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Pancreatitis THE TROUBLE WITH THE RETRACTABLE LEASH

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GETTING THE SCOOP ON CANADA’S PET CULTURE VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 2 • JUNE - JULY 2022

Inside: 8

Feeding Your Cat

by Dr. Lisa A. Pierson

14

Pancreatitis in Our Pets

by Jessika Harding

History of Medicine

21

by Lucy Jabrayan

Pet Wellness

26

Beam me up Scotty…

by Joanne Carr

Injuries, Lawsuits, Recalls!

The Trouble with the Retractable Leash

32

by Missy Costa

38

The Story of Cooper

by Catherine Letarte

45

by Elisabeth Ormandy

Heaven Hayes

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Letter from the Publisher Mark Your Calendars!

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Cross Canada Photo Contest

48-51

Cover Photo: Maxime Bernier and his wife Catherine Letarte, with their dog Cooper Photo Courtesy of Pawtraits

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Modernizing CEPA

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Letter from the Publisher PUBLISHER Leslie Kennedy Tel: 604.220.5346 info@petconnection.ca www.petconnection.ca GRAPHIC DESIGN Britton Design Services CONTRIBUTORS Joanne Carr Missy Costa Jessika Harding Lucy Jabrayan Catherine Letarte Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy Dr. Lisa A. Pierson

Pet Connection is published 6 times a year. Founded in 2008.

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All Rights Reserved © 2022 - PET CONNECTION Pet Connection is located on the traditional territories of the WSÁNEĆ People, on whose traditional territories, we live and work.

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Canadian Contributors Wanted We are looking for more Canadians to write for us. If you have an interesting pet story, or any new ideas on natural health solutions for pets, please contact us. We would be happy to discuss future involvement with anyone and everyone.

People ask us all the time, where all our ideas and articles come from, and they come from you, our readers and followers. We are grateful for all the support and to the people who have contributed over the years.

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As Canada celebrates 155 years this July 1st, we hope you will take extra time to reflect what it means to you to be Canadian and to enjoy the day with your pets.

- Leslie Kennedy Publisher

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CONTRIBUTORS Joanne Carr, R.H.N., B.A., ESC has 20 years of experience in the holistic health field. A bilingual (English/French) Registered Holistic Nutritionist who has lectured at natural health product seminars for retailers and consumers across Canada, Joanne has contributed to natural health publications such as Vista, Alive, and Healthy Directions. A graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Joanne also holds an honours degree in French translation along with a B.A. in French. Joanne is the director of OASIS at Omega Alpha® Pharmaceuticals and manages the education division for the human, pet, and equine product lines. Joanne can be reached by email at jcarr@omegaalpha.ca or by telephone at 416-707-3528. For more information on the Omega Alpha® pet supplements please visit www.omegaalpha.com

Missy Costa is a former receptionist at a vet clinic and adoption counsellor for Save our Scruff in Ontario, Canada. She fostered many dogs in her time with dog rescue, some with special behavioral needs. She has a huge amount of hands-on experience that she can pass along to other potential dog parents and fosters. She resides in Victoria BC with 4 rescue dogs. She also works as a make-up artist where you can find her on Instagram where she is enhancing the natural beauty of her clients, giving them the pampering and attention necessary to make them look radiant on important occasions. @costa_chic

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Jessika Harding, I am a huge animal lover and a pet nutrition enthusiast with a background in companion animal nutrition (canine and feline) and biotechnology. From growing up with dogs to working with my local shelter and pet store, animals have always been a significant part of my life. I am currently owned by two fantastic German Shorthaired Pointers - Artemis and Apolla, they keep me on my toes and wouldn’t have it any other way. www.ironwillrawdogfood.com

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Lucy Jabrayan, BSc, C.E.M.T, has an education background in Exercise Physiology, Nutrition, BSc in Psychology where she also studied Animal Behaviour and is a certified equine massage therapist. Lucy is the founder of Thrive4life Holistic Pet Food and is passionate about helping many pet guardians turn to natural food and alternatives. Lucy has been in the nutraceutical industry for over a decade as she takes her broad knowledge to educate many pet guardians, she makes segment appearances on TV and is a contributing writer to numerous publications. To learn more visit www.thrive4lifepetfood.com

Catherine Letarte has contributed to many charitable organizations as an advisor, volunteer, and board member for different non-profit organizations. Catherine became involved with the non-profit day shelter for women; Chez Doris first as a volunteer, then as a board member, and finally becoming the Executive Director from 2002 to 2009. Additionally, she was a board member for the Table de Concertation Peter McGill representing Chez Doris for social and local development. Catherine is an active sports enthusiast, and enjoys skiing, tennis, yoga, surfing, and running; completing many half-marathons in recent years. Having always had a passion for travelling and adventure, Catherine climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2006; raising funds for Chez Doris.

Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy is the Executive Director of the Society of Humane Science. Elisabeth is also an instructor at UBC and currently teaches courses titled ‘Ethical Issues in Science’ and ‘New Approach Methods in Biomedical Sciences’. She resides and recreates on the unceded territories of the xwmәθkwә҆ _ _ yәm, skwx wú7mesh, & se҆lí҆lwitulh Nations (now commonly referred to as Vancouver and Squamish) with her husband, Oliver, and their soul dog, Rosemary. www.forhumanescience.org

Dr. Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. She is extremely passionate about optimal feline nutrition and medical practice and maintains a very popular website, catinfo.org. Dr. Pierson’s goal is to teach cat lovers how to use proper nutrition to help their four-legged friends live long and healthy lives. She is also an outspoken critic of over-vaccination and over-medication - especially as it pertains to antibiotics. Please see catinfo.org for more information on various feline nutrition and medical topics.

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FEEDING Know the YOUR Basics of Feline CAT: Nutrition

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By Dr. Lisa A. Pierson, DVM catinfo.org

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D

iet is the brick and mortar of health. This paper lays out some often-ignored principles of feline nutrition and explains why cats have a much better chance at optimal health if they are fed a canned food diet instead of dry kibble. Putting a little thought into what you feed your cat(s) can pay big dividends over their lifetime and very possibly help them avoid serious, painful, life-threatening, and costly illnesses.

An increasing number of nutrition-savvy veterinarians are now strongly recommending the feeding of canned food instead of dry kibble. However, many veterinarians are still recommending/condoning the feeding of dry food to cats. Sadly, this species-inappropriate source of food only serves to promote disease in our cats as discussed below.

Like medical doctors for humans, veterinarians receive very little training in school regarding nutrition. And what is discussed is often taught by representatives of large pet food companies, or the curriculum is sponsored - and heavily influenced - by members of the commercial

pet food industry. This represents a significant conflict of interest. After we leave veterinary school, the most commonly available source for our nutrition ‘education’ continues to be the large pet food companies that manufacture so-called ‘therapeutic/ prescription’ diets.

Unfortunately, the result is that veterinarians are not always the best source of nutrition advice.

Dry food addicts If your cat is a dry food addict, please see Tips for Transitioning Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food in the sidebar at catinfo.org. All cats can be switched to a water-rich, low-carb diet if their caregivers are very patient and try enough tricks.

