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Fall Southern NH & VT

When did black cats get such a bad rap?

American soldiers saved by strays Why is the Dalmatian the Firehouse Dog? The story behind the Budweiser Clydesdales

A Note From The Publisher We just want to express our gratitude for the wonderful response we have received from our Summer magazine. Not only were readers impressed and glad for the great articles, but advertisers did well too, and for this, we are very happy.

As our Fall Issue hits the stands, school is back in session and change is in the air! Last minute plans to come to the New England area for leaf season are under way. As residents, we are preparing for cooler temperatures and last minute repairs that must get done. We are also cramming in all the fun activities we can, in the last of days of short- sleeve weather!

We have some timely articles and look for the great events shared in ads that you and your family can attend/Our advertisers are offering help to get set for the Fall Season and beyond.

Please note the ad for the PUMPKIN CONTEST we are offering our readers to participate in with their photos and we are offering a great prizes anyone would enjoy. You can also go to our website www.petmag4you.com for all the guidelines and dates.

Please let our advertisers know “you saw them in 4 Legs & A Tail”!

Charley & Kathy

Here’s just a few things people are saying about 4 Legs & a Tail: I first read Four Legs and a Tail sitting in the vets office and have been hooked ever since! I love that it is distributed to so many businesses in the local area; I see it everywhere I go it seems! The articles are helpful, interesting, and heartwarming. For all the pet lovers out there, it’s truly a publication you’ll look forward to reading every quarter.

Laura Akerley -VP and co-owner, Bellows-Nichols Insurance Agency Peterborough, Jaffrey, New Ipswich, Antrim, & Hancock I have had a great response from your magazine and want to continue running my ad.

Kim Wilcox-owner, Whittle Pumpkin Pet Care - Marlborough, NH I saw the last issue of 4 Legs -- wonderful publication, I’m proud to have an ad in it!

Catherine Howard, Healthy Vermont Green Cleaning - Putney, VT 2

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Do Heroes Come In Threes?

(Thank God for Strays) Three unusual heroes protect a barracks of American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Doing More With One Leg Than she Ever Dreamed Possible - William Krol Halloween can be Spooky for Pets,

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M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM 18 Black Cats and Seven-toed Dogs, Mark Carlson

Where did these superstitions come from?

Fire Prevention Month 19 Keene Medical Products and 4 Legs & a Tail recognize 21 October as National Fire Prevention month, with a donation of

pet oxygen masks to the Shelburne Fire Department.

23 Dalmatians at the Firehouse, Kate Hoehn Why this breed is the unmistakable mascot at fire stations worldwide. 24

Ember- When a rescue dog becomes the rescuing dog.

25 Help Your Pet Survive a House Fire, M Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Prevent potential problems bY “pet proofing” your home.

27 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Alpacas,

Melissa Breyer 28 Volunteering With Alpacas, Sue King & Jessica Bishop

A visit is just what the doctor ordered for one group of elderly.

4 Legs & a Tail vol. K314 KP Publishing, LLC 135 Old Homestead Hwy, #104 Keene, NH 03431 603.369.4700 office 603.209.1870 cell CharleyP.4LT@gmail.com

Fall 2014

Ear Infections in Dogs, Charles DeVinne DVM Know the signs and understand the solutions.

The King of Horses How Clydesdales became synonymous with beer?

A Dog has Its Day, Amos Esty A cutting edged cancer treatment that may save your dog someday.

Meet Cody, Lorna Young How one horse and the Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center is helping those with special needs.

Canine Point of View, Michelle Grimes - Is your dog social?

From Antique Pet Photography & Dressing Up Fido – Then & Now, Charley Paskus ‘Tique - A widow finds a new friend to re-ignite an old passion.

Non-vocal Cat Behavior: What is my cat trying to tell me?, Colrain Balch, DVM

I Married a Horse Woman…

The truth when your wife owns a horse.

The Importance of Enrichment for our Pets, Mike Robertson There’s more to a pet’s life than just laying around in the sun Fish Tails, DJ Nelson Now that summer is over, visit a tropical paradise in your own home.

Publishers: Charley & Kathy Paskus Editors: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn and Scott Palzer Graphic design: Monica Reinfeld, Shane Lichtsinn and Charley Paskus Sales: Charley and Kathy Paskus

If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Southern NH & VT. KP Publishing, LLC is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim.

Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 1

Do Heroes Come in Threes?

(Thank God for Strays) T

his November 11th, a grateful nation will once again pay tribute to the men & women who have served our country, protecting our freedom and liberties. Every day, and particularly on Veterans Day, we offer thanks to the thousands of soldiers from Vermont and New Hampshire for all they have sacrificed.

Heroes may return with tales of battlefield bravery, but one story involves the heroic efforts of an unusual trio. Not dressed in fatigues or carrying a rifle, these four-legged tail-waggers are named Target, Sasha and Rufus. These stray dogs found a home with 158th Infantry, in Afghanistan, deep in the thick of a wartorn country.

According to Sgt. Terry Young, American soldiers first befriended Sasha. “At times, we would play football between missions. One day Sasha showed up,

and then Target and Rufus.”

Target got her name because she had been shot by locals, and then nursed back to health by the American soldiers. The companionship of these friendly strays was a welcome relief for men so far from home.

In the middle of the night of February 22, 2010, while 50 soldiers slept in a crowded barracks, a suicide bomber penetrated the security perimeter and approached the barracks. Immediately, Sasha sounded the alarm. As she barked, Target and Rufus quickly attacked and latched on to the assailant’s leg. Before the terrorist could make it past the entryway, he detonated his suicide vest.

As a tearful Young would later share with an Oprah audience, “Five soldiers were injured in the attack and all three dogs took heavy shrapnel. The medics successfully treated Target and Rufus,

Target and Rufus Photo by Crawford AP

but the wounds to Sasha were too severe.

These dogs are heroes. If it weren’t for them, I believe we would have lost many of my friends that day.”

Sgt. Young was shipped back stateside.

He said good-bye to Rufus and gave his final farewells to Target. But friendship in the heat of battle creates a stronger bond than any geo-political turmoil can break. Thanks to a Facebook campaign and some nonprofit organizations, Rufus was adopted by a fellow soldier, while Sgt. Young was recently reunited with Target.

When the Germen Shepherd mix set her paws down in the land of the free, the pair quickly embraced. As Young gave her a scratch behind the ear, he couldn’t help notice her collar, proudly displaying a blue infantry badge.

The Origin of “Dog Tags”

According to Vetstreet, putting collars on dogs is an ancient practice, but dog licenses are much more recent. In the United States, at least, the practice is little more than a century old, and it started in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Charging dog owners to license their pets caught on with other cities as well. It was so common, that by the time American soldiers in World War I were issued ID tags, which reminded everyone so much of what dogs wore, that they were humorously called “dog tags”, a term that sticks to this very day.

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Fall 2014

Doing More with One Leg Than She Ever Dreamed Possible

Melissa and Jake, taken at a VetDogs event.

Photo by Dennis Clark/America's VetDogs.

By William Krol

In our last issue we ran an article “Puppies in Prison” about prison “puppy raiser” programs.We highlighted three outstanding programs in New England, that partner to raise puppies in prison, as service dogs.We hope to someday see similar programs in NH &VT. Here, we meet one of the recipients and her service dog, who came through a prison “puppy raiser” program, administered by America’sVetDogs® - Editor Reprinted by permission, from "The VetDogs Sentinel."

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hen Melissa Stockwell makes up her mind to do something, she does it. She enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Colorado and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating in 2002. She joined the Army, she says, “Because I felt it was my duty to give back to America.”

In March 2004, Stockwell was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division as a platoon lead-er and convoy commander, in the Transportation Corps. Less than a month later, as she and her troops were returning from a routine mission through central Baghdad, their unarmored Humvee hit a roadside bomb. She credits the medics with saving her life, although she would ultimately lose her left leg above the knee, the first female service member to lose a limb in active combat.

She was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Faced with her injuries, Stockwell made up her mind again. “Early on, I accepted the loss of my leg; it wasn’t going to grow back.” She would spend a year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center undergoing multiple surgeries and rehabilitation.

Stockwell had always been an athlete, from gymnastics in high school to rowing and diving in college, and had dreamed of one day going to the Olympics.

