Pet Companion Magazine, Summer 2014

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR PET LOVERS

Complimentary Please Take A Copy!

Summer 2014

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Summer Tips for Pets It’s Cat ‘Season’ Adopt Your Perfect Cat from a Shelter

Pet Boarding & Sitting Tips Summer Hazards Traveling with Your Dog Pet Recognition Software Technology PLUS: Savings on Business Services & Products ... and MORE!

LINDI BIGGI Working towards a “No-Kill” Community

page 39

Published quarterly.

Fall (Sep-Nov.) Winter (Dec-Feb.) Spring (Mar.-May) Summer (June-Aug.)

Publisher: Miriam Wiegel

mwiegel@DesertPetCompanion.com

Editor: Geoff Winstead

editor@DesertPetCompanion.com

Advertising Sales:

sales@desertpetcompanion.com

Printer: Publication Printers Corp. www.publicationprinters.com

Distribution:

PHOTO COURTESY LINDI BIGGI

Please visit our website or call the editorial office for a list of locations where the magazine is available.

Cover Photo: Lindi Biggi Please see article on page 39.

Cover photography by Karen Buxbaum.

Please see ad on page 38.

FOLLOW US ON Editorial photos Š fotolia.com unless otherwise noted.

Desert Pet Companion (DPC) and its publisher assume no responsibility for changes, omissions or errors contained in this publication. Advertising in Desert Pet Companion does not indicate an endorsement by Desert Pet Companion or its publisher. DPC assumes no responsibility for opinions of contributors nor do the opinions expressed by contributors necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the publisher. DPC is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos, which must be accompanied by return postage and envelope. No part of Desert Pet Companion may be reprinted or copied without express, written permission. Š2014 www.DesertPetCompanion.com Desert Pet Companion is published by Desert Pet Companion Editorial Office: 760-835-0369

Desert Pet Companion, P.O. Box 378 Palm Springs, CA 92263

For Advertising Information call: 760-835-0369

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Is Your Dog

Tolerant to

Heat?

by Dr. Kathryn Carlson Village Park Animal Hospital

W

elcome to summer in the desert.

When temperatures reach the mid 80s, dogs with low heat tolerance start to get hot and sometimes dangerously so. Why do some dogs tolerate the heat better than other breeds?

There are breed characteristics that make certain dogs more uncomfortable when the temperatures rise.

Hair Coat

Thick, double-hair coated dogs were originally bred to live outdoors in cold climates. The thickness of their double hair coat can make them overheat easily.

At the opposite end of the hair spectrum, dogs like a Mexican hairless or Chinese crested have too little hair and can sunburn easily.

Examples of thick, double-hair breeds include: Shih Tzu, Pekingnese, Bernese Mountain Dog, Malamute, Husky.

Facial Structure

One of the ways a dog eliminates excess body heat is by panting, which is a form of evaporative cooling. Breeds with pushed-in faces or short noses have air transfer and cooling mechanisms that are less efficient than other breeds. Pugs, Boxers, Pekingese, and English bulldogs are examples of breed which pant inefficiently and are at a disadvantage in hot weather.

Examples of short-nosed breeds: Shih Tzu 4 Desert Pet Companion

Pug Pekingnese Fench Bulldog Chinese Shar-pei Bulldog Boxer Boston Terrier

Size

Giant breeds like the St. Bernard, Mastiff and the Newfoundland have a hard time exercising in the heat. Limited exercise makes them prone to weight gain.

We w

Summer Cut?

A dog’s coat works as an insulator keeping your dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Double coated dogs need to be brushed to help thin out their undercoat and get rid of loose fur. Dogs’ coats help protect their skin from sun damage and insect bites. Some breeds do benefit from a shorter coat during the summer, but it

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2014

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is best to check with your veterinarian before deciding to shave a dog.

Pads of Feet

All breeds are prone to the pads of their feet getting burned on hot asphalt.

This is a painful and costly mistake for both the pet and the client requiring expensive, repeated bandage changes while the new pads to grow. Never walk or run a dog on asphalt that you yourself would not be willing to walk on barefoot. Artificial turf is also a surprising risk for pad burns. Because it is not routinely watered, it can become very hot. If you have artificial turf in your yard or dog run area, be sure to spray it down with water prior to letting your pet out to romp.

Be Aware

If you own a breed that is not heat tolerant, keep them indoors on hot or humid days and be careful exercising

6 Desert Pet Companion

them in the heat. Dogs with black fur have a tendency to get hotter, faster when in the sun, regardless of the breed.

Dark fur absorbs heat more readily.

Pets can get sunburned and suninduced tumors. If your pet is shaved or a hairless breed or has thin fur coverage, sunscreen is a good preventative measure. Nose tips (especially in pale-nosed pets) are prone to tumors induced by the sun. Pets that like to lay on their backs to sun are also at risk when exposing the area between their hind legs with thin skin and little hair. Use pet sunscreen (with an SPF of 15 or greater) on those areas, and reapply after your pets get wet. Do NOT use zinc oxide on your dog it can cause dogs to become anemic if ingested.

Village Park Animal Hospital is located at 51-230 Eisenhower Dr. in La Quinta. www. villageparkanimalhospital.com. Village Park Animal Hospital also offers grooming services for both dogs and cats. Call (760) 564-9364.

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2014

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ADOPT A CAT! E

Check out these local cat facilities and find the cat that’s looking for you.

by Christine Stossel 8 Desert Pet Companion

very spring and summer, mating season brings millions of kittens flooding into animal shelters across the country. When these irresistible youngsters are in abundance, adult cats are often overlooked by potential adopters. If you’re thinking about bringing a furry new family member into your home, National Adopt-a-Cat Month in June may be the time to do it.

Because of the surge of homeless kittens that need home placements around this time of the year, animal shelters and rescue organizations may waive, or at least reduce, the adoption fee on some of their available animals, especially if the cat is full grown. If you think you’re ready to give a cat a home, the Coachella Valley has many great shelters you can visit to find your new furry friend. Desert Pet Companion recently asked four of the largest cat facilities in the area to tell us about their cat adoption programs.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

PHOTO COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER PHOTO OPPOSITE COURTESY OF PRETTY GOOD CAT

Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter

Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a community responsible for pet stewardship and humane treatment of animals. The group manages and operates the Palm Springs Animal Shelter’s public, open-admissions animal shelter, providing care and love to the animals housed there. Committed to being a humane and compassionate animal care and adoption center, the shelter does not euthanize animals for space or for length of stay.

The shelter opened in October 2011 and currently cares for approximately 250 cats. Of those, 100 are in foster care, most of those kittens that are too young to be adopted. “When we opened, most of our cats were housed individually in 2 x 2 kennels,” says Placement Manager, Judy Crotts. “In the last year, we have removed the individual kennels and opened up most of our cat rooms so the cats are free to roam, climb and socialize with other cats.” She says that, now, adopters can sit in these open rooms and interact with the cats, often letting the cat pick them.

Palm Springs Animal Shelter has a trap, neuter and release program, called the Community Cat Action Team, so the shelter does not take in any of these Summer 2014

10 Desert Pet Companion

PHOTO COURTESY ANIMAL SAMARITANS

PHOTO COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER

feral or “community” cats. “Most of the cats coming into our shelter are owner surrenders and feral kittens too young to take care of themselves,” reports Crotts.

Crotts reminds prospective cat owners that “… adopting a cat is a commitment and, depending on the age of the cat, that commitment can last as long as 18 to 20 years.” She urges people who are considering adopting a cat to think carefully about that commitment and make a thoughtful decision before taking a cat home. “Only 1 in 10 animals born in the United States finds a good forever home,” she reports. “Our goal at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter is to see that every animal coming into the shelter goes to a good forever home.”

The most important requirement for cat adoption is the capacity to love and care for the cat, no matter what. But it’s also important to find the right home for the right cat. She says cats are unique creatures with many different qualities, and the key to successful placement is complete honesty. “We fully disclose to potential adopters everything we know about an animal and if, in turn, the adopter lets us know what they are looking for, we can help them make an informed decision and find the ‘purr-fect’ fit for their family.”

The shelter is always looking for

volunteers, especially people willing to foster. In the spring, especially during kitten season, the shelter has neo-natal kittens—kittens from birth to 2 weeks old—that need bottle feeding, and also kittens from 3 to 8 weeks old that are too young to be housed in the shelter. These young cats need to be in a foster home, and Crotts says there are never enough foster parents for them all.

“If you’re looking to adopt a cat,” adds Crotts, “consider adopting an older or special needs cat. Many shelters euthanize these kittens because they don’t have the resources to care for animals this age.”

If you’d like to help the Palm Springs Animal Shelter by volunteering or adopting a homeless cat, please call the shelter at 760-416-5718 or visit the web site at palmspringsanimalfriends.ning. com.

Animal Samaritans

Animal Samaritans SPCA in Thousand Palms maintains a licensed no-kill animal shelter that houses adoptable animals until a responsible home can be found for them. They house cats and kittens, as well as small to medium-sized dogs and puppies. Before adopting out a pet, the shelter spays/neuters, microchips, and provides necessary medical examinations and vaccinations for every animal.

The folks at Animal Samaritans work hard to give the cats in their care the most normal life possible before they’re adopted out. “Most of our cats live in catteries, meaning they reside in large

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

open rooms in which they can roam and play with other kitties,” says Animal Samaritans Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Tom Snyder. He says the staff and volunteers are the shelter’s greatest strength. “They genuinely care about the well-being and happiness of the animals at our shelter. They do more than just feed them and clean up after them—they cuddle them, play with them, and talk to them.”

They also help find just the right owners for their cats. Many older pet owners want a calmer, more mature cat. Kittens, on the other hand, are high-energy and can be higher maintenance, so they are better suited for humans who have plenty of energy of their own.

“We look for adopters who are committed to taking on the responsibility of pet ownership,” says Snyder. This means they are financially stable enough to provide their new pet with the necessary food, shelter, and medical care he or she needs, and it means they have the time to shower their new pet with the playtime and attention he or she needs to be a happy,” he explains.

“They must be a good match for the cat,” Snyder emphasizes. “They must show that they have the time and a sincere interest in their future four-legged child.”

Snyder recognizes that many pet owners grew up with cats living both inside and outside the house; however, Animal Samaritans encourages cat owners to keep their cats inside. “We know that indoor cats are subject to fewer diseases, are less likely to roam and be injured or killed by predators and traffic, and as a result, live longer lives.”

If you can’t adopt a cat but would like to lend a hand at Animal Samaritans, Snyder says they always need more foster pet parents, especially during kitten and puppy seasons. “And because no-kill animal shelters operate at a financial loss and are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,” says Snyder, “Animal Samaritans always relies on the generous donations of compassionate animal lovers.” Reach Animal Samaritans Summer 2014

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at 760-343-3477 or visit the web site at animalsamaritans.org.

Humane Society of the Desert

PHOTO COURTESY ORPHAN PET OASIS

The Humane Society of the Desert operates the Orphan Pet Oasis in North Palm Springs. Malinda Bustos was elected President of the Board of Directors in 2004. “The Humane Society of the Desert has been serving the Coachella Valley for 52 years,” says Bustos. “It is an animal sanctuary that allows rescued animals a safe haven, providing medical care, training and adoption and compassion.”

When Bustos arrived, recognizing the importance of quality of life for each animal and the need for facility modernization, she quickly began making improvements.

Since that time, Humane Society of the Desert’s Orphan Pet Oasis has undergone a complete facility renovation, including new kennels with misting systems, landscaping and walking paths, and much more. Guided by Bustos and an eight-member Board of Directors, staffed by eighteen full and part time employees, The Humane Society of the Desert has grown since its founding in 1961 from a small rescue facility with a dream—to help those who can’t help themselves—to become Southern California’s largest nokill animal sanctuary.

When it began, the society housed only dogs, no cats. In 1967, a small trailer was donated, and The Humane Society of the Desert began rescuing orphaned and abandoned cats. Marked growth occurred in 1975 when an additional six acres were donated to the facility. “Then,

12 Desert Pet Companion

in 2005, Mrs. Anne Barry donated the Barry Cat Rescue Center,” reports Bustos.

“This 1,400 square foot building offers accommodations to more than 50 cats.”