What’s wrong with dry kibble including any ‘prescription’ diet that is sold by your veterinarian?

The three key negative issues associated with dry food are: 1) water content is too low - predisposing your cat to

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serious and life-threatening urinary tract diseases including extremely painful and often fatal (and very expensive to treat) urethral obstructions.

See Opie’s pictures at catinfo.org (Urinary Tract Diseases) for a good look at the tremendous suffering caused by feeding cats water-depleted diets.

2) carbohydrate load is too high - possibly predisposing your cat to diabetes, obesity, and intestinal disease - note that low-carb dry foods are NOT healthy diets since they are still water-depleted and are harshly cooked resulting in nutrient loss/ alteration.

3) type of protein - too high in plant-based versus animal-based proteins - cats are obligate carnivores and are designed to eat meat, not grains/plants grains only serve to enhance the profit margin of the pet food company and do not promote the health of your cat.

Other negative issues include: • bacterial contamination (can lead to vomiting and diarrhea), • fungal mycotoxins (contained in grains and are extremely toxic), • insects and their feces (can cause respiratory problems), • ingredients that often cause allergic reactions, and • all dry food is harshly cooked which destroys/ alters vital nutrients.

My Cat is Doing Just “Fine” on Dry Food!

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I often hear people make the above statement. However consider the following:

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• Every living creature is “fine” until outward signs of a disease process are exhibited. That may sound like a very obvious and basic statement but if you think about it......

• Every cat on the Feline Diabetes Message Board was “fine” until their owners started to recognize the signs of diabetes.

• Every cat with a blocked urinary tract was “fine”

until they started to strain to urinate and either died from a ruptured bladder or had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency catheterization.

• Every cat with an inflamed bladder (cystitis) was “fine” until they ended up in pain, passing blood in their urine, and missing their litter box - soiling the home through no fault of their own.

• Every cat was “fine” until the feeding of speciesinappropriate, hyperallergenic ingredients caught up with him and he started to show signs of food intolerance/IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or asthma.

• Every cat was “fine” until that kidney or bladder stone got big enough to cause clinical signs.

• Every cancer patient was “fine” until their tumor grew large enough or spread far enough so that clinical signs were observed by the patient.

The point is that diseases ‘brew’ long before being noticed by the living being.

This is why the statement “but my cat is healthy/fine on dry food” means very little to me because I believe in preventative nutrition. I don't want to end up saying “oops......I guess he is not so fine now!!” when a patient presents to me with a medical problem that could have been avoided if a species-appropriate diet (low-carb canned or balanced homemade food - not dry food) had been fed to begin with.

Of course, in order to be on board with the ‘preventative nutrition’ argument, a person has to understand the following facts: • All urinary tract systems are much healthier with an appropriate amount of water flowing through them. Painful, life threatening, and very expensiveto-treat urinary tract obstructions commonly occur when cats (especially males) are fed dry food. Again, see Opie’s pictures at catinfo.org (Urinary Tract Diseases). These obstructions are serious medical emergencies but are extremely uncommon among cats fed canned food - especially if extra water is added to the canned food. Also, cats (males and females) that are fed a water-rich diet of canned food are much less likely to end up with painful cystitis.

• Cats inherently have a low thirst drive and need

• Carbohydrates wreak havoc on some cats’ blood sugar/insulin balance predisposing them to diabetes.

Dry foods, as well as some canned foods, are high in carbohydrates with some much worse than others.

Note that “grain-free” does not always mean “lowcarb” since potatoes and peas are often used instead of grains.

• Cats are strict carnivores which means they are designed to get their protein from meat – not from the high level of grains/peas/potatoes found in dry food.

• Contrary to a popular myth, dry food exerts

no beneficial effect on dental health and has no scientific support for its use in preventing dental disease. It is often swallowed whole but even if it is chewed, it is brittle and simply shatters – providing no abrasive force against the teeth. That said, canned food also does not provide any abrasive force and is no better (but no worse) for dental health when compared to dry food. Brushing your cat’s teeth daily is the best way to keep their mouth healthy.

Also, supplying chunks of meat to chew on is also helpful. See Making Cat Food – Dental Health section at catinfo.org Feeding cats correctly is definitely a ‘pay me now or pay me later’ issue. Cat caregivers often state that canned food is too expensive. However, considering the cost to treat the illnesses that arise from feeding dry food, most people re-think this issue after they receive their vet bill.

Consider practicing preventative nutrition before your furry buddy ends up in a diseased state that could have been prevented with proper nutrition.

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to consume water *with* their food. A cat’s normal prey is ~70 - 75% water; dry food is only 5-10% water. Contrary to the wishful thinking of cat owners, cats do not make up this deficit at the water bowl. Several studies have shown that cats on canned food consume double the amount of water when compared to cats on dry food when all sources (food and water bowl) are considered.

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Read on if you would like more details regarding a feline species-appropriate diet. Some information will be repeated from above to reinforce the critical points.

Cats Need Plenty of Water With Their Food This is a very important section because it emphasizes why even the low-carb, grain-free dry foods are not optimal food sources for your cat. Keep in mind that the cheapest canned food is better than any dry food on the market.

Cats do not have a very strong thirst drive when compared to other species. Therefore, it is critical for them to ingest a water-rich diet.

Cats are designed to obtain most of their water from their diet since their normal prey is approximately 70 percent water. Dry foods are harshly cooked down to only 5-10 percent water whereas canned foods contain approximately 78 percent water. It is clear that canned foods are better suited to meet the cat’s water needs.

A cat consuming a predominantly dry-food diet does drink more water than a cat consuming a canned food diet, but when water from all sources is added together (what’s in their diet plus what they drink), the cat on dry food consumes approximately half the amount of water compared to a cat eating canned food.

This substantially lower water intake sets cats up for significant kidney, and bladder diseases, as well as urethral obstructions which are excruciatingly painful, costly to treat, and can be fatal.

Think of canned food as flushing your cat’s urinary tract several times a day. This is a very important tool to keep your cat from developing urinary tract problems including life-threatening urethral blockages, infection, inflammation (cystitis), and possibly chronic kidney disease which is a leading cause of death in cats.

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Cats Need Animal-Based Protein

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Cats are obligate (strict) carnivores and are very different from dogs in their nutritional needs. What does it mean to be an ‘obligate carnivore’? It means that your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-

based proteins (meat/organs) - not plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables).

It is very important to remember that not all proteins are created equal.

Proteins derived from animal tissues have a complete amino acid profile. (Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Think of them as pieces of a puzzle.) Plantbased proteins do not contain the full complement (puzzle pieces) of the critical amino acids required by an obligate carnivore. The quality and composition of a protein (are all of the puzzle pieces present?) is also referred to as its biological value.

Humans and dogs can take the pieces of the puzzle contained in the plant protein and, from those, make the missing pieces. Cats cannot do this. This is why humans and dogs can live on a vegetarian diet but cats cannot.

(Note that I do not recommend vegetarian diets for dogs.)