Introduced to swimming as part of her rehabilitation, she became a competitive swimmer. When the Paralympic trials began in April 2008, Stockwell, considered a long shot, says, “I had the meet of my life,” and made the 2008 U.S. Paralympic swim team. “Once an athlete, always an athlete,” she laughs.

She was the first Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran to qualify for the Paralympic Games. During the games in Beijing in 2008, she swam the 100 and 400-meter freestyle, and the 100-meter butterfly, although she did not medal.

During the games’ closing ceremonies, she was selected to carry the American flag.

Fall 2014

From competitive swimming, Stockwell next turned her attention to paratriathlons. She has been a member of the U.S. Paratriathlon National Team for three years and is a three-time paratriathlon world champion. She has been named as the female Paratriathlete of the Year two years in a row, and she was nominated twice for an ESPY award for “female athlete with a disability.”

Her determination to make a difference drove her to become a certified prosthetist, so she could help other amputees “get back on their feet.”

Why would a woman like this need a service dog?

Continued Next Page

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When she first learned of America’s VetDogs, Stockwell wondered this herself. But amputees, she acknowledges, often can’t walk as fast or they can have trouble going up and down stairs. Her service dog, Jake, has been trained to assist Stockwell with specific tasks.

She says, “When I get home after a long day and take my prosthetic leg off, he can bring me my crutches. He can help me up if I fall and climb stairs without a handrail.”

And Jake even works out with Stockwell: He keeps her company on short runs and even runs on a treadmill in the winter to keep in shape. She adds, “Jake has made my life so much better.

He brings me so much joy and I am so thankful for all his companionship and all he has added to my life.”

Losing her leg has made her become a better person, Stockwell says. “I’ve had opportunities I never would have had otherwise, gone places I never would have otherwise. I have done more with one leg than I ever imagined I would do with two.”

William Krol is the communications manager at America’s VetDogs® – the Veteran’s K-9 Corps®. To learn more about VetDogs and how assistance dogs help disabled veterans, please visit www.VetDogs.org.

Here, is a letter to the “VetDogs Sentinel” from an inmate who is part of the America’sVetDogs prison puppy program sharing his experience.

Dear Vet Dogs Sentinel, I read Volume 3, Number 1, of the VetDogs Sentinel. There is an article in there that truly touched me. It is the story of Mr. Kent Phyfe, an Army veteran, and his service dog named Iris.

The part of the story that really moved me the most is how Iris is trained to push a button to call 911 if Mr. Phyfe ever faints. To read such stories as this shows me how important these service dogs really are to a disabled veteran.

I am an inmate at the Maryland Correctional Institution at Hagerstown in Maryland. I was chosen to be part of the America’s VetDogs prison puppy program, and on September 19, 2012, I was given an 8-week-old black Labrador named Grover to train to become a service dog.

I am honored to use my incarceration to train a puppy to become a service dog, knowing I will be giving something so important back to society. It brings me so much joy knowing I can use my time to help bring life to a disabled veteran. I have never been involved in anything that has given me a sense of purpose as this program has brought to my life.

I have never been more dedicated to any program as much as I am now. Even though I know these dogs are not to be looked at as pets but as service dogs, I cannot suspend my feelings I have for every one of the dogs we now have.

As I look into the eyes of Grover, I know that one day he will be by the side of a disabled veteran who deserves to have such an animal to help improve his/her life.

I want to thank everyone involved who made this program possible in our prison. I want to thank everyone who also put their trust in me to take on such an important project.

Even though I may never personally meet the disabled veteran who will be fortunate enough to receive Grover as a service dog, I know that his life will be greatly improved because a program was developed to help improve this veteran’s life.

Thank you.

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Reprinted by permission, from "The VetDogs Sentinel."

Fall 2014

Halloween can be Spooky for Pets M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM-North Bennington, Vermont

on Halloween. Consider keeping your cats in an interior room where they are unable to bolt out the door.

Some Halloween decorations can be unsafe for your pets. Fake cobwebs or anything resembling string can be tempting to cats, leading to an intestinal obstruction.

Candles, even inside pumpkins, can be easily knocked over, burning your pet or even lighting them (it has happened before) or your house on fire!

Keep pets away from all Halloween candy. Most people know that chocolate can be toxic to pets, even in small amounts. However lollipop sticks and foil wrappers can cause blockages in the intestinal tract. Candy sweetened with xylitol can cause a life threatening drop in blood sugar if ingested by a pet. Some pets can get an upset stomach just from eating a piece of candy, since it isn’t part of their regular diet.

These simple responsible precautions will help humans and pets alike have a safe holiday. For more information on how to make Halloween less stressful to your pet, contact your veterinarian.

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any people like to have fun during the Halloween festivities, but our pets can truly be frightened by all of the noises and costumes. Halloween is a holiday with many dangers for our dogs and cats.

Dressing up is fun for humans, but may not be fun for our pets. If your pet tolerates a costume, keep in mind your pet must be comfortable at all times.

Avoid any costumes that use rubber bands or anything that might constrict circulation or breathing. Likewise, avoid costumes with toxic paints, dyes, or that are edible.

Costumes on people can be equally scary to pets. Masks, large hats, and other costume accessories can confuse pets and may even trigger territorial instincts. It is not unusual for pets to act protective and fearful of people in costumes, even if they are normally very social with that person. Remember, you are responsible for controlling your pet and insuring that he doesn’t bite any guests.

Constant visitors to the door along with spooky sights and sounds may cause pets to escape and become injured in a variety of ways. Consider letting your dog spend Halloween inside with special treats, safe and secure. Even in a fenced yard, Halloween is not a good night for a dog to be outside. This is doubly true for cats: they may try to bolt out the door and even if they are allowed outside, they are more at risk for being hit by cars due to the high traffic from trick or treaters. Black cats, especially, are at a higher risk from human cruelty Fall 2014

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

Black Cats and Seven-Toed Dogs

Animal Superstitions I

By Mark Carlson

n an age when we have long since grown too sophisticated to believe in old superstitions, it’s amusing how many of us still blame certain events on the “full moon” or the number 13. Even the most urbane and educated people tend to glance at their horoscopes in the morning paper, ‘just in case.’

Many of the most enduring and macabre superstitions center around the animals in our world, particularly domesticated pets. There are more ‘old wives’ tales about dogs and cats than there are for elephants or even toads.

This is because the most common of household pets were adopted by mankind as far back as prehistoric times, for hunting, guarding and companionship.

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Images of humans with dogs and cats appear on Egyptian tombs, Greek temples and even the cave paintings at Lascaux, France. So it’s no wonder a great deal of lore, most of it negative and often contradictory, centers on the tabbies and pooches we feed, water and play with every day.

For instance, the bugaboo of Medieval Europe, black cats and witches. How did that come about? Try this on for size: A Norse legend tells of the chariot of the witch Freya, pulled by black cats.

They were possessed by the Devil and were very fast. After serving Freya for seven years, the cats turned into witches, disguised as black cats.

This is where the belief began, that black cats were familiars of witches.

After seven years they themselves became witches. Black cats were supposed to be bad luck. Oh-kay. Anyone who has Sheba purring on their lap on a cool winter evening knows this is pure rot.

If a black cat crossed your path, it meant Satan was taking notice of you.

Not a guy you want on your case.

Ridiculous. But how many of us still jump a little in our step when we see a black cat walking past us?

Some old sailors refused to step on board a ship if a black cat walked the decks. Yet cats have been the most efficient means of keeping a ship free of rats.

However, in some parts of the world black cats are supposed to be good luck.

In ancient England black cats were mummified and placed in tombs to deter evil from taking the spirit of the dead. Never mind what the cat thought about it.

If a black cat jumped over the coffin of a dead person, the deceased would return as a ghost. A good thing to keep in mind at a lawyer’s funeral. Keep the cats away.

Okay, on to dogs. Egyptians revered the jackal, and Romans the hunting dog.

Every culture in the world has domesticated or trained dogs for specific duties.

Dogs howl at the Moon, right? Not exactly. The Moon has nothing to do

with it. They’re howling to communicate with other dogs. But for ages that portended either good or bad fortune, depending on where you lived.

Here is one I’m sure dogs are very glad, has been laid to rest. In the middle Ages, if a dog bit a person, the dog was killed, even if the animal had no rabies.

This was because if it later got rabies, the person who was bitten, even years later, would be infected.

In England and Scotland black dogs were believed to be portents of evil events and death. Remember Harry Potter and the Grim? We know it was just his godfather Sirius looking out for him.

