FREE!
Fall 2019
Page 10
Ready for Action Dr. Schumacher’s debut “Vet’s View” helps you and Fido prep for active fun! Page 19
Going Wild in El Paso Stick House Wildlife Sanctuary rescues critters that fall outside the realm of traditional companion animals.
Taking the Page 21
PLUNGE! They fly through the air with the greatest of ease!
The ABCs of CBD It’s everywhere—but it’s all over the place, as well. Dr. Craig tackles some basic issues to consider if you are intrigued by CBD ‘s potential for your pets’ medical care.
Dock Diving for your dog makes a splash in Southern New Mexico with the opening of the Las Cruces Dock Diving and K-9 Event Center.
Page 15
Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
1
PLUS . . . Our readers take over! . . . What’s so controversial about grain-free?. . . Jess’ oasis fails to impress his dogs . . . and more!
October 31st
|
4pm - 7pm
November 9th & 10th
Pet with Santa Photos & the Grinch December 1st
2
Dog‘,Cruces
315 Telshor
Fall 2019
(575) 527 - 9265
(575) 522 - 0115
betterlifenaturalpetfoods.com
I
Expanding The Pack”
am always excited as summer fades away and fall comes to the Mesilla Valley. Those of us who have lived here a while appreciate the first signs of cooler weather, and for those of you who may be new to this area, you’ll soon discover it’s simply the best time of the year here in the desert—for both humans and dogs. The arrival of fall also means we have just enjoyed another weekend of fun at the 3rd Annual Dog’Cruces Pet Expo at the Convention Center! Thanks to all our vendors, sponsors, volunteers and— especially—everyone who attended. This year was special, because we accomplished something that has never been done before at any pet expo (well, to the best of our knowledge): during Friday and Saturday, 100 cats and dogs were spayed or neutered in the Asavet Mobile Clinic van. These wonderful folks from Arizona were brought here and sponsored by Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary. The East Ballroom was donated to Asavet by Dog’Cruces, Las Cruces Event Planning and the Las Cruces Convention Center, so the newly-fixed pets could recoup in a quiet, safe environment. That is quite a weekend’s work!! This issue of the magazine features more new faces than usual. Julie Ito Morales introduces us to Stick House Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dr. Kyle Schumacher, of Schumacher Vet Clinic, takes over for Dr. Pirtle in our Vet’s View column. Welcome, Dr. Kyle! We also have a special treat for our readers, from our readers! Earlier this year, we asked for your stories of doggie love and devotion for publication in this issue of the magazine. We enjoyed reading all the submissions, but two stood out from the crowd, and we are delighted to direct you to pages 24
and 25 for stories by Jamie Baker and Denise Ojinaga. Great job, ladies! You all may not realize how hard it is to be mayor of a make-believe town—I really don’t know how I do it all! Public engagements, fixing elections, soliciting bribes and treats... it’s becoming more than I can handle in my old age. So the First Lady has agreed to step up and give me a hand. No, not the applause I so richly deserve, but an actual helping hand with the magazine. So, with that. . . let me introduce the First Lady of Dog’Cruces, Shannon Murray....
H
ello and thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful community of pet lovers and animal advocates!
As First Lady, I am NOT a politician, but I DO have a platform—a platform for your dog to jump off of into a pool—and you can read all about it in this issue’s cover story! A special shoutout to Tabitha Rossman for her amazing cover photo of Kelsie Boswell’s beautiful (and flexible!) Border Collie, Clover. It captures the essence of dock diving fun! As for my oath of office—I solemnly swear to uphold the standards the Dog’Cruces community has established. So my first official act as First Lady is to salute all the local small businesses that support this magazine and make it possible for us to give away half our ad space to animal advocacy groups. Giving these nonprofit groups a voice has always been a huge part of the Dog’Cruces mission, and I am eager and honored to help in that role.
Equally important to that mission are our incredible contributors who create all the content so YOU—our ultimately-important readers— are inspired to pick up the magazine every quarter (and patronize the aforementioned small businesses). It’s the Circle of Life in our animal community! I would also like to thank the two and fourlegged crew at Dog’Cruces for welcoming me into their pack. We will always advocate for education and change in our community so more pets will have better lives—living off-chain with full bellies, vaccinated and free of disease, safe, happy, and loved. With NO MORE UNWANTED LITTERS! Together we will continue down the path that the Mayor of Dog’Cruces and his cabinet of pawsome peeps started 56 dog years ago.
Shannon Murray First Lady of Dog’Cruces
Vic Villalobos Mayor of Dog’Cruces
Write to us at: Dog’Cruces Magazine 151 S. Solano, Suite E Las Cruces, NM 88001 or email us at : Vic@DogCruces.com Dog‘Cruces Magazine
151 S. Solano • Suite E • Las Cruces, NM 88001
575-523-8511
www.
.com
Insta
Publishers Sonya Ruiz, Vic Villalobos Managing Editor/Mayor of Dog’Cruces Vic Villalobos Senior Editors Charissa Paskowski, Jenifer Woods Contributing Editors Shannon Murray, Phyllis Wright Graphic Artists John Connell, Jenifer Woods Advertising Chris DiMora, Patrick Montelongo, Charissa Paskowski, Wayne Sinclair, Vic Villalobos Contributors Jamie Baker, Delores T. Craig, DVM, Margaret Dubbin, Kat Lacy, Julie Ito Morales, Shannon Murray, Denise Ojinaga, Tabitha Rossman Kyle Schumacher, DVM, Jess Williams, Phyllis Wright
Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
3
Can hemp products, like CBD oil, hemp oil, hemp seed or other by-products, be used in pet (dog or cat) food or treats?
NO
Currently, the safety and efficacy of CBD oil or any other hemp or hemp by-product has not been reviewed for use in any animal feed. Pets do not choose their diets like people do, so it is important to perform safety and efficacy reviews on each ingredient before it is approved for use in animal feed, including dog and cat (pet) food and treats. Reviews are handled through the Ingredient Definitions Committee through the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO; https://www.aafco.org/Regulatory/Committees/Ingredient-Definitions) or the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as food additive petitions (FDA; https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/ developmentapprovalprocess/ucm056809.htm).
Can I sell pet treats that contain CBD?
NO
Hemp, its byproducts and extracts (e.g. CBD concentrates, isolates, or synthetics) are not approved for use in animal feed, as there is inadequate data surrounding the safety and utility of any hemp or hemp byproducts for use in animal feed. At this time, CBD oil is regulated as a drug by the FDA. CBD oil must undergo the drug approval process through the FDA prior to distribution. For more information on pursuit of a new animal drug application, please visit: https://www.fda. gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/NewAnimalDrugApplications/default.htm
Is pet food regulated?
YES
The manufacture and sale of pet food is regulated by the federal government and the 50 states, including New Mexico.
What falls under the classi�ication ‘pet food’ or ‘pet treats’? Pet food is defined as any commercial (i.e., offered for sale, exchange or barter) feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats. Pet food is a subset of animal feed. • Complete and balanced foods are pet foods. • Treats/snacks are pet food. • Nutrient supplements (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids) are pet food. • Nutrient-added waters are pet food. • Edible chews (rawhide, hooves, pizzles) are exempt from New Mexico labeling requirements, unless labeled for nutritive value.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture Feed, Seed, and Fertilizer Section has recently received a number of questions regarding the use of hemp, including cannabidiol (CBD) oil, as an animal feed ingredient for livestock and pets. This informational guide has been created to answer some of these questions and provide some basic information for commercial feed manufacturers and animal owners on the current regulations of animal feed in New Mexico regarding the use of hemp as a feed ingredient. Dog‘,Cruces Fall 2019
4
Agricultural Production Services / Feed, Seed, and Fertilizer Section / 575-646-3107 / nmda.nmsu.edu
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Fall 2019
5
Safe Haven Adoption Event at Petsmart
Recurring & ongoing events FALL 2019 Safe Haven Adoption Promotion with Radio NM Wednesday, October 23rd Wednesday, October 30th Wednesday, November 6th Wednesday, November 13th Wednesday, November 20th Wednesday, November 27th Wednesday, December 4th Wednesday, December 11th Wednesday, December 18th Wednesday, Januray 8th Radio NM is a local radio program audio stream. SHAS is a weekly contributor to the show and brings pets available for adoption to the Round Table show. Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, 6890 Eagle Rd. For more information, contact SHAS at 575-805-5338.
