CO Pets 2024

LAUREN

LAURA

It’s not just humans who live the good life in Central Oregon! The pets of the region like to have a good time, too.

For the team at Central Oregon Pets (aka the Source Weekly), it’s our favorite time of the year! Nearly every one of us is a parent to a pet or two, and we love sharing the love—and the stories—of local pets. Inside this edition of Central Oregon Pets, let your heart melt with Richard Sitts’ preview of kitten season. Armando Borrego tells the charming tale of a local alpaca farm and its “Alpaca Picnics.” Also learn about the new emergency hospital for Bend pets (and the food cart lot outside of it), a documentary about those helping houseless pets, and of course, don’t miss our annual Cutest Pets Contest winners! There’s so much inside for you and your furry friends to enjoy.

CO PETS STAFF

EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan

Yoda and Obi’s Mom

PAGE DESIGN

Jennifer Galler

Pugsly’s Mom

AD DESIGN

Benjamin Irish

Scout and Tucker’s Dad

ADVERTISING

Ashley Sarvis

Tucker and Mikko’s Mom

ADVERTISING

Ban Tat

Gracie’s Dad

ADVERTISING

Chad Barnes

Louis and Morty’s Dad

REPORTER

Julianna LaFollette

Finn’s Mom

REPORTER

Armando Borrego

Frida’s Dad

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

Hicoo’s Dad

PUBLISHER

Aaron Switzer

Elsa’s Dad

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer Poppy’s Mom

CONTRIBUTORS

REPORTER

Tiffany Neptune

2024 Pet Photo Contest!

CUTE PETS OF CENTRAL OREGON

It is not an understatement to say that running this Cutest Pet photo contest is one of the joys our staff looks forward to all year. This year, Central Oregon Pets launched a new online platform allowing readers to vote for their favorites. We got over 800 entries from over 400 pet parents; then, over 2,500 people voted for their favorites. In the following pages, see the photos of all the winners. Each winner earns a free print from High Desert Frameworks, and one lucky entrant also gets a hand-stamped tag from Metalheads Boutique.

Thanks to all who entered — in our minds, all the pets of Central Oregon are the cutest!

THANK YOU TO OUR PET PHOTO SPONSORS!

Title Sponsor: Bend Unleashed

Metalheads Boutique

High Desert Frameworks

Thank you to MB Photography for shooting our cover!

Cutest

Miss Congeniality

Asia Benny

Most Catitude

Best Puppy Eyes

Cuddliest

Biggest Gentle Giant

Cassie

Goose

Lenny

Dany

Maverick

Roony Walker

Best Smile

Best Face for Radio

Friendlist Farm Friend - It’s a tie!

Tiniest Treasure

Stanley

Rainberry

Truffles

Dany

Jet & Tieka

Humans facing housing issues depend on their four-legged friends for love and companionship.

A Film About the Pets of the Camps… and CAMP

Companion Animal Medical Project featured in new documentary, premiering March 24

By Nicole Vulcan

Ctwo of the encampments dotted around Central Oregon, from Dirt World between Bend and Redmond to China Hat south of town. But in a new documentary, viewers get an up-close-and-personal view of the places where people live on the literal margins — with a focus on not just the people, but their pets, too.

The film, titled “Companion,” tells the story of Companion Animal Medical Project and its work helping pets and their people experiencing homelessness. The film, produced by Jesse Locke of Unlocked Films, follows the staff and volunteers of CAMP as they visit various encampments around Central Oregon, offering pet food, vaccinations, medical transport and more. The film serves not only as a potent and emotional exploration of how pets can be lifelines for anyone — housed or unhoused, but also helps those who have not experienced homelessness see, in vivid detail, what living in a camp can be like.

Cont. pg 13

Photos

Scenes from “Companion,” the new documentary featuring the story of Companion Animal Medical Project.

In one scene, a resident of a camp shares how the love for his dog encouraged him to stop using drugs and pay attention to his diet. In another, a man tells how his dog saved his life from a fire in his RV.

“Anybody out here, their animals are their kids,” said Sam, a pet owner featured in the film who’s lived in the Junipers near Redmond since 2019. “Anyone that has an animal out here, they’re their kids.”

