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4 • FALL/WINTER 2012 CENTRAL PA PETS

CONTENTS6 PUPPY LOVE

Pet portraits help local artist’s brushwith business success

10 WHERE THEWILD THINGS AREWork at Centre facility can be bittersweet,but ulitmately rewarding, just like nature

14 BLOODHOUND RESCUELocal couple steered back into rescue workby a fate-full pair of bloodhounds

16 DREAMS GO ONTherapeutic riding programserves challenged children, adults

18 TRAININGSuccessful shelter adoptions take planningand patience

20 LODGINGTyrone bed and breakfast excels in growingniche of pet-friendly accommodations

22 LEGALDon’t divorce the dog

6 14 16

CENTRAL PA PETS FALL/WINTER 2012 • 5

Dan Boyles, Blair County EmergencyManagement Director, has served in theemergency management sector for 25years. He has participated in over 65 na-tional disasters, serving as MCO (Mass CareOfficer and ESF-6) lead for the federal gov-ernment in a Disaster Operation Center(DOC) as ESF-6 for relief efforts includingHurricane Andrew, the Mississippi floods, LA Earthquake,Sept. 11th, and Hurricane Katrina.

Patti Lawson is an award winningauthor, lawyer, newspaper columnist andpublic speaker who lives in Charleston,West Virginia, with her dog Sadie. Patti’sfirst book, The Dog Diet, A Memoir, WhatMy Dog Taught Me About SheddingPounds, Licking Stress and Getting a new Leash on Life(HCI, Publishing, Inc.) won the DogWriter’s Association ofAmerica Maxwell Award for Dog Humor Book of the year in2007, and made the prestigious McNaughton Library List.Patti and Sadie have a new book coming out in 2013:WhatHappens to RoverWhen the Marriage is Over and OtherDoggone Legal Dilemmas. Patti’s essays appear inCHICKEN SOUP FOR THE GRANDMOTHER’S SOUL (HCI,Inc) Chicken Soup For the Soul All n the Family ChickenSoup for the Soul Food and Love and SINGLEWOMEN….OF A CERTAIN AGE (Inner Ocean Publish-ing). Patti won a Maxwell Award from the DogWritersAssociation in 2012 for Best Single Blog for “SHEWAITS”and the American Kennel Club Responsible Pet Owner-ship Public Service Award for the same article. Visit theirwebsite at www.thedogdiet.com. They are also featuredon the national best selling author website www.red-room.com She writes for The Charleston Daily Mail inCharleston,West Virginia on the PET CITY blog. She is fromCorsica, Pennsylvania.

Central PA Pets magazine is published by the AltoonaMirror.Copyright 2012 AltoonaMirror.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or partwithout permission is prohibited.

Published and distributed by the AltoonaMirror301 Cayuga Ave., Altoona, PA 16602

www.altoonamirror.com

PublisherEdwardW. Kruger

General ManagerRaymondM. Eckenrode

Advertising DirectorRobert S. Eger

Glossy SalesLucy [email protected]

MarketingManagerAmy J. [email protected] J. [email protected] EditorJ.D. CavrichLayout and designTomWorthington IIand Hannah Frank

CONTRIBUTOR BIOS

ON THE COVER

23 NUTRITIONDogs’ nutritional needs vastly di:erentthan those of humans

24 DOG-GONE GOODGourmet or do-it yourself, pet treats are becomnghot commodities

27 SAFETYMake pet care part of your natural disaster planning

28 HERMIT CRABSPopular vacation souvenir can be a long-term pet

30 GOLDENWORDSDean Koontz’s pet memoir has taken on a life of its own

Gracing the cover of the first-ever edi-tion of “Central PA Pets” is Maddi, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever from Hillock Goldensin Ligonier, registered as Hillock’s Somer-set Brie. She started her modeling careerat age 9 weeks when she was featured ina holiday ad and was selected to be inToyoto’s East Coast Regional calendar asFebruary’s pup.Maddi is best known for her appear-

