Published by All Life Media, LLC. Pittsburgh PetConnections was created in 2012. Our mission is to publish a high quality, informative publication focused on the Human-Animal Bond. We support local businesses and also assist local non-profit businesses for pets and people, to give back to our great Pittsburgh communities.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Welcome to our Fall Edition 2023 Volume 11 Issue 1
NEWS & EVENTS:
PetConnections is in our 12th Year! Thank you to all the businesses who have supported the magazine through the years with advertising. Also, our wonderful staff and writers, and of course our readers, have made this publication truly special.
We are excited this year to be launching our new website and Instagram page, @ petconnectionsmagazine. We are also trying re-gain access to our Facebook page, PetConnections magazine PA, for which we somehow lost access when we added the Instagram page. We hope to be able to post on Facebook soon.
Fall events are here! Animal Friend is having their annual Black Tie & Tails. Also, SAVE THE DATE! PetConnections is producing Dogtoberfest for the third year, and the 2023 event will be at the Waterfront on Saturday, October 7th, 2023! We hope to see you there!
News
Thank you to our sponsors this year, Giant Eagle Waterfront Pet Pharmacy, Brutus Bone Broth, Asgard’s Raw Pet Food, Certified Carpet Distributors, Wags ‘n Wine, Denise Marasco Howard Hanna, and T-Mobile!
Welcome to our Winter 2019 issue!
PetConnectionis producing Dogtoberfest for the third year, and the 2023 event will be at the Waterfront on Saturday, October 7th, 2023! We hope to see you there! Stay tuned on our website, www.petconnections.pet for the final schedule of events. Check out our event page for upcoming events!
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Introducing our new sister publications coming out in March, Integrative Healing magazine for people (and, of course, a pet section!)
We are also pleased to announce some fun new things that we have in the works for PetConnections!
Published by: Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC. Pittsburgh PetConnections LLC. was formed in 2012. Our mission is to publish a high quality, informative publication focused on the Human-Animal Bond. We support local businesses and also assist local non-profit businesses for pets and people, to give back to our great Pittsburgh communities.
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Some of the articles to highlight in this issue are in our Human-Animal Bond section featuring Angel’s story, and how horses truly enrich our lives. Paula Shimko writes about the importance of training your dog properly on a leash, and how it is often overlooked as a priority. Dr. Genareo, from Blue Pearl’s Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Centers, writes about minimizing holiday toxin risks in dogs. Our Kitty Korner section features articles by Dr. Becky on FIP, and Bernadette about hazards with toilet water and why you should avoid allowing your cat to drink from it. We hope you enjoy this issue!
Events
OUR SAP PARTNER: We are working with our licensing partner dvm360TM magazine to pair great content! The partnership will mean online national and global exposure for PetConnections magazine!
MAGAZINE PUBLICATION STAFF
Carla Mader, Managing Editor
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MARKETING DIRECTOR AND SALES
Candace Curphey
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Kristin Hermann
April Minech
Edward R. Moats
Dr. Becky Morrow, DVM
Paula Shimko, KPACTP
We will be publishing pictures of your pet from winners of our new weekly social media photo contests! Also new, our membership sign-up button on our Facebook page, where you can receive news about events and contests, special discounts from our advertisers, discount event tickets, join our PetConnections Birthday Club for Pets, submit your story to be published in our Human-Animal Bond section or Remembrance, and more! Welcome to Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine’s! Winter 2019, Volume 7 Issue 1
This Issue
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center
Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center
Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation’s Healing Hearts Pet Loss Grief Seminar, Animal Friends’ and CARMAA’s highlighted in our event section.
Our cover features Manon Farm’s Princess Showcase riding show! See the Equine Affairs section article inside, April Minech! Also, a reader, Ruth Maloy-Carter submitted her heart-warming story, “Great to be Ginger”, Animal Bond section! Edward Moats continues his avian nutrition articles, with more great tips, in Feathered Also, we are revisiting Integrative Healing for Pets with Dr. Doug, in our Pet Holistic section.
PetConnections is published quarterly as follows: March, June, September, and special Holiday issue in early December! Our print copy distribution sites will be replenished every 6 weeks. Our online presence has always been much greater than in print with now over 400,000 impressions! To subscribe to your own personal copy of PetConnections , please contact us below.
