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Webvet People & Pets Feed http://www.webvet.com/main/showArticles/page/11 This feed contains articles about People & Pets en-us Copyright 2009 Webvet, LLC 2009-11-07T11:20-05:00 advertise@webvet.com advertise@webvet.com People & Pets hourly Puppies Behind Bars: Prison pups help prisoners help others http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2261 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2261">Puppies Behind Bars: Prison pups help prisoners help others</a>   Set in the lush New York City suburb of Westchester County, the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility -- New York State's largest women's prison and its only maximum-security prison for women -- has housed many infamous prisoners. But there is a more positive and inspiring aspect to the Bedford Hills prison that most people are unaware of: <a href="http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/">Puppies Behind Bars</a> (PBB), an extraordinary program that allows inmates -- many of them serving long prison sentences for violent crimes -- a chance to turn selected <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1903" target="_blank" title="Training puppies">puppies</a> into highly trained <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1469" target="_blank" title="Service dogs">service dogs</a> for the disabled, or explosive-detection canines for law enforcement. The program -- which started at Bedford in 1997 with five puppies -- now operates at six correctional facilities in the tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) area and boasts 377 canine graduates. <h4>Puppies and inmates: in it together</h4> Puppies chosen for the program live in the cells with their primary caregivers -- ‘puppy raisers' -- and attend classes administered by PBB. They also spend two or three weekends a month in the homes of 'puppy sitters,' so they can be exposed to things they won't experience in prison, such as the sound of a doorbell or a coffee grinder, or learning how to <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2003" target="_blank" title="Car safety for dogs">safely ride in a car </a>or walk down a crowded sidewalk. Inmates who wish to become puppy raisers must sign a contract with PBB outlining their responsibilities and providing that any inmate may be asked to leave for any reason deemed appropriate by PBB. Requirements for participation in the program are strict, and include mandatory attendance at weekly puppy class as well as successful completion of reading assignments, homework, and exams. The puppy raiser must always put the needs of the puppy before his or her own, must be able to work effectively as a member of a team, and must be able to give and receive criticism in a constructive manner.         The puppies live in the prison for 16 months, after which they are tested to determine their suitability for training as service dogs for the disabled or explosive-detection dogs for law enforcement. The dogs judged to be suitable are returned to the schools where they continue their formal training. Those who don't continue on the working-dog track are donated by PBB to families with blind children. In either case, these dogs spend their lives as companions to people who need them. <h4>How it all began</h4> The PBB story began in 1990, after founder and now-president Gloria Gilbert Stoga and her husband adopted Arrow, a <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/263" target="_blank" title="Labrador Retriever breed information">Labrador Retriever</a>, from one of North America's most prestigious guide dog schools, <a href="http://donate.guidingeyes.org/site/PageServer">Guiding Eyes for the Blind</a>. (Arrow had been on his way to becoming a guide dog, but medical reasons required his release from the program.)  Stoga started doing some research and learned about the extraordinary effort and expense that goes into the training of service dogs -- in particular, the critical work of puppy raisers -- individuals or families who take specially bred, eight-week-old pups into their homes for a 16-month period and teach them basic obedience and socialization skills. Subsequently -- inspired by the work of Dr. Thomas Lane, a Florida veterinarian who started the first guide-dog/prison program -- Stoga left her job at New York City's Youth Empowerment Services Commission to found PBB. <h4>Changing Lives</h4> Both people and dogs are transformed by the PBB experience. The pups become highly trained, well-behaved animals with a mission. The inmate trainers who have raised them also change: the responsibility of raising a dog for a disabled person and the opportunity to give something back to society provide inmates with an avenue for personal growth that would not otherwise be open to them. As a result, they form deep and lasting attachments to the dogs, learning patience, responsibility, and how to work as part of a team; for many, the relationship with the animal they train is the most positive and satisfying one they have ever had. As Stoga explained, the puppies have affected the lives not only of their puppy raisers, but also of virtually all the inmates and staff at the prison: "One of our particularly sensitive pups goes to several different areas of the prison: the 16- and 17-year-old inmates play with her; domestic violence classes use her to get the women to open up and talk; and she even visits inmates who are about to go before the parole board, for it has been found that her presence has a calming effect on the women." <h4>Serving those who have served us</h4> Recognizing the special