Pet & Animal Enthusiast February 2012

NEBRASKA/IOWA FEBRUARY 2012 PAEMagazine.com

FALLING IN

Love WITH YOUR

PET

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1. Wet Noses Organic Treats: These paw-some treats are made in the USA and contain no chemicals, artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, corn, wheat or soy. Available in a variety of flavors like Apple & Carrots and Dogranola.

fab five

Everything you need to pamper your animal companion... from gourmet food, to baked treats, to packaged treats, to toys and accessories or a day at the doggie spa!

Village Pointe • www.threedogomaha.com • Midtown Crossing

2. Angels for Animals candles: These candles were inspired by a lifelong passion for animals. These soy candles are made in the USA. A portion of the proceeds benefit animal welfare.

Available in a variety of scents.

3. Pink Heart Vanilla Wafers: To Love Me is to Spoil Me! Spoil your best friend with these popular Pink Heart Vanilla Classic Wafers and lots of love. Exclusively for Valentines Day only at Three Dog Bakery. Pink Heart Vanilla Wafers are a healthy, delicious, all natural way to your dogs' heart!

4. Safechew Gimme Gummy: Pet Safe products are safe, fun, and durable products for the furry members of your family. Their priority is to ensure that the toys pets use and play with are safe for them and the rest of their family. That's why they rigorously test their products in a way that simulates a pet's behavior as well as meeting federal standards for children's toys. All are veterinarian tested and approved.

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5. NEW California Natural Grain Free Food:

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Pure and simple nutrition just got even better.

Available in Venison, Lamb, Chicken, Salmon and Kangaroo. This grain free line of food is designed so that it is easy to switch up the variety of food your dog eats so that they can always be expanding their palate and not upsetting their tummies.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear Animal Lovers, FEBRUARY, THE MONTH DEDICATED TO LOVE. Most of us have experienced the sensation of “Falling in Love”. There is a sense of excitement when we know we are going to spend time with that special someone. As I mentioned last month, this feeling is not just reserved for the typical “boy meets girl” relationship but also exists for the boy/girl meets furry friend.

We recently asked our readers and facebook followers to send in their “Love” stories and the response was overwhelming!

On the cover (and the winners of our Falling in Love contest) are Husker and Sammy. These two adorable Dachshunds are the animal companions of Julie Siebler. We had the opportunity Andrea & Sophie, adopted 6-25-2010

to meet and photograph the three at the Pet & Animal Enthusiast headquarters on 72nd & Izard.

Husker and Sammy spent a good amount of time exploring the facility before making their way

up to my office for the photo shoot. On page 6-7 you will meet the top 10 runners up. It was a tough decision as we received so many heartwarming stories! Stay tuned for future PAEMag cover contests.

PETastic Awards!

Over the past couple of months we have been encouraging folks to VOTE for their favorite pet-related businesses and pet-friendly businesses. We could not be more pleased with the response. The voting deadline is February 17th so if you have not had a chance to fill out our online ballot I encourage you to go to www.PAEMagazine.com and vote. Winners will be announced in our May edition.

Once again, while you are on our website we also encourage you to sign up for our e-newsletter “Fur, Fins, Feathers and more!” You can also “LIKE” Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine on Facebook and don’t forget to enter our Pet of the Week Contest. Winners will appear on our facebook page.

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!

k

Andrea L. Hoig

PUBLISHER

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Story: 6. Cover Falling in Love With Your Pet pet & ANIMAL enthusiast

FEBRUARY 2012

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

6 Falling in Love With Your Pet

IN EVERY ISSUE

3 Letter From the Publisher

7 PET LOVE STORIES: Our Top 10 Contest Entries

8 HEALTH & WELLNESS: Can Supplements Really Help My Pet?

12 PET OF THE MONTH: Dove

13 RECIPE: Sweet Treats For Your Sweet Pets

14 PET LOSS: Getting Another Dog or Cat: Moving On After Pet Loss

Cover Photography by Mona K Photography

Supplements 8. Can Really Help My Pet?