It is Bustos’ hope that all of these cats will find loving homes. She and her staff work hard to find the right family for each cat adopted. “Adoption requirements start with a two-page application,” reports Bustos. That is followed by an interview and then, if need be, a home inspection. “We do not adopt initially,” explains Bustos. “We require a two-week ‘foster’ to see if the family and the cat are a good fit.”

The Humane Society always welcomes volunteers, says Bustos, especially for its cats. “They love to be groomed and socialized, and they just love the human companionship,” she reports.

For more information on the Humane Society of the Desert’s Orphan Pet Oasis, call 760-329-0203 or visit orphanpet.com.

Pretty Good Cat

At Pretty Good Cat, they want you to know that your new best friend is waiting to meet you, and that “the best breed is ‘rescued’.” Pretty Good Cat rescues abandoned or displaced cats from the threat of euthanasia in over-crowded shelters or other at-risk situations and places them for adoption into loving homes.

“Pretty Good Cat is a foster-based rescue,” says Director of Adoptions/Lead Rescuer, Tina Miller. “All of our rescued felines are placed in safe, loving foster homes prior to adoption. Homes, just like the one you plan to provide for your future adopted cat.”

The staff at Pretty Good Cat strives to match their prospective adopters with the right cats, taking the time to understand what each is looking for in their new family member. “Making the right match is what we are all about,” says Miller. All animals in the care of Pretty Good Cat are spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated prior to adoption and any special medical needs are addressed.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

PHOTO COURTESY PRETTY GOOD CAT

Pretty Good Cat is an all volunteerbased, not-for-profit organization. “We rely solely on donations and the generosity of our community to continue rescuing felines in need,” says Miller. She says the shelter is always in need of donations for veterinary care, foster homes, volunteers for adoption events, supplies such as blankets and towels, kitten and cat food, gift cards for pet supplies, and cat litter.

If you can’t donate, Miller encourages supporters to spread the word about Pretty Good Cat on their social media sites.

With the help of some of the top names in pet supply, Pretty Good Cat maintains an admirable adoption rate. “Thanks to PetSmart and Petco in La Quinta, we successfully adopted out 163 cats and kittens into loving ‘fur-ever’ homes last year,” reports Miller. “We are hopeful that we will have another successful year in 2014.”

If you are interested in adding a new

Summer 2014

feline to your family or becoming a foster, visit Pretty Good Cat on Facebook or on their website at prettygoodcat.com, stop

by PetSmart or Petco in La Quinta, e-mail Miller at tina@prettygoodcat.com or call at 760-660-3414.

Saving Lives

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that animal shelters care for 6 to 8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3 to 4 million are euthanized.

County-run shelters cannot maintain large animal populations, and so healthy dogs and cats are frequently euthanized.

No-kill facilities such as Animal Samaritans, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Humane Society of the Desert and Pretty Good Cat offer homes to millions of healthy, abandoned cats each year.

If you’ve been thinking about adding a feline friend to your family, consider visiting one of these facilities to find the one that’s right for you. If you don’t have room in your home or your life for an abandoned cat, please consider contributing to these organizations full of dedicated volunteers giving countless hours to save the lives of these cats in need. While June is officially Adopt-a-Cat month, any time is a good time to bring a loving companion into your home.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 13

Looking for a Puppy? Adopt, Don’t Shop!

by Valerie Masi, Best Paw Forward

I

f you are looking to bring a puppy into your home, you have many options: adoption, shelter rescue, pet store, or breeder. How ever you find your puppy, one thing is sure—you’ll be making an investment. And, because you want this puppy to be a member of your family for a long time to come, you’ll want to ensure that your investment is a wise one.

One of the very best ways to find your puppy is through adoption from a local shelter. When you choose a shelter dog, you’re giving a loving home to a dog that probably experienced some difficult circumstances before it reached the shelter.

When you adopt a shelter dog, you truly save a life.

But if adoption isn’t for you, and you think you know what breed of dog you’re looking for, first do your homework on that breed. Make sure the breed is a good fit for your family, that your family is a good fit for the breed, and that you will be able to give your dog everything its breed requires. Once you’ve made a decision, you would do well to make sure that you buy from a responsible, professional breeder. This will require some more homework on your part, but it is well worth your time to find out as much as you can about the breeder you intend to buy from.

Know Your Breeder There are two generally accepted types of breeders: professional breeders and those who are known as “back yard breeders.”

Why does it matter if the breeder is 14 Desert Pet Companion

a back yard breeder or a professional one? The physical and mental health of your puppy might depend on it. Certain dog breeds are prone to certain diseases or bone issues, such as hip dysplasia in German Shepherds. A quality professional breeder will be able to produce a health certificate on the parents and will always be breeding for the best example of the breed, in terms of temperament and health.

If you buy from a backyard breeder, you will most likely not be given any guarantees on the health of the puppy.

Not only that, the truth is, most backyard breeders breed either because they want to have puppies from the dogs they love so much or, sadly, simply for the money they can make. Either way, they are not professionals, they are often not knowledgeable, and if you buy their puppies, you may have inner breeding issues, health issues and problematic mental health issues. With the rise of backyard breeding and puppy mills, more and more dogs are suffering from obsessivecompulsive disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety, to name but a few conditions.

How do you find a good breeder? Ask your veterinarian, go to the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry or check with your local Kennel Clubs.

Finding a Breeder Online If you choose to find your breeder online, through their web site or another commerce site such as Craigslist, be sure to get all the facts. Ask the breed-

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

ers how long they have been breeding.

Do they breed multiple breeds or just the one you’re looking for? How many times a year do they breed their bitches and how many bitches do they have? The dog should only be bred once a year, at the most. Most good breeders will breed every other year or just breed their bitch twice before retiring her. Do the parents have health certificates and are their hips and elbows OFC-certified (by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)?

If you’re buying from a breeder, call and ask questions first, and request that the breeder email you a copy of the parents’ pedigrees so you can check for inner breeding. It’s important to complete this step before you look at the puppies, because once you see those cute little babies, you may not make a logical choice.

Always ask to meet the parents and, when you do, you’ll want to look for shy or aggressive behavior. You’ll also want to note the kind of relationship the owner

or breeder has with his or her dogs. Are the dogs mainly outside or are they inside? These questions matter because if a parent to the puppies is shy or aggressive, this trait can be passed down genetically to the puppies. If the breeder or owner mainly has the puppies outside, then they are not invested in properly socializing the puppies to people, sounds, sights and smells, which is critical training between 6 to 16 weeks of age. Those who keep their puppies outside are most likely in it to make money.

Make a Visit Whether you buy from a breeder or a private person, always go to the home or facility so you can see for yourself what kind of environment the puppies are in.

If a breeder or owner asks to meet you someplace other than where the puppies live, do not buy a puppy from them.

Chances are, they are “puppy brokers.”

What is a puppy broker? They buy

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www.bestpawforwarddogtraining.com Summer 2014

760-885-9450

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Desert Pet Companion 15

puppies from puppy mills for $10 to $20 a puppy, and then sell you the puppy for $500 to $2500, depending on the breed.

They also sell to pet stores. Often, pet stores, themselves, are puppy brokers, and most responsible pet organizations advise consumers to never buy a puppy from a pet store.

It’s also important to never buy a puppy online without seeing the facility, and never let the breeder pick the puppy for you. I believe that when you fly a puppy across the country, you’re being insensitive to the puppy’s comfort, and I advise consumers to try, whenever possible, to drive to the facility, examine it, and, if you’re satisfied with the facility and the care, pick out your puppy and drive it back home.

Purebred Dogs vs. Designer Dogs First, let’s be clear. There are purebred dogs and then there are “designer” dogs.

Designer dogs are not purebred dogs, and there are no breed standards in place for designer dogs. It is my opinion that designer dogs are simply overpriced mutts, most of which you can find in a local shelter at any given time.

Examples of designer dogs are Maltipoo, Shihpoo, Chiweenie, Cavapoo, Chipoo, Morkie, Puggle, Schnoodle, Yorkiepoo, Pompoo, Buggs.

Many people want to buy any designer breed that is mixed with a poodle, because hypoallergenic poodles do not shed. The problem with these designer breeds is that it takes several generations of a designer breed being bred with that same designer breed before one can achieve the non-shedding and hypo-allergenic benefits. This is not something that should be undertaken by amateurs, but all too often, it is.

What Price is the Right Price?

Designer dogs have become big business for these so-called breeders and especially for pet stores. Most stores or breeders will ask anywhere from $1,200

to $5,000 for a designer pup, leading you to believe that you are buying something special. Mass producing mixed puppies is not “special”—it’s irresponsible. And the only time you should pay that kind of money for a dog is if you are buying a well-bred dog with health certificates and AKC or United Kennel Club (UKC) championships (always ask for proof of championship).

If you are buying from a local backyard breeder—this means an AKC- or UKC-papered dog but no confirmation showings—then you can expect to pay between $300 and $800 for your purebred dog. If you are buying from a backyard breeder that does not have papers on their dog, you should never pay more than $250.

Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are two very popular designer dogs but, again, they are not accepted by AKC or UKC at this time. The true doodle breeders are very upset with the backyard breeders for simply breeding a Labrador with a Poodle then calling it a Labradoodle. It has taken them years to perfect the breed they are trying to establish, and the backyard breeders are taking advantage of the fact that the public does not know the difference.

Purebred Rescue So, next time you or a friend is in the market to buy a specific breed of puppy, why not consider a purebred rescue first.

All purebred breeds have rescue shelters; housing many dogs of the breed you’re looking for that desperately need homes.

If rescuing an adult dog just won’t do and you have your heart set on a purebred puppy, then make sure you do your homework and invest wisely.

Let’s work together to put these puppy stores and mills out of business. Adopt, don’t shop!

Valerie Masi, owner of Best Paw Forward can be reached at 760-885-9450 or visit www.bestpawforwarddogtraining.com.

Local Groomers, Pet Spas, Pet Sitters

Pet Hotels What to do to make your pet’s stay more comfortable

A

t some point in your life, you may run into a situation where you will have to leave town for an extended time, whether it be a vacation, family gathering, business, or an emergency. What are your options when you can’t take your pet with you? This is not a comfortable

PHOTO COURTESY THE GRAND PAW

by Geoff Winstead, editor, DPC

decision for many. Do you hire a pet sitter or find a boarding facility? In this article we will look at boarding facilities, which are commonly known as pet hotels, pet resorts or pet spas.

How do you know which facility is best for your pet? First, ask your friends and

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Desert Pet Companion 17

your veterinarian who they recommend.

Hopefully, you get good feedback about several places. Visit their websites to see what type of accommodations they offer, testimonials from previous boarders, staff biographies with their qualifications, certifications, etc., and any other special services they offer. You should be able to narrow it down to two facilities for you and your pet to visit before you have to leave. In that way, you can decide which would be the best place for your pet’s needs and your peace of mind.

Before your pet can stay at a boarding facility, it must be up to date on all shots and be free of any contagious disease. If your pet is not up to date on shots, it will not be allowed to stay, as it is not safe for the other animals in the boarding facility.

If you have an aggressive animal, some facilities will not accept it. If your pet is “in season”, chances are that it will not be accommodated. Some facilities require your pets to take a temperament test to ensure they are sociable and can interact well with other dogs or cats and the facility staff.

Get your pet used to sleeping somewhere by itself before the extended stay. If it is used to sleeping in the bed with you, the transition may be harder

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PHOTO COURTESY THE GRAND PAW

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for it, which could become more stressful than being in a new environment.

Brian Strand, manager of The Grand Paw Pet Resort, gives the following list to follow to help make your pet more comfortable for boarding: Bring your dog with you to the facility for a tour.

This allows you and your pet to see and smell where it will be staying. Make sure that the environment is neat, organized and odor-free. Consider the cages and runs. While it might be fine for a cratetrained dog, boarding in a cage can cause anxiety for a dog not accustomed to it.

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Luxury Boarding Doggie Daycamp Grooming & Bathing Pet Boutique

Boarding

Both our Suites and Cabanas include a half day of play for dogs who meet our social play criteria. We also offer a full day of play option. For dogs who prefer their own space, both boarding accommodations include 6 trips to our outdoor yards throughout the day. We also offer one-on-one play sessions that can be customized to the needs of your pet…from playing ball or a long walk, or cuddle sessions in their room … …our loving staff is always at your service. * All dogs participating in the social program must meet The Grand Paw social play criteria.