contribution and sacrifice of those who have served in the U.S. military, PBB established a special program to provide service dogs to veterans returning home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who have suffered a physical injury, traumatic brain injury, or who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Designated "Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who've Served Us," the program provided its first specially trained dog to Sergeant Bill Campbell, an Iraq veteran who suffers from serious PTSD, a life-altering condition that is characterized by panic attacks, severe depression, memory loss, nightmares and fear of public places. Campbell's Dog Tags-trained companion, Pax, reminds him to take his daily medications, alerts him to approaching strangers, and responds to the command "Block" by placing his body between Campbell and an approaching individual. <h4>From behind bars . . . freedom</h4> Though PBB's puppies start out behind bars, they make their way into the wider world, where they bring love, security, and -- ironically -- freedom to those they serve. By Yona Zeldis McDonough for WebVet By Yona Zeldis McDonough for WebVet People & Pets Dressing up your dog for Halloween http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2255 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2255">Dressing up your dog for Halloween</a>   Halloween costumes for dogs (and some cats) are growing in popularity, and Kim Browning is ready. By mid-October, she had already picked out a Halloween costume for her dog  Harley, an 18-month-old yellow <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/263" target="_blank" title="Labrador Retriever breed information">Labrador Retriever.</a> "A 'boo' cape,'' she said, ''almost like a Dracula cape. It's orange, with "boo!" spelled out in black letters, and a skull insignia. "He likes it," Browning said. Browning works as a marketing manager in Petco's San Diego headquarters, so she has easy access to Halloween costumes for dogs--and employees are of course encouraged to dote on their dogs. But she's not the only one planning to dress up her dog for Halloween. Sales of Halloween costumes for dogs (and also cats) are ahead of last year, even given the economy, Browning said. Part of that uptick, she suspects, is that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. But not all of the appeal is the weekend holiday. In recent years, dressing up the dog for Halloween has been gaining in popularity among pet owners, spurred partly by contests. A Savannah, Ga., television station is hosting its third annual ''Dress Up Your Pet for Halloween" contest. A hotel in Scottsdale, Az., has a costume contest for pets with prizes that include hotel stays. Petco pet owners are invited to submit a photo in their costume and explain why they chose that look. A dog bakery in Portland, Mich., has a Halloween costume contest for dogs judged by the mayor. . Dressing up the dog (or cat) for Halloween is typically harmless fun, and understandable, according to Bonnie Beaver, DVM, a past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station. "It's a fun thing to do," she said. But she quickly added a caveat:  "Not every pet will tolerate it." There's no way to predict whether certain breeds or ages or individual dogs will warm to Halloween costumes, says Richard Polsky, PhD, a Los Angeles-based certified applied animal behaviorist. His purebred <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/332" target="_blank" title="Standard Schnauzer breed information">Standard Schnauzer</a>, Obi-Wan, has been known to dress as the devil, complete with padded red horns, while Polsky's rescue <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/189" target="_blank" title="Border Collie breed information">Border Collie</a> mix, Swoozy, makes a fetching princess. But there are some caveats and tips to know about dressing up the dog for Halloween: <ul class="unIndentedList"><li> Try a test run before investing in a costume. ''Dogs are individuals, just like people," Polsky said. "Some dogs don't mind at all. Other dogs will resist." Beaver and Polsky suggested introducing the idea gradually by trying a hat or small T-shirt on the dog first. ''Put a hat on [your pet] and take it off again,'' Beaver suggested. "Give them a treat."</li><li> The younger you start, the better. Browning began to dress up her Lab Harley while he was a young puppy. ''If you dress your dog earlier in their life, they will become accustomed to it," she said.</li><li> Consider your dog's personality before you dress it up for Halloween. If you have a dog who doesn't particularly like people other days of the year, think twice about dressing the dog up in costume and letting the kids take him trick-or-treating, Beaver said. For more on aggressive dogs and children, click <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1964">here</a>.</li><li> Even if your dog is fairly social, consider the stress it may experience by seeing your kids or others in costumes. The family dog may not recognize your kids and may become fearful or aggressive, Beaver said. If the dog does go along trick-or-treating, double check that it has its ID attached in case it gets spooked and runs.</li><li> Don't force it. "There isn't anything inhumane or improper about putting a costume on your dog," Polsky said. ''But if a dog shows resistance, take the thing off."</li><li> If your dog likes the dress-up idea, and you want it to be in the ''in crowd,'' know the top Halloween costumes for dogs, Browning suggested. The top 10 list, she said, includes pumpkin, devil, bow ties and fancy collars, witch, super dog, princess, bat, dog of a different breed (than the one wearing the costume), angel and bumble bee.