I've become increasingly conscious of our environment and am now really worried that this bag isn’t “green” enough. There are others sold with bigger claims to biodegradability, but I'm not sure if that is anything more than a claim. If you have some solution to this dilemma, let me know.

An intriguing candidate for my backyard is the “Doggie Dooley Pet Waste Disposal System.” They say it’s like a miniature septic tank for dogs. Which leads me to something else I’ve read – that people take the poop home and flush it down the toilet. Ugh! Once I’ve bagged it…well, let’s just say that I didn’t want to see it in the first place.

Sorry for all the scatological talk. It’s just that we have dogs and with it comes this new focus. And, as I’ve always said to Jake, “Just when I think I’ve got you trained...you poop – and I pick it up. So, who has trained whom?”

It's great to be alive! Phoebe's Daily Diary

So, you want to know what an upstanding Chicago dog does on a daily basis? Here you go!

Phoebe's Daily Diary:

6:00 am: Slowly open eye.... good, still no movement from the big bed!

7:00 am: Descend from sleeping chair, move to sleeping bed, all the better to espy any movement from the big bed.

8:00 am: Movement observed! Run to back door to be let out. Stand at top of the stairs to survey the estate.

8:01 am: Scratch at back door to be let back in.

8:30 am: A walk! My favorite thing!

8:45 am: Scratch at back door to be let out. Finish doing what I didn't do on the walk.

9:00 am: Breakfast. Sniff. Turn up nose. Go sit by back door.

9:02 am: Begin "Mexican Jumping Bean" game: scratch at back door. Get let out.

9:03 am: Scratch at back door to be let back in.

9:06 am: Continue "Mexican Jumping Bean" game: scratch at back door. No luck this time.

9:08 am: Give up at the door. Put ball under Wags feet while coffee is made.

9:10 am: Nudge ball closer to feet. Good! Ball is kicked across the floor! Chase, slide on floor, capture ball.

9:11 am: Put ball under Wags feet again. Success! Ball is kicked again! Chase, slide on floor, capture ball.

Repeat as long as the ball gets kicked.

10:00 am: Re-examine food. Decide it's worth eating after all.

11:00 am: Bark for no apparent reason.

12:00 pm: Go outside to survey the estate.

1:00 pm: Bark! Alert Wags to domestic incursion by the mail carrier.

2:00 pm: Hear sound of car keys! Run excitedly to garage! I love car rides.

3:00 pm: Rummage through toy box! Find squeaky toy. Make lots of noise.

4:00 pm: Treats! Yum!

7:00 pm: Dinner time. Sniff. Decide to eat.

7:30 pm: Bring ball to Wags. Stare. Success! Ball is thrown. Chase, slide on floor, capture ball.
Repeat as long as ball is thrown.

8:10 pm: Run up and bark at dog in tv commercial. Stay out of my house!

9:00 pm: Leap on Wags whose snoozing on couch. Give Wags kisses!

10:00 pm: Listen carefully for sound of remote control turning off tv. Jump up! Dash to door for evening constitutional!

10:30 pm: Bed time. Settle down in my sleeping chair. Get ready for another day!

MIA: the Winter Poop Elf

A couple weeks ago, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn wrote in his blog that the Winter Poop Elf is a myth. His post focused on dog owners who, rather than picking up after their dogs when there is snow on the ground, artfully cover up the poop, in the mistaken belief "that the Winter Poop Elf will be along soon enough to dispose of it somehow."

I would like to attest that 1. I, too, have noticed an increase in offerings to the Winter Poop Elf, including actually witnessing a live preparation; and 2. my back yard in the winter is sufficient confirmation of the fact that the Winter Poop Elf does not exist -- unless, for some reason, s/he is intentionally neglecting us.

Cleaning up after one's dog is not the most appealing of jobs, no matter the season. Most of us haven't been picking up the "public" dropping of our dogs for that long, in my case, probably about a dozen years. My mother says she won't have a dog because she can't bring herself to pick up after it while on a walk. In fact, she is fearful of even taking a dog out for a walk in case they make a poop which she would have to clean up. I seem to recall that when Debs first got Jake, cleaning up after him was one of her biggest challenges, but she can tell you all about that!

