Lowcountry Dog Magazine Aug/Sept 2012

volume 8, issue 5

loyalty of a newfoundland

magazine

TM

august/september 2012

canine csi why vets distrust online pharmacies

helping pets Past, Present & Future

Publisher Leah England (843) 478-0266 leah@lowcountrydog.com

contents

Advertising Brian Foster (843) 732-0412 brian@lowcountrydog.com Communications Gillian Nicol gillian@lowcountrydog.com Contributing Writers Stratton Lawrence Harlan Greene Susan Millar Williams Stephen G. Hoffis Jeff Greaves Sue Sternberg Staff Photographer Laura Olsen www.lauraolsen.com Accounting Carrie Clark Financial Services (843) 367-9969 carriecl@comcast.net

Lowcountry Dog Magazine PO Box 22 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465 www.lowcountrydog.com This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper.

Continue the green process by recycling this copy.

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august/september 2012 fido’s friends 4 Harlan Greene training for shelter dogs 6 devotion to humane work 8 the loyalty of a newfoundland 10

Lowcountry Dog’s mission is to be the leading local resource for dog owners regarding regional events, health and wellness information, trends, style and lifestyle choices. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various dog related non-profits and promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices.

helping pets: past, present & future 14

Dog lovers can pick up the bimonthly magazine for free at most area veterinarians and pet stores throughout the lowcountry, as well as numerous restaurants, coffee bars and retailers. A full distribution list is posted to the magazine’s web site, lowcountrydog.com. Subscriptions are also available. Please call 843-478-0266 for more information.

training 24 Canine CSI

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by Lowcountry Dog Magazine with all rights reserved.

Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher.

Lowcountry Dog Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any product, service, or vendor mentioned or pictured in this magazine in editorial or advertising space. Views expressed by authors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher.

calendar of events 21 health and wellness 22 Why Vets Distrust Online Pharmacies

personal essay: My Dogs 26 adoption 28 Lowcountry Lab Rescue

Orion, a Pet Helpers alum, graces our cover in historical downtown Charleston. Cover image, and 1st & 3rd Table of Contents photos by Laura Olsen Imagery.

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Author Harlan Green (R), his partner, Jonathan Ray, and their adorable dog, Zoe.

F ido’s Friends

harlan greene Occupation: Archivist and Author Dogs in Household: One Na med: Zoe Lives: Downtown 1. What’s the best thing about owning a dog?

Having a fellow creature who responds as honestly and openly to me as I do to her.

2. What do you find the most frustrating about your dog, or struggle with as a dog owner ?

I want her to be as free as possible, but we have to train her, and sometimes restrain her, for her own good. She lives in a world ruled by people that she does not totally understand.

3. All time favorite memory of your dog?

Something that happens nearly every day -- when she's sleeping trustfully in my arms.

4. Favorite place to hang out with your dog in Charleston?

White Point Garden is a great off the leash area. There’s usually a breeze and sunlight through the trees for me – and lots of squirrels for Zoe. And each of us runs into friends there.

5. With what aspect of your dog’s personality do you most identify?

Her total interest in the world (when she is not asleep.)

6. In your opinion, what’s the one item all dog owners must have?

A traveling water bowl.

7. If your dog were some other sort of animal, what would she be?

Maybe an eagle. Being so short, and a determined chaser of squirrels, she spends a lot of time looking up into trees. Being an eagle would grant her wish of being able to soar. She could then get into our very high bed by herself, as well.

8. How does your dog inspire you? Or what has your dog taught you about life and work?

Zoe lives in the moment; and there is something awe inspiring and humbling in how dogs accept fate and suffer stoically. Then there is her total acceptance and lack of judgment regarding her humans, a love that conquers difference and transcends species. I suppose I could write an ABC book – a letter for each quality that inspires or teaches me.

9. How do you KNOW you and your dog are best friends?

She tells me. Without speaking. And I know. Without thinking.

10. What’s your favorite thing about Lowcountry Dog Magazine?

The pictures! If you can’t have your dog in your lap, you can at least have a copy of the Magazine with you.

photos by Laura Olsen Imagery 4

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and the ability to love learning and training so much they will actually offer obedience in the place of obnoxious behavior.

These dogs then make a better first impression when taken out of the kennel for viewing.

When surveyed, adopters said they look for two qualities when selecting their next dog: ‘a smart dog’; and a dog ‘who listens.’ What these folks mean isn’t that they want a genius dog with excellent hearing, but rather a trainable dog who is also attentive. A training regimen helps shelter dogs appear smart and attentive!

2. Shelter dogs who have received some training are often viewed by the public as ‘special,’ instead of victims of abuse and neglect. Training can help scrub away some dirt and silt and reveal the pearl underneath.

3. Training shelter dogs encourages a potential owner to seek additional reward-based, positive-reinforcement-based techniques.

These types of programs hopefully influence shelter and kennel staff and volunteers, dog walkers, current and future pet owners, the general public, and even dog trainers to seek modern, humane dog-training methods.

Training alone cannot make an unstable dog into a stable dog. A training regimen is not the answer for each and every dog. Training programs are targeted towards basically sweet-tempered, stable dogs who have just never been trained or worked with. These are not behavior modification programs.

Training that transfers is crucial for shelter dogs. When training shelter dogs, you want and need the dog to perform for a complete stranger, probably someone whom you’ll never personally meet.

When training a shelter dog, you don’t want the dog to bond closer to YOU during training, or what will happen when you show him to a prospective adopter is that he will likely look adoringly at YOU, not them, and they won’t want him.

So how do you get a shelter dog to walk up to a perfect stranger and convince them he’s well behaved?

Working with the ASPCA® Partner Community project and Sue Sternberg’s Train to Adopt™ program, Charleston Animal Society has developed and implemented a training program for shelter dogs.

Foster homes are • Visit www.SaveMoreLives.org needed to augment the • Call CAS 843.747.4849 Pet Helpers 843.795.1110 limited kennel space at • Foster the shelter and provide • Volunteer the needed time and • Donate environment for training.

• Spread the Word on Facebook • Blog about Fostering & Adoption However, foster volunteers can also play a crucial role in training dogs by coming to the shelter and implementing a structured regimen for dogs.

Another way to save more lives!

For more information on this program, contact Jeff Greaves at jgreaves@charlestonanimalsociety.org or contact Joe Elmore at 843.329.1540.

Training Shelter Dogs for Adoption

By Jeff Greaves and Sue Sternberg Imagine a potential adopter walking into a shelter and visiting with a dog who can sit, show self-control, and calm himself even when excited. Imagine a potential adopter who sees a shelter dog as partially trained and is inspired to do more training with the dog since the dog knows more than their previous dog ever did.

Establishing training programs as part of an enrichment strategy in shelters is gaining momentum and benefitting dogs who are considered less appealing than others. These programs are intended to encourage, promote and provide quality of life for dogs in shelters.