But they were also thought to be the spirits of wicked persons who led you astray and into danger. OR, friendly guides to lost travelers. Talk about ambiguity.

Bring a coin to flip if you encounter a big black dog some dark night on the Moors.

Dogs have always been credited with being able to see supernatural things or sense geologic events like earthquakes.

Personally my Labrador Musket sleeps through them. Be that as it may, here’s a useful tip. When a dog sits and stares at nothing, totally oblivious to everything around it, look right between the dog’s ears. You (provided you possess the ability) should see a ghost. Explains a lot, actually. I always thought they just “zoned out”. Turns out Fido was really communicating with the ghost of Dr. Doolittle.

And if you have a seven-toed dog, they can see ghosts. That should come in handy this Halloween. Get on your knees and start counting.

When not visiting his in-laws in South Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of his time in North County, CA with his wife, Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron.

He is an award writer and an aviation historian, with numerous articles and books including his latest, Confessions of a Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and works with Saffron, and is a member of several aviation, maritime, and veteran organizations. www.musketmania.com Originally published in San Diego Pets Magazine, October 2012

Fall 2014

Each year, more than 1.7 million uncontrolled fires happen in the United States and about 3,000 people lose their lives. More than 500,000 pets also die in these fires, but there are measures you can take to help reduce this number.

October is National Fire Prevention Month. In recognition of this, 4 Legs & a Tail has coordinated the efforts for donations of pet oxygen masks to local fire departments, on behalf of Keene Medical Products. Over the past three years KMP has provided these masks to more than half a dozen volunteer organizations throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.

This fall, the Shelburne Fire Department was the latest recipient of a generous donation of pet oxygen masks from Keene Medical Products. If the need arises, we know these masks serve our 4 legged friends well.

Fall 2014

Barbara Lamos of Keene Medical Products presents the Shelburne VT Fire Department with pet oxygen masks

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Dalmatians at the Firehouse F

Kate Hoehn

ire Prevention Month was born from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The month of October is now dedicated to promoting fire safety. In honor of Fire Prevention Month, we at 4 Legs & a Tail are celebrating the mascot of every firehouse across the country: Dalmatians.

The Dalmatians are strong, intelligent, active dogs capable of great endurance, and considerable speed. Due to their vast amounts of stamina and energy, Dalmatians have always been working dogs, and back in the days of stagecoaches, the breed demonstrated an affinity for being around horses. They were happy running alongside them, and sleeping next to them in their stalls. Dalmatians were also appreciated for their protective qualities. Coach drivers who were worried about theft, would often leave a Dalmatian on guard in the stable at night.

In America, the first organized groups of volunteer firefighters fought fires in bucket brigades. But soon, men began to devise hand pumps for powering the water spray. As pumps became bigger and better, the firefighters used wagons to transport the pumpers. Early on, few volunteer groups could afford horses so the men pulled the wagons themselves, but as the groups began to gain more funding, they could afford horses to pull the wagons. With this development, the dogs became more useful.

At the sound of the alarm, a good firehouse Dalmatian would rouse the horses and then emerge from the firehouse, barking to clear the way. On the way to the fire, the Dalmatian encouraged a fast pace, by running alongside the team of horses. Once the wagon arrived at the fire, the fire fighters unfastened the horses and moved them away from the fire, to protect them from stray sparks. The Dalmatian would keep the horses calm and grouped together until it was time to return to the firehouse.

Although the horses are long gone from the fire stations, a few still keep a Dalmatian at the firehouse, mostly for company. But, the tradition of the Dalmatian mascot continues.

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Fall 2014

Ember

“C

Tim Hoehn

an you come home? It’s your father, he’s wandered off again.” It was the second time this fall that Mom’s panicked plea lead to my high-speed return. As I raced up the familiar dirt road, I could see the worried look in Mom’s eyes. Though it hadn’t been that long, she appeared to be aging rapidly since my dad’s battle with Alzheimer’s had worsened.

Fortunately for all, our yellow lab, Ember, proved to be a steady companion during these difficult times. Once again, as she greeted me in full stride with tail wagging, her expertise and years of experience would be invaluable on this afternoon.

“Come on, Ember! Go find Dad,” and like a shot, she zigzagged off into the woods. As I quickly followed, I wasn’t sure if I heard my heavy breathing or the sound of Ember catching a scent.

This was not the first time Ember took point to find my dad, it was just the latest.

Just ten years ago, my dad was the Chief of our local volunteer fire and rescue squad. He was smart, in better shape than men half his age, and his optimistic approach to everything made him a hero to our entire community. He was always happy to share his “hero” status with one of the regulars on his team, Ember. As he put it, “She made the front page of the newspaper, Ember’s the hero.”

In case you have never heard the story: There was a two alarm call that came in late one night. The engines had already rolled, when Dad and Ember pulled in to the McCarthy house, with the upstairs fully engulfed. My dad heard the shout from one of the firefighters that all but Betty McCarthy were accounted for.

As he entered the inferno, smoke kept visibility to no more than a couple of feet, and the roar of the blast furnace above was deafening. The situation deteriorated quickly. He was just about to give up when he heard the familiar bark of Ember. Ember clawed at a door.

There in the closet was Mrs. McCarthy, unconscious but alive. She was treated at the local hospital for smoke inhalation and made it to church that Sunday.

After twenty minutes in the woods with no sign of Dad, I reached for my cell phone to call for more help. With trembling fingers I began to dial 9-1-1, when I suddenly heard the authoritative bark of Ember. As I looked over, there was Fall 2014

Ember sitting with my dad, as he gently stroked her head completely unaware that there was anything wrong. After all, he was at peace in the forest, with his dog by his side.

As we walked back to the house, I couldn’t help but think about the events

of the day, and how ironic life was, as I watched Dad and Ember mosey up the path. Ironic because, Mom and Dad had rescued Ember long ago from a kill shelter in Texas. We had always referred to her as a rescue dog, I think she is more of a rescuing dog.

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Help Your Pet Survive a House Fire E

By the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

ach year, more than 1.7 million

uncontrolled fires happen in the United States and about 3,000 people lose their lives. More than 500,000 pets also die in these fires, but there are measures you can take to help reduce this number.

To help prevent the loss of your pet, the first steps start with you, the pet owner. Prevent potential problems by

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"pet-proofing" your home and looking for fire hazards. Keep objects that are easily tipped over away from woodstoves and other heat sources. Always extinguish open flames before leaving home and never leave a pet unattended around stoves and candles. Pets can knock over candles and sadly there have been many cases of cats' fur catch-

ing fire and in their panic they run away, spreading the fire to the house.

Consider confining younger puppies and kittens when you aren›t home as a means of preventing them from accidentally starting a fire.

Window clings that alert fire fighters to the presence of pets are also a good idea. Newer clings can be taken down and edited as your pet family grows.

Practice fire drills with your family, include the pets, and know your escape routes. Keep collars and leashes handy.

Since most pet owners store cat carriers away when they're not in use, keep some old pillow cases handy to put the cat in while evacuating the building.

You don't want to waste precious time looking for carriers and leashes or lose your pets outside after escaping! Once outside, keep a tight grip on those pets: cats, especially those not used to the outdoors, will struggle to escape and try to run back to their "safe" place: into the house.

Pets left home can't escape on their own. Smoke alarms have saved countless human lives, but our pets are often not so fortunate. The high pitched shriek can scare pets into hiding, making rescue difficult and dangerous. The use of smoke detectors connected to monitoring centers can greatly increase their chances of survival in the event of a fire.

Responsible pet ownership includes planning for unexpected emergencies.

A house fire is a prime example of how devastating and deadly these emergencies can be.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.

Fall 2014

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Alpacas Spoiler Alert: The Fiber From Their Fleece Is Flame-Resistant!

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Melissa Breyer (Reprinted from Mother Nature Network -Thu, Sep 27, 2012, with the author’s permission)

lpacas may just be the cutest of all the Camelidae family, which includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas from South America, and Bactrian and Dromedary camels from Asia and Africa. With their floppy furry tufts, slender necks, ingénue eyes and coy Clara Bow grins, they are the “it” girls and boys of the ungulate world.

But beyond their charming, quirky good looks, these creatures are responsible for bearing some of the silkiest, most versatile fiber found in nature, for which they are shorn annually.