Generally speaking, the protein in dry food, which is often heavily plant-based and always harshly cooked, is not equal in quality to the protein in canned food, which is (in most instances) meat-based and more gently cooked.

The protein in dry food, therefore, earns a lower biological value score. Because plant proteins are cheaper than meat proteins, pet food companies will have a higher profit margin when using corn, wheat, soy, rice, etc.

Most canned foods, when figured on a dry matter basis (not by using the values on the can or bag which are wet weight values), contain more protein than dry food. But remember, the protein amount does not tell the whole story. It is the protein’s biological value that is critical.

We Are Feeding Cats Too Many Carbohydrates In their natural setting, cats would never consume the high level of carbohydrates (grains/potatoes/peas, etc.) that are in the dry foods (and some canned foods) that we routinely feed them. In the wild, your cat’s normal prey (rodents, birds, lizards, etc.) provides a high protein, high-moisture, meat-based diet, with a moderate level of fat and with less than 2 percent of her diet consisting of calories from carbohydrates.

The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrate

Cats have no dietary need for carbohydrates and, more worrisome is the fact that a diet that is high in carbohydrates can be detrimental to their health. You would never feed an herbivore (horse, cow, etc.) a diet of meat, so why feed a carnivore meat-flavored cereals?

Think ‘fresh’!

Many of us have heard nutritionists recommend that we ‘shop the perimeter’ of the grocery store since that is where fresh, unprocessed foods (fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.) are found. Needless to say, dry pet food is very highly processed (e.g., cooked at a high temperature for

a long time) and would certainly not be found anywhere near the perimeter of the store.

Why do we feed dry food to cats? The answers are simple. Grains are cheap. Dry food is convenient.

Affordability and convenience sells.

Do many cats survive on water-depleted, high-carb, plant-based, harshly-cooked, bacteria-laden dry kibble? Yes, many do. However I choose to feed a diet to my cats and my patients that will promote optimal health - not just survival. There is a significant difference between *thriving* and *surviving*.

‘We are what we eat’ is not just a useless cliché. As noted above, diet is the foundation for optimal health of any living being - including our four-legged friends.

If you would like to read more about optimal feline nutrition, please visit catinfo.org where you will find this article in its entirety, as well as other writings on feline care including litter box issues and preparing a balanced homemade diet.

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calories (think *profit margin*) which can severely alter the sugar/insulin balance in some cats. (See Diabetes at catinfo.org.) A high quality canned food, on the other hand, contains approximately 3-5 percent carbohydrate calories. Please note that not all canned foods are suitably low in carbohydrates since they can also contain high levels of grains, potatoes, and peas. (See the Protein/Fat/ Carb Chart linked in the sidebar at catinfo.org.)

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PANCREATITIS IN OUR PETS

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By Jessika Harding

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P

ancreatitis is a relatively common inflammatory condition in dogs which can potentially be life threatening. Any pet owner, who has had a pet in this situation, can attest to how scary it can be.

What is the Pancreas?

The pancreas is an organ (also technically a gland) found as part of the digestive system and serves two main functions: Exocrine Function – Produces enzymes to help with digestion, secreted into the small intestine.

• Lipase – Works with bile (produced by the liver) to break down fats. If the body does not produce sufficient amounts of lipase, it will have a difficult time absorbing fat and important fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).

• Amylase – Breaks down carbohydrates for energy.

If the body does not have enough amylase, loose stool will often occur.

• Protease – Breaks down proteins. Insufficient amounts of protease will begin to cause the body to go into protein starvation impairing growth and the general maintenance of bodily tissues.

Endocrine Function – Sends hormones throughout the body that control glucose levels in the blood.

• Insulin – Reduces high blood sugar levels.

• Glucagon – Increases low blood sugar levels.

If an appropriate blood sugar level is not maintained, your pet may start to exhibit symptoms of diabetes (increased thirst, restlessness, tremors) and if left untreated symptoms such as disorientation, confusion or seizures could present.

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is a condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes irritated and inflamed, hindering its natural ability to regulate blood sugar levels and support the

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If your pet has recovered from an acute pancreatitis attack it may be advantageous to support them through dietary changes....

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digestive system. When the pancreas is inflamed, the digestive enzymes produced can start to damage its own tissue which causes the release of inflammatory cells and toxins. These toxins can be harmful to the surrounding body – lungs, kidneys, gallbladder, and heart.

Veterinarians will sometimes refer to pancreatitis as an “idiopathic” condition – an unknown cause. While this may be true in most cases, some pancreatitis attacks can be triggered by diets containing high fat or from corticosteroids. Other conditions like diabetes and hypothyroidism can affect fat metabolism, leading to hyperlipidemia – high levels of fat in the bloodstream, which predisposes a dog to pancreatitis. Miniature Schnauzers have a higher risk of developing pancreatitis, because they are prone to developing hyperlipidemia.

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There are generally two forms of pancreatitis – acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Either form can present as mild or severe (hemorrhagic) and in both cases it is extremely painful.

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Acute pancreatitis involves the sudden and often short onset of inflammation and can often be managed with supportive veterinary care with limited hospitalization (depending on severity). Supportive care can include an intravenous hydration boost to restore electrolyte balance and replenish fluids lost via stool, a low-fat diet to reduce stress on the pancreas and possible medication.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by long-term and low-grade inflammation of the pancreas and often requires lifelong management. Therapeutic low-fat diets, boosting water soluble vitamins and supportive pain management are ways in which to treat long-term inflammation.

testing, pancreatitis is being discovered more accurately and not being lumped under a general guise of IBD (irritable bowel disease).

Upwards of 95% of cases have no discernible underlying cause which makes it next to impossible to effectively prevent this illness. There could be specific lifestyle factors that increase pancreatitis risks such as obesity, diabetes, hormone imbalances and undiagnosed liver disease.

The official diagnosis of pancreatitis comes about via laboratory testing which will generally show elevated white blood cell counts and elevated pancreatic enzymes.

Not all cases present this way and other diagnostics like radiographs may be required.

Does this happen to cats?

At one point, pancreatitis was thought to be rare in cats, because there was no effective way to diagnose pancreatitis accurately in cats. With improved diagnostic If your pet has recovered from an acute pancreatitis attack it may be advantageous to support them through dietary changes – antioxidants, digestive enzymes, probiotics and essential fatty acids.

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Antioxidants and essential fatty acids decrease inflammation in the body which help in the healing process. While they can promote optimal healing it is important to remember they are a dietary source of fat and need to be taken into consideration when feeding a lower fat diet. Always consult with your veterinarian before supplementing essential fatty acids.

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Digestive enzymes and probiotics will support the digestive system while the pancreas is getting back into working order. An inflamed pancreas is not producing enzymes or functioning optimally, and it does take time to resume normal activity.

Using dietary supplements in conjunction with a low to moderate fat diet, most dogs and cats can live long healthy lives.

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HISTORY OF MEDICINE: Pharmaceuticals & Natural Remedies

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By Lucy Jabrayan

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“The splitting of the atom”, said Einstein, “changed everything except man’s mode of thinking”.