When a shelter spends time training and working with its dogs, everyone benefits. The mental stimulation from the training helps prevent the dog from succumbing to the stressful and harmful effects of kenneling. They get relief from the frustration of life in the shelter through their success at learning new skills. It is not enough to simply house a dog and care for its physical needs. A dog’s quality of life is about his present mental state. A dog does not live for a future — he spends his time in the present. It’s what we love so much about a dog. Dogs keep us in the moment. They don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the past, nor can they sit in a cage and fantasize about a future in a home.

It is therefore our responsibility to do more than just keep our shelter dogs alive. We assure that they are living humanely, each and every day while in our care. We must also make sure that their mental, behavioral and emotional well-being is better each day they are with us.

Why Train a Shelter Dog? Any kenneling over two weeks is considered long-term kenneling and the negative effects of kennel life can start to override the positive attributes of the dogs. It is then a race against time to keep the dogs behaviorally, emotionally, and mentally healthy as time wears on and the stress, frustration and arousal levels in the kennels take their toll.

1. Improving First Impressions: With a little bit of training you can take that large portion of the shelter population that are stable tempered but untrained and a bit wild, and give them a vocabulary

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Devotion to Humane Work

by Harlan Greene

Look into the trusting eyes of an animal, and you’ll feel it in an instant -- the special bond that can exist across species. Locally, perhaps no one felt this love and sacred obligation more than the now forgotten Henry F. Lewith.

Over the years, there were attempts to write his biography and raise a monument to him. But he remains in obscurity.

Born here July 29, 1876, Lewith became a journey man printer for the News and Courier, but that was not his life work. An avid supporter of animal rights and human obligations, Lewith was a member of the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and he attended all annual conferences. In 1913, at the national convention, he suggested the creation of a Be Kind to Animals Week. By 1915, it was a national movement, with a week in April chosen each year; SC Governor Manning made a statewide proclamation honoring it in 1918. The phrase became known throughout the English speaking world and was translated widely. Celebrated into the 1970s, the program had three aims: to educate school children on humane issues, encourage ministers to give sermons on the topic on “Humane Sunday,” and increase public awareness of the plight of animals. Charleston led the way with publishing annual newspaper supplements; and the trend was taken up around the country. Lewith himself would buy thousands of these issues and send them out to the world. “It was his feeling that voiceless animals have all too few spokesmen and that he could do no better than devote his means, his talent, and his life in creating sentiment in their behalf,” noted a friend who knew him. No stray ever passed his door on New Street without being fed and nurtured; he personally saved countless animals 8

Lowcountrydog

from death. He was shy and retiring and never married, sharing his life instead with his constant companion, a collie he rescued and whom he named Beauty. They were seen together in their walks around Charleston for years. While tending to creatures with greater needs than his own, he neglected himself. Lewith died on 11 August 1926, soon after his 50th birthday. With him gone, the collie Beauty refused nourishment and died of grief.

“He devoted his life to humane work” reads his simple tombstone in KK Beth Elohim’s Huguenin Avenue cemetery.

Harlan Greene is a native of Charleston and the author of fiction and nonfiction books and articles on Charleston and the lowcountry. He lives with his partner Jonathan Ray and their beloved wire haired dachshund ,Zoe, in downtown Charleston.

Author Harlan Green and his beloved dog, Zoe.

Our gratitude is extended to Special Collections, Addlestone Library, College of Charleston for sharing the headstone photo with us. This article was first published in Charleston Magazine.

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From Family Dog to Field Champ

The Loyalty of a Newfoundland Sarah M. Dawson

by Susan Millar Williams and Stephen G. Hoffius On March 12, 1889, a young Newfoundland dog named Bruno lost his beloved master to Charleston’s crime of the century.

Just the year before, Bruno had come to live with the Dawson family in their grand house on Bull Street. The children, Ethel and Warrington, named him after a famous St. Bernard whose stuffed head they had seen while travelling with their mother in Berne, Switzerland. But it was Frank Dawson, editor of the Charleston News and Courier, who captured the dog’s heart. Every night the pup waited at the gate, pressing his body against the ironwork until he recognized Dawson’s step.

Dawson may have saved Bruno’s life when the family’s other dog, an elderly pointer named Nellie, became rabid. In the days before widespread vaccination, rabies was one of the great threats to dogs and humans. Without warning, a devoted dog became an agent of death. One day nine-year-old Warrington was standing on the back piazza when the normally gentle and placid Nellie suddenly took a flying leap at his face. Warrington ducked and Nellie fell sprawling a few feet away. Dawson grabbed the snarling dog by the scruff of her neck. Bruno the Newfoundland, who was just a puppy, though a very large puppy indeed, romped up from the other end of the lawn. “Catch the dog and hold him!” Dawson cried to his son. “Keep him away from me! KEEP HIM AWAY!” Warrington lunged at Bruno and wrapped his arms around his neck. Thirteen-year-old Ethel grabbed Bruno’s hind legs, and together they held him back.

Frank Dawson dragged Nellie to the basement and locked her in. Following the custom of the time, he offered her water to test whether she was afflicted with rabies, also known as hydrophobia because it compromises the ability to swallow and causes infected animals to panic at the sight of liquids. The dog refused to drink.

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“ Y o u couldn’t hammer water down her throat,” Dawson told his horrified Francis Warrin gton Dawson children.

L i k e Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, he instantly understood what had to be done with a mad dog, and he did it without flinching. He went up to his bedroom, got his revolver, and killed Nellie with one shot to the head, saving his children and the adoring Bruno from what was then an incurable and excruciating disease.

In late August 1886, Bruno was just a gleam in his daddy’s eye when Charleston was struck by the strongest quake ever to strike the East Coast of North America. Frank Dawson worked tirelessly in the months after the disaster, publicizing the condition and needs of the city, dominating the meetings of the Executive Relief Committee, and rallying the citizens of Charleston to recover and rebuild. He became the man of hour, a national hero.

Ethel, Warrington, and their mother, Sarah, were traveling in Europe when the disaster struck. The three came home to Charleston in 1887, bringing with them a young Swiss woman named Hélène Burdayron. The voluptuous Hélène had been hired to care for the children. She would soon prove to be the Dawson family’s undoing.

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Warrington Dawson

Dawsons with his wife and young daughter, practicing medicine in a ground-floor office on Rutledge Avenue and living on the second floor. While big fuzzy Bruno hung around the gate waiting for Dawson, McDow lurked nearby, stalking Hélène. Dawson eventually caught wind of the doctor’s obsession, and on March 12, 1889, he went to McDow’s office and ordered him to back off.

The doctor pulled out a gun and shot Dawson dead. Then, terrified at the thought of having killed the hero of the earthquake, he tore up the floorboards of a closet and tried to hide the body.

Sarah Dawson spent an agonized afternoon wondering why her husband had not come home for dinner. Bruno paced the floor with her, whimpering. Meanwhile, Dr. McDow confessed to the killing and was led off to jail, where he would await trial on a charge of murder.