Alpaca is a specialty fiber that has been described as stronger than mohair, finer than cashmere, smoother than silk, softer than cotton, warmer than goose down, and better-breathing than thermal knits. Along with that, alpacas themselves possess some pretty remarkable personality traits.

September 27-28 is National Alpaca Farm Day (well, weekend, really), so in honor of all things Vicugna pacos, we’re filling you in on everything you never knew about these captivating camelids.

1. They’re ancient

tant, but it can wick away moisture because of its unique ability to mimic cotton in moisture regain.

These attributes are what make alpaca feel lighter than wool, but warmer than cotton in cool and damp climates.

6. They come in a rainbow of hues Alpaca fiber comes in 16 tones that are recognized by the textile industry, from white to light rose gray to dark fawn, in addition to the blends that can be made from those, thus minimizing the need for pollution-intensive dying.

7. There are two types of alpacas in this world...

A l p a c a s c o m e i n t wo types: Suri and the huacaya. The suri has fiber that grows long and forms silky dreadlocks. The huacaya has a wooly, dense, crimped fleece — like a teddy bear — giving it a very wooly appearance. About 90 percent of all alpacas in the North America are huacayas.

8. They can mix and match

Alpacas were domesticated by the Incas more than 6,000 years ago and raised for their exquisite fleece. Due to its quality and all of its superhero characteristics, alpaca fiber was reserved exclusively for the elite and nobility.

Alpacas and llamas can successfully cross-breed. The offspring they create are known as huarizo, which are valued for their longer fleece.

In the 1984, a small group of importers brought the first of a carefully selected herd to the United States and Canada, and they’ve been dotting the bucolic landscape ever since. The North American herd has grown from a few alpacas in zoos and private farms to about 200,000.

Humming is the most common sound that alpacas make, which has been described as a kind of musical purring. Alpacas hum when they are curious, content, worried, bored, fearful, distressed or cautious. When startled or in danger, a staccato braying is started by one animal, then followed by the rest of the herd in the direction of the potential threat. During breeding, the male alpaca Romeo emits a unique throaty vocalization called “orgling.”

2. They’re trendy

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They grow superlative, hypoallergenic fleece

9. They share a bathroom

Alpacas use a communal dung pile (where they do not graze, thankfully). Because of their predisposition for using a dung pile, some alpacas have been successfully house-trained.

10. They hum and haw ... and orgle

During the National Alpaca Farm Days, alpaca farms across the country will open their gates to visitors of all ages to meet the wooly loves, to find the nearest farm, use the Alpaca Farm Locator at: http://www.nationalalpacafarmdays.com/.

Alpaca fiber is much like sheep’s wool, but warmer and not itchy. It is lacking in lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic and also allows it to be processed without the need for high temperatures or harsh chemicals in washing.

4. They’re flame-resistant!

Well, technically their fiber is flameresistant, meeting the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s rigid testing specifications as a Class 1 fiber for use in clothing and furnishings.

5. They’re water-resistant

Like wool, alpaca fiber is water-resisFall 2014

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Volunteering with Alpacas Sue King & Jessica Bishop- Elkins, NH

H ere at Skyeview Alpacas Farm, we are always looking for opportunities to bring our alpacas off farm and into the wide world! When bearing the right temperament (and with a little practice) alpacas are capable of being in many different situations. Every one of our animals is halter trained at a young age and each spring we pick two “ambassadors” from the last years’ babies to be our traveling duo for the season.

Our alpacas have gone hiking, swimming, to farmers markets, fairs, college campuses, and nursing homes. A special few have mastered stairs, ridden in elevators, and walked down bus aisles!

One of our most fondly remembered trips was our visit to a local nursing home. In years prior, they would bring some of the residents down to our farm on a shuttle bus. We would bring animals right on board to show them. Usually a chicken first, then an angora rabbit, and finally an alpaca! However, not everyone from the home was able to go on such excursions.

The next visit we decided to bring the alpacas to them, so more people could be a part of it. We started on the patio and eventually decided to try the main living area as well, so in we came! The alpacas were very well behaved (a little grain in a pocket goes a long way). It felt so special to bring such a unique animal into an unexpected situation and have everyone be so surprised and delighted. A repeat trip was a must.

Jessica Bishop and "Oka" pay a visit to a resident

On our most recent visit there was no hesitation. Into the building we went.

Even though it was a different set of animals this time, we still had fabulous results.

One of the main employees asked if we could try doing a few bedside visits since everything was going so well. “Why not!” was the collective response.

One of the more magical things about alpacas, besides their incredible fiber and adorable teddy bear faces, is their ability to sense emotions. Being a herd animal, they are acutely aware of the feelings of those around them: human or animal. When we brought our little alpaca bedside to some of the residents, she was completely calm. She even rested her head next to some of them so they could pet her.

We were all deeply humbled by the experience. It’s one thing to volunteer and go home feeling good about what you’ve contributed; it’s quite another to unexpectedly experience a special moment like that. It turns the givers into receivers as well. That is volunteering at its best, and why we are happy to have our animals be part of cherished memories for everyone involved.

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Sue King is the owner of Skyeview Alpacas, a 40-acre farm located in Elkins New Hampshire. For over twenty years they’ve grown their herd to nearly 100 top quality Huacaya and Suri alpacas. They have thoroughly enjoyed building the experience with these unique animals and sharing this knowledge with many clients starting their own alpaca adventure. www.OpenHerd.com Fall 2014

Fall 2014

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Ear Infections in Dogs Charles DeVinne DVM- Peterborough, NH

E ar infection is a common problem. The signs of ear disease include: head shaking, scratching, flinching, and sensitivity to touch, redness, foul odor, drain-

age, and occasionally a swollen pinna (ear flap).

Predispositions: Persistent moisture in ear canal is a common predisposition. Foreign objects such as foxtail and grass awns, Allergic skin and diseased tumors can also cause the ear canal skin to lose its infection resistance. Infectious agents are generally bacteria, yeast, or both.

Diagnosis: First, and most importantly, ear pain should be treated prior to thoroughly examining the ear canal. Sedation may be necessary to use an otoscope, which may reveal mites, foreign objects, lesions, and other debris. Microscopic exam from an ear swab can reveal bacteria, yeast, and mites. An accurate diagnosis allows specific treatment.

Treatment: Once ear pain has been successfully treated, cleaning the ear canal is begun, we recommend applying a flushing liquid into the canal and agitating the canal to loosen debris. Material that is floated up out of the canal can be wiped away. We do not recommend vigorous rubbing of the canal with cotton, or the use of Q-tips.

The ear canal is “L� shaped, and material is easily pushed far into the canal, making it hard to remove.

Use flush and massage: Depending on the type of infection, topical and or oral medication will be used as well. Treatment is best concluded when, on re-exam, the otoscopic and microscopic exams are normal.

Charles DeVinne DVM is a graduate of Cornell and the owner of Animal Care Clinic in Peterborough, NH. www.AnimalCareClinic-Monadnock.com. A Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock is veterinary hospital providing wellness, dental, diagnostic, medicine, and surgical services Animal Care

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The King of Horses O n April 7, 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised

their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition.

Realizing the marketing potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the company also arranged to have a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch sent to New York on April 7, to mark the event. The Clydesdales, driven by Billy Wales, drew a crowd of thousands as they clattered down the streets of New York City to the Empire State Building. After a small ceremony, a case of Budweiser was presented to former Governor Alfred E. Smith in appreciation of his years of service in the fight against Prohibition.

This hitch continued on a tour of New England and the Middle Atlantic States thrilling thousands on its way. The Clydesdales made a stop in Washington D.C. in April 1933 to reenact the delivery of one of the first cases of Budweiser to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The actual delivery had been shipped by air and presented on April 7, 1933. The St. Louis hitch, driven by Art Zerr, also toured in celebration, stopping in Chicago and other Midwestern cities.

Shortly after the hitch was introduced, the six-horse Clydesdale team was increased to eight. On March 30, 1950, in commemoration of the opening of the Newark Brewery, a Dalmatian was introduced as the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot. Now, a Dalmatian travels with each of the Clydesdale hitches. Today, Anheuser-Busch owns approximately 250 Clydesdales; they continue to be an enduring symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality.

