July 14, 2008
ST. LOUIS -- Ice storms, tornadoes and floods have made it a rough year for many people in Missouri. Their pets have had a hard time of it, too.
The Humane Society of Missouri said Tuesday that it has helped more than 3,000 animals survive severe weather so far this year. Most of those were animals from Missouri, although the group helped about 300 animals in Iowa during recent flooding.
While the Humane Society of Missouri rescued more than 2,000 animals elsewhere after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the organization believes it has set a record for natural disaster animal rescues by the group in Missouri.
The Humane Society's disaster response team used four-wheel-drive trucks to bring fresh water to livestock during ice storms in January and February. When flooding struck eastern Missouri in March, the team rescued animals from trees, including several rabbits that had floated up into them and taken refuge. And during spring tornadoes, team members tended to injured animals, including a llama with a broken jaw.
Now, the Humane Society is hoping it's at the tail end of efforts to help in Iowa and northeast Missouri after the recent flooding along the Mississippi River.
"We were pulling cats out of trees and off rooftops, dogs that were swimming in the water," said Tim Rickey, director of rescue and investigation for the Humane Society of Missouri.
"We've gone from disaster to disaster," he said.
Rickey said the organization has a nine-member team that uses three boats to rescue animals in flood situations. The size of the rescue team varies from disaster to disaster, from about six to 20 members.
Team members work with local authorities and take tips from local residents or animal owners. Although they may have to make some difficult rescues, Rickey said that much of their work doesn't look particularly dramatic.
In an emergency, shelters for humans often can't take in animals, so the Humane Society tries to establish shelters for pets, such as a mobile home specially designed for the purpose.
The Humane Society also has distributed thousands of pounds of cat and dog food this year to pet owners lacking provisions after a disaster.
"Thank God for Purina," Rickey said, noting that Nestle Purina PetCare, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis, provides massive pet food donations.
When responding after tornadoes, such as those that hit Newton County in the spring, the Humane Society helped injured animals, such as a dog with a broken leg or a donkey hit by a fallen tree, by getting them to veterinary care.
Rickey said the group reunites animals with owners. If an owner wants to give up a pet, he said, the group will put an animal up for adoption once it is spayed or neutered and healthy.
Carmen Skelly, who has been a team member responding to the disasters, said the animals are often frightened or disoriented. She said team members have devices that help them make sure there are no live wires during water rescues and humane traps and nets to help them bring animals to safety.
But a calm voice and a gently outstretched arm can do the trick as well.
She recently rescued a rooster from floodwaters in northeast Missouri, just after encountering two snakes that had holed up in the same spot.
"I think a lot of times citizens think that animals will be OK and survive," she said. But, she noted, many domestic animals do not fare well on their own, particularly in a natural disaster. "They rely on us to meet their basic needs."
The Humane Society of Missouri has spent more than $250,000 helping animals in its natural disaster response so far this year, said spokeswoman Jeane Jae.
She said about 30 cats and 32 dogs assisted during the natural disasters will be available for adoption in upcoming weeks, either at Humane Society headquarters in St. Louis or a west St. Louis County location.
The dogs include beagles, Shih Tzus, rat terriers and a number of mixed breeds. "We even have one pug," she said.

The Gift of Love written by Diane

July 8, 2008 - Tuesday
Category: Pets and Animals

Hi, I just finally looked at this site for the first time just now and I am sitting here with tears running down my face.
I am mom to two Puggles. A couple of years ago I lost my Miniature Schnauzer to old age. She was precious to me. My then 22 year old son was on the internet looking to see if he could get me a puppy for Christmas. We tried getting a shelter dog on several occasions but because he and I both work full time, we kept getting turned down. I don't know if it's the same everywhere but in NY, you have to go through an extensive process to adopt a dog. I think it's great but I think they go way over board in some things. My parents were dog breeders and my brother is a dog breeder. I am well trained in caring for dogs and actually started going to school for Veterinary medicine at one point. We got turned down for a shelter dog just because we work. That's crazy! Anyway, my son went into an internet site of dogs looking for homes and he found an ad for dogs that needed to be rescued. He found a Puggle and thought that this was the perfect dog for me. he called the number and spoke to the rescuer. She was a Maltese breeder in Kentucky. She said that her neighbors (Amish people) had two Puggle puppies that they abused and abandoned. She took the pups in to get them homes. She said they were brothers and she wouldn't let one go without the other. So, my son and I both paid for their vet bills and air fare and brought them home for Christmas in 2005. My boys will be 3 years old July 12th. they have been a hand full and then some!!!! they have been extremely destructive as puppies and destroyed two full living room sets. they went beyond the normal teething stage and were destructive beyond anything anyone had ever seen. I'm a family therapist and I began putting some theories and therapies relating to people into place with my boys. I know this sounds strange but it worked!!!!!! Some modalities of working with autistic children work with my pups. Anyway, now at just about three years old, they have adjusted and are wonderful boys. I cannot believe that even my family told me several times to "get rid of them"". Would one get rid of a child who needs help???? I guess looking at the over flowing population in group homes and such, the answer to that is yes, but for me the answer to my boys was love and patience and teaching them to forgive for what they went through. Jesse and Andre have taught my son and me as much as we have taught them. I love them incredibly.I love ALL animals but especially dogs. My heart just opens up to every dog I see. I don't have much money but I try and do as much as I can to help in any way that I can. I have heard of a place on Long Island called the North Shore Animal League. They keep animals until homes are found for them or all their lives if need be. They have a program where for a few dollars a month, people can sponsor disabled animals. the money goes for vet bills and to keep them comfortable, etc. I think it's a wonderful program and I'm about to sponsor a few of the dogs myself. I don't know if you would be interested in plugging this on your site or not. The amount of money it costs to sponsor an animal is nominal.