ance on a Hallmark birthday greetingcard designed by her owner, Mar Sension.Maddi has become quite accustomed todressing up and posing for new Hallmarkcard contests. Mar recently took Maddi with her on a trip toHallmark Headquarters in Kansas City to greet members of the contestteam and fans she has acquired through her “card-dom.”Maddi has won several portraits contests and was recently the subject

of a NewYork art exhibit show. She has appeared in“Tails”magazine aswinner of most photogenic dog andwas also featured in“DogWorld.”Maddi recently received a year’s worth of treats, collars and toys

when named Sergeant’s Pet “besties”Heath Central 2012 Pet of theYear. She shared a lot of her winnings with the Central PA Humane So-ciety, friends and family.Maddi’s love goes beyond the camera lens. True to the Golden Re-

triever spirit, her heart is full of love for every person she meets. Sheadores kids and carries her favorite kid’s hat or shirt around the house.Her family calls it “shopping”when she carries in something she hasfound and is so proud to show it off.Owner Mar, a retired speech/language pathologist, who worked for

the Altoona Area School District for 34 years, says she now has time tomix her love of dogs with photography and creativity. She and Maddiare working towards a goal of becoming a therapy dog as well as apossbile book pawed by Maddi herself.


By Tiffany ShawFor Central PA Pets

very time Jo Stoversees the portrait ofher Lola, it’s just likelooking into the eyesof her Old EnglishSheepdog, and she’sthankful to localartist Rachel DiAn-drea for that.“She captured the

look in those eyes. It’s incredible. She’s justamazing. How she captured that look – it’sexactly what I look at every day,”Stover says.Stover, ofWaynesboro, Va., met DiAndrea

at a dog show in Harrisburg when DiAndreasnapped a few photos of Lola. Once Stoversaw some of DiAndrea’s work on display, shecommissioned her to do a portrait of Lola.Even though DiAndrea kept her up-to-datewith emailed photos of the work inprogress, Stover was stunned when she gotthe finished product.“I just love it,” she says of the picture she

put on the wall of her kitchen. “It’s gorgeous,just beautiful.”Now, DiAndrea is almost done with an-

other commission for Stover, this time of her2-year-old Old English Sheepdog Thelma,and Stover can’t wait to see how DiAndreahas used color to make her dog come to life.“I think that’s her trademark. It’s amazing

the way she does that,” Stover says. “I’m sucha fan of what she does. I think her work isbeautiful.”DiAndrea is gaining a following among

pet owners around the world who trust herto make a piece of art of their beloved pets.She displays her work at dog shows aroundthe country but is just at home in art gal-leries where she’s won several juried awardsfor her French pastels. She focuses on petportraits because she always wanted to

work with animals, and this is one way toshare her love.She planned to study to become a veteri-

narian until she took an art class in highschool and began to focus on drawing afterher teacher encouraged her. She immedi-ately wanted to combine her new love of artwith her long-standing love of animals. Aftercollege and a career in printing, DiAndrea fi-nally got the opportunity to focus on art in2000 when she moved to Altoona from herhometown of Syracuse, N.Y.“I didn’t have my friends and family

around, so I had a lot of time on my hands,”she says. She made a NewYear’s resolutionto do one picture every week for a year. Thatwas a challenge at the time, but it inspiredher to do more art.“It was something I really missed in my

life,”DiAndrea says.She set up a website where people can

view her art and order their own pieces, andshe started going to professional dog shows

where she soon got more and more com-missions as pet owners admired her art. Shehas done everything from dogs and cats tomonkeys, ferrets, horses, goats and even achicken.DiAndrea works mostly in French pastels

or pencil with an occasional foray into penand ink and watercolor. Her pieces are mostidentifiable by the use of colors in unex-pected ways.“It’s about color and the energy of the ani-

mal,” she says. The most important researchshe does is talking to the owners about theanimal when she works from reference pho-tos.“People love to talk about their animals,”

she says. “I listen to what they tell me abouttheir pets to capture their essence.”That’s one of the things that Nancy Devor-

ris of Altoona loves about DiAndrea’s work,too.“I think she has a fabulous technique.

