Pet News and Views

Andrea Arden on Animal Haven

When you first meet Andrea Arden, pet expert, dog trainer, and the star of Animal Planet’s Underdog to Wonderdog, a show about helping shelter dogs overcome neglect and mistreatment, and how shelter animals give back to the families who rescue them, you get the sense that she is incredibly grateful to have animals in her life. As a dog trainer, she believes it is her mission to help animals. Andrea also serves on the board at Animal Haven Shelter in New York City. Pet News and Views (PNAV) interviewed Andrea about the influence animals have on her life and her work at Animal Haven.

Andrea Arden with Nora, one of her rescues.

PNAV: Why did you become a trainer?
Andrea: My father was incredibly passionate about animals, in fact he called one of our dogs his number one son. Being a business owner, he was super busy. The time we shared usually involved walking the dogs, or playing with the goat or pigs. Teaching others about animals and animal care brings me incredible joy. It’s also a continuing reminder of the time with my father.

PNAV: I know you are on Animal Haven’s Board of Directors. What do you do there?
Andrea: I help support the overall mission of Animal Haven Shelter in any way I can. This includes increasing awareness through the media and events, fundraising, assisting with behavior assessments, training, and yes, cleaning up. There is nothing like trying to clean a litter box with five little kittens crawling all over you. Each time you scoop something out, they pounce in to be sure to give you something else to clean.

PNAV: Why did you pick Animal Haven to volunteer your time?
Andrea: I chose to work with Animal Haven Shelter because I liked that it was small enough to feel like a family, but large enough—in regards to the many volunteers—who provide a wonderful support network. We have amazing, dedicated people working with us and wonderful volunteers. Every person makes a difference in the lives of the animals in our care, and we all realize we make a greater difference in more animals’ lives working as a team.

PNAV: What makes Animal Haven one of the more successful shelters?
Andrea: Animal Haven’s success lies in its welcoming atmosphere at a place that most people imagine as cold and sad–an animal shelter. In doing so, Animal Haven attracts more of the general public to choose adoption over purchasing a pet. In addition, Animal Haven is located in a high-traffic area. These two elements work well together to offer another option to potential new dogs or cat parents.

Also, Animal Haven follows up with training and an open door policy on advice and help to all of our adopters. In essence, Animal Haven is building a community of pet families. Of course a love of animals is at the core of any successful rescue effort. But, it also comes down to having a dedicated, educated team.

They also have to like another species of animals other than dogs and cats…people! After all, they are the ones we are counting on to adopt and to help support the rescue efforts. Being good time managers and being able to stay focused on the positive is also vital. Working in rescue is incredibly rewarding emotionally, but it can also be draining to deal with the daily reminders of how many people don’t treat animals well. People involved with rescue have to be able to develop mechanisms to cope with this so as to stay focused on the mission. There is often a massive effort involved in saving the life of one animal (round the clock care for elderly or newborn dogs or cats, costly veterinary expenses, etc.) so rescue staff and volunteers need to reserve their energy as best they can for what is important…focusing on their part in helping the animals to thrive and find homes. And that is something everyone at Animal Haven does very well.

PNAV: Any up coming special events?
Andrea: I am incredibly proud of our Caring Kids Program run by Kendra Mara. It introduces kids and teens ages 4-17 to the basics of animal care and issues related to animal welfare. They help bathe the animals, clean up, teach basic manners, and create adoption signs for each animal. Plus, when they sit outside with dogs (supervised by adults, of course) and chat with people passing by about why they should adopt and/or donate, we couldn’t ask for better ambassadors!

Animal Haven shelter kids Caring_Kids_dog_bath

Volunteers at Animal Haven's Caring Kids program give a fur friend a bath.

On Saturday, September 18 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Caring Kids will take over the shelter. The public is invited to come by and see our adoptable pets and also watch as the kids run the show.

PNAV: Tell us about your pets.
Andrea: I currently have ‘just’ two dogs, as one of my rescue Dobies passed away last year. I have a little terrier mix named Nora and a Doberman Pinscher named Moka.

PNAV: Any other comments?
Andrea: I wish I could convince every celebrity who is featured in magazines like Us, OK, Star, etc. to choose the adoption option. We are such a celebrity driven culture that I think this would play a major role in furthering public awareness about the many benefits of adopting. I also wish I could encourage parents to enroll their children in a program like Caring Kids at Animal Haven Shelter. Early education about animal welfare is vital to bettering the lives of animals in the future.