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT

10 Domesti-PUPS: The Canine Companion Cure

Recipe Card: 13.PAE Sweet Treats For Your Sweet Pets

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FEBRUARY ISSUE 2012 VOL. 1 NO. 3 www.PAEMagazine.com PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea L. Hoig ART DIRECTOR Vikki Reed ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Dawn Pieke Katie Fourney sales@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com ADMINISTRATION Francesca Peterson WEB CONTENT MANAGER Megan Swigart PHOTOGRAPHERS Mona Kay Ashley Wall Dan Flanigan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Molly Garriott Melinda Brink CONTACT PET & ANIMAL ENTHUSIAST P.O. BOX 241611 / OMAHA, NE 68124 402-333-7499 ADVERTISING/SALES INQUIRIES sales@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com PRESS RELEASES/GENERAL INQUIRES info@PAEMag.SpiritofOmaha.com

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www.PAEMagazine.com Like us on Facebook and stay up-to-date with local pet and animal news and events.

OUR MISSION: To serve as a local source of information, education and inspiration for pet guardians, animal welfare advocates, and animal lovers.

OUR COMMITMENT: To make a positive difference for the pets and animals in our community by encouraging responsible pet guardianship and serving as a reliable and convenient pet and animal resource. We strive to better connect and unite our community of animal lovers, promote animal-friendly events throughout the greater Omaha and Lincoln area and support local rescue, adoption, wildlife and animal welfare efforts.

Contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine in their entirety. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

Copyright 2011 Pet & Animal Enthusiast Magazine All rights reserved

pet & ANIMAL enthusiast

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Go to www.PAEMagazine.com Does your pet sleep with you?

Always 61% Never 3% Sometimes 14% My pet has their own bed 22%

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Voting deadline is February 17th! pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |

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COVER STORY

FALLING IN

LOVE CONTEST WINNERS Cover Winners Sammy & Husker Submitted by: Julie Siebler See more LOVE stories online: www.PAEMagazine.com

Photography by Mona K Photography

&Husker

Sammy

Sammy and Angel were born into the Nebraska Dachshund Rescue organization at my home on December 21, 2009. Their mama, Halo, was about to be put down by the breeder. The breeder took Halo to the local shelter to have her put her down. I told the shelter that I would take Halo into my home, as all of our foster homes were full.

Halo came to my house scared and nervous. After a couple of days, she would roll over and want me to rub her belly. I thought, “What a plump little gal!”

Well, her plumpness continued to get plumper and I knew that I was going to have “puppy time!”

Finally, Halo started having contractions. At 9:00 pm, Angel was born. Halo started licking on Angel and Angel would let out little squeaks of life. It was just precious. Then at 10:09, Sammy was born. Sammy was a bit more difficult for Halo to push out. His chocolate colored fur was so pretty. They were truly Christmas miracles.

Today, he is a busy, happy boy with his other 3 dachshund siblings. He is my “heart dog”. He is staying here with me. As for Halo, she is living and loving the diva high life with her family in Omaha and other dachshund sisters; and Angel is spoiled and loved by her family in Omaha and her other canine siblings. We have even had “reunions” with Mama Halo, Angel and Sammy. Their lives are for living and their love is for us.

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Husker, named for his Red and White colors, is an adorable and sweet piebald boy.

One day as I was scrolling through all of the dachshunds available at HUA in Auburn, NE, I saw his picture. He had just been rescued from his prior existence in an Arkansas Puppy Mill.

I came to learn that Husker lived in an abandoned hog confinement in Arkansas. Fortunately, he came into the caring hands of Hearts United for Animals in the fall of 2006. I saw his picture and had to call them.

When I got him home he ran into corners of the house and tried to hide; he did not know how to act with the open space of the home.

