Pet Companion Magazine, Summer 2022

Thank you for picking up this copy of Pet Companion Magazine. Our cover story features Ricochet. She’s a top-notch surf dog who also provides therapy support for military veterans, children, teens, and adults living with either disabilities or PTSD, helping them hone in on their coping skills through adaptive therapies. Not only that, she’s also a master fundraiser! Together with her owner Judy Fridano, Ricochet has raised a total of $1,000,000 for causes important for both humans and pets.

Boogie Shoes

Publisher: Miriam Wiegel mwiegel@petcompanionmag.com

Editor: Christine Stossel editor@petcompanionmag.com

Social Media: Alicia Bailey abailey@petcompanionmag.com

Advertising Sales: sales@petcompanionmag.com

Ricochet

This issue highlights two especially pet-friendly destinations—Fiesta Island in San Diego and the Temecula Valley Wineries. Fiesta Island is a dog-lovers paradise, with almost 500 acres of leash-free space to enjoy. If you’re looking for a less active afternoon, the Temecula Valley is home to nearly 50 wineries, and many of these welcome pets to their beautiful grounds.

One of our favorite columnists, Boogie Shoes, returns to share the heartbreak of losing a furry companion and the joy of gaining a new member to his family. We’re also introducing a new canine columnist from Orange County, the ebony labradoodle Bow. If you want to know more about what’s going on in the OC, check out her column online, On the Go with Bow, where she writes about her favorite OC spots.

Magazines are available throughout Southern California, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange Counties, the Coachella Valley, Mountain resorts and the High Desert.

Visit our website for a list of locations.

Published three times a year.

Spring: March—June

Summer: July—October

Bow

Go online to petcompanionmag.com to find additional business resources on our website and in our digital issue. The digital magazine is easy to navigate and is phone-, tablet-, and computer-friendly. Use the scan code at right for fast access, or visit our social media to find the link to the issue.

If you haven’t checked us out on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or our website, please do—we have a lot of great extra content there.

Water Safety

We at Pet Companion Magazine extend a huge thank you to our terrific advertisers, many of whom have supported the magazine since it began. And we welcome our new advertisers, who appreciate our loyal readership and are joining forces with us to advocate for pets everywhere. Please check out their ads, visit their businesses, and let them know you found out about them in Pet Companion Magazine!

We hope you’ll enjoy this Summer/Fall issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

Fiesta Island Skin Cancer Temecula Wineries

Winter: November—February Editorial

Pet Companion Magazine (PCM) and its publisher assume no responsibility for changes, omissions or errors contained in this publication. Advertising in Pet Companion Magazine does not indicate an endorsement by PCM or its publisher. PCM assumes no responsibility for opinions of contributors nor do the opinions expressed by contributors necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the publisher. DPC is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos, which must be accompanied by return postage and envelope. No part of Pet Companion Magazine may be reprinted or copied without express, written permission.

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Fiesta Island

“Best Dog Park in the USA”

By Dove Braustein

One of the things I love most about living in San Diego is our high score on the dogfriendly meter. Many of our restaurants have outdoor patios where four-legged family members are welcome, and we enjoy an array of beautiful leash-free dog parks where we can take our dogs to run, play, and socialize.

Standing out among them all, however, is our pride and joy, a dog’s—as well as a dog owner’s— paradise, Fiesta Island. I discovered this gem in about 2004 with my new boxer puppy, Bella. We could walk for hours, or swim, or just relax on the sand, and, when her energy level was at its peak, I would bicycle with her running beside me within the enormous fenced portion of the island. During my pregnancy, she and I walked there daily, and once my son was born, we continued our tradition with my baby strapped on. By the time Bella went to heaven, Fiesta Island had become a staple of daily life. Once I’d mourned and was finally ready to welcome home Zephyr, a Doberman puppy, Fiesta again became our go-to outing each day. I had developed quite an emotional bond with this place that had seen me through a marriage, a pregnancy, the birth of my child, a divorce, saying goodbye to a dog, and plenty more of the never-ending tumultuous events life throws at us. Coming to Fiesta Island had become my therapy, my solace.

The sprawling leash-free island in Mission Bay was named “Best Dog Park in the USA” by USAToday website 10best.com, and for good reason. Almost all the near 500 acres are leash-free and offer many diverse types of terrain to explore, as well as various social climates to fit just about any dog’s personality. Miles of sandy beaches encompass the island, where water-loving dogs can swim in the calm bay year-round. For owners that prefer to keep their doggies more secure, the massive 90-acre fenced area (complete with tons of parking), specifically designated as an off-leash dog exercise area, contains a maze of trails, as well as its own far-reaching stretch of sandy beach. Several water bowls are set out, filled regularly by thoughtful regular visitors, and picnic tables

Getting There

Directions to the Fenced Off-Leash Dog Area on Fiesta Island

• From the 5 Freeway, exit Sea World Drive and head West. Stay in the right lane and turn right on East Mission Bay Drive. Turn left onto Fiesta Island Road and drive onto Fiesta Island, staying to the right.

• From the Ocean Beach area, take Sea World Drive to East Mission Bay Drive where you will turn left. Then turn left onto Fiesta Island Road and drive onto Fiesta Island, staying to the right.

• From Pacific Beach, follow Sea World Drive instructions or take East Mission Bay Drive.

Once on Fiesta Island:

As you drive along the east shore of the island, you will come to a Y in the road; stay to the left, continuing to the west side of the island, being careful to yield at the merge. (Many cyclists use the island as well.) The fenced area starts ahead on the right side with plenty of parking, a double gate access and access directly to the beach! If you continue on Fiesta Island Road, there are multiple gates through the fence, disabled parking and gate, porta-potties, and at the south end of the fence another access directly to the beach.

Source: fidosd.com

provide a meeting place for those who enjoy gathering and socializing, both human and canine. Owners with a pup who prefers not to play with other dogs (such as my Zephyr) can choose to wander in blissful isolation through the tranquil desert landscape of the island’s interior, which I’ve found to be the least populated section. Its trails wind though a bonanza of native vegetation, giving the feeling of being transported out of the city and to another place entirely.

I’ve noticed that the more room dogs have, the more they are able to respect each others’ space, which in turn leads to greater overall peace among pups. The social butterflies can play and the loners have space to be solitary with their owners. Both inside or outside of the fenced exercise area, there is so much space that every dog and human has the option to either interact with others or keep to themselves. Fiesta Island is the only designated leash-free area in the city where there is more than enough room for this unique dynamic. But the future of the island, especially its wild nature, was touch and go for some time.

I remember, right around the time my son was born in early 2007, noticing signs calling us to “Save Fiesta Island,” and a group calling themselves FIDO (Fiesta Island Dog Owners … clever!) was trying to fight potential development within the fenced off-leash area, call-

ing for backup from anyone willing to help. I did some research and learned that plans had been presented by the city that would put the exercise area at risk of being divided by a large road. The plans also called for adding such “improvements” as parking lots, a playground, and an ampitheatre—vastly depleting its acreage, not to mention taking a huge toll on the untamed feel that is a large part of its allure. I felt an ache in my heart at the idea of this rare, native open space being developed into another planned city park, so I immediately joined FIDO’s mailing list and did my small part to wage the fight to keep it wild. I began volunteering for events, donating, and helping out in other small ways, despondent at the idea of the island losing its unique flavor.

So who is FIDO? Well first, a bit of history.

In 1972, Dog Beach in Ocean Beach (another terrific doggie playground) and Fiesta Island were ordained the only two offleash beaches in the City of San Diego, banning dogs from running free on every other beach within the city limits, where they had previously been allowed. At that time, Fiesta Island was, for the most part, unused by the public. Once this law came into effect, people began to discover the benefit of a space expansive enough for both dogs and their humans to exercise together, running, biking, etc., and its popularity quickly grew.

When the city submitted plans in 2006 that would drastically alter the use of the fenced dog exercise area on Fiesta Island, a small group of people recognized the devastating threat to this now well-used and much-loved spot, and quickly formed the group FIDO, rolling up their sleeves and preparing to do whatever they could to preserve this natural, unique oasis in the city.

It didn’t take long for FIDO to quickly gain momentum and manpower. Dog owners showed up in force to join the fight to maintain the current use of the 90-acre dog exercise area. It was a battle that would go on for years, with FIDO representatives speaking at city planning meetings, meeting with the mayor and San Diego City Council, and advocating passionately for leaving this area as is, open and undeveloped. FIDO spoke out on behalf of the nearly 800,000 dogs who live in San Diego County and the countless more who visit every year, fervently attempting to persuade City Council that San Diego—no, all of Southern California—would suffer a huge loss if the city went ahead with the proposed plans. One statement summed up their argument: “As an open landscape, Fiesta Island should be the place where city residents and visitors alike find the ultimate refuge from urban congestion, noise, and visual clutter.”

FIDO submitted plans of their own—

Option B to counter the city’s Option A—and, in a suspenseful climax on June 17, 2019, the City Council finally voted for Option B, recognizing FIDO’s efforts and rewarding us all with the decision to leave the 90-acre fenced area joyously leash-free and the magnificently wild exercise area intact. Two years later, in June 2021, the decision was also passed by the Coastal Commission, firmly protecting the cherished retreat from being paved over.

The years-long battle had been won; FIDO had succeeded in keeping Fiesta Island the way I and thousands of others have known and loved it for years: a place where dogs can run, mingle, investigate, explore, play, and be dogs.

Enthusiastic congratulations and the most heartfelt thanks to every member of FIDO, for fighting so hard for our dogs’ enjoyment and saving this unparalleled land. FIDO is now committed to being ongoing stewards of the island. Organizing beach cleanups, planning removal of hazardous foxtails, and keeping existing trails safe and accessible are just a few things on the list, now that the biggest obstacle has been overcome.

For more information, or to join FIDO, visit FIDOSD.com. Find us on Facebook at FIDO - Fiesta Island Dog Owners, and Instagram @fido.sandiego.

What to Bring

Some important items to bring along when you visit Fiesta Island include:

• Collar with ID

• Leash

• Water for your dogs to drink

• Water bowl

• Water for humans to drink

• Pick-up bags

• Sunscreen

• Flotation vest if your dog will be in the water

• Towel(s)

• First aid kit

• Treats

Clean Up for Cleaner Water

By Chelsea McGimpsey, Project Clean Water

No matter where you call home, you live in a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common water body, such as rivers, lakes, and our ocean.

When water flows through our watersheds, often because of rainfall or storms, it may pick up pollutants before entering our storm drains, which then empty into water bodies. Many people are not aware that the water draining from the watershed is untreated as it enters our storm drains, which means pollutants from runoff—including trash, chemicals, and more—can contaminate our rivers, lagoons, and the ocean.

There are simple things we all can do every day to help keep the water runoff from our homes, parks, and communities free of pollutants. As pet owners, in particular, we can make a big difference by cleaning up after our furry friends.

Pick Up the Poop

Pet waste contributes to pollution in our local waterways, harming aquatic life and degrading the health of our inland and coastal waters. Here are some tips for pet owners who want to do their part to keep pollutants out of our storm drains:

• Pick up after your pets. Whether you are at home, at the dog park, or on a walk, always carry pet waste baggies to clean up after your pet.

• Place pet waste in covered trash receptacles.

Did you know that 80% of the trash and litter found in our oceans travels there from inland locations? Always pick up your pet’s waste and place it in a covered trash can to prevent

80% of the trash and litter found in our oceans travels there from inland locations. Placing pet waste in a covered trash can prevents it from being washed into our storm drains by the rain.

it from being washed into our storm drains by the rain.

• Dispose of flea medication properly.

Flea products, such as shampoo, medication, and collars, contain harmful chemicals that can contaminate our waterways. That’s why

it’s important to dispose of these products at a dedicated hazardous waste site instead of putting them in your household garbage. Never flush your flea products down the drain. And speak with your veterinarian about the possibility of switching to oral flea medication.

• Bathe your pets indoors. When we bathe our pets in sinks or bathtubs, or we have them professionally groomed, the wash water goes down into the sewer system, where it will be treated before it reaches the ocean. If bathing your pet outdoors is the only option for you, try bathing them on porous ground that will absorb the runoff, and be sure to use non-toxic shampoo.

Want to Do Your Part?

Project Clean Water in San Diego, California, serves as a resource for both government agencies and the general public that promotes supporting clean water and healthy communities. They believe that we all deserve clean water and together we can make it happen.

In addition to the tips mentioned in this article, we invite you to learn more about what

you can do to keep our communities healthy by signing up for the 52 Ways to Love Your Water action pledge. Each week, a new action is revealed on social media, and you will receive a weekly action newsletter that provides additional context on the topic.

Take the 52 Ways to Love Your Water action pledge today at projectcleanwatersd.org/52.

Sit. Sip. Stay. Exploring Local Wineries with Your Dog

By Dove Braunstein

As dog owners, one of life’s greatest joys is discovering an activity that we can enjoy with our pups by our side. Personally, I would bring my two dogs just about everywhere if I could. I’ve selected vacation spots, restaurants, hotels, and more based on how welcome my dogs will be, and I know many of you reading this have done the same! To the delight of dog owners everywhere, there seems to be an uptick in the number of destinations that not only allow, but extend a warm invitation to, our furry family members.

Wine tasting may not be the first experience you’d think to do with your pups in tow, but you might be surprised at just how welcome dogs are at a growing number of wineries, including several in Southern California’s very own wine country, Temecula. Dog and wine lovers, rejoice! Of the 40+ wineries in Temecula, nearly half of them allow well-behaved, leashed pups on their grounds.

Temecula Valley, which is where almost all the vineyards can be found, enjoys a climate resembling that of the Tuscan countryside. The combination of sun-drenched days, little rain, cool nights, and coastal fog create ideal conditions for growing more than two dozen types of grapes, with a focus on Mediterranean varieties, many of them sustainably sourced. Temecula is gaining in popularity as a wine-tasting destination, receiving ever-increasing accolades for the high-quality wines it produces, not to mention a culinary scene to please the most discerning palate. The picturesque valley currently attracts an average of 3 million visitors every year.

So, are you ready for your next swirl-and-sip getaway? Don’t forget the leash (and poop bags!).

I decided to drop by a few of

siastically welcomed but also loved instantly, as I soon learned. Ours, their own, and those waiting for a forever home—at Cougar Vineyard and Winery, they love them all. The owner’s dog, Cilie (pronounced “Chili”), which is short for the grape name Ciliegiolo, can be found at the winery daily, hanging out with her friend Willow, the assistant winemaker’s dog. Every month, this ultra dog-friendly winery teams up with a local shelter to host an adoption event, which they call “Yappy Hour.” This social event also features an assortment of vendors offering treasures of both the canine and wine variety. All dogs are welcome (on leash), treats such as pupsicles are available, and the dogs can enjoy meals from their own canine menu. Cougar also offers a special K-9 club in addition to their standard wine club, which scores you such goodies as a Cougar logo bandanna and

“dog-gone discounts.”

This was just a small sampling (call it a flight!) of the many gorgeous wineries in Temecula that encourage us to bring along our four-legged family, and after my experience, I’m eager to return and visit more of them. Each had its own distinctive charm and offered something special, in additon to their delicious wines. I think I speak for dog owners everywhere when I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who allows our pups to join us on new adventures of all kinds. It is a joy for both us and them to have them along, and we truly appreciate your gracious hospitality. A friendly reminder to dog owners: Let’s always be sure to respect the rules of dogfriendly destinations to ensure they remain that way, and so that more establishments will consider opening their doors to our beloved pups in the future!

See you in Temecula. Cheers!

Pet-friendly Temecula Valley Wineries

The wineries have varying levels of dog-friendliness, and policies can change over time. Please check with the winery prior to making your trip with your furry companion. Reminder: Dogs should not eat grapes or raisins, as they are known to be toxic.

Akash Winery akashwinery.com

Baily Vineyard & Winery bailywinery.com

Dog friendly. Carol’s Restaurant invites visitors to “Make sure to visit on Sundays with your dog for Dog Day Sundays and ask for the Doggie Menu.”

Callaway Vineyard & Winery callawaywinery.com

Grounds are dog friendly; however, pets are not allowed in the tasting rooms.

Carter Estate Winery and Resort carterestatewinery.com

Dogs are allowed at the winery and resort, but some areas are off-limits. Pick-up bags and relief stations are placed throughout the property. The Resort has a Happy Hound program which includes a “sWag Bag.” Nonrefundable pet fee for hotel.

Chapin Family Vineyards chapinfamilyvineyards.com

Leashed, well-mannered dogs are allowed in the picnic area and patio only.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery cougarwinery.com

Very dog friendly! Monthly Yappy Hour and adoption events held at the winery, too.

Domaine Artefact domaineartefact.wine

Domaine Artefact is home to a family of animals, including dogs, horses, pigs, and chickens.

Domaine Artefact is “pet friendly” and encourage guests to bring their well-behaved fur children.

Europa Village europavillage.com

Dog friendly, but pets are not permitted in the indoor tasting rooms. At Bolero, only service dogs are allowed.

Fazeli Cellars fazelicellars.com

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed on the main patio only.

Gershon Bachus Vinters gershonbachus.com

Hart Winery vinhart.com

Leoness Cellars leonesscellars.com

Oak Mountain oakmountainwinery.com

Dogs are welcome. Check out the website for events like “Doggie Date Nite.”