</li></ul> So, by all means, do include your pet in your Halloween festivities, but remember: your pet is an individual, too. Keep that in mind, and you'll both have a howling Halloween! By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet People & Pets "Rescue Ink" group saves animals in distress http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1967 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1967">"Rescue Ink" group saves animals in distress</a> Rescue Ink, a tough-as-nails group of working men, makes "visits'' to people suspected of abusing pets. "We get calls from concerned neighbors,'' said Robert Missari, a Brooklyn native, "and then we go out and knock on doors.''Muscled and tattooed, these guys have a Don't-Mess-With-Me look. Some people assume they're a street gang. At the sight of them, young toughs have been known to scurry down the street. Although they look menacing, they will leave you alone -- unless you are harming an animal.The group formed last year after a dog named Maximus was tied to a tree on Long Island and set on fire. "I wanted to scream in rage,'' said Missari, livid that anyone could inflict such pain on a living creature. He called some pals -- mechanics, trades workers, military veterans, including some trained in martial arts. "I said, 'Let's go find this guy.'''Since then, Rescue Ink has helped liberate hundreds of dogs from abusive surroundings. The group has 11 members, mostly powerful men with big biceps, colorful names - "Big Ant'' and "Johnny O'' - and hearts that melt for pets in distress.<h4>Awful conditions</h4>In some cases, they find dogs left outside without shelter in icy conditions. They find animals who are being starved, tortured or caged in dark closets. Abuses are often tied to the practice of dog fighting involving pit bulls. These dogs, sometimes stolen, are used as bait in vicious street fights in which observers bet on the outcome."They're doing horrendous things to these dogs,'' said Missari, who often volunteers three or four nights a week for Rescue Ink.The group cooperates with the police and animal control authorities. But unlike some other agencies, Rescue Ink finds foster and adoptive homes for the abused animals. When animal control removes a dog from a bad situation, the animal may have to be put down. For that reason, animal control workers often call Rescue Ink, which sends the animals to Save-A-Pet shelter in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island.<h4>They don't mess around</h4>Rescue Ink sometimes builds doghouses for people who cannot afford to buy them. The group has even paid to buy dogs to remove them from abusive situations. On its <a href="http://www.rescueink.org/" target="_blank">Web site</a>, Rescue Ink features a group of grimacing, ornery-looking dudes with the message: "Caution -- Coming to an Abuser Near You.''These guys don't physically whip up on abusers. But if people who mistreat animals worry that these tough guys might get a little physical -- so be it."We're not a gang, vigilantes or social organization,'' the Web site explains, "but we do have that certain 'in your face' style when it comes to abusers.''In some cases, Rescue Ink has even worked to get emotional help for the abusers. Missari recounts a case in which Rescue Ink stood face-to-face with a mean-looking abuser who seemed ready for a confrontation. "Twenty minutes later, we're inside and he's crying about what he's done,'' he said.<h4>Expanding the mission</h4>Rescue Ink, which works mostly on Long Island, hopes to start chapters around the country. The non-profit group is trying to raise money to expand its mission. It operates with the donation of services from volunteers, including veterinarians. For its caseload, the group relies on telephone tips. "The phones don't stop ringing,'' Missari said. "Animal lovers are relentless. They call, call, call -- until something is done.''For that, plenty of abused animals are grateful, including Missari's own beloved Hale, a Lab mix who was being kept in a darkened closet and used as prey for dogs being trained to fight.Some vets said the dog could not be saved. But Missari would not give up. After six months of therapy, Hale is doing better. "He's a great dog now,'' Missari said. But he still cannot be around other dogs -- a legacy of the psychological scars from being tortured.Because of the sadistic treatment he received by the bad guys, Hale will probably always fear other dogs. There are plenty of bad guys out there harming dogs, but they had better beware. Missari and his pals at Rescue Ink are out looking for them. By Dirk Johnson for WebVet By Dirk Johnson for WebVet People & Pets Hail to the First Puppy - UPDATE The Obamas welcome Bo, their new Portuguese Water Dog puppy, into the White House http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2106 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2106">Hail to the First Puppy - UPDATE The Obamas welcome Bo, their new Portuguese Water Dog puppy, into the White House</a> UPDATE!  A few months back WebVet was one of the first to announce the top contenders of the future Obama family pooch (full story below).  We're happy to announce that Senator Edward M. Kennedy recently gave the Obama family a <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/299" target="_blank" title="Portugese Water Dog">Portuguese Water Dog</a> puppy as a gift; Senator Kennedy owns several Portuguese Water Dogs himself.  