“Our hope for this film was to try and bring a sense of understanding and compassion to a complex issue and (try) not to make it political. Homelessness and animal welfare are two issues that many know about but may not understand (or be aware of) how they are interconnected and the importance of the human-animal bond,” CAMP’s Founder and Executive Director Johannah Johnson told the Source Weekly/ Central Oregon Pets.

“We have this idea of what a home looks like, for people and pets, and that just may not be realistic right now given the state of everything. But if we can show up, show up consistently, and ask ‘How can I help?’ maybe

we can make a little progress and keep people (and pets) alive as we work towards a bigger end goal: housing (and love) for all.”

Shot over a period of four months in the fall of 2023, Locke filmed Johnson, CAMP team members and pet owners who CAMP has served in recent years.

“From the time we ended in November, many things have changed with the interviewees,” Johnson wrote in an email. “Some moved into the shelter, some moved to a new city for housing opportunities, some had to rehome their animals to try and get into housing (despite our efforts to support them) some are still struggling with mental health/ substance use, but one thing remains the same.... and that is the love they have for their companion animals.”

“Companion,” debuts March 24 at Open Space Event Studios. The premiere, initially planned for March 24 at 5pm, sold out quickly, so a matinee screening has since been added for the afternoon of March 24 from 3:30pm. Matinee tickets were available at press time at campclinics.org.

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Jelly Belly is wearing her per sonalized dog tag from Metalheads Botique.

TYour Latest Lunch Date: Alpacas

Alpaca Picnics offers an engaging lunch date, a unique bonding activity, a romantic getaway or a serene escape from the hustle of nine-to-five daily life

By Armando Borrego

hey’re very kind to the land,” Amanda VandenBosch says about the camelid cousin to the llama, the alpaca. VandenBosch has dedicated her life to spreading knowledge and experience about the alpaca’s sustainability, and yes, their unique healing powers. “Alpacas are very calming,” she explained. “We always say to people, especially when having picnics, ‘take a deep breath and really enjoy the animals and their calming nature.’”

The Original Alpaca Picnic Experience is more than just a novel dining affair; it’s an invitation to connect with nature and its most charming inhabitants.

“You can learn about the history of the alpaca, enjoy lunch and a lot of the time the alpacas will be very curious, and they’ll eat out of your hands,” VandenBosch said.

The picnic options at their farm in Tumalo promise a delightful twist on the classic American picnic experience, featuring

gourmet favorites crafted by the local gem, Tumalo Coffeehouse, or an offered Mediterranean meal courtesy of Susu Feeds You.

“They’re very calming, very curious and very interactive,” said VandenBosch, who’s the co-founder of Original Alpaca Picnic Experience and a senior judge and judge trainer for the Alpaca Owners Association.

The very words that describe the animal are, according to VandenBosch, the same concepts that inspired her and Central Cont. pg 16

Photos courtesy of Wasim Muklashy

The Flying Dutchman farm offers a tranquil environment with its alpaca residents.

The picnics are a reminder of the joys found in simple pleasures like good food, the great outdoors and the company of gentle beings.

“There’s something about them that connects a certain kind of person that loves animals, nature and sustainability.”

—Amanda VandenBosch

Oregon professional photographer, Wasim Muklashy, to open their fences to the public. “The idea of picnics was such a natural progression for people to come out and enjoy a beautiful lunch,” said VandenBosch.

“The people that get involved really love the alpaca,” she explained. “There’s something about them that connects a certain kind of person that loves animals, nature and sustainability.” Another gentle soul, Muklashy is co-founder of the picnic experience, and also part owner of the Sisters clothing store, Alpaca by Design. “We joined forces to open the store in Sisters and now we have alpaca experiences, which are held at the Flying Dutchman Farm in Tumalo,” said VandenBosch.

The two business partners are currently on location in Arequipa, Peru, sourcing sustainable products for the store VandenBosch recalled that when the. store opened, the storefront began to draw attention from locals and tourists, all asking the same question. “People were always interested in where the products were coming from, so we started giving farm visits,” she said. “When visitors came, they would always talk about how magical the alpacas were. That’s when we decided to provide an experience where people could come out and share in what we get to share every day.”

Suffice to say it’s not your ordinary picnic spot. Here, the alpacas aren’t just part of the scenery; they’re your hosts and if you’re lucky, your friends.