Do you remember when there was a photo in a magazine of Brooke Shields (I think) on the beach, carrying a bag which contained dog poop (her dog was running around nearby) and the French couldn't believe that she was carrying poop. I wonder if they couldn't believe that a person (never mind a celebrity) would pick up poop... the last time I was in France, there seemed to be a lot of poop on the sidewalks, or that she didn't have someone to do her poop picking up for her.

Anyway, do tell..... have you noticed an upsurge in offerings to the Winter Poop Elf in your neighborhood, or has s/he visited?

And the Oscar Goes to...the Dogs!

I sure hope Phoebe’s evening was better than mine. Debs tried to ignore me tonight while she watched the Oscars. Of course, she can never quite ignore me and my paws, even the day after my nails were clipped.

So, “No Country for Old Men” won best film. I’ll probably never see it. Can’t recall a Coen film Debs really likes, although she still listens to the soundtrack from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Debs isn’t keen on violence and mayhem. Come to think of it, that’s probably why she broke up that little fight I had a with a big golden retriever who tried to sit on me today at the dog park. (Really, Debs, I was just playing hard to get with her. You shouldn’t get all worked up just with a little growling and sparring. We dogs call that “having fun by setting appropriate boundaries.”)

As for me, I’d rather watch something more inspirational, like “The Incredible Journey.” What a great movie! There's the one in 1963 where the dogs don’t talk (which is so much more authentic) and the remake in 1993 in which they do. Who could forget Luath, the Labrador and Bodger the English Bull Terrier? OK, OK, there was a cat, too, named Tao. Meow! All I know is that I could really identify with the dogs who had to face great obstacles over many miles to find their way home to the family they loved. I’d do exactly the same thing to return home to Debs. As for the cat finding her way home, I think that was pure fiction.

Or, why don’t they make some more Lassie movies? I may be young, but I know a classic when I see one – “Lassie Come Home.” You know what else I know? I know that “Lassie” was played by a laddie in that film. Yes, his real name was Pal. We dogs, we just notice things like that right away. He can’t hide his “true nature” from us. I just hope he didn't get a complex from that role.

There are so many great movies with dogs that I can't understand why the Oscars don't have more awards for them. I think my all time favorite is Babe. This movie was nominated for best picture of the year in 1995! The little pig, Babe, is kinda cute but the border collies in the movie really steal the show. This also was an Academy Award-winning movie – a 1995 Australian film that tells the story of a pig who can out shepherd sheep dogs. It’s based on a book “Babe: The Gallant Pig” by Dick King-Smith. If you haven’t seen this in a long while, you should think of renting it again. I know Debs has seen it because she’s always saying “that’ll do, little doggie” to me.

What’s your favorite dog movie? Benji? Arf, Arf! Can't wait until next year at the Oscars!

Dog shows redux and the commercialization of dogs

Since the previous post positions me as a dog show fan, I think it only appropriate to remind our Chicagoland readers that this weekend the International Kennel Club of Chicago will host its annual dog show at McCormick Place.

While I haven't thought of this for a very long time, I now recall that the last time I went to a dog show was as a teenager when our church youth group was somehow volunteered for 'pooper scooper' duty at the local dog show. Can you imagine anything crazier than relying on teenagers to be responsible for picking up poop throughout a dog show venue? Anyway, I have a vague recollection that while avoiding my pooper scooper responsibilities, I wandered around the venue and was very drawn to the beagles. At the time, we had a dog, Bruce, who was allegedly a terrier beagle mix. Later I had a beagle (and he probably had a little something else mixed in as well), so I have a history with and great fondness for the breed. Just a bit of context for my delight over Uno's Westminster victory.

Anyway, the reason I enjoy watching the Westminster dog show is because I get a real kick out of observing the personalities of the dogs. Some of them, when they get in the ring, just strut their stuff in such a confident manner that you can tell who is going to attract the judge's attention. It's as if they know they're hot, they're studly, and they are saying to the judge, 'check me out.' This is why I like watching the show. I also like learning about the breeds. I think the announcers do a very good job of reminding the audience that not all dogs are the same and you have to seriously consider your lifestyle before choosing say a border collie or a Newfoundland.

