2020 All About Pets

ALL T ABOU

S T PE

2020

Presented by the Messenger-Inquirer

These stories

& more inside

• Pampered Pets ............... Page 2 • Spaying/Neutering ......... Page 3 • Pet Dental Care ................ Page 4 • Veterinarians ................... Page 4 • Animal Shelters ............... Page 4 • Pet-Proof Floors .............. Page 4 • All About Pets Contest .... Page 5 • Dog Disc Club ................. Page 6 • Adoption Do’s/Don’ts ..... Page 7 • Pet Food FYI ................... Page 7 • Pet Services .................... Page 8

Sunday, February 23, 2020

2 ALL ABOUT PETS

Messenger-Inquirer Sunday, February 23, 2020

Photo by Greg Eans, Messenger-Inquirer.com

Beth Chandler of Owensboro holds her Bichon Frises, Alvin, left, and Lincoln on her lap as Sugar rests behind her on the couch.

PAMPERED

Americans’ spending on pets hits record number

L

BY RENEE BEASLEY JONES MESSENGER-INQUIRER

ots of bling hangs behind Beth Chandler’s bedroom door.

None of it is hers.

Every piece — enough to start an online pet accessory business — belongs to her three perfectly coiffed Bichon Frises: Sugar, Lincoln and Alvin.

Sugar wears feather bows in her hair all the time. The guys wear bowties. They own seasonal outfits, Halloween costumes, and loads of collars with matching leashes.

Twelve portraits of these pampered pooches dress Chandler’s living room walls. (About every three years, she takes her dogs for professional photo shoots.) The trio eats Royal Canine dog food during the day while Chandler works.

As an evening treat, she feeds them homemade breaded chicken strips.

According to American Pet Products Association, pet owners across the nation spent a record $72 billion on their

dogs, cats, hamsters and other pets in 2018, an increase of more than $3 billion from the previous year.

Chandler wasn’t surprised to hear that. She estimates she spends close to $400 a month on grooming, food, toys and accessories alone. She paid a combined total of more than $4,000 for her three pups.

In the past 11 years, Chandler has spent about $8,000 on Sugar’s surgeries for kidney stones, a torn ACL and urinary tract infections. A spider bit Alvin on the neck in February, causing skin issues. For the past three months, he has needed medicated baths twice a week at a cost of $10 per treatment.

There’s a doggie door in the utility room with a special ramp for the trio. They have steps leading to the brown leather sofa in the living room, where they have a fuzzy blanket to lie on and toys to chew.

Chandler’s house is a pup palace.

“My son says I love the dogs more than I do him,” she said, with a chuckle.

Editor’s note: A version of this story ran in the Dec. 30, 2019 edition of the Messenger-Inquirer.

Sunday, February 23, 2020 Messenger-Inquirer

ALL ABOUT PETS

A MESSAGE FROM THE

T

DAVIESS COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

he Daviess County Animal Shelter is dedicated to not only policing complaints of animal neglect, abuse and ordinance violations, but also fostering awareness concerning the lifesaving practice of spaying and neutering. Providing low-cost spay/neuter options is one way we strive to give back to our community.

To continue the downward trend of Daviess County euthanasia rates, the shelter actively promotes and encourages spaying and neutering of animals. In 2019, the shelter took in 1,996 cats and 1,451 dogs. Our goal is to see a decrease in the intake numbers annually, due in no small part to the continuing success of the many low-cost spay/neuter programs available to pet owners.

We strive to educate the public on both the physical and ethical benefits of spaying and

online

neutering. These benefits include a reduction in the number of litters born each year; eliminating numerous health issues (such as cancer, uterine infections, etc.); and avoiding injuries due to territorial fighting in cats, as well as behavioral and aggression issues in dogs.

Daviess County is home to several low-cost spay/neuter options. Offered directly through our facility is the year-round SNAP Voucher Program, which is for individuals who meet low-income guidelines or receive government assistance. With simply bringing proof of your qualifications to the shelter, vouchers are available for cats at $30 and dogs from $55-$85.

In 2019 alone, over 500 vouchers were issued, immediately decreasing litters of kittens and puppies by significantly over that number!