She’s just a great gal, but her artwork of

Central PA Pets photosby J.D. Cavrich

Rachel in her artstudio. As a dogowner and loverherself, she knowsthat creating a last-ing portrait of a petis a lifetime gift. Atleft: Rachel DiAn-drea showeredwith love in herstudio from herbest friend, Bling,a 5-year-old,Chinese CrestedPowderpuff.


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these pets is so wonderful,”Devorris says.She has commissioned a number of por-traits from DiAndrea of her and her hus-band’s dogs as well as her daughter’s dogsand even her son’s pet pig.

“She just does a great job,”Devorris says.”Ilove each picture she does because it relatesto that animal. They speak for themselves.”

DiAndrea works from her sunlight studioat her Altoona home, but she has sent art toclients as far away as Italy andGermany who found her throughher website.

Although she works from refer-ence photos, DiAndrea also en-joys meeting the pets she willdraw at dog shows and travels toseveral every year. She won sev-eral awards this spring at the26th Annual Art Show at the DogShow, a national juried fine artscompetition in Kansas. She isnow preparing for another artshow this fall in Virginia and isgetting ready to publish a chil-dren’s book that features her art.

DiAndrea says that drawing pets is moreof a challenge than simply choosing whatcolors will complement its personality andhow to capture its energy. She also focuseson getting every detail of the breed correct,from the way the muscles are structured tothe direction the hair parts.

“Show dogs are bred for perfection,” shesays, and she knows it well. She owns a

French poodle and a Chinese crested, whichserves as the face of her logo on the side ofthe sports utility vehicle she drives.

But, she draws many other pets whoaren’t show animals, including a wild gooseshe used to see frequently when she trav-eled past a particular pond. Besides show-ing the personality of a pet, her art alsohelps immortalize it. “One of the things I dois create memories for people. It’s forever for

them,” she says.Whether she’s studying the

musculature of a French bulldogor picturing the curl of wool on asheep, DiAndrea wants her por-trait to speak not only to theowner of the beloved pet but toanyone who sees it.

“The goal is an emotional con-nection with the artwork. It’s away for me to share the energy ofthe animal and the owner. Thatbond is about color and that’show I interpret it.”

Even some of her biggest chal-lenges work out in the end to

make the pet owner happy.“The scariest [pet] I had was a ball python.

A young man had it as a pet. I’m not really areptile person,”DiAndrea says. “But I couldappreciate that he appreciates his pet. I didtouch it and took pictures while he draped itaround himself. They have that energy. Itdoesn’t matter what animal it is, it’s thatconnection.” P

Central PA Pets photo by J.D. Cavrich

Rachel holding her own life-sized por-trait, Babette, her standard poodle.

“One of thethings I dois creatememoriesfor people.It’s foreverfor them.”



By Bekka CoakleyFor Central PA Pets

very day, Robyn Graboski gets todo something she loves – rehabili-tate wild animals.As founder of CentreWildlife

Care in Port Matilda, Graboski is li-censed to care for all wildlifespecies, including mammals, birds(including raptors) and rabies vec-

tors (any animal that can carry the disease).Helping wildlife has been an interest of

Graboski’s for most of her life. She went toPenn State and studied Animal Bio Sciencewith the intent to be a veterinarian. Whenthat didn’t work out, she stayed on at PennState and worked as a researcher.In 1988 she began to volunteer at Shaver’s

Creek.While she was there she saw therewere few resources in the area for wildliferehab. She worked and studied hard to be-come licensed by the state and federal gov-ernment to treat animals at Shaver’s Creek.When they stopped doing rehabilitation be-cause their main emphasis was environmen-

tal education, she was able toopen her own rehab facilityin her house, while workingfull-time at Penn State.She’s thankful her hus-

band has a good job tohelp support them as well.“My knowledge level is

probably like a nurse practi-tioner,”Graboski said. “I can treat theanimals with medicine, take their blood, giveinjections and fluids and feed them. But if ananimal needs surgery I take them to the vet.”Graboski said she often has people bring-

ing their house pets into her for treatment.But she only treats wild animals and tells petowners they need to take their dog, cat,lizards, etc. to the vet.Graboski treats animals that can be re-

leased into the wild once they are better.Since the centre is located on 15 acres ofwooded land, she can often release them justbeyond her home.With the help of 100 volunteers – Penn

State students, and people in Centre, Hunt-

Central PA Pets photos by PatrickWaksmunski

Robyn Graboski, Founder andExecutive Director of CentreWildlifeCare releases a Red-tailed Hawkthat successfully recovered fromWest Nile Virus.