The previous post also highlights an apparent inconsistency between my enjoyment of watching the WKC show and my strong advocacy of adopting a rescue dog over purchasing a purebred. I have to say that one of the things I don't like about dog shows is that they are a critical part of the commercialization of dogs. Dogs have been bred for specific traits and purposes since man began to domesticate them and breeding purebreds is just an extension of this practice. I just feel that as far as an animal companion goes, there are so many dogs that have been abandoned and are in need of homes that it isn't necessary to encourage the production of specific breeds or other trendy 'new' breeds (don't even get me started on 'labradoodles', etc.... which are, without the trendy marketing, high priced mutts after all) as status symbols. I can't imagine why anyone would choose to spend upwards of $500 (and that would be cheap) for a specific breed of dog when there are other worthy hounds out there, of all shapes, sizes and temperaments, who whould make just as good family pets, maybe even better ones.

Unfortunately, it may also be the case that the 'adopt a needy abandoned/rescue dog' movement has attracted some unscrupulous characters and organizations that present what are actually puppy mill dogs as 'rescue' dogs. This is a hideous and grossly deceptive practice. It is cruel to the dogs and often times results in kind hearted souls adopting what amounts to a 'special needs' dog. It also suggests that the animal adoption industry might benefit from some oversight, whether within the industry itself or from the government.

Now at a computer near you, the 2008 Dog Show

Thanks, Wags, for letting us know about the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show while it was taking place. Yes, we all love Uno! Beagles are such great dogs and Uno is really a handsome dog with lots of spirit. The judges did a good job of choosing an exceptional dog, don't you think?

Of the two of us, you have a greater passion for adopting strays and dogs of undefined heritage, yet you also love the dog shows much more.

I have always had a distinct preference for pedigreed dogs -- we had a golden retriever of impeccable breeding when I was a little girl. Rebecca of Bark Point, Huntress of Gold. Becky to her friends. I find it hard to recommend to anyone that they adopt a rescue dog, especially a puppy -- just too many unknowns to me (a whole other discussion for the blog one day). On the other hand, I’m not so keen about dog shows and have never been to one.

Call me cynical, but these dog shows really exist to help breeds gain popularity so the breeders can charge a bigger dollar for the puppies churned out. The dog shows encourage people to breed, buy and sell dogs to the very same people that you, Wags, think should be visiting the local anti-cruelty society for their new puppy. One of life's little ironies...

Still, Wags, you and Uno peaked my interest in the 2008Dog Show. Turns out, you don’t need to watch it on TV. A good deal of it is on the Westminster Kennel Club’s fantastic website. Kudos to them! The breed judging videos allow anyone to take a look at the best examples of each breed. (An improvement to their site would be a better identification of all the dogs being considered...there is only video and music, but no announcer for each of the videos.)

This gave me an opportunity to ponder what Jake’s heritage really is. Jake-in-the-crate was presented to me as “Apple,” a border collie mix/Australian cattle dog (ACD). He clearly has border collie coloring (although, so do may other breeds, including Canaan dogs). Many people say he looks totally ACD in shape and form, while other say, is that an Akita? is he part German Shepherd (prick ears and brown markings on his face)? Few say, oh, what a beautiful border collie. I’m going to explore this question more in the future.

February is Stop Canine Obesity Month

So we’re a little late to the party here in Two Wet Nose land, but today I learned that February is Stop Canine Obesity Month and American Heart Month. I think these two months go very well together because if you do something about one – work with your dog to help prevent it from becoming obese, or work on yourself to improve your heart health, perhaps in both instances by doing some exercise and modifying your own and your dog's diet, both you and your dog can benefit.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States.

In addition, apparently 25 to 40 percent of U.S. dogs – approximately 17 million – are overweight or obese.

I have to confess that I find canine obesity to be quite troubling…. After all, even if you have a dog prone to obesity – and I had a beagle, so I am very familiar with dogs that will eat whatever is put in front of them…. and more! - canine obesity is ultimately the result of humans who either feed their dogs too much food or the wrong kind of food, or don’t exercise them enough. Part of the responsibility of dog ownership is to do what is necessary to keep the creature healthy.

So, a campaign has been launched to address canine obesity…. And while I’m a little cynical about the fact that it is co-sponsored by Pfizer who oh so conveniently has developed a drug (Slentrol) to help manage doggie obesity, the overall effort is a worthwhile one…. Hopefully many of us can do what is necessary to keep our dogs fit and trim without Pfizer’s drug.