Pharmaceutical drugs:

Before we define medicine, let us define disease; “A disorder of mind or body marked by definite symptoms; illness; sickness.” (Holt, 1970).

“All disease reactions are biologically goal oriented and thus serve in the detoxification of the system and in the repair of toxin-caused damage”.

Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg 1905-1985.

Whether one knows it or not, we are living in an extra ordinary time. For such a time as this, I have made it my own personal conquest to look back at time in history and see which medicinal modalities were established when.

Natural medicine works with the body’s natural healing processes, it provides the immune system with the ingredient it needs necessary to heal itself or removes the ‘obstacle’ for the body to cure itself. It does not work as quickly as westernized pharmaceutical medications and may sometimes be hard to find.

The first synthetic pharmaceutical drug was discovered in 1804, by a German scientist, Friedrich Serturner. The main active chemical in opium was extracted in his lab and was named morphine, after the Greek god of sleep.

Chemo and Radiation therapy: First developed and began to be used in the 1940’s with the first use of nitrogen mustards and folic acid antagonist medications.

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Nutraceuticals:

it began with the development of Mastin’s Yeast Vitamin Tablet.

Perhaps the most prominent of diseases in disease history was that of scurvy, a simple vitamin C deficiency, supposedly began when the process of milk sterilization came into play, the heat from the sterilization destroyed the vitamin C content in the milk.

Homeopathy:

The technical definition for nutraceuticals would be natural substances that have a physiological effect on the body, and may be used to improve health, slow down aging, prevent chronic diseases, increase life span, and support the structure and function of the body.

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Dr. Stephen DeFelice coined the term ‘nutraceutical’ from ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceutical’ in 1989. The history of the modern vitamin officially began in 1916,

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Discovered in 1796 by the medical doctor Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) from Germany, the longest established medicine to come out of Europe.

Hahnemann’s definition of disease is, “A blockage of some sort between the Spirit and the Form”, and ‘Obstacles to Cure”.

Homeopathy belongs to the field of quantum physics and not chemistry, as it is made of super diluted ingredients (either plant, animal, or mineral source), where it is diluted to the point (beyond the 12th dilution) where no chemist will find a single molecule of the active substance in the preparation,

Gemmotherapy: Falling under the umbrella of phytoembryotherapy, gemmotherapy utilizes the extracts of the young developing buds of plants and the young shoots, where the life essence is at its peak.

Primary studies were first done in the 1950’s by Belgian homeopath Dr. Pol Henry, the first research and clinical trials were published in 1970, and was called ‘Phytembryotherapy’, but it was then further developed

by Max Tetau, who coined it ‘Gemmotherapy’.

This highly therapeutic form of medicine is made by using the freshly harvested buds of plants that contains constituents rich in embryonic ingredients rich in Gibberelins (plant hormone).

Gemmotherapy provides drainage on the cellular level

to remove toxins from the body and to allow the body to then heal itself.

Herbology: The oldest and most common form of medicine, archeological studies have shown the practice of plant herbal medicine as far back as 60,000 years ago and from all around the world, from Iraq to China.

Under this umbrella we have; Ayurveda: Indian based medicine more than 5000 years old, Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that divides the body into 5 classical elements termed ‘dosha’, which are; earth, water, fire, air, and space. The medicinal herbs and components are picked based on which ‘dosha’ one is.

“Each dosha has particular attributes and roles within the body and mind; the natural predominance of one or more doshas thus explains a person's physical constitution (prakriti) and personality”. (Alternative Theories in Health and Medicine, 2001).

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it has disappeared leaving only a white luminous hole of brilliant white light. This white light is a dematerialization of the substance, which was once only physical.

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Predominantly plant-based remedies (about 90%), plant treatments may be derived from roots, leaves, bark, fruit, or seeds, such as cardamom, turmeric root, cinnamon and ashwagandha.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Another ancient medicinal modality, TCM like Ayurveda uses specific herbal practices and specific herbs for its use, along with other healing modalities in and of itself, such as acupuncture.

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“TCM is said to be based on Compendium of Materia Medica and Huangdi Neijing and includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, gua sha, massage (tui na), bonesetter (die-da), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. TCM is widely used in the Sinosphere. One of the basic tenets is that the body’s vital energy (ch’i or qi) is circulating through channels called meridians having branches connected to bodily organs and functions.” (Barrett S, January 2011).

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As you can see, all these different medicinal modalities work very differently in the body, from the physical level to the energetic level.

I believe there is more than one path to Rome, and each modality of medicine has its place in our hectic world

and lifestyle. I also would like to point out that we are in a very different time than our ancestors ever were, including our pets, with more than 250,000 chemicals lurking in our environment, seeping into our water supplies and even the air we breathe, we are practically becoming radioactive specimens!

Our pets not only have to deal with environmental toxins but are also exposed to toxins via flea and tick medications, vaccines, and other concentrated forms of toxins.

I will conclude by stating that it is up to the individual and their trusted physician/ practitioner/ holistic vet to decide which medicinal modality is right for them and their pet, the more open minded we are with the right discernment, the more opportunities we give ourselves and our beloved pets to discover health in new ways.

References Mishra, Lakshmi-chandra; Singh, Betsy B.; Dagenais, Simon (March 2001). "Ayurveda: a historical perspective and principles of the traditional healthcare system in India". Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 42 (2): 36–42. PMID 11253415.

Dr. Marcus Greaves M.D., “Gemmotherapy and Oligotherapy Regenerators of Dying Intoxicated Cells. (2002).

Barrett S (12 January 2011). "Be Wary of Acupuncture, Qigong, and 'Chinese Medicine'".

Archived from the original on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2013.

Holt Rinehart Winston, (1970). The Winston Dictionary of Canadian English.

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Favourite Toy: Any type of tug toy, especially ones with a ball on the end so that I can fling it around and have it fight back as it comes to me!

Favourite Food: Pretty much anything that’s attached to a bone!

Favourite OA Product: Mom loves the SinewPet, she says it’s going to keep me fast and furious. Ok, I like that too then!

Favourite Sport: Running after the “chosen dog”, screaming in their ear! It’s great fun!

Favourite Toy: Definitely my Rolley Ball filled with treats.

Favourite Food: Whatever is in the cat’s bowl!

Favourite OA Product: Mom says she loves the Probiotic 8 Plus for me, because when I eat too much of what I’m not supposed to, I sometimes get an upset tummy and this fixes me up right as rain! “ I guess you could say I have grown up with cats and dogs always around, usually rescues or strays off the street. So it wasn’t really a surprise when I wanted to do agility competitively, so I went to the local SPCA to get my first border collie, Keeper. The journey began the day he came home and in just a few short years, we became Canadian Agility Champions and represented Canada at the IFCS World Championships in Netherlands and again the following year in Italy.

I then rescued another border collie, Shine, who isn’t as impressed with competitions, but is always ready to run, somewhere, anywhere, and fast!

And finally, Gryn joined the family, my third and first ever puppy. What a ride it has been. At only 5, he has made his 4th World Team. It doesn’t take much to know when “Gryn is in the House” and I can’t wait to get back on the world stage, because we’re going to be ready!