What A Cat's Teeth Can Tell You about Your Cat's Health

My friend Andrew brushes his cats’ teeth every morning. They’ve come to expect it. It’s something I never thought about doing—until I had to take Earl Gray, my cat, to the vet.

Earl had a foul odor coming from his mouth, and he was dripping saliva. What I found strange was that the day before he was fine. When we got up in the morning, I noticed his breath and the wetness around his mouth. When we went downstairs for breakfast, he wouldn’t eat.

Open wide!

At the Vet
We were lucky. The vet dentist was in. He removed Earl’s rotten teeth, and Earl was fine. That happened last year.

Well, about a month ago, the same thing occurred. This time we saw the partner of the vet we usually see. Since she didn’t see a rotten tooth this time, she thought his foul breath was kidney related. I didn’t believe her. I said it was the exact same symptoms from last year when he had two rotten teeth.

Since she didn’t see a rotten tooth or any inflammation, she seemed convinced it was kidney disease or feline leukemia. I was firm and told her, no, I think it’s his teeth. But since she is the expert, I started to worry. She said, it could possibly be a tooth that fell out, but she wanted to run tests.

Bad Breath and Disease
“A healthy cat’s breath should not be offensive,” says Eric Davis, DVM, a fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and director of the Dental Referral Service at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As my vet said, bad breath can be the result of periodontal, kidney, respiratory, liver disease, or even diabetes. “However, by far, the most common problem associated with bad breath is periodontal disease,” says Dr. Davis. “Just think how your breath would smell if you didn’t brush your teeth for a week, months or even years.”

It’s important to check your cat’s teeth and gums regularly. If you see any blood, inflammation, or if your cat winces—and not because he doesn’t want you checking his mouth—but because he feels pain, then take him to the vet.

Test Results
Fortunately, the tests for kidney disease and feline leukemia came back negative. It was Earl’s teeth, as I had thought. The situation resolved itself because the tooth had fallen out, and the area in his mouth that was inflamed healed—just like in the wild. It saved us money too. The dental visit, tests, and complete exam added up. A tooth extraction would have cost more. The vet said Earl was quite healthy for a 16-year old cat.

Daily Brushing
Following my friend Andrew’s advice: “You need to make your cat comfortable with having his teeth brushed; so start early and make it part of his daily routine,” he explains. “First you will need to “introduce” your cat to the toothbrush. The earlier your cat is introduced to the toothbrush, the easier it will be for him to accept the brushing routine later on.”

If you are going to brush your cat’s teeth, you can buy a toothbrush that will fit on your finger. You can also buy a cat toothbrush with a handle. Both versions have extremely soft bristles. And whatever you do, don’t use toothpaste designed for humans. It will upset your cat’s stomach. You can buy tuna or chicken flavored toothpaste at your local pet shop.

According to Andrew, his cats enjoy their daily toothbrush routine. For Andrew, it’s more time for him to bond with his fur kids.

A Bat in My House

My husband, Steven, was telling our son, Jordon, a bedtime story. Steven looked up and did a double take. He saw a brown bat on a wall in our bedroom. He calmly had Jordon go downstairs and called animal control. I wanted to catch and release it.

When the animal control officer caught it, he also wanted to let it go. However, he said it needed to be tested for rabies since we have a small child and a cat living in the house. Within the last two weeks, eight bats were found in homes in South Orange and Maplewood, NJ. One in Maplewood came back positive for rabies.

Rabies is found in the brain of an animal. So, it has to be destroyed in order to find out if it is positive or negative. A few days later, we got a call, and were told the bat tested positive, and that we were the first family living in South Orange to have a rabid bat in our house. I really didn’t believe it. I also didn’t want to go for rabies shots, and I was sad that the bat had to be destroyed.

First, I took Earl Gray, our cat, to the vet. He was due for a rabies shot. Then it was our turn. Steven and I picked Jordon up from camp, and told him we needed to head to the emergency room.