During February, you can take your dog to a participating veterinarian for a free weight assessment. Visit www.StopCanineObesity.com to do a body assessment check for your dog (Phoebe isn't obese!) and/or find a local veterinarian who is participating in the National Canine Weight Check and see when the free weight checks are being offered.

Here's to your own and your dog's good health!

Me and My Valentine!

What a great Valentine's Day surprise..... Jake came over for a play date today! Now, while you don't know me that well yet, I have to tell you that I like it a lot when Jake comes over. I don't automatically like other dogs I meet, but I have known Jake since he was a sickly young pup (I think I'm a year or two older than him) and now we are both about the same size. Both of these factors mean that I am very comfortable around him.... most of the time.

I don't trust most other dogs. If I'm on a walk and we meet other dogs, especially the ones that are bigger than me or approach me face first, I make sure they know to stay away from me by showing my teeth and sometimes snapping at them.... If I'm at the dog park... well actually, I don't like the dog park very much, especially if it is one of the little ones in the city... I look for a place to hide, usually under the bench Wags is sitting on. If another dog comes over to me, I put on my fiercest expression and show the interloper how sharp my teeth are. We haven't gone to one of the little city dog parks in a while.

So, I like Jake. But, I also have to confess that it is of utmost importance that I keep him in his proper place.... i.e., I am the alpha female. He's not allowed to get attention from our humans unless I say so.... I've been known to make this point quite emphatically in what I think is an appropriate doggie manner. Unfortunately, when I do that I get yelled at, sometimes even thrown in the bathroom for a timeout (well not literally 'thrown' but you know what I mean). Note in the photo above how I'm the one with the rawhide bone.... point made.

At the same time, you should know that Jake and I have a very special relationship... he is the only other dog that I will just throw myself at! I know, it looks like I have no shame! But around him I sometimes just can't help myself.

I think I'm hearing the call of the wild. Perhaps it is time for us to go frolic in the snow! It's cold, but it's more fun to frolic when I have someone to play with.

So, I think this is a wonderful Valentine's day.... I hope you're enjoying it as well.

Uno is Numero Uno!

So I checked out the Westminster dog show last night. Personally, I liked the sporting group the most.... I ran up to the tv screen when the retrievers were running around the ring and watched them very closely. I think I have some golden retriever in me.... I certainly like retrieving the tennis ball. I've never tried retrieving anything like a duck though. I'd probably like to chase a duck.... I like to chase squirrels.... and I've even tried to chase a rabbit though I didn't get very far because I was attached to the leash!

I think the toy group is a silly group. Why would anyone want a miniature version of a perfectly fine respectable sized dog like a fox terrier or a pinscher?

Wags was very excited when the beagle won best in show. Wags clapped and made lots of noise which caused me to run around and make lots of noise as well. I don't really know what all the fuss was about that little beagle. He is handsome enough I guess.....

I think they should have dog shows for mixed breeds.

Go Uno!

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I love watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (I think the web servers are overloaded today as I'm having a heck of a time going from one page to another.... ) I love learning about the dogs. I love listening to the commentators, especially David Frei. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I missed last night because I was in a plane that had been delayed for approximately three hours, impeding my dog show viewing pleasure. I am thinking I will try and watch it today just for fun.

I was delighted to see that Uno the beagle -- aka: Ch K-Run's Park Me In First -- became the first beagle to win the hound group at Westminster since 1939. In previous year's I have thought that the beagle should have won the hound group, so I'm glad to see young Uno prevail. He'll have a run for his money though with that poodle, Ch Brighton Minimoto, who made it to the finals last year. After all, she now has another year's worth of ribbons attached to her kennel mantle and judging dog shows is not all that different from judging figure skating, i.e., highly subjective.

I have a special place in my heart for beagles as I had beagle for about twelve years. Walter, my beagle, was a fine fellow, with a very dignified countenance, a strong personality, a wonderful howl and, in true beagle tradition, an insatiable appetite. The only day he didn't eat his dinner was his last day on earth. Unfortunately I can't post a photo of Walter because he was around before digital photos and I haven't scanned any of him... but that would be a good project.

