debbie's blog

I just read another article about the plight of puppies sold in pet stores, and now I'm so, sooooo heartbroken - again. These poor pups are forced into such tragic lives and it breaks my heart to imagine what happens to them when day after day, week after week and month after month they remain caged, confused and unwanted.

Pet store puppies do tend to come from puppy mills, not responsible breeders, just as you’ve been hearing and reading about more and more frequently. As Dogster.com writes, “Most dog lovers know about the often horrid conditions of puppy mills, the unregulated breeding facilities owned by disreputable breeders. Dogs are often bred far too frequently, are kept cramped together in squalor, and are not socialized with humans.” Simply reading and re-writing the above brings me close to tears! Rather than re-write any more than has already been written by Dogster, I’ll simply direct you to the article.

If you’re reading this, it’s a sure bet that I’m preaching to the choir. But, the reason I keep writing about this sad subject is to remind you to speak up each time you hear an uninformed person chatting about their plan to purchase a pet from a pet store; to remind you spread the word. If we all lend our voices to fighting the perpetuation of puppy mills, there is a good chance that one day we can take pride in our role in the legal abolishment of their existence… 

A month or so ago, the United States Post Office and the Humane Society of the United States teamed up to create stamps, cachets, and other merchandise featuring shelter dogs and cats.  The Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps feature the images of ten adopted pets, five felines and five canines, as a way to raise awareness about animal welfare.  The stamps are available for purchase through the mail and at your local post office and are part of an ongoing campaign called “Stamps to the Rescue.” They're available thanks to the active concern and support of numerous organizations. Over one million meals will be served to shelter animals because of their generosity. You’d better believe that before they were even available I pre-ordered a stash of Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps large enough to last me a lifetime (or at least until the next price increase)!

I'm a huge supporter of shelters and rescues, and am so happy to see that while puppies and kittens have traditionally been the animals most in demand, more and more people are discovering the joys of adopting adult and senior animals. As I've said and will keep right on saying, I have a big, ol’ soft spot for “the elderly,” so when I think adoption, I want to scream from the rafters, “ADOPT A SENIOR!” For those with their hearts set on a specific breed, the Humane Society attests that purebred dogs account for 25 to 30 percent of the population in shelters. Can you imagine that? The number of purebred rescue organizations for both dogs and cats is astounding, too. My breeder friends are going to kill me for saying this, but when you think about it, is there really any reason to buy a pet from a pet store or breeder when there are so many homeless dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters... ALL sorts of critters ready and waiting to find their forever homes? I'll let you answer that question.

Please show your support for shelters, rescues and animal advocacy groups. Help raise awareness about overpopulation and the importance of spaying and neutering pets.  Buy your The Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps today!

Summertime gives me plenty of reason to celebrate. Perhaps it's because I grew up overseas in the tropics that it’s never quite hot enough for me here in San Francisco. Frankly, it’s not even warm enough, let alone hot enough! Even though summer in San Francisco is much, much cooler than it is in other parts of the country, at least we do get that occasional, glorious burst of heat from time to time. Warmer weather brings us out of our homes and into our backyards and pool areas (I should be so lucky) to soak up the sun.  Opal and Dixie seem to sense my elevated mood when it’s nice and toasty out, and their spirits soar along with mine (not that their spirits aren’t high enough at any other time of year!)  That said, as much as they enjoy being outdoors and basking in the sun with me, they lose the energy they typically have to run and play, and they do become a bit lethargic after awhile. Despite my personal love of hot weather, I’m always aware that for Opal and Dixie, these heat waves bring their fair share of precautions.  Here are some things that I’m always vigilant of, and that you may want to think about as well:

Overheating, Dehydration, and Heat Stroke Can Happen Quickly

Too little shade and not enough water is a deadly combination.  Dogs and cats can get overheated very quickly.  As a result, their bodies may become dehydrated.  They may also get sunburned or suffer from heatstroke.  In severe cases, animals become too ill to survive their illness.