A Series of Rabies Shots

The staff at Saint Barnabus Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, is great. The nurse who administered the shots was painless. Steven and I had to get a Tetanus shot. Jordon recently had one. Next was the rabies vaccine. While we waited, we played games and entertained Jordon. I felt so bad that he had to get three shots. I had three shots (plus the Tetanus). One in the arm and one on each butt cheek. Because he’s a big guy, Steven had to get five shots—plus the Tetanus—one in each butt cheek, his arm, and his thighs.

That marked day zero. Three days later we went back to the hospital for one additional shot. Tonight, which is day seven, we each get one more shot. And on day 14, we get our last shot.

We felt so bad for Jordon that we let him eat dessert for dinner. He ordered an ice cream Sundae.

Bats and Bites
I was almost going to nix the shots. However, the animal control guy said we needed them. I was certain we weren’t bitten. As a rule, bats don’t bite people, unless you handle them. The majority of bats eat insects and some eat fruit. The vampire bat, which this wasn’t, feeds on the blood of animals—mostly cattle. Vampire bats are mostly found in South America.

The bat in our house was a brown bat. Brown bats are not endangered, but many are being decimated by White Nose Syndrome. This disease is spreading rapidly throughout the northeast, and is killing bats in large numbers. I like bats. Any animal that eats its weight in mosquitoes is good.

How Is Rabies Spread?
According to the Center for Disease Control, “rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. The rabies virus can be passed to humans via the bite of a rabid animal, its salvia, or feces.” This means that you have to touch the rabid animals’ salvia or feces. I don’t know how anyone would not know if they were bitten or came in contact with salvia or feces.

Every doctor, nurse, and the animal control officer all said that if you are sleeping you would not know if you were bit. Apparently bats’ teeth are quite sharp; the puncture holes are tiny, and because they are so small, you don’t feel it.

We were also told that a bat can brush up against you, and if you had a cut on your body and that cut came in contact with the rabid animal’s salvia, you could get rabies. It seems a bit of a stretch to me, but that is the truth.

As I said, I like bats, and I don’t want to start a bat scare. According to the State Health Department, each year between two and three people in the U.S. contract rabies.

Protecting You and Your Pets
If you see a bat in your home, call animal control, and have the bat tested. If the tests come back positive, go for the series of rabies shots. The odds of getting rabies are slim to none, but it is best to make sure.

And make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date.

6 Back to School Tips for Your Pet

The end of summer means an empty house for many families. While parents may enjoy a break from the kids, it may be a different story for our dogs. Dr. Ernie Ward shares tips on how you can make the transition from summer to school easier for your pets.

Dr. Ernie Ward and friend

1. Transition Time
About a week before the kids return to school, begin getting your dog used to their absence. This is best accomplished by leaving your dog home for short trips. Ideally, leave them inside early in the morning to simulate school time. You only need to leave them for thirty minutes or so. The idea is to get them accustomed to the fact that long, lazy summer mornings are coming to an end. Also, start getting out the lunchboxes and other items your dog associates with leaving for school in the morning. The idea is to de-sensitize them to any anxiety-producing cues prior to school starting. Do this several times a day and your dog’s nervousness will begin to diminish.

2. Break Out the Crate
For indoor dogs that will be spending several hours alone, a dog crate may be your best bet. A crate is not a punishment device; it is a play pen. Placing your dog in a crate should be thought of as putting a toddler in a play pen or crib. The purpose is to prevent your dog from getting into accidents and injuring himself. In addition, the security of having one’s own space is comforting to many dogs. Be sure to leave food or a treat, fresh water, a blanket and favorite toy. Try to come home at lunch to take your dog out for a break. The ideal crate size should be just big enough for them to comfortably stand up, turn around and stretch out. Rotate the toys you leave and use those that you can stuff with vegetables or dog food to keep your dog engaged while you’re away. In many areas doggie daycare is an excellent alternative to “home alone.”

3. Turn on Some Tunes
Whenever your dog is left alone, the sound of human voices or music can be soothing. I recommend leaving slow (50 to 60 beats per minute) and soothing music playing whenever your pet is left alone.

4. Pass on the Piddle Pads
Many people think that if they leave their dog indoors, they should leave out a piddle pad. I don’t recommend putting down newspaper, training pads or other substances for your dog to urinate on except in very special situations. While you may think you’re telling your dog to urinate on a piddle pad in an emergency, your dog interprets this as it’s okay to tinkle on your tile. The goal with house-training is that your dog doesn’t go to the bathroom in the house–period. This is another excellent reason for using a dog crate.