Miramonte Winery miramontewinery.com

Somerset Vineyard & Winery somersetvineyard.com

Well-behaved, leashed dogs accompanied by an adult are welcome on tours.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa southcoastwinery.com

Dogs are allowed at the winery and resort, but some areas are off-limits. Pick-up bags and relief stations are placed throughout the property. The Resort has a Happy Hound program which includes a “sWag Bag.” Nonrefundable pet fee for hotel.

Vitagliano Winery vitaglianowines.com

little boogie shoes

Finding Apple

When I was adopted in 2015, I was welcomed home by three Chihuahua siblings.

Bruno

An ancient old man who is “the reason for the season,” as my parents say. Because he was the first Chihuahua they adopted, he set the tone of Chihuahuas or Bust at our house.

Sesame

A fluffy and playful Chihuahua who won my mom’s heart by simply looking her in the eye when she saw him at the shelter. He is the most “dog” out of all of us, as he loves to play fetch, go for long walks, and chase birds. He also likes to play with me, and I consider him my best friend.

Bust A. Moves (Buster)

We have one more pack member who is very special—his name is Bust A. Moves. He is the one who made me a big brother and gave me plenty of practice at big brother duties before Apple joined our family.

Bust A. Moves (Buster) has cerebellar hypoplasia (like me) and hydrocephalus, both neurological disorders. These two disorders combined severely limit Buster’s mobility, making it impossible for him to walk or stand on his own. He has a wheelchair that he uses to stand upright when he eats and exercises. He depends on our mom and dad to help him potty, drink water, play, and do all the things dogs like to do. Some of his favorite things to do include being held by our mom and ride in his special carrier, get treats, lounge outside on our blanket for playtime, playing with his toys (and including all of us dogs), and take naps.

Miss Piña

She was a dainty little lady who weighed just 5 pounds, loved to run in the grass, eat worms, and dig holes. My parents adopted her in 2010, when she was 1 year old. She was diagnosed with a heart murmur at her first vet appointment, she took medication and had regular testing, but after 12 years, her heart and her little body gave out. Sadly, in February of this year, we had to say goodbye to Miss Piña and allow her body to leave the earth.

Miss Piña was the great equalizer among our pack of five. She was simultaneously the leader, the snuggler, the boss, and the treat burglar. She had a very special relationship with our dad, was a great travel dog, always got 5 stars for behavior at the vet, and was the first dog to welcome me when I joined the family.

Even though we were somewhat prepared for her transition, our hearts were broken the day we had to say goodbye. The Mom and Dad cried a lot, and we dogs were impacted, too. Sesame—her #1 playmate—was especially lethargic and seemed depressed. He kept looking for her and became very clingy with our mom.

To bring us back to center, we started doing a lot of new things as a pack of four. We went on more walks. Explored new places. Visited the park. Went on errands with our parents.

Apple

Got extra treats. All of this was great, but it was clear that losing Piña left a terribly big hole in our family.

The grief lingered like a rain cloud and the energy of our home felt off balance, but the Mom insisted that no one could replace Miss Piña. She was adamant about not adopting another dog. But over the next weeks, it became clear that we all missed the “little lady” energy that Miss Piña brought to our lives—we started looking at adoptable dogs online.

Weeks later, Mom and Dad applied to adopt a little blonde Chihuahua they spotted online at Wags & Walks. Turns out, the dog had just gone into a foster-to-adopt situation, so the folks at Wags & Walks wanted us to meet

another dainty lady who had just arrived at the adoption center. Her name was Apple, and she had just been rescued from Mexico. A few days later, Mom and Sesame drove to Los Angeles for an offi cial meet and greet.

When Mom and Sesame met Apple, she was timid and shy and kept her distance. But her sweetness shined through. Sesame liked her, and Mama fell in love with her right away and knew she would be a great fit with the rest of us, so she finalized the adoption that day.

When Apple arrived at our house, we were all eager to get to know her. After a few days,

Wags & Walks is a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue organization located in Los Angeles. The organization was founded in 2011 by Lesly Berg, who was devastated by the number of innocent dogs being euthanized in LA shelters. Wags & Walks opened their first adoption center to rescue dogs in need and create a friendly, accessible space for those looking to adopt.

In fall 2022, Wags & Walks expanded their life-saving efforts to Nashville, Tennessee, where a second adoption center is planned. Visit Wags & Walks at wagsandwalks.org for location, adoptable dogs, adoption applications, and more.

she started to feel safe, and then we began to see her real personality. We soon learned that she loves to play, do zoomies around the house, and destroy toys. She’s a voracious eater and would eat all day if we let her. She’s learned how to “sit,” speeds through all her food puzzles, and loves going on walks.

She has a very loud bark, and she lets it rip when anything startles her or if she’s unsure about something or someone. One of the most endearing things she does is lick all our faces when we wake up in the morning. Both dogs and humans!

Once Apple joined our family, we felt like we were back in balance as a pack and a family. While Apple brings a much different energy to our home than Miss Piña did, she jumped into the role of “little lady” like a pro and is all the things Miss Piña was and more.

Adopting Apple has brought so much joy back into our hearts, balanced our home, and helped us move forward. We knew adopting after Piña’s passing was the right thing to do, not only to heal our home and hearts, but also because we know that adopting a pet opens space for shelters to save another pet in need.

Ricochet The Million Dollar Dog

By Alicia Bailey Photography courtesy of surfdogricochet.com

Ricochet is an intuitive, smart, and soul-connecting dog who helps veterans, children, teens, and adults, either with disabilities or living with PTSD, to hone in on their coping skills through adaptive therapies. She’s “one in a million” for her unique gift of bonding immediately with the humans she meets. She has an almost magical way of detecting their internal battles and communicating with on them on a deep level. Her support gives the people she works with the strength, courage, and tools to navigate through their problems and concerns and learn more about themselves. Many of the people she works with say she understands them better than the doctors and therapists they’ve been seeing for years.

Finding Her Path

Behind every extraordinary animal is an extraordinary human, and Ricochet’s human is no exception. Meet Judy Fridono.

Originally from Chicago, Judy specializes in raising puppies from neonatal (newborn) to 8 weeks old, the age when most puppies

can safely be adopted. Through this work, she developed a passion for training service dogs. Her passion led her to Northern California to study and become a certified service dog trainer, then to San Diego to work with Pawsitive Teams, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that trains and places service and therapy dogs with persons with disabilities (pawsteams.org). It was following this path that led Judy to welcome Ricochet into her life.

Ricochet was born in in Judy’s home, and the plan was to train her as a service dog for a person with a disability. Ricochet, however, had other plans. Right from the start, Ricochet showed she was super smart and excelled at basic training, but she also had a prey drive and loved to chase birds. Judy knew that behavior was not ideal, but she was determined to work through it and earn Ricochet the title of service dog. But soon Ricochet got bored with her training, and Judy says for over a year the two were “at odds,” until a trip to the beach revealed that Ricochet was destined for something different.

In 2009, Judy and Ricochet attended a beach fundraiser where they met Patrick Ivison, a teenager whose spinal cord was injured in a car accident when he was just 14 months old. Patrick, a quadriplegic, used a wheelchair to get around, but he was an avid athlete. On this

Ricochet and adaptive surfer Patrick Ivison

Ricochet and Judy Fridono

Ricochet and Judy have been fundraising since 2009, benefiting more than 250 organizations. This year, the two finally reached their fundraising goal of $1,000,000 for the many deserving human and animal causes they support.

day, he was in the ocean on his surfboard, riding wave after wave. Ricochet got in on the fun, showing off the boogie board skills she’d been learning in Judy’s pool: balancing on her board and catching a few waves herself. But what she did next surprised everyone. Without prompting, Ricochet jumped onto Patrick’s surfboard, planted her paws, and rode the next wave with him! Judy says this bold moment was Ricochet saying, “This is what I was meant to do!”

Moving forward, Judy backed off traditional service dog training with Ricochet and pivoted her into therapy roles that Ricochet enjoyed. For the last 14 years, Ricochet has provided therapy for people with disabilities through adaptive surfing, therapy support for military veterans living with PTSD, children and teens with disabilities, and much more. Along the way, Judy and Ricochet have made plenty of time to fundraise through their social media platforms and mailing lists to benefit the organizations and people they believe in.

Thanks a Million!

Ricochet and Judy have been fundraising since 2009, benefiting more than 250 organizations. When Judy saw that Ricochet was only $70,000 away from $1,000,000 in funds raised, she decided she wanted to set a goal to raise a million dollars. “I really wanted that fundraising goal to be part of her legacy.”

After countless hours of volunteering, the two finally reached their goal, proudly announcing that they had hit the $1,000,000 fundraising mark for the many deserving

Aqua Dog Cori

Cori, a female golden/Labrador mix born in 2016, began service dog training the day she arrived home and earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate when she was just 15 weeks old. She’s gone on to become a certified, goaldirected therapy dog with Pawsitive Teams and a registered therapy dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

In the beginning, Cori was terrified to go in the pool. So, when her instinct to respond to activity in the water kicked in, it was a surprise. At about 9 months old, she saw a teenage neighbor go underwater, and she jumped

into the pool to save her. With her youthful energy, she alerted us to the emergency and saved the day.

Like Ricochet, Cori has chosen her own life purpose—canineassisted swimming coupled with canine-assisted playing for kids living with autism, special needs, fear of the water, or other challenges. She is being formally trained to perform water rescue.

You can learn more about Aqua Dog Cori, Canine-Assisted Swim Lessons, and Canine-Assisted Water Play at surfdogricochet.com/who-isaqua-dog-cori.html.

Jose Martinez, Adaptive Surfer

Jose Martinez is a California native, Army Veteran, triple amputee, Purple Heart recipient, motivational speaker, and member of Team USA Adaptive Surfing. Ricochet has been working with Jose and sponsoring his surfing career for several years now, thanks to her supporters. She also partnered with the charity One More Wave to create a custom-shaped board for Jose.

“I can’t thank Ricochet enough for her continued support,” says Jose. “In return, we have changed people’s minds and hearts, showing them that anything is possible.”

Learn more about Jose at surfdogricochet.com/josemartinez.html.

human and animal causes they support.

To say “thank you” to her loyal supporters and donors, Judy created an early summer Thanks a Million Sweepstakes, which fans and supporters entered to win prizes, including dog accessories, clothing, feeders, health and wellness products and services, gift cards, and more. The sweepstakes wrapped up on June 13th, and you can check out all the happy winners at surfdogricochet.com.

Ricochet’s Personal Battle

This year, Ricochet fought a battle of her own—cancer. Cancer in goldens is common,

and Judy says it was early detection that saved Ricochet’s life. Finding a lump on her side was the first warning sign, but then the lump began to grow very quickly. Ricochet had surgery to remove it and spent several weeks recovering. During that time, she wasn’t able to work, but she’s a dog who needs her humans, so Judy transported her carefully to a few low-key visits with some of her friends who needed her, too.

Ricochet is 14-½ years old now, and while she no longer surfs as much, she continues her therapy work with veterans and others. Judy says, “Connecting with people is a lifestyle for

Ricochet is a champ, in the water and out. She fought and won her battle with cancer, then went on to reach her $1,000,000 fundraising goal.

Ricochet. She needs that interaction to thrive. I don’t believe you can retire from a lifestyle, but when Ricochet is done sharing her gifts, she will let me know. It’s my responsibility to know what she needs.”

Ricochet’s work with others leaves no doubt how special the human-animal bond is and how extraordinary animals are as vessels to healing. She also proves that each animal has a purpose and reason for being here, and it’s up to the humans who care for them to listen, like Judy did, to discover their true purpose.

Highlights of Ricochet’s SURFice©

Ricochet became the first-ever, canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog in 2009, on that day at the beach when she decided to jump on adaptive surfer Patrick Ivison’s surfboard.

Therapy Dog

Ricochet is a certified, goal-directed therapy dog with Pawsitive Teams and a registered therapy dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs (formerly Therapy Dogs, Inc.). She also holds the highest American Kennel Society (AKC) title of Therapy Dog Distinguished. When Ricochet is representing organizations that registered or certified her, she is considered a therapy dog.

SURFice Dog©

SURFice dog—it’s a play on words, a twist on the more generic title of “service dog.” We gave Ricochet that title to describe the work she does when on board with individuals who need her assistance. Working with adaptive surfing organizations and special-needs surfers is the perfect platform for Ricochet to combine her surfing skills, and experience with disabilities.

Movie Star

Ricochet starred in the IMAX movie Superpower Dogs, a film showcasing the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most remarkable dogs. Available on Hulu.com.

Paw (Pay) It Forward Day Ambassador

Ricochet is an ambassador for Paw (Pay) It Forward Day because she lives a lifestyle of “pawing” it forward for human and animal causes. If someone does her a favor, rather than paying them back ... she pays it forward! See more about this day of generosity at surfdogricochet.com/paw-pay-it-forward.html.

Adaptive Surfer Sponsor

Ricochet proudly sponsors Army Veteran Jose Martinez, Team USA Adaptive Surfer, who became a triple amputee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. She also sponsors Team USA Parasurfing Team, AmpSurf, Stoked For Life and more.

Oh No … Mosquitoes!

Prevention is key to protect us and our animals against mosquito-borne illnesses

By Tammy Gordon, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and Doug Kunz, DVM, Medical Director, VCA Desert Animal Hospital

One of the joys of pet ownership is the time we get to spend with them outdoors. Walking our dogs in the early morning with a slight breeze and the sun cresting the mountains is a serene and meditative way to start the day. But one tiny sound can really ruin that revered time together and cause immediate feelings of irritation and dread: the sound of a buzzing mosquito.

Dr. Kathryn Carlson, DVM Dr. David Jeffrey, BSc, BVMSDr. Rachael Jeffrey, BSc BVMS

Dr. Norm Smith, DVMDr. Megan Rioux-Forker, DVM

Mosquitoes are annoying, but they can also spread disease to both people and pets. Just one bite from an infected female mosquito is enough for a person to develop diseases like West Nile virus. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and body aches. Hospitalization is required in some cases, and rare, serious cases can be fatal.

Additionally, an invasive mosquito is quickly establishing itself in urban areas across the United States. This problematic pest brings with it the potential to spread diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

The major concern of mosquitoes with dogs is heartworm disease. Once a dog gets heartworm disease from a mosquito, the treatment is complicated and has serious side effects. As the heartworms are killed, they can break apart and form clots in the blood vessels that can be life threatening. Prevention is much better than treatment.

Heartworm disease is easily preventable by giving a monthly preventative treatment. But, as veterinarian Dr. Doug Kunz points out, “The most important reason to treat our dogs monthly is to prevent the establishment of the dog heartworm locally. If a visitor brings a pet that has heartworm disease to our area, a mosquito can pick up the heartworm when she blood-feeds and then potentially transmit them to other dogs. The more local dogs are protected, the less likely heartworm disease will be established.”

Horses can also be affected by mosquito borne illnesses such as West Nile virus or Western Equine Encephalitis. West Nile virus, in particular, is fatal in 33% of infected horses that exhibit clinical signs. Prevention is very important for the health of the horses. Horse

owners should consult their veterinarian for vaccination recommendations.

You can protect yourself, your furry friends, and the fur babies of your neighbors by practicing a few easy steps.

Prevent mosquitoes in the first place.

Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs. They only need one tablespoon of water to accomplish this. To prevent mosquitoes, prevent having a desirable habitat in your yard and use water responsibly.

„ Pet dishes should be cleaned and refreshed daily.

„ Containers that hold water for more

than a few days are mosquito breeding sources. Water that collects under potted plants is the number one breeding source we find.

„ Check lawn drains around your home for water and debris. Clean them regularly.

„ Swimming pools and fountains require working pumps and regular maintenance.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

„ Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are most active. Limit outdoor activities.

„ Wear insect repellent that contains EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Note: Essential oils, repellent bracelets, and mosquito repelling plants are not an effective way of protecting yourself against mosquitoes.

„ Cover up. Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when outdoors.

„ Check window and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

Protect your animals from mosquito bites.

Ask your local veterinarian about preventative treatment—this is your pet’s best defense against mosquito-borne illnesses.

The best defense against mosquitoes is to prevent mosquitoes from breeding near you or entering your home, and preventing you and your pet from the mosquito’s dangerous bite.

Cats can get heartworms after being bitten by an infected mosquito; however, they are not as susceptible to infection as dogs.

DAY CARE

Where Is Your Pet’s “Go-Bag?”

By Sophia Dean Living Free Animal Sanctuary

It was 1:20 AM and, in the darkness, a glow appeared off in the distance. The smell of smoke confirmed what everyone at Living Free Animal Sanctuary already knew—a fire had started and was headed right towards the property, aided by strong winds. People were hurriedly roused from their sleep with an enormous task ahead of them: to prepare the 200 rescue animals at the sanctuary for evacuation.

The Bonita Fire started on February 15, 2021, near the town of Mountain Center, CA. All the dogs, cats, and horses of Living Free were loaded up and ready to evacuate within two hours of receiving the news. Fortunately, the fire was contained by the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and all our animals were returned to their familiar homes without needing to be evacuated.

This was not the first time Living Free has had to act quickly in the face of a major wildfire emergency. Just 4 years ago, the Cranston Fire swept through the area and caused the sanctuary to evacuate for several days as firefighters fought to contain it. It has been essential to have a plan in place to guarantee the safety of all our animals and staff.