Thanks for this site and please let me know how I can help.
Diane

Please Donate:
Go to: North Shore Animal League
North Shore Animal League (virtual tour)

Cooper & Nakia our rescued pets

House Training Puppies and Dogs

House Training Puppies and Dogs
If given a choice, dogs prefer to eliminate away from the areas where they eat, sleep, and play. Dogs eliminate in the house for a variety of reasons: - There might be a medical cause for the problem. - The dog might not have been properly trained to eliminate outside. - The dog might be marking his territory. - The dog might urinate when excited, intimidated, anxious or upset.

House training is accomplished by establishing a surface and location preference AND by preventing the dog from eliminating in unacceptable places. Crating and confinement needs to be kept to a minimum, but some amount of restriction is usually necessary for the puppy or dog to learn to “hold it.” Understand that house training demands an investment of time and effort. Puppies are sometimes not fully house trained until they are 8-12 months of age. As a general rule, a puppy can only hold his waste for the same number of hours that he is old, in months. In other words, a four-month-old pup should not be left alone during the day longer than four consecutive hours without an opportunity to go outside. By the time the pup is four months old, he should be able to make it through the night without going outside. Adult dogs adopted from shelters are often not fully housetrained and need a refresher course.

What to do:1. Keep the dog on a consistent daily feeding schedule and remove food between meals.2. Know where your dog is at all times. To anticipate and prevent accidents, you need to watch for early signs that he needs to eliminate. These signs include pacing, whining, circling, sniffing and leaving the room. If you see any of these, take the dog outside as quickly as possible. Not all dogs learn to let their owner know they need to go outside by barking or scratching at the door. Some will pace a bit and then just eliminate inside.3. If you cannot watch the dog, confine him to a crate, a small room (with the door closed or baby-gated), or tether him to you with a leash that does not give him much leeway. Gradually, over days or weeks, give the dog more freedom. If the dog eliminates outside, give him some free time in the house (maybe 15-20 minutes to start). If all goes well, gradually increase the amount of time out of confinement.4. Accompany the dog outside and reward him with praise, treats, play, or a walk whenever he eliminates outdoors. It’s best to take the dog to the same place each time, as the smells may prompt the dog to eliminate. Some dogs will eliminate early on in a walk; others need to move about and play for a bit first.5. Take the dog outside on a consistent schedule. Puppies should be taken out every hour, as well as shortly after meals, playtime and naps. All dogs should get out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and before being confined or left alone. Adult dogs must get out at least four times a day.6. If you can catch the dog in the act of eliminating inside, SHRIEK loudly. Immediately run to the dog and rush him outside. If he is small, pick him up; otherwise, just grab him by the collar and run outside with him. The idea is to startle him, which should stop him in mid-stream. Allow the dog to finish outside, and reward him. If you do not catch the dog in the act, do not do anything to the dog.7. Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleanser to minimize odors that might attract the dog back to the same spot.

What not to do: - Do not rub the dog’s nose in his elimination. - Do not scold the dog, unless you catch him in the act of eliminating in an inappropriate place. - Never, ever physically punish the dog for accidents; that includes hitting with a rolled-up newspaper. - Do not crate your dog if he is soiling in the crate. - If the dog enjoys being outside, don’t bring the dog inside right after he eliminates—he may learn to “hold it” to stay outside. - Do not use an ammonia-based cleanser. As urine contains ammonia, this could attract the dog back to the same spot to urinate again.
Above all, please be patient! If a puppy has an accident, it is not because he is spiteful or lacking in the ability to learn—it’s because the owner failed to adequately supervise him, didn’t take him outside frequently enough, or ignored or was unaware of the dog’s signals to go outside.

Canine Paper Training
Before we begin, we must make it clear—it is far preferable to teach a dog right from Day One that outside is the place to eliminate.