For pet owners who do not qualify for

our program, please contact the following organizations, whose programs are not income-based: Spay-A-Stray at (270) 925-1720; the Humane Society at (270) 302-6813; and SNIPZ at (270) 212-9025. For programs closer to home if you live out of the county, or know someone who does and needs assistance, contact your local animal shelter, humane society or other animal welfare organization.

There are numerous ways you can help the Daviess County Animal Shelter: volunteer; donate food, supplies or money; become a rescue transport driver; foster; adopt; or spay and neuter. Suspected animal abuse and neglect can be reported, anonymously if desired, to the shelter at (270) 685-8275. We need the community’s eyes and ears to help keep the animals safe. Please be the voice for the voiceless!

Be sure to visit our website, www.daviessky.org, to view adoptable animals, learn more about our facility, make an online donation and access our adoption applications.

Roommates Wanted Adopt a pet from your local animal shelter

ut o b a s u Ask cost low uter e spay &onns! opti

Daviess County Animal Shelter www.petango.com/daviesscountyanimalcontrol 2620 HWY 81 • OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY 42301 P: 270-685-8275 F: 270-685-6137 dcacanimals@yahoo.com

3

4 ALL ABOUT PETS

Messenger-Inquirer Sunday, February 23, 2020

L A T N DE E R A C FOR S T E P FROM

MER

THE A

INARY

ETER ICAN V

VETERINARIANS AUDUBON ANIMAL HOSPITAL also offers boarding and grooming 2450 W. Parrish Ave., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 684-7288 audubonah.com BLUEGRASS VETERINARY SERVICES, PLLC 602 S. Main St., Beaver Dam, KY 42320 (270) 955-2090 EAST SIDE ANIMAL HOSPITAL also offers boarding 3148 Alvey Park Drive East, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 685-0839 eastsideanimalhospital.vet

EGE

L COLL

DENTA

• Brushing an animal’s teeth is the single most effective means to maintain oral health between professional vet examinations. Bacteria that forms naturally in an animal’s mouth will contribute to the formation of plaque which, left untreated, can lead to periodontal disease. By brushing away the precursors to plaque, pet owners can achieve optimal dental health for their pets from the very start.

• Signs of potential oral problems include bad breath, abnormal chewing, disinterest in eating, swelling in the gums, tenderness when the mouth is touched, or bleeding.

• Pets can grow accustomed to teeth being brushed or wiped with patience. As they adjust, use oral rinses and special chews to help reduce plaque formation.

ANIMAL SHELTERS DAVIESS COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL 2620 Kentucky 81, Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 685-8275 daviessky.org/departments/ animal-control/ HANCOCK COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 305 Gene Hayden Road, Lewisport, KY 42351 (270) 927-8544 hancockky.us/Events/ AnimalRescueInfo.htm MCLEAN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 1508 Kentucky 136 East, Calhoun, KY 42327 (270) 499-2556

MUHLENBERG COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY 615 Muhlenberg Drive, Greenville, KY 42345 (270) 338-6940 • muhlpets.com OHIO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 1802 Country Club Lane, Hartford, KY 42347 (270) 298-4499 ohiocounty.ky.gov/services/ Pages/ocas.aspx OWENSBORO HUMANE SOCIETY 3101 W. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 302-6813 owensborohumane.org SPARKY (SAVING PAWS ANIMAL RESCUE OF KY) (270) 684-4787 • sparkyrescue.com

GREENVILLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL PSC 300 Dean Road, Greenville, KY 42345 (270) 338-0487 KENTUCKIANA ANIMAL CLINIC also offers boarding, grooming and daycare 1500 E. 18th St., Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 684-2949 kentuckianaanimalclinic.com

MUHLENBERG COUNTY ANIMAL HOSPITAL 815 N. Second St., Central City, KY 42330 (270) 754-9459 OHIO COUNTY ANIMAL CLINIC PLLC 986 Oakwood Drive, Hartford, KY 42347 (270) 298-3109 OWENSBORO ANIMAL HOSPITAL 135 Salem Drive, Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 926-1888 ROUGH RIVER VETERINARY CLINIC 1445 U.S. 231, Hartford, KY 42347 (270) 298-7230 TOWNE SQUARE ANIMAL HOSPITAL also offers boarding and grooming 4804 Towne Square Court, Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 685-1111 • tsahvet.com WILLS ANIMAL HOSPITAL also offers boarding 3030 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 684-3201 • willsanimal.com