5. Avoid Anxiety
Changes in routine can also lead to anxiety in many dogs. Some dogs will experience separation anxiety or become frightened by loud noises or sudden thunderstorms. In addition to great pharmacologic treatments to help relax your pet during these stressful times, there are non-prescription remedies that may help. Rescue Remedy, valerian, melatonin, SAM-e, fish oil, dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) and other natural products may also help some dogs and cats. Gradual desensitization using storm recordings work remarkably well for most pets. One of the most overlooked treatments is to increase the amount of exercise your dog receives. Several studies have shown increasing aerobic activity to as little as 30 minutes a day reduces the signs of separation anxiety in dogs.

Enriching the environment with a constantly rotating selection of interesting and interactive toys is also helpful in making your dog feel at home when he’s alone.

Talk with your veterinarian about how to calm your best buddy with an anxiety problem. There’s no reason anyone should have to cower in a closet or destroy the furniture to get relief.

6. Quality Time Counts Most
With school back in session, your dog may not get as much time playing with your family as during the care-free days of summer. If this is the case at your house, be sure to make the most of the time you have with your pet. Long walks at the park, lounging around on the couch, whatever it takes to re-connect at the end of a busy week. Remember that even though your dog wasn’t at work or school all day, he still needs time to unwind. As the days grow shorter, be sure to find time to walk your dog daily and enjoy this unique relationship.

Dr. Ernie Ward has spent his entire career practicing, writing about, lecturing on and encouraging better care for dogs and cats. Whether he’s discussing the dangers of obesity, how to perform a physical examination, dealing with behavioral issues, answering pet owner’s questions about surgery or how to provide better care for aging pets, Dr. Ward’s unifying theme is “do what is in the pet’s best interest.”

Black Dog Syndrome

When I first heard about Black Dog Syndrome, I thought it was an Internet hoax. A trainer who rescued a black Labrador retriever told me that the shelter workers where she adopted her black Lab from were thrilled that she chose a black dog.

Black Labs are so handsome. It is inconceivable that they are often overlooked at shelters.

In case you don’t know, Black Dog Syndrome is when people don’t adopt dogs with black fur. I grew up with a German Shepherd/Collie/Beagle mix who was mostly black and dark brown. He was extremely handsome, and quite intelligent, which made me think that Black Dog Syndrome just couldn’t exist.

Yet, I kept on hearing about it on chat rooms, on the Internet, from friends who do rescue work, and from people who work at animal shelters. One person told me that when she was looking to adopt a Labrador retriever, she was astounded at the disparity between available yellow dogs versus black dogs. The wait for a yellow lab from a rescue group could be months or years, while there were plenty of black labs available.

Many shelters are showing black dogs with colorful collars.

Why Black Dogs are Overlooked
When you place a bunch of black dogs in a shelter amongst tan, red, yellow, mixed and other colors, people’s gaze goes towards the lighter or brighter animals. “As a brand marketing professional, I can tell you color is a powerful perception tool,” says Steven Vena, owner of The Nimble Group, Inc., a brand marketing and advertising agency. “If I am walking down the street, I would bet more people would pet the tan dog versus the black dog.”

I was able to see his point—even though I didn’t like it. I grew up in New York, and have a lot of black clothes in my closet. I remember attending an expo at the Javits Center; the majority of men dressed in black suits and the women wore black dresses. I came along in a bright orange blazer, and got lots of comments. Many people thanked me for wearing a sunny color.

Still when it comes to fur or skin color, I think black is more interesting because it’s not just black. Look at a cat, dog, or person with black coloring and you will see reds, browns, and a nice mix of other tones thrown in. Maybe because I’m extremely fair skinned, I appreciate other colors. I was thankful for my freckles; otherwise I would have a ghostlike complexion!

Photos of Black Dogs and Cats
Take a look at photos of adoptable dogs and cats on line; the black ones are often blurry. Thankfully, many shelters are using professional photographers to show off these dogs and cats. Some are showing black dogs and cats with colorful collars to make them stand out.

Black Cats
Black cats also have a hard time getting adopted. A lot of that has to do with superstitions. Personally, I had a black cat, and everyone loved him. He was the sweetest, and had a playful personality. His green eyes stood out against his expressive face.