Our rescue section features Nate’s reptile Rescue. PVSEC/BluePearl’s article about winter safety for pets. Our Korner has Homeless Cat Management Team has spay and neuter info, by Bernadette Kazmarski. Equine Hermann writes about Learning from Source.
Did you know? PetConnections has evolved into a full-service specialized pet media company, providing services for advertising in print and digital marketing platforms to help our sponsors grow their businesses. Contact us below for information on advertising or sponsoring!
Kristin Hermann
April Minech
Bernadette Kazmarski
Edward R. Moats
Cover Photo:
and
PetConnections is published quarterly as follows: Early February, May, August, and November. Our distribution sites will be replenished every 6 weeks. Our online presence has always been much greater print with now over 350,000 impressions this year. To subscribe to your own personal copy of PetConnections, please contact us below.
Did you know? PetConnections has evolved into a full-service specialized pet media company, providing services for advertising in print and digital marketing platforms to help our sponsors grow their businesses. Contact us below for information on advertising or sponsoring!
Thank you for picking up this copy of PetConnections.
Thank you for picking up this copy of PetConnections . Be well and we wish you a safe and joyful fall season with your family and pets!
Warmly,
Warmly,
Carla Mader Publisher
Please submit any correspondence to: pghpetconnections@gmail.com
Carla Mader Publisher
Pittsburgh | Central Ohio PetConnections Magazine PetCon Expos
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Please submit any correspondence to: info@pghpetconnections.com Please check us out on the web & subscribe at: www.petconnections.pet. Follow PghPetMag on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook!
Hayden
Harper Stewart
Photo By: Erica Stewart
HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND
Saved by an Angel
ByAprilMinech
Kim Lenz started looking into riding after a friend got a foster horse. “They were a love of mine since I was kid, but I couldn’t have one because my dad was allergic,” she explains. “I found someplace that would let me ride their horses so I didn’t need to have my own.” She took riding lessons for about 8 months then started leasing a quarter horse named Harley, which allows for partial responsibilities of the horse and unlimited riding. Kim took care of things like his feet and vetting, while the owners covered feed and housing. “I tried to buy him,” she laments, “but the owners loved him just as much.”
One day her friend Julie called her about a horse she was showing to another riding client, and Kim drove out to meet the horse. “She wasn’t technically pretty in the way horse buyers like to see but to me, she was beautiful,” Kim remembers. Angel, as she came to be known, showed almost no interest in the woman that was there to see her and instead began following Kim around. She came out of the barn and went straight to Kim. At the time, Lenz had only gone to look at the horse and wasn’t able to purchase her because of the price, but the owner saw the spark between them and worked with Kim to make sure they were paired, and Angel became the love of her life.
“Just being around horses started to bring me out of my shell, but I felt an immediate and incredible bond with Angel. She gave me a lot of confidence to believe in myself.”
As with so many of us, a difficult early life and insecurities had led her to feel smaller and quieter than she would have liked. Angel became the catalyst for her to move forward and blossom. Spending time at the barn brought her into a circle of people she had something in common with and her social wheels started turning. “I never thought I could do the things I’ve done looking back without Angel by my side.”
Angel and Kim were together for 9 years until a terrible accident. The owner of the barn Angel was kept at was unclear about the weather one night and left the horses out in a thunderstorm with the electric fence turned on. A bolt of lightning hit the fence and traveled to Angel, who was standing next to it. The next morning as Kim drove to the barn to greet her, she saw her beloved horse collapsed in the
corral. “I saw her on the ground and my stomach went to my throat. Finding her like that was heartbreaking,” she shares.
The day after, she thought she would never recover. Her friends urged her to come back to the barn and continue to work around the other horses to keep her going. So did, and as one day turned into the next, she started to heal and 3 months later she found her current horse, Luna. “That brought me to a point where I finally was ready for another horse. Working around the barn and not having my own horse was too hard.” She smiles and a small light comes to her eyes. Her bond with Luna is a little different, she explains. “Angel was an in your face horse, with a lot of emotion. We had an instant connection. Luna took some time.” The later had been trained as a workhorse by a man and wasn’t as outgoing as her other horse was right away. But they worked at it, and after about 3 months of constant love and patience she came around. “She was well taken care of, but not loved on, or petted and shown a ton of affection so all that was new to her.” Kim has owned Luna for 4 yeas now, and now loves to follow Kim around. “The first time I saw her, she was tied to a post but pulled toward me a little; that was the first indication that there was something deeper in her we could work towards.”