Wildfire season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. With the ongoing severe drought in California, 2022 may be one of the worst years yet for fires. While no one wants to think it will happen to them, it’s critical for the safety of your family to have an emergency plan in place.

Here is a basic checklist for making sure your home is ready in the event of an emergency.

A “Go-bag” for your animals: An easy to grab, pre-packed bag saves time when you need to leave the house in a matter of minutes. Here are some essential items to consider:

„ Food: Several days’ worth of your pet’s food and travel collapsible bowls for mealtimes.

„ Water: Bottles or large water containers.

„ Leash and collar with ID tags: A back-up set for each animal, in case you don’t have time to grab their everyday ones.

„ Sanitation supplies: Cleaning supplies such as towels, bleach, deodorizer, dish soap, and trash bags. A bag of cat litter and a small travel-sized litter box for your cat. Doggie poop bags for your pup.

„ Important documents: Copies of your pet’s medical records, adoption papers, and registration. Current photos of you with your pet(s) in case they get lost. Since many pets look alike, this will help to eliminate mistaken identity and confusion.

„ First aid kit: A basic pet first aid kit contains

cotton bandages, bandage tape and scissors, antibiotic ointment, isopropyl alcohol, and latex gloves. Talk to your veterinarian for a more indepth list of pet first aid kit necessities.

„ General information about your pets: Feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian

You can create your own “Go-bag” or purchase a kit, like this Pet Evac Pak.

PHOTO COURTESY: PETEVACPAK.COM/

Used in Veterinary Hospitals

The Canine Elbow Protective Sleeve is specially designed to provide comfort and protection for dogs that developed calluses, callus dematitus, hygroma, or pressure sores. Also protection for dogs that have undergone surgery or sustained a wound, when they need extra comfort and these cover to protect them from further damage.

in case you have to foster or board your pets.

„ Familiar items: A few well-loved dog toys, blankets, and treats to give your pet comfort in a stressful situation.

„ Travel carrier or crate

Create an evacuation plan: Know what role each member of your family will plan in the event of an emergency.

„ Know where your go­bag is located: You should place your emergency essentials in an easy-to-remember and easily accessible location.

„ Map out what needs to happen first: Plan for what works best for your household. For example, one person can load the car with go-bags while another wrangles all the animals.

„ Have emergency contacts for you and your pet: Know where the closest emergency veterinarian is located. Gather your neighbors’ or local friends’ and family’s phone numbers just in case you need to stay with them or get help taking care of your animals.

„ Choose designated caregivers: Select someone who can evacuate your pets and grab your go-bag in case you are too far from your home when an emegency happens. This is also very important in case of a personal emergency – accidents happen.

„ Designate a meeting spot: If you are traveling in multiple vehicles, make sure you have a meeting place in case you get separated.

Is your pet microchipped? An updated and registered microchip can’t get lost, won’t fall off or wiggle loose, and is always with your pet. If your dog or cat is separated from you, a microchip is one of the first things animal control checks for to reunite lost pets with their humans.

„ Obtain “Pets Inside” stickers: Place them on your doors or windows to let firefighters and rescue workers know you have animals in your home. Designate what types of animals and how many by writing on the sticker. Make sure to write “Evacuated with Pets” on the stickers if you do take the animals with you.

The more prepared you are for an emergency, the easier it will be to jump into action if something does happen that requires you to evacuate your home.

Additional information and in-depth emergency preparedness guidelines can be found at ready.gov.

Pet-specific first aid kits, like this Kurgo Dog First Aid Kit, are handy to put in your “Go-Bag.” Kurgo also makes a wearable first aid kit, RSG Dog First Aid Kit, that works with their harness for active dog families.

PHOTOS COURTESY KURGO.COM

Whether you’re looking for pet boarding or doggie day care, your furry friend will receive the very best in pet care with us. We’ve designed our Grand Paw facility around making your pet not just welcome, safe, and cared for, but happy and fulfilled.

At The Grand Paw, pets get as much social interaction as they want, the kinds of entertainment they enjoy, calm comfortable spaces for rest and relaxation – and all sorts of just plain fun.

We offer:

Multiple Outdoor Play Yards Set on 2-½ acres

Luxury Suites for Boarders (Cats Too!)

Doggy Daycare Separated for Big and Small Dogs

Staff Trained in Animal Health and Safety

Daily Monitoring and Wellness Checks

Climate-Controlled Indoor Play Rooms

Full-Size Swimming Pool

Meals Just Like at Home

Staff On-Site 24/7

Expert Bathing and Grooming

Be Prepared

San Diego Humane Society Encourages Animal Emergency Planning

By Nina Thompson, San Diego Humane Society

San Diego Humane Society is urging all people who have animals to ensure they have an emergency plan in place for their pets and livestock.

Whether an emergency occurs because of an illness, wildfire, earthquake, or other disaster in San Diego County, planning ahead is the key to keeping you and your animals safe. “San Diego is no stranger to disasters, and we have our Emergency Response Team at the ready to help if needed,” said Chief of Humane Law Enforcement Bill Ganley. “But it starts with you at home. You can protect your loved ones and reduce the burden on first responders. If an emergency should happen, animals cannot fend for themselves and we don’t want anyone to be faced with the difficult decision to leave them behind because they didn’t prepare for an emergency.”

San Diego Humane Society recommends the following tips for emergency planning:

1. Prepare an Emergency Kit

get vaccination records, bowls, crates, bedding, and toys. Keeping your pet comfortable will reduce stress during an evacuation.

2. Practice Transporting Your Pet

Make sure your pet is comfortable getting into a carrier and know where your pet hides when he is stressed and scared.

3. Plan for Large Animals

If you have large animals/livestock, have trailers or travel containers available for all of them. Practice with your animals in advance, so they are used to being loaded and unloaded from their trailers. Work with neighbors to identify locations where large animals can be brought on foot (especially large open areas that can provide safe spaces during fires). These spaces will be critical if you do not have time or space to evacuate all your large animals, and you will not be allowed to reenter mandatory evacuation areas, even for your own animals.

Put all your daily pet supplies in a sturdy container. Gather a two-week supply of food, water, and your pet’s medications. Don’t for-

4. Identification for Your Pet

Make sure your pets are wearing identification at all times. This includes animals who don’t normally go outside. Collars with tags that have your phone number are important. Having your pet microchipped can also help identify them if they become lost. Make sure you keep your address and phone number up to date on the tag, as well as with your microchip company.

5. Plan Ahead

Not all evacuation shelters accept pets, so it’s important to prepare. County information sources such as ReadySanDiego. org and ListoSanDiego.org (Spanish) can help. Research hotels outside your area for pet policies and ask friends or family if you and your pets can stay with them in case of disaster.

6. In Case of Illness

Create a “care tree,” detailing how your pets will be cared for if you become sick or hospitalized. Have two to four options lined up in case additional people become sick or their circumstances change.

7. Leave Early and Take Your Pets

If you are evacuating your home, take your pets with you. Pets cannot fend for themselves during disasters and leaving them behind can risk both their lives and those of rescuers. Leave early and don’t wait for mandatory evacuation orders.

8. In Case You’re Away

A disaster may strike or an order to evacuate may come when you’re away from home. Make arrangements in advance with a trusted neighbor to take your pets and meet you at a specified location.

9. Learn Pet First Aid

The last thing you want is to be frazzled if your pet is injured. Spare yourself (and your pet) a delay of precious time by familiarizing yourself with what to do if your pet becomes injured.

10

Know Your Vet

Locate a veterinarian or animal hospital in the area where you may be seeking temporary shelter, in case your pet needs medical care. Be sure to add the contact information to your emergency kit.

More disaster preparedness information can be found on San Diego Humane Society’s website: sdhumane.org/disasterprep

—CHIEF OF HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL GANLEY

“SAN DIEGO IS NO STRANGER TO DISASTERS, AND WE HAVE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM AT THE READY TO HELP IF NEEDED.”

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY

COURTESY SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY

Purr-fect Pairing Get Your Cat Cuddles and Coffee at the Craft Cat Café

By Stephanie West

Everyone has seen those movie moments where someone gets home after a long day, they flop onto the couch, coffee in hand, and a cat jumps in their lap, purring furiously and burrowing in for a session of pets and scratches. Ever wished you could experience that, but you just can’t adopt a cat with your current lifestyle or living arrangements? If so, you’ll want to head straight to San Diego County’s Cat and Craft Cat Café in Vista, where all your cat wishes will come true. You’ll think you’re in a movie (or at least dreaming) as you experience the furry fun of a real-life, at-home-style cat encounter, complete with purring and lap jumping in the Café’s Cat Lounge. Add a mug of exceptional craft-brewed coffee or tea and a fresh tasty treat, and you’re ready to relax and enjoy the positive and compassionate community vibe at Cat and Craft Cat Café.

Cat and Craft’s mission is to “Positively impact cat rescue and adoptions through the creation of a fun, safe and loving environment that promotes authentic connections between people and the rescue cats we foster.” This mission comes to life inside the Café—among all the cuteness and calm, the culture at Cat and Craft will start to envelop you, transporting you to your own state of feline zen.

At the Cat and Craft Cat Café, Compassion is their primary corporate value. All the cats living at the Café are being fostered by the employees while being loved on by the customers—and all are available for adoption. They roam freely in the Café’s 800-squarefoot lounge area, where there’s not a cage to be found. Customers can pay a fee, enter the lounge with the foster cats, and give them as much love and attention as you (or they) wish for one full hour. The fee for this magical 60-minute escape helps defray the costs of staffing, maintenance of the space, and care of the cats.

Visitors who are minors 7 to 14 years old must be accompanied in the Cat Lounge by their parent or legal guardian. Visitors 15 to 17 years old must have a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian to enjoy the Cat Lounge unaccompanied. Children 6 years old and younger, including infants/babies, are permitted in the lounge only during specially designated sessions, called Kiddie Cat Hours

(see catandcraftcafe.com for full details and requirements for attending these special sessions). Young or old, and whether you’re there to adopt a cat or just get your kitty fix, your patronage is priceless to these cats and the staff at Cat and Craft.

Another core principle at the Café is Connection. The soulful moments experienced between cat and human in the Cat Lounge often result in an immediate connection that ultimately leads to adoption. And if you’re lucky enough to have one of those moments, you’ll be happy to know that each cat available for adoption has been spayed/neutered, is fully vaccinated, has been treated for worms

and fleas, has received a feline leukemia test, is microchipped and registered, and has received a comprehensive veterinary exam. The cats come to the Café from The Rescue House, a local, non-profit, volunteer-operated organization based in Encinitas, with adoption centers in various locations across San Diego County. The Rescue House and Cat and Craft work hand in hand to find loving homes for these unwanted, abandoned, homeless, and sometimes abused cats.

The final tenet of Cat and Craft’s commitment to an ethical culture is Community. Together, the staff and customers celebrate their community every day in the Café’s Cat

PHOTO COURTESY: CAT AND CRAFT CAFE

Lounge, as well as at frequent special events held to raise awareness, funds, and hope for potential new homes for all the Café cats. With an array of delicious craft-brewed coffees and teas, plus fresh local pastries, gourmet toast plates, and more, you might be tempted to linger in the Cat Café and nibble for hours. All coffee products are locally sourced from Manzanita Roasting Company in North San

Diego County, a testament to the Café’s deep ties to the local community. The goal is to provide a place for people to gather and connect over their love of both a great craft-brewed cup of coffee and these very deserving felines. Check the Cat and Craft Cat Café website at catandcraftcafe.com for a schedule of events. There’s something for everyone, including Paint Nights, Transformational Breathwork® Classes, and many other fun events for the whole family!

A visit to the Cat and Craft Cat Café Cat Lounge is time well spent for both you and the cats, for several reasons. The company of companion animals has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety in humans; but, for some people, owning a cat just isn’t feasible, no matter how much they’d like to. A trip to the Cat Lounge offers the benefits of cat companionship, at your convenience, one hour at a time. For the Café cats, socialization in the Cat Lounge improves their emotional health and overall well-being, which increases their chances for adoption. Each time they experience gentle affection from humans in a safe environment, these precious cats slowly learn, a little at a time, how to trust again.

Reservations are recommended if you want to hang out with the Café cats in the Cat Lounge, so book your cat lounge visit online at catandcraftcafe.com to secure your time slot. The Cat and Craft Cat Café is located in Vista Palomar Park at 3211 Business Park Drive, Suite 3B, Vista, CA 92081. Visit the Café every Wednesday to Sunday, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

PHOTO COURTESY: CAT AND CRAFT CAFE

PHOTO COURTESY: CAT AND CRAFT CAFE

The Ins And Outs of Neighborhood Dog Clubs

Ididn’t know most of my Fullerton neighbors—beyond salutations—until Bow entered my life.

Once my labradoodle was medically cleared to mix and mingle, I started walking her the two minutes to Fern Elementary School. Plenty of fields, plenty of shade trees, open to the public evenings and weekends. It was there that I ran into a neighbor with her labradoodle. Bow and Bunny, who was 7 at the time, got along, so when the field was clear, we unleashed them.

Soon, Bow and Bunny started meeting at Fern on Saturday mornings, which led to an idea: I was meeting more and more dogs on walks, so why not invite them and their humans to our Saturday soirees?

Within a week, Winston and Ryu, both puppies, joined us, and we decided to do Sundays, as well. It was still hit-and-miss, but we were off to a good start. Group members agreed that, moving forward, the more the merrier.

The elementary schools in Fullerton— and most throughout Orange County— are gated for the safety of students, which means fields are enclosed. Ideal for off-leashing, socializing, exercise. Most everyone in Southern California lives within a mile or two of a school, so a weekend club is quite doable.

We didn’t want to lose our privileges, so we made sure to steer clear of students and other people—even on weekends—and to leave the

Tonia Cheong hands out treats at a Saturday morning dog club. The dogs, from left, are Bow, Bunny, Winston, and Ryu.

school grounds clean (we even pick up poop that doesn’t come from our cast of characters).

We were working with different schedules, so the next step was creating a text thread with fellow dog lovers and setting up specific meeting times (eventually, we settled on 7:30 a.m. on both days). Earlier is better because, most likely, the fields will be unpopulated and the sun won’t bear down for a couple of hours.

The text thread we started has developed into a support system that goes beyond our dog club. We share information on dog care, there’s well-wishing on special occasions, and we’ve picked up the slack for each other during emergencies. We’ve also set up playdates for weekdays. A neighborhood network of pooch lovers is an invaluable tool.

We didn’t formalize field rules, and in that way we’ve been lucky. We all knew to introduce our dogs slowly, on leash, before we freed them. As non-experts, we learned—by observation and by consulting professionals—that there’s a fine line between canines setting boundaries and canines trying to harm one another. It’s important, as our dog club grows and new pups are introduced, to remind ourselves that we’re not pros, and to err on the safe side. That might mean keeping your dog on-leash or removing him or her from the scene.

Regulars are Bow, Bunny, Winston, Walker, Marley, Flynn, Cota, Zeus and Gracie, all different ages, sizes and breeds.

Here are three final suggestions for your dog club.

1Bring water and a traveling bowl. It seems obvious, but we forget these details. Moreover, when one human runs out of water, others can fill the void. In our club, all water is shared; the dogs drink a ton because they’re running the equivalent of several miles over a 60-to 90-minute period.

2

Watch your knees. Most of the humans in our club have been toppled at high speeds. The slapstick has provided laughs (once we realized the humans weren’t injured), but it really is dangerous. As a result, some crouch, some sit on playground swings and others lean against tree trunks. We all keep our heads on a swivel.

3

Remember that you’re there for the dogs. The human conversations and relationships are a bonus, and if you don’t connect, it’s OK. You have your dogs in common.

Bow Rhoades is PCM’s four-on-the-floor Orange County area correspondent. Bow, a 2-year-old labradoodle, makes her home in Fullerton with her fur parents, Brady and Tonia. Look on petcompanionmag.com for her adventures at parks, businesses, beaches, hiking trails and other spots.

Winston, forefront, hoards balls as Marley waits for an opening during a recent Saturday morning dog club.

Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 14th, 2022. Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 N Harbor Dr. San Diego, CA 92101. Hours vary. POP Cats 2022, presented by NULO, is a funpacked festival fueled by the spirit of cats, pop, and art! You’ll love the cat playgrounds, artists, music, photo ops, artisans, brands, cat adoptions, and more! A portion of profits benefits participant cat organizations. popcats.org/sandiego2022

Sunday, August 14, 2022. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 17th Annual Pupologie Cardiff Dog Days of Summer, Encinitas Community Park, 425 Santa Fe Dr. Encinitas, CA. The Pupologie Cardiff Dog Days of Summer is hosted by Cardiff 101 Main Street and the City of Encinitas. This free event features numerous dogrelated vendors, rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies. Activities include dog contests, live music, libation lounge, food trucks, and more! cardiff101.com/ events-list/2022/8/14/cardiff-dog-daysof-summer

Saturday, August 27, 2022. 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., FURLICIOUS 5k/10k Pup Run, 2455 Cushing Road, NTC Liberty Station, San Diego, CA. Join your fellow dog-loving San Diegans as we run for (and with) pups! Our inaugural 5K/10K pup run will raise money for both rescue organization Second Chance K9, founded by former Green Beret and San Diegan Travis Hall, and the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs Foundation Bring the whole family and your wellbehaved pup to this fun-filled event! runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanDiego/ FURLICIOUS5k10kPupRun

San Diego Humane Society’s 30th Annual Photo Fundraiser ends August 31, 2022. Each year, San Diego Humane Society’s photo fundraiser and pet calendar raises funds for vital services, which include animal sheltering and adoptions, investigations of animal cruelty and neglect, veterinary care, education

programs for youth and adults, the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, and so much more! It’s easy to participate. Submit your favorite photo of your pet, then get your family and friends to vote for your pet’s picture. For more information, visit gogophotocontest. com/sdhumane2023

Sunday, September 18, 2022. 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Ruff Run, 99 Grand Caribe Isle, Coronado, CA 92118. Calling all dogs (and their humans)! The Ruff Run, presented by Paws of Coronado, is a 5K run/walk celebrating our furry friends. Come on out to Coronado Cays park for some tail-wagging fun. Help support the vision on Paws of Coronado for every animal to have a safe and loving forever home. pawsofcoronado.org

Grille, and an after-party with music by Haute Chile! Your well-mannered, leashed dogs are invited to attend with you. sdhumane.org/support-us/ fundraising/fur-ball-gala

Saturday, September 17, 2022. 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA. DogFest supports the mission of Canine Companions. Registration is free, but fundraising is encouraged. canine.org/dogfestsandiego

October 1, 2022. 6:00 p.m. to 11 p.m., San Diego Humane Society’s 36th Annual Fur Ball Gala. The Fur Ball experience will include a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, an exquisite vegetarian meal prepared by Chef Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse

Saturday, October 22, 2022. 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., American Cancer Society Bark For Life® of San Diego. Nobel Athletic Fields and Recreation, 8810 Judicial Drive, San Diego, CA. Bark For Life is a non-competitive fundraising dog walk event that honors the caregiving qualities of canine companions. Visit secure.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_ id=103338&pg=entry or call (619) 3294795 or email sara.weiner@cancer.org for more information.

Saturday, October 29, 2022. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Corgi Beach Day. Huntington Dog Beach, CA. Corgi Beach Day is a pet-centric, family-friendly festival that welcomes corgis and #honorarycorgis,

SAN DIEGO

All proceeds benefit Canine Companions and our mission to provide expertly trained service dogs to people with disabilities free of charge.

(all dogs are welcome at Corgi Beach Day). It’s the 10th anniversary of CORGI BEACH DAY, and we’re celebrating with a FULL-OUT HALLOWEEN CORGI BEACH PAWTY! socalcorgibeachday.com

ONGOING

Frosted Faces Foundation Hike. Everyone from the community is invited on Sunday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to hike a senior dog that resides at Frosted Faces Foundation. Pre-registration is required. The location of the hike within Ramona changes weekly. Personal dogs are not allowed on the hikes. For more information or to sign-up for a hike, visit frostedfacesfoundation.org.

Events subject to change. Please visit organizers’ websites to confirm information about events. Check out our website for additional events. If we missed your event, let us know or add it to our calendar at: www.petcompanionmag.com/submit-your-event/

FUR BALL

36th annual saturday, october 1, 2022

HONORING DR. FRANCINE DEUTSCH AND DR. CAROLE LELAND 2022 STAR OF THE FUR BALL: BARON KOLE

5 San Diego Coastal Restaurants For You and Your Pup

By Stephanie West

1.Bagby Beer Company

Located in San Diego’s most northern city, Bagby Beer Co. is located at 601 S. Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054. Bagby is an impressively large restaurant with indoor, outdoor and rooftop seating. With a seasonal menu, the food is constantly changing and includes options for almost every diet—meat lovers to vegans.

Bagby is a great place to pop in with your dog to grab a quick bite or refreshment before going to The Strand and walking along the Beach and Oceanside’s iconic pier. Bagby allows dogs in their outdoor seating areas, including their rooftop! If the communal dog dish is in use, don’t hesitate to ask your server for additional water. bagbybeer.com

2.Crackheads

Located in coastal Carlsbad, Crackheads is an ideal place for friends to meet up and make sure their dogs, and yours, get the invite as well. Crackheads is located at 430 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Crackheads is an all-inclusive bar with a small kitchen that happily serves breakfast sandwiches, french fries, chicken sandwiches, salads, and more all day. Crackheads is a completely dog-friendly establishment. With dog bowls out and excited wait staff, your dog will feel right at home here. Another perk to bringing your pup to Crackheads? It’s just a short walk to the famous Carlsbad Seawall. Crackheads is open as close to “all day” as possible. Anytime is a great time to head on over! crackheads.com

3.The Crack Shack - Encinitas

Continuing south, the next stop is The Crack Shack - Encinitas, located at 407 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas, CA 92024.

There are multiple “The Crack Shack” locations; however, I can only personally speak on the dog-friendliness of the Encinitas location. Let me tell you—it’s next level. After becoming somewhat of a regular at this location and befriending one of their wonderful bartenders, I learned that The Crack Shack is zoned as a pavilion. What does that

mean to us dog lovers? Your four-legged friends are allowed literally anywhere at this establishment.

Is it raining, but you’re craving a delicious chicken sandwich? Don’t worry; you and your best friend are welcome to dine inside The Crack Shack and enjoy your delicious meal in peace. crackshack.com/location/ encinitas

4.Viewpoint Brewing

Viewpoint Brewing is a great place to stop before or after a Del Mar Dog Beach (see page 39) day or after hopping off the San Dieguito River Park Trails. Located at 2201 San Dieguito Drive, Suite D, Del Mar, CA 92014, Viewpoint Brewing’s atmosphere is inviting, chill, comforting, and over-the-top dog friendly.

The waitstaff will instantly ask if your pup needs some water and bring over a dish filled to the brim. While relaxing and enjoying some delicious food, ask your server about their handmade dog treats from Boozy Bone, locally sourced and always striving for organic ingredients! viewpointbrewing.com

5.Amplified Ale Works

The final stop on our coastal doggie tour is Amplified Ale Works located at 4150 Mission Blvd #208, San Diego, CA 92109. The large outdoor patio beer garden is family friendly and is dog friendly, or better yet, dog appreciative. The first line on their website in bold print, “We are Dog Friendly!” Anytime I am there, I see no less than five dogs. The patio is large enough for multiple dogs and still is spacious. Not only does Amplified have a house-made beer, but also from-scratch Mediterranean food, craft cocktails, freshly roasted coffee, and, frequently, live music. Amplified’s pride in being “Community Centric” also applies to dogs. There are community dog bowls everywhere. Their Facebook often posts a daily dose of dog, and they’ll even whip up a plain burger patty if you ask! If you’re not on the coast, their location in the East Village is even bigger and has pizzas as well. amplifiedales.com

Good Dog Manners

Patio dining with your dog can be a very enjoyable outing. Here are a few tips to help make it a fun and successful outing:

•Call ahead to confirm the dogfriendly policies.

•Pick a corner table on the patio

•Use a harness and a short, nonretractable leash

•Don’t tie their leash to furniture

•Never feed your dog off your plate

•Feed your dog beforehand and bring treats

•Don’t feed other dogs

•Make sure they know these three commands: “Sit. Down. Leave it.”

•Bring your own water bowl

•Bring a (non squeaking) comfort toy

•Seat your dog on the floor

•Go when the restaurant is less busy

•Avoid sitting by children. Why? Kids find dogs irresitible and often don’t know the rules for being around strange dogs in public.

Not a Traditional Animal Shelter

San Diego Humane Society is the Animal Services Provider for 14 Cities in San Diego County

By Nina Thompson, San Diego Humane Society

SDHS offers resources to support pet families in need, including low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccination and microchip clinics, a Community Pet Pantry where pet owners can pick up free food for their animals, financial assistance for veterinary care, and even eviction and housing support.

You find a stray animal. You’re concerned about your neighbor’s barking dog. You need to report a case of suspected cruelty or neglect. Or perhaps you find an injured wild animal on your property. Who do you turn to?

For most of San Diego County, the answer is, San Diego Humane Society (SDHS). The organization is the full animal services provider for 14 local municipalities spanning from Imperial Beach to Oceanside, including Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, and Vista. For pet owners living in those cities, this means SDHS is their go-to resource for animal-related needs, questions and concerns—lost and found animals, adoptions, dog licenses, assistance from Humane Law Enforcement, resources like free pet food and access to veterinary care, and more. They’re also the region’s primary resource for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation—and even serve as your point of contact when you find a rattlesnake in your yard.

With campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona, and San Diego, SDHS cares for more than 40,000 companion and wild animals each year and provides humane law enforcement and officer dispatch aroundthe-clock. SDHS is so much more than a traditional animal shelter—the organization is committed to partnering with residents of San Diego County to help keep their animals safe.

Through its Community Support Services, SDHS offers resources to support pet families in need, including low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccination and microchip clinics, a Community Pet Pantry where pet owners can pick up free food for their animals, financial assistance for veterinary care, and even eviction and housing support. It also provides emergency boarding services for the pets of community members experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, medical emergencies, or other crises.

Additionally, the organization offers a wide range of resources to help pet owners address behavioral challenges, which is one of the most common reasons that pets enter shelters. Through an online resource library, affordable and free training classes, and a Behavior Helpline, SDHS is committed to helping families keep the pets they love.

As a national leader in the field of animal welfare, SDHS has developed signature programs designed to save more lives in our region and advance the field of animal welfare nationally, including its Veterinary Medicine, Behavior & Training, Kitten, and Foster programs. These programs are essential to San Diego County’s ability to keep its euthanasia

rate for healthy and treatable shelter animals at zero, and they include state-of-the-art facilities like the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine, the nation’s first 24-hour Kitten Nursery (now a program transitioning to more foster home care, thanks to volunteer families in our community) and a one-of-akind Behavior Center.

To learn more about SDHS or to make a donation to support their work, visit sdhumane.org. SDHS operates five locations in San Diego, Oceanside (two locations), Escondido, and El Cajon. All are open to the public 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY

City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department Off Leash Dog Parks

The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department covers a large portion of San Diego County. Within that area there are 20 off-leash dog parks that share a few common sense rules and reminders; for example:

„ All people bringing their dogs to leash-free areas enter at their own risk and accept full responsibility and liability for their dog’s actions.

„ Owners are always required to clean up after their dogs. All other park areas, with the exception of the beaches and Mission Bay, allow dogs at any time, but they must be on a leash.

Balboa Park

Open 24 hours. Dog park is at Nate’s Point, Balboa Drive at El Prado, south side of Cabrillo Bridge, on Morley Field northwest of tennis courts.

Cadman Community Park

Cadman Park is located at 4280 Avati Drive in Clairemont. For hours and boundary information, please visit our Cadman Park Leash Free page at https://www.sandiego.gov/ park-and-recreation/parks/dogs/ cadmanleashfree.”

Capehart Park

Open 24 hours. Located at the corner of Felspar Street and Soledad Mountain Road in Pacific Beach, this 1-acre park offers the following amenities:

two fenced pens on turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs; areas to provide water for dogs; a drinking fountain; picnic tables and benches; and a parking area.

Charles L Lewis III

Memorial Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located at 4750 Home Ave. in City Heights, this linear park was opened in December 2015. It includes a playground, half court basketball court, restrooms, and a .5-acre single pen off-leash dog park, located on the northern end of the park.

Dog Beach

Open 24 hours. Located in Ocean Beach at the foot of Voltaire Street, this site offers access to the beach and ocean.

Doyle Community Park

Open 24 hours; however, it is not lighted. Located at 8175 Regents Road in University City, this park is situated behind Doyle Recreation Center and offers two fenced turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs.

Dusty Rhodes

Neighborhood Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, between Nimitz and West Point Loma, in Ocean Beach. This 1-acre park offers one area for all dogs. There is discussion about adding water stations for dogs and fountains for people, and expanding this site to five acres.

Fiesta Island

(see article pages 4-7)

Open 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day. Located in Mission Bay Park, Fiesta Island offers a 5.2-mile asphalt path around the island for dogs walkers.

Grape Street Park

Located at Grape and 28th streets in South Park, this site is unfenced and has designated days and times for off-leash use. Posted leash-free hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Kearny Mesa Community Park

Open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. Located at 3170 Armstrong St. in Kearny Mesa, this 1-acre park near the Kearny Mesa Recreation Center offers one area for all dogs. The site is now lighted, which allows for evening use. There is a water station for dogs and fountains for people. Parking can be a challenge during the day, as the closest parking lot is used by students attending Mesa College.

Maddox Neighborhood Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located at 7815 Flanders St. in Mira Mesa, this .65-acre park offers one turfed area with a walkway and drinking fountain.

Nobel Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located at 8820 Judicial Drive in University City, just east of the North University Community Branch Library building and near the Nobel Athletic Fields

and Recreation Center. This area offers adjacent parking and separate sections for large and small dogs.

Rancho Bernardo Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located at 18448 West Bernardo Drive, this 2.66-acre park offers leashfree space adjacent to Rancho Bernardo Community Park and includes additional parking for dog park users.

Rancho Peñasquitos Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located on Salmon River Road at Fairgrove Lane, across the street from the Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library. This 1-acre park offers two fenced, double-gated turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs; benches; and a street parking area.

Torrey Highlands Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located on Lansdale Drive off Del Mar Heights Road, this 1-acre park offers a turfed and mulched area.

Ward Canyon

Neighborhood Park

Open dawn to dusk. Located at 3905 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights, this off-leash dog area is positioned off 40th Street, right next to the Interstate 15 freeway. The park includes the following amenities: two fenced pens on tumbled wood chipped areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs; pergolas; park benches; and a parking area.

Source: https://www.sandiego. gov/park-and-recreation/parks/ dogs/leashfree

More San Diego County Off-Leash Dog Parks

Mast Park Off-Leash Dog Park

Off-Leash Dog Park Hours: Dawn to dusk. Located at 9125 Carlton Hills Blvd, Santee, CA. Pets are permitted on-leash in designated areas. The park also features 2 miles of lighted trails, walk-in access from the Mission Creek Trail and Wintercreek Place, and restrooms on site. cityofsanteeca.gov/ government/departments/ community-services/cityparks/mast-park

Woodglen Vista Dog Park Park Hours: Dawn to dusk. Located at 10250 Woodglen Vista Dr, Santee, CA. Woodglen Vista Dog Park is a dog-friendly, fully-fenced, offleash dog park in Santee, CA. The park has shade and water available. Woodglen Vista Park also has restrooms and an open grass field. Please ensure Fido is leashed when outside of the dog park area. cityofsanteeca. gov/government/departments/ community-services/cityparks/woodglen-vista-park

City of Encinitas

Off-leash dogs are always welcome within the Maggie Houlihan Memorial Dog Park at Encinitas Community Park, located at 425 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas. The approximately 2-acre dog park features areas for small dogs, timid or first time dogs, and a large lawn open to all. Please keep dogs on-leash when walking to and from the Dog Park area within Encinitas Community Park, and please obey all posted Dog Park rules. The Dog Park is open from 8:00 a.m. to

sunset daily, except for regular cleaning and maintenance on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Expect temporary posted closures during rainy or wet conditions or for repairs.

Additionally, the City of Encinitas offers four parks and one trail area where your dog can be off-leash during specified hours and days.

These parks are Olympus Park, Encinitas Viewpoint Park on “D” Street, Orpheus Park on Orpheus Drive and Sun Vista Park (east) on Avenida La Posta. encinitasca.gov/ Residents/Animal-Services

Del Mar Dog Beach (also called North Beach) 3200 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA. Visit the website for dates and times when off-leash dogs are allowed. Dog license affixed to collar required.

Leashes must be no longer than six feet, and owners must pick up after pets. Call (858) 7551556 or visit delmar.ca.us/206/ Dog-Friendly-Beaches

Mayflower Dog Park

Open daily from dawn to 9 p.m. Located at 3420 Valley Center Road, Escondido, CA. The park is a fenced, off-leash, 1½-acre area where you and your dog can go to socialize with others—humans and hounds alike! escondido.org/ mayflower-dog-park.aspx

Coronado’s Dog Beach

Located directly across from Sunset Park on Ocean Boulevard, bordering Coronado’s North Island U.S. Naval Station. coronadovisitorcenter.com/ listings/coronado-dog-beach/

Anatomy of a Veterinary Clinic

By Lillian M. Roberts, DVM Country Club Animal Clinic

Most of the time, when you take your pet to the vet, all you really see is the waiting room and the exam room. The harried, usually masked, receptionist is the main face you see. Sometimes the vet’s assistant will take your pet “in back” for a procedure—to trim the nails, collect a blood sample, clean a wound, etc. During our recent COVID pandemic when most practices went on lockdown, using Curbside Service, you saw even less! A scrubs-clad figure wearing a surgical mask emerged from the front door and collected your leash, pet, or carrier, and from there on you communicated only by phone.

But who are those people in scrubs? What is this “in back?” What happens back there? This article will walk you through the building and explain what goes on. Keep in mind that every practice is different, but almost all have the same basic parts.

Waiting Room

An open area with seating, the Waiting Room probably has windows overlooking the parking lot. There are displays of pet foods, treats, and a few retail items. There may be pictures of pets, other ornamental items, edu-

cational posters, and brochures. And probably copies of Pet Companion Magazine to browse during what is hopefully a brief wait.