The dog (named Bo) is a nonshedder, which was a prerequisite for the Obama girls who suffer from allergies. <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/299" target="_blank" title="Portugese Water Dog">Portuguese Water Dogs</a> are also know for being loyal, affectionate, good with children, and easy to train.  We wish all the best for the Obama family and their new family member, Bo.Read the first report on other breeds that were in the running to be the latest 'First Dog' shortly after President Obama's election: There is no such thing as a free lunch, or a hypoallergenic dog. President-elect Barack Obama has told his young daughters, Sasha and Malia, that they will have a puppy in the White House. In his victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago, the newly elected Obama said, "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."Along with the wars, the sagging economy and energy issues, the selection of the dog for Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, is complicated."With respect to the dog,” Obama said in his first press conference, "this is a major issue. [There are] two criteria that have to be reconciled.”One is that Malia "is allergic, so (the dog) has to be hypoallergenic."  (Hypoallergenic means a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic response.)The other is that "our preference would be to get a shelter dog,” pointing to the possibility of a mixed breed, or, as Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, said, "a mutt, like me." Everyone is a critic. (Even as Obama was trying to be PC, some multi-racial people howled at the use of the word “mutt.”) And everyone has an opinion.The <a href="http://www.akc.org/index.cfm" target="_blank">American Kennel Club</a> urged the Obamas to get a hypoallergenic dog, such as a <a href="http://webvet.com/breeds/show/id/298" target="_blank">poodle</a>, a low-shed breed. And the Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy in Lima offering the Obama girls a Peruvian hairless -- a bald, hairless -- and toothless -- breed as a healthy choice. <h4>No such thing as hypoallergenic breed</h4>But experts on allergies and dogs say there are no hypoallergenic breeds. Milwaukee-based Allergy, Asthma & Immunology said in a statement: “It is a common misconception that people are allergic to a dog's hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction. However, allergies to pets are caused by protein found in the animal's dander (dead skin cells), saliva or urine.”Dr. Anne Marie Ditto, an allergist/immunologist at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, said proteins are carried through the air and inhaled, triggering the allergic reaction.Ditto said even low-shed breeds expose people to some dander. She noted that research has shown that danders are everywhere, even in buildings where there are no dogs or cats. She noted that cat danders were even found on an island that was cat-free.Still, the Obama girls need not fret. They should maintain their father’s audacity of hope. There is a way for them to get the dog of their dreams.<h4>Lowering exposure to dog allergens</h4>Steps can be taken so an allergic person can live together with a dog in peace. Ditto said avoidance measures are the first line of treating allergies.Ditto and Dr. Susan Aiello, a veterinarian in Dayton, Ohio, offered some tips to the Obamas and to other families who have members who are allergic to dogs:Low-shed dogs can help. Also, Ditto said a smaller dog has “less surface area,” thereby “theoretically” reducing danders. So it may help to steer clear of a large breed, such as a Saint Bernard or German shepherd. Aiello said poodles and terrier breeds are good choices, and that a “goldendoodle,” favored by the Obama girls, could pose a problem unless it happened to have more poodle than golden shedding patterns.<ul><li>Wash the dog weekly. Aiello said this removes and controls danders. She said to use shampoos formulated for dogs, and not human dandruff shampoos that can irritate a dog’s skin. She said a rinse conditioner, again formulated for dogs, also is in order to damper down the dander and keep the dog’s skin healthy.</li><li>No dogs allowed in the bedroom. Ditto said people spend most time at home in the bedroom, so if dogs don’t go there, the dander load is reduced. Animal dander collects on pillows, leading to worsened symptoms at night and morning. Use covers on pillows and mattresses.</li><li>Wash bedding and clothing in hot water. While animal allergens are not easily removed by high temperatures, it may help. A hot wash will help with allergies and dust mites. Ditto jokes about the dog being the pet you want, vs. dust mites as “the pets you don’t want.”</li><li>Replace carpets if you can with hardwood or other solid-surface flooring for easy cleanup. “It’s hard to get danders out of the carpet -- hardwood floors are easier to clean,” Ditto said. Aiello said vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters can help in areas where there are carpets, such as the one with the Great Seal in the Oval Office. You can also use HEPA filters as standalone devices or on a central heating/cooling system to reduce the dander load. </li></ul> By Howard Wolinsky for WebVet By Howard Wolinsky for WebVet People & Pets The dog who saved a family http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1997 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1997">The dog who saved a family</a> It was almost a decade ago. My parents and I were suffering terribly as a result of an estrangement from my only sibling and his family and I just couldn't handle Christmas alone.I had only been dating my Rob for a few months and he wasn't yet a regular