Here are five tips that can help your pets beat the heat this summer:

• When outdoors, give your pet a place to lay down in the shade.  Make sure that the area is comfortable and out of the way of direct sunlight.
• Make sure that your pet has access to fresh water at all times.  The average dog should drink 1 ounce or 30 milliliters of water per pound.  This increases during hotter months, and more so when an animal spends long period of time outdoors.
• If you keep your pet in a crate during the day, make sure that it is well-ventilated.  It’s nice to point a fan towards your pet’s crate if he or she seems hotter than usual.
• On car trips, keep a collapsible water dish handy.  Take frequent rest breaks to let your pet stretch out his or her legs and get a drink of water. 
• Never, EVER leave your pet in the car alone.  Temperatures rise quickly and can cause your pet to become ill or even die, even with a window cracked.  If your pet shows any signs of overheating, dehydration or sunburn, consult your Veterinarian right away.
• If you tend to "dress up" your pet in little t-shirts and sweaters, I'm not sure you really want to do this in hot weather. Animals are so much more hot-blooded than we are. That, coupled with their fur... well, think about it:  would YOU like to be wrapped up in a sweater when you're in 80 degree weather??

Treating Your Pet’s Summer Symptoms

If you suspect your pet is overheating or is panting hard and has white gums, quickly bring them in an area away from the sun.  Point a fan at them if one is available.  Run cool water over their body and stroke their fur.  Keep them calm by speaking softly to them.

If your pet is dehydrated, you can give them small amounts of water or electrolyte drinks.  If their symptoms worsen, seek medical help immediately.  Too much water can cause animals to vomit which actually heightens their dehydration.

Sunburns are no fun for humans or pets.  Colloidal oatmeal mixed with water soothes red, itchy skin.  Witch hazel takes the heat out of a burn while aloe cools skin and helps it heal faster.  Apply the chosen substance to the animal’s inflamed area several times daily, being aware of any allergies your pet may experience.

The raging summer sun doesn’t have to become your pet’s worst enemy.  Exercise caution when spending time outdoors with your dog or cat.  Think the same way you would when caring for yourself.  Frequent shady areas, hydrate often, and protect both your and your pet’s skin.

Lately, Little Miss Opal has been quite the rebel.  If we believe in the “dog age in human years” chart, she would probably be around 60 right now. This can typically be the age at which we humans may become a little rebellious ourselves, saying whatever we want to say when we want to say it, feeling it unnecessary to censor our words and actions because of how comfortable we’ve become in our own skin. My thinking, however, is that Opal is more teenager than 60-year-old, and given how healthy and active my girls are, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Being part lab, both Opal and Dixie are big sniffers; truffle pigs, zealously sniffing out those pricey gems buried in the ground. Unlike other dogs who march about with their heads held high, Opal and Dixie’s noses are constantly glued to the ground:  “Oh-oh-oh! Mud! Yummy!”  “Look! It’s grass! Snacktime!” “Hey, smell’s like Daisy’s left us a message here!” It doesn’t matter what they smell -- a smell is a smell is a smell, and if there’s a hint of one, their little snoots (otherwise known as snouts) are determined to identify it.

Best of all are Mondays. Each Monday morning when we arrive at the entrance to the dog park, the girls dart straight to the picnic tables. Two of Pavlov’s Dogs, they’ve learned that Monday = the day after a weekend, weekends = picnics, and picnics = leftovers and crumbs in abundance under the picnic tables. Yes, it’s true. They KNOW this. They don’t just smell it, they know it. No matter where we are, I always keep my eyes pasted to their “snoots,” ready to grab away whatever treasure they pick up. Despite my vigilance, however, every so often I miss the precise moment at which they pick it up. Whether or not it’s something particularly disgusting, I’ll screech to them, “Dixie, drop it!” “Opal! Drop it!” Now, Dixie will instantly drop whatever she’s picked up and run to me with her little tail thumping away, “See? See? I’m such a good, gooooood girl!”  Opal? Not so much. I could be rushing towards her at the speed of light, yelling until I’m practically hoarse, “OOOOOOOOPAAAAAAAAAAALLLL! DROP IT!” If I’m lucky, she’ll glance up and give me a “yeah, whatever” look. More often than not, though, I don’t even get the courtesy of a glance. After all, the cow dung caviar she’s gotten a hold of is far too engrossing to allow for distractions. When I reach her, grab her by the collar, yank her away and scold her (“No! Bad girl!”), my voice, words and actions bear absolutely no weight whatsoever. This is insultingly obvious to me as Opal happily thump-thump-thumps her tail, looking at me ever-so-innocently, and then merrily proceeding to stroll in another direction. Trust me – her hearing is perfect. I could be in Tasmania whispering in my little singsong voice, “Opie, treeeat!” and she’d charge towards the sea and start swimming to Tasmania. No, no – it’s not her hearing. She just knows that mama’s a pushover. She's really not my alpha. She isn’t dominant over me… except when it comes to ground goodies.