We don’t recommend paper training unless there is a specific reason why it is necessary— if you have a puppy and live in a high-rise apartment, for example, or if you have an untrained dog or puppy and you have mobility problems. Training a puppy or dog to eliminate indoors results in confusion when you first attempt to take him outdoors to eliminate. By this time, he has learned that it is acceptable to eliminate in the home and may have developed a preference for eliminating on a specific substrate, such as papers, house training pads or adult diapers.

Training a puppy or dog to use a papered area in your home is accomplished in essentially the same manner as training him to eliminate outside. First, confine the puppy or dog for a period of time so that he is reluctant to eliminate, and then bring him, on leash, to the paper. Wait until the dog eliminates, and praise and reward him with treats for eliminating in the correct place. If the dog has an accidents anywhere but on the paper, you should shriek to startle him, pick the dog up or take him by the collar and run to the paper so he can finish in the appropriate place. Restrict the dog’s access to a small area of the home so you can monitor his whereabouts. If you gradually increase the dog’s access to new areas of the house, you will maintain his inclination to return to the papered area. If you are unable to keep an eye on him, he should be confined to a small area where he will not eliminate until he is fully trained.

Some dogs are sloppy about staying within the boundaries of the paper. Make sure the papers are replaced frequently, so the dog is not forced to move off the paper to avoid getting his feet soiled. It often helps the dog to understand exactly where he should eliminate if you somehow delineate the space with a visual marker. You can set up low garden fencing to surround the area with an opening for the dog to move through, or provide your dog with an indoor bathroom, such as the Patio Park. These contain a two- by four-foot section of grass, kept alive by a self-irrigation system. The grass is surrounded by a white-picket fence and fronted with a yellow fire hydrant. The sod needs to be sprayed regularly with odor neutralizer and replaced monthly. A less attractive, but highly effective alternative solution is to place a plastic tarp on your balcony (it must be enclosed, please!) and cover the tarp with grass sod. The benefit of using sod is that the dog develops a preference for eliminating on grass, and so will be equally comfortable eliminating outdoors.

Pup’s 44 day Journey Inspires Book, Rescue Program

Category: Pets and Animals
By Ji Young Min

Cinnamon's journey out of the war-torn Middle East inspired the book "44 Days Out of Kandahar" and SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Mike Lloyd)
July 1, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Alice Feffer knew her husband, Mark, had a guardian angel when the former Navy Reservist sent a photo of a puppy he had befriended while on duty in Kyrgyzstan.
The puppy, named Cinnamon, reminded her of the family's recently deceased pet, Jackson.
"As soon as I saw her eyes I felt Jackson's spirit coming out of her eyes and getting a message to me that she was going take care of Mark during the war," said Feffer.
During the height of war -- in the middle of the 2005 Christmas season -- Cinnamon and her mother, believed to be of the Saluki breed indigenous to the Middle East, walked onto the Kandahar airbase and into the lives of the soldiers.
Soon after their arrival, Cinnamon's mom disappeared, but the young dog quickly bonded with the soldiers, who gave her scraps and leftovers from the chow hall.
Cinnamon's independenct spunk sparked an affinity in Mark. Six months later, as Mark's tour ended, he decided to adopt her with the blessing of all of the troops.
"From the moment I decided to bring her back to the U.S., I was telling her about it," Mark Feffer said. " I don't know if she understood where she was going, but she had a big impact on a lot of soldiers' lives."
Cinnamon needed lots of paper work to prepare for her trip to the States -- not an easy task since there are virtually no vets in Kyrgyzstan where Feffer was stationed and no soldier had really adopted a pet from a war zone before.
"We all feared for her future," said Christine Sullivan, who chronicled the episode in her book "44 Days Out of Kandahar." "Animals over there are not as well taken care of as they are here in the U.S."
With Feffer on a military flight back to the states Cinnamon was entrusted to a contractor. But plans went awry when the dog handler abandoned Cinnamon at the airport. The handler allegedly threatened to kill Cinnamon and kicked her crate after the civilian airline would not allow the dog onto the airplane.
"I felt guilty that I had taken her from where she was quite content in Kandahar living with the Americans and put her into a situation that I didn't know," said Feffer.
Sullivan then took charge, reaching out to everyone in an e-mail campaign for help.
"People we didn't know were offering encouragement and support and felt that to find Cinnamon was the right thing to do," said Sullivan, who is also Mark's sister.
In the middle of the 44-day search for cinnamon came some hope from SPCA International's Terri Crisp. She was able to help track down the lost dog.
Apparently an airline worker gave Cinnamon to a local family, and after cross-cultural negotiations, and the help of a local US airman, Cinnmon was back on a flight to the States and home to the Feffers, and to an audience of admirers and internationally journalists -- including Sullivan.
Her book details Cinnamon's story which helped create the SPCA International's Operation Bagdhad Pups. The organization now funds animal transfers for American soldiers who have adopted while on duty overseas.
Proceeds of Sullivan's books go to various organizations including Operation Bagdhad Pups, Low Cost Spay and Neuter, Caring for Animals in Need, and Caring for Unadoptable Seniors.