COVID may have put a stop to a lot, but it hasn’t put a stop to the fun we always have playing hard and training hard, and Omega Alpha has always been an important part in our staying healthy and strong. We couldn’t stay at the top of our game without them! ” − Tammy Gallacher, Saint-Lazare, QC.

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PET WELLNESS Keeping Your Pet Happy and Healthy

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By Joanne Carr

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C

hoosing to be a pet “parent” can be very exciting and somewhat overwhelming.

Ultimately, we all want what is best for our pets, but where do we start? Young or old, proper nutrition, exercise and appropriate supplementation (vitamins, minerals, herbals) can be extremely beneficial for the overall health of your pet.

We have all heard the phrase “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. It is important to educate ourselves about what conditions, illnesses or diseases are prevalent with both cats and dogs.

An upset stomach, kidney disease and arthritis are just some of the common conditions that may require a visit to a veterinarian. Our pets require preventative health care to ensure a good quality of life and access to appropriate veterinary care when they are injured or ill.

pet foods that contain carbs that are easily digestible, and therefore more useful to the pet. These include rice, oats, potatoes, and legumes.¹ A diet rich in antioxidant nutrients may protect against chronic degenerative diseases including osteoarthritis.²,3 Nowadays many pet owners are feeding fresh, human grade foods. Raw foods for instance contain many essential nutrients and minerals that may be destroyed by cooking and processing. Just as we need to eat a wide range of foods to ensure optimum health, so do our pets.

Proper Nutrition The quality of pet food we feed our pets has a huge impact on their health, their quality of life and the prevention of a number of diseases. It is important to look at the ingredients list on any can or bag of pet food before purchase. Make sure that the first 2-4 ingredients listed on it are meats. Carbohydrates should be shown further down the list. Choose

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Raw foods for instance contain many essential nutrients and minerals...

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Nowadays many pet owners are feeding fresh, human grade foods!

Exercise Our pets need regular physical activity to achieve optimal health. Exercise and movement support the joints by bringing blood and nutrients to the area and maintaining proper muscle balance. Varied terrain and chronic use can put extra strain and stress on joints.

As pets get older, their joint surfaces become brittle

and the joints lose their lubrication, compromising mobility. These types of problems can benefit from nutritional support whether due to the normal aging process or performance. A sedentary lifestyle may contribute to a sluggish metabolism, which can cause weight gain.4

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The Importance of Natural Supplements

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A lack of availability of supplements for pets in the past led many pet owners to experiment on their cats, dogs, and other pets with human health products, but often without consulting a licensed animal health specialist such as a veterinarian. Is it safe to administer human health supplements to pets? What about proper dosage?

At what dosage might a natural health ingredient be toxic to your beloved pet? These are questions that must be asked as many foods or substances humans can take safely may have adverse effects on pets. Chocolate, for example can be toxic to dogs and cats. Fortunately, research into natural health products for our animal companions is ongoing and shows that many nutritional and herbal products helpful to humans are also good for cats and dogs. Many animals suffer the same illnesses or effects of aging as do their human companions, and their bodies are comprised of similar organic and molecular structure to human beings. Although a good diet and exercise can go far in helping to maintain your pets’ health, nature provides numerous herbs that can also help for specific illnesses or to give your pet that extra boost toward good health and vitality. For example, a healthy functioning immune system is important for

your pet’s overall general health. Many herbs that are helpful in boosting your own immune defenses such as, Echinacea, Ashwagandha and Reishi Mushroom are equally helpful to your cat or dog.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for an effective natural supplement for pets: Ensure that scientific research has proven the ingredients to be reliable, gentle and effective for companion animals. Ensure they have been clinically evaluated by veterinarians. Choose a product where all ingredients and formulations are tested to ensure there are no heavy metals, contaminants or other toxins. Make sure that there are ingredients that help control inflammation.

Look for multi-ingredient formulas as they provide a synergistic combination of nutrients to support a specific health issue.

Your veterinarian can work with you to ensure you have the best plan and support for your pet. A healthy diet, regular exercise, a healthy environment that includes clean air and water, along with natural supplements can all be part of prevention and wellness care, as well as continued quality of life for your pet.

References 1. https://dr-trish.com/heart-disease-in-dogs-grain-free-pet-foods/ 2. Pizzorno J, Murray M. The Textbook of Natural Medicine.

3rd Ed. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. 2006.

3. Pitcairn R, Pitcairn S. Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. 3rd Ed. Rodale Books. 2005.

4. https://harveypetfood.com/performance-and-mobility-in-pets/

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INJURIES, LAWSUITS, RECALLS!

The Trouble with the Retractable Leash

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By Missy Costa

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Did you know the manufacturers of the world’s most popular retractables were forced to add consumer warning labels on all their products sold and on their website.2

Did you know?

Over 200,000 retractables were recalled in 2008 due to the metal clasp being defective.4

Did you know the retractable leash is banned in over 50% of the United States due to the length restrictions?

They are also banned in all the California State Parks, and in the City of San Francisco. These bans require dogs to be on leashes that are 6 feet or less, which eliminates all retractables.1

Did you know there was a $1.3 Million Dollar Settlement After a Retractable Dog Leash Malfunctioned?3

With so many other types of well-made safe leashes available why put anyone at risk?

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R

etractable leashes are basically rope thin cords that are wrapped around a spring-loaded device inside a plastic handle with a button lock. The cord can extend in and out and can go as long as 26 feet.

Many of these leashes don’t have standard loops that fit around your wrist, so they are easy to accidentally drop or fall out of your hand.

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Top 5 Reasons to Throw Away Your Retractable Leash 1. Injuries to Your Dog

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Retractable leashes are responsible for a surprising numbers of injuries each year including amputations.5 The retractable leash can also harm their neck, throat, shoulders and spine. Alignment of the body is important for energy flow. You might not even notice your dog is out of alignment till he gets older and starts limping and you have to head to the chiropractor. Sudden stops can also cause tracheal injuries. If it falls out of your hand, it can fall on and really hurt a smaller dog. Your dog can also get tangled in them and get cut and/or get rope burns. It can also hurt any other dog, child, or adult he is playing or is entangled with.

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2. Injuries to You Retractable leashes have been linked to many injuries on humans too.

Amputations, vision loss, broken teeth, burns and cuts.5-6 The length of these leash’s can also be a trip hazard, which can lead to sprained ankles, sprained and broken wrists and other broken bones.

3. Lack of Control When you are out on a walk with your dog and run into an emergency, it is impossible to react fast enough if your dog is walking 20 feet ahead of you.

Too much freedom isn’t always a good thing. Dogs are unpredictable. Dogs dart into the streets, and dogs have been injured by vehicles.

Retractable leashes teach dogs that all they have to do to get more freedom is to pull on their leash. This is the opposite of what you want your dog to learn.

Nobody wants a dog that is pulling them. Ideally the dog walks beside you, the leash should be slack, and the dog is walking calmly by the owner’s side.