Oh, the power of Opal. She has me wrapped right around her little snoot.

Are you ready for your next outdoor excursion with your dog(s)?  Dogs are the perfect companions for jaunts through the wilderness, and often the perfect motivators to ensure that you keep up as you hit the trails! The trick is to tailor the trail to your dog’s capabilities rather than simply your own. Dixie, for instance has a bit more “go for it” than Opal, so we need to keep an eye on how comfortable and capable they are when we go on our adventures. We’re always prepared with a great, big water bottle, and we keep a close eye on their pants and body language, because we’re vigilant to protect them from heatstroke.

The website Hike With Your Dog has a list of over 2,000 Dog-Friendly Trails in the United States and Canada.  There is also a comprehensive list of campgrounds that welcome dogs.  With these resources, not only will you be able to enjoy everything the Great Outdoors has to offer, you can do so with your best friend in tow. 

Benefits of Hiking

There are numerous benefits associated with hiking.  Here are a few for you to consider:

• Hiking is inexpensive and gratifying.
• Hiking gets you out of the house, gives you a change of scenery, and relieves the stresses of everyday living.
• Hiking accelerates weight loss and keeps your current weight in check if you’re already at a healthy weight.
• Hiking decreases blood pressure.
• Hiking relieves back pain.
• Hiking gets your heart pumping in ways that the gym cannot.

 Safety Tips for You and Your Pooch

There are some precautions you must take before hitting the trail with your pet.  Get Hiking recommends bringing along plenty of water for both you and your dog.  Carry a lightweight, collapsible dish so that your pet will have easy access when he or she needs a drink.

Carry a basic First Aid kit in your backpack or knapsack.  Antiseptic wipes and gauze bandages can be lifesavers for both you and your dog if either of you gets injured while hiking.

Make sure that your dog’s tags and vaccinations are up-to-date.  If he or she were to wander away from you while on the trail, the chances of being reunited will be much greater (you may want to read my blog about recovering a lost pet).

Check your pet for ticks and fleas before getting into the car.  Carry some homemade flea spray with you to remove the pests from your dog’s body.

Hiking is an activity that has undisputed physical and mental health benefits.  It requires very little equipment and can be done from every corner of the world.  So many trails are dog-friendly these days, so what are you waiting for?  Grab that leash and hit that trail today!

The reason I developed Opie & Dixie products (starting with Flax Fur Pets) in the first place was because of Opal’s flea allergy years ago. Ever since that one experience, none of our animals have ever had fleas. What a blessing, as I know from that experience that fleas make both us and our pets miserable.  The blood sucking insects feed on human and animal flesh and can cause hives and itching in the infected areas.  An alternative to medicated products for flea and tick protection is homemade flea wipes, powders, and sprays. These are natural, inexpensive, and provide instant relief for infested dogs and cats.  A trip to your local drugstore or health food store will put you into contact with many of the ingredients needed to whip up your own natural flea wipes, powders, and sprays.

Where to Find Recipes

A number of websites and books list recipes for organic flea repellants.  Here are a few of the better ones:

• Organic Pet Digest’s Natural Flea Control Recipe contains ingredients like Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Fennel.  You can use the mixture as often as needed but you should take your pet outside to be treated.  This will prevent the fleas from taking over your home.

• Family Herbal Remedies has a spray recipe that uses Eucalyptus Oil and Wintergreen Oil.  It is recommended to use it up to 3 times a week.  You can spray both your home and your pets with the mixture.
• Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire’s Dog Love’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life With Your Dog includes a recipe for flea wipes.  These items can be created in bulk for very little money and stored in a closeable container which makes fighting fleas convenient and portable.

Purchasing Herbal Products

If you can’t find the time or the ingredients to fight fleas on your own, consider buying a product like Opie & Dixie’s Herbal Shampoo to use after treating your pet.  This winning combination of aloe vera, lavender, rosemary, sage, and tea tree oils help soothe dry, itchy, flaky skin. The results are truly startling!