In the days to come, Sarah and her children were distraught, but they understood that Frank was not coming back. Bruno was baffled. The dog took up his post at the gate every evening to watch for his master’s return. When Dawson failed to appear, the dog began to howl. The servants locked Bruno in the stable, but he continued to howl. After several sleepless nights, the neighbors threatened to poison him.

Finally Sarah took the dog upstairs to Dawson’s room, where he wriggled under the bed and emerged with an old pair of slippers. He laid them at Sarah’s feet and crouched, looking up at her expectantly. Sarah broke into tears. After that, Bruno seemed to understand that his master was gone. He stopped howling, but he also stopped eating. A veterinarian was called in, and the cook prepared special foods, but nothing could tempt Bruno to give up what the family called a “hunger strike.” Eventually, he collapsed and died.

Many in Charleston mourned for Frank Dawson, a towering figure in the post-Civil War city. But the Dawson family, Sarah and her children Ethel and Warrington, were shattered by another death as well. Members of the family wrote later that they felt they had lost Bruno to a clear case of “animal suicide.”

Read the full story of Bruno, and also of the great Charleston earthquake and the untimely death of Francis Warrington Dawson in Upheaval in Charleston: Earthquake and Murder on the Eve of Jim Crow (University of Georgia Press, 2011), by Susan Millar Williams and Stephen G. Hoffius.

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Carol Linville, the founder of Pet Helpers. Below, Carol and her early volunteers. (R) The new adoption center and spay & neuter clinic.

helping pets Past, Present & Future text by Stratton Lawrence photography by Laura Olsen Imagery with additional historical snapshots by Keegan Spera

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To understand the core of what makes Pet Helpers special among shelters, glance for a moment at the colorful ‘Enrichment’ program schedule taped to the wall in their kennel. On Mondays, the dogs living at Pet Helpers enjoy classical music over the house speakers. After their kennels are cleaned, their bedding is replaced with almond-scented linens. For activities, they’ll search for a treat in a ‘paper bag hunt,’ before spending the afternoon with a fresh rawhide.

Tuesdays are an entirely different affair. The music becomes bird songs, the day’s scent is black cherry, and activities include unraveling frozen green peas The original Pet Helpers shelter facility. Photo provided from a paper towel roll. Of course, there are also daily walks with volunteers,

by Keegan Spera. time to play in the outdoor kennel, and enough rope toys and Kong treats to keep a dog occupied for hours.

If the dogs could make their own decisions regarding the matter, they might opt never to leave. But that would leave another homeless dog without a safe haven.

Situated along Folly Road about five miles from Folly Beach, Pet Helpers is Charleston’s only no-kill animal shelter. When an animal arrives, they enter a loving environment where each staff member is committed to their rehabilitation, training, and placement in a good home. Most importantly, they will never be euthanized.

The Cat Lady In 1976, Carol and Bob Linville were contentedly selling cars along Folly Road. After meeting in Florida and moving to Charleston in 1974, the couple opened the Linville Car Center in the lot where Sweetwater Café now sits.

“We saved every dollar we had to open the business,” says Linville, recalling their first year of marriage in a West Ashley apartment with no furniture but two floor pillows and a foot locker. “Those were really the rolling quarter days.”

The couple spent much of their free time at Folly Beach, where a substantial population of feral cats roamed the island. Always an animal lover, Linville found her role in the community through a weekly column in the James Island Journal newspaper, helping to find homes for the strays.

For her ‘Pet of the Week’ column, coordinated with the John Ancrum SPCA (now the Charleston Animal Society), Linville and a small group of volunteers took a weekly picture of a pet at the shelter, developed it at the local camera shop and personally dropped it off at the publisher’s house.

“I did that every week for 15 years,” recalls Linville. “It was an insidious start to my life in animal welfare, like I got pregnant with something.”

Within a year or two of beginning the column, Linville had become known as ‘The Cat Lady.’ That moniker wasn’t due to her feeding the neighborhood strays, but for her willingness to take animals in need into her home.

Despite the tight times early on, the Linvilles cordoned off a section of their office for stray and unwanted cats that neighbors would drop by, building a network of volunteers who helped foster the animals and find them permanent homes. The couple paid for the costs of housing and feeding the animals on their own dime, only beginning to solicit donations specifically for medical expenses in 1979.

Carol being interviewed on the grounds of the old shelter.

Photo provided by Keegan Spera.

This article was graciously purchased as an auction item at the 2011 Fur Ball, and donated back to Pet Helpers by an anonymous patron.

est to keep did their b ff ta S . e id tion. Photo ere outs aited adop w kennels w a ll y a e r, th e lt e e sh s whil At the old inter month ring the w u d rm a w pets pera. y Keegan S provided b Lowcountrydog

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As Linville’s reputation grew, so did her involvement.

Her first efforts to enact policy c h a n g e s began with her encouraging the founding of a lowfacility. g at the new in ak cost spayre -b nd Grou and-neuter program at the SPCA, whereas before, people had to pay full-price and then apply for a rebate.

“They were sending home a kitten and ten were coming back,” she laments, adding that the phrase ‘just one litter’ from a pet owner still irritates her to no end.

In 1983, the Linvilles registered Pet Helpers as an official 501c3 non-profit and built a dedicated facility for the stray animals, housing as many as 17 cats and kittens at once, in addition to the handful of dogs that came and went through their doors. They closed up the car lot and switched their attention over to real estate on Folly Beach. All the while, their philanthropic hobby had become an all-consuming job.

“The cats were setting off the burglar alarm three times a week at two in the morning,” she recalls. “The police would call and we’d have to get up from Folly Beach and drive down there to the office.”

Eventually, the Linvilles added a second phone line to their house, freeing up an extra line for the constant calls about animals in need.

Carol also began the once-controversial practice of trapping Folly Beach’s feral cats to neuter and spay them, then releasing them back where they were found. It’s now a legal and encouraged practice for controlling wild cat populations in the most humane manner possible.

“Folly was overrun with cats and dogs in the ‘80s,” says Linville.

“They would tie them to a 4x4 post outside the police department until somebody could take them.”

In 1988, the day after Bob was first elected to Folly Beach City Council (he later served as the city’s mayor), Carol began her official growth from a caretaker into an activist. Catching a breath after a long campaign and a trying election day, she received a call about a traveling zoo set up in the South Windermere Shopping Center parking lot, complete with ponies, a rhinoceros, and two African elephants.

Arriving on the scene, it only took moments for Linville to recognize the horrific treatment the animals were receiving and the poor conditions in which they lived.

“I knew nothing about exotic animals, but I got on the phone and called three people who I knew would come and start a protest with me,” Linville remembers.