“The alpacas’ popularity has really increased over the years,” said VandenBosch.

“There’s been a true appreciation for the Andes farmers in Peru and how magical the alpacas themselves are, and we have an enormous amount of gratitude for the farmers, in the Peruvian highlands in particular, because they are the true shepherds of the alpaca.”

The picnic experiences are available for booking at pacapicnics.com and at Airbnb. com. Meals can be made to accommodate most allergies and dietary restrictions.

The Original Alpaca Experience

Where Cats AreTreated Like Royalty

Kitten Season is Nearly Here!

Volunteer foster homes are always in demand

By Richard Sitts

The kittens are coming...

This ominous fact rings true when kitten season rolls around, running from mid-spring to early fall.

Or, as Lynne Ouchida, director of Community Partnerships for the Humane Society of Central Oregon, puts it, “from Easter to Halloween.”

That’s a lot of kittens and they all deserve loving homes.

Cont. pg 20

This is Zander, being fostered and prepared for a forever home.

Besides a lot of love and caring, foster kittens also need their sleep.

These foster kittens are looking for their new forever homes.

Some newborn kittens in the HSCO foster program have to be bottle fed.

Foster kittens make great company for those volunteers who work from home.

Photos courtesy of HSCO

Arya, pictured here with a foster kitten, and her family have fostered 30 kittens and other small animals for HSCO over the past three years.

That’s where volunteer foster hosts come in, welcoming these furballs of love into their homes, helping them to grow a little and adjust to living among us humans. Then they go back to HSCO, more grown-up and adoptable. During their time in foster homes, kittens can learn good cat manners (not biting too hard), grooming and socializing skills.

HSCO Foster Program Manager Becky Williamson explains what the foster volunteers get out of the deal.

“They get the experience of helping and raising animals, and animal companionship,” Williamson says. And the animals get the chance to experience home life, the sounds of television and radio, the smells and sounds of cooking and other domestic activities.

During the peak of this season, HSCO might have as many as 40-50 kittens out at any given time, according to Williamson.

HSCO is always looking for more volunteer individuals or families to join the foster program. “The more fosters we have, the more animals we can help,” Williamson says.

As far as ideal fosters go, families with kids are good, exposing the animals to a more varied living experience.

HSCO is looking for “someone who has the desire to be a foster and is willing to help the animals get off to a good start so they can be a good companion for someone,” Williamson says.

HSCO also fosters out puppies, rabbits, hamsters, rats and guinea pigs.

Anyone 18 and over can go to the HSCO website, hsco. org, and click on the Volunteer tab. After filling out and submitting the online application, an HSCO staff member will reach out with a phone call to ask some additional questions. Applicants are then required to attend a 90-minute training and orientation.

During 2023, 405 animals were fostered out. Of those, 281 were kittens, according to Williamson.

Fosters are sent out with food, litter, bedding, toys and pens. Volunteer fosters are not required to pay for anything, though donations are always appreciated.

Ouchida says, “Whatever we do here is in the best interest of the animal.” HSCO has been in operation since 1961 and the foster program was started about 28 years ago, according to Ouchida. The main qualifications for volunteers are “time, love and compassion,” she adds.

Foster homes are given an estimated time of return for the animals, but there is no set return date. Foster homes are never left stranded with an animal. “You’re not ever stuck with an animal,” Ouchida says.

HSCO is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am5:30pm, at 61170 SE 27th St., 541-382-3537.

BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond also offers a foster program. Online application available at brightsideanimals.org. For information, email foster@ brightsideanimals.org.

Foster kittens Pepper and Cheddar love to hang out together.

This kitten sustained an injury and had to have its right eye removed before entering the foster program.

Photo courtesy of Win Jones

Dog Trainer Gains Hope from Bend Community

The owner of Paw 2 Paw persevered through hardship with the help of clients and community members

By Julianna LaFollette

Dogs are man’s best friend. Some dogs, however, need a little extra help in becoming successful, well-trained pets. That’s where the idea for a woman-owned dog training business, Paw 2 Paw, came from. A drive and a passion to help both people and dogs prompted dog-trainer Lauren Henderson to start a business of her own.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Henderson

Lauren Henderson trains her doggo on the beach.

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Many canines enjoy the human interaction of being trained; some even bark for it! Lauren Henderson works with a client who appears eager for the next command.