Even half asleep, this black cat is incredibly beautiful.

I have trouble understanding this, but there are some people who regard black cats as witches’ familiars. It has gotten so bad that shelters won’t adopt out a black cat around Halloween time. It seems that people want to use black cats for rituals around that time. So a good number of shelters refuse to adopt out their black cats from the end of September to the beginning of November.

And I know this is going to sound screwy, but some people believe that vampires transform themselves into black dogs as a way of traveling unnoticed at night. (I just don’t get some people.) So unfortunately, black cats and dogs are the last, if at all, to be adopted.

Black Dog and Black Cat Syndrome are real. The next time you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, take personality into account. Talk to the shelter workers or the volunteers at the rescue group, and make an informed decision.

To My Readers: Thanks for alerting me to Black Dog and Black Cat Syndrome. Many of you have posted stories on LinkedIn and at other sites regarding this topic. I appreciate the many e-mails you have sent me. If you want to write about your experience with a black dog or black cat or with Black Dog/Cat Syndrome, please do so in the comments section of this post. And keep your story suggestions coming! I really appreciate all of you!

Cat Wants Breakfast, a cartoon

Never underestimate the power of a cat. I love all animals. Cats, however, have me wrapped around their paws. Earl Gray, my gray and white tabby, tends to wake me up in the middle of the night so I can turn on the faucet for him to drink. The water flowing out of the faucet has to be pencil thin–to his liking. And I accommodate him.

I’ve stood by at night while he drinks. It usually takes 2-3 minutes, and then we both go back to sleep. I’ve tried fountains and we have a water bowl in the bedroom, which he never touches. His water has to come from the sink–pencil thin.

The cat in this video wants breakfast, and will resort to any means to get it. It was written and drawn by Simon Toefield. If you check out his site, you can find more wonderful cartoons.

How do you accommodate your cat or dog?

And the Winners Are…

Thanks to everyone who subscribed to Pet News and Views. Subscribers were automatically entered into the contest. I really appreciate that you are reading and have subscribed. And I love hearing from you. Here are the winners of the Pet News and Views contest:

Jackie Herships and her fur kid Daisy won the Bamboo Care Pet Shower Massage.

Leslie Kaufman and her cats won Bamboo Care’s Perfect Paws Cat Nail Trimmer. Leslie runs On All Fours Cat Sitting®. She has been providing reliable, secure, and comprehensive cat care throughout Manhattan and Queens since 1998. Leslie adores cats, and writes about cat care on her website.

Erin Siders recently adopted a dog. She and her son, Isaiah, also share their home with a cat. They won the To Go Bowl, a bowl for families that travel by car with their pets. It is manufactured by Furry Travelers.

Andrew Garfinkel, a fur dad to two cats, won the FURminator for Cats. Andrew recently shared info on how he brushes his cats’ teeth. I hope to share some of those tips with you soon.

The FURminator for Dogs goes to Ty and Buster, fur kids to Rod and Amy Burkert, who write the popular blog Go Pet Friendly. They can be spotted driving their RV throughout the U.S. and Canada checking out pet-friendly destinations and sharing their adventures with all of us.

Fat Cat’s Squeak-A-Zoids stuffing-free dog toys goes to Neatha Jennings and Linda Eckhardt, author of The Dog Ate It: Cooking for Yourself and Your Four-Legged Friends.
Linda also writes the blog The Silver Cloud Diet, which is for people.

The Scratch ‘n Shapes scratching pad goes to Faith M. Cohen, mom to a tortoiseshell rescue cat named Lizzie.

Again, thanks for subscribing to Pet News and Views. I wish I could give prizes to all of you. And for those of you who haven’t yet subscribed to Pet News and Views, it’s so easy. You can subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed by clicking on the links at the top right hand side of the screen.

And thanks to those of you who have told your family and friends to subscribe to Pet News and Views. I really am thankful that you are reading and that you care as much about the animals as I do.

Clothing for Dogs with Great Messages

Earl doesn’t wear clothes. He’s a cat, and I don’t see the need to humanize him. I know a few people who dress their cats. It’s just not in the cards for Earl Gray. I don’t think he would like it.