Kim recommends that anyone interested in horses find a riding barn, where they can take introductory lessons to learn more about English or Western riding or just learn to be around horses. And kids may be interested in 4H where they can be around a great variety of animals. “Horses are very therapeutic; they can read emotions very well. So for anyone struggling or grieving, being around them can help,” she says, noting her own experiences. She suggests googling therapeutic barns in your area, noting she visited one specifically for veterans. She described how comforting Angel was to her when one day a family tragedy struck. “I went to the barn and she immediately rested her head on my back and gave me a giant horse hug.” And who wouldn’t benefit from that.
While horses can be expensive and time consuming, Kim believes it’s all worth it. “I could never be where I am today without one in my life.”
Sept 23rd
Black Tie and Tails
Sept 20th
Humane Animal Rescue
Pups & Pints
Sept 27th
Beaver County Humane Society
Wags & Whiskers
Oct 7th
Dogtoberfest
Sponsored by
SWAP MEET
September 29, 2023
Speaker: Andreas Tanke
Saturday, June 3, 2023 12p-4p
Garden City Banquet Hall
600 Garden City Drive
Monroeville, Pa. 15146
The Waterfront Opens Dog Park
ByAprilMinech
The already dog friendly The Waterfront in Homestead opened a green spot for shoppers with dogs to relax and let their pets take a break: a new dog park. “It’s been in the planning since fall of last year,” explains Emily Wittmer, Marketing Director at the Waterfront. The large grassy area features several agility structures to play on and jump through, and a refillable dog pool connected to a water source inside the park along with benches for less activity inclined owners to sit while supervising their dogs. The park is open to the public without any membership fees or reservations necessary. For now, the hours are 24/7, with waterfront security just across the sidewalk and the area well lit, giving owners an option to come during off hours if they have a pet that prefers less crowded play. The dog park is conveniently located across from the bathrooms right at the pedestrian bridge. “Most of the stores in town square are dog friendly,” according to Emily, making area even more enticing for pet owners to shop.
Opening day featured Skye and Chase from Paw Patrol entertaining kids, Puppichinos from Starbucks and several vendors. Animal Lifeline was the highlighted dog rescue group, and was on-site accepting
food and animal supplies. Along with promoting spay & neuter, they provide transportation for help to reach those in need. https://www.animallifelinepgh.org/
The park had a few owner and dog team trying out the park as soon as it was open. “We just came down today because one of our neighbors told us about it,” says Layne Gable. “We live pretty close and enjoy shopping at the Waterfront, and now we have a place for Bean to go, too”.
Joe Potosnak saw the park opening on the news and came from Monroeville to check it out. He brought his 5-month-old foster dog Lucy, a German shepherd, to spend some puppy energy and to try out some of the agility equipment with her. Lucy will be going to a disabled veteran when she’s full trained as part of Gunny’s Ridge non-profit. Their goal is “to provide a private and natural environment for both Veterans and First Responders to bond through engagement in recreational, educational, and physical programs” according to the web site https://www.gunnysridge.org/
BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
Who is Walking Who?
ByPaulaShimkoKPACTP Paulasdogservices.com
The hardest behavior to teach a dog, in my opinion, is loose leash walking. Many people start at the end of the behavior, which is holding the leash at its handle and not using two hands to guide the dog on their journey. I see many allowing the dog to switch sides which can cause humans to trip up. I also see dogs suddenly jerk their handlers to go sniff, or to lunge at other dogs, sometimes in a friendly manner, and sometimes not so friendly. This can be unsafe for both humans and dogs alike. Using a light hand and cues are required to enjoy your walk. After all, isn’t that part of the walk? Walking is for both the human and the dog. Walking erratically is not all that fun for humans. It is one of the biggest complaint people have.
How do we get a safe enjoyable walk? It takes time and information. The dog has the time, but not the information it needs to give the human the behavior they are asking for. Humans need to make the time and learn how to communicate their needs to their dog. It doesn’t work if there is no connection. In this article, I am going to break down the skills the dog team needs to walk nicely together.