5. Prone to Malfunction

4. Teaches Bad Habits

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Likewise, in smaller areas, people can trip over them, dogs can get tangled and can get anxious or aggressive, and injuries can occur.

The entire apparatus depends on the retraction mechanism. What if you are out and about and it stops working? Retractables have been known to stick or fail and break when dirt gets inside and/ or the cord becomes knotted. Facial injuries are common by flying screws and bits of plastic as well as whip like injuries on the skin itself. The handle you are holding can be difficult to grip for children and stronger dogs can rip it out of your hand. This leaves your dog at risk running free. Retractable leashes can snap and break. When it snaps it usually flings back at the human and can cause injury that way too.

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Did you also know?

According to the Consumer Union’s analysis, collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2007 there were 16,564 hospital-treated injuries associated with leashes.7 Of those, about 10.5 percent involved children 10 and younger; 23.5 percent involved injuries to the finger. The CPSC’s data does not put the leashes into types but it's likely that the amputations were caused by retractable leashes.

A published study in the Science Direct Veterinary Surgery found that dog injuries from leashes are rising, with more than half of all dog-related injuries being caused by a leash. The study analysed data from 2002 to 2014 and found a 25 percent increase in injuries from leashes. Besides cuts and scrapes, there were broken bones and tendon tears. The most common type of injury was a cut or scraped on the face or neck, followed by a broken bone.

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The American Journal of Emergency Medicine data from September 2020, used cases of injuries that were reported 2001-2018 to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), where USA National estimates of dog related leash injuries were calculated.

Study shows that a dog leash involved:

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• 8189 emergency injuries • Approximately 356,746 injuries occurred nationwide.

• An estimated injury rate of 63.4 injuries per million people.

• Adults accounted for 88.2% of the patients and 73% were female.

In these cases, 193,483 of the injuries were pulled, 136,767 were trips or tangles, and 26,496 were other or unknown causes.8 References 1. Dr. Eric Barchas 2. Flexi-northamerica.com 3. http://www.technology-assoc.com/highlights/1-3-million- settlement-after-retractable-dog-leash-malfunction.html 4. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2008/worldwise-inc-recalls- retractable-dog-leashes-metal-clasp-can-break-and-cause-facial 5. Consumer Reports March 9, 2009 6. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=7058784&page=1 7. https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/consumer-product-safetycommission 8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0735675720304460

The handle can be difficult to grip for children....

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The Story of COOPER

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By Catherine Letarte

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M

axime Bernier is the founder of the People’s Party of Canada in September 2018, a few weeks after leaving the Conservative Party, which he denounced then, as “morally and intellectually corrupt.” A year later, during its first election in October 2019, the party got 1.6% of the national vote. Two years later, in the September 2021 election, its total vote tripled to 4.9%, although it did not again elect any member of Parliament.

Catherine his spouse tells us the story of Cooper. And how animals have been part of their lives. The PPC defends four basic principles that underlie all its policies: Individual Freedom, Personal Responsibility, Fairness and Respect. And this also extends to animals and how they are part of the planet and our lives.

big dog breed; something that reminded him of Pacha a beloved Irish setter he once owned.

In early December 2020, my best friend Paule called to ask if we were still looking to adopt a dog? Turns out her friend had reserved not one but two dogs from a reputable breeder; Ace Passion Poodle. The friend’s husband thought two was a little too ambitious so they let go of one. I thought this is it, what a great opportunity to finally get a dog. After much convincing, Maxime accepted begrudgingly, you see the dog did not quite meet his criterias: it was a small breed and not an Irish setter either, he was a miniature black poodle.”

Since the PPC is still a young party, it has not yet fully developed its platform and doesn’t have any specific policy on animal welfare. But Maxime and his team certainly support any amendment to the Criminal Code that would strengthen laws to prevent and sanction animal cruelty, while respecting the livelihoods of Canadians who hunt, fish, farm, or conduct medical research.

Maxime and I had many discussions throughout the years about adopting a fury friend but the timing never seemed right. We both love animals. For a long time, I had several cats myself. And was always sad to have to part with them. When we purchased a cottage in 2018 we thought how perfect this place was for a dog running around, playing, swimming. Our cottage is located near Arthabaska, home of former Prime Minister Laurier and his wife Zoé who were animal lovers as well. Our cottage was our sanctuary for family time, calm and serenity amid all the craziness in our lives. Many more discussions followed between Maxime and I as to what type of dogs would best fit our lifestyle, this was a source of discourse between us. He wanted a

Catherine tell’s us that Cooper a Poodle was born December 29th 2020 with seven other siblings. His official name is Ace Passion Cooper. His four sisters were a nice chocolate brown and his three brothers black. Nervous and excited to welcome him, we wanted to make sure everything was ready to ensure smooth transition from the breeder’s home to ours. Cooper came home on March 9th 2021 and was introduced to Câlin (Hug) and Mitaine (Mittens) our lovely two black cats.

They made sure to let Cooper know who was boss of the house from day one; the cats.

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“It was September 2018, Maxime had just announced the creation of his new party the PPC. As you may know, the life of a politician is very hectic involving long working hours, lots of travelling and little time at home. The year ahead was not going to be any quieter with some extensive travelling coast to coast to meet, building the party membership and alliances.

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It pleases both Maxime and her that miniature poodles are smart, active, and playful. They love to romp and play nearly non-stop as puppies and young dogs. Their activity levels do change with maturity, but you can expect your miniature poodle to stay pretty active even as an adult dog.

Catherine continues, “As a 10-month old puppy, Cooper accompanied me to my workplace where he could socialize and be exposed to different situations and individuals. Very early on, Cooper demonstrated that he has a good temperament; calm demeanor, patient, confident and loves human contact. Aside from eating the employee’s shoelaces, Cooper

performed very well and showed all of those prominent traits from the get-go.” The work place is a non-profit organization offering adults with mental health support through recreational, therapeutical, and residential services. Omega Community Resources exists since 1984 and has evolved with the times, and Cooper has fit in to his role as the Omega zootherapy puppy effortlessly; pouring love, compassion, and cuddles to all those who attend our Day Center. At any moment during the day, you can find him hanging out on a couch getting pets, or lounging in a group workshop.

Cooper has also learnt that the real boss at the Center is our residential cat; Omili.

Like most poodles, Cooper is a lively, sociable and affectionate dog who is both intelligent and amusing, and he really makes for a wonderful and fun companion. “When Maxime is away, he keeps me on my toes. I love to take Cooper out for regular walks” she says.

“When we go to the cottage or when I am in town. At the cottage we like to walk around the lake, and he loves

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Poodles are among the smartest dog breeds and she appreciates this of Cooper. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them great service dogs.

Interestingly, as she has found out, Poodles are also employed as guide dogs, assistance dogs for people with other physical disabilities, and therapy dogs. They’ve even been utilized as truffle hunters due to their keen noses.