Henderson was born and raised in Oregon and has always had a passion for dogs. She decided to open Paw 2 Paw in 2020 after doing years of training on her own. “I just wanted to take a chance to see if I could make a business out of what I love to do,” said Henderson.

Henderson offers balanced training for both puppy and adult dogs, as well as several other pet services. Henderson’s business continued to grow each year since 2020, and she had no plans on slowing down, even when having a child.

In 2023, she gave birth to her daughter Kennedy. Just three days later, Henderson was diagnosed with cancer. At this

point, change was inevitable. Shortly after, Henderson hired her first staff member at Paw 2 Paw, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to train every day like she had been. “We stayed open during the cancer treatment, with a lot of help.”

Henderson, who is now cancer free, attributes a lot of the business’ continued growth to the help of the Bend community. “The community was really amazing. I met a lot of people during treatment. I would not have been able to do everything without people stepping up. Bend is a pretty awesome community,” said Henderson.

When Henderson gave birth, she had an emergency c-section.

After hearing about her struggles, one of her clients started a meal train. “The first people who stepped up were clients,” she said. “That’s kind of how it started.” It began with the dog community and expanded from there.

“There was a lot of support from people who I still don’t even know. I think the word just spread and people rallied together,” said Henderson. “Dog training is what I do, it’s what I like. A lot of help came from our trainers, from Kristy and the community. It was important for me to have something to do and be able to pay our bills,” said Henderson.

Kristy Martin, a friend and employee at Paw 2 Paw, met Henderson several years ago

through a “Shepherds of Central Oregon,” Facebook group. When Henderson posted that she was looking for admin help, Martin thought it would be a good opportunity to help and learn.

“I had seen the community just rally around Lauren during her cancer treatment and she’s just so inspiring. Having a newborn is hard enough as it is. To go through all of that, I wanted to do my part and help as well,” said Martin.

Today, Henderson has three trainers and offers services such as private lessons, in-home board and training and pack hikes, a safe way to socialize dogs and have them work on recall.

“One of the things I’m most excited about with this book, which is weird to say, is people seeing me for the deeply, deeply flawed human being that I am.”

—Brianna Madia

Brianna Madia is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of “Nowhere for Very Long.” Her second book, “Never Leave the Dogs Behind,” launches April 2 with HarperCollins Publishers.

Launch & Signing: Never Leave the Dogs Behind

Tuesday., April 2, 6:30pm (Seating 5:45pm)

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend roundaboutbookshop.com $10

Brianna Madia Book

Author Debuts ‘Never Leave the Dogs Behind’ Book in Bend

New York Times bestselling author, Brianna Madia, returns with a deeply human tale of primal survival in her second memoir

By Tiffany Neptune

Afitting destination to launch her second book, “Never Leave the Dogs Behind,” Brianna Madia will soon introduce readers in Bend to her poignantly radiant display of survival.

Known publicly as a bold and wild woman, Madia’s raw storytelling in her newest memoir reveals the grit behind the blue checkmark, which often leads strangers to make assumptions about her life and success.

“One of the things I’m most excited about with this book, which is weird to say, is people seeing me for the deeply, deeply flawed human being that I am,” Madia reflects.

Supported by her four dogs, Bucket, Dagwood, Birdie and Banjo, while self-isolated in the remote Utah desert, a new version of herself bloomed alongside globemallows and Indian paintbrush — something of a miracle, given the harsh year-round conditions including 100-plus-degree heat and flash floods.

Six years ago, the devoted staff at Bend Animal Emergency saved Dagwood’s life with the help of donations from Madia’s Instagram followers and her unyieldingly ferocious love. In the wake of Dagwood’s recovery, her marriage imploded and Madia became the target of a Reddit-based snark page where a handful of hatemongers intentionally dismantled her career, stalking and harassing her.

Madia spun into a self-proclaimed madness of mania and paranoia. Despite her circumstances, and in part because of them, she

made one of her dreams come true: she bought 9 acres of primitive land on the outskirts of Moab, Utah. The stark contrast of her turbulent circumstances laid bare against the backdrop of the striking desert reds and oranges she and her pack of dogs call home is palpable in every word as she recounts her story.

