DOG OWNERSHIP

Mary Martin (not the one in Peter Pan; the one in Pittstown, New Jersey) is really mad at me.

What a shock to read Larry Lindners News & Views about what his dogs eat in regards to the teeth brushing article [July 2016]. M&Ms ????? Really?? she e-mailed. As an editor for a newsletter from a veterinary university that claims to be for caring dog owners, its shocking and appalling to hear he actually GIVES his dog chocolate!!!

You know that picture you have in your head of everyone walking around the streets of Paris with a pampered pet poodle? Well, delete the photo from your mental files. More than 40 percent of pet owners in France have cats, while only 20-something percent have dogs. Fifi is feline, not canine. This from GfK, a London-based market research firm that conducted an online survey of 27,000 people across 22 countries.

Mother Theresa once famously said that she would happily participate in a peace rally but would not attend an anti-war rally. Why not? She no doubt understood intuitively that youre much more likely to effect the change you seek by promoting what you want rather than by railing against what you dont want.What does this have to do with dogs? Its about the use of the term no-kill shelter. It automatically implies that there are also kill shelters out there, manned by people who are okay with getting rid of unwanted dogs and other animals by ending their lives.

…

Q I have a smallish mutt - 26 pounds - who is active for her size but probably not as active as many bigger dogs. That said, I have fallen in love with a 70-pound Lab who needs a home, and I would like it to be mine. But I worry that the two dogs wont be simpatico in terms of their needs for physical activity, and I dont have the time to take them out separately. What do you think?
Michaela Borovoi
Fullerton, California

When internationally acclaimed animal behaviorist and advocate Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, was eight years old and food was still being rationed in his native England post World War II, a fledgling song thrush had the misfortune to have fallen out of the nest near my grandmothers front porch, as he puts it. Though the chances of a bird thriving after being put back into a nest are low, my mother felt we needed to at least try.

The statistics speak for themselves. Seventy-two percent of pet-owning women who find safety in a womens shelter report that their abuser had also injured, maimed, killed, or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control. Furthermore, 32 percent of the children who end up in shelters to escape domestic abuse have themselves harmed or even killed dogs or other animals; the lessons modeled by the offending adult seep in insidiously.

Resources for Helping Dogs and Their People Escape Domestic Abuse Whether youre a victim of domestic abuse who needs to escape with a dog or suspect that someone you know is, you might feel paralyzed by the thought that theres nowhere to turn. There is. And knowing what to do can make all the difference for victims of domestic abuse who are reluctant to leave because of fears for their pet's safety.

Keeping Your Dog Engaged

Owners can take greater responsibilities in helping slow the aging process by noting early changes in their dogs' appetites, behaviors and physical conditions. Veterinarians offer these recommendations:

Reinforce basic commands. You can teach an aging dog to "Sit" before heading out the door for a walk or "Give me a paw" shake before settling down his or her food bowl. Test hearing and sight by teaching your dog to make eye contact with…

…

The non-slip socks you wrote about a while ago finally arrived yesterday. My dog walked funny in them, but he was more stable on the stairs. Then the stair treads I ordered arrived. OMG what a difference! He doesnt have a problem going down the stairs at all now. Whereas he was very reluctant to come upstairs over the past several days, now he has no hesitation because he knows he can get back down. In fact, he comes up to tell me its time for dinner.