The Budweiser Clydesdales can be seen at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, NH. The Budweiser Clydesdales are iconic and are recognized worldwide. The level of detail that goes into caring for and presenting the Clydesdales is synonymous with Anheuser Busch’s approach to brewing and marketing beer. For that reason the Clydesdales are the ambassadors for the brands they represent and are treated as royalty by those who care for themTodd Bouton, Director of Operation at Farrell Distributing, Burlington and Rutland, VT

Fall 2014

In 1987, Anheuser Busch Filmed Their Classic Holiday Commercial At The Kedron Valley Inn, S. Woodstock,Vt

Continued Next Page

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A Dog Has Its Day Amos Esty

Originally published in Dartmouth Medicine. Reprinted with permission from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Office of Communications and Marketing.

I

n the early fall of 2011, the Orndorff family received some bad news.

Eleven-year-old Jenny, a lively, adorable Schnauzer, had cancer.

The outlook was bleak. Jenny’s veterinarian had spotted a large, rapidly growing tumor in her mouth. The vet removed as much of the tumor as possible, but he warned Jenny’s owners, Sam and Sandra Orndorff, that it was likely that some cancer cells remained.

Unfortunately, he was right. Before long, the tumor had regrown and threatened to spread to Jenny’s nose and surrounding bones. “We were really shocked,” Sandra says.

The Orndorffs traveled to see specialists in upstate New York, but again the news was disheartening. Surgery was one option, but to be sure that all of the tumor was resected, the surgeon would have to remove part of Jenny’s nose, leaving her disfigured. Radiation was another option, but the specialists said that it would take a course of 16 treatments, and even then there was no guarantee that the cancer wouldn’t return.

The Orndorffs were at a loss. “I panicked,” Sandra says. “I’m very emotional when it comes to her.”

Then Jenny’s vet told the Orndorffs about another possibility. Led by P. Jack Hoopes, D.V.M., Ph.D., a Geisel professor of surgery and of medicine, researchers at Geisel and Dartmouth-Hitchcock were starting a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of an experimental treatment using magnetic nanoparticles. The trial would enroll dogs who had developed specific kinds of oral tumors, and Jenny’s cancer fit the description the researchers were looking for.

The Orndorffs could do nothing, accepting that Jenny had already had a long and happy life. They could choose surgery or radiation, which might rid Jenny of cancer at least temporarily but would come with a cost in quality of life. Or they could allow researchers to test an unproven treatment on Jenny, a dog they had doted on since she was just a few weeks old, with no guarantee that it would work.

The decision was easy. Jenny became the first dog enrolled in the trial. “It was just perfect timing,” Sandra says.

The first meeting between Hoopes and the Orndorffs still sticks in Sandra’s mind. Jenny was her usual energetic self.

“You’d never think she was sick, would you?” Sandra asked Hoopes. “She’s not sick,” Hoopes replied. “She just has a tumor.”

A longtime cancer researcher who is trained in veterinary medicine, Hoopes understood how important Jenny is to the Orndorffs. “No parent wants to think their kid is part of an experiment,” he says. So he took the time to explain the research and the trial to them.

The goal of the trial is to test the effectiveness and safety of the nanoparticle treatment. There are three arms. In one, the dogs receive treatment only with the nanoparticles. In a second, they are treated only with radiation. In a third, they receive both the nanoparticle treatment and a reduced dose of radiation. Jenny was placed in this last group.

It’s hard to conceive of exactly how small the nanoparticles are. As a comparison, Hoopes notes that about a million human cells could fit on the head of a pin, and each of those cells could hold as many as half a million nanoparticles.

The nanoparticles are made of iron oxide (a combination of iron and oxygen), and they are magnetic. When exposed to the right magnetic field, they Continued Next Page

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Fall 2014

an MRI machine that can be programmed with that algorithm and that is large enough to use with Jenny. The AdSC, however, will have such a machine.

It’s just mind-boggling.

It’s like science fiction.

“We think this will be a huge advance for us,” Hoopes says.

“This ability to locate and quantify the nanoparticles is very important.”

Given how much is left to learn, Hoopes thinks of the research as being fairly early in its development. But that’s not how it seems to the Orndorffs. “It’s just mind-boggling,” Sam says. “It’s like science fiction.”

Given Jenny’s progress over the past year, the Orndorffs’ enthusiasm is understandable. Within two weeks of her second treatment, the tumor had virtually disappeared. And according to Sandra, the only side effect was slight grogginess for an hour or so after waking from the anesthesia.

Jack Hoopes talks with Sam and Sandra Orndorff More than a year after her first treatment, Jenny is still as about Jenny’s progress. energetic as ever. Sandra is thankful. “We feel blessed,” she says. heat up. Scientists have long known that heat can be used to kill “We’re very glad she’s part of the program.” cells. But the trick—as with every cancer treatment—is finding a way to kill tumor cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

“It’s that specificity that people are looking for,” Hoopes says.

“That’s what I think the whole field of cancer research is looking for.”

By injecting the nanoparticles directly into the tumor, the researchers could target cancer cells, hopefully without affecting the normal cells surrounding the tumor. The particles appear to be completely safe in the doses used. Only when exposed to a magnetic field do they become lethal. And that is what makes Hoopes so excited about this trial.

To deliver the treatment, Hoopes injected an inky liquid containing the nanoparticles directly into the tumor. After waiting about an hour for the particles to spread throughout the tumor, Jenny’s head was placed on a small table, under which was a magnetic induction coil. The coil delivers a magnetic field that interacts with the nanoparticles, causing them to heat up. Then, in Jenny’s case, this treatment is followed by multiple doses of radiation over the next two weeks.

Hoopes says that because spontaneous tumors in dogs, such as Jenny’s tumor, develop naturally and are similar in size and cell number to human tumors, they tend to be a better model Jack Hoopes prepares Jenny for treatment with nanoparticles. Coils than rodents for studying the development and treatment of under the table holding Jenny emit a strong magnetic field that intercancer in humans. Within the next year, Hoopes plans to begin acts with nanoparticles injected into the tumor in Jenny’s mouth, a trial in women with breast cancer who are good candidates causing the particles to heat up and destroy the tumor cells. for mastectomy, bringing the treatment that much closer to reaching the general population.

Hoopes is thankful as well. Jenny’s participation has In the long term, Hoopes has even bigger plans. He is helped him and his colleagues learn more about the use of working with researchers at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of nanoparticles and validated their faith in the direction of the Engineering to develop antibodies that could be attached to research. “This is the future of cancer therapy,” Hoopes says the nanoparticles. By creating antibodies that interact specifiNanoparticle treatment is just one of the many advances cally with cancer cells, the nanoparticles could be delivered to tiny pockets of cancer cells hidden throughout the body. Often made thanks in part to the money raised through The Prouty. it is these metastases, not the primary tumor, that prove most This annual event has made an enormous impact on patient dangerous. Ideally, the nanoparticles and antibodies could be care and strides to cure cancer. Support a participant injected into the bloodstream, allowing them to travel around at The Prouty on July 12 with your donation. the body and locate pockets of cancer cells, killing them before they grow large enough to be deadly.

The opening of the Advanced Surgery Center (AdSC) this summer will add to Hoopes’s ability to conduct this research (see below for more on the AdSC). Getting good images of the nanoparticles inside a tumor has proved to be difficult. Because the nanoparticles are magnetic, Hoopes can’t use conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track their movement. He is collaborating with a researcher at the University of Minnesota who has developed an algorithm that allows MRI to be used to see the nanoparticles, but at the moment Hoopes doesn’t have access to Fall 2014

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

Meet Cody C

Lorna Young

ody and Sally* are great friends. Sally is a teen aged girl with cerebral palsy who uses a walker to walk.

When she rides Cody she doesn’t need a walker, wheel chair or assistance. He gladly takes her where ever she needs to go. Sometimes we ride in the ring and work on Sally’s balance, postural control and relaxing her legs at the walk and trot,but sometimes we ride in the field or on a trail ride around the property. Cody allows her to ride with her peers and do the same things her peers do. Cody, her friend, is always there to listen to her when she has a bad day: he doesn’t talk back, just

SOVTRC also partners w/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brattleboro

listens. When she gets off and walks him with her walker back to the barn he is very careful to walk at her speed and not bump into the walker.

Cody has another friend who rides him on Wednesdays. She is an adult who is blind. Cody is very gentle with her while she brushes: standing patiently while she goes over his whole body. He responds and stays very slow and steady when she uses her reins while riding so she can ride with no leader, feeling like she is in control. Cody seems to know each of his riders and adjust to them, allowing them to feel safe while being independent on top of a horse.