And of course, there is a counter, behind which sit the humans known variably as Receptionists, Client Service Representatives, or Greeters. These essential people have the daunting job of remaining cheerful while dealing with clients from all walks of life who have one thing in common: they are worried about their pets. This doesn’t always bring out the best in people. So, the veterinary reception is a bit of a miracle. Often with little training except what they got their first few days on the job, they must answer the phones, juggle the doctors’ schedules, guess how long the “limping” dog might take to be seen, and squeeze it in between the senior wellness consult and the vomiting cat that could be anything from a hairball to intestinal cancer. Between these calls they greet clients with a smile (even if you can’t see it behind the mask), communicate your arrival to the assistants … oh, and keep the water reservoir filled in the Keurig so you can have fresh coffee while you wait. These ladies (and occasional gentleman) must be like swans—serene and unruffled on the surface but paddling madly below the water!

Exam Room

Next, the assistant comes out and escorts you and your pet into an Exam Room. The assistant may be a highly skilled veterinary technician but, in most cases, they are working their way to that position. Typically, these folks have received training in handling of dogs and cats—and other species, depending on the practice. It’s their job to find out why you are here today, perhaps initiating some basic tests, like looking at a sample from an infected ear or obtaining X-rays for a pet who is limping, coughing, or showing changes in their breathing. They will weigh your pet, takes its temperature and heart rate, and draw up any vaccinations that are due.

Again, this is familiar territory. Every doctor’s office anywhere has separate private rooms where stuff happens. At the vet clinic, it’s less about privacy and more about security. A smaller room helps the animal settle down in many cases, establishing physical limitations and reducing proximity to the front door, where a frightened pet might run out. Here we can remove the leash or take the small pet from its carrier, allow it to move about the room and get a good sense of their gait, attitude, and energy level. A significant

PHOTO COURTESY COUNTRY CLUB ANIMAL CLINIC

The Lobby is also our Waiting Room.

part of the exam takes place without even touching the animal.

Depending on the size and attitude of the pet and the inclinations of the doctor, we may place the animal on a table, which is standard equipment here. Or we may sit right down on the floor for others. Typically, the assistant … well, assists in this process by holding on to the pet.

If all you needed was the exam and a couple of shots, that’s pretty much it. But let’s say your dog needs to have her nails trimmed, a blood sample collected, wound cleaned up, bandage applied, a test run, or a minor procedure. The assistant will probably remove your pet from your presence for this part of the visit and take her “in back.”

Treatment Room

“In back” refers to our Treatment Room. This is a large, multipurpose space with lighted tables and sinks, and drawers full of things like bandage materials and nail trimmers. With lots of big, fluffy towels to cuddle nervous pets, clippers and jars of antiseptic for cleaning scrapes and oozy spots. This is where most of the work happens in a veterinary clinic. There will be banks of cages for pets who need to stay awhile, oxygen for those whose breathing is abnormal, IV fluids for the dehydrated pet, etc.

But why take your pet there for a minor thing like a blood draw? There are many reasons. Surprisingly, most pets are better

behaved when their owners are not present. We have directed lighting to make it easier to get a clear view of what we are doing. Most of these procedures require two people but not the veterinarian. So, we have a second technician or assistant “in back,” whose job it is to help the room assistant, and it’s far more efficient to bring the pet to them than to send that technician to the exam room. There are “wet tables”—basically a sink that is about 5 feet long with a platform over it for the pet to

stand on. This makes it easier to clean up any mess we make.

Another reason we might “borrow” your pet for a bit is to free up the exam room for another pet to be seen. Some days we just don’t have enough rooms to go around!

Treatment is also where we prepare pets for surgery if needed and, in many cases, it’s where dental procedures are conducted. It opens into the operating room and the laboratory and X-ray areas, for convenience. Depending on the size of the practice, all these things may be going on at the same time!

The better use we can make of our available space, the more efficient our staff is. You may not realize that, despite the high cost of veterinary care, the staff and doctors don’t get paid nearly as much as their counterparts in human medicine. This leads to frustration and financial stress. People tend to migrate out of veterinary practice at a disturbingly high rate. By increasing the amount of time they are productive, we can pay them that little bit more without having to pass the cost along to the pet owner.

Finally, when the tests or treatment are complete, we return your pet to your welcoming arms—hopefully the better for our care!

Lillian Roberts, DVM, is the owner of Country Club Animal Clinic, which is located at 36869 Cook Street in Palm Desert. (760) 776-7555 countryclubdvm.com

PHOTOS COURTESY COUNTRY CLUB ANIMAL CLINIC

This large exam room includes a mobile treatment table that rolls out of the way when not needed, such as for large dogs who can be examined on the floor.

Here is a large treatment area, with a “wet table” in the foreground, a cage bank and ICU cage visible and two dental stations against the far wall.

Pandemic Makes Paws & Hearts Therapy Dog Visits More Challenging

By Richard Waxman, “Paws & Hearts” Animal Assisted Therapy

Let’s go back to March 2020 … at Paws & Hearts, we had 35 Canine Ambassadors and their handlers out in the community, making weekly visits to local hospitals, longterm care facilities, cancer centers, and special education classes. Then the pandemic reared its ugly head, and our visits, like most of the world, came to an abrupt stop. And there we were, making plans to celebrate our 20th year in business with an amazing Spring Volunteer Luncheon (I still have the gifts with the date on them).

Like so many other nonprofits, our work was halted overnight. Temperament tests stopped, volunteers dropping by the office came to an end, and things were pretty grim for a while. Surprisingly, though, donations kept on trickling in via both regular mail and PayPal, which was particularly unusual. It was as though the community wanted to make sure we hung in there.

After 18 months, just before Omicron whacked us all again, we had started back on

visits, but with all new safety and protocol measures in place. The volunteers had to show proof of vaccination before entering a longterm care facility. The volunteers had to be masked at all times, and there was no touching between the volunteer and the patient. Volunteers were now asked to stay at a safe distance—that being the end of their dog’s leash while visiting. The dog was still allowed on the bed, but no longer allowed to kiss. And hands were to be sanitized after every room visit.

If the patient/client wasn’t wearing a mask or the mask was below the nose, the volunteer had the right to refuse to visit. This rule was strictly followed.

The best type of visits became the small group visits in a community room, where the residents were all masked up, and the dog could visit from person to person, with the handler at the end of the leash, keeping that

safe distance. As of this date, our teams are only back in long-term care facilities—the hospitals have not allowed visits with the therapy dogs to resume as of yet.

While the added safety precautions didn’t pose that much of a challenge, Omicron hit, and so three of the six facilities we were back to visiting had active cases and had to close

Daisy doing what she does best, comforting a patient

Shelby on a visit

Oliver visiting at Rancho Mirage Healthcare

their doors to all visitors. So, once again, we were stymied. It was so disheartening to finally be up and running, conducting temperament tests again and getting the volunteers back on visits, and then having to pull back again.

As of this writing, cases of Omicron have greatly subsided and more of our volunteer teams are back out on visits. Regardless of mask mandates, for or against, the facilities require that all our volunteers be fully vaccinated, complete with the booster, and masked while inside the building.

As we continue to get back out there, we are always looking for candidates to be part of the program. All dogs must be a minimum of one year old, have all their shots, be spayed or neutered, and be incredibly friendly and outgoing. We do not require previous obedience training or the Canine Good Citizenship certificate, just exceptionally friendly dogs who work well with their owners.

The humans at the end of the leashes must be full-time desert residents (sorry, snowbirds), as our volunteers make a commitment to visit their assigned facility each and every week, and they must be extremely good listeners!

The joy of visiting with patients/residents is amazing. All the volunteer hears from the folks they visit is:

“You made my day!”

“I waited all week to see you!”

“I saved Lucky a piece of bacon from breakfast!”

“Can you just leave Scruffy with me and come back in an hour?”

And you will never be prouder of your dog than when you witness him or her interacting with these folks, and you see the sheer delight

they have experienced by just being able to pet your dog. This is a simple but powerful way to give back to the senior community.

Our lovely new office is located in the Berger Foundation Building, at 42-600 Cook Street (corner of Merle), Suite 138, Palm Desert, CA 92211, (760) 836-1406.

Newsletters, information, and the volunteer application can be found on our website at pawsandhearts.org. And, each and every Monday, our Facebook page is updated with a new Volunteer Report.

The Latest from Paws & Hearts

Weare now in our 23rd year of serving the valley with our Canine Ambassadors. As you can tell by reading the article, visits had been all but halted due to the pandemic but are slowly coming back. So, good news on that front!

Our Monthly Pet Loss Bereavement Group has continued to be of service to the community. We have run this group for 6+ years now in memory of my buddy, Scruffy. We have had a few hundred in attendance over the years and based on the thank-you’s we receive, the group really helps people come to terms with the loss of their beloved companion animal. Meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 pm in the Paws & Hearts office. Registration is required and can be found on the opening page of our website at pawsandhearts. org. We’re here if you need us!

And we’re pleased to announce that we have just moved our Paws & Hearts offices to the Berger Foundation Building at the corner of Cook and Merle in Palm Desert. Finally, a ground-floor office with no stairs and covered parking!

Dunkin and his mom back on visits, being COVID smart!

Maddie visits a patient at a local long-term facility pre-pandemic

Therapy-dog-in-training Terry Waxman

Battling Boredom

By Lori Carman VSPDT, Dream Dogs

Dogs are a lot like children. If you don’t give them something fun to do, they will make their own fun—and often not in ways you approve of.

Give your dog plenty of physical and mental exercise, and you get a happier, healthier, better-behaved dog. Well-exercised dogs bark less, chew less, sleep more, and rest easier when left home alone. They are also much less likely to rummage through the trash, attack the couch cushions, or pester you while you’re trying to focus.

Leash walks are great brain teasers because of all the sensory information dogs get from them, but they don’t count as aerobic exercise. Your dog needs to run, swim, or do something else that gets his heart pumping for at least 30 minutes every day.

Workouts for the Body

Chasing a ball or Frisbee. Swimming. Playing tug. Active play with other dogs. Off-leash romps or hikes. And if life is too busy, consider hiring a dog walker or, if your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, send him to doggie day care.

Workouts for the Brain

Work to eat. Biologically speaking, your dog is not

supposed to have a bowl of kibble plunked down in front of him. He is a hunter by nature, meant to work for his keep. Mimic this by serving your dog’s food in a Kong or treat ball. Your dog will spend the first part of the day figuring out how to get at his food and the rest of it recovering from the mental effort. Perfect!

Toys galore. Toys are a great way to engage your dog’s brain. Dogs have distinctly individual toy preferences, depending on the day, time, and situation. Do some detective work and find out what truly tickles your dog. The best toys have a purpose. They deliver food, present a challenge, squeak, or make themselves interesting in some other way.

Keep your dog active and challenged, both physically and mentally, and he won’t get bored—and you won’t have to worry what he’s up to!

760-899-7272.

A game of “office fetch” is a great way to exercise your dog and get your work done. Hide a ball or toy, and when it is found and returned, reward and do it again!

Lori Wainio-Carman, VSPDT, professional dog trainer and owner of Dream Dogs, has been successfully training for more than 20 years. dreamdogs.com

It’s a Great Summer for Service!

Give back to animals this summer

By Anthony Mercurio, Palm Springs Animal Shelter

The weather has warmed up, the pool parties have commenced, and the barbecues are primed—that’s why so many of us are eager to get out and reclaim the summer in ways we haven’t been able to in a very long time! As our lives begin to look a little more normal this summer, it’s the perfect time to reach out to your local animal shelters and rescues who are eager to welcome back volunteers and provide a more stable environment for the animals in their care.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Palm Springs Animal Shelter and other organizations like ours. Through the kindness and dedication of volunteers, we’re able to provide the lifesaving services and programs our communities have come to rely on. And it’s not just the animals who benefit—volunteering can be a life-changing experience for people, too!

A WIN-WIN SITUATION

In the shelter environment, we constantly hear from volunteers who tell us their experience working with animals is the most rewarding work they’ve ever done. For many, volunteering fulfills a deep personal need. “I often dream of having a dog in my life, but my current work and travel schedules simply don’t allow that,” says shelter volunteer Gil Yu. “I’m not ready to adopt a dog today, but I look forward to it someday.” For animal lovers whose circumstances don’t allow for pet ownership, the time spent with shelter

animals is priceless.

Volunteers are instrumental in providing structure and socialization in the shelter, as well. Shelters are an unnatural environment for animals, and many need a lot of time and attention to come out of their shells. “The best part is knowing that you helped increase the odds that an animal is adopted,” says volunteer Ori Dekel. “Transforming a skittish, fearful or even ‘wild’ dog into a happy, playful, well-behaved pup is rewarding.” Tamara Aldana adds, “I am very aware that not all dogs are treated with kindness and love. I wanted

to play a role in making a difference in the lives of these animals. I’ve always had a pet who I’ve showered with love—I think every animal deserves that type of treatment.”

It is truly the volunteers who turn the shelter into a home for animals awaiting adoption. Through their time and effort, animals are able to maintain emotional and physical balance and are more ready to adjust to life as a member of a family unit when the time comes.

GET INVOLVED

Shelters and rescues have tons of ways you can contribute! The needs certainly aren’t limited to walking dogs or cleaning cat crates, although those are always jobs that need to be done. Many shelters also provide opportunities to help facilitate adoptions, represent the shelter at community outreach events, and assist with the promotion of animals via photography and social media. Be sure to let the shelter staff know about your talents and passions, so they can curate a volunteer assignment perfect for you!

Volunteering in animal welfare is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and build community. This summer, as you relax by the pool and spend time with your people and pets, make it a point to connect with the shelters serving your community and pitch in for the animals. It’s a great summer for service!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit psanimalshelter.org.

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Hound & Gatos offers a variety of natural, USA-made wet and dry foods for dogs and cats. The grain free wet food is crafted with 98% real meat, poultry or fish and liver - plus 2% vitamins, minerals and taurine! Pets love our assortment of canned flavors in single or multiple protein options, like Beef or Salmon & Lamb Liver. Hound & Gatos dry food features real meat, poultry or fish as the #1 ingredient and is free of peas, lentils, chickpeas and white potatoes. Taurine is added to support canine and feline health. Three grain-free options are available for both cats and dogs. Additionally, two varieties made with the finest ancient grains, such as spelt, quinoa and oats, are available for dogs. houndgatos.com

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Skin Cancer and Pets

By Dennis Macy, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Cancers of the skin are often associated with advancing age, breed genetics, chronic inflammation, sun exposure, secondhand smoke, viruses and hormones. When evaluating skin masses, it’s important to consider some general differences in pet species and breeds. Skin masses are more common in dogs than cats. That said, the majority of skin and adnexal (pelvic region) tumors in dogs are benign, whereas up to 80% of skin masses in cats are considered malignant.

As in humans, tumors of the skin and

adnexal areas occur most frequently in older patients. Some are caused by viruses such as the papilloma virus. Papilloma viruses occur in dogs and cats, both young and old. Fortunately, papilloma viruses are species specific and are not shared with humans.

Papilloma viruses can be site specific. For example, one virus subset may cause tumors on your pet’s paws, another on the eyelids, and another on the abdomen. Common cat viruses like feline leukemia virus (FELV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) don’t directly cause skin cancers, but they do negatively impact your cat’s immune response to

cancer and cancer treatments.

In the Desert and other areas that experience direct sun with little or no wind or shade, radiation from chronic sun exposure causes skin cancer in both humans and pets. Luckily for our furry friends, they have natural protection from the sun, thanks to their fur. Your dog’s or cat’s coat is generally equivalent to an SPF 70 sun block. However, where hair is sparse, specifically on their noses, ear tips, eyelids and abdomens, our pets are at risk for developing skin cancer. White boxers and pit bulls are prime examples of dogs that are especially vulnerable to sun-related skin cancer.

Your pet’s skin pigmentation affords some protection against developing squamous cell carcinomas, but in some pet breeds this increases the risk for melanoma development. Pet owners should frequently check their pet’s less fur-covered areas for skin irregularities, discolorations, masses, bleeding and ulcerations.

The risk of cancer in animals can be partially attributed to breed genetics. In addition to pigmentation patterns, malignant tumors in an animal’s nail beds are frequently found in Rottweilers, black Labrador retrievers, black standard poodles, giant schnauzers and dachshunds. Curiously, what can appear as nail bed tumors in cats sometimes are not actually from the nail bed, but rather from primary lung tumor metastases that develop from secondhand smoke.

The hairless area of your pet’s abdomen is not only vulnerable to squamous cell carcinoma development but is also a site for dermal hemangiosarcoma (malignant tumors developed from cells lining blood vessels) and hemangiomas (abnormal build-up of blood vessels on or just under the skin). What’s the primary cause? Lengthy and repeated time in the sun. These blood vessel tumors appear as red-purple dots or slightly raised lesions and may bleed easily. Small dermal hemangiosarcoma and hemangiomas can be treated with liquid nitrogen. If left untreated, they can spread to your pet’s internal organs and eventually cause death.

Common adnexal tumors include sebaceous gland adenomas (small bumps on hair follicles) and basal cell tumors (malignant growths associated with your pet’s sweat glands, hair follicles, or sebaceous glands). Generally, they are confined to the skin and are effectively removed with surgery or through cryosurgery.