Sunday, October 20th
APA Dog Wash Fundraiser
Saturday, October 26th Saturday, November 23rd 2200 E. Lohman (next to Old Navy) from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Find your petmate, and learn more about Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary (SHAS). 575-805-5338.
Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ Adoption Promotion Thursday, November 7th Thursday, December 5th Thursday, January 2nd 1020 N. Telshor Blvd., from 4pm – 7pm. Leashed and well-behaved dogs welcome on the patio. For more info, call 575-805-5338.
Better Life Natural Pet Foods, 315 Telshor, from 11am-3pm. Good Clean Fun! Weather Permitting. For more info, call 575-527-9265 or 575-522-0115. Saturday, October 26th
Safe Haven Halloween Photo Booth
SHAS Thrift Store, 840 El Paseo Rd., from 10am-2pm. For more info, call 575-8055338. Sunday, October 27th
National Pit Bull Awareness Day This is a day of appreciation and education designed to change perception and sterotypes about Pit Bulls and their responsible owners. Thursday, October 31st
October Saturday, October 19th
Horse ‘N’ Hound’s New Look! 991 W. Amador, from 8am-6pm. Storewide sale with lots of specials for the dogs! All dog toys 30% off and sales on select dog food. See all the new items Horse ‘N’ Hound has added to go along with their new look. 575-523-8790.
Better Life’s 2nd Annual Halloweenie Event & Costume Contest Better Life Natural Pet Foods, 315 Telshor. (tentatively 3pm-6pm). Parade, Prizes,
PREMIERE INDOOR K9 TRAINING FACILITY
LAS CRUCES
DOCK DIVING & K9 EVENT CENTER
DiveDogDive.com 575-323-1250
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Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
• OBEDIENCE COMING SOON ,
DATES TBA:
• DOCK DIVING LEAP IN THE NEW YEAR
DECEMBER 31
• AGILITY PRE-AGILITY TO COMPETITION LEVEL 2 CLASSES
START OCT. 21
DECEMBER
Tricks and, of course, TREATS! For more information, call 575-527-9265 or 575522-0115.
Sunday, December 1st
Pet Pics with Santa & The Grinch
NOVEMBER National Adopt-aSenior-Pet Month & National Senior Pet Month Senior pets tend to spend the longest time at a shelter or rescue before finding their forever home—if they find homes at all. Consider adopting a senior pet and opening your home and heart to a pet for their golden years. Saturday, November 9th & Sunday, November 10th
Better Life Customer Appreciation Wild Weekend! Better Life Natural Pet Foods, 315 Telshor. Awesome deals, auction baskets, freebies, discounts, treats, fun! For more information, call 575-527-9265 or 575-522-0115.
For a complete calendar of events, visit
DogCruces.com
Better Life Natural Pet Foods, 315 Telshor. Call or visit for more details, times, and possible 2nd location, 575-527-9265 or 575522-0115. Check Dog’Cruces’ Facebook and Instagram for more up-to-date information. Monday, December 2nd
National Mutt Day
Saturday, December 21st & Sunday, December 22nd
Home for the Holidays Weekend Adoption Event DACHS (Dona Ana County Humane Society) will pay for all adoptions the weekend before Christmas from our local shelter, ASCMV. Adopt a dog at any of their off-site adoption events or at their facility, ASCMV 3551 Bataan Memorial. Fill out a form, and DACHS will cover your adoption fees so these pets can find their forever homes in time for Christmas!
Embrace the love and uniqueness of mixed breed dogs in shelters and around the nation. Mutts can be service dogs, therapy dogs—the very best dogs!! Adopt a Mutt! Please spay and neuter your pets. Saturday, December 14th
Santa Photo Booth
SHAS Thrift Store, 840 El Paseo Rd., from 10am-2pm. Benefiting Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary. For more information, call 575805-5338.
List is updated as events are announced
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Fall 2019
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Sniffin’ Out All The Best Real Estate Deals!
Zachary Flores
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575.644.2637
It’s my absolute pleasure to serve the Mesilla Valley as a full service listing & buying agent. Be sure to follow me & my 5 slobbery doggies on social media: Facebook.com/SoldInLasCruces • Instagram: SoldInLasCruces and SnapChat: MesillaRealtor
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Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
FOOD & FUN WITH FIDO!
WELL-BEHAVED, LEASHED DOGS WELCOME
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Mexican Hot Dogs Salsa Bar Burgers Top-Dog Mexican Food Big Selection of Draft & Bottled Beer 575-526-1271 1983 Calle Del Norte in Historic Mesilla AndeleRestaurante.com Open 11am - 9pm Daily
60+ Taps of Awesome Craft Beer Wine & Spirits Pub-Style Menu Live Music 575-323-8051 302 S. Main St. Suite C. TheBrokenSpokeTaphouse.com Sun Closed • Mon 4pm -11pm Tue - Sat 11am -11pm • Las Cruces
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Fall 2019
9
DRIVERS & DONATIONS NEEDED
, The Vet s View by
Kyle Schumacher, DVM In LOVING MEMORY of Lola. A Supporter and an Ambassador of Forever Homes Animal Rescue. PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORING AN ANIMAL FOR TRANSPORT. MONETARY DONATIONS OR GAS CARDS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. donations can be made:
PAYPAL: FOREVERHOMESAR@AOL.COM MAIL TO: FOREVER HOMES ANIMAL RESCUE (FHAR) 700 1ST Street ALAMOGORDO, NM 88310 TAX ID # 47-3947873
Exercise Your Companion F
riends, colleagues, and clients know that I can talk for days [literally] about veterinary practice and, specifically, sports medicine. When Dog’Cruces asked me to write about prevention of sports injuries, I outlined some basic material and came to two realizations. Firstly, that I can bring perspective not just as a doctor, but also as a pet owner—been there, done that. Secondly, that in my practice, I see these injuries in ALL dogs, not just athletes and working dogs. Establishing warm-up and cooldown routines prior to physical exertion has important implications in the avoidance and early detection of injuries for any pet. These routines benefit not only dog sport participants, but any active pet who engages in hiking, fetching, swimming, hunting, or squirrel-chasing—and especially those pets who are seniors or have a history of injury. Plan for at least 10-15 minutes each for warmup and cool-down. My protocol may vary slightly depending on temperature, surface, and available space, but should always progress from gentle aerobic activity to faster/tighter motions in all planes. It should include active stretching and short bursts of explosive activity, leading to sports-specific motions at the end. My dog is gently panting by the end of the warm-up. My cool-down routine is simply my warm-up in reverse—again, my dog can be panting, but not winded, once we are finished. As an important aside, I feel strongly that all these components should be fun for my dog, so I have invested training time (and treats!) in making these activities rewarding. I have provided several examples of warm-up/ cool-down exercises from my own personal routine that my dog, Stomp, and I go through before and after agility runs. Please visit your veterinarian if you suspect injury/illness or have any concern about the suitability of certain movements for your pet.
Core Stretch find us on facebook!
10
Dog‘,Cruces
forever homes animal rescue
Fall 2019
1 2
Walk for three to five minutes. Walking is a four-beat gait where each leg lifts and hits the ground individually. This can be on leash or off, but I like my dog to be consistently in motion.
Trot for three to five minutes. Trotting is a two-beat gait where diagonal legs move in unison. This can be on or off leash, but my dog should be constantly moving. I start with long, straight lines and progress into gradually tighter circles in both directions. Avoid having the dog in a formal “heel” position as this lends itself to only flexing the neck in one direction. Look ahead at a point in the distance and your dog usually will, as well.
3
Encourage your dog to move all major joints and to bend in all planes (front-toback, side-to-side, twisting). These pet tricks are all fun, and just a few repetitions of each are sufficient: waving with either front leg, pretending to “pee” (holding up one rear leg at a time), backing up, walking sideways, rolling over, moving between different positions (such as standing to sitting to lying down), and weaving between your legs are all great examples.
4
Make sure you both stretch! “Active stretching” is an important part of any warm-up, and refers to having the dog perform a stretch under its own power. This differs from “passive stretching” where the owner is manipulating the dog and performing the stretch for it. There are certainly some instances where passive stretching is effective, but, generally, active stretching is safer because a dog is unlikely to move itself beyond its range of comfort or induce an accidental
Wave or High Five
Standing Stretch
Surround Yourself Like a Champion! injury. Cookie stretches (nose-to-shoulder, nose-to-hip, nose-to-chest) help stretch out the muscles along either side of the neck and spine. Holding the play-bow position will stretch the large muscles in the hamstrings and triceps. Standing up on the hindlegs or keeping the hindlegs stationary while moving the front-end forward will also stretch the muscles along the spine and core, as well as the quadriceps and hip flexors. Hold each position for 10 seconds and repeat two to three times.
5
Engage your dog in explosive activities like sprinting, jumping, and tugging— these replicate some of the motions I ask my dog to perform in competition. Spending one to two minutes sprinting to retrieve a toy, running around a cone, tugging, and jumping up to grab a toy completes my warm-up. These also ensure that my dog is fully focused on me and is mentally ready to start working. Ideally, I will move into active training or competition within a few minutes of completing my warm-up. If the weather is cool, I use a jacket to cover my dog’s large muscle groups. If we have to wait longer than a few minutes, I will keep my dog warm and engaged by walking and trotting on leash and performing some of the quick tricks described above. Remember that while proper warm-up and cool-down routines help lessen the chance of injury, there is nothing that can completely prevent injury to your dog. These guidelines are not a substitute for proper training, conditioning, nutrition, and regular veterinary care.
discomfort. If he is reluctant to do a trick he has previously performed without difficulty or exhibits differences in movement towards the right or left side, this might indicate soreness or injury. It is important to detect issues at this stage—before your dog is overtly lame and in pain. If you have any questions or concerns in this regard, STOP exercising immediately and have your dog examined by a veterinarian before resuming any type of training or competition. Also, try to observe your dog immediately as it gets up from sleeping or sedentary periods—many subtle limps or imbalances will be most readily visible in these first few steps.
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Several injuries can be dealt with more easily in these early stages, when the discomfort and damage may be minor, before they become more clinical. Do not wait until your pet is obviously limping and showing outwards signs of pain before intervening. Additionally, all athletes/working dogs should visit their veterinarians annually for a specific sports medicine assessment/physical. Happy and safe training/adventuring to all! Thanks, Dog’Cruces for inviting me to be a part of your magazine. Dr. Pirtle left behind some big shoes to fill—I join the veterinary and Las Cruces communities in wishing him the best! [Tips hat.]
Tug
Changes in my dog’s behavior or execution of these exercises can be early indicators of
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Fall 2019
11
Wasting Away in Mirandaville W by
Jess Williams
hen Charissa contacted me about writing for this issue of Dog’Cruces, she threw a line in there saying there would be features about “dock diving and such.”
Having grown up in southern New Mexico, the term “dock diving” has very little meaning to me. I associate it with YouTube videos of wedding parties standing on rickety structures that collapse into lakes while the cameras are running.
But apparently, it’s a thing. People go to docks and they dive off them, completely disregarding the fact that mutant catfish, crocodiles, alligators and anacondas — not to mention piranhas — can swim and bite and swallow large chunks of human flesh, causing bleeding and sometimes death. (This paragraph sounds a bit like an advertisement for a new medication.)
Mirandaville Bay at sunset.
Note the complete absence of dogs in or near the water...
Not only do people do this “dock diving” thing, but some of them actually train their dogs to do it, too. Seriously. “Dock Diving Dogs” sounds an awful lot like the title of an album by David Bowie.
Earlier this year, I contracted with Blue Sky Fabrications of Las Cruces to build a pond in my back yard. It has no docks, but it is a fairly good-sized body of water, and one of the reasons I wanted it is because I figured my outdoor dogs would find it a great source of cooling down during the Dog Days of Summer (rim shot).
Back before global warning, the dog days of summer — the hottest streaks of the year — were the latter part of July through the middle of August. This year, however, August was a whole 31-day, 100-degree party of Satanic egg frying on sidewalks. Left to their own devices, my dogs, however, spent their 100-degree days simply panting in deep shade, lying mere feet from the slopes that lead into the pond, looking woefully warm. One day, in an effort to show them the cooling properties of the water, I threw them both in, one after the other. Bloop! Bloop! They looked wounded as they dogpaddled to shore and shook themselves off. They weren’t panting, though! I thought maybe — just maybe — the lesson would kick in. I was wrong. If I want my outdoor dogs to cool off, it is my duty as a responsible pet owner to walk outside during the heat of the day, chase them around — because they sense what I’m up to; they did learn THAT — and then breathlessly chuck them into the water so that they can simultaneously cool off and remain angry with me until it’s time for supper. Toby watches all this from inside the house, through the sliding glass
12 Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
door, with a quizzical and concerned look on his face, as if to say, “If you ever try this stunt with me, I will eat you in your sleep.” (It would take a lot of bites.) So while you, dear reader, may well learn on other pages of this magazine about the marvels of dock-diving dogs in Las Cruces, rest assured that Canine Team Jesster won’t even wade into available water when random weeds are suffering spontaneous combustion in the unshaded areas of the yard. That should be the end of this story, but Charissa is picky about the word count, so I’ll add a few other pond tidbits, each of which requires a number of words. 1. It is populated by four red-eared slider turtles, one of which was found wandering up Melendres Street one afternoon and was taken to Dr. Schumacher’s office, whose receptionist called me and said, essentially, “Can we bring you this turtle?” Because they have saved Toby’s life several times, I said yes. His name is Augustus. 2. It is also populated by thousands of gambusia fish, which are popular for their habit of eating mosquito larva. At any given time during the day, the surface of the pond looks like it’s being pelted by angry raindrops, but those are actually the upward strikes of the gambusia, saying to the little mosquito hatchlings, “Down the hatch!” My pond is a family-planning clinic for mosquitoes. 3. I bought a wetsuit so I can do maintenance to the pumps and underwater infrastructure. When wearing the shiny wetsuit, I look like a stick of licorice that has somehow ingested a bowling ball. Not my best look, I’m told. 4. Note to Charissa: Having started them, I don’t know how to end these bullet points. This is the end. Editor’s note: “Dog Tossing” is NOT a sanctioned Dock Diving event. Despite having a genuine oasis in his backyard, Jess appears to have grown even snarkier and more curmudgeonly in retirement.
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Fall 2019
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A big “paws up” and congratulations to everyone who traveled from near and far to participate— earning ribbons and titles 14with Dog‘,Cruces 2019 theirFallamazing dogs!
Making a Huge
SPLASH Fun! More Fun! Superlative Fun!
That’s the word on the new Las Cruces Dock Diving & K9 Event Center. It’s not the whole story, of course—there are multiple awesome layers—but it’s a very consistent review. The inspiration came from Dog’Cruces’ own Shannon Murray and Vic Villalobos, along with Steve Stochaj and Nancy Chanover, parents to the Aggies tee-retrieving Striking the Wonder Dog. Their collective canine experience resumés are long, punctuated by agility titles and twenty years as leaders on the Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue Team (MVSAR). Their own dogs were their motivators! What do these trainers and their dogs do for fun? Well, the dogs love to swim, and they discovered jumping in the pool for toys was even more fun, and that led to actual dock diving and loving it! They’ve all participated in dock diving events, from the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in San Francisco to North America Diving Dogs (NADD) events in Montana. Then one night—during a MVSAR training in the same warehouse that now houses Las Cruces Dock Diving and K-9 Event Center—the idea to create an indoor dock diving venue in Las Cruces
was born. The dock opened this past May and has quickly become a bustling playground for both dogs and their humans. Shannon teaches orientation along with dock diving classes throughout the week; Kat Lacy has installed a mini Better Life Natural Pet Foods shop across from the pool, so dock divers can indulge in everything from healthy snacks to snazzy life jackets; Claren Wilson and her team from Cloud K-9 Training offer obedience classes on the vast turf of the huge indoor space, and Sandra Hendrix and her crew from Agility K-9 Trainers schedule agility classes from Pre-Agility all the way to Competition II (Excellent/Masters) and everything in between. It’s such a great atmosphere! Everyone is so positive. Sandra says her basic goal is to build a relationship between a dog and handler—because “once you get that relationship, your dog will do anything for you.” Claren says dogs can do anything—she’s even seen them taught to blow bubbles in water—and believes that “all of us, human and canine, are lifelong learners, and that’s how we understand the world.” Those philosophies and more merge in the activity of dock diving. Kelsey Glander brings her four-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nala Noodle, up from El Paso for dock diving classes every Saturday. Nala Noodle is a rescue who had no skills whatsoever when she found her furever home with Kelsey. She was “skinny, had no chip—not even an understanding of treats.” Now she’s powered through her first dock diving competition and rules the pool as the Las Cruces TownePlace Suites by Marriott poster
dog whose image is an inspiration to everyone who sees her banner. Penny, an adorable Border Collie, comes up from El Paso every Saturday, too, with her human, Eliza Celestri, an AKC CGC/Trick Dog Evaluator, who owns Good Dog Training in El Paso. That expertise must have been invaluable when she rescued Penny from a hoarding situation in Sierra Blanca. At six months old, Penny was one of 40 dogs crammed into a single house. She didn’t walk; she could only crawl, “unconfident and frightened.” There was no way she could have learned to swim and was initially afraid of the water, but Eliza’s philosophy is to “always be positive; never give up on your dog.” Penny found love with her new family, and her many new opportunities boosted her confidence. Now she starts pulling for the pool as soon as she exits the car! Along with myriad canine performance certifications, she’s earned titles in agility, obedience, rally master, and lure coursing. Penny epitomizes what they can accomplish when we believe that “our dogs are family.” Allison Wilson, from Las Cruces, adopted Charlie from Golden Retriever Rescue in El Paso. He came to her “anxious and timid.” She tried medication, but it was ultimately activity that saved the day—Charlie loves running and swimming—and he’s a lucky dog that Allison persevered in identifying his beloved sports. He started with the orientation class at Dock Diving, moved into the six-week diving course, and had a great time at his first competition.
by
Phyllis Wright Photos by Patrick Montelongo & Tabitha Rossman
Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
15
Dock Diving and other K-9 sports build a special connection between you and your dog. And it’s just SO MUCH FUN!
The Las Cruces Police Department K-9 Unit are motivated to get their K-9 officers in the water, too. They brought their dogs to the dock to practice jumping on command. That could potentially mean jumping into a pool or a pond, into moving or standing water. The dogs loved it, of course, because training is fun for them—and they were just as eager to get at the bite sleeve in the water as they are on land. It was great to catch up with some of the LCPD’s K-9 and human officers we’ve featured in other editions of Dog‘Cruces, like Officer Gomez and Joker, and Officer Roman and Lexa, and Officer Lucero and Jax. Officer Baker was there, too, with his K-9 partner Dao, and Sergeant Bayles from the Doña Ana Sheriff’s Office introduced us to his new K-9, Dallas. Sergeant Boehne, the new Head of the LCPD K-9 Unit said it was “an excellent confidence building exercise for the dogs and fun for the handlers, too.” Dock diving is for all dogs—young dogs and seasoned dogs, working dogs and pampered dogs, confident dogs and timid dogs, active dogs and dogs who may need a little boost! And dock diving is for all dog parents who want to spend some “quality time with their best canine friends. It’s a great bonding adventure! It’s time away from stress—it’s time for fun!” As Shannon says, “dogs need socialization and activity, just like human kids, to be happy and well-adjusted,” and dock diving is a great way to provide all of that! If you want even more, your dog can enter competitive dock diving events, as well. All dogs can earn ribbons! August 9 marked the venue’s first big event, Las Cruces Desert Dock Dive, a North America Diving Dogs (NADD) event! Of the 57 NADD-sanctioned facilities in the nation, Las Cruces Dock Diving is one of only six indoor pools, and oh, boy, was that welcome in the middle of August! Becky and Phil Kasavan came over from Phoenix with their three-year-old Malinois, Delta, who’s been diving for two years. They view water sports as pretty much “the only route to safe, consistent exercise in the summer,” and they loved not getting sunburned, or wrestling with the easy-up for shade, or feeling slippery with sunscreen. Delta was “dialed in!” Even though she’s a great dock diver, the Kasavans mirrored the spirit of the competition in reflecting that “it’s not about how far
16 Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
your dog jumps—ribbons are nice, but it’s about the dog having fun!” It was a virtual all-call for fun loving canines! There were little bitty dogs, tiny Terriers, older dogs and puppies, AKC pedigreed dogs and mixes, sleek, athletic titleholders and potential couch potatoes. They have several things in common, though—parents who show their love and respect through training and togetherness. Dean Penrose and Michele Heater’s Charlie Bear, a seven-year-old Chocolate Lab mix from Sierra Vista, Arizona, has 80 jumps over 25 feet to his name, but Dean and Michele, are all about “you and the dog having fun. Like any activity, any type of dog training,” they think “it’s about the fun factor!” Charlie Bear was a foster who found a furever home with Dean and Michelle’s three other rescue dogs. This was the most congenial, collegial, enjoyable competition I could possibly have imagined. There were some champions in attendance, for sure, but all the dogs earn ribbons, and the decisive consensus among handlers was that they were motivated by having fun with their dogs.
Let’s back up! Jumps? Ribbons? Titles? What? What, exactly happens in the pool? What are the rules? You can check out all the official rules at northamericadivingdogs.com, but the gist of it is that the dock is 40 feet long, six feet off the ground and two feet above the water; fences on both sides create a lane leading directly to the pool. You throw your dog’s favorite toy into the huge 45’ x 22’ pool at the end of the dock, and as soon as you release him or her or give the command, the dog runs the length of the dock and launches off the end into the water to retrieve the toy. The judges keep eyes on the huge measuring tape that surrounds the pool and record the distance at the point where the base of the dog’s tail meets the water. The object is to make the longest jump possible and increase the distance with experience. After the jump, dogs exit the water via a ramp that leads back up to the dock. Each round of competition is called a Splash, and each dog has four minutes to make two jumps, the longest one of which will be the qualifying score for that Splash. The great thing is that dogs are competing against their own best jumps, not against another dog’s best jumps. So cool! It’s easy to get hooked because the whole experience builds such amazing synergistic energy between handers and their dogs. Dock divers travel all over the country to earn their qualifying jumps! Las Cruces Dock Diving will begin hosting more NADD sanctioned events and Qualifiers, in which dogs can earn those jumps, in 2020! Are you ready to sign up? An orientation class is “required for any handler/dog using the dock and pool for the first time, unless both handler/ dog have already earned a title in dock diving” (dockdivinglc.com), but your pooch will still get
The cavernous indoor space of the Las Cruces Dock Diving & K-9 Event Center was perfect for the high-energy camaraderie of the Mesilla Valley’s first-ever NADD Dock Diving event!
MVSAR dog Razr exits the 45’x22’ pool via a ramp back up to the diving dock, where his human, Joe San Fillippo, awaits.
(It is NOT an NADD requirement that your outfit match your dog’s collar and/or toy.) lots of individual attention, because orientation classes are limited to five dogs and their handlers. After orientation, you can enroll in one of Shannon’s 6-week dock diving classes—or choose private sessions—or both! Shannon recommends private sessions for dogs that are easily distracted by other dogs. Plan ahead! The next NADD event at Las Cruces Dock Diving is Docktoberfest, coming up October12-13. And they’ll begin hosting more NADD sanctioned events and Qualifiers in 2020! Nacho Momma’s Food Truck, Green Beans Coffee (and beverages), and Caliche’s will all be back, too! Jennifer Barfield and Brianna Walters said Las Cruces Desert Dock Dive was well worth the drive from Phoenix in August—they loved the food truck and the beverage stand and Caliche’s complimentary human and poochie cones—as well as the “actual bathroom!” They have three dock divers, all named after constellations, Comet, a 13-year-old Golden Retriever; Orion, a ninemonth-old Field Golden Retriever; and Leo, a 2½ year old Field Golden. Leo started it—jumping into the pool for toys. Now Leo only gets out of the water to dive back in! “He loved it from the start—he literally smiles, from the time he leaves the dock until he hits the water.” That’s incredibly true—I saw him smile! Jennifer and Brianna made a point about how supportive all the participants were of one another. They said, “it doesn’t feel like a competition–-and Leo doesn’t know if he jumped farther than 2 feet or 25 feet—it’s just dogs having fun!” Theresa Dydalewicz brought Skeeter, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, from Austin, Texas. Skeeter gets so excited, he literally screams when he jumps! When Theresa heard there was going to be dock diving in Las Cruces, she said “of course—great reason to come to New Mexico!” She, too, enjoyed the friendly, collegial vibe, noting that “everybody’s for everybody!” There’s lots of cheering for each dog and handler on the dock. It’s an exuberant experience all around. Clearly, the dogs come from all backgrounds and life experiences. Donna and Ray Mobilia from Scottsdale brought their Belgian Malinois, Bullitt (as in Steve McQueen’s character Frank Bullitt). Bullitt hit the water at 17 feet on his first ever jump, and he’s never looked back, having now
jumped in 23 states. Donna says the “best thing is obedience training” and recommends “letting the dog know what you expect from him or her.” She adds that diving makes active dogs manageable at home because “they’re tired—in both physical and mental energy!” And talk about energy—Bullitt is also Donna’s mobility assist service dog, works Human Remains Detection (HRD) at home in Maricopa County, and at four years old, jumps an impressive 29’9”. Everyone with whom I spoke at the event turned out to be someone who could chair a forum on the how our precious pets thrive when they’re well trained, loved, respected, and given a job or engaged in an activity. Barbara Davis and Laurel Manning, from Sierra Vista, Arizona, summed it up by saying “be good to your dogs.” Their Golden Retriever, Graham, deemed untrainable as a rescue, is now skilled in agility, lure coursing, and dock diving, having proven “athletic and smart” once Barbara and Laurel believed in him. Katherine Neeper, from Midland Texas, added to the point as we watched Copper, her Golden Retriever, and Halo, her Border Collie, dive joyfully into the water. She says “it’s all about having fun with your dogs!” Halo is also a therapy dog, but the dock diving is all about him! He loves to swim between jumps, and just “likes to have fun!” Katherine echoed so many other peeps in celebrating how it was “cool that everybody’s cheering for each other and having a good time!” No wonder dock diving is the fastest growing dog sport! It’s so amazing that we have this venue in Las Cruces! People are coming from far and wide—so why am I still at the computer? I’m off to Las Cruces Dock Diving! I can make an appointment with Agility K-9 Trainers or with Cloud K-9 Obedience, or I can go right to the water by enrolling in an orientation class and getting started on the dock diving!
Can we go again? Please. Mom, can we, huh?
Upcoming NADD Events at Las Cruces Dock Diving & K-9 Event Center: Docktoberfest! October 12-13 Leap in the New Year December 31
Event host Shannon Murr a readies the rib y bo and certificate ns s for all the diving d ogs.
One thing’s for sure—there’s always something happening at Las Cruces Dock Diving—and whatever it is, it’ll make for great canine training, bonding, exercise, concentration, happiness, socialization, confidence, and even competition! Actually, it’ll likely have the very same effect on us humans. Let’s go have some fun!
Dog‘,Cruces
Fall 2019
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Where the Are In our Make a Difference section of the last issue of Dog’Cruces, we saluted LCPD Officer Joshua Herrera for finding two tiny, abandoned bunnies at a crime scene and turning them over to the protective care of Stick House Sanctuary Wildlife Rehabilitation & Feathered Farm Rescue in El Paso. For this issue, we invited Stick House’s founder and President to tell us a little about her organization’s mission.... remember my childhood summers in the woods of Wisconsin, rescuing the baby raccoons whose parents had fallen victim to illegal trapping for pelts. I was 5 years old and those baby raccoons were left to die. We bottle-fed, raised and released them. I knew then I would save animals, speak for those who could not, and do what is right. Rescue was in my family and in my heart from a very early age. Here in the Southwest, nesting and baby mammal rehabilitation season runs from March 15 to October 15.
With this coming to an end, I am able to reflect upon all the incredible experiences and memories with the wildlife built during that time. To be a wildlife rehabilitator takes passion and dedication, but to have the opportunity to act on that requires support and donations from community members, or grants from foundations. I am grateful for that support, and for the supporters who believe in me—allowing me to help the wildlife, while having experiences I could never have imagined, especially upon the successful release of the wildlife in my care. These have been some of the biggest joys of my life, while the most crushing heartbreaks have come when having to accept I cannot save all. I am happy to validate the value of all life and will continue to do my little part to help the wildlife be free as they are intended to be. Thank you for believing in us and helping us to help the them. Stick House Sanctuary, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, was established in 2008, in an effort to address the needs of wildlife in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. We rescued, rehabilitated and released or placed, close to 3000 birds, wild mammals, and feathered farm animals in the 2018 season, and as the 2019 season draws to a close, we are nearing 2,800. Our efforts are not limited to the summer months, but continue throughout the year during the migration and off-seasons. In 2010, we recognized an additional need within our community and decided to include the rescue and care of abandoned domestic waterfowl and fighting roosters in our mission statement.
Domestic waterfowl are often mistaken for wildlife and are abandoned in community ponding areas. By rescuing these fowl from community areas, providing veterinarian care, and finding forever homes, we are helping the wildlife by preventing the spread of disease and helping them regain their natural habitat. Stick House Sanctuary has an on-site veterinarian but also works closely with several other veterinarians within our community, depending upon species in need. We work closely with the utilities companies, as well, to address the needs of wildlife and seek solutions to create a better environment for wildlife. Stick House Sanctuary is a vegan Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility and Animal Welfare Organization. We are staffed by volunteers only, all of whom have the best interest of the animals in mind. Your tax-deductible donations are very much appreciated and will help us continue our mission! Please visit our Facebook page to see weekly volunteer opportunities and monthly community presentations and children’s programs. We also have an Amazon Wish List identifying many items needed for the wildlife care. You can shop from our Amazon List as an alternative way to donate, and help us help the wildlife. Thank you for believing in us and helping us to help the wildlife! 3927 Emory Road El Paso, Texas 79922 915-219-2365 State License #REH-1115-243 Federal License #MB75674B-0 Julie Ito Morales is President/Wildlife Rehabilitator of Stick House Sanctuary Wildlife Rehabilitation & Feathered Farm Rescue in El Paso.
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Fall 2019
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The Alternative View by Delores T. Craig. DVM
Shopping for CBD? Before you buy... Dr. Craig’s holistic approach to caring for her veterinary patients includes traditional Western medical methods, traditional Chinese practices such as acupuncture, and, increasingly, alternative choices of medications that feature CBD as an ingredient. In the first of this two-part article, she answers some basic questions you might have if you are considering adding CBD products to your—or your pet’s—medical care.