Cody is a 30-year-old paint gelding who is worth his weight in gold. This gentleman is one of the equine staff at Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center (SVTRC) in Newfane, Vermont, where he helps many children and adults enjoy equine-assisted activities. Thanks to Cody, people with special needs – including those who cannot talk or walk on their own without assistance or have low self-confidence – can develop the skills to ride. Because of his trustworthy nature and calm attitude, many children and adults who would normally not be able to ride by themselves can do so with Cody. For a rider with cerebral palsy, his movements help them loosen up their muscles and improve balance and postural control.

A rider who is very nervous or afraid to get on will gain confidence over time and can learn to stop and guide their horse alone by riding Cody. This horse also patiently stands for hours and hours to be brushed and hugged. He has such a sweet, trusting nature and will do exactly as his riders ask day in and day out. Everybody adores him. Cody is a wonderful friend to SVTRC and many people with special needs and he truly loves his job.

Lorna Young is the founder of SVTRC as well as Executive Director and instructor at Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center. She trained in Michigan at the Cheff Center in 1978 to become a certified therapeutic riding instructor. www.SOVTRC.org *Name has been changed for privacy purposes.

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Fall 2014

Is Your Dog Social?

First Impressions Really Do Mean Everything.

Michelle Grimes

D

ogs are social creatures and often develop strong bonds with one another. As owners, it’s important to keep our dogs social with other dogs, preferably from an early age, as it can help prevent unwanted behaviors. We can ensure this is done properly using positive interactions (always from the dog’s point of view). When having a new encounter, there are some important things to remember, and because dogs learn by association, it is best to do it right the first time.

silent messages dogs send one another, the closer you will come to understanding your own dog’s cues. Spend some solo time at a dog park watching the interactions, it can be very eye opening and educational.

5. Remaining calm and confident is very important, as your leash acts like a telephone wire. All of your nervousness can travel down the leash and can create a 1. I can’t stress this enough; your dog very ugly circumstance. If you are feeldoes not have to be friends with everyone.

Sure, we relish the idea of doggie friends and playdates. But just like people, dogs can be selective with whom they associate. It’s important to accept the fact that not all dog’s play style match. Being choosy about who they have fun with is often in your dog’s own best interest.

ing frantic or panicked, your dog will quickly find themselves in that state as well.

6. Keep introductions in neutral and relaxed settings. The less distractions and possible triggers your dog has to deal with, the more positive the “friend making” will be. Some dogs will be out of sorts if they have to assimilate outContinued NEXT PAGE

2. The best introductions start with a walk. Although it seems so simple, it will often help take the edge off of a potentially stressful situation. No physical interaction is needed. Parallel walking can be beneficial for most dogs due to the sheer nonchalance. After a block or two of walking, you can generally see their body language change.

3. Watch your face to face meetings. In dog language this is intimidating, inappropriate, and it can be seen as threatening to meet another dog this way. Nose to tail meeting is not only super appropriate in the dog world, it’s preferred. No need to be embarrassed or “shoo” your dog away from another dog’s behind. As I tell my clients, “Relax. They’re just shaking hands!” Face to face meetings could ultimately prompt a fight.

4. Learning how to read canine body language is very important. Even your own body language speaks volumes to your dog. The most subtle communications between dogs can preempt play or a dog fight. The more you learn about the Fall 2014

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It's important to remember, your dog does not have to be friends with everyone.

side factors, and sometimes just getting acquainted will be too much to digest.

7. As mentioned before, not all dogs want to be friends. Communicate with other dog’s handlers before approaching. Just because your dog is friendly and goofy with other dogs means nothing to the dog being approached, if they are uncomfortable or reactive to other dogs. Assuming that another dog is going to be friendly with your dog can be hazardous.

Ending on a positive note is so important. Because dogs are associative learners, have interactions end on good terms, so the memory (association) they are left with is a positive one. This is key. If an interaction leads to a scuffle, break it up and let things die down before walking away completely. It may seem minor but it will help make the next attempt go smoother.

Please submit questions for this column and Michelle, by visiting www.4legsandatail.com Michelle Grimes CPDT-KA, of K9 Insights is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant specializing in Positive Reinforcement Training for all breeds. Co-founder of Long Trail Canine Rescue, works locally at SAVES and Stonecliff Animal Clinic, and is proudly owned by 3 rescue “Bully Breeds”. Michelle@k9insights. com or www.k9insights.com

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Fall 2014

FROM ANTIQUE PET PHOTOGRAPY & DRESSING UP FIDO - THEN & NOW Charley Paskus- Keene, NH

I n doing some basic research on antique postcards derived from pet photographs I was quite surprised by the amount of images devoted to pets dressed

as humans, set in everyday human circumstances performing mundane “two legged” activities. The Victorian Era’s (and on into our own timeframe’s) fascination with pets dressed as their owners, or in human occupational and everyday activity poses, struck me as a strange attraction indeed. The range from cute to bizarre makes these items desirable as collectable antiques & curios, and they seem to be enjoying a newfound interest perhaps because of the growth of the number of pets in homes and their acceptance as “members of the family” in status and stature. Don’t get me wrong, I have had many dogs, cats, birds, fish, and the occasional frog, turtle, and insect, and truthfully cared for them all: but I never felt the need to dress them up like my sister. I do recall putting sun glasses on Brodie once, (my last small dog) and we all laughed - perhaps just doing that, reveals the tip of some human/pet relational issue that these images appeal to.

The history of photography itself is rife with images of people’s pets. At its start, photographic portraits were time consuming and not inexpensive: they needed, commitment, planning and finances, yet pet and animal portraits can be plentifully found from the outset. In other words the fact that family pets were photographic subjects at that time, meant that a great value was placed on the animal’s position in the family and their companionship cherished. Fine art photography brought the practice of painted portraits as family image preservation and memorials into a new and exciting medium, as this early daguerreotype illustrates. Titled Poodle with Bow on Table, is also the oldest known photograph of a dog.

Poodle with Bow on Table by Anonymous American Photographer, 1850 (Sold for $5,000 plus in 2009)

OK. So how do we go from fine pet portraiture to this?

The image of a pet or animal dressed like, looking like, or acting like a human seems to bring a smile to just about everyone’s face. I have found the occasional persons who think it cruel to dress up an animal - it degrades them, forces them into unnatural places. I can see that point too, but for the most part, the majority seems to feel it does not scar our pets emotionally or socially. My dog seemed unamused with the glasses I put on him, but he bore with our entertaining ourselves at his own expense - after all, he knew where his food was coming from, a trade of sorts I guess; and when push came to shove, he knew I cared for him deeply, we were good companions, and that I would never hurt him. Maybe what gets to us, is that the dog drinking a beer, smoking a pipe, hat on, reminds us too much of an uncle , or a someone we know or a stranger we saw last week while travelling.

If the dog looks funny and ridiculous, do we look, in fact, just as ridiculous? Or perhaps it’s just plain comical to have an animal act and look like us.

Continued NEXT PAGE

Fall 2014

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Harry Whittier Frees in his studio. ”Playtime” 1914

The most famous and popular of the now antique pet post card photographers in America was Harry Whittier Frees (1879-1953). His photographic studio creations took the “pet acting as person” genre to another level, travelling between the borders of cute and really strange. His mother usually made, and painstakingly sewed, the costumes and clothing for the animals in her son’s photographs. Mr. Frees’ books and post cards were, and still are popular with collectors. His photo called “Playtime” in which two kittens are playing jump rope with an “inanimate” doll doesn’t strike me as “funny” as the dog with a beer - but why? Maybe it’s just me, but the kitten image evokes something more bizarre, almost alien. “ Mother & Daughter” 1999, William Wegman

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Here are a couple other interesting antique photographs depicting pets dressed as people.

The tradition of these types of photographic images continues on today with the works of well known American photographer and artist William Wegman, whose portraits, calendars, and videos of several generations of his Weimaraners have been viewed and enjoyed for over forty years.

Why does this bring us a smile? I am very curious to receive the reactions, comments and opinions of our readers on this long standing practice of dressing our animals up like us. You can email me at charleyp.4lt@gmail.com.

Fall 2014

‘Tique

T here is a point in a widow’s life which starts with the same request,

“Please Lord, I can’t go another day.

Take me Home.” When my husband of 49 years passed away, I had no idea how painful loneliness could be. The months following were difficult, but the winter was excruciating. The cold and snow made it difficult to get out of the house and the long, dreary days seemed endless.