It will be interesting to see if either Jake or Debs have anything to say about the Australian Shepherd who won the herding group. Jake doesn't look anything like Ch Vinelake Collinswood Yablon! I suspect they would say that Jake is even more handsome! :-)

It's a cold, cold world...

Yikes! What a cold day here in Chicagoland. The temperature is 1 degree above zero and is heading to 8 degrees below zero tonight. Add in the windchill factor of 25 degrees below and, I'll tell you, this wet nose will freeze and fall off!!

So, I'm not complaining too much that Debs doesn't seem to want to take me outside today. It's just that I gotta go, and don't think I should go out there alone. None of this stuff of opening up the back door and saying "go get 'em!" for me. Debs, you go get 'em!! I've decided, once and for all, that on really, really cold days like this, you better take me out and watch me do my stuff. Otherwise, I'm not heading out the back door. You'll find out, once and for all, who is really in charge. (Gotta go, gotta go...)




In case you are a dog like me, or live with one, you might have some questions about what really, really cold weather does to dogs. Unless your friend is a Alaskan malmute acclimated to the cold, you really do need to worry about the cold and its effects on doggies, including their paws. For an excellent list of safety information related to cold weather protection, take a look at: http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_ColdWeather.php

I was really surprised to read that you can spray a dogs paws with cooking spray before walks in very cold weather or that you can clip the fur between our pads to reduce the amount of snow that collects between our toes. I sure hope Debs doesn't read that...I know she's thinking about using a Dremel power sander on my nails but has had good enough sense not to follow up on this yet...although she keeps eying her Dremel. To all my doggie and other friends out there, Arf, Arf! Tell us what you do to keep your dogs warm in winter weather!

Gotta go...gotta go...come on, Debs! Go get 'em!

Prepared dog food vs. a real meal

Hi Wags! You're right. The dog food scandal was a big wake up call for pet owners around the world. And, we haven't recovered. Most of us don't trust dog food any farther than we can toss the 17 pound bag it came in. It should have been a big wake up call for humans around the world because, I've got news for you, those same factories are making the tofu we eat and much, much more. All the makings of another blog...

...as for this blog, you may have forgotten I actually did try to make Jake his meals for several weeks of his young life. Poor little Jake - such a sick little puppy saddled with allergies from early puppyhood. So, I took him to special vet, in a far, far away suburb and she told me that I had two choices -- to serve Jake canned venison or to make him dinner every night from wholesome ingredients. The thought of opening a can of deer meat making me gag more than a bit, I decided to make him the dinner.

It really wasn't difficult. The vet even gave me a fantastic little plastic cup I still use to measure out Jake's dog food. Now don't try this at home without a vet's approval, but Jake's vet told me to put in 1/3 cup of meat, 1/3 vegetables and 1/3 starch (potato or sweet potato). I did this religiously for about two weeks. Jake continued with his allergies. Still, I would have continued with making him a wholesome dinner and putting in the refrigerator a week's worth of food at a time, but for the traveling I do. I just couldn't see explaining to Jake's dog walker, or even you, Wags, where to find each of the ingredients and to put it all together every time I went away on a trip. Nor could I see taking along the packages to the north woods where Jake and I like to spend time.

Dogs love kibble. It seems almost impossible that any creature would like something made of a form of meat that has been combined with other things and then baked to remove all the moisture and flavor. It is ironic that while I was feeding Jake cooked hamburger, peas and carrots and sweet potatoes for dinner that I was always worried his teeth weren't getting a good enough challenge.

I'd like to hear from readers (when we have more) what their experience is with making their own food for a doggy dinners. Are they comfortable that the dogs are getting their proper nutrition? More important, are their dogs happy with mush in place of crunch?

Moving forward on tainted pet food

We're such news junkies. Today I would like to bring to your attention a little article in the Wall Street Journal noting that three firms have been indicted in relation to the poisonous pet food incidents of last summer.

Now I don't know about you, but when we learned about the toxic substances that were allegedly being added to pet food, wasn't it also interesting (even surprising?) to learn that so much of our pet food, from the cheapest generic kibble to the more high end nuggets come from the same manufacturing plants?