With makeshift signs in hand, the Linvilles found themselves confronting angry men who shoved a shopping cart into Bob’s stomach and were quick to display the knives strapped underneath their pant legs. When the police arrived, Linville refused to leave the

16

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protest, striking a deal that they’d remain on hand until 7 pm. Linville stood her ground until the zoo packed up to leave, before heading home to reach the S.C. Attorney General on the phone.

Four weeks later, the zoo owner was charged in Maryland with federal animal cruelty violations. Linville flew up to testify in district court and helped to secure sanctuary care for each of the 40 animals.

“That experience propelled me forward to keep challenging the status quo,” says Linville, prompting her to push for the creation of an animal welfare ordinance in Charleston County. “Thirty years ago, we were living in the 1800s in the way we handled animals in this community. Ninety percent of shelter animals were euthanized, and there were no animal welfare laws in place. I started researching ordinances, put one in front of County Council, called the media, and said I’m not going away until we get something in place. Six months later, we had an animal welfare ordinance.”

Volunteer Alexis Kaul helping out at the front desk.

R-L: Carol Linville, Erica Marcus, Lauren Lipsey and Kevin Ryan working the Mega Match-A-Thon at PetCo.

Vet staff Lauren Penoyer and Drenan Josey prep a patient.

Dog’s Best Friend Carol passionately speaking about the Pet Helpers Following her success at the county level mission at a past Fur Ball gala. (and establishing a similar ordinance and humane kennel on Folly Beach), Linville took her passionate campaign to Columbia, working over six years to make animal cruelty a felony at the state level. Locally, she took on any issue that arose, from ceasing the use of shelter animals in Berkeley County for medical research to closing down the Lowcountry’s last shopping center and mall pet stores (At today’s corporate pet stores like PetSmart, the dogs and cats available for adoption are rotated through from shelters like Pet Helpers).

In 1992, Pet Helpers moved out of the Linvilles’ office and established its own shelter space across the street from the current building at 1447 Folly Road. Because the shelter refused to euthanize, even for dogs and cats that arrived weak and sickly, their and Outreach Lauren Lipsey. “These guys often kennels remained perpetually full. live with us for a long time, so we’re able to tell Linville began to turn her attention toward you how they interact with other dogs and with altering public perception about ‘backyard humans and what their training is like.” breeders’ and puppy mills, even taking on Dogs and cats that arrive overweight or sick neighbors on James Island who bred Siamese cats are rehabilitated, and any health problems that in cramped, poor conditions. She winces when may persist are fully explained and on-the-table relating the ongoing case of a breeder with 100 before a decision to adopt is made. young hunting dogs kept in a dark, hot garage in “By the time a dog is adopted, their behaviors Orangeburg County. and any health issues have been dealt with,” “In my opinion, backyard breeders are The indoor kennels at the says Linville. “People are slowly beginning to see exploiting animals for money. It’s an underground new facility. that the best animals are found in shelters, not cash railroad and there’s really no accountability the worst.” for these animals; they’re inbred and over-bred,” laments Linville. “A lot of the animals at Pet Helpers come back to A Bright Future Ahead these breeders. The pit bull puppies are bred constantly, and there’s From its humble beginnings in a mobile office building to the no regulation, no control and no oversight. You can breed all you current $5 million facility, Pet Helpers has grown beyond even what want. It just makes us crazy.”

Linville could imagine. Carol and Bob have personally donated One of Pet Helpers’ biggest challenges today lies in continuing to hundreds of thousands of dollars and unthinkable amounts of reverse the public belief that shelter dogs are inherently damaged. hours into the shelter, without ever accepting a cent of monetary It’s true that in the past, animals in shelters were often sick or had compensation in return (Carol draws a small annual salary in order something wrong with them, and adopting them required a person to build social security credits that she donates, in full, back to the with that extra ounce of compassion. shelter).

These days, reality is almost 180 degrees away from that false With their example as the lead, board members themselves perception. About 25 percent of the dogs that pass through Pet have donated nearly one million dollars toward the new facility’s Helpers are pure bred, yet shelters remain behind word-of-mouth completion, which still needs $2.1 million to pay off its debt. Because from friends and family and individual breeders in the order of places Pet Helpers doesn’t euthanize (and is thus unable to accept every people think about when they’re looking to adopt a new pet. animal that it receives calls about), they’ve been ineligible for public That’s despite the fact that unlike many pets from the classifieds, funding. When Linville thinks about the estimated 35,000 animals Pet Helpers’ animals are vaccinated against disease, free of whose lives have been saved by Pet Helpers’ work, however, she heartworms, treated for parasites, and spayed or neutered. They’ve doesn’t question the decision to sacrifice even more of her own time also been socialized with both other humans and dogs, allowing and money. for a clear and accurate behavior report before being available for To this day, she still drives Bob’s truck to the Lowcountry Food adoption.

Bank a few times each month to pick up their extra pet food and cat “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I can’t adopt at a shelter. I don’t know litter, as much as 2000 pounds in a load. Pet Helpers distributes that the dogs’ history,’” explains Pet Helpers’ Manager of Public Relations food for free to any pet owner in the community in need, whether

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dog ownership; rather, they’re also taught about issues that affect Pet Helpers, from puppy mills to animal cruelty legislation. But what’s most fun for the campers is helping to run the daily enrichment programs that the dogs enjoy.

“It’s a real life experience for kids; not just a dog-and-pony show,” says Linville. “It’s both the pretty part of pet ownership and the reality of everything. It has to strike home.”

On Monday nights, Pet Helpers offers lowcost dog training classes, part of their effort to encourage owners to stick with pets that may have had trouble adapting to life in a new home.

In the coming year, Linville hopes that a Pet Helpers Veterinarian Janet McKim capital campaign will not only help to pay off the studies an x-ray. building but expand into a corner currently used for storage, opening up more kennel space and increasing the shelters’ capacity from its current max of 80-100 cats and 40-60 dogs. Pet Helpers they adopted from also hopes to hire a permanent education staff member, growing the shelter or not.

“It’s a programs like the summer camp and dog training seminars. The Fur community food Ball fundraiser, held this year on November 2nd, serves as the nonbank that’s open profit’s most important event of the year, bringing in over $150,000 for anyone who last year. In many ways, its success dictates what Pet Helpers is able . campers m o fr e shows up and to accomplish in a given year. e lov gets som s le b Although Linville is far from stepping down from her role in the b claims they’re Bu in need,” says Pet Helpers’ Lipsey. day-to-day operations of Pet Helpers (including her job as president “There’s no verification. We’d rather assist a loving owner of the board), she looks to staff members like Lipsey as the organization’s future. in need than have them feel forced to drop their pets off with us.”

“I was 31 when this all started,” says Linville. “I look at Lauren’s Those same principles of compassion apply to the shelters’ energy and her passion and I see myself.” myriad of other programs, from discount spay and neuter surgeries Hang out at Pet Helpers for just a few minutes and you’ll begin to at-cost heartworm preventative and flea treatment. Pet Helpers maintains a network of low-cost veterinarians and even offers to hear both heartbreaking and inspiring stories of pets that have come through the shelters’ doors. There’s Chugs, who was recently individual financial assistance in extreme cases.