G N I R O R FLO

P U D N STPA S W A P ET U O Y P L HE

WITH

THESE

TIPS

TO

• Lean toward laminate hardwood or vinyl. Although natural hardwood is gorgeous, it scratches easily and is costly to fix. Pwet nails are particularly damaging to hard surfaces, but new vinyl and laminate products are increasingly resilient to paws while providing luxurious, real-wood effects.

• If you prefer carpet, choose a material that is durable as well as resistant to stains, soil and the oils from pets’ coats. Select flooring in a color that can hide small bits of dirt and debris in between vacuuming. Exercise caution with loop carpets — the weaving can allow pets’ nails to catch on the fabric.

Find pet-resistant flooring options at Floor Concepts, Inc. in Owensboro.

Sunday, February 23, 2020 Messenger-Inquirer

ALL ABOUT PETS

5

ALL ABOUT PETS CUTEST PET CONTEST WINNER Congratulations to SADIE, Owner: Alexis Gay WINNER of the $150 Gift Card to

KITTY KAT

Owner: Jane McLimore

IN HONOR OF

STELLA GRACE Owner: DJ Guittar

IN HONOR OF

GRACIE GRAY Owner: Joy Sumner

DODGER

Owners: Kevin & Kay Dotson

MYLA

Owner: Jean Julius

CHARLIE

Owner: David Morgan

Sponsored By:

Messenger-Inquirer Print. Mobile. Web.

IN HONOR OF

KOBEA JO

09/17/2017 Owner: Rick & Teresa Sallee

ASHER Owners: Vicki & Bill Spencer

SADIE

Owner: Alexis Gay

MISS KITTY Pretty in Pink

Owners: The Pollards

ROXY

Age: Two Years Old Owners: John, Dina, & Coy Filbert

STAR & LUNA Owner: The Dunlop’s

6 ALL ABOUT PETS

Messenger-Inquirer Sunday, February 23, 2020

Disc Dog club kicks off in Sacramento MESSENGER-INQUIRER

PLUMBING & HEATING CO. INC.

Industrial-Commercial-Residential GER-INQU EN IR SS

That’s the beauty of Toss and Fetch; if your dog can chase a Frisbee, we can have some fun.”

The Sacramento Disc Dog club will play for the next four consecutive Saturdays for its first season of the year at the Sacramento Lions Club, off of Kentucky 2383. Handlers will have to pay $40 for club dues, which also covers one dog, and $10 for each additional dog entered after that.

JONES INSURANCE AGENCY

S’

2019

CE

ER

ER

D

: AS TO E D I Y M STOR R ER.CO U R I O Y U Q D ER-IN SEN SSENG E M @ NEWS

SCOTT BAIRD

REA

L

EL T S U LET

!

S R U O Y

great activity for the community.

“When I saw it, I thought we could do this down in Sacramento … it would be good for the kids to actually get out and do something fun outdoors,” he said.

McLaughlin said the club is open to anyone of any age.

“Disc Dog is probably the most open and fun, cheapest thing you can do with your dog,” he said. “It’s open to anyone.

OI

a play-by-play from announcers and gaining national attention.

Now, more than 40 years later, McLaughlin said 2020 will be the biggest year of Disc Dog yet, with about 3,000 participants in 18 different countries.

McLaughlin said he got the idea to get a Disc Dog club started in Sacramento after he competed in a club with a friend and thought it would be a

S. TORIE

ES

V WE LO

Photo by Christie Netherton/Messenger-Inquirer

Sacramento Disc Dog club member Darlene Haas retrieves a Frisbee from her dog, Freedom.

C

H

f one has a dog and a Frisbee, they meet more than the needed requirements to join a Disc Dog club, part of a worldwide K9 Frisbee “Toss and Fetch” league.