fixture at holidays. No matter how hard I tried, and believe me I tried, I wasn't big enough or loud enough or entertaining enough to fill the hole they left. I just couldn't take up enough space.I needed a dog.My parents, my dad especially, have always adored dogs. Two mutts had the run of the house throughout my childhood and the younger had finally died at eighteen years of age the previous summer.Mom felt sure Dad was ready for another and gave her blessing for me to pick one out at The Toronto Humane Society and surprise him with it at Christmas. Get a smaller dog, she advised. Something sweet and low-maintenance.And that's what I intended, I swear.But we can't help who or what we fall in love with.A pit bull-German shepherd-doberman mix (we think), he had been living at the shelter for more than three months. There was a letter taped to his cage, written as if by him, begging someone to give him a chance. I gathered from the shelter staff that his days were numbered.I had to have him.I took him home to my little downtown house and while he wildly raced around and around I called my mom to advise her that I found a dog that was a little different from what we discussed, but nonetheless, perfect.And he was perfect, in his way. From the moment a few days later when I dropped him onto my blindfolded Dad's lap and shouted Merry Christmas!, he was a perfect diversion from the sadness that back then hung like a heavy cloud in my parent's house.Hercules became his name and he was incorrigible. He chewed everything he could find. He climbed the kitchen table and gobbled bread baskets and pounds of butter. He ate a whole raw chicken my mother was prepping and threw it up an hour later. He was so excitable that a playful tone of voice would send him bouncing on all four legs, three or feet into the air. He was so hyper that my father was often forced to wrestle him to the ground, hold him there and coo softly in his ear, imploring him to relax and calm down.Hercules did calm down as time went on. He became intimately attached to my father. He insisted on sitting on his lap, burrowing into chest and tucking his head under his chin and to this day he wails and cries like a baby when left alone. Dad takes him everywhere; flying him into his fishing camp and letting him ride shotgun in his pick-up truck on morning coffee runs when he is treated to a donut hole daily.Everywhere they go people stop them. "What kind of dog is that?" they say. "That's the weirdest looking dog I've ever seen."And Dad puts his hands over Herc's ears. "Don't listen to them Hercie." he says. "You're a fine-looking dog."It seems silly to make some kind of dramatic proclamation or put a cheesy movie-of-the-week title to this story, a la The Dog Who Saved A Family!But in a lot of ways I think he did.Hercules made us laugh and gave us something to talk about that Christmas and we needed that. In the days that followed he made my parent's house a noisy place to be, a busy place to be and they needed that even more.He gave my parents something to focus on during a very dark period of their life. He was so grateful for their love, so overjoyed to be in their presence, so friendly and accepting of everything and everyone in their world that it was impossible not to be infected by his happiness.And when the rift with my brother and his children began to mend Hercules and his boundless energy was there to break the ice and relieve the tension: no one could refuse him a smile, no one was unmoved by his enthusiasm.Today my parent's house, being on the lake, is a gathering place for my family and friends and my brother and his children and their friends. Summers especially are a whirlwind of flying and boating and barbecues and laughter and fun.Hercules is there too of course. Old and grey and grizzled now, he'll join in the fun if asked, but mainly sticks close to my father's side. And in my typical, cheesy, movie-of-the-week way I'll always think of them both as the glue that continues to keep our home and our family together. By Don Mills Diva for DivineCaroline.com By Don Mills Diva for DivineCaroline.com People & Pets We don't choose our pets http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1996 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1996">We don't choose our pets</a> When my husband and I started dating in 2001, he realized early on that if we were going to get married, I came as a package deal with my two cats. I had been married once before, and my aunt, also a cat-lover, swore it didn’t work out because he was allergic to cats. “How could you have even married him in the first place?” she joked. As soon as I moved out, and months before the divorce was even final, I began my search for a cat. Little did we know that we don't always choose our pets; they choose us. I ended up adopting a beautiful torte calico, whose presence in my little apartment eased so much of the pain of divorce. She had come from my mother and stepfather, who had one too many animals and weren’t able to give her the attention she constantly craved. A few months later, I adopted Ajax, a black and white “tuxedo” cat, the neediest but most lovable kitty I have ever met. Ajax came from a friend’s older brother who had adopted a huge dog that terrified and terrorized poor Ajax. Each night I would crawl into bed and Jasmine would hop up and snuggle into one side of me with my arm around her. Ajax would either take the other side or sleep right on my chest with her paws up by my chin. Both of my cats came to me when I needed them, and they needed me. Many of the men I dated before meeting my husband didn’t seem too thrilled with