This was probably what I found most disturbing about the whole tainted pet food incident: so much of the pet food is being made by the same folks, with the same ingredients, in the same manufacturing plants. In the meantime, the pet food industry has sold pet food purchasers on the fact that certain products have higher quality ingredients which is why we silly consumers pay, oh, two, three, four, or even five times more for 'higher quality' kibble than for your generic or store brands. We can't taste it after all, what do we know? And for many of us, our furry friends don't have terribly discriminating palates. Sure the recipes are changed during different production runs.... Call me cynical on this score.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the courts. It seems to me that it is incumbent on the pet food companies, regardless of where they manufacture the product, to maintain quality controls. After all, their product is consumed! There is really no excuse for the fact that the manufacturers were able to put nasty substances into the product that weren't listed on the ingredients list. Clearly this was intentional, but someone from the home office should have known about it. I assume it had to be ordered from somewhere, it had to be mixed into the kibble, etc.

What the heck are we supposed to do? I understand that some folks have started making their own pet food. This is a complicated process at best because you have to make sure the animals get the right combination of protein, carbs and vitamins, etc. I know others who will now only buy American manufactured products. This can be quite expensive and time consuming since the local supermarket or box store doesn't typically carry these products so you have to hunt them out.

As for me and Phoebe, well, she's an erratic, though not terribly picky, eater, and I must confess to doing a bit of mix and match. We have some gourmet "all natural" food, (very expensive) but we also have some kibble that spent some time on the watch list (bought well after the food recalls took place, so I don't think she's at risk). Not really a very satisfactory state of affairs, but it seems like pretty much of a crap shoot to me until we have some way of knowing that we're actually getting what we think we're paying for.

Dog trains man, part 2

At one point, Jake’s puppy trainer indicated that she thought he’d make a great therapy dog. He was a smart and very gentle puppy. I was so proud and had visions of my little doggie bringing joy to the local hospitals and nursing homes. That vision began to fade shortly after Jake’s testosterone kicked in and he began lifting his leg. By the time he growled at a select group of visitors to my front door, I let go of this dream. And, yes, Jake is neutered.

So, I took interest in a story today about a border collie who looks quite a bit like Jake. This particular dog was renamed “Hero” after he was rescued shortly before he was scheduled to be euthanized. A medical psychologist decided to take him in and only six months later Hero was certified as a therapy dog. The once abandoned Hero now works with and has helped a wide range of people, including the Virginia Tech campus after the April campus shootings, as well as folks in hospice and hospitals. He has a purpose – and there is nothing better for a dog than having a purpose.

There are various organizations dedicated to developing therapy dogs. If you’re interested, this includes Therapy Dogs International (http://www.tdi-dog.org/) and Therapy Dogs Inc. (http://www.therapydogs.com/Become_A_Member.aspx).

As for Jake and me, we’ll be thrilled if he can pass the Good Canine Citizenship test. (http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm). We’re working on it.

Ironically, the Wall Street Journal published a report today on “therapy babies.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120217269044942825.html?mod=todays_us_page_one This is part of a decade-old program designed to reduce bullying in the classrooms while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. Seems that by educating children in classroom about how to take care of an infant, the children learn to treat one another with more respect. There is clinical evidence to support these claims. To learn more about this program go to http://rootsofempathy.org/

Some people think of their dogs as if they are children. I’m not one of them. Mr. Jake is, most definitely, a dog. Nothing more or less. But children and dogs do have something common. They are totally dependent on us. With dogs, that never changes. It is all the more amazing to see how they can do so much for so many.

Just another instance of dog trains man, women and children.

The Candidates and Animal Welfare

It's Super Tuesday tomorrow and that means that we are voting here in Illinois. I must confess, I really can't get too excited about these elections, but as I pondered doing my civic duty tomorrow, I began to wonder what the candidates records are on animal related issues. I found the following website which has an overview of the current presidential contenders from both sides of the aisle.

http://www.fund.org/voter_guide/2008_pres_candidates.html

Now, granted, this is information from the Humane Society, and they do have a particular perspective about good and bad performance, but keeping that in mind, I guess I'm not surprised to read that Clinton and Obama have, overall, excellent records when it comes to animal welfare. McCain is somewhat in the middle - though more favorable than not, and the rest of the Republicans don't do so well... to put it charitably. From Romney with the dog on the roof rack, to Huckabee's son killing a dog, to Paul's opposition to government intervention extending even to issues of animal cruelty, these last three are not true friends of our furry friends.