Among Pet Helpers’ most recent projects is a fencing program, rescued (by car) from the streets of Baltimore, Maryland after his providing one fence each month for dog owners around the Lowcountry who are deemed to be loving caretakers but are forced by circumstance to keep their pet chained or tethered in the yard.

In addition, the shelter began hosting summer camps last year, expanding into three week-long sessions in 2012, each of which filled to capacity. Campers don’t just learn about the warm and fuzzy part of

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The kind and caring vet staff at Pet Helpers greet a patient.

microchip showed he’d been at Pet Helpers years before. One recent veteran, Gilligan, made headlines after Pet Helpers employee Jason Moore rescued him from an island in the Folly River.

At a large-scale public shelter, these sort of dramatic, personal stories might not be possible. When an animal’s situation is so dire, at many shelters, the only option is to euthanize.

Stroll through the kennel at Pet Helpers and it’s impossible not to fall in love with dogs like Huck, an amiable coonhound with droopy ears and yearning eyes.

It’s the passion and determination of both Pet Helpers’ staff and its volunteers for these animals that keeps the wheels turning, placing over 1000 cats and dogs with new owners each year. That’s not to mention the thousands of animals that have arrived ill and left healthy, ready to start a new life in a loving home.

“Hopefully some day we won’t have to worry about too many animals. We’ll have people standing out here for a lottery drawing to see who gets to adopt a dog or cat,” says Linville. “That’s my ultimate dream.”

Bark Your Calendars for the 8th Annual

Pet Helpers Fur Ball!

The Roaring ‘20s November 2nd

Marriott Hotel on Lockwood, Crystal Ballroom $150, all inclusive Live entertainment; Silent and live auctions (including the chance to bid on a Lowcountry Dog cover story about the topic of your choosing)

Click to www.pethelpers.org for more information and to purchase tickets online.

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happy hounds special edition: readers share old family photos

This is a photo of my dad when he was 3, along with his dog. Submitted by Carolyn Hoover.

Wilma Suessman and her dog Teddy (on the bench).

Connecticut, 1926. Submitted by Marisa Hedlund.

John Hunter, 5 years old and unknown dog.

1933. Submitted by Stephanie Hunter.

Inset: Lee A. Buck and his spaniel. 1925. Submitted by Matt Kinney.

Caroline Watkins with her dog Princess in March 1953. Submitted by Ashley Whitacre.

This is my dad Peter Jaegerr, age 7 in 1949. The family had several "Skippys" but this was the first. Submitted by Veronica O'Sullivan.

Bob & Henrietta Thoesen, their dog Pal, and Pete the bunny.

Colorado, 1933. Submitted by Melissa Limehouse.

Upload photos of your happy hound at www.lowcountrydog.com/share/photo All breeds and mixed breeds accepted.

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Lowcountrydog

upcoming events every saturday in the spring and summer. cas adoptable dogs at the marion square farmer’s market. every saturday pet helpers adoptions at petco, west ashley.

Dog Agility (LCDA) club will provide a free agility try-out and activity preference testing to assist you in selecting the right sport and/or class for you and your furry friend. Check www.lowcountrydogagilty. com for more information.

www.pethelpers.org for more info.

august 23rd 4:00pm james island dog park yappy hour. Dog lovers,

every saturday cas adopt-a-thon at petsmart mt pleasant. www.

reward yourself and your pooch after a long day at the office! Bring your favorite furry friend to enjoy live music and beverages. Yappy Hour is free with your park admission - $1 per person, or free for Gold Pass Members. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited. Rawberry Jam will be providing the music. Click to www. ccprc.com/index.aspx?nid=1181 for more info.

charlestonanimalsociety.org info.

for

more

august 11th 11:00am-2:00pm frwspca adoptathon at all is well. Adoption counselors from the Francis Willis SPCA on hand to help visitors find a new pet. All is Well 440 Old Trolly Rd. Click to www.summervillespca. org for more info.

august 15th 5:00pm-7:00pm carolina coonhound yappy hour.

Mt Pleasant Dog and Duck, Long Point Rd. www.carolinacoonhoundrescue.com for more info.

august 18th 12:00pm frwspca adoptathon. Pet Lovers Warehouse.

Come on out and adopt a furever friend!

Foster Pets & Shelter Pets are welcome. 620 Bacons Bridge Road, Summerville. Click to www.summervillespca.org for more info.

august 18th 10:00am-2:00pm carolina coonhound petfinder adoptathon. Tractor Supply in Ravenel off Hwy 17. $5 dog wash as well as adoptable hounds on site. www. carolinacoonhoundrescue.com for more info.

august 18th 6:30pm paint your pet benefit. An opportunity to paint your beloved furry friend under the instruction of experts, for a good cause! $65, includes painted canvas from the class, wine, and appetizers. wineanddesignus.com for more info.

august 21st 7:00pm lowcountry dog agility tryouts. Low Country

august 25th 12:00pm-3:00pm frwspca adoptathon. Summerville PetSmart. Bring home a furever family member! Click to www.summervillespca. org for more info.

september 8th 12:00pm-6:00pm carolina coonhound pig pickin and silent auction.

James Island County Park at the Wappoo shelter. $20 tickets must be purchased in advance. Email kelly@ carolinacoonhoundrescue or purchase online at carolinacoonhoundrescue.com/ events.

september 9th 12:00pm-4:00pm the animal hospital of north charleston open house. Come meet our new veterinarian Dr. Roth who is joining us from Ohio. Onsite training advice, wine and cheese for the adults and Teddy Bear surgery for the kids. Check out our website www.theanimalhospital.net or call (843)552-8278 with any questions.

8389 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC.

september 9th 12:00pm 4th annual dog day afternoon at whirlin waters. Large dogs can romp around in the 27,000-sq. ft. Big Kahuna wave pool, while smaller pooches can make a splash in the refreshing Otter Bay

kiddie pool. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at park concession stands. Advance admission is $10 per dog ($8 per Charleston County dog) and owners are free with their pets. Proof of your dog’s current vaccinations is required for entry to the event. For more information, call (843) 795-4FUN (4386) or visit www.ccprc. com.

september 15th 11am-4:00pm the 4th annual lowcountry paws and claws pet expo. With over 5,000 pet lovers and their furry sidekicks in attendance last year, this event is not one to be missed. There will be fun and educational demonstrations and presentations, adorable adoptable pets from local rescues, and numerous local businesses looking to cater to you and your pet's needs. For more information, contact Joyce Neville at (843) 937-5447 or jneville@postandcourier.com. Admission is $2, 12 and under are free! A portion of the proceeds goes directly to participating rescue groups and shelters. Event is held at the Exchange Park in Ladson, inside and outside the Exhibit Hall building. facebook.com/LowcountryPawsCharleston

september 20th 4:00pm james island county park yappy hour.

Dog lovers, reward yourself and your pooch after a long day at the office! Bring your favorite furry friend to enjoy live music and beverages. Yappy Hour is free with your park admission - $1 per person, or free for Gold Pass Members. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited. Taco Donkey will be providing the music. Click to www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?nid=1181 for more info.

Questions? Comments?

Call 843-478-0266.

Want to submit event information?

Visit www.lowcountrydog.com and click on Add an Event. We will do our best to include your event as space allows. Our online calendar lists all events in full.

Why Vets Distrust Online Pharmaci es

by Danie lle Cain, DVM

“Why won’t you write me a prescription to 1800-PetMeds?”

This is the question most likely to make any veterinarian cringe and run for cover.

People automatically think that the vet clinic is simply trying to make money.

Although I will not deny that this is a legitimate factor, it only constitutes a small fraction of the answer. There are so MANY reasons NOT to get your pets’ medications through a 3rd party and unauthorized pharmacy (PetMed Express, 1800-Petmeds, Walmart, etc) and I am happy to explain.

The MOST important thing pet owners need to be very aware of is that having a record that you purchased an FDA controlled medication from your veterinarian (or an authorized distributor) provides a warranty for it's effectiveness. The meds bought and distributed by independents, even VIPPS certified websites (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site), are not warranted for effectiveness by the companies that develop them. These supply chains are not monitored for storage/transportation conditions which can alter effectiveness.

During transportation to the pharmacies, the product may have frozen/thawed, been exposed to severe heat, any of which can alter effectiveness.

Legally, only a licensed veterinarian can obtain the original product for his or her own patients. Many of the drugs sold through 3rd party pharmacies have been resold or stolen. I've even had a client show me drug medication packaging with French writing.

Let's say that a horse veterinarian buys 1000 doses of Dog Revolution and puts it in the barn for a few weeks before it ships to 1800 Petmeds. Does it still work? Who knows? Let's say that a kennel tech in New Zealand needs some extra cash and steals 500 doses of Interceptor and sells it to an independent. It looks like the same thing you would obtain at your veterinary clinic. The box is in English. It is made by Novartis (the manufacturer). But do you think the overseas divisions of Novartis are subject to the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standards? Remember the Chinese pet food recalls? The previous chief of China’s FDA was beheaded in 2007 for accepting bribes to pass faulty medications! The realm of the internet/ phone pharmacy is the Wild West of Pharmaceuticals. Some of these drugs are packaged neatly in identical boxes on cute professional bona fide appearing web pages backed by large marketing budgets. In order to help spread awareness of this issue, the FDA circulated a brochure with warnings about online pharmacies (March 2010).

Regarding generic drugs, some seem as effective as the name brands, especially some antibiotics. But many generics are not equal to the original, even when the same active ingredient is listed.

The "inactive" ingredients can alter effectiveness plus duration, and may not even be detailed on the packaging.

Your veterinarian is the best professional

with the most knowledge about current products' pros and cons for your pet’s specific needs. Every prescription pad has a little box at the bottom that allows the Doctor to permit “product selection” or if it must be filled “exactly as written.”

Legally, this is the doctor’s choice, not 1800-PetMeds (no matter what they try to say). I have personally experienced problems with my own medications ordered through CanadaMedicineShoppe. com when they switched my brand, and I will be happy to share the story in person.

These companies have a long history of breaking state pharmacy board laws in order to make money from dog and cat owners. When they first started, the pharmacies hired foreign veterinarians to unethically write prescriptions for pets they had never examined so they could say, “See, we have a prescription.” I heard of one scenario where an Internet pharmacy used a legitimate local veterinarian's signature from one prescription over and over for the same pet because the owner continued to pay for the medication. The animal developed a problem related to the misuse of the drug, and the veterinarian had to face her state medical board and explain that her signature was used without her permission! Eventually, pharmacy boards in Florida, Alabama, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Louisiana all brought charges against the PetmedExpress (now 1800-Petmeds), but the monster corporation could easily afford the fines that were levied. A few hundred thousand dollars is a small price to pay when you’re worth 9 Million (dvm360 11/1/2002).

Oh, and their “money back guarantee” is only for the price of the drug, not the treatment necessary to treat your pet when a problem arises. Purchasing from your vet warranties that the drug company will help pay for the cost of treatment if there are side effects of the medication.

Some vets will write the client's requested prescription and charge a fee. The Animal Hospital will write appropriate prescriptions for free, but we try to educate people regarding the risks, and make sure to obtain a waiver. You can also take advantage of the free doses available directly through the hospital Continued on page 29

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In-Home Pet Sitting Dog Walking

(843) 817–DOGS (3647) www.seesamsit.com Ask about our new Web Cam Service that allows you to watch your pet through your computer or smartphone while you are away!

Saturday, Sept. 15 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Exchange Park in Ladson presented by

Mark your calendar with big paw print and make sure you and your pooch don’t miss Pet Expo! sponsored by

For more information go to:

postandcourier.com/petexpo

What’s Your Dog Doing Today?

Cageless Doggie Daycare Located within Pet Vet Animal Hospital

(843)884-7387 Dog Wranglers Kari Orga Shelley Kirby www.petvetsc.com

Veterinarians Dr. Brian King Dr. Gordon Luke Dr. Lara Allison facebook.com/zendogdaycare

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23

us solve the crimes by finding hidden clues. Finding the clues w o u l d require tracking a n d detection work, along with basic skills.

Most of these dogs had no experience doing tracking or detection work. Could we teach these skills in one weekend, or we would learn to rely on the dogs' natural instincts? To make things more interesting, we learned that failure to complete some exercises could result in losing a dog. Of course, we photo by Flickr User: Tambako the Jaguar, Creative Commons could buy them back, provided On a Thursday in May, I loaded my we had enough gold coins to do SUV with a crate, chair, dog treats and so. We could win coins as a group or as toys, and headed to Atlanta for a CCSI individuals, some were even hidden about workshop, based on the work and training the property. style of well known British dog trainer, We started the first day by playing John Rogerson. It is a series of problems some great games to proof existing skills. to be solved by using your dog’s natural Someone would hold a dog while the instincts, training and the handler’s handler dashed away and hid in the barn. ability to work as a unit with other dog/ Then the dog was called and had to “track” handler teams. The problem --- MURDER! the handler. We do this type of exercise in CCSI is like a living game of Clue, played training classes all the time, but we rarely with dogs. There were crime scenes, clues, do it in a horse lot full of smells, manure misdirection, penalties, bonus rewards, and 15 other dog/handler teams. thievery, sneaky competitors. In a word, I had no prior relationship with Radley, FUN! the terrific Border Collie mix, that I was Of course, I had no idea what to working. Radley’s human, Meredith, was expect. All I knew was that my good present as an instructor. Dare I hope that friend, Meredith Minkin, of Atlanta Radley would choose to find me and ignore based Canine PhD, (one of the presenters) Meredith? Hope springs eternal! My big said I would have a great time, learn lots plan was to get Radley VERY excited to of interesting things and be "training" find me by creating a super high energy out of the box. I would work with one of and fun departure. Radley completely Meredith's dogs. ignored her mom and found me in the The workshop was open to anyone barn. We were off to a good start! and the only restriction was that dogs The dogs and handlers had a quick had to be able to function around other lesson in tracking and detection. Humans dogs. That did not mean that dogs had learned how to handle leashes and stay to be perfect. In fact, there were several out of the dogs way. Then dogs were reactive dogs participating, a bonus, since introduced to gunshot residue and cadaver reactive dogs are often barred from group odor. The real issue was learning to read activities. the dogs when they are on the scent!

The workshop was held at a horse farm Dogs don’t need to “learn” how to find where dogs could work off leash for some something with their noses; they come portions of the game. We were divided equipped knowing how. into teams that would be together for the On the second day, we got our first look entire time. The dogs would be helping at the crime scene. Then we started a

Canine CSI

by Cindy Carter

series of timed exercises where the dogs found the clues. The clues were hidden, along with treats, in a bunch of eggs, no problem since dogs use their noses to find food all of the time. But we were in a horse lot where there were lots of other, maybe more interesting, smells. There’s always a twist: each handler would be blindfolded.

We had to rely on team members to guide us into the search area, keep us from falling over tree roots, and help us pick up the eggs once the dogs had found them. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, let me tell you, eggs roll when dogs push them with their noses. This may have been one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen: a bunch of adults, blindfolded, trying to follow leashes to the ground and pick up rolling eggs!

Each group had its own “track” in the horse lot with clues combined with food.

One dog worked at a time, and as soon as the first dog found a clue, the next dog started at that point. The only promise, no clues would be hidden in manure, but a few dogs really thought manure was the best thing going. A gold coin marked the end of your track.

Our next task was to find the gunpowder residue and the cadaver odor. The scent was on q-tips, suspended in tubes. Each dog could have as many chances as time allowed. Our job: don’t get in the way of your dog and observe all dogs so that we could make a decision about the correct location of the scents. The penalty for not completing the exercise correctly was losing a dog unless you could afford to buy him back with your gold coins.

We then had games that required thinking out of the box. For instance: Each dog has to go into a box or circle and retrieve odd objects. How do you make this happen as rapidly as possible? How about having a dog take a bunch of socks into a circle, without the handler, bring them back out, pass them to the next team, then take a picture with socks on all of the dogs?

We were introduced to 2 skills new for most of the dogs: a running wait and retrieving a piece of paper. Then we practiced another old skill, walking on a loose leash. By this time, you knew that something was going to happen that made Continued on page 27

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Lowcountrydog

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My Dogs

by Elizabeth Allston Pringle written in 1914

My Dogs Lord, shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, 0 God! XXXVI Psalm, Verse 7.

I am staying in the house with a dog called "Ted." As soon as he saw me he gave strong evidence of confidence and affection; I also felt as though I had met an old friend, he awoke memories. When I had just reached my thirtieth birthday, I was stunned by a terrible shock and sorrow. When the storm had cleared away and I found myself in the deadly calm and stillness which followed, the past was a mist, my memory was gone, and I groped about in the past searching for the life which had been so dear to me.

Ever since, some sight or sound or scent may wake that sleeping memory and for a time a picture emerges from chaos, and I revel in an episode of my life of long ago which I live over with delight and wonderful vividness. Such a picture came now at the touch of Ted's wooly coat.

I saw our house on the sea beach - long and low and entirely surrounded by wide piazzas. There, on the floor, in a passion of tears is a little girl, sobbing her heart out for some childish woe, when from the far end of the piazza with soft tread comes a big brownish-yellow dog, long hair falling over his eyes; bending over the little girl he licks her hand and her arms and then her face, and as she clasps her arms around his neck, down he flops beside her as close as he can get and the sobs cease, the tears dry up and the little girl is asleep.

This was Rollo the first dog friend I remember, our guardian, playmate, friend and consoler.

I must have been about four, when Rollo began to show signs of illness. It was summer and very hot. When I would go and lie down beside him and pat him, instead of snuggling up to me as usual, he would get up quietly and move away. Sometimes I would not take the hint, but follow him and try it again. With the same courtly politeness he would rise and find another spot, but never a growl or snarl.

At last my mother said: "My child, let Rollo be! Don't you see he is not feeling well? Respect his desire to be alone."

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This went on for a few days. We would follow Rollo about with a pan of milk, or soup, or a tempting bone, putting them down under his nose, but he neither ate nor drank, he would turn his head away, and with ever increasing effort drag himself up and go to the other end of the piazza, until one day when we were playing on the joggling board at the west end of the house, we saw Rollo walk down the path to the back beach, cross the driveway and go out into the marsh which lay between the Island and the mainland, and through which wound two bold creeks. We called, we whistled to him: "Rollo, come back." "Here Rollo, here!"

"Darling Rollo, come, oh come back."

Back one called in their own way, pleading, entreating, but on, steadily on, he went 'till we could see only his yellow curly back wriggling through the marsh like a huge caterpillar; then only his lovely curly yellow head; and then the marsh closed over him, and he was gone. We ran to Mamma crying bitterly, "Oh send Nelson after Rollo, please send quick, we can show him where Rollo went!"

But Mamma very near tears herself; answered, “No my child, Rollo has heard a voice calling him, louder then yours, the voice of the desert, the voice of the land of his forefathers, the voice of the wilderness, 'Come out alone to meet your Creator, let no human eye or voice recall you - alone, unseen, give back your life.'"

Of course we did not understand, but the solemn words made a deep impression. For days we watched the waving green marsh hoping Rollo might come back, but the days went into weeks and the weeks into months and he became only a loved memory, to be thought of when anything made you cry.

Written by Elizabeth W. Allston Pringle under the pen name of Patience Pennington. Text is courtesy of the Vincent P. Lannie collection, 1733-1974, Special Collections, College of Charleston Addlestone Library, Charleston, SC. Photo is a stock image.

To read the full work visit: www.lowcountrydigital.library.cofc.edu and use the search term Elizabeth Allston Pringle Writings.

Continued from page 24 these things critical.

On Day 3, we discovered why the out of sight recalls were so important. Each handler was handcuffed to a horse trailer and had to depend on her dog to bring her the keys and stay while the lock was opened, one handed. Oh boy, here I am, again, with a dog that I don’t know well.

Will Radley come to me, and stay long enough for me to get the key off of her collar, while Meredith is 10 feet away?

Yes and yes!!! Radley rocks!!! She got a standing ovation from everyone there.

We played some relay races while walking dogs on loose leashes and carrying paper cups filled with water. We had contests to see which dogs had learned to retrieve a piece of paper (there were some very creative ways this was accomplished).

So what about the running wait? We had practiced it, heard lots of whispers and giggles. I was not worried. Radley had been letter perfect each time we had practiced. Bring it on!

Suddenly, we noticed the crew heading into the barn with a large bucket and silly grins. Each team was invited to come to the barn to demonstrate the running wait.

The penalty if your dog didn’t stop on the line-- a bucket of water was dumped out of the hay loft. More people got wet than not.

But Radley was perfect, I just knew it. It was finally our turn. Someone held Radley, I called her, gave the wait cue, she stopped, then took off after something behind me in the barn. Splat!, a bucket of water on my head. It was a welcome relief from the heat!

There were lots of other games that weekend, but I just wanted to recount some of the more memorable. Who solved the murder? Not my team. We discovered that we were much better thinking out of the box, training wise, than we were as detectives. Did anyone care that we didn’t solve the murder? No! CCSI will be coming to Charleston sometime in the fall, so keep your eyes and ears open, and check www.

MindfulManners.net for your chance to play with your dog!

Looking for a new best friend?

Pet Helpers Adoption Events Every Weekend at from 12pm - 4pm

975 Savannah Highway, Charleston (843) 852-4563 wwww.petco.com

To find out more about Pet Helpers and the animals available for adoption go to www.pethelpers.org

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adoption

Lowcountry Lab Rescue Lowcountry Lab Rescue (LLR) is a 501© 3 animal welfare organization that rescues and rehomes stray and unwanted Labrador Retrievers from lifethreatening situations. LLR promotes responsible Labrador ownership through breed education and spay and neuter advocacy to prevent abandonment and homelessness of Labrador Retrievers.

LLR takes in Labradors from animal shelters, that are going to be euthanized because that are determined to be "unadoptable." This could mean that the dog needs more medical care than the shelter can afford or that the dog needs obedience lessons or simply that the dog is black in color. Black dogs are the last dogs to be adopted in animal shelters.

Most of the Labs that we get into foster care are wonderful Labs that need love, structure, and attention. But some of them have manners and just got lost. We get lots of obedience trained, house trained, well-behaved Labs.

Lady is an approximately 8 year old female. Good with everything.

She is a gentle soul just looking for some company.

Buster is a 10 year old gentleman. He walks well on a leash and is completely housebroken.

He doesn’t require a crate; he will just lay on the dog bed and wait for you to come home! He loves affection and is very gentle. Buster will make a great companion for someone looking for a calm, laid back dog.

Spencer is 4 yo male- owner surrender to the shelter. Spencer is very sweet and eager to please.

Knows basic commands and does well with other dogs. Spencer is a great people dog! Was in a loving home that fell on hard times! Now he needs his next family to give this story a happy ending!

Meet Cooper, a 5 year old chocolate male. Very sweet and laid back, just wants to be loved on!

To learn more about LLR, our adoptable dogs, our foster program, or volunteer opportunities please visit www.lowcountrylabrescue.org

Farrah is a 4 year old black female. She is good with other dogs and LOVES children. She is crate trained, knows some obedience and is spayed. Very sweet and loving according to her foster mom.

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Miss Mason was surrendered for being ‘too old’. She is a sweet, affectionate little girl weighing in at about 55 pounds. She loves children, other dogs and cats! She will fit right into your home! Mason is house broken & crate trained. Mason is looking to spend her golden years being appreciated for the super girl she is

Continued from page 22 when a multi pack is purchased. The best alternative is for veterinary clinics to partner with an accredited pharmacy that works with the manufacturers and delivers an intact warranty. We use VetSource and they match most of their prices (especially flea/tick and heartworm prevention) to 1800-PetMeds every quarter. They also offer convenient monthly automatic delivery with free shipping for single doses! I’m excited about that because I hope it makes it easier for busy pet owners to protect their pets each month from deadly, preventable diseases like Heartworms.

Full disclosure: does your veterinarian receive a percentage of the sale through a partnered accredited pharmacy? Yes – they do! But it is not very much, maybe 5-10%. Think about the “Buy Local” movements you hear about these days.

Veterinary hospitals are small local businesses and we do need to make a profit in order to pay our overhead and survive. But the other internal benefit is that VetSource outsources some of YOUR prescription filling needs without us letting go of control of the prescription.

We can make sure that the patient is on the right medication, see they receive the correct amount, and catch gaps in their protection (which is impossible with a 3rd party site). Outsourcing some prescriptions to the internet through a partnered site allows the hospital to keep other fees lower because we can spend more time being doctors and less time managing multitudes of faxes every day.

It saddens me more than I can explain when I hear any veterinarian being accused of “only in it for money.” 99.9% of the veterinarians joined this profession based on a sincere calling to help animals.

I hope that our clients would rather trust us than spend their valued time combing the Internet for sales of drugs that MIGHT save a few dollars, if anything.

Besides, isn’t the peace of mind that your furry friend is receiving an FDA approved, US made, warranted, carefully handled drug worth an extra $5-10?

Danielle Cain is the lead veterinarian at The Animal Hospital of North Charleston.

Does Your Dog Need Help With

photo by EuroMagic

• Basic manners? • Biting or Nipping?

• Crate training? • Housetraining?

• Jumping on people? • Loose leash walking?

• Therapy dog training?

Then contact Jill Lundgrin!

In-home or class instruction Positive reinforcement • Clicker training specialist

Jill Lundgrin, trainer

843-607-7193 www.CoastalCanineAcademy.com Helpful Tips at www.facebook.com/coastalcanineacademy

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Dr. Danielle Cain, DVM

Animal Hospital

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Lowcountrydog

Daniel Island Animal Hospital 291 Seven Farms Drive Ste 103 Daniel Island, SC 29492

(843) 881.7228 • www.danielislandvet.com

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Come for the View.

Stay for the Food!

Diverse menu featuring fresh, local seafood and plenty of delicious land lover options.

Live Music Throughout the Week!

Mt. Pleasant

Located On Historic Shem Creek Est. 2 0 0 4

Seabrook

Bohicket Marina Opening Spring 2010

A Local Favorite!

Voted Best Waterfront Bar 2004 - 2010 and Best Mt. Pleasant Bar 2007 - 2010

Nightly Features!

Crab Legs, Local Shrimp, Oyster Roasts & More!

Happy Hour!

50¢ Off All Domestic Beer and Cocktails

Yappy Hour.

Perfect for you & your pooch! The 2nd Wed. of Every Month!

Mt. Pleasant • On Historic Shem Creek • 98 Church St. • 843.388.0003 ◆ w w w. r e d s i c e h o u s e . c o m Seabrook • Bohicket Marina • 1882 Andell Bluff Blvd. • 843.518.5515 ◆ As Local As You Can Get.