my companions. “The rats” was the term used by one of them. He didn’t last. Maybe they were secretly afraid that I would keep adopting cats and become the Crazy Cat Lady—the one where the neighborhood children would walk by my house and say, “Dude, don’t go into her yard. She’s the Crazy Cat Lady.” My husband, however, was unfazed. He put up with the cats walking across him in the middle of the night, and Jasmine, showing her jealousy and distaste in having to share me, regularly put her back end in his face. He just joked about it, knowing that they were my babies.After we were married, my husband and I paid for two surgeries for Jasmine to have stones removed from her bladder. She never fully improved, and he was with me when we sat in the vet’s office and made the decision to have her put down. He held my hand as I stroked her head and watched the light go out of her eyes as the drug made its way through her system. He held me when I sobbed. I have never been a dog person, but I agreed to look for a dog for us, as he had wanted a dog for some time. Unfortunately, we didn’t do a lot of research, and we had two “false starts” with dogs that were too high energy for me to deal with and scared Ajax to death. I had no idea how much work dogs were. I had no idea the time and training involved to have a well-behaved animal. I had no idea how different breeds meant different quirks. Two more “dogless” years went by, and once some of the craziness with our own children settled down, we decided that we might be ready to try again. Ajax was still in the picture, and we knew we had to carefully choose a dog that would be gentle with our young children and my beloved cat. We looked into different breeds and decided on English Springer Spaniels, the very breed of dog my husband had growing up. We put in paperwork with the rescue group, and waited for a phone call. Meanwhile, my friend came over to visit, and told us of a good friend going through a divorce who had to find a home for her dog as she was moving into a small condo. We agreed to meet the dog, a nine-year-old golden retriever named Ben.From the moment Ben and I looked each other in the eyes, I knew he was coming home with me to stay. He looked old, wise, and very sad. I could tell that this dog had a good soul. He patiently let my children climb all over him, and he stared quietly and calmly at Ajax, making no move toward her. He lay at my feet and sighed, then fell asleep and dreamed his doggie dreams. I never thought a dog would be able to calm my nerves or tug at my heart strings, but after two days with Ben, he felt like a member of the family.  My husband calls Ben my “starter dog.” Maybe with a good dog experience I will be ready for more. I know I will always be ready for more cats too. One day when my children are gone and I’m old and gray, maybe I will be the Crazy Cat Lady. I do know one thing for sure—we won’t choose the pets we will have; they will choose us. By Erin Coates for Divine Caroline By Erin Coates for Divine Caroline People & Pets These pictures are worth a thousand homes http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1975 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1975">These pictures are worth a thousand homes </a> Sheri Berliner photographs homeless pets at animal shelters and posts their portraits online in a quest to get them adopted. The 46-year-old barks like a dog to get a pooch to pay attention as she snaps her camera."I make a lot of funny noises,'' Berliner said. "I imagine they're wondering, 'Just what is she doing?'''What Berliner is trying to do is find them a home."I put them in a studio setting so they look like objects of art instead of creatures in a cage,'' Berliner said. "I do it as if I were photographing a wedding.''Berliner posts the pictures on two Web sites, 1-800-save-a-pet.com and petfinder.com, and writes a brief story about each orphaned animal. She reaches out to an e-mail contact list of some 4,000 people.<h4>It's working</h4>Her work has led to countless adoptions. "I'll get notes, sometimes years later, from people telling me how happy they are with their pets,'' she said. "But I'm the one who is grateful to them for giving the animals a chance.''Berliner started her enterprise, Petraits For Pets, in 1995. She also photographs "happily spoiled, well-cared-for animals.'' A graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in photojournalism, Berliner is the full-time manager of publications for a Chicago railroad tank car manufacturer.Her passion for homeless animals dates to nearly 20 years ago, when she overheard a co-worker mention casually that her husband was going to come home that evening and drown a litter of stray kittens.At the time, Berliner had no pet -- not even a thought of having a pet. "In fact, I came from a family of cat haters,'' she said. But she was appalled by the idea of such brutality."Can I come and take a look at them?'' she asked the co-worker. "That night, I came home with a box of kittens.''The last of them still living, Bugsy, is now 19, and sleeps on Berliner's pillow every night.<h4>A rescue-filled home</h4>Berliner now shares her home with seven cats, two dogs, a bird, and a rabbit -- all of them rescues. At the moment, she also has a foster dog. She routinely takes home animals until she can find a good home for them.Two weeks ago, she took a dog from a shelter in Terre Haute, Ind., a collie mix that had been living in a car with a homeless man and a beagle. After a fight with another dog, the collie wound up in a shelter. The homeless man retrieved the dog. But not long afterward, the collie was found on a highway guarding the body of the dead beagle. Nobody knew what happened to the homeless man. Berliner find a home for the dog, Champ, who was adopted "by a wonderful couple.''