This behavior went on for about 2 months; finally I was able to pick him up. After several months, I was able to earn his trust—on his terms. He began to play like a puppy; he loved being outside in the yard and on the grass.

He learned that sleeping in a bed and under the covers is the way to sleep at night. Not on the steel grate of a hog stall.

Husker is a dachshund, a loyal and protective companion. He is a playmate with my other dachshunds. He is sensitive and he is confident.

He is loved. Husker is not scared anymore. He is my boy; he is my joy. He will never be hurt or confined again. He is happy; he is free. He is my Valentine.”

FALLING IN LOVE TOP 10

See more LOVE stories online:www.PAEMagazine.com

PERCY Owner: Melissa Fry. “Percy was found walking around the rubble after a deadly tornado in Joplin, Missouri. I came across Hearts United for Animals website and saw Percy’s picture. I fell in love – and he has brought me joy ever since.”

GEORGIE Owner: Paul Miller. “Georgie was abused as a puppy. They broke his leg and his tail. His left foot faces backward. Georgie is an obvious “pound hound.” He has a big loud bark but is a sweet little lover to man and beast.”

EVIE Owner: Corinna Bell. “As soon as I saw her picture on the rescuer’s website, I fell in love with her. She has been by my side ever since. I share my pillow with her every night!”

DIEGO Owner: Diana Carrillo. “Diego is a 3-year-old Schnauzer and we adopted him when he was 4 months old.

His mom was rescued from a puppy will while pregnant with Diego. My husband and I fell in love with him the minute we saw him.”

JACK AND BELLA Owner: Amanda Colanino “I first saw Jack at Oakview Mall with the Humane Society. He was the only dog left that hadn’t been adopted. After a battle with cancer, I had to let my Jack go. Bella was a stray at the Independence, MO animal shelter. I wouldn’t trade my fur babies for anything.”

JOEY Owner: Diane Hayes “One spring a very pregnant

TEXAS “TEX” CURLY GAINES Owner: Joey Gaines. “Tex was up for adoption in Arlington, Texas when I was there on business. He was very thin and malnourished when they found him. I agreed to adopt him him and he flew home with me to Omaha.”

female delivered her litter in a garage nearby. We found homes for all but one, who after two years of coaxing reluctantly adopted me. He’s now over 16-years-old.”

PONY BOY Owner: Misti Aljoe Graber. “Pony was found in the cornfields behind our house. I finally used “PIP” one of my other rescues to bring him home. He was not neutered, had never seen a T.V. and now I can hardly get him off the couch.”

SAM Owner: Nicholle Reisdorff. “ I fell in love with Sam the moment I saw him. I have a love for rescue dogs so breed wasn’t necessarily something we were looking for. The moment he set foot in our house it felt like he was home.”

MOONSHINE Owner: Sarah Smith. “She’s a beautiful, good natured (although a little stubborn), long haired black cat. I found her in Little Sioux, IA at the Woodland Campground. It was love at first sight. Moonshine and I had bonded in a friendship of love. ” pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Can SUPPLEMENTS

Really Help My Pet? WRITTEN BY Melinda Brink

Book Signing

Thursday, March 22 5:30-7:30 pm Barley’s 114 W. Broadway Council Bluffs Sponsored by:

www.midlandshumanesociety.org 8 | pet & ANIMAL enthusiast

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f you watch television or listen to the radio, you have been exposed to commercials for nutritional supplements at some point. These products usually promise to improve your health in some way. We must be listening to these advertisements because more than half of us take one or more supplements each day.

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Pet memorial center located at 2660 Edward Babe Gomez Avenue - Omaha

402-932-0962

www.pawsandremember.com

The nutritional supplement trend has crossed over to the pet industry in a big way. Since 2009, pet nutritional supplement sales have increased by 7%. Americans now spend 1.6 billion dollars annually on these products.