LET’S GET STARTED!
Learning how to use a clicker is very helpful in communicating with your dog. It is simple to use, but there is a procedure, and it needs to be done correctly for it to be an effective tool. Click, means food is coming and you like that body movement. You are asking your dog to do that body movement in the moment it is happening. Click and treat repeatedly until he gets the movement you are looking for. To start, take about 20 treats, click, and treat within a ½ a second of click. This helps the dog understand that when he perceives this signal, that food is quickly coming. Always give the dog a treat after a click, no mater what. If your phone dings and you know that ding means money hits your account, how do you feel? If you don’t use the clicker, you will want a conditioned word. Yes, good, yup are some examples. This is also effective. I use “yes” when not using a clicker. You can find clicker tutorials on YouTube.
Next, is your eye contact. How will your dog know you are talking to him if he is not paying atention? Stand in front of your dog. Your hands are at your side, clicker and treats in your hand. Be aware the dog might try and mug your hand; don’t cave, they are yours until you give them to him. Wait until he looks at you, and makes eye
contact, then click and treat. Continue for a few minutes. Start adding a kissy mouth noise or dogs name to your behavior. Put the treat on the ground, use your cue, kissy for instance, when dog looks click and treat. Do this exercise several times a day for a few minutes. Then a few times a week then a few times a month to keep it strong. You can pick a certain number of treats for each session to use until gone, say 10 treats. This will keep your sessions short, sweet, and you on track.
Targeting is the second behavior I like to get strong before I start my leash training. This teaches a dog to target my hand or an object. This allows me to move my dog from one position to another without touching the dog. Another use for the touch cue is to redirect your dog’s atention. One can use the touch cue to distract the dog from something he might bark at on a walk or while you are at home. For example, you could distract your dog from another dog when you are on a walk. When your dog starts to react, you tell him “Touch,” and he will focus on you instead.
Then finally, atention heeling. Teaching the dog to follow me at my preferred side is where I start my walking behavior. Starting at your preferred side, and then getting your dog’s atention you have goten strong. Ask your dog “are you ready?” This is an informational cue. You are asking your dog to prepare to learn and to focus. Without putting a leash on your dog, take a step, click, and treat when dog’s nose hits your pant seam. Continue until your dog gets the idea and then start adding steps and directions. Do
circles, weaves, and U-turns. When you believe the dog understands that the best place to be is your side then add your leash to the picture. Again, start at the beginning. I like to use hallways for training my leash skills. If my dog has a wall to guide him, it helps keep him on my preferred side. I always start leash training off the leash first.
The key is to teach your dog to focus on you and follow you where you lead him without pulling. Starting at the beginning is very important, otherwise how will the dog know that you need him to walk nicely for you? Remember the walk is the end of the behavior not the beginning. Most importantly have fun, make sure the dog is having fun. You’ll get there!
For further help check out my YouTube channel. htps:// www.youtube.com/paulasdogservices
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10% of her portrait proceeds to the Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care PAWS Fund to help pets with a life-threatening emergency receive the care they need as well as other Non-Profit organizations in the Pittsburgh area.
Becky’s pet portrait artwork is dependent on realistic and photographic like detail. She also strives to be able to capture the personality traits that need to be portrayed for the portraits to fully show the soul and personality of the pet or animal. By using the highest quality pastels and the ease of blending and texture she is able to capture fine details.
Besides pet portraits, Becky has started creating abstract and contemporary animal paintings in acrylics and murals for residents and business in and around Pittsburgh. Black
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Avoid Getting Tricked by Your Treats: Minimizing Canine Holiday Related Toxin Risks
ByChristinaGenareo,DVM
The holiday season brings with it many joys, but the veterinary emergency room often, unfortunately, sees an increase in toxicity related cases during most holidays, including during celebrations of Halloween. Severity of clinical signs following toxin ingestion can vary greatly depending on the type of toxin ingested and dose ingested. As is the case with any toxins, Benjamin Franklin’s assessment remains true: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” To minimize the need for a trip to the ER this fall, consider evaluating for the presence of and removing from your dog’s environment common Halloween associated toxins described below.