<h4>Finding the right home</h4>While so many homeless animals go unwanted, people often line up to adopt the adorable dog or cat Berliner has photographed. When deciding where a pet should go, she tries to put herself in their paws. "If I were this dog, where would I want to go?''Berliner finds homes for all kinds of animals: three-legged, one-eyed, elderly.For every two hours Berliner shoots, she spends another four hours editing and writing the stories. Besides her regular job, she spends time on little else.When she photographs the animals, she always brings treats. Bits of liver, she has found, tends to work very well.The job is not without its occupational hazards. Berliner has been bitten and scratched in the line of duty.But the biggest challenge, she said, "is trying to get them not to pee on my backdrop.''Photo courtesy of Sheri Berliner. By Dirk Johnson for WebVet By Dirk Johnson for WebVet People & Pets Dog aggression toward kids http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1964 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1964">Dog aggression toward kids</a> Dog aggression is a reality, even though  in millions of American households, a dog is very much a member of the family. Parents are often motivated to get a dog by the desire to provide their children with a playmate and companion, and to encourage them to take on the responsibility of caring for another living creature. Unfortunately, domesticated dogs sometimes turn on a child and inflict injuries serious enough to require medical attention. Understanding why dogs can become aggressive and turn on kids can help you to prevent it from ever happening, and keep everyone safe.<h4>Some sobering statistics</h4>In a May 14, 2008, press release announcing the 2008 Dog Bite Prevention Week, Gregory S. Hammer, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), reported that "every year, approximately 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites, and half of these victims are children.'' According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2004, an estimated 333,700 people received <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1389/med/0" target="_blank">dog bites</a> serious enough to require treatment in a hospital emergency room. Of those treated, approximately 6,000 (1.8 percent) were hospitalized. The AVMA's report "Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions'' estimates that hospital expenses nationwide for dog bite-related emergency visits total $102.4 million annually.Perhaps of most concern is the fact that 42 percent of dog bites occurred among children ages 14 or younger, with the injury rate highest for those ages 5 to 9.A study of more than 3,000 school children in Pennsylvania showed that 45 percent had been bitten by a dog at least once in their lifetimes, and of those, 30 percent were bitten by their own dogs.<h4>Veterinarians respond</h4>The scope and persistence of dog aggression toward children have drawn the attention of the veterinary community, and especially of those vets with expertise in animal behavior.At the recent <a href="http://avma.org/" target="_blank" title="AVMA">AVMA</a> annual convention in New Orleans, Ilana R. Reisner, DVM, an animal behavior specialist, gave a presentation on the subject of canine aggression toward children.Citing a number of studies, Reisner identified certain factors that seem to correlate with the likelihood of a dog attack on a child, both in terms of the characteristics of the offending dog and of the child victim.<h4>Risk factors -- from the dog's side</h4>Reisner emphasized that any <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/list?type=Dog" target="_blank" title="dog breed directory">breed of dog</a> can become aggressive, depending on its particular disposition, medical conditions, and whether it is provoked in some way. However, some generalizations are possible:<ul><li>German shepherds, rottweilers, cocker spaniels, golden retrievers, and English Springer spaniels are involved in bites more often than other breeds. </li><li>When the statistics are further analyzed, it turns out that pit bull terriers and their mixes, German shepherds, rottweilers, and chow chows tend to be involved in cases when the bites are more serious.</li><li>Male dogs are more likely to bite than female dogs, and males that have not been neutered are more likely to bite than those that have been neutered. According to the AVMA Task Force report, non-neutered males are involved in 70-76 percent of reported dog-bite incidents.</li><li>Most bites are inflicted by owned, as opposed to stray, dogs. </li><li>Many dogs that bite are "first-time offenders'' with no history of biting.</li></ul><h4>Risk factors -- from the child's side</h4>From the perspective of the child-victim, the generalizations are not surprising:<ul><li>Boys are bitten at twice the rate of girls.</li><li>Children ages 5 to 9 are bitten most frequently.</li><li>Children who own dogs are more likely to be bitten than those who don't.</li></ul><h4>So, for starters...</h4>Understanding these risk factors leads to some basic preliminary recommendations:<ul><li>When selecting a dog for a home with children, consider breed choice and sex carefully.</li><li>If your male dog is not neutered, consider having it neutered.</li><li>Be especially vigilant if you have a very young child in the home.