Dogs take many more supplements than cats and usually they already have a health condition that would warrant supplement use. A high quality pet food is key to good overall health and usually contains everything your furry companion needs to keep healthy. Most supplements are not necessary unless a health condition warrants their use. Sometimes, especially with cats, giving more vitamins and minerals may actually do more harm than good.

The most frequently used pet supplements are for joint, digestive, skin, coat, emotional and immune health.

Joint supplements are very popular and usually consist of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. These products typically promise to lubricate joints and assist in reducing inflammation. However, very few studies have been conducted to prove that they actually work on dogs and cats.

Skin and coat supplements are also hot sellers. Fish oil is the main ingredient in these supplements and is rich in omega- 3 and omega- 6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are not always available in pet foods. However, much research has been done to suggest that they actually do help with reducing red itchy skin, rashes, shedding and improving coat condition. They can reduce inflammation not only in skin cells but white blood cells as well and have been used to treat arthritis.

Digestive supplements consist of probiotics and enzymes. Probiotics have been found to aid in digestive health and regularity. They consist of “good” live bacteria, which aid in intestinal tract health and help to control overgrowth of “bad” bacteria. These microorganisms have big names, like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei, and are the same ones found in human probiotic supplements. Digestive enzymes are proteins that help break down different types of food.

THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR TYPES OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES: n Carbohydrase- breaks down carbohydrates n Amylase- breaks down starch n Cellulose- breaks down fiber n Lipase- breaks down fat n Protease- breaks down protein The fastest growing area in the pet supplement industry deals with emotional well-being and stress reduction. These products promise to calm your four-legged friend and usually consist of herbal or flower extracts. There are also liquid sprays and electrical outlet plug-ins that mimic the natural pheromones a mother animal produces to reassure her young. The sprays are typically applied to a pet’s bedding or kennel to help soothe them, but once again not much research has been done to prove they actually work.

Compared to the human supplement industry, there is not a lot of quality control or good research conducted on the pet supplements that are produced. Some of these products can be helpful, but do the research prior to giving anything to your pet and always speak to your veterinarian first. pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |

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NON-PROFIT PROFILE

Domesti-PUPS

Domesti-PUPS:

The Canine Companion Cure The Lincoln-based non-profit is improving the quality of life of countless citizens through its canine ambassadors.

WRITTEN BY Molly Garriott

For more information on Domesti-PUPS, visit www.domesti-pups.org Photography Provided by Domesti-PUPS

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Y

ou walk in the door after a long day at work and are greeted enthusiastically with wet kisses and joyful noises. No, it’s not your standard welcome home from your spouse. It’s your dog. As any dog owner knows, pets are ALWAYS happy to see you. They don’t remember the scolding they received that morning when they jumped on the counter and consumed a full stick of butter or ran off with your sock before you could get it on your foot. They forgive you when you stuff a pill down their resistant throat or squirt drops in their ear to treat an ear infection. They are just happy to see you after any length of absence and think the penultimate in entertainment is being strapped to a leash for a walk. It’s unconditional love in its simplest form.

Michelle Ashley decided to tap into this limitless source of unconditional love when she founded the non-profit organization, Domesti-PUPS in 2000. Its mission is “to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals, and to promote awareness through education,” says Ashley, Founder and CEO of DomestiPUPS. It is an all-volunteer program, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska with satellite sites in Omaha and St. Joseph, Missouri.

Domesti-PUPS also places service dogs nationwide.

80 percent of the volunteers use their own dogs in the various service programs. The training is extensive. The human/canine team attends a series of eight classes over a two-month period, says Ashley. This is followed by a pet therapy test which includes AKC (American Kennel Club) Canine Good Citizen testing. Once these requirements have been satisfied, the team then completes three months of on the job, supervised training. Only then does Domesti-PUPS grant certification. Volunteers are asked to give a minimum of two therapy visits per month.