Chocolate is one of the most common toxins ingested by dogs. Depending on the type of chocolate ingested and the dose ingested by a dog, toxicity signs following toxin ingestion can vary from mild signs (vomiting, diarrhea) to more severe signs (tremors, seizures, heart arrhythmias). Chocolate raisins that may be ingested have the added kidney toxicity risk that comes from the ingestion of grapes and raisins.
Sugar free candies, including sugar free gum, can similarly result in severe signs of toxicity. Low blood sugar can develop quickly after ingestion of even small amounts of sugar free candy (ex: a 10 pound dog can develop signs of toxicity after
ingestion of even just one piece of gum!). Dogs can also experience liver associated toxicity following ingestion of sugar free products.
Though sugar free candies carry extreme risks to dogs if ingested, ingestion of large amounts of sugar and/or fat can also be dangerous to dogs. Ingestion of large amounts of sugar can result in water shifting within the body to result in a consequential increase in a dog’s blood sodium level. High sodium levels put dogs at risk for development of neurologic signs such as lack of responsiveness and seizures. Ingestion of high fat candies or holiday treats can increase the burden on the digestive system and increase the risk for development of pancreatitis, an often-painful inflammatory condition of the pancreas that can result in signs of GI upset and, in severe cases, can be life-threatening.
Other than ingestion of sweets themselves, dogs can also experience emergency conditions from the products that often accompany trick-or-treaters, as is the case when dogs ingest candy wrappers or glow sticks. Ingestion of candy wrappers can result in gastrointestinal foreign bodies/ obstructions/blockages with the potential need for surgical intervention. Glow stick ingestion can result in sudden onset of gagging, vomiting, and irritation to the eye and skin.
Considering the risk for toxicity if a dog encounters Halloween related toxins, keeping such toxins out of a dog’s reach (Ex: keeping the candy in a room or refrigerator outside a dog’s reach) is best. Some families also find training a dog to tolerate wearing a basket muzzle when not directly supervised as a secondary step to minimize toxin ingestion.
If, despite all best efforts, a toxin is ingested, seek emergency care, and contact one of the following animal toxicology hotlines to allow for treatment guidance:
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435.
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AQUARIUM ADVENTURES
Xenotaenia resolanae: The Leopard Goodeid
ByEdwardR.Moats|Ed’sAquaticExotics
Xenotaenia resolanae is a splitfin livebearer endemic to Mexico in the regions of Jalisco and Colima. Their habitats consist of murky streams filled with silt and mud with little vegetation. These fishes can be found at a dept of 3 feet or more with water temperatures between 73-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the continued degradation of their environment, X. resolanae is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
These fish tend to be stocky and can reach a length of 3 inches. Males can be easily distinguished from females by the Andropodium (sexual organ that is notched at the seventh ray of the anal fin) and a larger dorsal. In some cases, females may be more vibrantly colored.
Unlike many species of splitfins that require a higher volume of vegetation in their diet, X. resolanae is considered a carnivore. I have been feeding my fish a variety of brine and krill flakes, baby brine shrimp, and freeze-dried daphnia and bloodworms. I also provide spirulina flakes a couple times weekly.
I first came across these fish last summer on Aquabid. At first glance upon receiving a pair, I knew they were unlike most of the splitfins I have been breeding in my fish room over the last four years. These fish were more robust and would require a larger aquarium. Therefore, they were acclimated to a 40-gallon aquarium consisting of a few live plants and small rock formations. Water parameters were maintained at 74 degrees Fahrenheit, pH of 7.8 and a DH of 30.
After giving them a week to settle into their new environment, I began conditioning the pair by feeding them a protein rich diet and doing a fifty percent water change weekly. Within
weeks, I noticed the male becoming more assertive with the female. At times, he became aggressive to the point where I had to remove her for a day or two because his interest was relentless. After a day or two of resting, I placed her back into the aquarium with the male. Soon after, I noticed the female’s stomach starting to round out. I moved her to a twenty-gallon aquarium that was densely planted where she could give birth without the male impeding. Within 50 days, the female gave birth to ten live fry that were ¼ of an inch long. The fry were active and taking live baby brine at first feeding. Although the mother did not seem to pay that much attention to the fry, I removed the fry to their own aquarium so that they could easily feed without competition from their mother for food.