Late one spring, my daughter came for a visit. “How you holding up?” she asked with a look that said she already knew the answer. With a forced, half smile I replied, “Fine.” We talked for a long time about her dad and old times that felt like yesterday. We laughed about growing up in a typical home surrounded by love, including our family dog, Springer. After the kids had grown, Springer was “regularly” on the antique and yard sale circuit. With dog in tow, we hit all the stops. But, like my

husband, Springer was also gone.

“Have you thought about getting a dog? It would be great companionship,” my daughter asked. I had thought about getting another dog, but quickly discarded the idea. At my age, the thought of training a puppy was daunting, and fear of adopting an older dog I might outlive, scared me.

But despite my objections, we found ourselves at our local humane society.

Yes, they were all adorable, but I still couldn’t rationalize the decision.

Fall 2014

As we slowly made our way past the wagging tails and the barking suitors, I noticed a beagle. Unlike the other high energy dogs, this one was subdued to the point of sadness. I wondered if he too had lost loved ones and went to bed each night nursing a broken heart. As my daughter and I left, I was still not convinced a dog was the right choice, so she suggested we get some lunch and hit a couple of antique shops.

Later that afternoon, we went to a little shop just north of Swanzey that my husband and I frequented years ago. As we picked through dozens of antiques, I thought about the dog I had met earlier that day. Did I look that empty? Loneliness is a bitter pill and without someone to love and share, it is a difficult one to swallow. As I contemplated the situation, my thoughts were interrupted by my daughter’s urgent request. “Mom! Check this out.

Remind you of anyone?” As she handed me the dusty watercolor, I stared at the familiar face in the picture. As I felt a genuine smile cross my face, I turned to my daughter and asked, “What time does the humane society close?”

Alyce and her dog are regular antiquers and recently found a steal on an 18th century American oak desk. Above it is a picture of her beloved dog and constant companion,‘Tique.

Celebrate National Adopt A Shelter Pet Month This October

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Non-Vocal Cat Behavior: What is my Cat Trying To Tell Me? Colrain Balch, DVM- Elkins, NH

C

Photo by Emma Panesco of Keene, NH

Most men can't tie a bow this well!

ats have a wide variety of personalities. Some live to be a lap cat while others perfect the definition of aloofness. Regardless of their personalities, all cats have multiple ways of communicating with us. Vocal actions like purring, meowing and hissing are only the tip of the iceberg. Paying attention to the cues our cats send us, can help strengthen our bond with them, and help reduce stress at home.

While our cats may meow at us for a variety of reasons, vocal communication is not used as much between cats. Use of other communication tools such as smell and sight are more common.

Marking There are multiple places on a cat’s body that contain pheromone secreting scent glands. Pheromones are chemicals that are intended to send specific signals to other individual animals. In the animal kingdom, these pheromones can “say” things such as: “This way to find food”, “Watch out, danger!”, or “This is mine.”

On the cat, these pheromone secreting glands are located at the base of the tail, forehead, cheeks and paws. Cats will rub along or scratch objects to release their pheromone signals. So when your kitty head bumps you, he or she is letting you and everyone else know that you are his/her human.

Similarly, scratching on objects in the house is a way for them to mark their territory. Cats prefer to scratch on things in social parts of the house which is why couches and speakers are often victims of kitty claws. Placing a vertical scratching post in part of the house where everyone gathers may help reduce or eliminate the desire to tear up the furniture.

Body Language Cats use several parts of their body to communicate with both each other and themselves. Paying attention to these signals can help you know when your cat would like to be friendly and when they need space.

Ear position can tell us a lot about a cat’s mood. Ears that are in a forward position show a cat that is interested in what is going on. They may swivel around as they are listening to things in the room, but generally come back to the forward spot.

Alternatively, ears that are positioned backwards, sideways or flat are signs that the cat is stressed or upset. Generally speaking, the tighter the ears are pinned down to the cat’s head, the more upset the cat. This cat is saying, “Do not come near me.”

The tail is another very good indicator of mood. When a cat’s tail is straight up in the air with hair flat (normal), he or she is interested in what is going on. Sometimes the tip of the tail may curl down a little like a question mark. When a cat gets really excited, the tail will vibrate. These are good signs.

In contrast, a cat swishing its tail back and forth can indicate that the cat may be upset about something. Keep in mind, some cats will just swish the tip when they are focused on something interesting like a bird outside the window. This is different from the whole tail swishing which is a warning to stay away.

When a cat is frightened or feels threatened, they will bring the tail very close to the body and will sometimes tuck it between their legs. Finally, a cat with its tail fur fully erect so its tail looks bushier than normal is a sign of either fright or severe stress.

These are just two parts of the cat’s body that are used for communication. A cat’s eyes and back will also give indications of how the cat is feeling. It is important to pay attention to the cat as a whole to know what they are trying to say. Making note of what a cat is doing and then how the cat responds to your actions will help you understand your cat’s individual language.

On a personal note, I have three cats at home each with their personal communication style. Learning each of these languages has been part of the joy of being a cat owner and has helped to enrich our bonds with each other.

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Colrain Balch is an Associate Veterinarian at Pleasant Lake Veterinary Hospital, in Elkins, New Hampshire. She happily resides in the Lakes Region with her husband, 3 cats and 1 dog.

Fall 2014

I Married A Horse Woman…

A

…. nd I knew sometimes I would be the center of her universe, and other times that role would be filled by a nine year old Arabian named Star. If I were truly the first husband to take a backseat to a wife’s horse, it would be the lead story on the 11 o’clock news, but as any good husband knows, it’s difficult to compete when you don’t have hooves and a mane.

Truth be told, although I don’t ride I do enjoy the beauty and grace of a well groomed horse. Star is all that and more.

So when my wife asked about replacing the roof on “our” aging horse barn, I agreed that it was to be a labor of love, and no more than a Labor Day weekend project. On a hot, Friday afternoon I started my weekend job.

My early assessment was to just replace the corrugated metal. However, by dusk I realized that trusses would also need to be replaced. As I ripped the old roof off, I was accosted by a diverse group of soon-to-be displaced critters including, but not limited to: a family of sparrows, several swarm of bees and enough spiders to give me at least one disturbing dream that night.

It was shortly before 5am on Saturday when I attacked the next step with enthusiasm. I soon became well acquainted with a crow bar, and my back bent at a 90 degree angle for the better part of the day, made me question my commitment. Not to the task at hand, but to that horse grazing lazily in the pasture.

Advil is a good thing.

After my twelve hour marathon the day before, I stared at a stack of 17, prebuilt trusses while I sipped that first cup of coffee on Sunday morning. Working by myself, I realized that this day would Continued Next Page

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test my mettle. After two hours and thirteen minutes the first one was in. By my quick calculations, if I worked at this pace I could complete this phase just in time for my funeral. Naturally, the more I did, the quicker it went. However, by the end the day (and I mean that literally, as it was just after midnight) I prayed for a Labor Day rainout.

The next morning I awoke to an unanswered prayer, the smell of breakfast and a blue sky with brilliant sunshine. There was a faint hint of dew, but clearly not even a remote chance of rain today.

Happy Labor Day. As I approached the final day of my endeavor, simple tasks were becoming more challenging. The only thing left was to attach 8x10 sheets of metal roofing. Granted, they only weighed sixteen pounds each, but they may as well have been 16 tons. As I slowly lifted each one to the roof, they seemed to defy physics and actually increase in weight.

Logically, this couldn’t be the case, but as fatigue began to consume my body it also crept into my mind, is there a government sheet metal conspiracy? Maybe corporate America is behind this? Or, what if it goes all the way back to the big lie of 1976, when my teacher said we needed to learn metric, because that would be the standard measurement within ten years? Around noon that day, the crazy thoughts finally left when I seriously considered opening the lower gate and “shoo-ing” that miserable beast out. Once the guilt and remorse set in, I was confident that this project was going to be completed, and a lifetime later (about two hours- metric) the barn roof was finished.

Since I had lost track of my “second winds”, I left my tools where they dropped with no regard to pending weather or potential thievery. As I slowly made my way up the path to the house, I wondered about the incline of the grade, I never remembered it being that steep before.

As I looked up I saw the familiar smile of my wife accompanied by a woman I had never seen before. “All done?” she asked.