When it comes to treating fleas, the sooner you get started the better.  Make sure to flea bomb your home and wash all bedding that has come into contact with your pet.  Keep an all natural treatment like a flea spray or box of flea wipes with you when you spend time outdoors with your pet for instant relief.

New babies bring change into your household.  In an instant, your attention shifts from caring for your dog to caring for your newborn son or daughter.  The arrival of a new family member can cause a feeling of uneasiness in pets, but it doesn’t have to.  By preparing for your baby’s arrival prior to your due date, you can ensure that your beloved companion takes to the infant right away.

Here are a few of the ways to get your pets ready for change:

* Use a doll and mimic the behavior that you would use to care for it.  Hold it and talk to it often.  This gives your pet a clear signal that he or she is not the only one that needs attention.

* Invite friends with babies and small children to come over to visit.  Expose your pet to the sounds and smells related to pint-sized human beings.  If possible, see if a loved one will bring one of the newborn’s swaddling blankets home so your pet can get used to the baby’s scent.

* Be cautious about how you introduce the new baby to your dog.  Have a family member or friend hold the child long enough for mom and dad to greet their pet.  Then allow each parent to hold the infant in front of the canine.

* Do not, not, NOT neglect Fido.  After all, Fido came first, so your greatest source of furry joy will not take well to becoming second best when baby is around.  Make sure that you still take regularly scheduled walks with your dog and that you supply him or her with well-deserved love, attention and treats.

* Involve your pet in family activities that involve the child as often as possible.  Visit the park together.  Sit in the family room together. If there are outdoor cafes or restaurants you can frequent, bring your pup along. The more you expose your dog to the child, the more he or she will get used to them being there full-time.

There is no need for jealousy when there is so much love to go around.  The happy atmosphere that you have created needn’t be disrupted by change.  Prepare your pet the same way that you would safety-proof your home—one day at a time.

Service animals come in a variety of sizes, breeds, and colors.  They provide physical and emotional assistance to people who are blind, or suffering from medical conditions or mental disorders.  Panda, a miniature horse, leads Ann Edie through the streets of her city, pausing to let cars pass by.  Through a verbal cue, the animal alerts her owner that they have reached an intersection.  Edie then is able to feel her way to the walk signal button, press it, and cross the road safely.  Without Panda serving as her “eyes,” Edie couldn’t be as independent as she is today.

Guide dogs, although effective, are expensive to breed, train, and place in homes.  The average blind person can go through five to seven companion animals in the course of a lifetime.  A miniature horse, however, can work up to thirty years before retiring.  Not only do these animals save on costs, they become an important part of the family.

Panda is not the only exotic animal serving as a guide.  Pigs, monkeys, ferrets, ducks, and iguanas have also been matched up with individuals with psychosis and anxiety, quadriplegics, agoraphobia, and muscular dystrophy.  It is not unusual to see the animals guiding their owners through supermarkets, school hallways, and workplaces thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  In fact, Walmart welcomes service animals assisting both customers and employees.

The Delta Society based in Bellevue, Washington, offers events and conferences, educational resources, and training programs for individuals wanting to know more about the role of service animals.  People can make donations, shop in the online store or volunteer.  A number of projects even let you bring your own pets along once they are screened, evaluated, and registered with the Pet Partners Program.  The animals are then used in pet therapy programs located in hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities, and mental health facilities.

Right here in the Bay Area, we have Guide Dogs for the Blind, located in San Rafael, 20 miles north of San Francisco.  In 1947, the school moved to their present 11-acre location. Their new campus is in Boring, Oregon, 25 miles east of Portland. They have graduated more than 10,000 teams since their beginnings in 1942. Their dogs and puppies are cared for in meticulous kennels and state-of-the-art veterinary clinics. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever crosses are the breeds they use, although there are dogs of any breed or mixed breed that are good candidates for this type of work.

Your animal will make a good candidate for this type of program if he or she:

• Is in good health.
• Has a current rabies immunization and rabies certificate (if applicable).
• Has all other necessary immunizations recommended by a veterinarian.
• Is free of internal and external parasites.
•  Can pass a fecal exam within 6 months of turning in a Registration packet.

Service animals enrich and protect the lives of those individuals who come to depend on them.  For that reason alone, people should recognize the amazing role of these creatures and do the best they can do to accommodate them wherever they go.