An official Disc Dog club was started in Sacramento recently by Jeremy McLaughlin, club captain. The club kicked off its first season of the year on Feb. 1. This year will also be its first to participate in the Toss and Fetch worldwide league, McLaughlin said.

Each club holds five seasons throughout the year, with five weeks of toss and fetch for each season.

Each team, consisting of a dog and its handler, will then earn a cumulative score over the five-week season that is then compiled into an overall league score for each club and ranked worldwide.

To play, handlers toss a Frisbee on a 50-yard trapezoidal field divided into 10-yard sections. Handlers then throw the disc, and the further away the dog captures the disc from the starting point, the more points it receives, so long as the disc is caught in bounds. Jump captures earn dogs an extra half-point. Junior and beginner handlers get 10 points just for throwing a frisbee, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said the idea of Disc Dog came about after former Ohio State University student Alex Stein snuck onto the Dodgers Stadium outfield during a Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds game in 1974 and started tossing a Frisbee with his dog, Ashley Whippet, receiving

M E

I

BY CHRISTIE NETHERTON

P L AT I N U M

Phone 683-6427

724 Time Dr. • Owensboro, KY

1911 Old Henderson Road One Block South of 9th & Crabtree

AUTO-HOME-FARM-BUSINESS LIFE-HEALTH

Lic. #MO1723

270-691-9100 www.joneswoolfolkins.com

&

ALL ABOUT PETS

Sunday, February 23, 2020 Messenger-Inquirer

DO’S S T ’ N O N D O I T P O D A F O FROM

T

VIESS HE DA

IM

TY AN

COUN

R

ELTE AL SH

Be patient! It takes approximately 3 days for your new pet to relax, 3 weeks to learn your routines/expectations, and 3 months to realize they are finally HOME. Establish simple routines and stick with them. Realize that your new pet has just come from the most stressful environment imaginable – an animal shelter where the noise is constant, the sights and smells are ever changing, and everything they once knew and loved was suddenly no more.

Pet

WITH

I Y F d o o F SHEBA

N

TURAL G’S NA

TION,

SELEC

INC.

• Raw meaty bones can provide amino acids/protein, antioxidants, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber, marrow, natural calcium, and a wide array of speciesappropriate minerals and vitamins.

Be forever! After 3 months, your new pet now sees you, your family, and your home as their “home base.” You are now their pack.

It’s traumatizing to the animal in ways we humans simply cannot understand to lose their home just once; to lose it a second, third or even fourth time is just unbearable to their hearts and their basic genetic wiring of being a pack animal. Consider your choices carefully, research the breeds beforehand and be prepared for a 12+ year commitment.

• Kibble and raw food are digested differently, so never feed them together in the same meal.

Adopt! All across this country, millions of cats and dogs are languishing in animal shelters and rescue groups. Are you looking for a teeny, tiny toy chihuahua? A fluffy Pomeranian? A giant Great Dane? Google search. You WILL find one in a shelter or rescue! By adopting your next pet, you will not only be saving hundreds of dollars, you will also be saving a life that may otherwise never see another couch again.

• Supplemental use of probiotics can help re-establish normal intestinal function, as well as provide amino acids, minerals, predigested enzymes and vitamins.

DO

• Most pets eat 2% to 10% of their body weight. The amount depends on your pet’s age, size, metabolism and breed, and if it is spayed or neutered.

• Vegetables need to be pulped using a blender, juicer or food processor before feeding them to pets. Dogs can’t digest cellulose. Since plant cell walls are made of cellulose, they have to be crushed so dogs can get the nutrients out of them.

Expect perfection! Each animal is a unique being. It may be true that your new pet “looks just like my old one,” but they will have completely different personalities, learning abilities and funny little quirks. Take the extra time to get to know THIS new pet. Don’t expect new Fido to know that you don’t like slobbery kisses, or to stay off a certain chair or rug. You will have to teach your new pet the behaviors you want them to have.

T ’ N O D

Encourage bad behavior! With a new pet, you have to think long-term in your every interaction. It may not be adorable in a couple years when Fido has grown and is greeting people by enthusiastically jumping on them!