The fry were fed four times daily with baby brine shrimp and crushed brine and spirulina flake. Fifty percent of the water in the rearing tank was changed twice weekly to maintain water quality due to heavy feeding. The young of this species tend to grow rather fast. And within 12 weeks, they were added to the 40-gallon aquarium with the parents. Presently, all fish are doing well and thriving. I am hoping for another drop of fry before the end of the year.
Reflecting over the last year of working with this species, I find their behavior similar in comparison to dwarf cichlids in temperament. They require amble room to swim and should be monitored for aggression. Providing ample space and crevices can lessen aggressive behavior with tank mates. Although X. resonlanae is an interesting fish to maintain in aquaria, I feel that they are not an appropriate species for the beginning hobbyist. However, to the aquarist willing to invest the time in maintaining this species; the outcome can be rewarding.
Toilet water? We “go” there, don’t they know that? So why do cats drink out of toilet bowls when they’ve got a water bowl, and maybe even more than one?
But their water bowl may be filled, or half-filled, or so...with water that you put in there days ago. It still looks fine to us, but it may be stale, room temperature water, and may have a light coating of cat hairs that float around in the air and land on the surface. And the bowl itself may have collected minerals from the water coating the bottom and sides, and perhaps even some slimy stuff in there that you really can’t see.
Toilet Water
ByBernadetteKazmarski
Whereas the toilet—each time we flush the toilet, likely several times a day, it’s refilled with fresh and usually cool water.1
A CAT’S BIOLOGICAL INSTINCT FOR WATER
Biological instincts guide cats still from the time when they lived without convenient water bowls. In nature water can be difficult to find so cats will often take a sip of any water source they find as long as it seems fresh and clean, like puddles. Also in nature they share those water sources with other species and finding a water source free of other animals is rare so they take advantage of it.
Looking at the toilet as a cat, then, they are after an essential element in their life and the toilet bowl holds a gallon or so of it ready to go and free of interspecies dangers. Plus, it’s fun! Lots of cats like a challenge for those dull old daily activities.
WHY YOU SHOULD STOP YOUR CAT FROM DRINKING TOILET WATER
Toilets are washed with various sanitizing chemicals, nearly all of which are toxic to cats, even residue, even fumes. Paws inside the toilet could touch that reside, and the toilet water could hold residue as well. Also, if a device of some sort emits sanitizing chemicals with every flush you don’t ever want your cat to come near that. 2 Plus, we probably don’t clean our toilets every day and nasty things can build up in there.
And the same as letting them drink from a sink faucet, if it becomes their preferred water source it may not be available when they need it, and cats need fresh water available to them at all times.
SETTING YOUR CATS UP FOR WATER ENJOYMENT SUCCESS
Like all other behaviors that we deem “bad” we need to understand why cats are doing what they’re doing and find an acceptable substitute for it.
So cats need to drink water each day, they will drink water opportunistically, they want the freshest water available so they know it’s safe, and they like to have a little fun while they do. That
sounds like cats need multiple water sources including fountains to fulfill all the requirements on their list.
If cats seem to avoid water sources we provide it’s usually not because they don’t like to drink water. It’s true that a wet food only diet may fulfill the basic water intake requirement for a cat, but all cats have different requirements determined by total dietary intake, age, health condition and more variables. For instance, dry food in the diet will increase their need for supplemental water, older cats don’t process fluids as efficiently as younger cats, and we all need a higher fluid intake during hot weather. With a cat’s ancestral desert beginnings to concentrate urine, they can never have too much water.
So if they’re not drinking water it’s usually because the water source we’ve provided is poorly placed or we’re not keeping it as clean as their instincts say they need.
You should provide more than one water source so they can get their water in various places, as they would in nature. Those sources can be fountains and/or bowls of still water, one placed in each room or area where they spend time. A fountain keeps the water fresh and aerated and cats are attracted to both the sight and sound of moving water. Bowls only need to hold a cup or two.
Place water out of direct sun and away from traveling paths around the house both to keep the water clean of household dust and fur that might be raised with a human or cat passing by, and for the drinker to be undisturbed while drinking. Like food bowls, try to place it so the cat isn’t facing a wall to drink, but can see the room.
You can choose from a huge variety of fountains and follow instructions for cleaning and filter changes. Water in bowls should be changed daily, and the bowl washed. I use the “cat water” to water plants and have a stack of glass, ceramic and stainless steel bowls in the bathroom, kitchen and basement so that I can easily wash and always have clean bowls on hand. The smell of tap water can turn cats away so try filtered water.
