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FURRY HEROES AMONG US Competition ranks top dog PUBLISHER/EDITOR
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WORLD RECORD PET PARADE San Diego takes the prize
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Casey Dean
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
TURTLE POWER: Meet Crash the tortoise who survived PAGE 14
Claire Harlin Kai Oliver-Kurtin Kendra Hartmann Martin Jones Westlin Sindi Somers
DOGGY REHAB: How physical therapy changes one dog’s life PAGE 16
CAT CARE ON A BUDGET Thrifty tips for feline families
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Patrick Ivison rides the waves with "Rip Curl Ricki" steering from the back. Photo by Robert Ochoa
GUEST WRITERS Dr. Stefanie Schwartz Vladislav Roytape
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Casey Dean Alison Giese
CARTOONIST Barbara Fuscsick Puppy Paws Productions www.puppypawsproductions.com
ADVERTISING Casey Dean Casey@sandiegopetsmagazine.com (619) 573-5615
Marjorie “Kirby” mkirbykirby@gmail.com (858) 775-4432 San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. No part of this publication may be duplicated or reprinted without express consent from the publisher. Editors reserve the right to edit all content. Submissions are welcome, and may be edited for content and clarity. Please forward all unsolicited material to the editor. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to approve or accept advertising orders and content. All contents are copyrighted 2011. All rights reserved.
/SanDiegoPets San Diego Pets Magazine P.O. BOX 601081 San Diego, Ca 92160-1081 (619) 573-5615
FACEBOOK PHOTO CONTEST! Post photos of how you are spending your summer with your pet(s) on our Facebook wall. Those that can get over 100 “likes” will be published in the September issue. Start by going to www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPets.
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Please tag your submission(s) with, “#CONTEST.”
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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Ricochet
a story of bouncing back B y K E N D R A H A RT M A N N SAN DIEGO PETS Ricochet takes every chance to raise money for her various charities. The Association of Amputee Surfers, Wheels 2 Water, Surfers for Autism, Chase Away K9 Cancer and the Helen Woodward Animal Center are just a few of the causes that Ricochet supports with her fundraising efforts, and to date she has raised Photo by Robert Ochoa more than $100,000.
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urf dog Ricochet of viral video fame, has become something of a household name among Southern Californians. Her Youtube video has received almost 3.5 million hits, more than 40,000 people have “liked” her Facebook page and more than 6,000 people are following her on Twitter. Ricochet’s popularity is effective, too. She’s raised more than $100,000 for myriad charities in her short life, benefiting every cause from amputee surfers to canine cancer. This run of success, however, wasn’t always the case for the 3-year-old golden retriever. Born into the Puppy Prodigies Neo-natal and Early Learning Program, Ricochet was groomed from birth to help humans with disabilities as a service dog. She excelled in her training, quickly catching on to the various tasks assigned her, such as pulling open cabinet and refrigerator doors, turning light switches on and off and carrying items gently in her mouth. As Ricochet grew older, however, her penchant for chasing birds increased. She found she loved running wildly through fields, bounding after smaller creatures. The activity, while a blast for Ricochet, was obviously not ideal for a service dog charged with the duty of helping a disabled person complete day-to-day tasks. Judy Fridono, owner of Ricochet and founder of the Puppy Prodigies program, was understandably disappointed when she realized Ricochet would never live up to Fridono’s expectations, and that Ricochet’s life likely wouldn’t be as meaningful as it would if she were able to help out a person in need. Instead of relegating Ricochet to “regular” dog activities, however – sit, beg, fetch – Fridono decided to use the skills Ricochet had learned as a service dog for something more interesting: surfing. 4
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
As it turns out, Ricochet wasn’t half bad on a surfboard. When she was 15 months old, she was invited to participate in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge surf competition — and took home third place. “I remember being on the beach and seeing how well she surfed, and I thought ‘wow, she’s actually good at something,’” Fridono said. “I was finally proud of her instead of being frustrated with her. Then I started thinking, ‘okay, what can this dog do to still make a difference?’” And make a difference she did. Since honing her ability to ride the waves, “Rip Curl Ricki” has lent her skill to a number of charitable causes. Her first foray into benevoJudy Fridono, owner of Ricochet and founder of the Puppy Prodigies program lent surfing was with Patrick Ivison, a then-15-year-old quadriplegic surfer. Ivison, who has a spinal cord injury from being hit by a car when he was 14 months old, knew Fridono from her work at Paws’itive Teams, a non-profit that provides service and therapy dogs. Fridono suggested Ivison and Ricochet surf side-by-side, imagining it would be a good photo opp. Ivison agreed, thinking at most it would be make for a fun day in the surf and perhaps beget a “cool Facebook picture.” What happened when the two went out, however, surprised everyone. Ivison, an adaptive surfer since he was 8 who has a number of sponsors and participates in surfing competitions, was not necessarily looking for a surf partner. He and Ricochet
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This whole journey is one of just living life, not trying to control it,”
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Five years ago, when volunteering with a group that trained dogs to become service animals, trainer Judy Fridono started thinking about why so many dogs didn’t make it through the training program. Some of them would develop issues as they grew, things like not wanting to walk over a particular surface — issues that could make or break their chances of being a successful service dog. Fridono started doing some research, and discovered that during the first seven weeks of life, certain stimulation could alter the eventual behavior of the dog.
In addition to her human-helping feats, Ricochet also takes her skill into competition. She won the tandem division at the 2010 Loews Surf Dog Competition, came in second at the 2009 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon and took third place at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in both 2009 and 2010, and second place at this year’s event. Photo by Casey Dean
headed out into the surf, both catching a wave. When he started to roll off his board — his standard method for disembarking — as he neared the shore, however, Ricochet jumped on his back and “steered” the board. “You could see a light bulb go off in everyone’s head,” Ivison said. “It was absolutely incredible.” Someone grabbed a bigger board, and Ivison and Ricochet went back out, this time with the intention of a tandem ride. Ricochet, Ivison said, steered the board and used her weight to counterbalance him when she felt they would tip over. “She was a different dog that day,” Fridono said. “She was so happy, she ran back in the water every time and didn’t want to do anything but ride another wave with Patrick. It was like
she was reborn in the water that day and has never been the same since. It was a pivotal moment for all of us.” Eventually, Fridono and Ivison figured they could use the activity as a fundraiser. The first fundraising event the pair did together, Ricochet raised $10,000 for Ivison and was able to secure a grant from WebMD Health Foundation to pay for three years of Ivison’s physical therapy at Project Walk, an intense physical therapy program. The cost of Project Walk, which is not covered by insurance, is about $30,000 per year, and the grant will cover Ivison for the remainder of his high school years. Ivison, who calls the program “absolutely mindblowing,” said he was thin and had no muscle mass
SEE RICOCHET, Page 6
“I was looking at these adult dogs and what issues they had, and I thought, ‘we can change that,’” she said. “I wanted to work with puppies to improve the success rate of service dogs.” Fridono got in touch with breeders who were breeding dogs for the purpose of becoming service animals, and started working with the puppies from the moment of birth. Puppies that displayed certain behaviors were worked with and, at such a young age, the issues were usually able to be altered with gentle stimulation. One two-day-old puppy, she said, didn’t like to be touched. Fridono started gently caressing the dog whenever it was nursing time, so that the puppy would associate good feelings — a full belly — with human touch. Within two days, she said, the puppy didn’t mind being pet one bit. “The idea was to hopefully decrease the issues even regular pet owners might encounter,” she said. “That, in turn, would hopefully decrease the number of dogs going to shelters.” The attention Ricochet receives has allowed Fridono to take the program in a slightly different direction. She has worked with rescue groups and shelters to show them what kind of techniques they can use when they receive puppies to help them become desirable pets. For more information, visit www.puppyprodigies.org.
Patrick Ivison surfing with Ricochet. Photo by Robert Ochoa
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when he started therapy there at 10 years old. Now, he said, he’s about 90 percent independent, can transfer himself to and from his chair and just got his driver’s license. He even reached a major milestone recently — standing up on his own. From her experience helping Ivison, nothing has been able to stand in Ricochet’s way. She’s surfed with numerous other disabled surfers, from 6-year-old Ian McFarland who suffered a brain injury in a car accident to amputee Julie Carruthers, also known as “Onelegged Jo,” to Sabine Becker, who was born without functioning arms as a result of the drug thalidomide (now known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy). “The fundraising just took on a life of its own,” Fridono said. “At first we mostly focused on people with disabilities because of her background as a service dog, then we went with adap-
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Ricochet’s next event will be on Aug. 13 in Huntington Beach with AmpSurf, for which she is Courtesy Photo an ambassador.
tive surfing and now we do almost everything—animal causes, rescues and shelters, canine cancer, you name it. “We don’t really plan things — they just transpire,” she said. “We just wait for opportunities. I don’t make a lot of plans for her, but just let happen what happens.” Ricochet met her goal to reach $100,000 by Aug. 20 – two years exactly since her first wave-riding adventure with Ivison. In celebration of the anniversary, the two plan to go out and
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
recreate their first ride together. In the end, Fridono hopes Ricochet’s story will be one of adaptation and acceptance. “This whole journey is one of just living life, not trying to control it,” she said. “The message we hope to get out to people is that they can let their dog be who they are, and it speaks to anyone, if they have expectations of their children or someone else. Just letting them be what and who they want to be might, in the end, turn out to be better than what you expected.”
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Canine heroes of San Diego B y K E N D R A H A RT M A N N | S A N D I E G O P E T S
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ogs definitely live the good life here in San Diego. People pamper their pets to the extreme, as evidenced by the numerous dogfriendly hotels, canine beauty shops and pup-geared events like dog surfing competitions and fashion shows. Who knew, however, that San Diego is also a haven for the most upstanding and virtuous of our canine counterparts? This city, it turns out, has plenty of dog heroes. To celebrate the furry heroes among us, the American Humane Association kicked off the first ever National Hero Dog Awards this summer, with dogs from all over the country competing against each other to see who is the most heroic. Sponsored by Cesar Canine Cuisine, the competition has eight categories ranging from service and therapy dogs to law enforcement and search and rescue dogs to emerging heroes — even military dogs are being given the chance to show what they’re made of. Anyone can vote for a dog, and they can vote every 24 hours. For every vote, Cesar Canine Cuisine will make a donation to the American Humane Association to provide animal assistance therapy dogs to people in need. The winners from each category will go on to compete for top dog honors in Hollywood at a star-studded awards show on Oct. 1.
Here in San Diego, three dogs stand out as heavyweight contenders in the challenge. Here are their stories:
Borias Borias, a German shepherd, is one of the most lovable service dogs around. For 10 years, he and Tamandra Michaels have been inseparable. Michaels, born with Spina Bifida, is bound to a wheelchair and trained Borias herself from when he was eight weeks old. A quick learner, he caught on to everything she taught him “lightning fast.”
Borias, a German shepherd, is one of the most lovable service dogs around. For 10 years, he and TamanCourtesy photo dra Michaels have been inseparable.
“He’s wickedly smart,” she said. Michaels could see from day one that Borias would bring a lot of joy to her life. “From early on, it was quite evident that he had an abundance of personality,” she said. “Very much a clown and perpetually gleeful, his antics are entertaining to everyone around us, and I especially find it endearing.” Borias — named after a heroic character on “Xena Warrior Princess” — has provided much more than entertainment for Michaels. He accompanies her everywhere and helps her to live a full life, even under stress. When Michaels had a life-threatening kidney
Borias as a pup.
Courtesy photo
infection, Borias rode on the gurney with her, providing companionship and strength in a tense situation. Borias has even gotten political: he has march for equal rights for the LGBT
SEE HERO, Page 12
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August brings the Dog Days and a very short history of their name
B y M A RT I N J O N E S W E S T L I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S
U
nder the best conditions, we can see about 8,000 stars with the naked eye—but it's also easy to forget that we don't really see them when we see them (stay with me here). They appear to us only as their journey through space aligns with ours; that twinkly little pinpoint has moved on at the speed of light (186,000 miles a second) by the time it shows up over our backyards. The same thing has been happening with our mother star since the dawn of prehistory—that knockout sunset on the horizon actually took place about eight minutes before its light got to us. The concept might be a little tricky, but it's a cinch it fuels your interest in the sky and, by extension, the animal kingdom. Bears, cranes, lions, snakes, fish, scorpions and even dragons streak through space along with us, in the form of 88 constellations, or starpictures we've configured to keep us company. You've seen lots of these before, whether you know it or not— but this season is significant for one in particular. The group Canis Major (“greater dog” to you and me) may actually be in another locale when we see it, but to hear the ancients tell it, summer wouldn't be summer without it. 8
Canis Major—particularly the star Sirius, the brightest object in the summer night sky and said to represent the dog's nose—was at its most prominent during ancient Rome's “dog days” (diēs caniculārēs), so called because the Romans thought that even a dog would be crazy to try to brave the oppressive heat (there's some practical truth to that, because dogs don't sweat). Old Roman calendars mark the period as running from July 24 through August 24; other sources cite the dates from early July to mid-September.
'. . .burning fevers, hysterics and phrensies' The Romans characterized the dog days as a time of evil, when, according to John Brady's Clavis Calendarium of 1813, “the seas boiled, wine turned sour, Quinto [a god of the inferno] raged in anger. . . and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics and phrensies." They sacrificed wheat, barley and even puppies in an attempt to stave the heat and Sirius' outrage over man; meanwhile, they idolized their dogs as pets in a show of submission to the “dog star.” Julius Caesar once wrote an admonition to ancient Roman moms, chastising
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Author and speaker Jon Katz.
them for displaying greater affection for their dogs than for their kids. Fast-forward about 22 centuries, where noted author and speaker Jon Katz, a suburban mystery writer and former CBS Morning News producer who hosts a public radio show on dogs and has written six books on dogs, animals and rural life (he and his border collies run Bedlam Farm in upper New York state), puts the idol worship in perspective. “We give [dogs] too much credit,” he said, “make them too complex, muddying our communications" by treating them as soulmates rather than understanding and respecting their animal nature. “Sometimes, when we love dogs, we approach the outer boundaries of what's rational or sane.”
Dogs don't sue each other As it happens, one of Katz's titles is Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm, in which he writes of the border collie Orson, put down years before due to behavioral problems. Orson, he said prior to the book's publication, had taught him whose behavior was the worse in their sometimes rocky relationship. The incident began with Katz's frustration over his efforts to train Orson in a particular task, when a friend said, “Look, Katz—if you want to have a better dog, you're just going to have to be a better human.” From that point, Katz's bond with dogs was unbreakable, fueled by a new respect for the dog's place in nature. “I think it's almost arrogant,” he said, “to make them into little people. Actually, what I love most about these dogs is that they're not people. They don't go on cable talk shows and scream at each other. They don't sue each other. They really live by food, attention and weather.” And “the weather,” as we now know, is regulated by the earth's tilt, not Sirius. Not only that: Sirius is losing some of its prominence as the Milky Way's internal forces displace certain stellar views. But it's still impossibly bright (the Romans, in fact, thought of it as a second sun)-more important, it's a central figure in the breadth of man's imagination and in his abiding esteem for the animal world. Stars may come and go, but the dog's place is as enduring as the earth below them.
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Yap-Shots
Show & tell time, send us your photos with a caption to be featured on these pages. E-mail to: MyPet@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com
PETCO and the San Diego Padres Set World Record at "Dog Days of Summer" Event PETCO and the San Diego Padres are excited to announce they have set a Guinness World Record for most dogs in a pet costume parade. Guinness World Record officials were at PETCO Park's annual "Dog Days of Summer" event, along with 337 historymaking dogs, to verify that the world record was set. The record setting took place during the Wednesday, July 27 game as the San Diego Padres took on the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It has been an amazing record attempt 10
and I'm happy to say it was successful," said Freddie Hoff, adjudicator for Guinness World Records. "The 337 dogs in the costume parade was way above the set amount and on behalf of Guinness World Records, I'd like to say congratulations." "At PETCO we are passionate about having dogs active in all aspects of our life and thanks to our partnership with the San Diego Padres, this includes inviting hundreds of dogs out to the ballpark every year," says Greg Seremetis, Vice President of Mar-
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
keting for PETCO. "We were happy to sponsor tickets for two pet parents per dog in hopes of getting the community rallied behind the Guinness World Record attempt and we are thankful to all who participated." In the spirit of PETCO's commitment to "Think Adoption First," a local PETCO adoption partner was in attendance to educate the public on the importance of pet adoption and help find pets a loving home. For more information, please visit www.petco.com/petcopark.
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FEATURE daughter. The family gladly agreed, and Danie suddenly had not only a job, but a name to live up to. Medhurst said she hopes Danie can honor Van Dam’s memory by helping other families who have missing loved ones. “When you find someone that’s deceased, it can be really tough,” Medhurst said. “But knowing you’re helping the family get closure makes it worth it.” Apart from his searching day job, Danie also visits area schools to teach children about safety. “He’s so good with kids,” Medhurst said. “It makes me feel like we’re doing something positive in Danielle’s memory.”
Ricochet
A search-and-rescue dog for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Danie was named after Courtesy photo Danielle Van Dam, a 7-year-old San Diego girl that went missing in 2002.
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community and is a local hero at rallies. Michaels said she and Borias have a “profoundly deep bond,” and with his boisterous personality, he is a magnet for people who might otherwise avoid a person in a wheelchair. “I’m a believer in allowing a dog to be who they are,” Michaels said. “Obviously good manners are important, but I don’t want a furry slave. I want a dog that wants to help me, and thinks for themselves. And Borias is really a freethinking dog!” 12
Danie Danie, a 9-year-old beagle, is a hard working little dog. A search-and-rescue dog for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Danie was named after Danielle Van Dam, a 7-year-old San Diego girl that went missing in 2002. Van Dam’s body was found by a volunteer search-and-rescue team, of which Pam Medhurst was a part. Medhurst had recently started volunteering with the department and the case was one of her first. It so affected her that she approached Van Dam’s family later and asked if she could name her next search dog after their
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Surf dog Ricochet has been in the business of making a difference from day one. Bred to be a service dog, she excelled in her early training. As she got older, however, she exhibited signs that indicated she wouldn’t make the best animal to help a person in need — such as chasing birds. No matter though: Ricochet went on to become an Internet sensation with her video about surfing with people who have disabilities, like Patrick Ivison, who has a spinal cord injury, one-legged amputee Julie Carruthers and Ian McFarland, a 6-year-old boy with a brain injury. To date, she and owner Judy Fridono have raised over $100,000 for various charities. Ricochet even helped fellow competitor Borias’ owner Tamandra Michaels get top-ofthe-line wheelchair when the one she had been using was failing her. Initially, Ricochet was using her popularity to try to get votes for another dog in the competition. Patrick, a dog that had been starved and thrown down in the garbage, was rescued and made a miraculous recovery. Ricochet was helping to raise votes for Patrick until he had to be removed from the race for legal reasons. Ricochet plans to drop out of the competition after the first round and let the rest of the winners vie for top honors. “There’s just no comparison between Ricochet and dogs in the military,” Fridono said. “These dogs are fighting wars.” To vote for a nominee, go to www.herodogawards.org.
Behavior Bytes
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Stefanie Schwartz, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists California Veterinary Specialists Carlsbad, CA (760) 431-2273
Dear Dr. Schwartz, My 6 year old Dachshund Little Willie loves to dig in the yard. He is out there for at least an hour in the morning and again at night, with shorter outings in between. We have spent a lot of money in landscaping and he is ruining our lawn and flower bed. He gets very agitated and pants heavily and it can take him quite a while to calm down and cool off once he’s back in. Can you please help?
Dear Little Willie’s Mom, Dogs dig for a number of reasons. Burying bones or food for later use is common in many animals. Some dig a hole into the deeper layers of soil to make a cool spot for themselves; Nordic breeds dig a hole into the snow to keep warm and better protected from the wind. Dachshunds were born to dig, bred to dig to pursue their prey. Dachshund means ‘badger dog’; they are the only breed of dog to hunt underground to this degree. Badgers live in networks of dens deep underground and Dachsies were selectively bred to fit through those tunnels, digging along the way, and with the tenacity and aggression to confront an animal trapped in its den. Most dogs dig, Dachsies are just built for it with their deep, broad muscled chests and their oversized paddle-shaped front feet. Little Willie may look like an awkward sausage to some, but he is a lean, mean digging machine…if he has nothing else to do. Dogs need to get out of their bubble (your house and yard) and explore beyond it in the company of their pack. Left unattended with no other outlets for his intelligence and energy, your dog is simply entertaining himself by doing what comes naturally. From your
description, he is not happy to be out there all alone. However much you may enjoy your landscaping, he is socially isolated, alone, anxious and frustrated out there. Dogs can suffer heat stroke and become critically ill very fast when they have inadequate shade or cool water, and are stressing on top of it all. He is also an easy mark for coyotes on the hunt. Little Willie needs two long walks a day, starting with at least a 30 minute walk every morning. Walk him until he’s ready to have a nice long nap when you return, not just until you’ve had enough. Let him stay indoors where it’s cool and safe, after he’s enjoyed some quality time in your company during your walks. I’m sure that when his needs are met, he will be content to enjoy your garden…with you.
Dear Dr. Schwartz, My Ragdoll cat Esmerelda is 2 years old and is normally playful and affectionate. I’ve noticed that on really hot days she really does live up to the breed’s name. She just lies around and avoids being held if I try to pick her up. Sometimes I’ll find her in a dark closet or lying spread eagle on the tile floor. Is this normal?
Dear Esmerelda’s Dad, Ragdolls may have been more intentionally bred to tolerate human handling than are other feline breeds, but this doesn’t mean that they are literally ragdolls with no individuality or spunk. It is normal for animals, including us, to
feel sluggish on hot days. Higher ambient temperatures trigger our bodies into conservation mode, to maintain hydration and energy for emergency use only. It is also normal to feel less hungry, and to drink more. Esmerelda is not rejecting you; it’s really nothing personal. But on these dog days of summer (sorry, perhaps I should say cat days or the more generic pet days of summer?) cuddling means sharing body heat and she instinctively wants more ventilation and cooler resting places right now. This behavior is part of a survival mechanism that helps us to cope with environmental fluctuations. We see similar behavioral changes in response to fever, and for many of the same reasons. If Esmerelda’s lethargy rebounds when it is cooler, and she has no other signs of illness right now, then I would not worry. If, however, she doesn’t return to more normal behavior when temperatures fall or if she does indeed have a fever, please make an appointment for her evaluation by her primary care veterinarian without delay. Dr. Stefanie Schwartz is a board certified veterinary behaviorist based at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad, CA. She also sees patients at the Veterinary Neurology Center in Tustin, CA. For more information, please call (760) 431-2273 and visit www.californiaveterinaryspecialists.com and www.veterinarybehavior.org.
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THIS IS CRASH, a large tortoise who was found wandering the streets of La Jolla with a severely damaged shell. The shell was reparied with bone cement and then a layer of fiberglass Courtesy photo cloth was adhered with a fast-setting epoxy adhesive, seen left.
HEARTBREAKER had a small injury on his carapace, the upper section of his shell, so Dr. Jenkins patched it up with a small amount of epoxy. The staff then convinced Jenkins to "Bedazzle" him up a bit, a completely safe adornment. A rescue case from Animal Control, Heartbreaker is likely to end up living with a hospital staff member. Courtesy photo
Local doc sticks his neck out for tortoises By CLAIRE HARLIN | SAN DIEGO PETS It's not easy performing surgery on a tortoise. But it's a regular challenge for local exotic animal doctor Jeff Jenkins. Just like humans, tortoises are prone to bladder stones, or the backyarddwelling pets have also been known to eat foreign objects such as metal screws or wires, calling for an emergency surgical removal. It's also no rare occurrence for a tortoise crossing the road to get hit by a car and subsequently be brought by the city's animal control department to Jenkins' Mission Valley practice, Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital, located at 2317 Hotel Circle South Suite C. As was the case with Crash, a large tortoise who was found wandering the streets of La Jolla last October and brought to Jenkins with a severely damaged shell. "Someone had run into him and he had a huge gash that extended from the left rear leg up to the spine," said Jenkins, a 13-year resident of Univer-
sity City. "His lungs and intestines were exposed through the crack, and it made it very hard for him to breathe, just like a person whose lungs collapse." Jenkins and his team, including his wife and office manager, Lisa, cleaned the dirt out of the shell, drilled holes and surgically mended the shell with wires. But just like an egg that cracks, a turtle's shell may lose some pieces after a major injury. "The shell is only about as thick as your thumbnail," said Jenkins, "It has a quick underneath, like a nail." Jenkins covered Crash's cracked shell with bone cement and then applied a layer of fiberglass cloth, which he adhered with a fast-setting epoxy adhesive. Even after Crash was surgically put back together, a delicate process that calls for care and precision, the healing process was just beginning. Just as turtles are slow in nature,
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An injury that would take six weeks to heal for a mammal would take six months to heal for a tortoise.” Dr. Jeff Jenkins they also take more time to wake up from anesthesia — making surgical procedures riskier — and they take much more time to heal. "An injury that would take six weeks to heal for a mammal would take six months to heal for a tortoise," Jenkins said. After surgery, technicians at Jenkins' practice gave Crash pain medication for a week, and antibiotics and tube fed him for at least a month. It took 90 days of hospitalization before Crash was ready to leave the hospital. But there was still a problem. Crash's
Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AEAHSD. The hospital's website is www.drexotic.com. 14
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
REPTILES AG T ;T Left: Heartbreaker, the Texas tortoise, gets his smashed shell wired together like a jigsaw puzzle earlier this month at Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital. Middle: After wiring the shell and applying bone acrylic, Dr. Jenkins finishes a shell repair surgery with a durable piece of fiberglass and layer of epoxy adhesive. Right: Dr. Jenkins saws through the bottom shell of a 35-year-old California Desert Tortoise in order to remove a bladder stone measuring Courtesy photo more than four inches in diameter.
smooth shell was a sign that he was raised in captivity and once belonged to someone, but after more than a month of putting ads on Craiglist and checking with animal shelters, nobody came forward to claim the reptilian survivor. So the Jenkins, who already had a tortoise family of five at home, took Crash as their own. Crash joined other tortoises who Jenkins has "fixed" — Rose, who survived a pair of fist-sized bladder stone and a hysterectomy, and Johnny, who survived a run-in with a lawnmower. Jenkins has also saved a tortoise who consumed a landscaping flag. When brought in to the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital, Jenkins said the wire from the flag had begun to protrude through the turtle's body wall in front of its back leg. "They like to eat things that are brightcolored, so he must have thought it was a flower," said Jenkins. It's not uncommon to have to saw through a tortoise's shell to perform surgery and replace it after, using fiberglass and epoxy. Although the process is difficult, technology and equipment have evolved to the point that Jenkins is able to save more and more turtles' lives. "If you went back 20 years, surgery might have been the last resort," said Jenkins, whose practice will celebrate its 25-year anniversary this spring. "It was a scarier prognosis back then, but now it's become fairly routine for us. The chances of survival are really good these days."
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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Doggy Rehab B y K A I O L I V E R - K U RT I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S
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fter bringing their 8-week-old Rottweiler, Kuma, home from a breeder, Debora and Michael Stacker thought they’d spend the rest of their days chasing after their big, playful puppy. As luck would have it, about a year and half later the Stackers found themselves sleeping on the couch, taking care of Kuma after he underwent corrective surgery for Wobbler disease, caused by stenotic lesions in his neck. Still having trouble walking after surgery, the Stackers enlisted the help of Pet Physical Therapy of San Diego to help Kuma when his progress began to plateau. After just four weeks of physical therapy, Kuma now bolts into the clinic for his biweekly visits without requiring any assistance. Kuma is one of many dogs who has benefited from physical therapy after
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neurology, surgery or injury threatened their movement, and ultimately their quality of life. “In human medicine, physical therapy is almost automatic when scheduling surgery—the two are married,” said Lisa Draper, registered vascular technician and certified canine rehabilitation assistant. “Animals’ natural instinct is to bounce back, because if they’re weak then they’ll fall to prey.” “They will survive without physical therapy but will be enhanced with it,” said Draper. “They’ll prevent further injury, and recover quicker and better with rehab.” Pet Physical Therapy of San Diego offers rehabilitative and corrective exercises, acupuncture, stretching and massage, heat and cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, weight
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
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Kuma is one of many dogs who has benefited from physical therapy after neurology, surgery or Courtesy photo injury threatened their movement, and ultimately their quality of life.
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management and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. “Pet physical therapy is very similar to the human practice of using therapeutic exercises to rehab,” said Draper. “It’s a very rewarding experience for both me and the dogs. They really look forward to the interaction and exercise—just like they came to play.” Draper has been in the veterinary field for 20 years. After the last few years as a surgery technician, she saw how much animals could benefit from the rehabilitative process during their recovery, and decided to focus more closely on physical therapy. “Kuma is one of our success stories,” said Draper. “In May he was carried in on a stretcher and couldn’t stand or walk, but we used a swing to hoist him up and get him going on the underwater treadmill. Now he runs into the office.” In January, Kuma wouldn’t walk down stairs or exit cars on his own. After a hike with his owners, the instability of his back legs was exposed. The lesions in Kuma’s neck were pinching nerves that would never correct themselves naturally. Steroids provided temporary relief but he would have to
become dependent on them for the duration of his life. After deciding on surgery, the Stackers had a hard time watching Kuma lay around motionless; having to carry him outside for bathroom breaks and provide 24-hour supervision. Today he is a new dog. “Kuma has blossomed,” said Debora Stacker. “He wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for Pet Physical Therapy of San Diego. They’ve given us very valuable tips and explained everything in great detail. Therapy has been a special treat for Kuma; it has really pulled him out of a rut and boosted his spirits.” Pet Physical Therapy of San Diego is located at 2260 Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista. For more information, visit www.pet-
physicaltherapysandiego.com
Kuma
Photo courtesy of Dogbreedz.net
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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Tiger Finds His Dream Home! On December 5, 2010, Tiger was brought into the care of the San Diego Humane Society. The devoted staff and volunteers loved him and tenderly cared for this special guy until he found just the right home on July 2, 2011. Here is a letter from Tiger’s new family!
Dear San Diego Humane Society, Tiger is amazingly well-behaved on the leash and he even went for an early-morning run with John. This picture was taken while he was recovering after his run. :) … He gets on well with our 3 month old puppy Dante and, apart from stealing each other’s chews, they seem to have no rivalry. All in all he is doing fantastic and we really want to thank you for spending the time to help us know “the real Tiger” both via the “Staff Picks” on the website and when you invited us over to see him and were kind enough to wait for me to get there. Thank you again so much for Tiger!
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About the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA Serving San Diego County since 1880, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. The Humane Society offers San Diegans a wide range of programs and services that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty/neglect, provide medical care and educate the community on the humane treatment of animals. As one of San Diego’s oldest nonprofit organizations, the Humane Society has campuses in both San Diego and Oceanside and is supported solely through contributions, grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from the Muttique retail store, and small fees for services. For more information or to see current animals available for adoption, please visit www.sdhumane.org.
PET PRESS
Give The Deal website gives back to pet community Want to pamper your pet and still save money? A new San Diego weekly deal site, Give The Deal, is the first to feature a coupon category just FOR PETS. GiveTheDeal.com emails users coupons with up to 90% off pet deals including animal oil paintings, vet check-ups, groomers and pet supplies. The site also donates a portion of every deal sold to a different local non-profit every week, some of which include local animal charities FACE Foundation and FOCAS. Give The Deal’s mission is to reward caring-pet owners by saving
them money, while supporting local businesses and giving back to the community. To receive the deals and help support the featured “charity of the week”, register your email address at www.givethedeal.com.
Does your pet have what it takes to be a calendar pin-up San Diego Humane Society and SPCA’s Photo Fundraiser Gives Pet Owners a Chance to Make Their Pet a Star The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is seeking photos of fabulous pets of all breeds, shapes and sizes for inclusion in its 2012 calendar. The ani-
mal welfare organization’s annual “Photo Fundraiser” offers pet parents the chance to make their pet a star while helping to support animals in need. Submissions to the photo fundraiser are being accepted now through August 31, and all submissions are guaranteed inclusion in the calendar. Contributors can have friends and family vote for their photo at www.sdhumane.org for a chance to win special prizes. The person with the most votes will have an opportunity to be a part of a specially arranged photo shoot to be “model of
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the month” in the 2013 calendar! The San Diego Humane Society will select its favorite photos for featured monthly spots in the 2012 calendar. Photos can be submitted online or by mail and require a minimum donation of $25 per photograph, which will go towards supporting the vital programs and services of the San Diego Humane Society. A $25 donation automatically gets you a free copy of the 2012 calendar! For complete rules and regulations for participating, or to submit your pet photos in the 2012 Photo Fundraiser, please visit www.sdhumane.org/calendar.
The Dog Conference Is Coming to Town Mark Your Calendar For The Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ Annual Conference being held October 12-16, 2011 at the Town and Country Resort and Conference Center in San Diego. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) produces the premiere dog training and behavior studies conference in the United States. APDT membership has grown to over 6,000 members worldwide and consists of dog trainers, animal behaviorists, world-renowned speakers/authors, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, shelter personnel, service dog trainers and dog lovers. APDT members are committed to becoming better trainers through education. This event is certified to provide CEUs to Certified Dog Trainers, Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, Certified Animal Welfare Administrators and Animal Behavior Consultants. APDT was founded in 1993 by Dr. Ian Dunbar. During the conference we will be recruiting the volunteer services of many demo dogs. If you have a dog that might have issues to resolve or you and your dog have an interest in K-9 Nosework or Rally we’d like to hear from you. Contact us at apdt@details2.com 20
and we will have, Gillian Young, our San Diego co-coordinator get in touch with you. Learn more about the conference at: http://www.apdt.com/conf/default.aspx
evening “Dancing with the Dogs” to live music from Haute Chile. All net proceeds for this event will benefit the animals and vital community programs and services of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. Tickets for the event are selling quickly so reserve your seat today by calling (619) 243-3479, or email furball@sdhumane.org. For more information about the 25th annual Fur Ball, please contact Kelli Herwehe at (619) 250-6801 or kherwehe@sdhumane.org.
Calendar Photo Contest
Biggest Dog-Friendly Black Tie Gala Returns: San Diego Humane Society’s 25th Annual Fur Ball San Diego’s best-dressed dogs will gather at the largest dog-friendly party in town, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA’s 25th annual Fur Ball gala on Saturday, August 20, 2011. Animal lovers are invited to attend the black-tie-optional event, at the San Diego Humane Society’s Gaines Street Campus. One of the Humane Society’s most popular events, the Fur Ball raises funds to support its programs and services for both animals and people in the San Diego region. This year’s Fur Ball, themed “Dancing with the Dogs”, will honor PETCO and the PETCO Foundation for its outstanding and longtime support of the San Diego Humane Society and animal welfare causes nationwide. Dave Mason of 105.7 FM “The Walrus” and Clear Channel’s Pamela Howe will emcee this year’s event. Well-mannered, leashed dog(s) are also invited to join Fur Ball attendees. Dog butlers will be available to cater to doggie wishes. The evening will begin with a hosted cocktail reception, plus fun activities for all four-legged guests. The reception will be followed by a live auction and an elegant three-course dinner prepared by Jeffrey Strauss, owner and executive chef of Pamplemousse Grille. Guests can end the
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
It's time for the Labrador Harbor 3rd annual Calendar of Hope photo contest. The contest is open for photo entries July 15-August 13, 2011. Photos of Labs and Lab Mixes are welcome! No humans in the photos please! Entry fee is $15.00 per photo. 12 winning photos will be selected by a local photographer and will appear on each month of the 2012 Calendar of Hope. All proceeds will benefit our Labs In Need. For more information and submission details visit www.labradorharbor.org
6th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon The 6th annual Surf Dog Surf-AThon will be here before you know it…so mark your calendars for September 11th and get ready to surf with the big dogs! Last year was an incredible year! We had over 5,000 people at the event, doubled the amount of money we raised and hosted five times the number of dogs surfing (over 70)! This year’s event is going to be even bigger! We will have surf clinics up and down the Coast, more celebrities, more vendors, and of course more surf dogs.
MORE PET PRESS ONLINE www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com Scan with your smart phone, or visit SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com
RABBITS r r r r r
How to train a human: a guide for house rabbits
Training your human can be time consuming and requires a lot of patience, as obviously they aren’t as intelligent as us. But, it needs to be done, so the sooner you start, the better. For the benefit of house rabbits everywhere, we’ve put together our list of rules that the humans should follow. You could try putting this on the fridge door or maybe on the TV screen: 1. Don’t disturb us when we’re sleeping. Never, ever, ever—unless the house is burning down. 2. When we want cuddles, we’ll come and ask. Just ’cause we’re cute doesn’t mean we want to be cuddled 24/7. 3. Mealtimes must be strictly adhered to. No excuses. 4. Change our litter tray more often than you clean your toilet. Seriously, we’re a lot cleaner than you. 5. Just open the bag of hay and let us help ourselves. We don’t care about the mess and neither should you.
11. If something’s in our way, we’re going to nibble it. No ifs, buts, or whys. 12. Like a man’s garden shed, our den is sacrosanct, so enter at your peril. 13. If we bite you, there’s a good reason. Try and think what it might be and adjust your behavior accordingly.
Photo by Alison Giese | www.alisongiese.com
So, encourage your humans to follow these rules and you shouldn’t have too many problems. The slower ones might take a while but a gentle nip keeps them on the right track and reminds them that Bunny knows best. Good luck, fellow house rabbits, and remember: It’s a bunny world; the humans just live in it!
14. We might cling to you when you take us to the vet, but that’s only because you’re the lesser of two evils. Don’t flatter yourselves. 15. Don’t eat chocolate and cookies in our presence. It’s like torture, we want it so much.
6. Jumping on the bed is a much better way of waking you up than an alarm clock. Admit it.
16. We know you’re all individuals, have different personalities, and like different things. Kindly return the favor.
7. When we sit and stare at you, we’re trying to tell you something. At least make the effort to think what it might be.
17. If you have to clip our nails or whatever, do it as quickly as possible and then pretend it never happened. The loss of dignity is major.
8. We’re addicted to cables and therefore can’t be blamed for any accidental damage. Sorry about that.
18. When we turn our backs on you, get the message. Talk to the bum ’cause the face ain’t listening.
9. The sofa belongs to us just as much as it belongs to you. Try not to sit on us, please.
19. Don’t call us out of our den unless there’s a really, really good reason. Like a visit from the Queen, or food.
10. When we roll on our backs, this is not an invitation to tickle our tummies. Or to start acting like the paparazzi.
20. And finally . . . when we give you our trust, it’s for life. It’s the best gift you’ll ever get and you know it. www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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Cat care on a budget In these challenging financial times it is important to have a strategy to defend your budget against the potentially high-cost of caring for your feline house-mates. Here are a few tips to guide you through.
Keep your cat current on vaccinations Every day, your cat is exposed to viruses in the environment; some of them, like feline leukemia virus, and rabies, are often fatal once your pet becomes infected. Other viruses, such as feline herpesvirus, calicivirus can be spread through sneeze droplets and saliva. Some viruses are even hearty enough to be carried into your home on your clothes or shoes. Keeping your cat up-to-date on vaccinations can save both you and your pet a lot of money and a lot of pain.
Insurance Like auto insurance, you never really know how much you appreciate insurance until you really need it! For a small monthly fee your pet can be covered for the following: motor vehicle accidents, cat fights, abscesses, bone fractures, poisoning, foreign body ingestion, wounds and lacerations, broken toenails, wild animal attacks, and more. Taking out an accident policy on your cat can help prepare you for those unexpected emergencies. There are many good pet insurance programs, such as VPI Pet Insurance (www.PetInsurance.com) Pets Best Insurance (www.petsbest.com) or Quick Care Pet Insurance (www.quickcarepetinsurance.com). Pets Best Insurance, which is approx $18/month, has a $100 deductible and per incidence $2,500 coverage. Just think how good you will feel knowing both you and your cat are protected in an emergency!
Keep your cat inside Indoor cats are proven to have longer, healthier lives. Infectious diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are contracted through exposure to infected cats. Removing any possible contact with infected cats will keep your kitty safe from these potentially life-threatening viruses. Your indoor cat will also be protected from many poisons, wild animals (such as coyotes and raccoons), and even neighborhood dogs. And remember, few cats ever survive being hit by a car!
Spay or neuter your pet Every year, nearly 7 million pets are surrendered to animal shelters across the country, and most of these beautiful animals are eventually put to sleep because there simply aren't enough homes for all of them. You can help stop this tragic practice by sterilizing your cat. Allowing your cat to have kittens can also be very expensive, and altered pets are less likely to become aggressive, wander off, or urinate in your home. Altering your pets will protect them from potentially fatal conditions such as mammary cancer, testicular cancer, and uterine infections. 22
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Annual health exams Having your pet thoroughly examined by a veterinarian can help identify underlying problems that can be serious concerns. Catching a problem early can prolong your pet's life and even potentially save you a trip to the emergency clinic. The following are examples of issues that can be detected early: eye and skin problems, obesity, dental disease, ear infections, cancers, thyroid conditions, kidney disease and Diabetes. Your cat can't tell you where it hurts, and many health issues can be easily managed once they are identified. Blood panels are often run, especially on senior cats, to try and catch illness early. If you find the blood work is above what you budgeted for, please inquire for less expensive profiles. Remember, cats age more quickly than people, and a lot can change in a year.
Feed your cat a healthy diet Your cats should only eat a diet specifically designed for their needs. So many great diets today are made specifically for cats. Some of the diets and treats available can even help clean your
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cat's teeth! Avoid cheaper diets that often contain large quantities of indigestible filler and can vary in consistency from batch to batch. Feeding a high quality pet food in appropriate amounts can actually increase your cat's longevity and improve their overall health. We recommend feeding cats more canned food and less dry food to help prevent urinary stones, crystals, and idiopathic cystitis.
Regular Exercise Indoor cats need exercise too! Take advantage of vertical space by getting tall kitty condos for your cats to climb. Invest in play toys to keep them busy and also stimulated so they don’t develop bad habits. Indoor enrichment has been shown to help lessen the incidence of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis.
Take care of your cat's teeth Brushing your cat's teeth frequently can help prevent serious dental disease. But if, like many people, you simply don't have the time to brush, you can still make a difference in your cat's dental health by giving them dental diets such as Hill's T/D or an enzymatic treat, such as C.E.T. Chews, on a daily basis. Home dental care can help prevent infected teeth that may require surgical extraction, and having a thorough dental cleaning performed by your veterinarian on your cat can help prevent diseases, such as heart and kidney infections, caused by chronically infected teeth. Consider scheduling a prophylaxis when it is first recommended rather than waiting.
Consider Care Credit Care Credit is a third party financing company that offers deferred interest payment plans through some veterinary hospitals, dentists and cosmetic surgeons. You can apply for the card on-line at www.carecredit.com and use it for transactions over $300. Care Credit offers promotional rates of 0% interest for 6 months as long as the balance is paid in full by the end of the term. That's a savings over your regular credit card! These and other tips can be found online at Cheshire Cat Feline Health Center’s website, www.cheshirecatclinic.com. Call (858) 4831573 to make an appointment.
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PET RESOURCES
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Emergency hospitals
California Veterinary Specialists (760) 431-2273 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 7 days 24 hrs. www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
ENCINITAS VCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.VCANorthCoast.com
ESCONDIDO Animal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 7 Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.com
KEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONT Animal ER of San Diego (858) 569-0600 5610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.
LA MESA Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, 7 Days 24 hrs. www.PESCSanDiego.com
MISSION VALLEY VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center (619) 229-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108,7 Days 24 hrs. www.VCAEmergency.com
MURRIETA California Veterinary Specialists (951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562, 7 days 24 hrs. www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com
POWAY Animal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-7387 12775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs. www.AnimalEmergencySD.com
SAN MARCOS Veterinary Specialty Hospital (760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069 www.vshsd.com
SORRENTO VALLEY Veterinary Specialty Hospital (858) 875-7500 10435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA 92121 7 Days 24 hrs. www.VSHSD.com
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Animal Shelters & Humane Societies ACCEPT STRAYS & HAVE ADOPTION BAY PARK/MISSION VALLEY County Animal Services 5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
BONITA County Animal Services 5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
CAMP PENDLETON Camp Pendleton Animal Shelter 4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120
CARLSBAD County Animal Services 2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92011 (619) 767-2675 www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm
CHULA VISTA City of Chula Vista Animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123 Hours: M-F 10am to 5pm Sat. 10am to 4pm
CORONADO Animal Control Facility 700 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 8:30am to 4:30am
EL CAJON City of El Cajon Animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580 Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5:30pm
ESCONDIDO Escondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.com Hours: 7 days 9am to 5pm
OCEANSIDE San Diego Humane Society-North (For dogs) 2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm San Diego Humane Society-North (For cats) 572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm
ACCEPT OWNER RELINQUISHED ANIMALS BAY PARK/MISSION VALLEY San Diego Humane Society-San Diego Campus 5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
EL CAJON Friends of Cats 15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361 www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm
ENCINITAS Rancho Coastal Humane Society 389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.RCHumaneSociety.org Hours: 11am -5pm every day except Tues. 11:30am-5pm
RANCHO SANTA FE Helen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11am to 6pm
SPRING VALLEY National Cat Protection Society 9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771 www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5pm
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TRAINING TIPS 101 Loose Leash - Always walk your dog on a loose leash. Tension on a leash can cause frustration which may be taken out on other dogs or moving objects. Supervise - Supervise your dog at all times. You must witness a problem in order to correct it and prevent it from reoccurring A Tired Dog is a Good Dog Fulfill your dog’s needs both mentally and physically. A 15 20 minute run, twice a day will serve your dogs’ physical needs. 30 minutes of obedience training will have a therapeutically profound effect on your dog and will serve your dogs’ mental needs. Vladae Roytapel, The Russian Dog Wizard is a local dog trainer. He will be speaking at the PET EXPO in October at Del Mar.
Attention - You can’t teach a dog if you do not have his attention. Get his attention first before you give a command. Jobs - If you don’t give your dog a job to perform at, he will eventually find one himself and you won’t like what he chooses! Calm and Assertive - Do not yell and scream at your dog when he is behaving badly. Attachment - Don’t let your dog follow you around like a laser guided missile. This behavior can lead to separation anxiety. Love and Discipline - Always balance love with discipline and structure. If love was all that was needed, my business would not be thriving! Tonality - Tone of voice is extremely important. A high pitch tone is a sign of approval and a low tone is a sign of disapproval. Your dog will clearly understand this. Praise - Praise your dog for doing something right. Praise does not always mean you have to shower your dog with affection. It simply means you need to say “Good boy / girl” in a high pitch tone of voice. Ignoring Problems - Ignoring problem behavior will not make it go away. Ignoring is condoning and condoning is approval in your dogs’ mind. Behaving Badly - Dogs behave badly because they know they can and they don’t understand it is wrong. Vladae Roytapel, known as “The Russian Dog Wizard,” is the owner of SoCal Dog Training - one of the most successful dog training companies in the world. He has worked for various organizations including leader dogs for the blind, the Red Army, and Soviet KGB. Vladae has been seen on CNN, CBS’s Late Show, and countless morning shows on ABC, NBC, & FOX stations across America. To learn more tips and secrets from the Russian Dog Wizard, please contact him at www.socaldogtraining.com
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Dog Parks and Beaches Balboa Park Grape St. Park Grape Street at 28th Balboa Park Morley Field Enter from Alabama St. Balboa Park Nate’s Point 6th Ave. and Laurel St. Chula Vista Montevalle Park 840 Duncan Ranch Rd. Chula Vista Veterans Park 785 E. Palomar St. Clairemont Caeman Park 4280 Avati Drive Coronado Dog Beach 100 Ocean Blvd. Del Mar Dog Beach 3200 Camino del Mar www.delmar.ca.us Dusty Rhodes Park Between Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and Nimitz Blvd. El Cajon Wells Park 1153 E. Madison Ave. Kearny Mesa Community Park 3170 Armstrong St. La Mesa Harry Griffen Park 950 Milden St. Mira Mesa Maddox Park 7815 Flanders Dr.
Mission Bay Fiesta Island Fiesta Island Road www. fiestaislandgdp.com Ocean Beach Dog Beach West Point Loma Blvd and VoltaireOceanside Dog Park San Diego Humane Society 2905 San Luis Rey Rd. Otay Ranch Town Center Park 2015 Birch Rd. Pacific Beach Capehart Park Soledad Mountain Rd., Poway Dog Park 13094 Civic Center Dr. www.ci.powa.ca.us UTC Doyle Community Park 8175 Regents Road
Time to hit the beach!
Buddy
Animal Adoption Organizations A Passion For Paws Akita Rescue (818) 925-4827
www.APassionForPaws.org Bat Rescue (619) 225-9453 www.batrescue.org Chihuahua Rescue of San Diego www.ChihuahuaRescue ofSanDiego.com German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue (760) 726-4813 www.GSP-Rescue.org Greyhound Connection (619) 286-4739 www.GreyhoundConnection.org Operation Greyhound (619) 588-6611 www.OperationGreyhound.com
Paws of Coronado (619) 522-7371 www.PawsOfCoronado.org Pit Bull Rescue of San Diego (858) 693-7331 www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.com
San Diego House Rabbit Society (858) 356-4286 www.SanDiegoRabbits.org S.D. Turtle & Tortoise Society (619) 593-2123 www.SDTurtle.org Westie Rescue of California (619) 579-6395 www.WestieRescueCA.com Cat Adoption Service (760) 550-2287 www.sdcats.org
ADOPT DON’T SHOP
E-mail us your organization’s information to be included: Listing@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf Dog Clinic Dog Beach - Del Mar Saturday, August 6, 13 & 20, 2011 www.animalcenter.org/events/surfdog/
Dog Days of Summer 101 Main Street - Cardiff Saturday, August 13, 2011 http://cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com
FurBall 2011 (See page 20) Humane Society - Mission Valley Saturday, August 20, 2011 http://www.sdhumane.org
Bark For Life of San Diego Dusty Rhodes Park - Ocean Beach Saturday, August 27, 2011 http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=34944 &pg=entry 26
Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon Dog Beach - Del Mar Sunday, September 11, 2011 www.surfdog.kintera.org
Cupcake for Critters Saturday, September 17 2011 www.cupcakesforcritters.kintera.org
Bunnyfest 2011 San Dieguito Couty Park - Del Mar Sunday, September 18, 2011 www.sandiegorabbits.org
APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show Town and Country Conference Center 500 Hotel Circle North - Mission Valley October 12-16, 2011 http://www.apdt.com/conf/
AUGUST 2011 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Full event listing are availible online. You can also add your event for free!
Kindred Spirit Animal Ministry Holistic Animal Fair Corner of 6th and Laurel - Downtown Saturday, October 8, 2011
San Diego Pet Expo Del Mar Fairgrounds - Del Mar October 15 & 16, 1011 http://www.sandiegopetexpo.net
MORE PET EVENTS ONLINE For a full events calendar, visit
www.SanDiegoPetsMagazin.com/events
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Tell em’ San Diego Pets Magazine sent you!
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www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | AUGUST 2011
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