For social dogs*, there’s nothing better than a day of play with your favorite four-legged friends. At The Grand Paw, dogs of similar size, temperament and interests are organized into playgroups under the constant supervision of our certified pet care staff. Each playgroup has access to climate controlled indoor play rooms as well as large, outdoor play yards for their enjoyment throughout the day.

And best of all, we offer daycamp 7 days a week (excluding major holidays).

For reservations or information call (760) 398-9900

51750 Jackson Street Indio, CA 92236 Summer 2014

Doggie Daycamp

www.thegrandpaw.com

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 19

Pet Resorts, Doggie Day Care, & Pet Sitters

Bring your pets for daycare before leaving them for overnights.

This will help your dog become more comfortable with the staff and the environment. For those dogs that have separation issues, new friends in the form of staff members can help soothe those fears until you return later that day. For dogs that are social and want to meet everybody, a trip to daycare will probably be a well received treat that they would love to do again.

When you make your decision on which “hotel” your dog will be best served, you will want to: Pack items that smell like you or the home.

Bringing things like a piece of clothing or a pillow case can help make your pet feel more comfortable by having familiar scents from home.

Drop your dog off early in the day and let it get a lot of exercise.

This will get your dog tired and can help it relax at the end of the day and help insure that it gets a good night’s rest.

Bring your dog’s favorite toy or bed.

This works like a baby blanket and helps with making it feel more secure. Just like the clothing or pillow case, anything that is part of your pet’s environment which “smells just like home” is comforting. The toy also gives the staff a tool that is familiar when it is time to play or go for a walk. Make sure you label the toy if you want it back.

20 Desert Pet Companion

PHOTO COURTESY THE GRAND PAW

Also, older dogs with arthritis need more room to move around. If you don’t like the idea of your dog staying in a cage, look for a boarding facility that offers upscale boarding. These “pet hotels” often have small rooms with dog beds and toys that mimic the home environment.

Provide the facility with your dog or cat’s normal food.

Even if your pet is not on a special diet, changes in both environment and food can upset their system. When a dog is temporarily upset, it usually will not eat as much, but it will not starve itself.

Usually, they get over it quickly and start eating normally. Having food on hand that is familiar also provides comfort and relieves stress.

Always book your reservation well in advance; just as if you were booking your own hotel, to make sure accommodations are available for those dates that you will be gone. These hotels, resorts and spas are very popular and do get booked to capacity at certain times of the year.

Finally, provide the staff of the facility with information on contacting your veterinarian, any special needs your pet may have, and where you can be reached in an emergency. Do not get overly emotional when you drop your pet off.

They can sense something is wrong and can become stressed. So make sure you are in a good, positive state of mind. After that, you can have peace of mind that your pet is well cared for in a comfortable and safe environment.

The Grand Paw is located in Indio and can be reached at (760) 398-9900 or through their website, www.thegrandpaw.com. It and other facilities can be found in our business and resources directory at the end of the magazine.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

Rely on the Licensed Professional Services of:

Your Best Friend Deserves the Best Care • Basic pet-care visits • Daily dog walks • Pets with special needs • Pet transportation to groomer or veterinarian

Why Use A Professional Pet Sitter?

Call to inquire about special vacation package pricing and discounts for long-term, pre-scheduled daily visits and dog walks.

• No Travel Trauma.

• No Interruptions.

• Avoid Exposure to Illness.

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No Stress For You And Your Furry Family Members!

Furrst and Furrmost Pooch Palace & Sanctuary Where Your Dog’s Vacation Might Just Be Better Than Your Own

Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Services

Open Boarding

Our licensed & bonded staff are carefully selected and trained to ensure your precious pets are well taken care of.

Your boarding fees contribute to the lifetime care of 29 dogs living in our sanctuary!

• Indoor fully air conditioned and heated • Outdoor 2-acre fenced play yard with pool • All dogs carefully screened before boarding • Dogs come home happy, healthy and tired

Reasonable Rates!

760-409-9226

68100 Louisan Rd., Desert Hot Springs (Convenient location-only 8 minutes from the Freeway)

www.furrstandfurrmost.com

Summer 2014

Serving the following communities: Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Indio and La Quinta

760-600-5950 www.fetchpetcare.com/palm-desert

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 21

Pet Resorts, Sitters, & Doggie Day Care

Pet Sitter 101

by Kathleen Huffman, owner Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert

B

efore I started my own pet sitting business, I travelled out of town for work every other week. Since I have two dogs of my own, I always wanted to make sure they were in a safe environment and not stressed by my absence. I tried boarding my dogs but found they fared better at home with a sitter. I feel that I now have a unique point of view of what it is like to be both a pet owner who leaves my pets in someone else’s care as well as what a person should expect from a pet sitter.

Before you go on vacation or have to leave for any extended period, you should choose your perfect sitter by interviewing,

checking references and making sure the sitter is licensed, bonded and insured and LOVES pets. Part of the process includes filling out all of the paperwork and giving the sitter your pet schedule and feeding and medication instructions. Now you need to prepare to make sure your pet will receive the best care possible. Here are some simple tips to help both your pet and the sitter.

Schedule Most pet sitters book appointments far in advance. Make reservations as early as possible to guarantee a spot for your pets’

Special Offer for Desert Pet Companion readers Use PROMO CODE: DESERT and Receive 20% off online orders 22 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

care. If your schedule changes, alert your pet sitter so additional care can be scheduled if necessary.

Pre-visit introduction Make sure your pet has had an opportunity to meet the sitter before your vacation. If possible, have the sitter take your dog for a walk so that it is accustomed to the sitter and vice versa. For cats or other pets, the sitter should be able to visit for a few minutes in order to form a bond with them.

Pet Care Information and Supplies Don’t make your sitter search for pet care items. Place everything your sitter will need in one specific place. This includes: Food & treats - if canned food, don’t forget the can opener -spoon or fork to chop up food -scoop or measuring cup for dry food Medications (with instructions clearly written) Veterinarian information and phone number Vaccination record Microchip/pet registry information (PIP, Finding Rover, PetHub…) Leash & collar/harness with license and ID tag Paper towels & cleaning supplies (spills happen!)

Broom/dust pan or vacuum cleaner Plastic bags for waste disposal Litter and scooper Potty pads if they are used Extra food and other consumable supplies just in case Thermostat Your pet will be in your locked, sealed home. Make sure the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature for your pet.

Leave instructions on how to adjust and Summer 2014

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Professional, responsible petsitting for all of your pets, large and small. Bonded and insured. References readily available.

I am a retired paralegal whose real passion is taking care of animals. Extensive experience in pet care.

Dog Walk I provide the following: Includeding • $15.00 per petsit

• Feeding/watering and meds (including insulin) • All farm animal care, including stall clean-out Serving: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree.

For a limited time, 20% off your 1st petsitting visit!

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(Expires August 31, 2014)

Victoria Spencer

760-831-5834 petpals@roadrunner.com

Desert Pet Companion 23

Pet Resorts, Sitters, & Doggie Day Care If you live in a gated community, advise and authorize gate security that your pet sitter will be visiting. If appropriate, let you neighbors know, too.

Pet monitors (like the Scout1 WiFi by Motorola) allow you to check on your pet remotely for additional peace of mind.

You can also request that your pet sitter take a few photos and e-mail them to you while you are away.

the temperature range for your thermostat in case of a power-outage.

Pet proof your home Pets can be more inquisitive and bored when they are left alone and get into mischief. Put toilet lids down, close cupboards and closets, store medications, perfumes, loose small objects and household cleansers away and out of your pet’s reach.

In case of emergency Your pet sitter should have information stating where to take your pet in case of a health emergency. You should also notify your veterinarian in writing that a sitter will be watching your pet and authorize the veterinarian to provide medical care during your absence, if necessary.

If there is a natural disaster and your sitter needs to remove your pet from your premises, have a pet emergency kit available (see pages 48/49 for emergency kit supply suggestions) and a pet carrier.

Preparation is the key to make sure your pet sitter has all of the information they need to properly care for your pet while you are away. If they don’t have to search for your pet product supplies, they will have more time to spend paying attention to your pet.

PHOTO COURTESY KATHLEEN HUFFMAN

Alarms, off-limit areas, home access Are there areas where your pet is not allowed? Make sure you close off the rooms and let the sitter know that those areas are to be kept off limits.

If you plan to have friends, family or someone else also checking on your house and pets in your absence, let the sitter know. Clearly explain what the pet sitter is responsible for and what the other visitors will be doing to avoid confusion.

Also, let the sitter know about gardeners, and pool or house maintenance providers who might also be on the premises in your absence.

Close and lock doors, including the garage and patio doors and windows before you leave. Use timers to control indoor lights so your pet’s day/night schedule is similar to when you are at home, turning on and off lights close to when your household would normally wake or go to bed. Check to make sure gates and fences are closed and locked.

24 Desert Pet Companion

Kathleen Huffman owns Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert. Fetch! provides a free, in-home consultation to get to know your pets and their routine before you go away. Kathleen says, “We will feed your dog on their schedule, administer medications, if needed, play with them, walk them in their own familiar neighborhood, or even take them to a dog park if that’s what they’re use to. Our entire staff is licensed, bonded and insured, and we always have a primary sitter as well as a back up, so the client will always have peace of mind!” 760-600-5950 www.fetchpetcare. com/palm-desert

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

You Want Me to Wear What?

by Patt Savastano, owner of Spoiled Dog Designs

W

e all know that in the desert the pavement is extremely hot and our four legged friends can burn their paw pads walking on the hot pavement, but the thought of training them to wear shoes can seem daunting. Here are some tips to make the process manageable for you and rewarding for your dog.

I usually suggest to my customers that they invite their friends in and serve cocktails since their pooch is going to provide the group with some great entertainment walking around the house with shoes for the first time.

Most important, make it a positive experience for both of you. Have fun!

1. First, be sure your dog’s nails are well trimmed and the hair on the paws is trimmed. Although you may hate to ruin their couture styling, this will ensure that the shoes will fit well and make it so much easier for you to get them on properly.

2. Buy the shoes at a store where you can try them on so you know you have the right size. If your dog is between sizes, buy a pair of socks to make the next size fit properly. Shoes that are too small or too big fall off a dog. If you get small shoes to stay on, they hurt like it does for us.

3. Start training at home before a meal so your pooch is food motivated, with collar/harness, and leash on.

4. Put on all four shoes for the training session.

5. Make sure the paw is pushed all the way into the shoe.

Summer 2014

6. Then close the shoe and wrap the strap snuggly around the dog’s ankle. (#5 & 6 are very important to keeping the shoe on the paw) 7. When you have all four shoes on, start to walk the dog slowly around the house, distracting it with kibble or treats occasionally, praising them as you go.

8. Most people stop here because they see the dog lifting each leg up in the air. This is natural. They’ve never had anything on their feet before and they can’t feel the floor. Just keep slowly walking them, on the lead, praise and give treats.

9. Repeat this step again in the house the next day. Some dogs need a little more practice before comfortably wearing shoes. Have patience! After a while, the front legs will come down to a normal walk. It usually takes longer for the back legs to return to a normal gait.

10. Your dog is ready to wear their shoes outside.

11. Always praise and reward, and be ready to distract the dog if they look like they want to bite the shoe off. Until the dog is very used to wearing shoes, don’t leave them alone with the shoes on, even the best dog may be tempted to chew them off.

Visit Spoiled Dog Designs website www.spoileddogdesigns.com

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 25

Summer Reading

Matilda’s Cat

Mister Bud Wears the Cone

I Wish I Had a Pet

by Emily Gravett (Author/Illustrator) Age Range: 4 - 8 years Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 2014)

by Maggie Rudy (Author/Illustrator) Age Range: 4 - 8 years Hardcover: 48 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 2014)

by Maggie Rudy (Author/Illustrator) Age Range: 4 - 8 years Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Beach Lane Books (July 2014)

Matilda tries a variety of ways to entertain her (expressively drawn) cat. The patient cat participates in most of her schemes until she finds what the cat likes best.

This is the next book in a series depicting Zorro and his canine pal, Mister Bud. In this adventure, Mister Bud wears the dreaded “cone” and Zorro does his best to take advantage of the situation. A wonderfully illustrated and cleverly told story.

Adorable felt mice photographed in charming dioramas explore the pros and cons of choosing and owning the perfect pet.