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to play with the snow. He is always very excited to go in nature. Unfortunately, Maxime is away a lot because of his political duties but despite that difficulty the bond between Copper and him has grown. Cooper has shown fidelity and attachment and Maxime has returned the like. He loves to be included in all family pursuits and can be good watch dogs, announcing visitors without being aggressive. He rarely barks. This is a nice trait for the moments we are back at our town house” Over the past two years in this hard health crisis, and especially during last fall’s election campaign, Maxime was the only party leader who opposed what he saw as the excessive measures adopted by the federal and provincial governments to deal with the covid-19 pandemic and denounced the violations of our basic freedoms. And that period was really a moment where Coopers’ company became valuable and has made “Maxime and I take an even more down to earth perspective on life.”

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“We hope that Cooper accompanies us in his adventure.” Maxime is adamant about his political work and views. He believes just the contrary of what his adversaries claim of his party, the party is not racist, intolerant or extremist. It welcomes all Canadians citizens who share its values and support its policies. During the last two elections, it had candidates from every ethnic and religious background, sexual orientation and gender identity. The difference with the other parties is that it treats them all equally as Canadians and doesn’t play identity politics.”

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On a final note, for the politically curious readers Maxime’s PPC supports the idea of a smaller federal government that respects our Constitution, focuses on its core responsibilities, and stops intruding on provincial jurisdictions. It does believe strongly in immigration but wishes to lower it to a more sustainable level. It would cut spending and taxes, and let the private sector generate economic growth, rather than constantly spending more on new programs, especially at a time when we just had two years of massive

deficits and a growing debt that will have to be paid back by the next generations of Canadians and to insure the well-being and prosperity of all.

“This country is a great nation with so much potential.

The people need to stand up and realize that freedoms are worth defending and that government overreach is not what makes this country great, its people is what makes this country great. I also believe with freedom comes responsibility and that means taking care of our families, friends, communities, neighbors and yes our animals as well. Here is my favorite quote from Kundera regarding animals; ‘Humanity’s true moral test, its fundamental test…consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals.’

Milan Kundera”

Mental Enrichment!

WORK OUT YOUR BRAIN!

Try this Word Jumble.

Unscramble each of the clue words.

Take the letters that appear in the circled boxes and unscramble them for the final message.

The owner of a great racehorse named his boat….

TIERCELC

I just won the 1973 Triple Crown!!!!!

CSREET LRLODA HDAWAWY

This jumble was created by The Blue Sheet Clubhouse, a group of brain injury survivors.

The Cridge Centre for the Family’s Brain Injury Services provides independent housing with support for survivors of brain injury. Through the development of support groups like The Blue Sheet Clubhouse we strive to provide opportunities for personal development and reintegration in the community.

Answer is on page 47 (in the Calendar section)

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Or order online with Paypal.

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Address:

43

Modernizing CEPA

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By Elisabeth Ormandy, Ph.D., Executive Director for the Canadian Society for Humane Science

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The Canadian Government has introduced Bill S-5 into the Senate to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). One proposed amendment is the inclusion of a statement in the preamble of the act that endeavours “to reduce, refine or replace the use of animal testing [clause 2(5)]” While this is a great start, it doesn’t go nearly far enough for protecting animals. We need the government to move the preamble statement into the Act itself so that the reduction and replacement of animals for toxicity testing becomes legally mandated. Add your voice to this effort!

We decided to put together this blog post to explain why toxicity testing on animals is conducted, non-animal methods that can be used instead, and how the push to reform CEPA can help ensure unnecessary and harmful animal tests are no longer a part of toxicity testing in Canada.

Toxicity Testing on Animals Toxicity testing has traditionally been carried out on a wide variety of animal species including rodents (mice, rats, guinea pigs)and fish, and to a lesser degree, rabbits, dogs and nonhuman primates. This tradition has its roots in the tools that were available decades ago, and is based on the assumption that any adverse effects seen at high doses in animals will also be seen if high doses of the same substance were given to humans.

Toxicity testing is carried out to study the potentially harmful effects of chemicals on human health, animal health, or the environment, all with the aim of ensuring

the safest possible use of chemicals and chemicalcontaining products. Toxicity testing is typically carried out on detergents, pesticides, medicines for human or veterinary use, toys, medical devices, tobacco-containing products etc., chemicals that are intentionally added to or inadvertently found in food and feed, and chemicals found in the environment.

In the context of human health safety assessment, the main types of animal-based toxicity tests are conducted for: acute toxicity (skin and eye irritation/ corrosion, acute systemic toxicity), allergenicity (skin and respiratory sensitization), repeat-dose toxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and biokinetics (also referred to as toxicokinetics or pharmacokinetics).

The protection goal in these cases is the individual (ie.

The human) The main types of animal-based toxicity tests conducted for environmental safety assessment are acute and chronic toxicity (including growth, survival and reproductive success) in fish, acute and chronic toxicity in crustaceans, acute toxicity testing on birds, and bioaccumulation (typically in fish). The protection goal in these cases is the population, community, or ecosystem.

Replacing Animals in Toxicity Testing Non-animal methods are becoming increasingly available, making it possible to assess the safety of chemicals without animal testing in many circumstances.

The science of non-animal methods continues to evolve rapidly, and demonstrates that such methods can be

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What’s the Issue?

45

more rapid and cost-effective, and provide more accurate information about chemical risks compared with traditional animal testing.

Because developing and implementing non-animal methods for toxicity testing results in better science to better protect environmental and human health – and in order to protect tens of thousands of animals from use in unnecessary painful or lethal toxicity testing – jurisdictions such as the EU and US have incorporated strong legal tools in their toxics laws to reduce and replace the use of animals in toxicity testing. Canada is now set to catch up.

The Push to Modernize CEPA – What’s Happening with Bill S-5?

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Canada is in the midst of modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (“CEPA”) – our national toxics law. This presents an exciting opportunity to better protect the environment and health of Canadians while phasing out the unnecessary use of animals in painful toxicity testing and positioning Canada as a global leader when it comes to developing non-animal testing methods.

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During the 2021 federal election, the Liberal Party of Canada committed to ending the use of animals in toxicity testing by 2035. This commitment follows a similar commitment made by the US Environmental Protection Agency, while the Netherlands has committed

to phasing out most types of animal testing, including toxicity testing, by 2025. However, without overarching legislation for animal-based science in Canada, there are very few ways to legally mandate the replacement of animals in science. Amending CEPA is one of those opportunities.

CEPA is currently silent on requiring the use of nonanimal methods. Bill S-5 would amend the Act’s preamble to recognize the need to reduce and replace the use of animals in toxicity testing, but it does not contain any legally binding requirements to ensure animals are used only as a last resort, or that the commitment to end the use of animals entirely by 2035 is met.

We’re working to make sure that the proposed statement in the preamble about reducing and replacing animals in toxicity testing is moved to become a provision within the act itself. But we need your help!

Will you join us and send a letter asking the government to end toxicity testing on animals?

We are Canada’s first and only registered charity working solely to achieve better science without animals. Our work on campaigns like this one would not be possible without your support. There are a variety of ways you can support us: www.forhumanescience.org or email us at info@forhumanescience.org

The Canadian Society for Humane Science is a registered Canadian charity (RN: 81659 1721). We equip tomorrow’s science leaders and policy makers with knowledge of non-animal methods for research, testing and teaching through classes and courses, top-rated in-person seminars, written articles, and plentiful educational resources.