Dressing Dogs
Growing up in New York, I had two dogs—a miniature Poodle, who was given to us by an aunt who didn’t want to take care of him–and a mutt, who was also given to us by someone who no longer wanted him. He was part German Shepherd, Collie and Beagle. I dressed Perot, our Poodle, and Mr. Chips, our mutt, in rain coats and winter sweaters.

I’ve since learned that it is important to dress dogs with short hair and fair coats in T-shirts during the summer months to protect them from sunburn.

Dogs on the Cat Walk
If I had a dog today, I would dress him in Rescue Wear by Toru. It’s my way of making a statement. I’m always telling people “adopt, don’t shop” and “spay/neuter your dogs and cats.”

All of the clothes shown here are from Toru's Rescue Wear collection.

I recently attended a pet products show in New York City, and one of the vendors was Toru, a manufacturer of T-shirts, tanks, hoodies, and bandanas with wonderful messages like: Rescue, Spay, and Adopt. Toru donates 15% of their proceeds to Paws 4 You Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer, donor-subsidized animal rescue organization based in Miami.

Do you dress your dog or cat? If so, send a photo or comment on why, and do you think your dog or cat likes to be dressed?

Pit Bull Therapy Dog

When I think of service dogs, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes usually don’t come to mind. Then I met Emmett and Maggie Marton.

Emmett the therapy dog

Maggie writes the blog Oh My Dog. She adopted Emmet, a Pit Bull/Plott Hound mix, from Friends of Homeless Animals in Virginia about four years ago—when Emmett was two.

A Pit Bull Service Dog
From the first day Emmett came to live with Maggie, he endeared himself to friends, family, and neighbors. “Everyone just adores him, and he loves everyone right back—especially children,” she says. “When we lived in D.C., I started looking for a therapy dog training program, but didn’t have much luck. There was one facility right down the street from us that did training and boarding, but they told us that they weren’t insured for Pit Bulls, so we’d have to look elsewhere.”

Then, two years ago, Maggie and family moved to Indiana and started her search again. “There is a phenomenal program here through the Monroe County Humane Association,” she explains. “They offer a training session every other week, and there’s a Delta Society evaluator right here in town. (Delta Society is a human services organization dedicated to improving people’s health and well-being by providing positive interactions with animals.) It was the perfect fit. We took classes for about nine months.”

Pit Bulls and Children
“Emmett loves children,” says Maggie. “We do a few programs regularly: Animal Reading Friends at the local public libraries, classroom visits, and pet therapy visits at a local mental health facility with the residential kids. He performs wonderfully in all three situations, but he really shines at the mental health facility. He showers the kids with attention, sitting next to each one in turn. They throw their arms around his neck and plant big kisses on his nose. And he just wags his tail the whole time.”

The first day there, Maggie noticed a quiet little boy sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees, peering out at her suspiciously. “When Emmett walked around to say hello to everyone, this little boy touched him lightly and then retreated,” says Maggie. “While most of the kids elbow, scream, and shove to be the first one to get to play with Emmett, he sat quietly in his spot, never yelling or angling to get a turn. After a few visits, he still hadn’t asked for a turn, so as we went around the circle I asked him, ‘Would you like a turn walking Emmett?’ He stood up and smiled, saying ‘Yes, please’ so softly that I barely heard him.

Since then, each time I ask him if he wants a turn. He never imposes himself, he sits and waits quietly—and grins this huge grin when he takes the leash. We’ve been visiting for several months now, and a few weeks ago we had to miss our visit while Emmett had surgery. The next time we came in, this quiet little boy dashed over and said, ‘I missed you, Emmett!’ He wrapped his arms around him, Emmett leaned in and gave him a big kiss, and made the boy giggle.”

Fear of Pit Bulls
Despite his winning personality, Emmett occasionally meets people who are afraid of him. “We’ve encountered a lot of people who have really bad ideas about Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes,” says Maggie. “We do several public outreach events, like working at a booth at the county fair. When people ask me if he’s a Pit Bull, I tell them that Pit Bull is actually a generic term that encompasses a lot of different dogs, and that Emmett is an American Staffordshire Terrier mix. I always add that he’s a very friendly therapy dog who adores children.” Often that works. Some, however, scoff and say, ‘Until he turns on you.’”

Still Maggie is on a mission to educate people about Pit mixes and pure breeds, and to share Emmett’s love with others.