</li></ul>Beginning with these statistics, we can move on to a more <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1972/med/0" target="_blank">complete understanding</a> of the complexities of canine psychology and child-canine interactions. Peter Lopatin for WebVet Peter Lopatin for WebVet People & Pets Keep kids safe from dog bites http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1972 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1972">Keep kids safe from dog bites</a> Safeguarding children from dog bites while at the same time nurturing the <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1566" target="_blank" title="Animals and Children">dog-child bond </a>requires an understanding of the reasons for canine aggression toward children. To do that, we have to get into the mind of the dog and try to see the child from the dog's point of view.When we take that leap of imagination, we can see that <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1964" target="_blank" title="Canine agression towards children">canine aggression toward children </a>falls into certain widely recognized clinical categories. In a recent presentation at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.avma.org/" target="_blank" title="American Veterinary Medical Association">American Veterinary Medical Association</a> in New Orleans, Ilana R. Reisner, DVM, a specialist in animal behavior, identified those categories.<h4>Self-defense/fear-related aggression</h4>It is elementary dog psychology that if a dog feels threatened, he is likely to attack. Although we may find it difficult to imagine that a 50-pound dog would feel threatened by a cute 20-pound toddler, it's only because we know that the child is no threat to the dog. A dog is guided by its instincts. Unfortunately, a child's unpredictable, jerking movements, often loud and unfamiliar voice pitch, sudden running, or playful grabbing may signal danger to the dog and trigger a self-defense response.<h4>Resource-guarding</h4>People often forget that dogs are very possessive, whether it be toward toys, food, their beds, or even family members, and they will guard what they think is rightfully theirs, often quite fiercely. This "resource-guarding'' behavior is the dog's way of saying: "Hey, don't mess with my stuff!'' <h4>Territorial aggression</h4>Dogs are territorial animals. That is why they bark when a stranger approaches their home or when the doorbell rings. This territorial protectiveness generally increases if a dog is left alone for long periods of time with little stimulation. In a recent article that Reisner co-authored, study results showed that territorial aggression was the most common reason for dog bites to unfamiliar children.<h4>Conflict-related aggression</h4>If someone behaves toward you in a way that you find annoying or offensive, you will probably object. When a dog is annoyed or offended (yes, dogs can be offended), it will also object, sometimes by biting. Children often behave inappropriately toward dogs simply because they don't know, for example, that grabbing a dog's face, pulling its tail, or suddenly waking it from a deep sleep is not welcome behavior. <h4>Predatory aggression</h4>Although dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, they still have predatory instincts, albeit in varying degrees, and these instincts can sometimes be aroused. The danger is greatest to infants, who more closely resemble small prey animals. Breeds that seem to be particularly predisposed to such attacks include terriers, <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/321" target="_blank" title="Siberian Huskies">Huskies</a>, and <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/161" target="_blank" title="Alaskan Malamutes">Malamutes</a>. In addition, any dog that is accustomed to hunting and killing small animals is more of a danger to an infant.<h4>What you can do to protect your children from dog bites</h4>Now that we have a "dog's-eye view'' of children, we can get specific about how to minimize the chances that your child will be bitten. Here are some specific recommendations:<ul><li>Never leave an infant or small child unattended with a dog, even for a brief period.</li><li>A dog with a history of biting should be confined or restrained in the presence of small children.</li><li>Teach your children that unfamiliar dogs -- no matter how small, cute, or fluffy -- should not be touched or approached without adult permission.</li><li>Children should be taught to respect their pets; this includes not disturbing the pets while they are eating or sleeping, or while they are chewing or playing with a toy or bone.</li><li>Dogs should never be "cornered'' against a wall or furniture or in their resting places.</li><li>Children should avoid close face-to-face contact with any dog.</li><li>If confronted by a growling dog, children should be taught to walk away slowly and not to run.</li><li>Puppy owners should expose their young dogs to a variety of other pets as well as children of different ages. Familiarity reduces fear.</li><li>Dogs should not be left unattended outdoors for long periods of time.</li></ul><h4>Resources</h4>The AVMA is an excellent source of practical advice on this important subject. Their brochure, "What you should know about dog bite prevention,'' can be downloaded free of charge <a href="http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/dog_bite/dog_bite_brochure.asp#formats" target="_blank">here</a>. With a better understanding of the "dog's-eye view'' of things, you can empower yourself to significantly reduce the risk of harm not only to your own children, but to your neighbors' children as well. Peter Lopatin for WebVet Peter Lopatin for WebVet People & Pets