Sherry’s Corner

It Takes a Village to Knowledgeably Raise Our Pets

The other day my veterinarian told me that spaying my dog would prevent cancer and other diseases.  Research supports her statement.  She neglected to mention, however, that research has also proven that “spayed bitches tend to gain weight”.  And, of course obesity is the number one problem in dogs today.  I wisely remained quiet, knowing that there is a research study somewhere that can be cited to prove almost any argument–and if not research at least an anecdotal belief that fits our notion of what should/could/might be. 

      I have also read studies which concluded that bitches who were not spayed outlived others in that breed.  As for males — many dog owners have their male dogs castrated in order to stop aggression.  However, in a classic study by Hart and Hart the authors concluded that “clinical data shows that when dogs are castrated as adults only 50 to 60% change in behavior can be expected and further the authors believe this is probably the case if the dog is castrated before puberty.”

      Of course the most famous unscientific research, studies based only on myth and magic, is that pet therapy has an effect on the mental health of a group.  According to Drs. Beck and Katcher, pet therapy is unproven and should be considered worthwhile mainly for its RECREATIONAL benefits.  These two authors cite study after study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in an effort to refocus attention on the BOND between pets and people and not the illusive so-called “therapy”.  This led one veterinarian to respond, “the important word is love–not therapy! Love heals disease. Consider the power of spiritual energy and the nature of the human animal that can’t be documented scientifically.”

      One fact is indisputable.  If we spay/neuter all our dogs and cats we soon won’t have any dogs with which to do “pet therapy”, search and rescue, sheep herding, and bird hunting, and which also show us unconditional love.  That is a world I don’t want to live in.  We must not rely only on the veterinarian to make the neuter decision.  Breeders, trainers, judges and experienced behaviorists also have valuable information to share.  It takes a village to knowledgeably raise our pets!   

“Veterinary Medicine–The Price of Excellence”

The Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association has published a brochure that could be useful locally–wish our local association would do the same!  It is titled, “Veterinary Medicine–The Price of Excellence”, and it explains client fees and costs.  It is written in a Q and A format.  For example, “Why is veterinary care for my pet so expensive today?  Sometimes I believe I am spending more on my pet’s health than on my own.”  “Should I be wary of bargain basement veterinary care and why?  Why is there such a wide range of prices for the same procedures among veterinarians?” Other topics include: spay-neuter, payment plans, who pays the bill when a stray injured animal is brought to the clinic, sales of vaccines through catalogs, etc. 

ZUCCHINI EXERCISE.  Zucchini is an abundant home garden plant  widely shared with friends and neighbors. It is usually not wasted but becomes chocolate cake and bread–we share this expression of nature’s goodness.  Compare the abundance of zucchini and the desire to share with the number of shelter dogs that need to be walked–and the elderly who need to walk as an exercise.  Researchers found that pairing elderly people with shelter dogs benefited both more than just walking with a friend or family member. Participants began to feel  concern for the welfare of their companion, a need to make walking habitual in any kind of weather.  Walking the dog could well be the zucchini exercise in a dog class.  Collars, leashes, corrections could all be part of sharing skills with two populations who need it most.  

LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING. I recently learned that the manufacture of antibiotics was not as profitable as producing a medication that has to be administered on a long-term basis. This is the rule in human medicine and one has to wonder if this profit-driven motivation is making its way into the care of animal diseases?  How much of a preventative dose is too much? Are heartworm, tick and flea medications taking the vaccination path of over-use?  And, is the trend of treating newly diagnosed human diseases in dogs all prevention or profit?  The questions we ask our doctors, we must also ask our veterinarians.

SERVICE ANIMALS. The Justice Department has recently amended the Americans for Disability Association Rules on the definition of a “service animal”.  The definition defines a service dog as one that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.  The rule states that other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals.  Dogs used for emotional support are not service animals–nor are dogs not trained.  Service animals used by people with mental disabilities are also protected as (in certain cases) are trained miniature horses.  Questions: Must service animals be trained by an organization or can they be trained by individuals?  How is disability defined?  Is post traumatic stress a disability and if so is it a mental or emotional disability?

Diversity–Meet the Breeds

DIVERSITY–MEET THE BREEDS! Effective January 1 the following breeds will be eligible for the miscellaneous class–Argentine Dogo, Boerboel, Peruvian Inca Ochid, Portugese Podengo, Pequerno Pumi, Sloughi and Wirehaired Vizsla. These are breeds most of us probably cannot identify, let alone pronounce their names. Want to learn more? Circle October 15 and 16 for an event that promises to reveal all about breeds–MEET THE BREEDS IN NYC.  