Begin working with your new pet on their manners and socialization skills as soon as they have adjusted to your home and are fully vaccinated (i.e. has received the entire series of vaccines, not just 1 or 2).

Give up! Give the dog, and yourself, time to adjust, learn and heal.

Adopting a new pet can sometimes be a challenging experience, but we promise you – it will be the most rewarding experience of your life if you hang in there and keep trying! Not only will you know, each time you look at your pet, that you are the reason they are still alive today, but your new best friend will also know that fact and repay you in love, loyalty and laughs for the rest of their furry little lives!

Pet Health Food Store “We care for your pets from the inside out”

* Raw Diet * Boarding * Training * Grooming * Premium Kibble * Supplements * Great Dane Rescue Phone: (812) 649-5000 Fax: (812 649-5001 914 No. State Road 161 • Rockport, IN shebangdanes@yahoo.com www.rawnaturaldiet.com

7

8 ALL ABOUT PETS

Messenger-Inquirer Sunday, February 23, 2020

PET SERVICES ALL ABOUT PAWS DOG WALKING AND CAT SITTING dog walking • cat sitting • lunchtime potty breaks Owensboro area allaboutpawsowensboro.com

J. GREENLAND PET SITTING pet sitting • dog walking • pet taxi • farm/equine visits • hotel pet sitting • pet food and supply delivery Daviess County and surrounding area (270) 993-1980 • jgreenlandpetsitting.com

PAWS CLAWS & HOOVES LLC grooming • daycare • training • boarding 2803 W. Parrish Ave., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 925-4558 • pawsclawshoovesllc.com PAWS TOWN, LLC boarding • daycare • grooming • training 3101 Alvey Park Drive West, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 688-0908 • pawstownllc.com

KAREN’S PET GROOMING grooming • boarding 4906 Old Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 926-0199

BIG PAW LITTLE PAW ‘THE PAW SPA’ mobile grooming Daviess County, KY and Perry, Spencer and Warrick counties, IN 1428 S. Old State Road 45, Rockport, IN 47635 (812) 549-5674 • bigpawlittlepawspa.com

MY FISH DOCTOR aquarium design, installation and service • retail store 1743 Daviess St., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 684-3331 • facebook.com/owensborofishdr/

CANINE KINGDOM daycare • boarding • training 1071 Kentucky 2533, Greenville, KY 42345 (270) 377-3048 • facebook.com/caninekingdom2533/

NO PLACE LIKE HOME PET SITTING LLC pet sitting • overnight stays • dog walking Owensboro and surrounding area (270) 231-5184 • nplhpets.com

PETSMART grooming • training • retail store 5241 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 688-0412 • www.petsmart.com

THE DAPPER DOG, LLC grooming • training • daycare 3238 Kidron Valley Way, Suite 1, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 478-1057 • facebook.com/thedapperdoggrooming/

ON THE GO STUDIO, INC. mobile dog grooming Owensboro area • (270) 570-1033 owensborogrooming.com

SHEBANG’S NATURAL SELECTION INC. retail store • dog training • grooming • boarding 914 State Road 161, Rockport, IN 47635 (812) 649-5000 • rawnaturaldiet.com

EQUESTRIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. horse boarding • riding lessons • mobile petting zoo 965 Buford Road, Utica, KY 42376 (270) 929-4597 • poniesandzoos.com

PAMPERED PAWS grooming • boarding 2779 Veach Road, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 222-5794 • pamperedpawsky.com

TOWNE SQUARE PET RESORT boarding • grooming 1201 Nicholas Drive, Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 663-7387 • tspetresort.com

Yo

his?

I k did t n i h t u

Floor Concepts, Inc. “Stands Up to Life’s Messes!”

3100 New Hartford Rd Owensboro, KY Showroom Hours: Monday Thru Friday 8am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 2pm

THE PET MANNY, LLC daycare • boarding • grooming 3990 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 240-5101 • petmanny.myonlineappointment.com

• Water Proof Backing • Stain And Soil Resistance Protection • No Wrinkle • No Edge Raveling • No Delamination

ON SALE NOW! 270-231-8110 • 270-929-5944