Where hair is sparse, specifically on their noses, ear tips, eyelids and abdomens, our pets are at risk for developing skin cancer. Pet owners should frequently check their pet’s less fur-covered areas for skin irregularities, discolorations, masses, bleeding and ulcerations.

Sebaceous adenomas (bumps on the glands of skin) are extremely common in older dogs, especially in poodles. Most of the time they are benign. Sebaceous adenomas are less common in cats. With felines, they appear like a small cluster of grapes and often ulcerate and bleed, especially during grooming, which is a reason for having them removed.

Basal cell tumors are common in both dogs and cats. They are usually found on the face and limbs. In dogs, spaniel breeds experience a higher risk for these tumors. Basal cell tumors seldom bleed. However, because they arise from the melanin layer in the skin, they are often intensely pigmented and may be confused with skin melanomas. In dogs, skin melanomas are relatively benign lesions, except when they are present on your pet’s nail bed, oral cavity, or anus. In these areas, they are highly malignant. For cats, all skin melanomas should be considered malignant.

Hormones also play a role in cancer development. Veterinarians have long recognized the importance of spaying dogs and cats before their first heat cycle to prevent the development of mammary tumors.

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In addition to mammary tumor risk, hormones also play a role in the development of perianal gland (hepatoid) tumors. These tumors develop around your pet’s anal area. Such tumors can become ulcerated and often compel dogs to scooch their bottoms along the floor, which can then lead to bleeding. Hepatoid tumors most often develop in unneutered male dogs as a result of testosterone stimulation in these tissues. Castration can often cause these tumors to shrink, because the hormone source is removed. Dogs that are neutered at an early age rarely develop this tumor.

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common malignant tumors found in dogs. They also occur in cats, though less often. Like other tumors, some breeds are more prone to MCTs. These tumors are especially common in boxers, Boston terriers, Labradors, and golden retrievers. MCTs commonly appear around the head and neck but can be found any place on the skin. MCTs contain histamine and heparin and other chemicals that result in bleeding and swelling. These tumors can appear as single masses or multiples, sometimes up to a hundred over the body.

The degree of malignancy and risk of MCTs spreading to lymph nodes and deeper tissues is based on the histologic grade of the tumor. Lower grade MCTs can be surgically removed or treated either with liquid nitrogen or injections of anticancer drugs that are administered directly into the tumor. Radiation therapy is another effective treatment for MCTs,

although it can be expensive and is not always readily available.

New drugs that target MCTs include a tryosine kinase inhibitor. Basically, it’s an enzyme that functions as an “on” and “off” lever in many cellular functions and can be used in the treatment of higher grade MCTs. All MCTs have the potential to be bad actors and can spread to regional lymph nodes and internal organs and should be treated.

Connective tissue tumors occur under the skin and usually come from mesenchymal cells or fat. The most common are lipomas (benign fat tumors) which can grow very large but do not spread. However, a rare form of this tumor can infiltrate your pet’s muscle tissue and cause lameness.

The most concerning connective tissue tumors are soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), which can be divided into 22 subtypes. Nearly all behave similarly and are locally infiltrative. They are often difficult to completely remove and, in some cases, may require limb amputation to cure the patient. Higher grade STS tumors can spread to your pet’s lungs, liver, spleen, etc. That said, in such cases it is still possible to effectively treat them with aggressive chemotherapy.

Although most STSs occur in dogs, cats can also develop these concerning tumors. For felines, STSs sometimes grow at the site of previous vaccine injections or other areas where a pet experiences chronic inflammation. Such tumors should be managed aggressively. Surgery combined with radiation therapy, for example, is often the requisite treatment. If your pet develops a lump at their injection site and the lump persists for a month or longer, you should have it examined by a doctor. In

contrast, STS tumors rarely develop at vac cine injection sites in dogs.

Most skin masses can be accurately diag nosed by an experienced veterinarian and cer tainly by a doctor specializing in veterinary oncology. It’s important for your vet to estab lish the grade of your pet’s tumor and its sur gical margins (the requisite surgical borders for tissue removal when excising a cancerous growth). This information, which is covered in your pet’s pathology report, is essential to determine the best future care and treatment for your pet.

The key with pet skin cancer is prevention. Spay and neuter your pets. Limit the amount of time they spend in the sun. Examine your pets for lumps and bumps with your own eyes and hands at least once a month, and pay extra attention to their feet, toes, nose, ears, and bel lies. Early assessment and treatment of lesions and lumps is critical. The larger they become, the harder they can be to manage and remove. The sooner we catch cancer in your pet, the more effective we are in treating it. Have your pet examined by a veterinarian at least once a year, and twice a year if your pets are older.

Dennis Macy, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is a board-certified oncologist and internist, CSU Professor Emeritus, Animal Samaritans, Thousand Palms, California.

Cat Sitting: What Could Go Wrong?

By Christine Stossel

Getting to enjoy someone else’s cat without the responsibility of ownership, doing a friend a favor while they’re out of town … cat sitting is a win-win, right? It sounds simple, but I’m here to tell you, lots can go wrong when you’re watching other people’s cats. It’s a huge responsibility to keep a cat safe, fed, hydrated, and happy. Add to that administering medicine, cleaning up after cats with “delicate stomachs,” and keeping track of hiders, and it can be just short of a nightmare.

Digestive Issues

I watch a cat with some major digestive issues. He can’t keep much down, and what stays down comes out explosively, starting on the wall at the back of the cat box and finishing in a sickly spray across the floor next to the cat box. Three times a day, I have to arm myself with a strong fan, gloves, a mask, swim goggles, disinfectant, and some cat-friendly wipes for

cleaning his nether regions. It is truly hazardous waste, and I should probably invest in a yellow suit.

And, naturally, his veterinarian prescribes medication to help alleviate this problem. His instructions:

“Draw medicine into syringe, slip into side of cat’s cheek, then gently plunge medicine down throat. All while holding cat firmly but with featherlike touch.”

Honestly, the wrestling match that has to happen before the single drop of medicine makes it inside this cat doesn’t seem worth the emotional trauma it causes both of us. And guess what the cat does next time he hears me slip the key in the front door?

The Mission of the Coachella Animal Network (C.A.N.) is to promote the well-being of animals and responsible pet ownership in the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, and surrounding areas. C.A.N. endeavors to create a community where all animals, particularly cats and dogs, are cared for responsibly, without regard to the owner’s financial ability.

Since July 31, 2013, C.A.N. has spayed/neutered over 13,000 dogs and cats in the Coachella Valley. C.A.N. has concentrated on low-income areas, offering affordable spay/neuter, vaccine, microchip and licensing.

I’ll tell you what he does—he hides. A lot of shy cats hide from strangers, and it can strike terror in the heart of a cat sitter to walk into a silent house where nothing is stirring. Lucky for me, the eyewatering odor from the cat box tells me he’s here somewhere, as do the bits of food scattered about the kitchen. But where?

Getting In Is the Easy Part

I once spent a solid hour searching this cat’s house, panicked, feeling like a criminal, and peering into places I was never meant to go. I was convinced he’d somehow gotten out and I would now be responsible for his certain death.

Finally, I noticed a dresser drawer left ajar, so I pulled on it to remove it from the dresser. It didn’t come out. Some sort of mechanism locked the drawer in place—it opened but couldn’t be removed. My heart sank when I heard the first small meow. The cat had gone into the open drawer, climbed over the edge and dropped down into the drawer below. So I couldn’t close the open drawer without decapitating him, but I couldn’t pull out the drawer he was in unless he ducked his head to clear the drawer above. After another

half hour of grappling with the cat and drawer, I started to remove the back panel of the dresser with a screwdriver I found in the garage while searching for the cat. Thankfully, I was only two screws in when one paw, one ear, and half a head appeared at the bottom of the dresser. I lifted up the heavy dresser, hoping he could maneuver the rest of the way out. After much scrabbling and every last ounce my strength, I saw him streak out of the bedroom, off to some dark place where he hid for the remainder of his owner’s vacation.

Eyes Wide Open

Cat sitting might sound like the perfect way to get your cat fix without owning one, but don’t go into it without understanding the unimaginable predicaments you can get into when you’re caring for a cat that isn’t yours. Expect the unexpected, and be sure you’re fully committed and available to do whatever it takes to care for—and hopefully enjoy—the precious little furball you’re being entrusted with. And don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Don’t Forget About Lepto

By Robert Reed DVM, MSES, MPA VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

Living in the Desert or other arid areas, it’s easy to overlook a disease that only thrives in the presence of water. But in many parts of the world, where water is a more prominent feature of the landscape, Leptospirosis (Lepto) carries considerable risk, not only to dogs, but also to people. Dog owners in Southern California received a harsh reminder of this fact in 2021, when, over a few months, Los Angeles County experienced over 200 reported cases of Lepto, and it’s likely more cases went unreported.

In hindsight, it seems surprising that we could be caught so off guard. Lepto is not a new disease, and, viewed broadly, is not particularly rare. Epidemiologists estimate, in fact, that Lepto is the most common zoonotic (transmitted between animals and people) disease in the world, causing illness in 7 to 10 million people, with nearly 60,000 deaths every year.

In studying the Los Angeles outbreak, we learned that most cases were caused by the strain of Lepto most closely associated with dogs, indicating that most transmission was occurring from dog to dog. In the past, cases more often involved transmission from other species, typically livestock or wildlife to dogs, with the strain responsible often reflecting the source. This awareness is particularly frustrating when we acknowledge that a vaccination protecting against the dog strain has existed for decades.

Clearly, our complacence about Lepto has caught up with us, and it’s time to refresh our understanding of it. With that in mind, here are some key facts.

Transmission occurs through water or wet surfaces.

Lepto is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Transmissions for both animals and people usually occur by consumption of contaminated water, or through contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. Studies have suggested that infection can begin

from only a few organisms in a water droplet splashed into an eye. The organism enters water in the environment through passage of urine from an infected animal and can remain viable there for months, as long as the water does not dry or freeze. It does not survive in seawater or chlorinated water, just in freshwater or on surfaces that remain wet or moist.

In dogs, as in other species, symptoms can vary.

Although cats can become infected with Lepto, they tend to recover without serious problems. Dogs, on the other hand, can get really sick. The organism has its greatest impact on the kidneys and liver, but the symptoms are often nonspecific—depression, loss of appetite, pain, weakness, vomiting, swollen eyes, drinking/urinating excessively— and their severity may range from mild to life-threatening. No one knows why some dogs react worse than others.

There are multiple strains of Leptospira.

Classifying Lepto species and strains (serovars) can get very confusing. For practical purposes, each serovar is linked to a particular species of animal that serves as its primary host. In theory, the primary host is the most likely to serve as a long-term carrier (and shedder) of its own serovar, but in reality many species of animal are capable of catching and transmitting more than one serovar.

There are seven serovars known to cause disease in dogs (see Table on following page). The last two cases I treated in the Desert were caused by L. icterohaemorraghiae , in a dog from Los Angeles, and L. autumnalis, in a local dog who had traveled only to Idyllwild. Both patients recovered well with treatment. As it did with these dogs, knowing the serovar gives us an idea about how a patient acquired their infection, but it doesn’t necessarily predict the severity of the disease or its response to therapy.

Lepto is the most common zoonotic (transmitted between animals and people) disease in the world, causing illness in 7 to 10 million people, with nearly 60,000 deaths every year.

There are ways to protect against Lepto.

Until about 25 years ago, most veterinarians believed only dogs that lived around livestock, hunting dogs, or other dogs that spent a lot of time in ponds and streams were likely to catch leptospirosis. More recent evidence, like the 2021 outbreak, suggests that urban dogs may be equally vulnerable. We know that wild animals provide an ongoing reservoir for Lepto, and many species, particularly rodents and raccoons, can encroach on human living spaces, even in cities. Dog owners should, therefore, refrain from attracting wildlife into their yards and avoid leaving water bowls outside overnight, especially where rodent contamination may occur.

We now also know that other dogs can be a direct source of infection in surroundings where close contact occurs, particularly in the presence of water. For these risks, vaccination can be a key part of prevention. Lepto vaccines are highly effective and protect against the four most common serovars that affect dogs (see Table). Because bacterial vaccines (technically, called bacterins) never provide the duration of immunity we expect from viral vaccines, they have to be repeated every year. In the past, there has been reluctance among some veterinarians to give Lepto vaccines, since earlier vaccines were less refined than the ones we have currently, and the vaccines developed a reputation for causing a disproportionate number of reactions. Today, however, Lepto vaccines have very low reaction rates that are comparable to other vaccines, so for most dogs the risk of catching the disease far outweighs the chance of having a reaction to vaccination.

There are tests available to diagnose Lepto.

Veterinarians usually diagnose Lepto through blood tests, using either a Polymerase

Chain Reaction (PCR) Assay, or by antibody testing with a Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). Which test they perform might depend on the situation at hand. The PCR provides a rapid diagnosis, but only if the patient has not received antibiotics, which can make it falsely negative, and it cannot distinguish between the various Lepto serovars. The MAT provides titer (blood test) readings that can help differentiate the serovars, but it is unreliable in the earliest stages of infection. It becomes more useful if the test is repeated 2 to 3 weeks later to measure changes in titers that develop after an immune response occurs.

Once diagnosed, affected dogs usually respond to treatment.

For reasons we can’t fully explain, a few dogs that contract Lepto will develop life-threatening symptoms, and some don’t

Leptospira serovars that cause disease in dogs

Serovar Usual Source

L. canicola* dogs

L. icterohaemorrhagiae* rats

L. grippothyphosa* raccoons, skunks, possums

L. pomona* cows, pigs, raccoons, skunks, possums

L. hardjo cows

L. bratislava horses, rats

L. autumnalis mice

*Included in Lepto Vaccines

survive. For most patients, however, appropriate antibiotics, anti-emetics, and fluid support effectively treat the disease. Hospitalization is recommended, although some patients can recover at home. Regardless, either a veterinary or home caretaker must remain aware of Lepto’s zoonotic potential, particularly before treatment begins. Urine from Lepto patients is highly infectious, so eliminations and contaminated surfaces must be managed carefully. Fortunately, the zoonotic risk seems to drop once antibiotics begin to have their effect.

As we can see from these facts, Lepto, as a disease in dogs, can be fairly well managed if we remain vigilant about it. Our greatest challenge may come not from an inability to prevent and treat it, but from our failure to recognize it as a threat. Many of the Los Angeles cases were associated with day-care and boarding facilities without any involvement from wildlife or livestock, and with little or no exposure to the outside environment. Perhaps, as our society has evolved, risk factors have changed, and it may be time to update our thinking about Lepto.

Dr. Robert Reed is a former research fellow with World Wildlife Fund and The Conservation Foundation. Dr. Reed practiced veterinary medicine in Texas, Utah, and Nevada before establishing roots in the Coachella Valley in 2003. VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital is located at 71-075 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA. (760) 346-6103. Visit vcaranchomirage.com

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5 Water Safety Tips

Summers in the desert, or in any extremely hot location, can be challenging to exercise your dog properly. We need to get up to walk early and stay up to walk late at night. I suggest doing it in the morning, since it’s the coolest part of the day and sets a good tone for the day.

In the dog world, there are hundreds of breeds—some breeds were built for swimming, like Labs, goldens, and Newfies. The double coat and webbed feet help them to be great swimmers. Then you have breeds like my bulldog, who have difficulty swimming due to their short legs, buoyant bodies, and short muzzle. Water safety is just as important for our dogs as it is for our kids.

Here are five steps that will keep your dog safe in the water.

By Valerie Masi, Best Paw Forward Dog Training

If your pool is in a yard shared with kids and dogs, it should be fenced, or an alarm system should alert you when something splashes in the pool.

Teach your dog to stay out of the pool when not invited. You’re teaching the dog boundaries, like boundaries with furniture and jumping. If you’re having difficulties teaching your dog, then contact a Certified Professional Trainer.

Teaching your dog how to get out of the pool if it should happen to fall in is very important. I have seen even skilled swimmers fall in and panic and can’t find their way out. All pools have steps, some bigger than others. This is a good spot to start using positive reward systems like treats, toys, and good old-fashioned love and affection to motivate the dog to come to the step for a reward. Try to keep the dog from jumping out of the pool immediately. Wait for the dog to show a calm demeanor, let it out of the pool, and then bring the dog back in again and repeat these steps until the dog is happy to go in and out easily. Using a leash will help you with this behavior.

If you have a breed like my bulldog, buy your dog a life vest for pool time. And if you go boating with your dogs, be sure each dog wears a life vest, even if they’re good swimmers. This tool can be life-saving in case of an accident.

Put in a scamp ramp. This is a ramp that floats in the pool and can help your dog get out of the pool if it falls in accidentally. The ramp is a bright white color that would draw the dog’s eyes to it, even if the dog is in a panicked state.

Always ensure that someone is outside with your dogs at all times, just as you would with children. And have a wonderful, safe summer!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Cats need protection, too. Life jackets like this Baltic Maja Cat Buoyancy Aid are made specifically for cats.

CREDIT: PETSTEP.COM

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Daycare Options & Nightcare too!

The indoor, air-conditioned play area is large enough for our dogs to run and play all day. Outdoors is Doguna Beach, where pups can play in our man-made lake, with a waterfall.