Varied Programming to Meet Different Needs Domesti-PUPS offers several services for clients with both physical and emotional disabilities. With Petting-PUPS, volunteers visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities to spread canine love and companionship with residents.

The death of a spouse and loss of independence often result in feelings of isolation and loneliness for residents in these centers. Pet therapy is a proven anecdote. The simple, tactile act of petting an animal fills the need for loving contact.

Dogs also have their place in the classroom with the Edu-PUPS and Reading-PUPS programs. With Edu-PUPS, educators use certified therapy dogs to teach students with physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities. They can be used to help ADHD children to focus. They help reinforce concepts like responsibility and respect in both traditional and special needs classrooms. These canines also help motivate children in all aspects of school life.

The same premise applies to Reading-PUPS. Service dogs

become the trusted audience for under-achieving readers, giving them the confidence to take their time to sound out words. Young readers need not worry about stumbling through a passage; their canine companions listen without judgment and offer silent encouragement.

Service-PUPS is a program designed to increase independence and feelings of well-being in persons with physical disabilities. Those with service animals require less human assistance, reducing overall cost of healthcare, and experience greater instances of self-sufficiency and social acceptance. Dogs undergo extensive training which lasts from 14 months to two years and must meet or exceed the minimum requirements set by Assistance Dogs International, says Ashley.

It is also one of Domesti-PUPS programs with national reach as service pups are placed in numerous states throughout the country.

In partnership with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, Prison-PUPS provides “training and certification for inmates to learn skills related to the pet industry that can be utilized by the inmates when they re-enter the workforce,” Ashley explains. The Lincoln Correctional Center and the Nebraska State Penitentiary are participants in this program. Their inmates are currently learning to train service dogs for people with physical disabilities.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE The power of canine companionship is profound. Says Ashley: “Whether it is a pet therapy team who can make a typically non-responsive patient’s eyes light up or speak out, an emotionally damaged student who finds comfort and safety in school because of her Edu-PUP buddy, or a disabled individual who now has a way to become more independent through the use of his service dog … these dogs provide a magical gift.”

“Dogs have the ability to provide so much more than just what we see at home in our pets,” she continues. “They love unconditionally, and that’s pretty powerful.”

Protecting your animal companion.

Pet owners have several options available to them to ensure the care of their animals in the event of death or hospitalization. PVW can customize a trust that provides for the continued care for one’s pets in the event the owner is no longer able to care for his or her pets.

5332 South 138th Street, Suite 100 | Omaha, Nebraska 68137

(402) 504-1300

www.pvwlaw.com pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |

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PET OF THE MONTH

Dove

Quick Facts

d ily Columbidae an Doves are in the fam ies. The most ec sp e rat pa se 0 encompass over 30 ite Dove, as ed dove -- the Wh commonly recogniz common of st is actually the mo pictured above -Ringneck the of s ion color mutat over 40 different elia risoria.

Dove, or Streptop er care, 10 Span: With prop Average Life to 25 years between 8 of doves measure Size: Most types tail feathers. ak to the tips of the and 12” from the be

12 | pet & ANIMAL enthusiast

ORIGIN: While Ringneck Doves such as the White Dove originally hail from Africa, other Dove species originate from places all over the world. For example, Fruit Doves are endemic to Australia while Mourning Doves are one of the most prolific and widely recognized wild bird species in North America.

TEMPERAMENT: Tame, domesticated, handfed Doves are known for their sweet and gentle dispositions. Unlike parrots, softbills such as Doves have a reputation for rarely trying to bite or otherwise put up a fuss with their beaks. Some doves can be a bit more nervous with people than others, but this can often be calmed by utilizing positive socialization and bonding techniques. Because of their largely peaceful nature, pet doves can be a good choice as a pet for older children who understand the need to be calm and gentle with companion animals.

COLORS: Pet doves can come in a rainbow of colors and color combinations. There can even be a wide variety of color mutations to be found within a single Dove species. The most commonly recognized pet dove colors are often white, gray, or a combination of the two with various species-specific markings.