CHECKING DAILY FOR GOOD HEALTH
If the level in a particular bowl or fountain seems to reduce quickly, check to see who uses it and if anyone seems to be drinking more water than usual. It may be that source is just really convenient for the feline household, or it could indicate a health issue.
RESOURCES:
1 Cat Behavior Associates, “Why Does My Cat Drink From The Toilet?”: https://catbehaviorassociates.com/why-does-my-catdrink-from-the-toilet/
All About Pets Veterinary Hospital 724-745-5503 | aapvet.com
All About Pets Veterinary Hospital – Washington location 724-503-4887 | www.aapvet.com
All Life Veterinary Clinics, 724-281-3446
Cheyenne Veterinary Wellness & Surgical Center 412-884-3162 | www.cheyennevet1.com
East:
The Big Easy Animal Hospital
412-908-9301 | tbeah.com
Monroeville Pet Hospital 412-372-1100 | www.monroevillepethospital.com
VETERINARY SPECIALTY & EMERGENCY SERVICES
North/South:
Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, Inc. 412-366-3400 | 724-809-2000 pvs-ec.com
EQUINE AFFAIRS
The Rider’s Three Natural Aids and then some…
ByKristinHermann
Legs energize, seat modifies and hands verify.
What are the rider's three natural aids? They are the legs, seat, and hands. And it is these aids that communicate to the horse to get the desired result of riding. I ask every new student if they know what the three natural aids are, and I get responses like the head, voice, calf, or back. Yes, these are all correct, but the official answer is different. Each of our three natural aids works in combination, and this is how we ride!
Simply the legs of the rider ask the horse to go forward, and the horse moves forward through the rider's balanced seat to the bit or rider's hands. Each natural aid has its part to play in the world of riding. And after basic riding is accomplished, each aid's function becomes more refined.
The rider's inside leg is called the active leg; it asks the horse to go forward. When the rider's inside leg squeezes and says go forward, the horse's abdominal muscles shorten, resulting in the horse's inside hind leg moving. The rider's outside leg is called the passive leg. Its job is not to ask the horse to move forward but to keep the horse's hind end from swinging out. Even though it has a job, it is called passive because it is not the leg that says to move forward.
The rider has two rein aids or two hands to talk to the horse: the inside rein and the outside rein. And like the leg aids, each hand or rein has a different job. The inside rein is not just the inside rein; it is called the softening rein, and the outside rein is called the supporting rein. The rider's inside legs ask the horse to move, and then the rider's inside rein asks the horse to soften in the neck by bending around the rider's inside leg. If the horse starts to 'fall in" because of bending inside, then the outside supporting rein is there to keep the horse from falling in! Of course, we can use the inside leg too. We never use one aid or the other it is always a combination of aids.
Coordinating these three aids on a moving horse is not easy. But this is what makes a rider. I tell everyone the secret to riding is the coordination of the aids ~ legs, seat, and hands used in timing with the rhythm of the horse's gaits.
And now the rider's seat. The seat is not just the glute muscles of the rider, but the whole torso makes up the rider's seat. The rider's core/seat is to balance and follow the horse's back or top-line motion. A rider's seat is not to constrain how the horse moves. Many non ,riders think we sit on the horse and squeeze for dear life to stay on; this vice grip seat is not how it is done. A good rider sits on the horse's back and balances. A good seat is balanced side to side, allowing the horse to come through.
In addition, the seat or torso has to have two natural curvatures of the spine to absorb the horse's motion. The rider has to sit on the sitting bones of the seat, not the lower spine or the coccyx. Sitting on the coccyx rounds the rider's back, and I call this tortoise riding! Some have called it pocket riding or sitting on the pockets.
As the rider develops finesse by applying all three natural aids in unison with the horse, they will eventually use the seat for more refinement. But for the beginning rider, the seat must first learn to follow and absorb the horse's motion before influencing the horse. The best way to develop a seat is to ride bareback, so whenever a student has the opportunity, we get them on bareback. They learn to apply their aids while keeping balanced on the horse's back without leaning or collapsing when signaling the horse.