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Canine Massage Therapy

Canine Massage Therapy sessions are therapeutic for your dogs mind and body. Each therapy session includes massage, aromatherapy and music therapy. Wendy Rall, CMFT is your certified canine myomanipulative functional therapist.

Nutrition and more!

Lori Weiner is a certified Clinical Pet Nutritionist (CPN) and is available to consult with clients on proper nutrition for their pet. Attend classes about our therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living and classes on Nutrition for Your Pets. Barkingham will hold monthly workshops taught by Lori.

Professional Dog Trainer

We offer professional dog training including Puppy Kindergarten.

Expert Grooming

California Grooming is a five-star grooming salon. Meet our groomers and see the magic they can do on your dogs. Offering mud baths, spa treatments and pawdicures, too.

California Dreamin’ Boutique

Find beautiful dog beds, leashes, collars, and more at our boutique. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are also available.

Cat suites for boarding available.

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Locally owned and operated since 2011, California Paws Rescue saves the lives of dogs every day. We are proud to have over 1500 successful pet adoptions.

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Cat Hoarder Intervention Neighbors

Step In to Help

By Brady Rhoades

When I walked into the small living quarters, the smell was overwhelming.

Fecal matter, urine, rancid food. Flies everywhere.

More than 20 felines zipped up walls and hid in any crevice they could find. The person living there had mentioned that one of his cats had been sick for two days, so I was checking in, to see if I could lend a hand. I had no idea he was—for lack of a better phrase—a “cat hoarder.”

You’ve seen the shows on television: A person is living in unthinkable conditions, surrounded by way too much stuff, garbage piling up, and their home looking like it should be condemned. Yet they refuse to leave, clean up, or part with any of their possessions, so a concerned family member calls in a professional to help convince the hoarder that living that way puts their safety, health, even their very lives, at risk.

Unfortunately, when people hoard cats, they impose those same risks on the helpless animals they keep in their houses of horror. The cats in the home I visited did not look healthy. And how could they be when they live surrounded by filth, decay, and rot?

Several cats mustered the courage to sit on a dresser, big-eyed, looking scared but curious. None were meowing or hissing; in fact, they were all strangely quiet and still, both the ones hiding and the ones staring. I was utterly shocked by all I was seeing and smelling. I knew this problem was beyond anything I could help with, so I headed out, mind racing and heart pounding. Before I reached the door, though, I heard kittens mewing. When I tracked down the source, I

found three newborn kittens in a cardboard box with a wet shirt over them. They were cold, frail, and clearly without motherly care. I knew I needed a professional, just like on TV.

So what to do? Where to start?

Because I’d never encountered such a thing, it was hard to know where to begin. I opted for the throw-everything-at-the-wall method.

First, I talked to the person living in the home, urging professional care for the cats. Sadly, I found out the kittens I spotted in the cardboard box had died. Next, I talked to some pet-loving neighbors. I contacted OC Humane Society, OC Community Cats, MeoowzResQ, Cats in Need of Human Care, and more. I looked into Animal Control. I did research on the Internet, but then remembered that’s a rabbit hole. Better to lean on people who know what they’re doing.

According to International Cat Care, the consequences for cats involved in overcrowded environments are inter-cat and stress-related problems; diseases associated with overcrowding/poor nutrition; other health issues such as fleas, ringworm, cheyletiellosis, and fecal contamination; constantly increasing numbers because of indiscriminate breeding;

their websites.

congenital and hereditary diseases associated with inter-breeding; and lack of early socialization, leading to a fear of human contact.

I didn’t know if any of that applied to these cats. But I did know the situation was dire. After all my consulting with the pros, the matter is now in the hands of Orange County Animal Control. An officer provided me an activity number so I can track the investigation.

In cases where it’s determined that cats—or other pets—are not getting proper care, Animal Control tries to collaborate with the caretaker on a remedy. In more difficult circumstances, Animal Control, with the help of local police, confiscates the pets, gets them medical care, including spaying and neutering, and puts the “viable” pets up for adoption. In worst-case scenarios, pets are euthanized.

Experts I talked to, such as Darren Kimble, a manager at National Cat Protection Society, say rehoming pets who’ve lived in cramped, isolated places is a long shot because, among other issues, they haven’t been socialized.

“It’s difficult for most shelters to socialize cats because they don’t have a cat behaviorist on hand,” Kimble said. “To socialize even a

kitten, it takes weeks of daily work.”

In basic terms, “unsocialized” means humans are unable to interact with the cats. If the cats are older than 6, socializing becomes nearly impossible.

“Any interaction with unsocialized cats is very much on their terms,” Kimble added.

In Orange County, shelters and rescue operations are overwhelmed with healthy, socialized cats who need homes. Those cats will likely be at the top of the list for potential adopters. The shelters are full, in part because it’s kitten season. Unaltered female cats are in heat. They give birth roughly 60 days after pregnancy, resulting in a slew of unwanted young ones. Spaying and neutering your cats goes a long way toward solving this problem. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cats are usually safe to spay or neuter at 8 weeks old. Most county animal care centers post a list of clinics for spaying and neutering on their websites.

Cats deserve a spacious, healthy, and clean environment to live in. They deserve proper nutrition, attention, and healthcare. And they deserve the chance to be socialized, so they can live peaceably and happily with humans.

This is a sad story, and we all know it’s not an isolated incident. But here’s the good news: We’ve learned that Animal Control completed its investigation, confiscated the cats, provided medical care, cleaned them and is trying to get them adopted. Almost half have been spayed or neutered. Others will be fixed upon adoption, Animal Control officers say. My wife and I are working on adopting one or two. Neighbors have shown interest in doing the same. If you want to help, visit ocpetinfo.com, click on Lost Pets, then Found Pets, then Cats. Look for the cats who were confiscated from Fullerton on July 8 of this year.

Time is of the essence. If we can help rehome some of them, we’ll have done our part to save precious lives.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cats are usually safe to spay or neuter at 8 weeks old. Most county animal care centers post a list of clinics for spaying and neutering on

COACHELLA VALLEY

PALM SPRINGS

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIANS

VCA - Desert Animal Hospital

(760) 778-9999 vcadesert.com

Palm Springs Animal Hospital (760) 324-0450

BOARDING/DAYCARE/PETSITTING

Doggie’s Day Out of Palm Springs (760) 422-6259 doggiesdayoutofps.com

Animal Attraction - In-Home Cat

Sitting (760) 673-7370 animal-attraction.info

Elite Pet Care Palm Springs (760) 831-8995 elitepetcarepalmsprings.com

GROOMING

PoshPetCare (760) 318-7674 poshpetcare.com

VCA - Desert Animal Hospital (760) 778-9999 vcadesert.com

Petco Pet Store

(760) 864-1393

PetSmart Palm Springs (760) 325-9711

Puppy Luv Pet Salon (760) 322-7336

DOG TRAINING FACILITY

K9 Parent Training (760) 813-5250 k9parenttraining.com

RESCUE/SHELTER/ADOPTION

Palm Springs Animal Shelter psanimalshelter.org

(760) 416-5718

Humane Society of Coachella Valley (760) 329-0203

RETAIL & PET STORES

Bones-n-Scones (760) 864-1133

bonesnscones.com

Cold Nose Warm Heart

(760) 424-2006 pspetstore.com

Business listings subject to change. Contact the business directly to confirm information. Did we miss your business? If so, email us at editor@petcompanionmag.com.

PoshPetCare (760) 318-7674 poshpetcare.com

Treat Buddy (760) 202-3600 TreatBuddy.com

PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS

The Rowan Palm Springs (760) 904-5015 RowanPalmSprings.com

SERVICES

Pet Cremation Services of the Desert

(760) 401-6700 petcsotd.com

CATHEDRAL CITY

RANCHO MIRAGE

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/VETERINARIANS

The Cat Clinic

(760) 325-3400

VCA - Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

(760) 346-6103 vcaranchomirage.com

Carter Animal Hospital (760) 324-8811

GROOMING

The Canine Spa Pet Hotel & Grooming (760) 328-0876

EarthWise (760) 340-4542 earthwisepet.com

K9 Clipper & Catamaran (760) 770-7676 k9clipperandcatamaran.com

VCA - Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

(760) 346-6103 vcaranchomirage.com

The Barking Lot

(760) 647-2275

Shear Art Pet Salon

(760) 285-6263

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE

The Canine Spa Pet Hotel & Grooming

(760) 328-0876

VCA - Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

(760) 346-6103 vcaranchomirage.com

RETAIL & PET STORES

EarthWise

(760) 340-4542

earthwisepet.com

DESERT HOT SPRINGS

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE

Furrst and Furrmost (760) 409-9226 furrstandfurrmost.com

PET GROOMING & SITTING

DJ’s Claws ‘n’ Paws & Doggie Daycare LLC (760) 413-7349

THOUSAND PALMS

RESCUE/SHELTER/ADOPTION

Animal Samaritans (760) 343-3477 animalsamaritans.org

Coachella Valley City/County Animal Shelter

rcdas.org

Emergency Services: (760) 343-3644

PALM DESERT

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/VETERINARIANS

Country Club Animal Clinic (760) 776-7555 countryclubdvm.com

Paws and Claws Urgent Care (760) 610-2454

pawsandclawsurgentcare.com

Animal Hospital of Desert (760) 568-5151

Palm Desert Pet Hospital (760) 568-9377

BOARDING/DAYCARE/ PET SITTING

Barkingham Pet Hotel California (760) 699-8328

pethotelcalifornia.com

RESCUE/SHELTER/ADOPTION

California Paws Rescue (760) 699-8328

CaliforniaPawsRescue.org

RETAIL & PET STORES/ BOUTIQUE

Barkingham Pet Hotel California (760) 699-8328

pethotelcalifornia.com

Bones-n-Scones (760) 340-2663

bonesnscones.com

Spoiled Dog Designs (760) 482-1877

spoileddogdesigns.com,

GROOMING

Barkingham Pet Hotel California (760) 699-8328

pethotelcalifornia.com

Barking Beauties (760) 851-4679

Super Mutts (760) 776-9201

The Pet Spaw (760) 346-3461

Uptown Dog Grooming (760) 779-9900

INDIAN WELLS TO INDIO

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/VETERINARIANS

Animal Samaritans (760) 343-3477

animalsamaritans.org

VCA – All Creatures Animal Hospital (760) 564-1154

vcahospitals.com/all-creatures-ca

Village Park Animal Hospital (760) 564-3833

VillageParkAnimalHospital.com

Desert Dunes Animal Hospital (760) 345-8227

VCA – Valley Animal Medical Center (760) 342-4711

DOG TRAINING FACILITY

Dream Dogs (760) 899-7272

dreamdogs.com

BOARDING & DAYCARE/PET SITTING

The Grand Paw (760) 398-9900

thegrandpaw.com

VCA – All Creatures Animal Hospital (760) 564-1154

vcahospitals.com/all-creatures-ca

GROOMING

The Grand Paw (760) 398-9900

thegrandpaw.com

Village Park Animal Hospital (760) 564-3833

VillageParkAnimalHospital.com

VCA – All Creatures Animal Hospital (760) 564-1154

vcahospitals.com/all-creatures-ca

RETAIL & PET STORES/BOUTIQUE

The Pet Oasis (760) 345-3199

thepetoasis.com

Village Park Animal Hospital (760) 564-3833

VillageParkAnimalHospital.com

The Grand Paw (760) 398-9900

thegrandpaw.com

Desert Feed Bag (760) 342-6602

RESCUE/SHELTER/ADOPTION

Loving All Animals (760) 834-7000

lovingallanimals.org

COACHELLA VALLEYWIDE SERVICES

The list below includes businesses that do not necessarily have a brick & mortar location but provide services for the Coachella Valley.

PET SITTERS

Animal Attraction

In-home cat care services.

Tim Sally, (760) 673-7370 animal-attraction.info

TRAINERS

Best Paw Forward

Valerie Masi (760) 885-9450

BestPawForwardDogTraining.com

Dream Dogs

Lori Wainio-Carman (760) 899-7272 dreamdogs.com

K9 Parent Training

Manny Guerra (760) 813-5250

k9parenttraining.com

PS Dog Training

Ellen Wade (760) 365-2628

psdogtraining.com

RESOURCES

Animal Samaritans Shelter and Adoption Center (760) 343-3477

animalsamaritans.org

California Paws Rescue Center (760) 699-8328

californiapawsrescue.org

Coachella Animal Network (760) 848-4284

coachellaanimalnetwork.org

Humane Society of Coachella Valley orphanpet.com (760) 329-0203

Loving All Animals (760) 834-7000

lovingallanimals.org

Living Free Animal Sanctuary livingfree.org

Palm Springs Animal Shelter (760) 416-5718

psanimalshelter.org

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding pegasusridingacademy.org

Paws & Hearts pawsandhearts.org

War Horse Creek warhorsecreek.org

COACHELLA VALLEY PARKS

Leash free dog parks

pepper the Coachella Valley, each with its own unique design — from grassy yards to desertscape.

Palm Springs Dog Park

3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (behind City Hall)

Rancho Mirage Dog Park

34-100 Key Largo Ave, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Cathedral City Dog Park 68798 Buddy Rogers Ave

Cathedral City, CA 92234

Civic Center Park

43900 San Pablo Ave

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Cap Homme / Ralph Adams Park

72500 Thrush Rd, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Freedom Park 77400 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260

Joe Mann Park

77810 California Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260

University Dog Park

74802 University Park Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260

Hjorth Park

81253 Ave 48, Indio, CA 92201

Fritz Burns Park

Corner of Calle Sinaloa (Ave. 52) and Avenida

Bermudas, La Quinta

Pioneer Park 445-130 Seeley Dr., La Quinta, California 92253

Seasons Dog Park 78100 Cloud View Way La Quinta, California 92253

Mulligan Dog Park 45355 Van Buren St, Indio, CA 92201

Station 87 Dog Park

42900-1/2, Golf Center Pkwy, Indio, CA 92203

Wardman Park 66190 8th St, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

DHS Rotary Dog Park 13239 Don English Way, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Kahoots Feed & Pet kahootsfeedandpet.com

Ramona: (760) 788-7785

Alpine: (619) 320-3023

Carlsbad: (760) 434-2223

Escondido: (760) 489-8678

Fallbrook: (760) 731-8360

La Mesa: (619) 463-2012

Poway: (858) 679-1900

Rancho Bernardo: (858) 487-3624

Rancho Peñasquitos: (858) 484-3121

Rancho San Diego: (619) 670-7041

Solana Beach: (858) 793-6883

Temecula: (951) 303-3381

Dirty Dogs

11835 Carmel Mountain Rd. (858) 451-3647

Snug Pet Resort (858) 643-0010 snugpetresort.com

Del Mar Heights Vet Hospital (858) 792-3888 dmhvh.com

All About Animals (858) 459-4583

allaboutanimals-lajolla.com

Uptown Woofs uptownwoofs.com

Pet Kingdom (619) 224-2841 petkingdom.com

Paw Commons (760) 452-4166

pawcommons.com

Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital (619) 260-1412 drexotic.com

Dr. Boyd’s Pet Resort (619) 349-1522 drboyds.com

Shelter Island Vet Hospital (619) 222-0597 shelterislandvet.com

San Diego Area Dog Parks

Balboa Park

24 hours a day at:

Nate’s Point - Balboa Drive at El Prado, south side of Cabrillo Bridge.

Morley Field northwest of tennis courts.

Cadman Community Park

4280 Avati Drive in Clairemont. For hours and boundary information, visit our Cadman Park Leash Free page at sandiego.gov.

Capehart Park

Located at the corner of Felspar Street and Soledad Mountain Road in Pacific Beach, this 1-acre park offers two fenced pens: one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs, areas to provide water for dogs, a drinking fountain, picnic tables and benches, and a parking area. Open 24 hours.

Charles L. Lewis III Memorial Park

Located at 4750 Home Ave. in City Heights, this linear park has a .5-acre single pen off-leash dog park located on the northern end of the park.

Dog Beach

Located in Ocean Beach at the foot of Voltaire Street, this site offers 24-hour access to the beach and ocean.

Doyle Community Park

Located at 8175 Regents Road in University City, this park is situated behind Doyle Recreation Center and offers two fenced turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs. It is open 24 hours; however, it is not lighted.

Splash and Dash Doggie Groomerie (619) 221-9233

splashanddashfordogs.com

Point Loma Vet Clinic (619) 222-4482

pointlomavetclinic.com

Bone Appetit Ocean Beach Pet Supply

(619) 226-6250

www.boneappetitob.net

Cabrillo Veterinary Hospital (619) 225-9684

cabrillopethospital.com

Dog Beach Dog Wash (619) 523-1700 dogwash.com

VCA Peninsula Veterinary Clinic (619) 223-7145

vcahospitals.com/peninsula

Diego Dogs Grooming (858) 412-5202

diegodogsgrooming.com

Noah’s Natural Pet (858) 270-8161

noahsnaturalpetmarket.com

Grand Animal Hospital (858) 272-1320

grandanimalhospital.com

ABC Veterinary Hospital of PB (858) 270-4120

abcvets.com

Pacific Beach Veterinary Clinic (858) 272-6255

pbvetclinic.com

Business listings subject to change. Contact the business directly to confirm information. Did we miss your business? If so, email us at editor@petcompanionmag.com.