H
ave you noticed that CBD is everywhere? It seems that every street corner has a store selling CBD products. I receive at least four emails every day advertising the newest, most fabulous healing CBD product! CBD and TCH: What are they? CBD (Cannabidiol) CBD and THC (Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) are two of more than 120 phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis plants. Phytocannabinoids produce the same chemical responses in our body as our endocannabinoids. Scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system in the 1990s. The endocannabinoid system is part of a multitude of body functions involved in behavior, sleep, appetite, hormone regulation, motor learning, immune responses, pain, cell repair, and healing. CBD and THC chemically produce similar actions as the endocannabinoids. So, in theory, they may potentially be able to mimic or augment the actions of our body’s endocannabinoids.
Why does THC cause psychoactive effects while CBD does not?
There are two types of endocannabinoid receptors in the body: CB1 and CB2. Both receptors are found in brain cells, bones, liver, endocrine glands, reproductive organs, fat cells, and immune blood cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages. CB1 receptors are found primarily in the brain and CB2 receptors are located primarily in the immune cells, muscles, and organ tissues. THC has a high affinity for CB1 receptors, (located primarily in the brain) and a low affinity for CB2 receptors. CBD has a high affinity for the CB2 receptors (mainly in immune cells and peripheral aspects of the body) and a low affinity for the CB1 receptors in the brain. So, THC targets the brain primarily, producing more of the psychoactive responses, and CBD targets the immune cells and peripheral tissues of the body, providing more homeostatic and healing effects.
What is the difference between hemp and marijuana plants?
Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants;
the difference is the THC content. Hemp is any Cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana is any Cannabis plant containing more than 0.3% THC.
Some taxonomists feel that there are three or four species of Cannabis, others argue that they are subspecies or strains of one Cannabis plant. Regardless, the four species or subspecies are: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis afghanica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Hemp is generally considered to be a strain of Cannabis sativa. Marijuana can be any of the four species.
Is CBD legal? If the CBD comes from Hemp, it is legal. Until the recent passage of the Farm Act of 2018, the production, sale, and use of ANY product derived from ANY Cannabis plant, including hemp, was illegal in the US, (except for research purposes). The Farm Act of 2018 separated hemp from marijuana, established hemp as a legal agricultural crop under specific guidelines, and legalized the manufacture and sale of all CBD products derived from hemp. The Farm Act does NOT legalize the use or sale of marijuana. Despite the passage of state laws legalizing recreational and medicinal use (District of Columbia and 11 states) and 20 states passing laws regulating the use of medicinal cannabis, the use of marijuana is federally illegal.
Why is quality important?
From JAMA, November 2017 (authored by Vandrey at Johns Hopkins) “…only 26 of 84 samples of CBD oils, tinctures, and vaporization liquids purchased online contained the amount of CBD claimed on their labels. Eighteen of them had THC levels* possibly high enough to result in intoxication or impairment, especially among children. And a quarter had less CBD than advertised. Similarly, FDA testing has found several “CBD” products with no CBD at all.” *These products were being sold as CBD only. Unsafe products place you, your child, or your pet at risk. Dogs and cats are very susceptible to the psychoactive effects of THC. In companion pets, THC consumption is usually not lethal, but the effects in their bodies are physically taxing, as well as being expensive to treat.
Does CBD help medical conditions in humans, dogs, or cats? The final answer—we do not know. Preclinical CBD trials appear to support potential therapeutic effects in chronic pain, inflammation, cancer, sei-
zure disorders, anxiety disorders (psychosis, depression, PTSD), cardiovascular diseases and neurodegeneration, either CBD alone or with THC. The current use of CBD and THC products are based entirely on experimental and anecdotal reports. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (National Library of Medicine) lists 25,606 Cannabisrelated papers and show 11,135 funded by National Institute of Health grants. There are three FDA approved drugs containing THC and one with CBD. The recently approved CBD medication, Epidiolex, is prescribed for refractory pediatric seizure disorders in humans. In dogs, a recent clinical trial appears to support the use of CBD for canine osteoarthritis. Further tests are necessary to determine medical indications, dosages, and safety.
Is CBD safe? Are there any side effects? The findings of a 2017 study of cannabidiol users by the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence found neither abuse nor dependence of CBD. In humans, the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea, and changes in appetite/weight. When compared to other drugs used for the same medical conditions, CBD has a better side effect profile. In a small study of 30 dogs, all 30 dogs showed mild to moderate signs of diarrhea and salivation. To avoid these side effects, I advise owners to increase the dosage to the therapeutic level gradually. In the Winter 2020 issue of Dog’Cruces, Dr. Craig will continue this discussion about CBD by outlining ways to identify products that are accurately labeled, safe, AND effective for you and your companion animals. Delores T. Craig, DVM, is an instructor and President-elect of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).
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Just What I Needed by Jamie Baker
I
recently found myself thinking “isn’t it funny how sometimes you find yourself treasuring the thing you thought you did not want?”
Seven years ago, I found myself searching for a particular breed of dog—and not only the breed, but the gender and color, as well. I had my mind set on a fawn, female boxer. I ended up with a brindle, male boxer. What began as a mission to find what my mind wanted ended in finding what my heart needed. Bentley was born on October 10th, 2011. He was the largest of eight puppies and was also quite distinguished with a white “M” on his bottom. After holding him for a little while, I knew he was the one for me. My mother gave me a sideways look and asked, “Are you sure? I thought you wanted a fawn female?” My response was simple and sweet, “I know, but I want him.” Bentley arrived home two weeks later and immediately peed on the living room floor, as if to say, “I have arrived, and I claim this home as my own.” I soon discovered he had tapeworms (despite the breeder having assured me he had been properly wormed) and found myself cleaning up a lot of potty messes and remnants of worms during his first few weeks home. Because of this, Bentley was underweight and had trouble keeping warm during his first Michigan November. He grew to be a very sweet and obedient dog who enjoyed nothing more than to explore outside, play with his mom, and end his day under a soft blanket. He loved taking trips to look at cats at the pet store. He loved spending time in the water, be it a lake or simply the kiddie pool in our backyard. He was very proud to protect his mom from the invasive squirrels that dared to enter his turf. When Bentley was a year and half old, I decided to finally get that fawn female boxer I had originally set out to find. Bentley seemed lonely while I was away, and I thought he would like to have a companion. Boy was I wrong! Sophia arrived in March 2013, and Bentley was less than impressed to have a little sister! She was the total opposite of him—boundless energy, mischievous, and rather naughty most of the time.
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Sophia bonded with Bentley immediately, but Bentley did not return her feelings. I could tell he questioned my decision to bring her home every time he looked at me from the corner of his eye, as if he was saying “Mom! What is this? What did you do?” Over time Bentley did grow to love Sophia, and he definitely seemed less lonely. They enjoyed many hours of playing in the yard and exploring the world with me.
In 2017, I decided to move with the dogs to Las Cruces. I came here looking to improve my life and to make myself more financially stable. I hoped that my dogs would enjoy our new environment and all the new places to explore. Upon visiting White Sands National Monument, we all fell in love. We spent many afternoons exploring the dunes together and made it a point to take our visitors there. Bentley was very glad to have lots of sunny days to lounge in his pool, and Sophia loves to hunt for new creatures in her backyard. Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. In August of 2018, Bentley began to lose weight and experience some other digestive issues. After several visits to the vet and multiple tests, we determined that Bentley’s pancreas was diseased. As his health declined, I found myself focusing on what I was losing instead of what I was so lucky to have found. My mind drifted towards a future without my special boy and away from the wonderful moments I had with him. Sophia seemed to also recognize that her time with Bentley was limited; she became more calm and patient with him in his final months. On January 3rd, 2019, with me by his side, Bentley was humanely euthanized. My heart broke into a billion pieces in that moment, and making that decision was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I would have given anything to be able to tell Bentley what was happening and why we had to say goodbye. In my mind, he deserved to understand what was happening to him, and a part of me wanted his permission to end his life. I knew that putting his needs before my own would be necessary when it came time to say our final goodbye, I just never thought it would be so soon. Finding Bentley was the best thing that could have happened to me, and he taught me many lessons throughout our short time together. Because of him, I am more open-minded and willing to try something new—even if it wasn’t what I set out looking for. He taught me to love myself and others without getting caught up in life’s “small things.” Maybe most importantly, I learned to take advantage of every moment and to live for the present, as the future is never guaranteed. I hope to apply the wisdom I gained from Bentley throughout every aspect of my life and, hopefully, be able to influence others along the way. Sophia and I now spend our days enjoying the sunshine and exploring what New Mexico has to offer, always with Bentley in our hearts.