Graboski treatsanimals that canbe released intothewild oncethey are better.

Nostradamus,an EasternScreech Owl,who was in-jured by aweed trim-mer. Bottomright, Feedingtime for onethe center'smany or-phaned babyGrey squirrels


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ingdon and Blair counties – Graboski wentfrom treating about 100 animals a year inher first few years to over 1,000 animalstoday. CentreWildlife Care runs only on thesupport of donations.And all though she is devoted to her

work, it can sometimes be bleak. Some daysshe gets to rescue and release wild animalsback into nature, but other days she has toput them to sleep, even when she couldhave saved them.Last week, for instance, a family found a

gray fox that had been hit by a car. Theycalled Graboski, wanting to bring the fox inthe next morning. She instructed them tokeep the fox outside, away from their chil-dren and pets. Unfortunately, they didn’t lis-ten and because it was clear that the fox,the children and the pets had interacted,the health department strongly suggestedhe be put to sleep and tested for rabies andGraboski follows their suggestions. It endedup that the fox was not sick, and the familywas safe, but the fox had died unnecessarily.

Sometimes people with good intentions, tryto help wildlife and end up doing moreharm than good.Not all the animals we see are going to

survive,”Graboski said. “Sometimes we getanimals too broken to fix.”

Since opening CentreWildlife Care in1995 (at which time she was only licensedto treat mammals and non-raptor birds),Graboski has had to euthanize a number ofanimals to test for rabies. In the past twoyears Pennsylvania has seen the most rabies

Graboski tending to an Eastern BoxTurtle that suffered injuries from a dog attack.

“Sometimesweget animals toobroken to fix.”

—RobynGraboski


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cases than any other state. In addition tothat, Graboski said theWest Nile virus caseshave risen to their highest levels this year.Everyday Graboski treats birds too sick towalk or fly, because they’re infected. How-ever, if they get to the birds soon enough, alot survive.“It’s a virus so they need supportive care

through tube feeding – they’re too sick toeat on their own,” she said.Small groups can visit CentreWildlife

Care to learn more about the work they do.Graboski cannot give visitors a tour of themedical room where animals are beingtreated, for safety concerns, but they dohave some permanent residents visitorscan meet. While each animal has a physicalcondition that would not allow them tosurvive in the wild, Graboski has made ahome for them in her home, and they doseem to like their residence. A blind squir-rel, spray-less skunk, birds that can't fly, adomesticated chipmunk and a turtle wholost his two front legs. Each of these animalmisfits seem happy in Graboski's house –and loved by the volunteers that care forthem every day. P

To learnmoreFor more information on making

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By Amy J. HannaCentral PA Pets

n the early morning of Oct. 20, 2008,emergency crews were 19 hours into adesperate search for a missing 20-month-old boy nearWater Street inHuntingdon County. The 36-degreefall weather was adding an evengreater sense of urgency.

Dianne and Mike Thees of Tyrone, experi-enced handlers of search and rescue blood-hounds, heard the news.Dianne knew that even though their 5-

month-old bloodhound, Noah, had beentraining since he was 10 weeks old, he wasalmost a year away from being consideredready to go on an official trailing. [The term“trail” is used rather than“track”when refer-ring to bloodhounds]. There was no guaran-tee Noah could pull off his first search, butthe fact that a child was in danger com-pelled Dianne to offer their assistance.“When we arrived

at the site, therewere literally hun-dreds of people anda helicopter circlingabove helping withthe search,”Diannerecalls.We“scented”Noah