Dusty Rhodes Neighborhood Park

Located on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard between Nimitz and West Point Loma, in Ocean Beach, this 1-acre park offers one area for all dogs.

Fiesta Island

Located in Mission Bay Park, Fiesta Island offers a 5.2-mile asphalt path around the island for dogs walkers. Hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Grape Street Park

Located at Grape and 28th streets in South Park, this site is unfenced and is available for off-leash use during the following designated days and times:

Posted leash-free hours: Mon. thru Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sat., Sun., and holidays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kearny Mesa Community Park

Located at 3170 Armstrong St. in Kearny Mesa, this 1-acre park near the Kearny Mesa Recreation Center offers one area for all dogs. Lighted. Hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. There is a water station for dogs and fountains for people.

Maddox Neighborhood Park

Located at 7815 Flanders St. in Mira Mesa, this .65-acre park offers one turfed area with a walkway and drinking fountain.

Nobel Park

Located at 8820 Judicial Drive in University City, just east of the North University Community Branch Library building, Nobel Park offers adjacent parking and separate sections for large and small dogs.

Rancho Bernardo Park

Located at 18448 West Bernardo Drive, this 2.66-acre park offers leash-free space adjacent to Rancho Bernardo Community Park.

Rancho Peñasquitos Park

Located on Salmon River Road at Fairgrove Lane. 1-acre park offers two fenced, turfed areas; one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs, benches, and a street parking area. Open from dawn to dusk.

Torrey Highlands Park

Located on Lansdale Drive off Del Mar Heights Road, 1-acre park.

Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park

Located at 3905 Adams Ave. Park includes two fenced pens, one for small dogs. Open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

Source: www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/ dogs/leashfree

petcompanionmag.com

Spawlight Dog Salon & Spa

(619) 237-4420

spawtlightdog.com

Camp Run-A-Mutt East County

(619) 312-2267

camprunamutt.com/eastcounty

Amici Pet Hospital

(619) 795-2400

amicipethospital.com

B Street Veterinary Hospital

(619) 237-0600 bstreetvet.com

Urban Wolf

(845) 328-0364 urbanwolfusa.com

City Dog

(619) 269-0201 citydogsd.com

Coronado Veterinary Hospital (619) 435-6281 nadovet.com

Purple Paws (619) 375-5100 purplepawspetclinic.com

Seacoast Veterinary Group seacoastvetib.com

Imperial Beach Pet Hospital bpets.com

South San Diego Vet Hospital ssdpetvet.com

Wag Hotel waghotels.com

VCA Animal Emergency Hospital vcahospitals.com

Veterinary Specialty Hospital vshsd.ethosvet.com

FACE Foundation face4pets.org

Cheshire Cat Clinic cheshirecatclinic.com

Canine Cleaners canine-cleaners.business.site

Veterinary Imaging Center of SD vicsd.com

Clairemont Village Pet Clinic 3007 Clairemont Dr

Lifetime Animal Care Center lifetimeanimalcare.com

SD House Rabbits Society sandiegorabbits.org

LOS ANGELES COUNTY LOS ANGELES

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

Banfield Pet Hospital (310) 289-7952 banfield.com

Carlsen Animal Hospital (310) 445-4692 carlsenvet.com

Marina Veterinary Center (310) 642-8080 marinavet.com

Overland Veterinary Clinic (310) 559-2424 overlandvetclinic.com

RETAIL/PET STORE

Allan’s Aquarium & Pet (424) 832-3009

Animal Bark n’ Bitches Dog Boutique (323) 655-0155 barknbitches.com

Animal Crackers (323) 658-1919 animalcrackersla.com

Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies (310) 398-2134

centinelafeed.com

Westside Pet Stop (310) 202-1076 westsidepetstop.com

Healthy Spot (323) 486-5500 healthyspot.com

Katie’s Pet Depot (310) 828-4545 katiespetdepotwestla.com

My Pet Naturally (310) 477-3030 mypetnaturally.com

Posh Pet Care poshpetcare.com

The Urban Pet (323) 933-2100 theurbanpet.net

RESCUE/SHELTER

Fur Baby Rescue (213) 840-0153

furbabyrescue.org

NKLA Pet Adoption (424) 208-8840 nkla.org

North Central Animal Shelter (213) 485-5767

laanimalservices.com/shelters

The Vanderpump Dog Foundation (323) 852-3647 vanderpumpdogs.org

Wallis Annenberg Petspace (424) 384-1801 annenbergpetspace.org

HERMOSA BEACH

GROOMER

Kriser’s Natural Pet (310) 379-9262 krisers.com

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

VCA Coast Animal Hospital (310) 372-8881 vcahospitals.com/coast

ANIMAL SUPPLIES/BOUTIQUE

Bow Wow Botique (310) 372-7722 bowwowboutiquecare.com/

GROOMING

Shear Heaven For Pets (310) 379-1700

HUNTINGTON BEACH

RETAIL

Kahoots Feed & Pet kahootsfeedandpet.com

(714) 842-1841

CHATSWORTH

RETAIL

Kahoots Feed & Pet kahootsfeedandpet.com

(818) 718-9850

CULVER CITY

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

Fox Hills Animal Hospital (310) 397-4883 foxhillsah.com

RETAIL/PET STORE

Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies (310) 572-6107 centinelafeed.com

MARINA DEL REY

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN Animal Wellness Center

(310) 450-7387

animalwellnesscenters.com

VCA Bay Cities Animal Hospital (310) 821-4967

vcahospitals.com/bay-cities

Cat Practice

(310) 773-9286

thecatpracticela.com

Shane Veterinary Medical Center (310) 305-7297

www.shanevet.com

T.H.E. Cat Hospital (310) 773-9286

thecathospital.com

RETAIL/PET STORE

Healthy Spot (310) 827-8500

healthyspot.com

MANHATTAN BEACH

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

Manhattan Beach Animal Hospital (310) 536-9654

manhattanbeach animalhospital.com

Animal Medical Group (310) 546-5731

amgvets.com

GROOMER/SPA

Bubbles Pet Spa

(310) 545-5294

bubblespetspa.com

The Loving Groomer

(310) 944-0097

Fuji Pet Salon

(310) 545-8209

MOORPARK

RETAIL

Kahoots Feed & Pet

kahootsfeedandpet.com

(805) 523-7766

NORCO

RETAIL Kahoots Feed & Pet

kahootsfeedandpet.com

(951) 371-4000

Business listings subject to change. Contact the business directly to confirm information. Did we miss your business? If so, email us at editor@petcompanionmag.com.

PASADENA RESCUE/SHELTER

Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA

(626) 792-7151

pasadenahumane.org

REDONDO BEACH

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

Family Pet Clinic of Redondo Beach (310) 376-0072

familypetclinicrb.com/

ANIMAL SUPPLIES

Canine Castle (310) 379-9812

SANTA MONICA

GROOMING/SPA

Moon Doggy’s Dog Wash (310) 396-3865

Paws and Effect Pet Spa (310) 450-9017 paws-effect.com

RETAIL/PET STORE

Animal Kingdom (310) 392-4074

animalkingdomsm.com

Bark Williams (310) 664-7009

barkwilliams.com

The Naked Dog (310) 450-6759

thenakeddogshop.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD

ANIMAL HOSPITAL/VETERINARIAN

VCA Miller-Robertson Animal Hopital (310) 657-7050

vcahospitals.com

West Hollywood Animal Hospital (310) 275-0055

wh-ah.com

RETAIL/PET STORE

D.O.G Pet Boutique (310) 652-6321

dogpetboutique.com

VENICE ANIMAL STORE

The Modern Dog (310) 450-2275

come-sit-stay.com

ORANGE COUNTY & INLAND EMPIRE ANAHEIM

AAA Pet Groomer

410 N State College Blvd. (714) 772-3544

Affordable Animal Hospital (714) 772-1611

affordable-aspenanimalhospital.com

Anaheim Animal Care & Pet Hospital (714) 527-9292

anaheimanimalcare.com

Anaheim Canyon Animal Hospital (714) 637-1000

Anaheim Feed & Pet Supply Inc (714) 992-2012

anaheimfeed.com

Anaheim Hills Pet Clinic (714) 779-2101

anaheimhillsvet.com

Anchor Animal Hospital (714) 635-7762

anchor-animalhospital.com

City Dog Pet Grooming 3070 W Lincoln Ave (714) 236-9860

CJ Dog Grooming 2048 W Lincoln Ave. (714) 772-2280

Cottage Pet Hospital (714) 535-6714

cottagepethospital.com

Doggie Salon

1689 W Cerritos Ave. (714) 776-3569

Jackboy’s Dog Bakery jackboydogbakery.com

K9 Karousel (714) 527-7779

k9kspa.com

La Palma Veterinary Hospital (714) 535-1141

lapalmavet.com

Paws & Claws Animal Grooming 1721 W Katella Ave # D (714) 533-2983

Pet Supply Warehouse (714) 777-9970

pswcares.com

Sunrise Pet Hospital (714) 283-0227

sunrisepethospital.com

Nature’s Select Pet Food (714) 993-5500

naturesselectshop.com

BREA

Ann’s Pet Grooming 405 S. State College Blvd. (714) 256-8388

Brea Veterinary Hospital (714) 529-4988

breavet.com

Chateau Le Pooch (714) 482-0452

chateaulepooch.net

Founders Veterinary Clinic (714) 990-0661

www.foundersvet.com

Kriser’s Natural Pet (657) 444-2766 krisers.com

CORONA DEL MAR

Corona Del Mar Animal Hospital (949) 644-8160

cdmah.com

French Connection (949) 675-7308

frenchconnection.me

Happy D’s Pet Salon & Spa 3838 East Coast Hwy (949) 673-1236

COSTA MESA

Beach Paws Pet Salon (949) 646-6723

beachpawspetsalonandgrooming. com

Just Food For Dogs (949) 662-1414 justfoodfordogs.com

IRVINE

Animal Hospital of Irvine (949) 559-9988

animalhospitalofirvine.com

Club Cat (949) 988-3999

www.clubcatusa.com

Culver Pet Clinic (949) 559-8971

culverpetclinic.com

Irvine Pet Complex (949) 551-0304

www.irvinepetcomplex.com

Kriser’s Natural Pet Store (949) 551-4100 krisers.com

Paw Sweet Paw (949) 333-1465

pawsweetpaw.com

PetPoint Medical Center and Resort

(949) 522-5700

petpointcenter.com

BluePearl Pet Hospital

(949) 833-9020

bluepearlvet.com

Stonecreek Animal Hospital (949) 726-1800

stonecreekah.com

LAGUNA BEACH

Aliso Beach Animal Clinic (949) 499-4190

alisobeachanimalclinic.com

Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic (949) 494-6583

archbeachvet.com

Dog Tub (949) 436-8979

dogtublb.com

Faux Paw Artique

fauxpawproductions.com

Laguna Beach Animal Hospital (949) 494-9721

lagunabeachanimalhospital.com

Laguna Groomers 384 Forest Ave. (949) 497-2255

Naked Dog Bistro (949) 715-9900

nakeddogbistro.com

The Tail Wagger 1854 S Coast Hwy. (949) 494-2006

MISSION VIEO

Pet Supply Warehouse (949) 951-1284

pswcares.com

NEWPORT BEACH

The Pet Oasis (949) 719-0645

thepetoasis.com

Back Bay Veterinary Hospital 4263 Birch St

Central OC Emergency Animal Hospital

3720 Campus Dr # D

Doggie Daycare...And More 1770 Newport Blvd

Business listings subject to change. Contact the business directly to confirm information. Did we miss your business? If so, email us at editor@petcompanionmag.com.

Dogma

21113 Newport Coast Dr

Kriser’s Natural Pet Store

1044 Irvine Ave

Lido Animal Hospital

2915 Newport Blvd

Newport Animal Hospital

21157 Newport Coast Dr

Newport Beach Veterinary Hospital

1610 West Coast Hwy

Newport Center Animal Hospital

1333 Avocado Ave

Newport Hills Animal Hospital

2670 San Miguel Dr

The Paw Spa Pet Groomer

2905 Newport Blvd

Villa Real Estate

450 Newport Center Dr

ORANGE

East Chapman Veterinary Center (714) 633-9780

eastchapmanvet.com

RIVERSIDE

RETAIL

Kahoots Feed & Pet kahootsfeedandpet.com

(951) 776-0581

SANTA ANA

Continental Dog Groomers

2441 N Tustin Ave # L

Grand Pet Care Center

1602 N Grand Ave

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital 1729 N Grand Ave

Sweet Paws Pet Grooming

2124 N Tustin Ave

TUSTIN

Advanced Veterinary Internal Medicine

2965 Edinger Ave

Advanced Veterinary Medical

Imaging

3047 Edinger Ave

Animal Clinic of Tustin Ranch Irvine

13115 Jamboree Rd

Blue Ribbon Pet Grooming

14445 Newport Ave

El Camino Pet Grooming

301 El Camino Real

Eye Care For Animals

3025 Edinger Ave

Grooming Yorba

14081 Yorba St

Manny’s Family Hand Wash

2762 El Camino Real

Ruff House Pet Resort

3065 Edinger Ave

TLC Pet Shop & Grooming

12932 Newport Ave # 17

Tustana Animal Hospital

1142 El Camino Real

Tustin Care Animal Hospital

14051 Newport Ave

Tustin legacy Animal Hospital 15100 Kensington Park Dr Suite 520

Tustin Ranch Animal Clinic 1082 Bryan Ave

Tustin Santa Ana Vet Hospital 741 W First St

VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists 3021 Edinger Ave

Veterinary Neurology Center 3051 Edinger Ave

Veternary Cancer Group Orange County 2887 Edinger Ave

Wagly Tustin Pet Campus 13942 Newport Ave

NATIONAL AGENCIES

Brown Dog Foundation browndogfoundation.org

FluffyRX fluffyrx.com

Friends and Vets Helping Pets friendsandvetshelpingpets.org

The Mosby Foundation themosbyfoundation.org

Onyx & Breezy Foundation onyxandbreezy.org

PAWS 4 A Cure paws4acure.org

Pet Assistance, Inc. petassistanceinc.org

The Pet Fund thepetfund.com

Pets of the Homeless petsofthehomeless.org

RedRover redrover.org

TEMECULA VALLEY ANIMAL HOSPITAL/ VETERINARIAN

Murrieta Regional Animal Hospital

(951) 600-0830

murrietaregionalanimalhospital.com

South Temecula Veterinary Hospital

(951) 302-7595

southtemeculaveterinaryhospital.com

Butterfield Animal Hospital

(951) 303-8260

butterfieldvet.com

Vail Ranch Veterinary Hospital

(951) 302-9111

vailranchvets.com

Temecula Creek Veterinary (951) 395-0398

temeculacreekvet.com

VCA El Rancho Animal Hospital

(951) 296-3898 v cahospitals.com/el-rancho

Vineyard Veterinary Hospital

(951) 506-9600

vineyardvet.com

VCA Pet Medical Center

(951) 676-3531

vcahospitals.com/pet-medical-center

Care Animal Hospital

(951) 676-4690

careah.com

Animal Hospital of Temecula

(951) 676-6488

Temecula Valley Animal Hospital

(951) 200-3877

temeculavalleyanimalhospital.com

Emergency Pet Clinic

epicvets.com

(951) 695-5044

West Coast Equine Medicine

(866) 923-6838

westcoastequinemedicine.com

RETAIL

Kahoots Feed & Pet

kahootsfeedandpet.com

(951) 461-6993

Just Food For Dogs

(951) 296-0388

justfoodfordogs.com

Natural Pet Food & Supplies (951) 461-0001

www.natural-petfood.com

Pet Stop

(951) 698-2464

GROOMING/SPA

Temecula Pet Salon & Spa (951) 303-3356

temeculapetsalonandspa.com

Dirty Paws Grooming Spa

(951) 695-4300

dirtypawsgroomingspa.com

Shampooch Pet Styles (951) 818-4461

shampoochpetstyles.com

Perfect Pet Spaw (951) 296-3505

perfectpetspaw.biz

American Grooming Services, Inc (888) 550-9274

americangroomingacademy.com

Butterfield Dog Grooming (951) 676-6080

butterfieldgrooming.com

The Pawfessional Dog Groomer (858) 774-1484

he-pawfessional.com

Amazing Creations Pet Salon (951) 541-1423

Eco Paw Spa (951) 265-9929

The Laundered Mutt Grooming & Training Center (951) 694-9274

thelaunderedmutt.com

Grubby Dogs Pet Grooming (951) 461-9909

It’s A Dog’s Life Mobile Pet Spaw (855) 774-7729

itsadogslifespaw.com

Camp Bow Wow (951) 587-2267

campbowwow.com

TRAINING/DAYCARE

Camp Bow Wow (951) 587-2267

campbowwow.com

Honor K9 Dog Training (800) 484-1911

honork9.com

Epic Dog Academy LLC (951) 389-0097

epicdogacademy.com

LimitLess Dog Training Temecula (951) 216-3647

limitlessdogtraining.com

Marvel K9 | Dog Training Academy (951) 768-4998

marvelk9.com

Business listings subject to change. Contact the business directly to confirm information. Did we miss your business? If so, email us at editor@petcompanionmag.com.