So a quick review. The rider's inside leg asks the horse to step forward, the horse's back goes through the rider's seat, and the rider's inside rein asks the horse to bend in the direction of travel (we train primarily on circles). As the inside leg keeps the momentum if needed, the rider's outside rein keeps the horse from falling in by supporting it. As if that is not enough, the rider has to learn how to apply these aids (inside leg and rein plus outside rein) without losing the balance of the seat or torso. It sounds like a lot, but this is the beginning of riding a circle on a horse. It is essential to know what you are doing and why. The learning process is as follows; first, we consciously figure out what we are doing, and then unconsciously do it. Then eventually, riding happens! ( Like learning to drive a car or play a musical instrument.)
Each of our three natural aids has a purpose, and when I became a student of classical riding, I was given a list of books and studied. In addition, as a working student, I took five lessons a week. I highlighted the books and asked questions, and it was like college! I can still quote the books today. And I am still learning, buying books, and sharing them with my students!
When I teach, I like to share the why in lessons. It is
not just do this and do that. The secret to harmonious riding is coordinating the three natural aids on the horse, and this is a perpetual undertaking for all riders. Once we master basic riding, we plateau for a little while and refine the aids as we advance.
Riding is a pilgrimage; it is something that never ends. The good riders take lessons, read the books, and get on as many different horses as possible to develop a feel. Riding is a feeling you
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develop with your legs, seat, and hands. You can know in your head, but you are a passenger until you can apply it physically. Finesse or coordinating the three natural aids is the secret to riding! And how do we develop that coordination? By riding!
"Riding is, therefore, an ongoing, never-ending, challenging process. That aspect makes riding so intelligent and significant an effort. One merely strives, never arrives." — Charles de Kunffy.
Mia was the softest and sweetest dog we ever had. She came from Boston Terrier rescue (NEBTR) 12 years ago and snuggled up to us the day she came home and never looked back. Loud noises scared her and she would hide whenever a sports game came on, especially the Steelers. Ever day she would do little dances when she knew it was dinner time or playtime. She would grab stuffies and shake them to bits but never chewed them up. Hard chews were for antlers and bully sticks. Mia loved kids and would be so gentle with them
and give lots of kisses; my nephews couldn’t wait to see her during visits often running to her before they hi to me. She was so tolerant – she didn’t have any issues with going to the vet, riding in the car or occasionally dressing up. She had very long nails when she was rescued and would let us sand them down with a dremel, asking only for some kibble in between nails. Mia loved snacks but wouldn’t eat anything that got her nose wet. A few times we put down her bowl with some tuna oil or gravy but she just looked at us until we drained it for her. Mia got along will every dog she met but would strike like a snake if they went too far. It was strange to see her so intense but still so soft. Sweet Mia. We think about you everyday. Love.
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Garden of Faithful Friends
TOGETHER · FOREVER
A most unique and modern garden for people and their beloved pets, Jefferson Memorial’s Garden of Faithful Friends allows your pet to stay by your side forever.
Many pet owners experience disenfranchised grief when their pet dies. Your pet was there for all the moments in your life, good or bad. As we got older, our pets did too. They loved you unconditionally. However, in the blink of an eye your animal companion is gone and you are left reeling from the loss.
For these situations, the Garden of Faithful Friends is a place where you can say farewell to your pet while never really saying goodbye. The Faithful Friends Mausoleum is an elegant visual feature that showcases artworks of people and pets, together forever.
Pet owners can purchase a single lot for their pet or purchase property within the garden for themselves to be buried with or near their beloved pet. The mausoleum houses crypt spaces for your pet, or you and your pet, to be together in eternity. In that same building are niche spaces for pet and human cremated remains.
Our Pet Services include:
Pet Removal
Pet Visitation
Pet Cremation Options
Pets & Family Burial Options
Just as you can for yourself, you can prepurchase for your pet. If you have already purchased property at Jefferson Memorial and have no interments, you may transfer lots to the Garden of Faithful Friends.
A pet who gave love and loyalty in life deserves to be memorialized in a final resting place, just as you would your human counterpart, for they too are a part of the family.
For more information on how we can help you in your pet’s time of need, please reach out to our trained professional representatives.
Providing exceptional specialty + emergency care for pets in the Pittsburgh community. We are caregivers and heroes, who are compassionate, smart and forward thinking.