Moving Animal Tales

The next time you start to feel sorry for yourself, read Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them. Edited by Mary A. Shafer, this compilation of true stories about animals with disabilities and the people who care for them is uplifting, and at times quite funny.

Idgie doesn't know she has a disability.

When Mary and her partner, Shelly, decided to adopt Idgie (named after the feisty character in Fried Green Tomatoes—one of my favorite movies) a blind kitty, everyone benefits.

Mary writes: “I’ve had pets all my life and have loved them all, some more deeply than others. But this one had captured my heart with her spunky spirit and obvious joy in simply being alive. From that point on, I have never been the same, and now it’s a joke with my friends and family that she has me wrapped around her little white paw.”

Mary writes descriptively as she shares her story on how Idgie was transformed from an undernourished and quite sickly kitten into a beautiful and healthy cat.

The book has a total of 11 stories by different authors. While, I was moved by all of them, the one that took me by surprise was about a rat named Cagney, written by Crystal S. Parsons.

My View of Rats
While I love all animals, the one that I’m a bit frightened of is a rat—mainly the NYC kind that you find on the subway tracks. I remember standing at the Canal Street station saying to myself over and over again, “Don’t look down.” And what do I do? I look down and usually see one or two rats about the size of my cat. It is unsettling.

Vermin as Pets?
So when Crystal was deciding on what type of small pet to get, a clerk suggested a rat. (She didn’t shop at a pet store that sells dogs and cats.) Her reaction? “A WHAT?!” She then asked herself, “Who owns vermin as a pet?”

The sales clerk then placed a full grown brown and white rat in her hands. She wrote: “He didn’t struggle, just blinked at me, looking slightly bewildered at all the commotion around him. I blinked back, completely speechless. I was holding a RAT!”

She took Cagney to the vet and was told that Cagney was kept in a cage that was too small for him and didn’t get enough exercise. As a result, his back legs didn’t work.

So Crystal would take Cagney out and massage him. She writes: “The rat had pushed himself up on his front legs and stretched his head up as high as it could get, pushing it into my hand as if trying to get every last sensation of my hand on his head. His eyes were squeezed shut as if he was in some sort of heavenly rapture, enjoying every moment of my touch.”

Cagney would make a bruxing noise, which is like purring to a cat.

Crystal changed my mind about rats. I’m still fearful of the ones I see on the NYC subway tracks though.
Almost Perfect retails for $12.95. It can be ordered online here. Almost Perfect also has a blog. Here is the link.

He Can Talk to the Animals
When J.H. Soeder asked me to read his memoir, True Tails, about communicating with animals, I was skeptical. I believe that we can understand our animals pretty much in the same way a mom reacts to the needs of a newborn. It’s part instinctual. However, I don’t totally believe that people and animals can have a dialogue in the same manner as you and I can.

So, I agreed to read Jon’s book (The J stands for Jon.), and I told him that if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t review it. I started reading and couldn’t put it down. It’s well written, fun, and emotional at times. He shares the story of a life well lived, and the many lessons he learned from his family and animal friends. Reading True Tails gave me a good understanding of Jon’s mom, dad, sisters, teachers, animals, and most of all of Jon. They are lovely folks.

True Tails, which retails for $17, received an Indie Excellence Book Award. You can order it online here.

Dogged Pursuit
Robert Rodi, author of Dogged Pursuit: How a Rescue Dog Rescued Me, loves his dogs, enjoys agility training, competitions, and has a wicked sense of humor. I loved the chapter about the pet psychic. (Because of this book, I’m thinking of finding a pet psychic to read Earl, my cat. Yes, I’m still quite skeptical—as was Robert.)

Robert and his dog Carmen, a Shetland Sheep dog, won many ribbons. After devastating news about Carmen’s dysplasia, Robert retired Carmen from competitions. Carmen continued to lead a great life with Robert, his partner, and their new dog, Dusty.

Dusty was a scrawny, scruffy rescue who is also a Sheltie with a personality that ranges from aggressive to sweet. The two of them are a wonderfully funny pair in the agility ring and at home. Robert shares what it is like to compete, win, and lose. The book retails for $15, and can be ordered here.

What Are You Reading?
Reading any good book about animals? Please share.

Pet News and Views Contest
Just a reminder today–August 3–is the last day of the Pet News and Views contest. With 8 prizes, there are 8 chances to win. Click here for details.

Pet News and Views

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