JUNE 2022

JULY 2022

Sunday June 19th Father’s Day

Friday July 1st Canada Day Canada turns 155 years old

Tuesday June 21st The first day of summer Summer Solstice 2022

Jumble Answer from page 43

Due to the uncertainty of future restrictions on gatherings and events,

ELECTRIC, SECRET,, DOLLAR, HEADWAY

please check your local area for updates.

Answer: SECRETARIYACHT

The Pet Connection assumes no responsibility for any information listed for any of these events. While every attempt is made to double check information submitted, we are not responsible for any cancelled events, rescheduled events, wrong dates or times, location changes, wrong address’s or wrong phone numbers. If you have an event you would like to mention, please submit it to, info@petconnection.ca. Due to space limitations there is no guarantee that it will be listed.

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Made in Canada

Canada’s Natural Health Magazine for Pets

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2021

$4.95 Display until November 30, 2021

JUNE - JULY 2022

RULES

48

Contest is only open to Canadian pets alive and living in Canada. If you have multiple pets, you can send in multiple photos, but please only one photo per pet per month.

PHOTO SIZE: your jpg (photo) must be over 1MB in size to be considered.

Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

Please no professional photographers.

No purchase required.

To enter, email a high resolution photo of your pet to: info@petconnection.ca

Preference will be given to photos that have room above the pet.

Please visit our website for more information: www.petconnection.ca

Photo Contest For Cats Cat Photo Contest runs October 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.

The Grand Prize Cat Winner will be chosen from our Monthly Winners below.

October

November

December

January

BAILEY

WINNIE

ATHENA, KITTY, LONDON

BETTY (WHITE), THOMAS, MILLIE

February

March

April

May

MALCOLM

ZEUS

PIU

June

July

August

September

Open to entries from cats living in Canada.

Open to entries from cats living in Canada.

Open to entries from cats living in Canada.

Grand Prize Winner to be Announced.

FOLLOW US! #chanceforthecover Follow us on Facebook PetConnectionCanada

#indigenoustreats Follow us on Instagram Petconnectionmagazine

#petconnectionmagazine Follow us on Twitter @PetConnectionCa

JUNE - JULY 2022

Open to entries from cats living in Canada.

49

PHOTO CONTEST FOR DOGS PROUDLY SPONSORED

BY HAPPY DAYS

Monthly Winners!

Grand Prize Winner will receive $500.00 worth of Happy Days Products!

Gilligan Dog Photo Contest Winner in 2021!

Your dog can be on a magazine cover!

JUNE - JULY 2022

RULES

50

Contest is only open to Canadian pets alive and living in Canada. If you have multiple pets, you can send in multiple photos, but please only one photo per pet per month.

PHOTO SIZE: your jpg (photo) must be over 1MB in size to be considered.

Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

Please no professional photographers.

No purchase required.

To enter, email a high resolution photo of your pet to: info@petconnection.ca

Preference will be given to photos that have room above the pet.

Please visit our website for more information: www.petconnection.ca

2022 Photo Contest

KEERA

RYDER

ANDY MONROE

ECHO

May

June

July

August

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

September

October

November

December

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

Open to entries from dogs living in Canada.

FOLLOW US! #chanceforthecover Follow us on Facebook PetConnectionCanada

#happydayspet Follow us on Instagram Petconnectionmagazine

#petconnectionmagazine Follow us on Twitter @PetConnectionCa

JUNE - JULY 2022

Dog Photo Contest runs January 1, 2022 to December 15, 2022.

The Grand Prize Dog Winner will be chosen from our Monthly Winners below.

January February March April

51

Digital Single Issues are available at www.issuu.com

Single Digital Issues available.

Only $2.99 CDN

100%

in Canada

JUNE - JULY 2022

BRITISH COLUMBIA

52

4 Paws Pure 3110 15th Avenue, Prince George, BC Amore Pet Foods 4540 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC Healthy Spot Pet Nutrition #5 - 1050 - 10th Avenue, SW Salmon Arm, BC Healthy Spot Pet Nutrition 3115 48 Avenue #200, Vernon, BC In The Raw, Food for Dogs and Cats 150 E 2nd Street, North Vancouver, BC

Pawsitive Veterinary Care Clinic 500 - 1950 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC Pet Connection Head Office & Retail Store 2443 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC Pet Planet #100 - 1135 Stevens Road, West Kelowna, BC Simply Natural Raw Pet Food 5565 West Blvd, Vancouver, BC

Print copies available at select locations.

ALBERTA

QUEBEC

AARCS Safe Haven and Veterinary Hospital 5060 - 74th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta

Only available by subscription.

In English only.

Edmonton Holistic Veterinarian Clinic 8215 - 102 Street, Edmonton, Alta.

SASKATCHEWAN Fido & Felix Foods We Deliver all across Saskatchewan

MANITOBA

Only available by subscription.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Blue Ribbon Pet Supply and Grooming 420 Queen Street, Charlottetown, PEI

NOVA SCOTIA Valley WAAG Animal Shelter 12-112 Front Street, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

NEWFOUNDLAND

Head to Tail Canine Nutrition www.headtotailcaninenutrition.com

The Doghouse 204 Duckworth Street, St. John’s, NL

ONTARIO

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Bones Pet Boutique 1500 Upper Middle Road, Burlington, Ont.

Borealis Kennels & Pet Supplies Box 2195, Yellowknife, NT

The Hungry Pooch - Lakeshore 486 Advance Blvd, Tecumseh, Ont.

YUKON TERRITORY

The Hungry Pooch 2451A Dougall Avenue, Windsor, Ont. Thor’s Healthy Pet Foods 3-3840 Dominion Road, Ridgeway, Ont. Thrive 4 Life Holistic Pet Food Store 16572 York Durham Line, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ont.

Humane Society Yukon 126 Tlingit Street, Whitehorse, YT The Feed Store Pet Junction 9006 Quartz Road, Whitehorse, YT

NUNAVUT Iqaluit Humane Society PO BOX # 11089, Iqaluit, NU

JUNE - JULY 2022

AARCS North Haven 8108 Coronet Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta

NEW BRUNSWICK

53

WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

JUNE - JULY 2022

Trusted since 1992

Visit us at www.petconnection.ca Follow us on Facebook PetConnectionCanada

54

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Your URBAN CARNIVORE THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO FEEDING

YOUR PET A RAW FOOD DIET

Inside Variety is Key for Vitality The Simplicity of a Raw Diet Carbohydrates and Carnivores Carnivore Food is Not Dry Food from the Bag! The Definitive Word on Bacteria A Species Appropriate™ Diet is the Foundation of Your Pet’s Health

BOOKS AVAILABLE ONLINE OR IN RETAIL STORES To find out where to purchase your copy visit www.carnivora.ca

a new book by

BRENDA HAGEL

www.carnivora.ca