While this research won't change who I vote for tomorrow, I thought it was interesting. Some of us may recall that during the first Clinton Administration Chelsea brought Socks the cat to the White House and then Bill got a new friend (his only friend at the time, perhaps?) Buddy. I also particularly enjoyed reading that Ma and Pa Obama have promised their daughters a dog after the presidential campaign is over, win or lose. And while having a pet doesn't necessarily make a politician an advocate for animal welfare (remember Romney's dog on the roof) it does make them seem a little more human.

Dog trains man...

I know we have intended this blog to be lots of fun, but I read a follow-up report today about Michael Vick, the top football player who invested in Bad Newz Kennels for the purposes of dogfighting. It’s not a fun subject but one that is important for people who love dogs and people.

Michael Vick is presently paying back his debt to society in connection with his illegal dogfighting ring by presently serving 23 months in the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. The NY Times reported, under the category of Pro Football, that Vic is paying $928,073 (and one wonders what that extra $73 provides – why not round it up to an even million?) for the care and evaluation of the dogs which have been sent to 8 rescue organizations for adoption, rehabilitation or lifetime care in sanctuaries. They report that only one of the Vick dogs was so aggressive that it was euthanized for aggression against people. Surprisingly, the rest are making good progress and many of them are expected to be placed in homes. Their stories are pathetic and their scars everlasting.

It’s worthwhile to pay the article a visit – it includes some exceptional photography of some of these dogs and the injuries they sustained, yet they are learning to trust humans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/sports/football/02vickdogs.html?scp=1&sq=dog&st=nyt

Just reading about what happened to these dogs is painful. How can any human look at a dog and then look forward to watching it tear flesh or be torn? We all know that a person capable of cruelty to animals is capable of cruelty to humans. These acts have dehumanized Vick (and one wonders what happens in a home that can create "a Vick") and, sadly, we know there are many like him who believe that dog fighting should come out of the back alleys into our front yards. Colliseum events. In other words, if enough barbarians throw their dogs into the rings, it may not take long for this to become socially acceptable. Think of greyhound racing which is legal in many states. The owners of those greyhounds make money off the dogs and then dump off the losers or the older champs into shelters for other people to clean up after them (and I suppose that those are the luckiest of dogs). We can’t let this happen with dogfighting which must remain illegal and enforced to the fullest extent of the law.

In any event, prison is not likely to bring out the very best in anyone – it’s not like you can find a good mentor there. So, what about Vick? I remember a documentary about a jail in which each of the inmates were assigned a dog and were responsible for taking care of the dogs and training them under the supervision of a dog trainer. Some of the dogs needed rehabilitation -- all of the humans did. This had a very positive affect on both the inmates and the dogs. Perhaps that is what Vick needs. Perhaps he needs to learn how to love and care for a dog. And, in doing so, transform himself into a human. A dog can teach a man.

Hug your dog today. I gave Jake some extra belly rubs and back scratches because it's such a privilege to take care of the little guy. It’s a tough world out there and he helps me stay in touch with what is important and good.

Tons of snow!

We had such fun yesterday at the Dog Run. Even though I really hate being in the car, it was worth it to go to the dog run. It's really nice of our City to put up the dog run in the winter on the driving range of the golf course (but I wish it was there all year long). Tons of snow!! It's kinda funny, I don't like to go out the back door into the snow, but, boy oh boy!!, I love the snow in the great outdoors. Of course, it's quite a challenge to find a tennis ball in deep snow, but I'm really good at it. My nose did get very cold because I had to snorgle around into tons of holes looking for my ball. And I do mean "my ball." And when I find it, well, Debs just gets so excited, you'd think it was "her ball" -- and I can assure you it isn't. She's quite possessive of them and keeps telling me to give the ball to her, and if I won't, she doesn't play fair, she takes it away from me. Sometimes she tells me more than once to give her the ball which is so silly because the more she says "give it to me" the less likely it is that I'll ever give it to her. She forgets I run faster than she does. Silly person!

Oh, gotta run...