A sequel to her “New York Times” bestselling debut memoir, “Nowhere for Very Long,” Madia’s second book is heart-wrenchingly self-aware that her love for her dogs truly saved her life.

Living primally as a pack of animals in the desert allowed Madia an escape into the simple joys of being a dog, comforted by their unconditional love, stating, “With the dogs, it was just like there was no wrong way for me to do anything. I was never disappointing them, and I felt like I was disappointing so many people.”

More than a cathartic exposition of her

own healing, she hopes it encourages others. Because, as she says, she knows firsthand when, “everything has fallen apart or feels like everything’s fallen apart, that means you can really start over. It’s terrifying, but it’s also such an amazing gift.

Like any true dog-loving narrative, she peppers its dialogue with the relatably strange things she says to her dogs, one of the weirdest, she admits, to Bucket: “You think anyone’s ever traded sex for access to heavy machinery before?”

Bucket, Dagwood, Birdie and Banjo will be greeting guests outside the book launch event hosted offsite by Roundabout Books on April 2. Madia will share stories from her book, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Tickets and signed books can be ordered through Roundabout Book’s website.

Madia’s pack of dogs, Bucket (front), Banjo, Birdie and Dagwood (back), explores a sandstone slot canyon.

Brianna Madia

Courtesy Harper Collins Publishers

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The Latest for Ce ntral Oregon Pets News for pet parents

By Julianna LaFollette

Oregon Ranks Highest in Animal Protection

Oregon had the strongest animal protection laws in the nation as of 2023, according to a new report published by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the legal advocacy organization for animals.

Many factors and laws were taken into consideration, including a law allowing victims of domestic violence to keep custody of their animals when fleeing situations. Other Oregon protection laws include increased sentences for animal abusers previously convicted of violence, and a requirement for veterinarians to report aggravated cruelty to animals.

Oregon takes animal cruelty offenses seriously, prohibiting anyone convicted of an offense from owning or possessing certain species of animals for a set period of time.

“Over the years, Oregon has pioneered some of the most groundbreaking animal protection actions in the country, from recognizing the sentience of animals to being first in the nation to utilize a statewide special prosecutor for animal crimes,” said Emily Lewis, Animal Defense Fund’s managing attorney.

Possible Fee Increases for Animal Rescues

Animal shelters may have to pay more in licensing fees, as the Oregon Department of Agriculture considers a proposal to establish a tiered license fee structure. The current animal rescue entities licensing fee, as of March 15, was $375 per license year.

The proposal would calculate fees based on organization type, the number of physical locations and the number of animals transferred into a rescue organization. The licensing program was created in 2019 by the Oregon Legislature with the passage of Senate Bill 883, requiring that it administer a licensing program for AREs.

Andrea Cantu-Schomus, ODA’s director of communication, said the department was scheduled to file final rules after March 15, at the end of public comment, to give them time to review and consider received comments.

AREs that own or operate one physical location and had under 50 animals transferred into its custody during the previous license year would pay at least $400. The fee increase depends on the number of locations and the number of animals in the rescue entity’s custody. Cont. pg 31

Humans and our pets, we all like to eat, so food carts grace the new urgent care pet facility.

Ponch always had a smile for everyone and would be proud of his namesake, Ponch’s Place.

Veterinarian Hospital Opens in NE Bend, with Food Cart Lot

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon opened Feb. 12 in northeast Bend, in a new building at NE Oxford Court, off Brinson Boulevard. The facility offers emergency, specialty and urgent care 24 hours a day. Now, it will open a new food cart lot and beer garden March 16 at that new location. Ponch’s Place features a food truck pavilion and a beer garden, creating a personalized experience for pet-parents and staff.

The food cart lot will offer a variety of beers on tap and other options such as kombucha and cider. As of March 12, Ponch’s Place announced that it will have four food trucks on site. Patrons can enjoy Carmelitas, serving authentic Mexican food, and Sweet Herb with authentic Chinese food and beverages. The lot will also have God of Pizza and Americana food from Alley Dogz.

The pavilion’s name came from veterinary center dog, Ponch, who served as the “chief morale officer” and was always excited to see anyone he met, according to the facility’s website. Ponch’s Place plans on hosting many community events throughout the year, and plans a grand opening for the new hospital and Ponch’s Place on April 12.

Julianna LaFollette

Courtesy Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon