AllAboutPets

A SPEC IAL PUBLICATION OF THE TRYON DAI LY BULLETI N

ALL ABOUT PETS

Miss Georgiana Kitty July 2011 VOL. 1

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

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Va LUL U n He : Ca ck itl in e

Kar Eri loff: cR uss ell

Buddy:

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

Gary Caro and l Br oek

Rascal: Su san and Tagg Bo wmen

Unleashed: OSCAR: Jo Hasenzahl

Daisy: Denise Edwards

: TY Y DUS DOT L E HA MIC

Ralp h Toy : a He gwer

2011

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J ll ig: ie Le wis

Bi deaken: D.L. Williams

JASmin & iris: abby

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

From the Editor : The staff of the Tryon Daily Bulletin would love to thank each and every one of you who participated in our first All About Pets photo contest.

Attempting to put out a new publication is always a bit of a gamble but we had a hunch this community would respond enthusiastically to a special edition all about our beloved furry family members - and you did!

In total, we received more than 75 entries of photos that ran the gamut from hilarious to “ooh and ahh” sweet. Thank you for sharing your precious animals with us and the community.

Inside these pages we hope you discover a wealth of information from how to choose the right pet for your family, to the most important health concerns to consider with your pets and the funniest ways people have come up with their pet names.

You’ll also learn about homemade dog treats, discover ways in which to memorialize your animals after they have passed and a little bit about a man with some unique creatures at home.

Enjoy!

Samantha Hurst Editor

On the cover : Miss Georgiana Kitty stole the hear ts of our staff, as did many other animals within the pages of this special publication, but only one could end up on the cover.

The proud owner of Miss Georgiana Kitty is Cindy Page Atkins of Columbus.

Atkins’ husband, Calvin, purchased the cat as a Christmas gift. This photo was taken in December when she was 4 months old.

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

contents Pet photos

3, 17 and 28

Choosing the right pet

6

Living with reptiles

9

Prevention top priority

12

What’s in a name?

14

Foothills Humane Society

20

Taking on Special Cases

22

Treating your furry friend

24

Remembering pets

26

Pet treat recipes

30

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Foothills Humane Society trainer, Kayla Parrish with her dog, Benjamin. (photo submitted by Judith Kerns)

Choosing just the right pet for your family

by Samantha Hurst

Squeaky spinning wheels at night and crumbling, torn drywall are just two dilemmas new pet owners face when they make the wrong decision about what pet to chose for their home.

“People, I think, don’t really understand the commitment they are making,” said Foothills Humane Society trainer Kayla Parrish. “A lot of people choose pets for the absolute wrong reasons – because it was cute in a picture or it reminds them of their childhood dog. Those things don’t necessarily make for a good owner-pet relationship.”

Parrish recommends eval-

“People, I think, don’t really understand the commitment they are making.”

-- Kayla Parrish

uating your household before getting roped into a purchase.

She said prospective pet owners need to consider things like the size of their home, whether members of the household live active or sedentary lives and how much time their schedule can allow for pet care.

Kim Burrell at the Pet Gallery in Landrum regularly sells parakeets, cockatiels, fish, rabbits and lizards, among other animals.

She said many of these

animals can make great pets, but just like a cat or a dog, some can require a considerable amount of attention and care.

“If you are getting a handfed bird you are going to have to spend a lot of time because all they’ve ever known is being fed by people,” Burrell said. “If you get a tarantula, though, there isn’t a lot of time you have to spend with that. A small betta that stays in a bowl would be good for a child that’s 7 or 8 years

old because they also don’t require a lot of work.”

Burrell said you should also consider potential allergies. She said someone who is allergic to cat or dog dander might also find themselves sensitive to hamsters as well.

The cost of pet ownership is also something to keep in mind. Typically people might do the bare minimum but that isn’t all there is to it, Parrish said.

You have to be prepared for emergency medical bills or regular heartworm prevention treatment, she added.

Even once you and your (Continued on page 7)

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• Right pet (continued from page 6)

family have thoroughly discussed all of your needs and wants for an animal, Parrish warns again against letting pure emotion or excitement drive your decision.

She encourages parents not to bring their children on the first visit to meet the animal because children’s immediate reaction to a particular animal could skew a parent’s decision-making process.

“When you are picking out a puppy from a litter there are a lot of things you have to look out for,” she said. “The puppies that usually run right up to you and grab at your shoelaces are the kind that everyone takes home but that dog needs an active home with a strong leader. If you have a more calm household you need the puppy sleeping in the corner.”

She said if this is the case, the puppy stealing the toy is also the one that will push its owners boundaries.

Parrish said parents might

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

be surprised by her recommendation for families with children. She suggests families adopt pit bull puppies.

She said this breed is actually a really good dog for children because they don’t have as high pain reflexes and won’t nip at a child if he or she pulls the dog’s tail or ears when they are playing.

Parrish suggests parents not select a herding dog.

She said the herding breed will often try and chase the kids around the yard to herd them like they would sheep.

Parrish also suggested families seriously consider mutts as a viable option for their household pet.

She said many mutts are great family dogs because they are not bred for a specific purpose such as Labradors. Dogs that are bred for a mission, Parrish said, might often be found chewing drywall or knocking down fencing because they were meant to go out and hunt. She said when dogs do this they are trying to follow instinct.

(Continued on page 8)

Owner Jordan with her dog, Gus. (photo submitted by Judith Kerns)

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• Right pet (continued from page 6)

“A lot of these pure bred animals have an initiative bred into them and if you can simply find a good mix you don’t get a lot of that neuroticism or obsessive behavior,” Parrish said.

Burrell said many fish make great pets for youngsters because feeding the pellets each day can even serve as a tool to teach kids to count.

Animals like guinea pigs and rabbits are great, she said, because they are easily trained and cared for on a less demanding schedule than other pets.

Hamsters, meanwhile, could also be poor choices for really small children because of their natural habits – hamsters sleep during the day and tend to spin their wheels at night.

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

Tips for selecting a pet • Don’t bring small children with you to the shelter or pet store • Evaluate your home for considerations such as space and available time to commit to a pet • Consider whether you want a very active pet or one that will be happy with shorter walks and playtime • Think about the pet’s regular habits and ask questions such as: do these animals sleep well through the night? How much will they need to eat?

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Above: Chase Owens displays a snake several feet long to a group of kids at a birthday party this past winter. Right: Owens talks to the kids about his pet scorpion and also educates them about the difficulties of taking care of such exotic pets. (photos submitted).

Living with reptiles

by Leah Justice

When Chase Owens was about 6 years old, he started bringing lizards and small snakes inside his house to keep.

When he began bringing copperhead snakes inside, his father decided to educate him about keeping reptiles and took him to a pet store to buy a snake. A non-poisonous one, that is.

Owens now has made keeping and saving reptiles a lifestyle. Along with dogs, cats and

birds, Owens normally keeps between 20 to 30 different species of animals, ranging from pythons to iguanas, caimans, scorpions and spiders. He also has dogs, cats, a love bird and an umbrella cockatoo.

Owens, who lives in Landrum, said he loves all animals and as a little kid was fascinated with reptiles.

“When I was little I’d go outside and catch them (lizards and snakes) and as I got older

I got pet ones,” Owens said. “I started bringing home poisonous snakes. Copperheads. So my dad took me to a pet store and bought me a corn snake.”

Owens, who works with Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital and

works on the side showing his animals at events and children’s parties, has also saved many animals. He said many people think reptiles are cool pets to (Continued on page 10)

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• Reptiles

(continued from page 9)

have, but don’t realize the work involved in caring for such animals. He’s rescued numerous snakes, lizards, tortoises, spiders and many other animals from the brink of death.

Owens now takes those rescued species and tries to educate people, especially children, on how to take care of them and cautions children and parents about which species do not make good pets.

Owens said species that are not native to this area take a lot of work and attention.

He said people who do their research and know they can take care of an exotic pet should do so, but no one should get an exotic reptile without doing their research and speaking to someone who knows about reptiles.

Listening to someone at a pet store is not enough because they want to sell you the pet, he

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

cautions.

Many species must have a temperature-controlled environment. Owens keeps his animals in buildings and keeps certain ones in different environments.

Owens has several snakes, including reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons, ball pythons and boa constrictors with two of them as large as 16 to 18 feet in length and 100 to 200 pounds.

He keeps them in an 85 to 90 degree building.

He also raises food sources for his animals, including rodents and rabbits for the snakes.

Sometimes, his snakes might need to eat chickens, he said.

“I like to know my rodents are healthy,” said Owens. “There are a lot of diseases that reptiles can catch from rodents. Rodents are 10 times more work than a reptile. The biggest amount of work is keeping the food supply clean.”

Owens said his larger snakes need about 10 pounds of food a

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

“They can be enjoyable pets but you have to realize the bigger the reptile, the bigger the workload ... The biggest group of people buying exotic pets are kids.

And they don’t have the life experience to realize the amount of work it takes to keep a reptile happy and healthy.”

-- Chase Owens

week to keep them happy and healthy.

And keeping cages clean is very important as many reptiles get bacterial infections of the lungs and skin, he said.

“They can be enjoyable pets but you have to realize the bigger the reptile, the bigger the workload,” Owens said. “The biggest group of people buying exotic pets are kids. And they don’t have the life experience to realize the amount of work it takes to keep a reptile happy and healthy.”

Reptiles also live much lon-

ger than many people realize.

Owens said larger snakes can live well into their 20s, with smaller snakes living into their 30s. Caimans live into their 40s, alligators into their 60s or 70s and tortoises can live to 90 or 100 years old.

“I wish everybody would think ahead, do their research and think, do I have the time for this animal before purchasing,” said Owens.

Anyone wishing to see Owens’ animals at an event or party can email him at reptileparty@ live.com.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

C h a s e O w e n s d i s p l ay s h i s assortment of reptile pets during Jessie Emory’s birthday party. (photo submitted).

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Prevention should top pet owners’ priority lists

by Leah Justice

Local veterinarian Dr. Iain Fitch said pet owners should be vigilant about keeping their pets cool this time of year.

Fitch said during the summer months Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital sees dogs especially with heat strokes.

“It is a must they are kept in the shade and have access to plenty of water,” Fitch said.

“Dogs don’t sweat like people.”

Fitch said heat issues are one concern that some pet owners don’t pay close enough attention to, as well as heartworm prevention, vaccinations, getting older pets checked for diseases and spaying and neutering pets.

One suggestion for outside dogs during this time of year, Fitch said, is to keep a kids’ pool nearby for the dogs to not only drink water out of but to get in to cool off.

Fitch also said with dogs, it is very important to get them tested for heartworms and give them preventive medicines because it is a lot easier and cheaper to prevent heartworms than treat heartworms.

Vaccines are also very important, especially with two recent wild rabid animals.

Polk County has seen both a rabid fox and raccoon this year and others in surrounding

Tips for Pet owners • Buy a kiddy pool for outdoor pets to cool off in during summer months • First rabies shot is needed at 4 months old, then a booster at 1 year old and follow-up shots every three years thereafter • Rabies clinics are held regularly throughout Polk County to keep your pet’s shots up-to-date • Get blood work done regularly on aging pets to check for things such as liver disease or arthritis

counties.

NC state law requires rabies vaccinations be kept up to date.

Fitch said pets need to have their first rabies vaccine at 4 months old, then one year later and every three years thereafter. Plenty of rabies clinics are held throughout the year in Polk County.

Fitch said other concerns are spaying and neutering pets to keep down stray animals in the area.

“This county is lucky with

Dr. Iain Fitch examining a cat. (photo by Leah Justice)

the Foothills Humane Society,” said Fitch. “They have programs to get pets spayed and neutered at low costs. It

just solves so many problems.”

Another concern of Fitch’s (Continued on page 13)

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

“Animals hide discomfort well as a protective measure.”

-- Dr. Iain Fitch

• Prevention (continued from page 12)

is that pet owners get blood work done on aging animals.

He said liver and kidney issues can become common in older pets as well as arthritis and pet owners may not always know when their pet is sick or in pain.

“Animals hide discomfort well as a protective measure,” Fitch said.

Fitch is a veterinarian at Bonnie Brae in Columbus and does chiropractic care for horses and small animals. Different veterinarians there have different specialties and the hospital sees a variety of animals.

On occasion, Fitch said the hospital treats wild animals that have been injured, includ-

Dr. Fitch encourages pet owners to ensure their pets have routine check-ups and bloodwork as they age to check for liver disease or arthritis. (photo by Leah Justice)

ing otters, groundhogs, beaver and deer.

“That’s a lot of fun,” Fitch said. “That’s really gratifying that we can do that (help wild animals).”

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What’s in a name?

Usha Ashley Pobanz came up with a name she thought would fit her rescued kitten perfectly.

“Usha is Hindi meaning ‘dawn,’ but I named her after the princess demon, daughter of heaven and sister of night. I work at the humane society and one day after hours a guy shows up with a bucket telling us ‘this is the second one I’ve found this week!’ I peeked in and there was a 2-week-old terrified kitten. I felt so bad I took the kitten home ... she bit me several times and would viciously try to attack you if you came near her. Usha just fit her personality so well. I do have to say she still lives up to her name.”

Skoodles Lots of animals have unique names that originate from family jokes and favorite movie characters, but this cat earned its unique name from a loving 2-year-old. Brian Phillips said he’s not sure where his daughter came up with it, but Skoodles just stuck.

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Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

Sidney Lanier & Dobin P. McRatt

Amazing Grace Landrum resident Cathy Calure said Amazing Grace is a rescue dog that her family got in South Carolina.

“She is just so sweet and loving. She was 7 years old when we got her and for

whatever she went through she is just such a wonderful dog,” Calure said. “I just think of her snuggling right up against the neck of just about anybody who will love on her.”

Sidney Lanier and Dobin P. McRatt are the rescue dogs of Sally and Hugh Hursey.

“Sidney was just roaming up here as a puppy. When they said what’s his name I just pulled out Sidney Lanier, after the poet,” Sally said.

Sally and her husband took regular walks and would make up little stories as they walked with a character they called Dobin P. McRatt. Since their second rescue dog looks like a rat terrier, they felt the name would be perfect.

“They are both rescue dogs and just have such unique personalities so they needed unique names,” Sally said.

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McGill

The name McGill was destined to end up as the moniker of at least one animal in the Wright household. Jim and Kathy McGill of Tryon own five dogs, four of which are rescues.

But McGill, a Bernese mountain dog, was a puppy they purchased while living in

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Quebec.

While there, the Wrights lived on a street named McGill and would always joke about the Rocky Raccoon song by The Beatles.

“Her name was McGill, but she called herself Lill, and everyone knew her as Nancy.”

So therefore when the two met their sweet girl, McGill just stuck.

Pooh and QuBee Pooh and QuBee are the dogs of R.J. and Chuck Reeves. R.J. said QuBee is a show dog so her proper name is Queen Bee. But how the Reeves came about the name is quite comical.

“We were in Charleston and had walked out near where the boats were lined up to read the boat names.

UPS

But we just couldn’t find anything,” R.J. said. “Finally we walked over to King Street and saw this woman walk toward us in this wide-brimmed hat with peacock feathers … she even had this little dog at the end of a leash dressed just like her. Chuck goes, ‘Now isn’t that just the Queen Bee?’ And I said, ‘That’s it!’”

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Ash le y

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Casey: Patricia Roshaven

lexi: Shrom ce LaJoy

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lady: Chris Sumner

puffy Shrom

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Eddie: joe williamson

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saber: Ron & Sandy Peters

charlie: Shannon Slater

tuxedo: Brian Phillips

winston: Rocco Lionetti

smokey :

Crystal

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katie: Van a Bolling

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Community helps humane society reduce unwanted pet population

by Samantha Hurst

Walk inside many a business in the Foothills and you’re likely to find yourself greeted by the beloved shop pet, such as the ever-lovable Portuguese water dog at the Antique Warehouse in Landrum or the fuzzy, gray beauty of a cat at the Melrose Inn in Tryon.

Another testament to the love of animals in our area is the immense support shown for the Foothills Humane Society. And they do great work with the funds provided.

“It is exciting to live in a “No More Homeless Pets” community — one of the f e w i n t h e c o u n t r y, ” s a i d Society Director Dot Meyer.

“Foothills’ success has taken the efforts of the whole community, and we are a model for other communities. I am

Foothills HUMANE Society personally proud to be a part of this lifesaving team and to help people find the animals that are so important to their happiness and well-being.”

The shelter increased its live-release rate from 56 to 98.7 percent in just two short years, and since January 2010, 100 percent of all healthy and adoptable animals have been released.

Meyer attributes this success to the community’s support and the society making

every effort to better educate would-be pet owners on their responsibility to the pet population.

“Spay/neuter is our number one priority,” Meyer said.

“It is income qualified, and made possible by the generous donations of discounted services by our wonderful local vets Bonnie Brae, Landrum Vet and Cloverfield Vet.” In fact, since 1979 the society has helped low-income

owners afford more than 2,200 sterilization surgeries.

M o r e t h a n 6 0 0 w e r e p e rformed in 2010 alone.

More than 1,000 feral cats have been sterilized and returned since the catch, sterilize and release program began in 2007.

Two other key components are the society’s matchmaking and training programs for pet owners.

The first, Meyer said, helps families find the right pet to begin with (See “Choosing the right pet” on page 6) so those animals don’t end up back at the shelter.

The dog training classes also assist with obedience concerns, another failsafe to prevent the return of animals.

(Continued on page 21

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• FHS

(continued from page 20)

PROGRAMS: Foothills Adoption-Guarantee Shelter (one where every healthy, adoptable animal is placed).

It is not a no-kill shelter, where no “treatable, manageable” animal is euthanized.

Every effort is made to place temperamentally adoptable animals who are not healthy, but are “treatable or manageable.”

Shelter capacity is up to 75 cats and 55 dogs. Many more animals are served in the homes of foster families.

Owner support and overpopulation programs: • Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) is the area’s only subsidized spay-neuter program. SNAP provides a $15 co-pay spay-neuter

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

surgery or discounts at local participating veterinary clinics for low-income residents who would otherwise be unable to afford sterilization for their pets.

• “Fix Your Pit for Free” and “Moms with Litters” programs offer free sterilization to high-risk pet owners.

• “Keep ‘Em Home” provides medical, training, education, spay/neuter and food assistance for financially challenged owners who are considering relinquishing their pets.

Placement programs: • Return to owners when possible, including spay/neuter and education assistance.

• Foster homes to relieve shelter crowding, facilitate rescue, allow babies to “grow up,” provide needed rehabilitation and hospice fosters when appropriate.

• Shelter adoption - placement of adoptable animals to suitable homes.

• On the Road - off-site adoptions at various locations in the region.

FHS non-shelter programs: • Po’Kitties (a trap, neuter and return program for feral cats) traps, sterilizes and ear-tips free-roaming cats and assists feral cat colony caretakers.

• Foothills Rescue Assistance (FERA) finds homes for equines (and occasional farm animals) which have been abandoned or abused, and assists owners who are unable to care for their pets.

• Animal Cruelty Prevention and Investigation Support. Five certified FHS volunteer animal cruelty investigators assist the local animal control officer.

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FHS investigators also assist owners who have problems adequately caring for their animals. Supplies and equipment are also provided to the animal control officer to assist in the humane care of the animals. Cruelty case holds are boarded at Foothills’ shelter for nominal cost to assist enforcement efforts.

• Community Education and Outreach at local and regional adoption and other events. FHS sponsors community education programs, participates on local government animal advisory committees, pursues frequent public relations initiatives in the local and regional press with community groups and communicates through the newsletter, the website www.foothillshumanesocietyorg and the FHS and Po’Kitties Facebook pages.

Little mtn.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Batman

Taking on Special Cases

by Lennie Rizzo

For the purpose of this feature article, the Bulletin staff asked two questions of me.

Could I list some of my success stories and why do I do what I do?

Thank the Lord, the answer to the first question could fill this paper cover to cover for a week, so I’ll focus on the later.

Those who are frequent readers of my columns are well aware of my faith.

Though I leave preaching to others, I do not hide my lamp under the table. To paraphrase St. Paul, “We all have different

talents to serve the Lord.” With the Lord’s grace, help and hopefully approval, I have decided to be a voice for what I feel is His wonderful gift to us.

Before I retired to this area a little over five years ago, I had been dealing with animal behavior and care for the previous 20 years.

Upon retirement, I decided to work for and with the Foothills Humane Society to supplement my fixed income and to be close to my passion.

I had always been aware of (Continued on page 23)

Treasure

Freckles

Zippo

Sergio

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Hannah Belle

• Special Cases

Lord, “What can one man do?”

The answer I received (continued from page 22) in my heart was “You just do the abuse, neglect and downright what you can and I will help.” ignorance that befall many of Through the years I have used these pets. whatever talents the Lord has Still, the people I had dealt blessed me with to try and make with in the past were posi- a difference. tive and responsible owners That being said, it is you, all of who strived for the happiness you, who in one way or another help and well being of these pets. support my cause. It is you who are It was from these wonderful the angels that He has promised me. people that I acquired the name May God bless you all and as al“Uncle Lennie” and there are ways. Thanks for listening. many with whom I still keep in Editor’s note: You can read a contact. weekly column from Lennie Rizzo I wasn’t prepared to be hit like a on Fridays in the Tryon Daily ton of bricks when I began to expe- Bulletin. Rizzo brings stories to rience the stories of these animals readers regarding one of the many up front and personal. I literally Special Cases he works to fund wept and prayed on it asking the healthcare for on a regular basis.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Treating your furry friend to healthy snacks

by Samantha Hurst

Not many of us can turn down a little mid-afternoon nibble, so why deny your furry friend one either?

Several local pet enthusiasts believe, however, if you’re going to spoil your pet with a treat you should do so with a fresh, all natural option.

Cinda Austin, who sells homemade dog treats at the Columbus and Saluda farmers markets, sticks to natural items for her ingredients.

She said she found herself led to making the treats after personal experiences with her own animals. “ We h a d s o m e dogs that had skin allergies, so by eliminating a lot of the unnatural things that were in the other dog biscuits

we found the skin started clearing up,” Austin said. “We had another experience where our Great Dane ate a raw hide bone and he bloated.

The vet was able to save him but it still was a traumatic situation.

So, making these treats is basically about promoting the health of the dog.”

Austin makes her treats without artificial additives or coloring.

Austin uses organic whole wheat flour because she’s learned the whole grains help digestion in dogs She also keeps the treats sugar free and salt free.

“A lot of people don’t realize dogs aren’t supposed to have a lot of sodium,” Austin said. “I also try and eliminate the fat you might find in a lot of commercial treats.”

To replace the artificial sugars and salts, Austin said she makes a point of using ingredients already (Continued on page 25)

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• Treats

(continued from page 24)

packed with flavor.

Sweet potato and pumpkin, which have also been found to be good digestive aids, go into many of her items. She even makes sweet potato chews as replacements for rawhide chews.

Just like humans, Austin said, pets too have distinctive palates.

While many dogs seem to jump for joy at the all-natural peanut butter items she makes, her own shepherd snarls his nose at them. She also regularly uses cinnamon and honey to sweeten items.

“It’s just like small children – they know somebody made something special for them and that makes them happy,” Austin said.

Austin pointed out there is an assortment of information available on how to make homemade

Tryon Daily Bulletin / All About Pets

dog treats and even food on the Internet and in cookbooks found in many bookstores.

There are a few things you should stay away from, however, when mashing up a treat for Fido. Dogs should never be fed chocolate, of course, but they should also not eat grapes, avocados, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, persimmons or peaches, according to www. pets.webmd.com.

Find treat recipes on page 30.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

In memory of our beloved furry friends

by Barbara Tilly

The death of a pet is a heartwrenching experience regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately, few pets will outlive their owners, so it’s an experience most pet lovers will have to go through at least once.

Added to the emotional toll of the loss itself are the practical questions that follow: • Do you want your pet buried or cremated?

• If you decide to bury your pet, do you want to handle the burial yourself or would you prefer some help from a professional?

• If you decide to cremate your pet, who can handle that proce-

dure locally and what services are offered? Would you like the ashes returned to you, and if so, if what type of container?

• Would you like a marker to memorialize your pet?

For help in answering these questions, many people turn to their veterinarians, who are experienced in handling these situations and know the options for related services in the area.

According to Karin Flanagan of Landrum Veterinary Hospital, clients are given numerous choices in the event of a pet’s death.

They can take their pet home and handle the burial themselves, or (Continued on page 27)

Left: Chris Carroll of Carroll Woodcrafts Unlimited made this cross for a woman who wanted to memorialize her cat, Tomboy.

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• Memorials (continued from page 26)

they can choose to have their pet cremated.

Flanagan said Good Shepherd Pet Services in Greenville, S.C., typically handles Landrum Vet’s cremations. Owners can choose to have the ashes returned in a wide variety of containers, including urns, pendants and figurines. Alternatively, owners can choose to have their pet’s ashes sprinkled in Good Shepherd’s special memorial garden.

Mamar Pet Cremation Services in Mill Spring is another local business available to help families who have lost a pet. According to Mamar’s website (www.mamarcremation.com), the business offers several types of cremation services, including community cremations, after which ashes are spread in a pastoral setting, and private cremations, after which ashes returned to the owner. Families can also choose a cremation service attended by the

An urn, above, and a marker, right, memorialize beloved pets. Mamar Pet Cremation in Mill Spring offers both to pet owners. (source: www. mamarcremation.com)

pet’s owners and friends.

There are several options for pet transportation to Mamar. You can bring your pet yourself, Mamar can transfer your pet from a veterinarian’s facility or Mamar can pick up your pet from your home or other location. The business also offers a wide range of containers for your pet’s ashes, including figurines,

digital photo urns and framed photo urns. Burial markers and plates are also available.

Another possibility for owners who want to memorialize their pets is to commission local artists to create individualized works of art for them.

Chris Carroll of Carroll Woodcrafts Unlimited in Mill Spring

said he has created wooden plaques and caskets of various types, often inscribed with pets’ names and other images.

One of his clients was an elderly woman who wanted a cross to memorialize her pet cat.

“She was real attached to the cat,” Carroll said. “The cross I made helped make a closure for her.”

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Tryon Daily Bulletin  / All About Pets

merry: michael doty

rusty: david

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

lulu: john calure

andy: Chu ck & Helen Tr

mandy: Chuck & Helen Trevathan

angus: nick hol mbe

evathan

rg

Joshua G & Ast oldstein Joshuarid Sc G hm & Ast oldstid rid Sc ein hmid

u:

bal

ie: ozzelson n kim

stihl: billie lewis

e:

spik

Dyna: judith kerns

buckwhe at: Alexis Ph illips

a

lind

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Tryon Daily Bulletin  / All About Pets

Britt and Buck: judith kerns

Ken

scout: Harry Goodheart

r: Baxte Hugh n Flyn

buford : Ellen

rockii: Jeanette Larson

mojo:

Ron and Sandy Peters

lucy: Rolf e Wardne r

louie Busc : h

munchkin: Harriet Case

page

Flynn

Papillion: Debra Halborn

butler: Belynda

blu:

Lisa & Mike Stokes

hootiekatt: cindy page

Rocky:

judith kerns

bravo: Ron and Sandy Peters

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Dexter’s Spinach Cookies Ingredients 4.5 oz. (125g) deep frozen spinach 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 3.5 oz. (100g) all-purpose flour 3.5 oz (100g) fine rolled oats water and flour as required

Directions Cook the spinach in a little water, then drain it thoroughly and puree in a blender. Mix the spinach puree with the remaining ingredients to make an

easily shaped dough. If necessary, add a little water or flour.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a baking sheet with baking parchment.

Shape little portions of the dough with a spoon and place them on the baking sheet.

Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes.

Let the spinach cookies cool on a wire tray and store in a cookie tin. The cookies will keep for about two weeks.

Makes about 40 cookies

Bonnie’s Banana Cookies Ingredients 2 carrots 1 banana 7 oz (200g) all-purpose flour 3.5 oz (100g) fine rolled oats 1.5 fl. oz. (50ml) sunflower oil water as required

Directions Grate the carrots finely and mash the banana with a fork. Mix to make a

dough with the flour, rolled oats, and oil.

If necessary, add a little water.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a baking sheet with baking parchment.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about .5” thick and cut squares about 1.5” in size. Place these on the sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let them cool overnight in the oven. Store in a paper or linen bag. The cookies will keep for about three weeks.

Makes about 30 cookies

Source: These recipes are from “Baking For Your Dog: Tasty Treats For Your Four-Legged Friend” by Ingeborg Pils.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011