An exhausted, “You bet.” was all I could muster. The polite thing to do would be to introduce myself to this stranger, and although I was curious, I had neither the energy nor desire to make even brief small talk with my wife’s acquaintance. When I finally got to the house, a cold beer and the corner of the couch felt better than a winning Powerball ticket.

About an hour later, my wife returned to the house. Alone this time, I asked about her new friend. My jaw just about hit the floor when she shared that it was a masseuse, and that she had just given Star a massage.

That’s when I realized, I married a horse woman!

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The Importance of Enrichment for our Pets Mike Robertson- Plymouth, NH

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nrichment.” It’s a buzzword lately, but what does it really mean in relation to our pets? Let’s compare the differences in many of our pets’ current lives to the lives their ancestors experienced.

Take the house cat; descended from an African wild cat who’s life was spent in search of food and a mate. Her territory took her over rocks and brush and streams and grasses; each bit of terrain a home to various living creatures. The encyclopaedia of scents, the ingredients of the scent we call the “smell of outdoors,” envelops her. Out of the grass scampers a field mouse. Slinking into her hunting crouch, she prepares. In a flash she’s on top of the mouse.

Now compare that vivid scenario with one common to many pet cats. In a temperature controlled home, she wakes up and stretches, having napped in a ray of “sun.” It’s a light source that provides heat, but has the vitamins filtered out through panes of window glass. She walks across steam cleaned, nylon carpet to a plastic tub filled with pine pellets.

It’s where she’s supposed to eliminate, so she does. She eyeballs a motionless catnip-filled fabric “mouse” on the floor, but walks past. Without much else to do, she hops up on the windowsill and watches the world outside before settling in for another nap.

Consequences of an under-stimulated pet The pets in our lives, whether cats, dogs, fish, goats or birds; are all descendants of ancestors who lived and thrived in natural settings. Each day presented them with both life and death challenges, as well as indirect experiences that

encouraged physical agility and mental growth. When we brought these animals into our lives and contained them for safety; often they were forced to give up the daily stimulation they had evolved to seek. Without suitable mental and physical exercise and experiences, behavior problems develop.

To name a few: - Feather plucking - Chewing - Digging - Spinning in circles - Depression - Aggression - Barking/Yowling/Screeching Ways to add enrichment for your pets Zoo caretakers were the first to add enrichment activities to a captive animals’ daily routine. The amazing results of this simple step were noticed by pet enthusiasts, resulting in a flood of new toys, puzzles and training skills designed specifically to encourage thinking and movement.

A few of my favorite commercial enrichment items include: - Buster Cube - Kong Wobbler -Tug-a-Jug - The Nina Ottensen line - The Dog Games line

You don’t need to purchase items to enrich your pets’ lives.

Here are a few free suggestions to try.

• Cut six dime sized holes in a two liter soda bottle and fill it with your pet’s dry kibble. Let them knock it around to make food fall out.

• Moisten your pet’s food until it’s the consistency of oatmeal. Fill a hollow marrow bone with this and freeze.

• Hide treats in different areas of your yard.

• Place treats or toys in a box filled with empty plastic bottles and let your pet dig for them.

• Change your pet’s daily walk to incorporate different sights and sounds.

Make a detour through a stand of trees or down to a brook. Even a small change from routine can make a big difference.

University studies have shown that animals prefer to work for rewards rather than being given them for free.

Use your imagination to come up with other ideas. Without even realizing it, you will be adding enrichment to your life too!

Mike Robertson is a certified animal trainer and certified behavior consultant located in Plymouth NH. He is the owner of White Mountain College for Pets, with two locations: 661 Mayhew Turnpike & 594 Tenney Mtn Hwy in Plymouth NH. View upcoming class schedules or contact him at: www.collegeforpets. com or by phone 603-369-4PET. Fall 2014

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Fish Tails DJ Nelson, St. Johnsbury

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e’re thinking Fall, and all the things associated with it. Many find this time of year a great one to get into a new hobby, or back into an old one. For many this means fish season. I’m not talking about going to the pond or local river to set up a pole, I’m talking about keeping fish in an aquarium.

For the extreme hobbyist every season is fish season, they’re always looking for the coolest: fish, aquarium plants, corals, etc. To the average person (who has one or two aquariums) this means cleaning it up and restocking. For the person who has just stumbled onto this hobby or is looking to get back into it, this can be a most confusing and influential time. For the new hobbyist it may seem scary. With so many things to learn, it can be overwhelming even before purchasing their first aquarium, with the good, the bad, and the myths. Hopefully we can debunk some of the myths, and go over some up-to-date information.

Just in the past 20 years, there have been innovations for fish hobbyists.

Here are some common Fish Tails/ misconceptions that are out there:

Myth- I’m not sure I can successfully keep fish, so it is better if I try a fish bowl or something 5 gallons or less. Small is easier to keep up with and doesn’t cost as much, so If I can’t keep the fish alive, I didn’t lose much money.

Actually, it’s much harder to keep a smaller aquarium then it is a large one.

Here’s a way to look at it: If you want to make sugar water, and you place a teaspoon of sugar into an 8oz cup of water, or a teaspoon into a gallon jug of water, which container is going to taste sweeter? Exactly. So with a larger aquarium, fish waste won’t affect it as easily, thus allowing you to keep water chemistry healthier, giving you a better chance of success. Don’t go out and buy a 100 gallon aquarium, 10 or 20 gallons is a great starter size. The added investment will increase your success rate by over 50%.

Myth- Fish only grow as large as the aquarium.

I hear this multiple times a day. This happens to be a myth with little truth to it. If you maintain proper water conditions, and the fish are eating a good diet, the fish will continue to grow. Some species will grow pretty fast in optimal conditions. Remember, the smaller the aquarium, the harder it is to keep. If you are able to keep the smaller aquarium healthy, larger species of fish will outgrow the aquarium.

Myth- Keeping an aquarium requires so much work. I will have to drain out all of the water and scrub everything down.

This is something that used to be done frequently a few decades ago. It was grueling and most people would spend many hours working on the aquarium, when they’d much rather be going to the beach, or watching the latest show on TV. This is much more work then you really need to do, and it isn’t good for the fish to go from one extreme to the other. The best way to work with your aquarium is to do smaller water changes more frequently and be consistent.

So, instead of tearing it all down; every 2 to 4 weeks (depending on the type of fish or how many fish you have in your aquarium), only take out 20 – 25% of the water, putting fresh treated water back

in. Use a gravel vacuum to get the water flow going into a bucket, and insert the cylinder into the gravel to remove waste and water at the same time. (For larger tanks there are systems you can hook to the sink.) When placing water back in, treat the water with a conditioner for aquariums first, and adjust PH if needed.

Only taking out 20-25% often, keeps the water chemistry more stable. Once you have done it a couple of times, it might take you 15 minutes, saving time, dread and aggravation.

Myth- I bought some fish at store X and now all my fish have ich (Ick). I will never shop there again.

This is something I hear a lot, especially during spring and fall. Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) is usually caused by temperature fluctuations.

A major temperature fluctuation can rear its ugly head within hours. Season changes bring the biggest changes in temperature. There are other things that can cause water to change temperature: Not having an aquarium heater; Not having the heater set high enough; When doing water changes, new water into the aquarium is much cooler/warmer than the water already in the aquarium; along with many others. That’s not to say an accident can’t happen, and a store accidently sells a fish with ich. It can happen we are all human, but in my 19+ years most of the time it isn’t the store’s fault, nor the customer’s, it just happens.

To reduce the chances of temperature fluctuation when buying a new fish: Ask that your fish’s plastic container be placed in a paper bag for added insulation.

Place your fish’s container into a cooler to help insulate from temperature changes.

Acclimate your fish to the water slowly, over the course of an hour. This will help reduce stress that can also cause Ich Myth – Keeping a saltwater aquarium is a lot of work and is difficult.

Keeping a saltwater aquarium can be almost as easy as keeping a freshwater aquarium, or you can make it much more complex. This depends on the fish, creatures, plants or corals you want to keep, as well as the equipment and size of the aquarium.

If you have any further questions, concerns, or want to know more about keeping an aquarium, go to your local Mom & Pop store, they can be the best source of information.

DJ Nelson has worked in the pet industry for almost two decades and is the owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He works with Reptiles, Birds, Small Animals, Fresh/ Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition.

Since proper care is constantly changing, educating customers about their pets is the most important. www.aquarealmaquarium.com and Facebook

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