      Add to the canine diversity a human side.  The infamous sheriff– Joe–who painted Arizona  jail cells pink is now being applauded for managing the animal shelters in Maracopa County. Prisoners are caring for the dogs and the animal control budget has been cut.  With the new and controversial illegal immigration Arizona legislation we may have more Spanish-speaking prisoner/dog trainers. (Already HSUS is translating its literature into Spanish.)  Perhaps it won’t be long before the AKC publications will also be in Spanish and we will have bi-lingual judges.  Will the MEET THE BREEDS have Spanish language advertisements?   

      The AKC has proposed new rules for agility and in the process has reemphasized the rule that dogs who show aggression in or out of the ring to either person or another dog can be permanently disqualified from participation in all AKC events.  This is a good rule as long as it is fairly and thoroughly investigated.  I remember a West Highland White Terrier, a champion, who nipped a careless and rough judge.  (Yes, unfortunately some of these incidents are the fault of people.  I have seen dogs snap when another dog–usually not carefully monitored–makes an unwanted advance.  Then the person holding the leash is at fault and not the dog.  And, in the case of the Terrier the judge handled the dog roughly, frightening this very ringwise competitor!)  The dog was reinstated after passing a CGC evaluation–and yes, the late Dixon Cuff was the dog’s advocate.

      More on the Joe story–Prisoners feed and care for the strays, walking them twice daily.  They even give classes for people who want to adopt an animal.  The animal control budget has gone from $18 million to $3 million.  A dog which has been neutered with all shots and a microchip cost $78.  The prisoners earn 28 cents an hour.  

      You probably read about this in the June AKC Gazette.  “The best obedience teams appear to perform a kind of interspecies voodoo as they glide through intricately choreographed rituals attached by nothing but mental moonbeams.”  Think of that the next time you go to class.

NEW CAREGIVER. We have a new caregiver in the house.  Among her many talents is working with special ability children in the Olympics.  She is great with my blind and hard-of-hearing Cagney.  Somehow her enthusiastic praise and positive energy have made Cagney more confident.  I love watching them walk together, with Marlene telling Cagney, “You go girl”. 

Updates, and Revisiting “Field and Stream”

IMPORTANT UPDATES. The most recent dog law regulations pertaining to commercial kennels now mandate 50% solid flooring in cages with mothers and puppies.  It will be voted on August 19th.

      The employment rate for Seeing Eye dog users is 70%.  Monday, July 26^th is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which allows dog users access to the workplace.  The Seeing Eye was established in 1929 and those were economic hard times too. 

      The FDA has developed an online reporting system for safety problems relevant to foods–INCLUDING PET FOODS.  The new system will enable information to reach the public more quickly.  For example, IAMS has recalled canned cat food (Proactive cat and kitten ) due to a thiamine deficiency.  This type of information will now be able to reach consumers much more rapidly.   

COYOTES, RACCOONS AND BEARS, OH MY!  Un-vaccinated pets in urban and town areas are now more at risk of picking up diseases.  Co-existing with neighborhood wildlife may mean more vaccinations for health safety, especially as virus’s jump species barriers.  In Pennsylvania the danger is magnified by the high population of outdoor and feral cats that could form reservoirs of diseases.

KITTENS AND PUPPIES MOVE OVER –SENIOR PETS MAY BE NEW IMAGE OF NEW PRODUCTS. Keep that elderly cat and dog well groomed and trim.  He may soon be in front of the camera touting a new wonder drug.  A Previcox (NSAID) ad was recently spotted with the declaration–”Once daily dosing with no age restriction”and another showed a cat wearing horn-rimmed glasses!  The Pet of the Week at the Danville SPCA was a ten-year-old Pug mix! 

      When I see advertisements for the TV program, PIT BOSS, I think of Dr. Randall Lockwood.  In his early pre-HSUS days Lockwood devised a projective test to reveal the psychology of pet owners using various sketches of people and dogs.  For example, there was a picture of a small, delicate woman walking a big dog.  The answer to this personality test was that she was a DOMINATING  person.  According to the interpretation the woman is saying, “don’t mess with me I can control this big dog!”  Given the small stature of the main character in PIT BOSS and the pit bulls involved I have to wonder how Lockwood would interpret this program. 

MORRIS AND ESSEX. Daughter Lee discovered some old copies of Field and Stream (1930s) and they contain fascinating articles about sporting breeds.  One of them announced the largest benched outdoor show in the country to be held in Madison, NJ.  Over 4,000 dogs were judged.  The show was a birthday present from Mr. Rockefeller to his wife Geraldine Dodge who owned Giralda Farms.  (For the woman who has everything!) When I visited in the 1980s I saw what I believed to be a children’s playground complete with see-saws and slides.  It turned out to be an early version of an agility course!  Puppy kindergarten in those days consisted of the Canine Good Citizen program taught by Pia Silvani.  Modern canine traditions continue on these beautiful grounds.  And, speaking of sporting breeds–did you know the FIRST AKC GRAND CHAMPION is a Weimaraner?