Shoe Dog

Gaston

Fuddles

Story by Megan McDonald lllustrated by Katherine Tillotson Age Range: 4 - 8 years Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (March 2014) Shoe Dog has a craving for chewing shoes and will enthusiastically search, find and chew any shoes in the house. Will she ever learn not to chew? The illustrations perfectly match the high energy of the story.

26 Desert Pet Companion

Story by Kelly DiPucchio lllustrated by Christian Robinson Age Range: 4 - 8 years Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (June 2014) Gaston, a bulldog, and Antoinette, a poodle, were switched at birth and raised by each other’s families.

A chance encounter allows them to be switched back, but will the new families be where their hearts are?

by Frans Vischer (Author/Illustrator) Age Range: 4 - 7 years Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Aladdin (May 2011) Fuddles, the pampered indoor cat, decides to go for an outdoor adventure by slipping through a slightly open door. Outside, he encounters dangers he never expected. Soft, detailed illustrations add to the charm of the book.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

Couture Dogs of New York

by Paul Nathan and Nadine Rubin Nathan Coffee Table Book Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Pelluceo (February 2013)

Photographer Paul Nathan captured some of New York’s best dressed pooches modeling glamorous outfits. The book also includes interesting interviews with the pooches’ owners.

DIY Dog Grooming, From Puppy Cuts to Best in Show:

Everything You Need to Know, Step by Step

by Jorge Bendersky (Author) and Cesar Milan (Foreword, Contributor) Softcover: 160 pages Publisher: Quarry Books (February 2014) DIY Dog Grooming is an easy-to-follow guide for grooming your dog. The book covers everything from the tools you need to step-by-step instructions on grooming basics. The photographs help illustrate the techniques mentioned.

Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs

We provide veterinary services for every stage in your pet’s life, from her first shots to a lifetime of preventive care to keep her happy and healthy.

• Primary & Advanced Care • Preventive Care • Alternative Medicine

by David Grimm Hardcover: 354 pages Publisher: PublicAffairs (April 2014)

An interesting look at how dogs’ and cats’ status from wild animals to pets to family members has changed throughout history.

“Part of our growth and evolution as a society is our changing relationship to the beings around us,” said David Grimm, author of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs. “The changing status of cats and dogs forces us to confront some very complicated questions of how inclusive we want to be.”

Summer 2014

Cats • Dogs Exotics • Pocket Pets Rabbits • Reptiles

We Now Offer: Pet Boarding & Grooming 78-267 Highway 111, La Quinta (The Building In Front of Vons)

www.vcahospitals.com/all-creatures-ca

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 27

It’s Cat ‘Season’

reviewed by Rebecca Diaz, DVM, The Cat Clinic

F

emale cats that have not been spayed can go into “heat” at puberty. “Heat” is the term for when a female cat is sexually receptive and ready to mate.

Normally, sexual maturity starts around six months old. Some cats, like Siamese cats for example, may go into heat as early as four months old.

Cats have multiple cycles during breeding season. Cats usually are in season from January through August/September. However, indoor cats can sometimes go into heat all year long. Heat lasts about seven days, then the cat goes “out of heat” for 1-2 weeks and starts all over again until she becomes pregnant or breeding season ends.

Is my cat in heat?

Yowling! A female cat

28 Desert Pet Companion

in heat has a meow that can sound like a howl; it is longer, louder, and more insistent sounding than her normal meow.

Generally, the cat becomes more affectionate by loudly purring and rubbing against furniture, doorways, people or practically anything she can rub against. She often will go into a mating position where her head is down, her rear end goes up in the air and her tail is either straight up or to the side to expose her vaginal area. Some cats move their hind feet back and forth when in this position. She will lick her vaginal area constantly and there might be swelling or bloody discharge. Some female cats spray urine to mark their territory and lure male cats. Some female cats lose their appetite.

When during heat can a cat get pregnant?

The act of mating induces the release of eggs (ovulation) from a female cat’s ovaries, so a cat can get pregnant anytime during heat. Most female cats need to mate several times within 24 hours before ovulation will occur. A female cat can mate with different tomcats during heat and so it is also possible for a litter of kittens to have different fathers. When a cat ovulates, heat normally ends a day or two later.

A cat can enter into heat again as early as one week after giving birth.

Pregnant?

Pregnancy lasts about nine weeks. It isn’t possible to tell if your cat is pregnant until about four weeks. A veterinarian can

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

So cute!

BUT they will all need a home!

feel the fetuses by palpating the uterus at that time.

It isn’t until six weeks old that a fetus is visible by x-ray.

Prevention

The easiest way to prevent pregnancy is to spay (surgically remove

Summer 2014

a female cat’s ovaries and uterus) your female cat. Spaying is a routine operation with few complications. Only a licensed veterinarian is allowed to spay a cat. A cat can be spayed at eight weeks old as long as she weighs over two pounds.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Why spay my cat?

Approximately 3.4 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters every year and annually; 1.4 million of those cats are euthanized.* There are health benefits to spaying your cat before her first heat, too. Spaying before her first heat reduces the risk of breast cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine or ovarian cancer.

* Statistics from ASPCA.org

Dr. Rebecca Diaz, DVM is the owner of The Cat Clinic, a feline-only veterinary clinic located at 67870 Vista Chino, Cathedral City.

760-325-3400, www.catcitycat.com

Desert Pet Companion 29

Who Will Take Care Of My Pet?

by Wendy Presti, owner of The Pet Spaw

M

ost of us have had the joy of the love of a pet throughout our lives.

Our pets become part of our family. We enjoy their company, loyalty and love.

Many of us have also faced the loss of a pet, which is devastating.

Being in the grooming industry for as long as I have, I have had the opportunity to know many pet owners and their pets.

Through the years I have experienced and shared the loss of a client’s pet.

I also have had clients pass, leaving their pets homeless. What happens in a pet’s life when they lose their owners? Who becomes their voice?

Over the past 3 years, I personally have acquired 8 pets under these circumstances.

30 Desert Pet Companion

The Humane Society reports that an estimated 100,000 – 500,000 pets are sent to shelters, annually, due to pet owner incapacity or death. Grieving family members or caregivers suddenly have a pet to re-home due to lack of preplanning by the pet owner. As hard as this may be to think about, it is a real possibility and, just like a child, would you leave them without any arrangements?

Make Arrangements The most important planning step is to find a caregiver who is committed to providing care for your pet(s) in your absence. Reach out to your family, friends, groomer, veterinarian, and pet-sitter to help you locate a des-

ignated pet caregiver. Get the caregiver’s commitment in writing and keep it with your important papers so that it is readily available.

Having a back-up plan is a good idea, too.

What happens if your designated pet caregiver is traveling when an emergency happens? Who will temporarily take care of your pet? Or, what if your pet caregiver’s situation has changed and they can’t take your pet after all? Having an alternate pet caregiver is important.

Make a Pet Care Information Packet which details information like medical history, veterinarian, groomer, pet sitter, daily care, and medical needs. Daily care information is important because

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a pet can’t speak for itself.

Only the pet owner knows things like when the pet is fed, what pet food brands work for the pet, how much food it is use to eating, when does it normally eat, what medications does it take, are there any allergies, how much exercise is it used to receiving, does it sleep in a bed (or on yours), crate and so on.

This packet should also have the pet caregiver’s contact information.

Make it a Legal Document Speak to your attorney to decide which legal document will work best for your particular situation. A Pet Trust (Editor’s note: See DPC, Spring Issue, page 14, “Wills and Pet Trusts”) is a formal document that outlines pet care expectations. Unlike a will, a trust can provide for your pet(s) even if you become incapacitated or ill. A Power of Attorney is another legal document that gives someone the right to take care of your affairs while you are alive.

(Editor’s note: An excellent book about planning for your pets is “Fat Cats & Lucky Dogs” by Barry Seltzer and Gerry W. Beyer.)

Preparation is the Key Now that you have the plans in place for your pet’s care, who will know about your plans? If an unexpected accident, illness Summer 2014

or death happens, your pet(s) might be temporarily overlooked. To keep this from happening, here are some simple precautions: Arrange for two responsible friends or family members to take charge of your pets, temporarily.

Give them a set of keys and access to your Pet Information Packet.

Carry a wallet “alert card” which gives names and phone numbers of your emergency pet caregivers.

Put a removable “Pets Inside” sticker on your window or door for emer-

gency response personnel.

Post a removable notice inside your front and back door which lists your emergency pet caregiver’s contact information Hopefully, you and your pets will have a long and healthy life together.

Cherish every moment with your pets, but remember to plan for the unexpected.

Wendy Presti owns The Pet Spaw which is located at 73911 Hwy. 111, Palm Desert. CA 760-346-3461

Emergency Pet Alert Card I have pets waiting for me to come home and have authorized the following persons to take care of them in case of an emergency. Please contact: NAME:___________________________________________ PHONE:__________________________________________ NAME:___________________________________________ PHONE:__________________________________________

or call my (circle one) Pet Sitter Veterinarian NAME:___________________________________________ PHONE:___________________________________

Emergency Pet Alert Card MY NAME:________________________________________

I have ____ pets in my home.

Pet’s name

Type of Animal

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ SEE FLIP SIDE OF CARD FOR CONTACT INFORMATION

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Desert Pet Companion 31

Keeping Kitty Safe &

Happy

by Karen J. Moreland, DVM VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

PHOTO OF PYRAMID COURTESY STURDI PRODUCTS

I

think we can all agree that living indoors is the safest environment for our feline friends. Outdoor cats live 2 to 5 years, compared to indoor-only cats which live an average of 12 to 15 years. Many well cared for indoor cats live into their 20’s.

Unfortunately, cats often have other ideas as to their preferred living arrangements.

Cats, by nature, are nomad explorers and confining them into a 2000 square foot house or apartment with our families, our off-limit furnishings and other pets (which have not been pre-approved by the cat), are often detrimental to their physical and emotional health. Obesity and boredom are nearly as dangerous for cats as being outdoors. The good news is that there are ways to make their living arrangements better suited for their preferences and lifestyles.

First of all, let’s review the basic nature of cats. Unlike dogs and people, cats are not pack oriented; they are solitary creatures whose day is comprised of hunting and eating prey, climbing, sharpening claws, napping and exploring novel environments. A novel environment does not necessarily imply different habitats as nature constantly provides new stimuli from wildlife, insects, growing plants and changing odors. Bored indoor cats spend more time eating and napping, sometimes 32 Desert Pet Companion

entertaining themselves with what their human counterparts would consider inappropriate or destructive behaviors.

The good news is that we can enrich their environments by providing opportunities to engage in outdoor-type activities inside our homes. Provide your cat with hiding and climbing places. Cat trees come in a variety of sizes, shapes, heights and materials to satisfy any kitty. Some are simple posts with a platform at the top while others are more like children’s jungle gyms with multiple levels, hiding cubby holes, attached toys and different substrates for a variety of tactile experiences. You can buy them in the shape of real trees, real houses or even pirate ships to tickle your fancy. If you have basic carpentry skills you can make one yourself, possibly out of materials you already have collecting dust in your garage. This activity provides “enrichment” for both of you! If you can, provide more than one, which is especially important if you have more than one cat. If you do not provide a climbing, clawing surface, kitty will find something in the home to indulge in these behaviors—often to the chagrin of pet owners. It does not have to be elaborate; it just has to be his.

Get your cat active and entertained with the hundreds of cat toys that are

www.DesertPetCompanion.com Summer

2014

VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital offers nose-to tail care with easy and affordable monthly payments. VCA CareClub™ is the pet health care solution for pet owners (and their pets!) who want a comprehensive and affordable way to keep their pets as healthy and happy as possible.

available at pet, grocery and drug stores, are online or make your own. Provide paper bags, cardboard boxes, or empty paper towel rolls for both hideaways and intriguing sounds. Favorites are frequently toys that have some animal odor such as feathers on strings or poles and animal hide-covered toys. The best are interactive, requiring the pet owner to participate in playtime. You control the motion, speed and direction of the activity which is erratic and fascinating to cats, as well as fun for you. Such games enhance bonding and burn calories for sedentary felines. Laser pointers are perfect for this as the light can dash up walls, scurry across tile and carpets, turn corners and jump into baskets and boxes with little expenditure on your part. The pet industry is inundated with toys that move erratically with or without the cat’s physical involvement and provide long periods of entertainment for the cat and owner. Toys are not solely for young cats and kittens as our senior felines often enjoy rowdy, but shorter, playtimes.

Didn’t your mother tell you not to play with your food? Well, food play is an excellent activity which ends in a tasty reward. There are toys that you can stuff with bits of dry kibble or favorite treats that require patience and ingenuity to retrieve one tidbit at a time. The beauty of

Feather toys come in many shapes and sizes. Products like Da Bird by Go-Cat (found at Pet Oasis) offer hours of interactive fun with your cat.

Da Bird mimics the motions of a bird in fligt.

Replacement feathers are available.

Kitty Kopter, also manufactured by Go-Cat provides feathered fun without the tether. Toss the toy and watch your cat pounce and play.

34 Desert Pet Companion

this type of toy is that it can be enjoyed, ignored and returned to several times a day. It makes a food hound have to work for his calories and extends the eating time to make nibblers out of gobblers.

This is also great for when you are not home and is preferable to leaving out a bowl of food for her to steadily munch on out of boredom. Outdoor cats fending for themselves spend a significant amount of time and energy acquiring food. They have to locate, stalk and catch their prey which is often not successful... The prey is small, such as a mouse or insect that runs, flies, goes in a hole or climbs a tree and is almost never just sitting in her bowl waiting to be dinner! Because the catch is so small, the cat has to hunt many times per day to get the necessary calories an active 10 pound kitty needs to meet the her daily requirement. Leaving a bowl filled with food does not mimic natural feeding behavior and promotes overeating and obesity. Ideally, for physical and emotional well being, a cat should be fed small amounts multiple times per day.

While you are watching TV or surfing the Internet, try tossing kibbles one at a time across the floor so that your cat has to retrieve it to eat. You can also hide kibble behind furniture or cushions around the house for your cat to “hunt”.

Visual stimulation is another often overlooked way to enrich your cat’s indoor existence. Put a perch by the window, or a cat tree by the patio doors, so that he may watch nature unfold outside.

Put out bird feeders to attract seed eaters and hummingbirds, and plant flowers to attract butterflies on the patio. Some pet owners turn the television on to the Discovery or Nature Channel while others purchase DVDs showing similar animal activity to entertain their cats. Some cats are fascinated by this while others show little interest. Some pet owners go so far as to install a sunroom furnished for people and cats, which can bring all the beauty of the outdoors inside while providing a safe environment for all to enjoy.

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Part of the fun of the Pyramid by Sturdi is getting into it. If you hang the Pyramid your cat’s adventure starts as soon as it jumps into the mesh “hang-out.” Made from durable mesh and reinforced with a light weight frame. The Fleece Comfort Pad is machine washable and dryable. See DPC’s full product review on our website.

You can let your cat experience the great outdoors by providing a safe enclosure purchased or built for that purpose.

The structure can be small and simple or large and elaborate, complete with kitty friendly toys, perches and cat trees. Some are made to be enjoyed under supervision as they may have screens or mesh which can be torn by nails or teeth and allow escape. Cat proof fencing can be installed around your property perimeter which is constructed in such a way that your cat cannot climb out and the neighboring cats cannot get in. This fencing is non obtrusive and relatively attractive as well as effective in allowing cats unrestricted access to your property. I would not recommend prolonged unsupervised access until you are certain your determined cat cannot find a way to circumvent the special features of the fence and escape. If you are not ready to provide such open and minimally restrictive access to nature, you may consider teaching your cat to walk with a harness and leash. Just remember, that in the feline world, if it’s not the cat’s idea, it’s not a good idea. So be patient and introduce your cat slowly to wearing a harness. Put Summer 2014

it on for a few minutes, adjust it so that it is snug but not tight, and give him a high value treat. Take it off after a few minutes and repeat the process. Do this indoors over several days. After he is comfortable wearing the harness, attach the leash and let him drag it around and play with it if he wants. Keep watch so that he doesn’t get it tangled or caught on something. If your cat is use to the outdoors, you can take him out after he is okay with his new wardrobe. If being outside is a new experience for him, consider putting him in a crate with his harness and leash on and let him acclimate to the new sights and sounds. Do this for several minutes daily, increasing the time spent outdoors until he is comfortable being outside. Finally, you can take him out of his crate and you, the family and the cat can enjoy new experiences together.

One last word: Don’t change everything at once! Add new things to your cat’s environment slowly as cats are creatures of habit and too much stimulation at one time may be overwhelming and stressful. They are, however, very adaptable and will benefit from (and appreciate) all your efforts on their behalf.

Karen Moreland, DVM, VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital located at 71-075 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA. 1-760-346-6103. Visit www.vcahospitals.com/rancho-mirage

RESOURCES:

Here are some additional catproduct resources: indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/ Cattoys.com Squidoo.com/best-cat-toys-indoor-cats Catsmeow.com Coolpetstuff.com Playtimeworkshop.com Kittymansions.com Catsplay.com Cat-furniture-plans.com Habitathaven.com Paws.org Catenclosuresoutdoor.com Perfectfence.com

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Animal Trivia

Amaze Your Friends With These Little-Known Animal-Related Facts! from Lillian Roberts, DVM Country Club Animal Clinic

ABOUT DOGS:

Dogs normally have 42 teeth and 319 to 321 bones – depending on how long their tails are!

Not all dogs have fur! Some have hair.

Fur sheds, hair doesn’t, but it has to be trimmed periodically or it will keep growing indefinitely!

Dogs are the only animal that will look in the direction of a pointed human finger. (Cats just look at the finger.) This is an innate, not a trained, response.

Dogs have the largest range of body weight and size of any species! An adult Chihuahua can weigh less than 2 pounds and fit in your hand, while the heaviest dog ever recorded was a mastiff, weighing in at 343 pounds!

The tallest known dog is a Great Dane measuring a cool 7 feet from nose to tail. Dogs also have the most diverse body types of all species, almost entirely a result of human intervention and selective breeding.

Dogs (and cats, as well as birds) have a functioning third eyelid, located in the inside corner of the eye. In most other species, this is relegated to a small, nonfunctioning remnant.

The first domestic dogs probably appeared as much as 15,000 years ago, in northern Africa or eastern Asia, when 36 Desert Pet Companion

Eurasian wolves started hanging around villages. Hieroglyphs of dogs resembling modern sight hounds are found on ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Researchers have estimated that a bloodhound’s nose consists of approximately 230 million olfactory cells, or “scent receptors” — 40 times the number in humans.

ABOUT CATS:

Cats normally have 32 teeth (fewer than dogs) and 230 bones (fewer than dogs but more than humans)! Almost 10% of these bones are located in the tail. They have 24 whiskers (4 rows on each side), and the top two rows can move independently of the bottom rows.

“All” calico and tortoiseshell cats are females; or at least they have two “X” chromosomes. The rare “male calico” is always sterile and has a chromosomal abnormality. This is because the gene for yellow and the gene for red lie at the same place on the “X” chromosome.

Cats are the most popular pet (in terms of numbers) in the world, and now can be found virtually everywhere that humans live.

Domestic cats descend from African wildcats, and were first adapted for

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Independently owned since 1996

Independently owned

by Dr. Lillian Roberts, Country Club Animal Clinic sets the pace for exceptional care and service to our patients and their people.

Dr. Lillian Roberts

Conveniently located in the center of the Coachella Valley, we are easy to reach from Indio, Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City and Thousand Palms.

36869 Cook St. Suite 103, Palm Desert, CA 92211 760-776-7555 www.countryclubdvm.com Summer 2014

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Desert Pet Companion 37

human companionship around 8000 BC. Many ancient Egyptians worshipped them as part of an animalistic religion. (Some say cats have never forgotten this fact!) Cats were even mummified after death!

Cat urine glows under a black light.

A cat’s normal heart rate is about 180, its temperature is 100-102, and it breathes about 25 breaths per minute at rest.

Cats purr at the same frequency as a diesel engine.

A pair of unneutered cats left to reproduce, and their offspring left to reproduce (and so on…) can result in over 500,000 cats after only 5 years!

makes in 1 minute (60 seconds) Subtract 40 from this number. Divide the result by 4. Add 50.

So if a cricket chirps 120 times in a minute, it’s 70 degrees Fahrenheit!

(120-40=80; 80/4=20; 20+50=70) The 9-banded Armadillo is the only animal, besides humans, that can catch leprosy.

For a cow to make 1 gallon of milk, 500 gallons of blood has to flow through the udder.

Several species of snakes (rattlesnakes, boa constrictor, and others) give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs.

They are believed to be the only nonmammalian vertebrates to do this.

ABOUT OTHER ANIMALS:

Dr. Lillian Roberts, DVM, is the owner of Country Club Animal Clinic which is located at 36869 Cook Street, in Palm Desert.

760-776-7555 www.countryclubdvm.com.

You can figure out the environmental temperature by listening to crickets: Count the number of chirps the cricket

38 Desert Pet Companion

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Lindi Biggi Working towards a “No-Kill” Community

by Geoff Winstead, editor, DPC indi Biggi is one of the most recognized animal advocates in the Coachella Valley. Her BG Bird Garden is much sought-after for fundraisers. She has founded or helps support several animal charities including “Loving All Animals” which is closest to her heart. Lindi is a vivacious woman with a welcoming smile who really does want to get to know you when you first meet. Her passion for helping animals in need seems to know no bounds, so we wondered where all of this compassion and energy comes from.

Having been raised on a 2300 acre farm in rainy Oregon that had “a falling down barn that was actually in better shape than the three story tall, cereal box shaped house that was built with the cheapest materials available in the early 1940’s,” Lindi believes that she is “genetically programmed to dedicate my life to animals.” In some part, she “blames” it on her mother.

“We lived near both a livestock auction house and a slaughter house. If the animals in the auction were too sick, lame or old to be sold, they would be sent to the slaughter house. My mom decided she wanted to do something and told the owners that she would take those animals, from chickens to horses and everything else, and if they lived beyond a week, she would pay $5.00 for each animal she could nurse back to health.

We would get new animals on a weekly basis and eventually had herds of cattle, horses, goats, chickens, peacocks, pigs, turkeys, sheep – you name it, we had it somewhere on those 2300 acres.”

Since her mom and brothers were Summer 2014

PHOTO: © KAREN BUXBAUM PHOTOGRAPHY

L

running the makeshift animal hospital, the household chores fell on Lindi’s shoulders. That wouldn’t have been so bad, Lindi explains, “except mom kept her scouring calves in the kitchen, baby chicks or turkeys or ducks in the shower, rabbits in my brothers bedroom, and I can’t tell you how many times I would find a bunch of newborn piglets laying on top of the freshly dried clothes! This was especially unnerving when they were on my clothes. I would scold her and she would pout and put one of the shivering piglets in my arms and ask me if I would not have done the same if I found them cold because their own mom was too weak to keep her babies warm.”

Lindi’s most vivid memory of her mother is when she went to the barn to

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PHOTO © GEOFF WINSTEAD

PHOTO COURTESY LINDI BIGGI

complain of having more animals in the house than there were in the barn and finding her half inside a moaning cow trying to pull out a breach birth calf! “As you can see, my passion for animals is part of my breeding, it’s in my genes,” she says.

As founder of Loving All Animals, Lindi’s involvement with animal organizations had to start somewhere. Like most farm kids, she started with the 4-H Club. As a young adult, her involvement with animals waned, as she had kids to raise. But as they left the nest, she became interested in exotic birds, and joined some bird clubs as she acquired more and more.

After moving to the desert, she helped establish the Angels for Animal Samaritans group and later was on the Board of Directors for Animal Samaritans and served with that organization for many years.

She was also invited to serve on the Board of Directors for PetSmart Charities and enjoyed seeing the animal world from a national viewpoint.

“Starting Loving All Animals was actually motivated by two profoundly important things in my life,” says Lindi.

“The first was family. My granddaughter, Tabitha, moved in with me at the age of fifteen. She worked on almost every animal event I was involved with, and at age 17 she left for school on a Monday morning and never came home. She was killed in an automobile accident. Losing her left 40 Desert Pet Companion

an unbelievable void in my life. I found myself with absolutely no useful purpose; no way of paying the rent for the space I was occupying on this planet. I knew that my life depended upon getting busy doing something worthwhile, or my sadness would continue to destroy me. Starting Loving All Animals and working for the animals was a natural. The second important thing is my friends. I love my friends and my friends love animals, too. I had memories of all the fun and productive hours we had spent doing things for the animals, so forming Loving All Animals to give us a venue to work together, again, was a natural.”

When asked what she felt should be done about ending euthanasia policies in shelters, Lindi was quick to answer.

“There is only one answer to this question. Get the supply and demand in balance! The old saying, ‘If people knew better, they would do better,’ screams the truth in this situation. I truly think most people are good, I mean, really good.

They would never knowingly allow these beautiful, God made, life forms to have their lives snuffed out. We, as a society, have been ‘dumbed down’ to accept it.

Can you, for one second, imagine society saying it was okay to go into overcrowded schools and euthanize those over the capacity of the building? The solution is truly as simple as one, two, three, and

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Cold Nose Warm Heart

PHOTO © GEOFF WINSTEAD

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not controversial as so many of our world problems are. One: Spay/neuter so as to stop the production of unwanted animals.

Two: Adopt! Get society to understand that they need to adopt shelter animals and drastically cut back commercial puppy mill operations. If people don’t buy them, they will diminish the breeding. Three: Support the animal welfare organizations that are working so hard to get us to being a No-Kill nation. ‘No-kill’ means a 90% live exit from shelters. Right now, over 50% of dogs and 80% of cats are being put down in one of our local shelters and it is even worse with some of our neighboring shelters.”

She continues, “Citizens have no idea that it costs an average of $426 for every animal entering our public system. It doesn’t matter if they come out dead or alive. That is what it cost for facility, staff, dog catchers, trucks equipment, administration, etc. One doesn’t need to be a mathematician to see that government paid spay/ neuter for low income people would cost taxpayers less. The real question is: Why don’t we do it?”

Another issue close to Lindi’s heart is micro-chipping pets. “I have been a serious supporter of micro-chips for the last twenty-plus years,” she says, “and I would stake my life on the fact that they are not dangerous. I am hoping to live long enough to see our government realize that dog licenses are useless to the dog and to the dog own-

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PHOTO COURTESY LINDI BIGGI PHOTO © ALICIA BAILEY | A+B PHOTOGRAPHY

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42 Desert Pet Companion

er. It is a very poor income stream for the animal services department. They need to phase out the license requirement and replace it with mandatory microchip for all companion animals and then use their data base as a retrieval system. This could be done where it would be cheaper for the citizen, give Animal Services a meaningful income program, give animal owners a value for their money and get a whole lot more lost animals back home.”

Adoption fairs have become a popular way of getting people who may not think about going to a shelter a way to find a new companion. Lindi likes to give them themes, such as “The Wizard of Oz”, and sometimes transports a few of the animals to the fairs in a limousine. Where did the idea come from?

“Yes, adoption fairs gives people that don’t or won’t go to shelters an opportunity to see the beautiful creatures that are available. Loving All Animals tries to get humans to see their beauty and get rid of the stereotype that shelter animals are bad, rejects, ugly, dirty, and undesirable, and instead, see them as the beautiful, loving, adorable creatures that God made them to be. They are not mutts.

They are Premium Blends! In fact, did you know that 30% of shelter animals are purebreds? We take an animal out of the shelter, spay/neuter, vaccinate,

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Summer 2014

PHOTO © GREGG FELSEN 2013, COURTESY LINDI BIGGI

microchip and, if necessary, take care of other health issues. We groom them, spray them with perfume, give them a fancy name, a fancy collar and take them around in the limo. Animals that no one would ever look at suddenly find people fighting over them. We love it when that happens!”

The idea for the limo is a very special story. “As you know, some of the dogs rescued from Duroville might fit the description of “undesirable”. I have to admit, some of them were pretty bad. Well, we were invited to the very prestigious event known as “Day in The Garden” and we took three Duroville dogs in hope that some of the cream of the affluent crop of Palm Springs might bid a few dollars for the benefit of the museum and at the same time, save the life of these dogs. It was a roaring success! Two of the cute dogs found loving homes quickly. But next on the auction block was a great big, shaggy and a bit ugly “Bear Dog”. Nothing but silence from the crowd. Silence, that is, until a lady stepped up and said, ‘Here is $1500! I want that dog!’ She wasn’t going to bid; she wasn’t going to let anyone else bid (not that anyone intended to). She just let it be known to the crowd of hundreds that that dog was going to be hers! It really was a sight I will never forget. I watched as she left with her new found skinny, hundred pound, over-priced, untrained companion and as they walked through the front door, I saw the driver of a great big black limo opening the door for her and Bear to enter. He took his place next to her on the seat and he looked regal in that car! Believe me when I say making him look regal was a challenge! Anyway – ask and you shall receive – after that, we wanted a limo. It took awhile, but one was eventually donated.”

When Lindi was asked what her vision for Loving All Animals’ future is and what animal lovers in the Coachella Valley do to help, she said, “Volunteer! Educate yourself and others about the situation and give a little piece of yourself to

the cause. We have a thousand and one volunteer opportunities; everything from office work, public relations, walking/ training dogs, loving on cats, fostering, event work, and more. The rewards are endless!”

“As to my vision,” she concluded, “I want to see us all working together to create a No-Kill community and then on to creating a No-Kill nation. I want us to figure out how we can provide free spay/ neuter services to low-income families. I want to create a huge data base of willing foster homes that can be available to all the shelters, plus individuals that need short-term care of their pets while they, themselves, are homeless, or when they need to be in the hospital, or other shortterm reasons that would require they give up their pet—anything that will keep the pet from going to a shelter in the first place. I hope to see the day where every companion animal has a micro-chip and a working retrieval system that gets lost pets home. I hope to see the day when people really understand that the love of an animal is of great value and the quality of the love isn’t increased because you pay a big price for a purebred dog. Rescues are really the greater lovers!

If you would like to become involved with Loving All Animals, call 760-8347000 or email info@lovingallanimals.org.

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Dream Dogs 5 Top Picks for Indoor Activities

by Lori Wainio-Carman, VSPDT

W

PHOTOS COURTESY DREAM DOGS

hat’s the key to a happy and healthy dog?

An Active Body + An Active Mind = A Happy and Healthy Dog! We like to work with FitPAWS™ equipment at Dream Dogs. The best thing about training your dog on their equipment is that it helps strengthen the bond with your dog while wearing them out physically and mentally. Dogs need a job to do, and training them on FitPAWS equipment provides the mental and physical stimulation that dogs crave. A good dog is a tired dog! Here are some products we recommend:

1. The FitPAWS Peanut is a peanutshaped stability ball that is used for core conditioning of sporting and working dogs as well as your pet. Unlike a regular stability ball, the Peanut has a unique shape that limits its movement to front/ 44 Desert Pet Companion

back or side/side. There are a number of exercises your dog can do when on the Peanut to strengthen core muscles. It is great for stretching your dog out, too.

2. The FitPAWS Donut is a small donut-shaped stability ball. It may be used as a balance training tool or for core strengthening for small dogs that may be overwhelmed on a Peanut.

3. FitPAWS Paw Pods are excellent for target exercises (training your dog to put its feet on a specific spot). Paw Pods can also be used for balance exercises.

You can change the difficulty level by using them placed with the flat side down (less challenging) or dome side down (more challenging). The Paw Pods feature sensory bumps on top for neural stimulation and grip capability. By using

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LICENSED BY:

Obedience AGILITY BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PUPPY SOCIALIZATION RALLY TRICKS NOSE WORK SILVER PAWS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT CERTIFIED TRAINERS DAY TRAINING PRIVATE & Group LESSONS EVENING PROGRAMS FACILITY RENTALS

(760) 899-7272 www.dreamdogs.com

45090 GOLF CENTER PARKWAY, UNIT B, INDIO, CALIFORNIA

PHOTOS COURTESY DREAM DOGS

positive reinforcement, you can perform backing up, side stepping, or add weight shifting. Paw Pods offer training exercises that are a ton of fun to work on during the hotter months.

4. Toys! One of my favorites is the Pickle Pocket, a toy that has slots for stuffing dog treats. The treats can be placed in varying depths within the toy to provide different levels of challenge for the dog to get the

treats. Pickle Pocket encourages play and provides hours of mental stimulation and physical activity, preventing destructive behaviors caused by boredom. The Pickle Pocket bounces and floats in water, too.

5. Slo-Bowls are designed as a natural, healthy and playful resolution for dogs that gobble their kibble too fast. Eating too fast can be unhealthy, especially for larger dogs that are susceptible to bloat.

These bowls promote dogs to forage and use their brain to work the puzzle in order to get their kibble. My dogs love theirs.

Check out our schedule of classes, online. We offer Canine Cross Fit classes at The Dream Dogs Training Center as well. www.DreamDogs.com Lori Wainio-Carman, VSPDT, professional dog trainer and owner of Dream Dogs has been successfully training for over 20 years.

760-899-7272 www.dreamdogs.com, www.Positively.com

Summer Pet Tips Make sure your pup has access to cool clean water;

Make sure your pup is in an area that is well ventilated, with good air flow and a shady spot to get out of the direct sunlight; Dogs can get heat stroke too - it’s not just a people thing; Hot cars are deadly to dogs, never leave your pup in the car; Prepare for the unexpected. Add the numbers to a 24/7 vet hospital on your phone; I.D. Check. Make sure your pups ID tags are up to date with current phone number and address; First Aid Kit. Bring a travel first aid kit with you at all times.

PHOTO COURTESY GOT DOOKY?

Place a child’s wading pool with water for your dog to cool off in;

TIPS from Got Dooky? Pet Waste Removal Service, 866-229-9289 46 Desert Pet Companion

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PHOTO: SURF N TURF LIFE VEST BY KURGO. VISIT WWW.KURGO.COM

Summer Hazards

by Marlena Folden, DVM, Medical Director, VCA Valley Animal Hospital

A

s we head into summer, here, in the Coachella Valley, I am reminded of how things are about to heat up. Everything we do during the summer revolves around trying to keep cool, whether it is making sure the A/C is running smoothly, to making sure the swimming pool is ready for fun. While you are making decisions on how to beat the heat, don’t forget your pets. Their lives depend on your preparation. As a veterinarian at a local emergency hospital, I wanted to share some of the common emergencies we encounter in the summertime and how to prevent them.

Although your swimming pool is a recreational enjoyment for you, your pets may not share the same experience. Every summer we encounter patients that have nearly drowned.

Most of these patients are elderly dogs that have had changes in their sight, hearing, or their mentation (level and quality of consciousness).

They may have increased difficulty walking as well. You might let them out to eliminate, but they cannot see where they are going, hear you calling them away from a distraction, or have good enough coordination to move away from a slippery edge. To prevent near drowning, there are some preparations you can make for your Summer 2014

aging pets. Make sure your pet stays supervised, or consider gating off access to the pool.

Teach your pet at a young age how to access the pool and to swim to safety. Consider wearing a life jacket for pets that love to swim and refuse to leave your side in the swimming pool. If your pet falls into the pool, pull them to safety immediately. If they are unconscious and not breathing, you can breathe for them by closing the mouth and breathing gently mouth to snout.

During your care seek emergency medical veterinary care immediately.

Your air conditioned home is the safest place for your furry friends during the summer months. Dogs are at risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion when outside, even in the shade. Elderly pets and short faced dogs and cats are even at a higher risk. These pets are unable to get rid of heat efficiently and, in turn, their internal systems begin to decline. You may recognize heat stroke simply by a pet refusing breakfast after a run in the morning sun. Other indications can be vomiting, collapse, panting with over exertion and bloody diarrhea and bruising in severe cases. If you are concerned that heat stroke may be setting in, seek veterinary care immediately.

Heat stroke can be avoided in many ways. Keep

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Emergency Preparedness For Your

Pets

dogs and cats out of unattended vehicles. Take your dogs for walks before the sun comes up and after the sun goes down. Do not over exert your pet even if it doesn’t feel that hot. Supervise short outdoor potty visits. Make sure there is fresh water available at all times. And, if your dog is hanging outside with you poolside, keep the misters on.

Trauma, trauma, trauma! I’m not sure what about the heat causes our pets to roam more often, maybe it’s the old expression, “Some Like it Hot.” Summer brings us a rise in dogs and cats injured in vehicular trauma or wounded from fighting. One way we can prevent roaming is spaying and neutering our pets. Make sure they have appropriate social interaction at home (good socialization always starts at puppy- and kitten-hood). Consider boarding your pet when you are on vacation so they are not at home, unsupervised. And always, make sure your fences and gates are in good repair and working order.

It is often devastating as a veterinarian and a pet owner to watch a pet suffer from a preventable illness or accident. As pet owners, we are like new parents and cannot always see the dangers our pets may face. Your veterinarian is here to help you prepare for all the dangers— summertime and year round. There are no silly questions, so don’t be afraid to ask your vet anything you don’t know. Remember, “Beat the Heat” this summer, 2014.

VCA Valley Animal Medical Center is a 24-hour full service and emergency animal medical center. It is located at 46920 Jefferson Street, Indio, (760) 609-0498 www. vcavalleyemergency.com 48 Desert Pet Companion

I

f a natural disaster happens, have you included your pets in your emergency plan?

Preparation is the key when unsafe conditions affect our environment.If it is not safe for humans, it is not safe for pets either. What do you need to do to get prepared?

Plan now.

ID. Cats and dogs need identification in order to be reunited with you if they are lost (see article on page 50). Please microchip/ tatoo your pet and make sure the tag on it’s collar is up-to-date.

Disater kit. You should have enough food and water for a minimum of 3 days and supplies on hand and stored in a easy to grab togo kit. When traveling, it is also important to have your pet’s disaster kit with you.

Safe place to stay. Call the local office of emergency management to find out if pets will be allowed in emergency shelters and where they will be located. Check for accommodations outside of your immediate area and find out if there are restrictions on the species of animal, number or size of animals they accept. Keep a list of pet-friendly places in your Disaster Kit and call ahead to reserve a spot if you need to evacuate.

Other temporary shelter options include friends or relatives, kennels or veterinarians, or possibly your local animal shelter.

Have a plan in place for someone to get your pets (and their disaster kit) if you are away from home when an emergency strikes.

If you need to leave your home because of a disaster, bring your pets with you. It is possible that an expected short evacuation could be prolonged and you might not be allowed back in your home to get your pets later.

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The Pet Survival & Travel Kit www.pet-pac.com Pet Emergency Kits Include the following items: Premium Dog Survival Pack: • Canned food • Emergency water packets • Food/water bowl • Canned food cover, can opener • Small first aid kit • Pet first aid handbook • Collar & leash, sleeping pad • Potty bags & shovel • 2 emergency glow sticks • Tie-out stake • Toys, chew treats, pet brush

Premium Cat Survival Pack: • Includes Pet Carrier (also sold separately) • Canned food • Emergency water packets • Food/water bowl • Canned food cover, can opener • Small first aid kit • Pet first aid handbook • 2 emergency glow sticks • Toys • Sturdibox portable litter box (also sold separately), litter box liners & litter scoop

Traveling with your Pet? We also carry:

Travel Crates Hydration Products Canine Backpacks

Collars, Leads

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Small pet carriers Portable Food Storage Pet First Aid Products Harnesses & More

213-999-3490 www.pet-pac.com sales@pet-pac.com

We suggest you also have these emergency supplies available: • • • • • • • • •

3-5 day supply of kibble per pet stored in a container Extra water for each pet (1 quart/pet/day) Crate/pet carrier Medications, veterinary contact information, copy of medical history and vaccinations Benadryl (www.benadrylfordogs.com) Microchip/tattoo information, photo of pets Old, clean socks (foot protection/first aid) Eye protection, sunscreen Antiseptic clotting agent (Celox™, Kwik Stop®)

Pet Recognition Software E

Desert Pet Companion ran a short spotlight about the mobile app Finding

Rover last fall. The free mobile app was launched in July of 2013. The idea of using facial-recognition technology came to John Polimeno when he saw a poster for a lost dog which made him reflect on how traumatic the temporary loss of his pet was for his family. Facial recognition technology was a great idea, but it was extremely difficult software to develop for pets. Polimeno eventually teamed up with the Software Development Center at the University of Utah and funded the research for designing the software. The programmers

Register dog

Take/load photo

ven well trained pets have an uncanny way of slipping away from the most responsible pet owner. A closed door blows open, an improperly latched gate opens just a bit, a screen door is not closed tightly and an attractive adventure presents itself for your pet. So you have a lost pet, how are you going to find it?

Now there are two unique apps available to add to your lost pet finding resources.

Finding Rover

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at the center developed Pet Match, an algorithm that uses computer vision and machine learning to

Alert Finding Rover if your dog is lost

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find key features like eye shape and fur color on a dog to help differentiate it from other dogs.

The facial recognition is up to 98% effective. An interesting fact is that the technology doesn’t know it is a dog it is identifying. It doesn’t work the way our eyes do to find a match, it creates a 58 point map of the face to identify a match.

So how does it work?

Once you install the app on your smart phone or tablet, you are walked through the steps to “Register My Dog.” The app allows you to take a photo of your dog or load a photo you already have. The photo needs to be of your dog looking straight at the camera. A clever feature of the app is the “Bark Button” when

Alerts sent out Summer 2014

touched, the device emits a bark and your dog looks straight at it. Once the photo is loaded, you pinpoint the eyes and nose using a selection tool, approve the photo and then provide information about your dog (breed, sex, age) to register it. The photo and information are stored in a database.

If your dog is lost, you report the lost dog to FindingRover.com and they use Pet Match to search the dogs that have been found in your local area to see if there is a match. The search starts with a 10-mile radius. From there, users can expand across the nation and worldwide if they wish. Additionally, subscribers receive a list of lost dogs in their area to keep an eye out for. FindingRover.com recently released a new Shelter Integration program (see sidebar on page 53) to search for lost pets and find homes for homelss pets.

When you spot a pet that has lost its owner, you can take a photo and post it on FindingRover. com to help reunite it with its family.

Finding Rover is available for iOS App and Android App compatible devises. It is a free app and always will be. “At Finding Rover, we believe money should never stand in the way of dogs returning home. For this reason, Finding Rover will never have a fee to members, www.DesertPetCompanion.com

ever,” says Kelly Reck, a representative of Finding Rover. To find more information or to register your dogs, visit www.

FindingRover.com. A cat recognition app is in the works and the expected launch is by the end of 2014.

New Shelter Integration Finding Rover announced a brand new integration with shelters.

Through partnerships with shelters, Finding Rover will now be able to provide users with access to lists of found and adoptable dogs at shelters nearby. This means you will be able to search for your lost dog in shelters in your area from your smartphone or web app at app.findingrover.com. The goal is to provide users with a with a free tool to help bring every lost dog (and soon cats) home.

PiP My Pet

In January 2014, a second company launched a similar app called PiP my Pet. Philip Rooyakkers, the founder and CEO of Pip My Pet (PIP is and acronym for Positive Identification of Pet) also had lost a pet and wanted to find a better way of tapping into local resources and networks to help other pet owners find their lost pets. As with Finding Rover, PiP uses facial recognition software to help identify Desert Pet Companion 51

a specific pet and match it with found pets that have been uploaded into the PiP database. PiP’s technology was developed and researched by Dr. Daesik Jang. Dr. Jang had previously researched and designed human facial recognition technology for over 15 years.

The accuracy rate of recognizing a specific cat or dog is 98%, as with Finding Rover. The app (iOS or Android compatible) is also free to use, and if you find a pet (dog or cat) you can let PiP know by submitting a photo of the found pet. The photo can be taken and uploaded using your smart phone and the app. However, in order to use the PiP Amber Alert system you must register your pet

and registration currently costs $1.49/month/pet.

What Is a PiP Amber Alert?

The minute a registered pet has been lost, the owner can activate an Amber Alert. The PiP system immediately broadcasts to animal control or animal rescue agencies, veterinarians, and other PiP subscribers within a 15 mile range that your pet has been lost. Additionally, a lost pet poster is faxed to local veterinarians’ offices. At the same time, the alert will trigger Facebook and Twitter. PiP pays for boosted Facebook and Twitter posts to be directed in and around the area for where the pet was lost. This insures that people from that area see

and know of the lost pet.

PiP finds that each boosted post receives anywhere from 2500-4500 views.

A PiP customer care

Heavenly scented™ solutions for the unique needs of your pet, including everyday cleansing and coat conditioning, relief from itching or hot spots, combating pests, skin sensitivity or allergy, odor relief, and more.

Made in the USA.

www.earthbath.com 52 Desert Pet Companion

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representative will also contact the lost pet’s owner to offer support and will update them as progress is being made to find their pet. When the pet has been located, they receive information to be reunited with their pet.

with Finding Rover and PiP My Pet will help in the identification and return of your lost pet. It

certainly wouldn’t hurt to register for both services since their subscriber base might not overlap.

Take/load photo

Alert PiP if your dog is lost

Alert PiP if your dog is lost

Alert PiP if you find a pet

Resources for finding a lost pet As soon as you realize your pet is lost: Contact the local shelters and/or animal control Search the neighborhood where your pet was lost, ask neighbors, and hand out fliers Make BIG signs and post them in the area where your pet was lost. Include local grocery stores, veterinarian’s offices, pet stores, etc.

Use social media and internet resources like Craigslist and Fido Finder Put ads in local papers (let DPC know and we’ll post a notice on our Facebook site)

A Final Note

Using multiple identification methods helps make the chances of turning your lost pet into a found pet much greater. Making sure your pet has a microchip and/ or tattoo, wears a collar with up-to-date identification tags, and is registered Summer 2014

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PHOTO OF LITTLE ONE © ANTHONY GRANT, COURTESY PAM PRICE

A Note from the Dog: Take me!

Some pets prefer travel to staying at home

by Little One, The Million-Mile Maltese with Pamela Price Straight From the Dog’s Mouth

Hi! I’m Little One. You probably already know about me from other articles Pam Price has written in DPC. I’d like to share with you something that my human finally learned about pet travel. Every time Pam would travel, she’d wrestle with the questions: Do I take the dog or leave the dog? Which is best for the dog?

Well, I’m happy to tell you that she finally figured it out: Take the dog! Why should I miss a trip to Legoland or a comfy bed at a dog-friendly hotel in Cambria, CA (that’s near Hearst Castle)? I am perfectly capable of adapting to a road trip, or even a plane ride, if preparations are made to accommodate my needs.

Yes, we dogs do have a few requirements you need to keep in mind to keep our furry tails wagging, but never doubt that we want—more than anything—to always be with you!

Pet parents, the truth is, you don’t have to rely on a pet sitter every time you leave town (not that I don’t love pet sitters—I definitely have my favorites!). Just like you, I want to see 54 Desert Pet Companion

the world. I always suspected there was more to life than a backyard, and now that I know that it’s true, I love to explore!

Now, about those requirements: I’m talking about basic comforts—a roomy bed, potty stops along the route, a smart car seat with a doggie-friendly seat belt, plastic dishes, cool bottled water, healthy snacks, and in my case, my favorite furry stuffed toy. Mr. Ferret.

I’m a Traveling Man

My wanderlust began when my human started taking me on day trips with a big pillow in the back of our SUV, which is outfitted with an electric cooler. She’d store my water and food in the cooler, and we’d head out on local excursions that lasted the whole day. I loved seeing new places, smelling new smells and exploring new ground. I’d come home dog-tired and completely content.

Because these day-long trips were so fun for me, Pam decided we were ready to take our travel to another level. Last summer, we set out on a 10-day road trip from our home in Cathe-

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Keeping Pets Safe In Cars

PHOTO COURTESY SOLVIT PRODUCTS

dral City. One of my favorite stops on that trip was the very dog-friendly La Playa Resort in Naples, FL. I loved that place. I almost didn’t need my own supplies—I found all the amenities I needed stocked right the room’s mini-bar!

They had food, treats and ice-cold water … all the things that dogs dream about.

We spent a fine night there after exploring the sandy beach on the Gulf of Mexico all morning and getting my paws wet. I even met a stylish Maltese from Miami Beach during a memorable sunny seaside stroll. But, enough about my romantic interlude...

Throughout our trip, Pam was always on hand to pour me a refreshing bowl of water—with ice cubes, naturally. Even my snacks were kept cool. Traveling west and finding ourselves in Texas, we found many wonderful new places to walk and sniff, visiting many dog boutiques along the way. I recall my human buying me puppy-inspired souvenirs in San Antonio and Fredricksburg.

Packing for our 10-day road trip took a little organization, right from the beginning. This is what I overheard Pam saying as she began filling my travel suitcase: “Little One’s priorities are (1) eating a healthy diet away from home, (2) finding potty stops and (3) at least two walks daily, regardless of where we’re staying.” She knows me so well.

My travel suitcase, labeled with a special “dog tag,” held all the essentials. It was filled with treats packed in plastic containers, fresh drinking water, portable bowls for dining and drinking, safety restraints for the car and, most important for me, my favorite toys.

Once we got on the road, I sat safely in my restraints, which were very comfortable and made me feel secure. I got excited every time we made a potty stop, which was often.

It always feels good to stretch your legs and feel the grass under your paws when you’ve been in the car for a while. Pam even rigged up a tiny TV for me (I weigh seven pounds, so a big screen was out). I was living in the lap of luxury in that SUV … all the comforts of home.

I would like to think I was the real navigator on this trip. I had a terrific view of all the billboards on the interstates. I even encountered a few of those big guys—German Shep-

W

e love the company of our furry friends, so naturally we like for them to accompany us as we go out and about in the car. Keeping our pets secure and safe on car rides is easy to do. It takes only a minute to secure them in the back seat (where they won’t distract the driver) with a pet seatbelt. There are a number of seatbelts and tethering systems available.

Solvit Products has two new car safety products. The Solvit Deluxe Car Safety Harness was crash tested at a DOT approved facility using standards that are similar to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213 used for testing child safety seats. The Solvit safety harness was taken through a 30 mile-per-hour frontal crash test simulation and passed with flying colors.

Both their Economy and Deluxe Car Safety Harness work with the car’s seat belt and allows some range of motion while traveling but will lock during a sudden stop.

For additional information about the harness, visit www.solvitproducts.com.

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herds, guarding state lines in Arizona, Texas and Florida! Seriously, I felt like a VIP (very important pup) the entire time.

If I do say so myself, I did a good job of being very obedient during the whole trip. I wanted to, because I saw how carefully Pam prepared for my safety and comfort on the trip.

Relationships are all about give and take, right?

Well, that’s my half of the travel story … now here’s Pam’s side!

A Word from The Human

Today, Little One is a seasoned traveler, but he didn’t always love long car rides … he earned his AAA membership gradually. We started out taking day trips, as he mentioned, then every planned trip grew longer than the previous one until we were ready for our cross-country road trip adventure. I made sure to search in advance for dog-friendly hotels, resorts and restaurants. I made reservations, and I reconfirmed each one before we arrived there. I packed everything I thought Little One would need, including a package of training

pads, lots of disposable bags, an extra leash, his grooming essentials (his hair brush, toothbrush and toothpaste), shampoo and washable outfits. (He’s a fashionable guy, which is why he caught the eye of that stylish Maltese on the beach.)

We visited several dog-friendly parks and attractions, and I never once left Little One alone in the car (of course!). There were many rest stops on the interstate highways, which made pausing for a short walk convenient.

The moment we checked into each hotel room along the route, Little One was like an inspector. He had no problem adjusting to the itinerary. Each time we checked in, he was welcomed with amenities that ranged from doggie dishes to lists of dog-friendly restaurants.

There was never an extra charge for him—I always asked in advance to confirm there would no surprises on the final bill.

When the time comes, Little One should be ready for his first airline trip. According to FAA rules, I will need to have an appropriate carrier for him and abide by the rules established

Portable Shelters Sturdi Products makes the Car-Go Double Pop-up Shelter, a portable shelter that has two compartments to house two pets. The divider wall can be unzipped to create one large compartment. It’s a great instant shelter when you are travelling. No assembly is required. Simply remove from the case and give it a shake and it pops open! Comfort pads and other accessories are sold separately. A single compartment pop-up shelter is also available. Visit sturdiproducts.com Oversized carrying case with shoulder strap and storage pockets Made of durable 600 Denier Polyester Double zippered front doors Interior rings for optional hammock(s) and pet toys Fits on the seats of most cars and vans Built in storage pockets Vinyl water bottle pocket with grommet for spout Seatbelt safety straps 56 Desert Pet Companion

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Exceptional Care for Exceptional Pets!

Carter Animal Hospital offers the highest standard of veterinary care, by making a commitment to honesty, integrity, client satisfaction and service. Our services include but are not limited to: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

760-324-8811

36-701 Date Palm Dr. Cathedral City, CA 92234

by the airline I choose (these rules can be reviewed on airline websites).

It has been a voyage of discovery traveling with Little One. His fascination with new smells and sounds is boundless … he never gets tired of moving on to a new place. Secure in the knowledge that his human companions are there for him 24/7, he forges ahead with no fear and plenty of curiosity.

Traveling with your dog means you’ll have some limitations, of course. I would not recommend leaving your dog alone in a hotel room or taking him into a museum, where a loud bark would be disruptive. There were times when my travel companions and I rotated watching Little One so that one of us could visit an art exhibit or, on one occasion, attend a theater performance. The joy of having my beloved dog with me on vacation was worth any minor inconveniences I had to endure. Everything’s better with your dog by your side!

Hey, I just noticed Little One checking out a roadmap … I wonder where he will lead me next?

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Carter Animal Hospital

Air Ride Booster Seat is an inflatable booster seat by Kurgo. It rests directly on top of your vehicle’s seat, lifting your dog up and providing a safe view of the road ahead.

A breeze to inflate and install, you can take it anywhere. We like that you can still attach your pup’s harness to your car seat belt for safe traveling with the whole family. Holds up to 40 pounds. visit www.kurgostore. com/booster-seats/air-ride-booster-seat/ for more information.

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AROUND TOWN

Spotted at Woodman/Shimko Gallery

Woodman/Shimko Gallery 1105 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 760.322.1230. woodmanshimkogallery.com

Trevor Mikula is a self-taught contemporary artist from Nashville, Tennessee, who currently lives and paints in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He acts silly and creates paintings with a whimsical, sophisticated style that is unmistakable. Trevor paints with a vivid imagination, using vibrant paint and a palette knife. His undeniable charm of painting animals is something that has made him popular by people near and far and everywhere in between.

Desert Art Center

“Forever Together� is an acrylic painting by artist and pet owner Kathleen Irvine. The dog portrayed in the painting is her beloved William, a 4-year-old German Shepherd. Irvine is also the owner of Guardian Pet & Home Care, which provides pet sitting services (please see ad on page 23). Forever Together is now on display and for sale at Desert Artists gallery, 280 N. Palm Canyon in downtown Palm Springs across from the Hyatt hotel.

Irvine exhibits and sells her work at the Desert Art Center, a 501c(3) organization, founded in 1950 as a broad-based community art resource. The Center continues this mission to stimulate, educate, and nurture the visual arts of the Coachella Valley through a collaborative effort of membership programs, art education, and gallery space for emerging and established artists.

Desert Art Center, 550 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 760.323-7973 info@desertartcenter.org 58 Desert Pet Companion

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EVENTS PAGES 59-61

P

et social activities and fundraisers are infrequent during the summer because of the heat. Unless you are bringing your pet to an event or know your pet will be welcome indoors, please leave it at home.

Living Free hosts an adoption event on Friday, July 4th in Idyllwild (see ad page 61).

The annual Pets on Parade event is on Sunday, July 13th (please see ad on page 60).

Dream Dogs (see ad on page 45) has indoor dog classes throughout the summer.

Guide Dogs of the Desert 20th Annual Summer Fling! is Saturday, August

16, 2014. For more information, call 760-329-6257.

Please visit our Facebook page for additional events.

We post events as we find out about them. Activities and events are subject to change. Please call the event to confirm information. If we missed your pet event or activity, please let us know.

Quick link to our Facebook site

Join us on Facebook!

We update the our Facebook page with event announcements, contests for products, photos from events and more.

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Business Directory

Additional information about the businesses can be found on our website.

GROOMING Bath & Brush, 4771 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Ste. A, Palm Springs, 760-202-4494, Page 18.

K9 Clipper & Catamaran, 67-555 E. Palm Canyon Dr. (Hwy 111), Ste. F110, Cathedral City, 760-770-7676, Page 19.

Ritzi Rover, 73260 El Paseo, Ste. 2E, Palm Desert, 760-341-4133, Page 19.

The Pet Spaw, 73-911 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, 760-346-3461, Page 17.

PET CLUBS Kennel Club of Palm Springs iggylil@earthlink.net for information.

Standard Poodle Club of the Desert www.facebook.com/standardpoodleclubofthedesert PET PRODUCTS Earthbath, Page 52.

Earth Rated PoopBags, Page 6.

The Honest Kitchen, Page 6.

RESTAURANTS, RESORTS & HOTELS The River at Rancho Mirage, Corner of Bob Hope & Hwy 111,www.thervieratranchomirage.com, Page 2.

RETAIL & PET STORES Ambrosia Pet Deli, 73131 Country Club Dr. C3, Palm Desert, 760-568-1177, Page 13.

Bones-n-Scones, 577 E. Sunny Dunes Rd., Palm Springs, 760-864-1133 and 73-910 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 760-340-BONE, Page 9 & 11.

Cold Nose Warm Heart, 189 S. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, 760-327-7747 73-399 El Paseo, Palm Desert, 760-340-0900 77-920 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert, 760-345-8494, Page 41.

Pet Oasis, 42-220 Washington St., Bermuda Dunes (next to Home Goods), 760-345-3199, 72877 Dinah Shore Dr. (across from Clark’s Nutrition) 760-324-0980, Page 3.

Spoiled Dog Designs, spoileddogdesigns.com

PetHub, www.pethub.com, Page 7.

Pet-Pac, www.pet-pac.com, 213-999-3490, Page 49.

Pooch Pad Products, www.poochpad.com, Page 22.

PET RESORTS & BOARDING Furrst and Furrmost Pooch Palace 760-409-9226, www.furrstandfurrmost.com, Page 21.

Kat’s Hotel for Dogs & Cats www.dssbykat.com, 760-460-1047, Page 23.

TRAINING Best Paw Forward, Valerie Masi, 760-885-9450, www.BestPawForwardDogTraining.com Page 15.

Dream Dogs, Lori Wainio-Carman 45090 Golf Center Parkway Unit B, Indio, 760-899-7272, www.dreamdogs.com, Page 45.

Mind Body Dog, Shawn Kay 503-679-8501, www.mindbodydog.com

The Grand Paw 51750 Jackson St., Vista Santa Rosa, 760-398-9900 Page 19.

VETERINARIANS Carter Animal Hospital, 36-701 Date Palm Dr., Cathedral City, 760-324-8811, Page 57.

Guardian Pet and Home Care, 760-238-1612, www.guardianpetandhomecare.com, Page 21.

VCA - All Creatures Animal Hospital 78-267 Hwy. 111, La Quinta, 760-564-1154 www.vcahospitals.com/all-creatures Page 27.

Country Club Animal Clinic PET SITTERS, & PET WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE 36869 Cook St., Palm Desert, 760-776-7555 Away Home & Pet Care, www.awayhpc.com, www.countryclubdvm.com, Page 37.

760-899-2928, Page 21.

The Cat Clinic Exotic Birds Unlimited, 44827 San Pablo Ave., Palm 67870 Vista Chino, Cathedral City, 760-325-3400 Desert, 760-779-5205, www.exoticbirdsunlimited.com www.catcitycat.com, Page 29.

Fetch Pet Care, www.fetchpetcare.com/palm-desert, Veterinarian on the Run, Mobile veterinarian, 760-600-5950,Page 21.

760-898-2627, www.vetontherun.com Got Dooky?

866-229-9289, www.gotdooky.com, Page 18.

Kim’s Pet Sitting Service Tobi Kim Sherman, 760-409-1481, Page 23.

VCA - Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 71-075 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage, 760-346-6103 www.vcahospitals.com/rancho-mirage, Page 33.

PHOTOGRAPHY/ART Karen Buxbaum Photography 760-625-5552, www.KarenBuxbaumPhotography.com Page 38.

Village Park Animal Hospital 51-230 Eisenhower Dr. La Quinta 760-564-3833 www.VillageParkAnimalHospital.com, Page 5.

Pet Pals Inc., 760-831-5834, Page 23.

The Lady Pet Sketcher, Linda Hogg 760-992-8571, www.theladypetsketcher.com

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VCA - Valley Animal Medical Center 46920 Jefferson St., Indio, 760-609-0498 www.vcavalleyemergency.com, Back cover.

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