Our Dog Chose Us by Denise Ojinaga
I
t had been almost two years to the day since snuggle. Menudo likes to stand on my husband’s we had lost our beautiful lab mix, Isabella, chest making the funniest, happiest dog face in to a rare autoimmune disease. I remember it the world. His mouth is open wide and his tongue was a Saturday morning, and my husband was in sticks out. He kind of looks like Odie from the the backyard getting ready for our daughter’s first Garfield comics. It’s a daily tradition for them. birthday party. He came inside and said, “Hey, go Then, after they’ve snuggled for about a good half look outside in the back.” So I grabbed my daugh- hour, Menudo follows me around the house. We ter and our two boys and went outside. My oldest end our days watching a bit of TV with Menudo, son screamed, “Mom! It’s a puppy!” I had no idea who sometimes will actually watch the show or how he got into our yard. It is gated, and we live commercials if there’s a dog or cat on screen. in a gated community. He was cute, a small boy who looked terrified and It’s hard to remember what nervous. I went inside to days were like before him, It’s funny, because right before get him some water. I didn’t between the time we lost know it then, but that’s the Menudo came to us, I had been telling our Isabella and before day our lives changed. found us. He’s my husband how empty it felt without Menudo such a loveable dog. My The puppy looked to be a dog. We had our cat Calvin ... but a mother-in-law loves him, about 10-11 months to and my parents love him dog is a different kind of love. me—almost fully grown, sooooo much that they keep but a little guy. He didn’t a basket of toys and treats have a collar, and he had at their house—and they don’t even have a dog not been neutered. I took his picture and posted it of their own! My sister’s dog is not only his cousin, all over social media. You might even have seen but his best friend. They just adore each other and it! We borrowed a crate and kept him in the house play for hours on end. My husband laughs because until we could check him for a microchip. He didn’t he says Menudo thinks he’s a little kid. He does. have one. We filed a “found” report with ASCMV and waited. Not one person claimed or inquired It’s funny, because right before Menudo came to about him. After the three days were up (after us, I had been telling my husband how empty it which, animals at ASCMV are eligible for adoption felt without a dog. We had our cat Calvin, who I or euthanasia), we had to decide what to do. I just love to pieces, but a dog is a different kind of didn’t want to relinquish him. In those three days, love. Every time I’d go into Better Life Pet Foods, our family had already become attached to him. I’d fall in love with every single dog there. At the My husband even started calling him Menudo. park, even just driving, it felt like everyone had a That’s just what I needed to seal the deal. dog in their car but us. We had decided we wanted to find a small dog, but not a young puppy. We This July 6th marked two years since Menudo looked occasionally online, and we went to visit found us. He’s a good, happy, friendly dog. He’s a few rescues, but as much as I wanted every dog a Chihuahua/Pug mix with tan fur, black around I saw, none felt like the perfect fit. So we waited his muzzle, a curly tail and an unmistakable under- patiently. We knew that when we found the right bite. His mouth mimics the grill of a P.T. Cruiser, so one, we’d just know. we also started calling him Peety. Hilariously, both Well, it turns out we never did find the dog we names fit him, and he answers to both. He’s very were searching for. That’s because he found us. close to all members of our family. He sleeps half Somehow, on that July 6, 2017, from wherever the night with my husband and me, and the other he came, Menudo got into our gated community. half with our oldest son. He loves toys so much He walked from house to house to house and that, most days, he makes a bigger mess in the house than our kids do! We take him on road trips, miraculously came to ours. We don’t even live near the entrance or exit gate. It’s as if there was visits to family in town, to the park, and almost a beacon shining only on our home that morning, everywhere we can. and it guided him into our gated backyard. Like I know everyone says this about their dog, but he’s he expected my husband to be out in the early almost perfect. He doesn’t chew on furniture or go morning working on our yard. As though he knew potty in the house. Even our cat loves him—and that we were his family and he was our dog. our cat only loves (some) humans. Every single day when my husband gets home, Menudo waits Because this is exactly where he was always for him to sit down on our couch so they can meant to be.
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Framed prints, beautiful pieces of art for Dog Lovers by Top Dog Photographer Ron Schmidt. At Pet Planet, 971 Sand Castle Ave., Las Cruces. 575-528-8180. PetPlanetComplex.com
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Fresh Breath Biscuits 2½ C Brown Rice Flour 1 Tbsp Fresh Mint (chopped) 2 Tbsp Carob Powder 2 Eggs 1 Overripe Banana ½ C Milk Powder 2 Tbsp Cold Water Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, blend the mint, banana, water, and eggs. Transfer mint mixture to a bowl, add in brown rice flour, carob powder, and dry milk powder until thoroughly blended. Knead dough until all ingredients are thoroughly distributed. Divide dough and roll out sections to a 1/4” thickness, between pieces of parchment paper or on a floured surface. Using cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until center of cookie is firm. Leaving cookies in the oven, turn off oven and allow cookies to completely cool.
NOTE: ALWAYS consult with your veterinarian regarding ingredients, serving sizes, and special dietary requirements prior to changing your pet’s diet.
Peach Gobbler 2½ C Brown Rice Flour 1 Peach/Nectarine (pitted & diced) 1 Egg 1 Tbsp Honey 1 Overripe Banana ½ C Milk Powder Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, crush the peach, banana, honey, and egg. Mixture will be slightly chunky. Transfer peach mixture to a bowl, add in brown rice flour and dry milk powder until thoroughly blended. Knead dough until all ingredients are thoroughly distributed. Divide dough and roll out sections to a 1/4” thickness, between pieces of parchment paper or on a floured surface. Using cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until center of cookie is firm. Leave cookies in the oven, turn off oven, and allow cookies to completely cool.
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Walter’s
Lunchbox
by Buliwyf Dubbin (as told to Margaret Dubbin)
Swimming & Camping & Peaches...Oh My!
W
hoa!!! Hard to believe that summer is already over! I don’t know about you, but my summer flew by like a flea caught in a New Mexico spring wind storm. Between the daily wrestling (aka. combat training) with Goober, barking with my neighbor doggie pals (Oliver and Mia), chasing those pesky miniature dragons (Dad calls them “lizards,” but I know better—they are vicious fire-breathing dragons without wings!), hourly patrols of the estate, a few camping trips, and hiding in Mom’s closet (aka. the comfort cave) from the late summer thunderstorms—just like that, summer is gone! As you might recall, Mom had tasked me with a job this summer—to teach my baby sister Goober how to swim. Well, at first it was a real challenge just to get her to put a single paw in the water. Once Mom put her PFD (Puppy Floatation Device) on, she decided that she could muster the courage to put her front two paws on the first step. From there, I had to demonstrate many, many, MANY times (she’s not exactly the brightest crayon, if you know what I mean) how to step down to the second step. Long story short—it took the entire summer for her to learn how to use the steps to get in and out of the pool on her own. As for the actual swimming part? Well…we’re still working on that. Maybe we’ll have better luck next year.
aid, and lunch. The hikes were moderate to difficult, but there were few people on the trails and the weather and views were just amazing and well worth the strenuous hike. The fishing was also spectacular, at least for Dad—he caught enough trout for all of us to enjoy every evening. Which turned out to be a good thing for me, ‘coz Mom grossly miscalculated how much kibble to pack for us pups, and we ended up running out of kibble halfway through our trip! Mom cooked up her Campfire Trout recipe (that we shared here in a previous article) but just as we learned last summer, Goober HATES trout and she absolutely refused to eat it or anything touching it. So, I ended up getting extra trout for breakfast, too! Yay, me! Mom, however, felt super guilty and ended up fixing Goober special meals of potatoes, carrots, green beans, and leftover steak, pork cutlets, and chicken tenders while also supplementing with extra Walter’s Lunchbox dog treats. Can you say, “one spoilt baby?” This summer, Goober and I also learned about peaches and nectarines. When Mom got some fresh ones a few times during the summer, she cut and pitted some for us. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of the tangy, squishy-firm, orange-ish fruits…but after a moment I learned just how tasty they are! Goober—picky little bitch that she is—refused to eat them just like she refused to eat the trout! She’s clearly a meat-and-potatoes kind of dog; but that just means more treats for me! Yay!