FEEDING: In the wild, most dove species subsist on a diet comprised mainly of fruits, berries, and seeds. Pet Doves in captivity seem to do best on a high quality seed mix (often

marketed as a diet safe for Doves, Pigeons, or Parakeets) supplemented with millet, commercial pellets formulated for softbills, and a variety of fresh, bird-safe fruits and vegetables.

EXERCISE: Like all birds, Doves need plenty of exercise. To maintain your Dove’s health and physical condition, it is recommended that you allow it to come out of the cage into a safe, “bird-proofed” area so that it can stretch its legs, wings, and fly around for a bit for a minimum of one hour per day. Be sure that your Dove is always closely supervised during out-of-cage playtime, as these birds can often run into trouble if they encounter common household hazards.

DOVES AS PETS: Beautiful, charming, and easy to care for, Doves make excellent pets.

Noted for their gentle dispositions and quiet, soothing vocalizations, Doves have been cited as an excellent choice as a pet for both young and older bird lovers. Doves seem to be naturally suited to interacting with humans. Doves have charming personalities and with proper care can offer their owners many years of entertainment, love, and companionship.

If you are interested in adopting a pet dove of your own, try contacting a local Dove breeder to talk about these birds, and if keeping a pet dove is compatible with your family and lifestyle.

recipe card Red Velvet Pupcakes

Catnip Heart Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup canola oil 1 cup applesauce 1/3 cup beet puree or fresh beet juice 1 and 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1 cup of all-purpose flour 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour 2 tablespoons of wheat germ 2-4 tablespoons of catnip 1/3 cup of milk 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil 1 tablespoon of molasses 1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS: 1 .Heat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Line a six-cup muffin tin with muffin cups.

3. In a large bowl whisk together oil, applesauce and beet puree.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Slowly stir flour mixture into the wet ingredients.

5. Spoon batter into muffin cups to three-quarters full and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.

Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a rack.

6. In the bowl of a food processor, puree cottage cheese until smooth, about 30 seconds. Keep frosting refrigerated until cupcakes are completely cool.

Frost and serve.

Adapted from Kaboose.com

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl (flour, wheat germ and catnip).

3. Combine the wet ingredients in a bowl (egg, milk, vegetable oil and molasses).

4. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and work it into a dough 5. Lightly flour the counter or other work surface 6. Remove a portion of dough and use a rolling pin to uniformly flatten the dough to a thickness between 1/8 of an inch and 1/4 of an inch.

7. Cut the dough into hearts using a cookie cutter or a knife.

8. Place the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

9. Bake the cookies for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cookies are crisp and lightly browned.

Adapted from Free Pet Projects

pet & ANIMAL enthusiast |

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SAYING GOOD-BYE

Getting another dog or cat: MOVING ON AFTER PET LOSS

T

here are many wonderful reasons to once again share your life with a companion animal, but the decision of when to do so is a very personal one. It may be tempting to rush out and fill the void left by your pet’s death by immediately getting another pet. In most cases, it’s best to mourn the old pet first and wait until you’re emotionally ready to open your heart and your home to a new animal.

Some retired seniors living alone, however, may find it hardest to adjust to life without a pet. If taking care of an animal provided you with a sense of purpose and self-worth as well as companionship, you may want to consider getting another pet at an earlier stage. Of course, seniors also need to consider their own health and life expectancy when deciding on a new pet.

Each animal is different, so trying to exactly duplicate your old pet will

likely result only in frustration and disappointment. A new pet should be appreciated fully for its own sake, not as a direct replacement. That may mean choosing another type of pet or a different breed. Whatever you decide, give yourself time to grieve the loss of your old friend and follow your instincts. You will know when it is right to bring a new animal companion into your life.

Reprinted with permission from Helpguide.org © 2001-2010. All rights reserved. For more information, visit www.Helpguide.org.

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