Over the summer Mom and Dad took us on a week-long camping, hiking, and fishing adventure. It also happened to be their 20th wedding anniversary. We had a great campsite along a creek at Rio Costilla Park, waaaaaay up in northern NM. We hiked up above the tree line to seven of the high elevation lakes and trudged through some of the lingering snow. Goober can’t swim and won’t eat trout. Goober and I wore So why did we even bring her? our bear bells and carried our own gear in our day packs (with water, scooby snacks, first aid kit, and poop bags); while Mom and Dad packed the fishing tackle, more water, first
While I’m saddened that my summer swimming time is coming to an end, I’m super thrilled that the cooler weather means I get to spend more time running around outside without my cooling vest or burning my paws on hot pavement, etc. I’m looking forward to the cooler evenings at Yappy Hour. I hope to see you there! And I also hope that you and your pups enjoy these two new recipes Mom and I created.
Kat ’s Korner
by Kat Lacy
“Grain-Free is Bad?” Since When? In July 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine announced it is investigating a potential connection between a specific form of heart disease (DCM) in dogs and cats and the food they eat. They have issued no recalls at this time, and they are not recommending anybody change their pets’ diets based on their findings to date, but their report does mention that many of the affected pets had been eating a predominately grain-free diet.
T
here are approximately 89.7 million dogs in the United States. A shocking 50 million of them are obese. The percentage of dogs with diabetes has increased threefold in the last 30 years. Canine allergies have practically reached epidemic proportions, affecting almost half of all dogs. What do these statistics have to do with the FDA’s investigation of grain-free diets in relation to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs? Well, everything. Probably 30 to 40 percent of dogs in the US are on grain-free diets—maybe about 35 million dogs. Between January 2014 and April 2019, only 517 total cases of DCM were reported to the FDA* and all but seven were reported after the FDA released its initial report (in July 2018). Although the FDA states they examined product labels of the foods these dog ate, nowhere do they state whether the dogs were obese, had other underlying medical conditions, or if their blood taurine levels where low. So just how valuable is the data they collected, really? “Based on the data collected and analyzed thus far, the agency believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.1”
Multiple factors—not just type or brand of food. So why has there been so much attention focused on this new anti-grain-free movement? Especially since there are so many more problems with dogs that should be addressed first? The three veterinarians responsible for the DCM scare are financially linked to big corporate pet food companies whose focus is on grain-based pet foods: Mars, Nestle-Purina, and Hill’s. Wouldn’t they stand to gain financially if grain-free diets dropped in popularity?
The same sources responsible for the DCM scare also put out information that rawingredient-based pet foods pose a great public health danger—yet people buy raw food from the grocery store butcher all the time, with few issues. I think we all know how to handle raw foods safely. Veterinarian associations have also implied that grain-free foods are just a fad, and that “boutique” foods are suspect. This is absurd. Over the past 10 to 15 years grain-free foods have helped millions of dogs to control yeasty skin, allergies, digestive issues, and much more. The so-called “boutique” foods—referencing those featuring exotic meats—came about for a very specific reason: to combat food allergies. These exotic meats have been used in science-based “prescription formulas” for many years, so blaming them now is unfounded. Maybe we should all concentrate on the most prevalent dog and cat health issues, including obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and respiratory problems. Many studies show you can add years to your pets’ lives by adding raw, fresh foods to their regular diet. If you are concerned about your dog’s diet, you can add supplements that include taurine, methionine, and cysteine which come from eggs, meat, and fish. DCM is very rare. It is a very serious disease— but it is extremely rare. So rare that fewer than 1 in 100,000 dogs will be diagnosed with diet-related DCM. If the effort that has gone into this unsubstantiated, grain-free DCM scare were to be put into real concerns about dogs’ health disorders, such as those listed above, maybe many more dogs would live healthier, longer lives. Kat Lacy is the owner of Better Life Natural Pet Foods.
By contrast, there were 600 deaths and over 5000 adverse reactions reported to the FDA in less than four years from ProHeart 6 (moxidectin). Yet the FDA announced the approval of Pro Heart 12 shortly after their DCM report was released.
*
www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilatedcardiomyopathy
1
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Make a Difference
151 S. Solano, Ste. E • Las Cruces, NM 88001
575.527.3465
vic@fetchingd.com
Adopt, Foster, Volunteer, Donate
L
ocal Animal Organizations always need good people to help them meet their goals. Contact the groups below to see which one(s) would be the best fit for you!
Humane Society of Southern NM (HSSNM) /PetSmart Cat Adoption Center 575-523-8020 email: mail@hssnm.org www.hssnm.org
2 Hearts 4 Paws Refuge 575-642-9614 or 575-642-6589 email: twohearts4pawsrefuge@yahoo.com www.2Hearts4PawsRefuge.com
Las Cruces Dog Park Coalition PO Box 13345, Las Cruces, NM 88013 575-520-4382 www.LCDogParkers.com
ACTion Programs for Animals (APA) /Doña Ana Pets Alive! (DAPA) 800 West Picacho, Las Cruces, NM 575-644-0505 or 575-571-4654 email: mail@apalascruces.org www.ActionProgramsForAnimals.org
Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary (SHAS) 575-805-5338 email: info@SHASpets.com www.SHASpets.com
Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV) 3551 Bataan Memorial West, Las Cruces, NM 575-382-0018 www.las-cruces.org/departments/ascmv Broken Promises SW 575-680-1955 or 575-915-7985 www.facebook.com/HelpKittenArthur Cat’s Meow Adoption Center 2211 N. Mesquite, Las Cruces 640-0011 or 639-3036 www.TheCatsMeowLasCruces.com
Spay/Neuter Action Program of Southern NM (SNAP) 2405 W. Picacho, Las Cruces, NM 88005 575-524-9265 www.SnapNewMexico.org Therapaws 575-524-2026 email: therapaws@gmail.com www.TherapyDogs.com (parent organization) Uncaged Paws, Inc. Tails from the Shelter 575-323-1157 email: SavingLives@UncagedPaws.org www.TailsFromTheShelter.org (rescue work) Facebook: facebook.com/TailsFlights
Cherished K9 All Breed Rescue 575-496-6085 email: cherishedk-9s@hotmail.com www.CherishedK-9.com Coalition for Pets and People (Zero in 7) 575-386-9212 www.ZeroIn7.org Deming Animal Guardians 575-544-2209 www.DemingAnimalGuardians.org Deming Animal Guardians Sunshine Haven Intake Project & Rescue 575-545-8862 www.DagShipRescue.com
YOU NEED IT? YOU WANT IT?
WE GOT IT!
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vic@fetchingd.com
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Doña Ana County Humane Society (DACHS) 575-647-4808 www.DACHSLC.org Forever Homes Animal Rescue email: foreverhomesar@aol.com Facebook: NM Forever Homes Animal Rescue
Kathy Lawitz, DACHS Executive Director for the past 10 years, is moving to Bakersfield, CA. A genuine “Super Volunteer,” Kathy has lent her time, talent, and experience to many local organizations—both human and animal-focused. She can never be truly replaced and will be missed throughout our community. Dog’Cruces thanks Kathy for her tireless service and wishes her the best in all future endeavors.
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