(giving him an itemcontaining the tod-dler’s scent) andstarted to trail. De-spite, the high con-tamination levelfrom all of the peo-ple and the fact that the winds from thehelicopter sucked up crucial scents creatingan undefined trail for the dog to follow,Noah, literally turned the search around.Three times he headed off in the opposite

direction of the search team. Having triedto redirect him from different areas, Diannesays Noah would turn himself and go backto the same place, opposite the ongoingsearch. Crews followed Noah’s reaction andwithin an hour found the little boy in a cornfield -- a little cold and dirty, but safe.The Thees, who operate Heaven Scent

Search and Rescue, had been involved inrescue related fields for more than twodecades before they met.When they

moved to Blair County, both had decidedthey were ready to switch gears and leavethe life of emergency response behind tostart anew. Little did they know, that fate –and, two bloodhounds, named Noah andLuke – had other plans for them. They soondiscovered that once this line of work getsin your blood it becomes more than a job, itremains a lifelong passion.

First cameNoahIn 1999, Dianne was living in Chambers-

burg when she got her first bloodhound,Brutus, and began her devotion to searchand rescue. Dianne and Brutus learnedmany training techniques by trial and errorand went on to participate in several activesearches.When Brutus passed away unexpectedly

from canine cancer in 2007, Dianne wasn’tsure she wanted to stay involved. As muchas she focused on redirecting her life, shehad no idea it was being directed right back

to her.First, she met Mike,

who had just spentthe past 16 years withthe Chester CountyFire and RescueSquad, eventuallyserving as chief.“I was getting ready

to transfer jobs to BlairCounty,” says Mike,“and had decided thatI, too, wasn’t going tobe involved anymorein emergency rescue. I

had pretty much seen and done everythingand was ready to move in a different direc-tion.”During Mike’s relocation, Dianne went on

a business trip toWest Virginia. During herstay, she was notified by not one, but threepeople, about a sign advertising blood-hound puppies. Driven by coincidence,Diane called. In karma’s truest form, Diannelearned that not only was her soon-to-bepup part of Brutus’ lineage, but it was theonly litter that Brutus’s brother, Grizzly, hadever sired.“It was just meant to be,” says Dianne, “I

thought I was done doing this. I wasn’tdone.”The following day, Dianne and Mike

headed toWest Virginia to pick up theirpup. “We felt it was the Lord’s way of sayingI want you guys to get back into this,” saysMike.

“We felt it was theLord’s way of saying Iwant you guys to getback into this.”

—Mike Thees

Central PA Pets photo by PatrickWaksmunski

Dianne and Mike Thees with their gentlegiants, Noah and Luke. Continued on Page 19


Erin KellyFor Central PA PetsA Pets

he horse is still. Riders make their way upthe wheelchair-accessible ramp to mount.The soft sound of clicking horseshoes andhooves are in rhythm as the rider and horsebecome one.This kind of experience -- along with

teaching teamwork, trust, responsibility,patience, compassion and self-confidence -- is themission of Dreams Go On Inc., a therapeutic horse-back-riding program serving children ages 5 and upand adults with physical and mental challenges inBlair County. The program runs four days a week –5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,Wednesday andThursday, as well as 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.Located at 3085 Scotch Valley Road in Hollidays-

burg, Dreams Go On offers four six-week riding ses-sions per year. Eachsession is 45 minuteslong with up to threeriders per session. Thetailored riding programstrives to pair humanwith horse, based on therider's strengths andability to form a strongbond with the horse. Thefacility houses six horsesthat have been handselected and trained tobe used in therapeuticriding.Riders strengthen their minds and muscles through

a series of exercises and programs in a spacious facilitywhile having fun. The barn has a large indoor and out-door riding ring, grooming area and tack room, nes-tled with a scenic trail.Dreams Go On has an experienced staff of instruc-

tors educated and certified in facilitating therapeuticriding and dedicated volunteers who donate theirtime and effort every week.

For additional informationor tomake a donation tothis nonprofit program,please contact DebbieKelly, programmanagerat (814) 312-2614 or(814) 943-4767 or visitwww.DreamsGoOn.com.They are always lookingfor volunteers to assistwith the program.

Rider Ethan Furgeson enjoys an afternoon rideon Star with the assistance of BoardMemberJoanne Nader and RatibaVillano.


Central PA Pets photos by J.D. Cavrich

Top: Rider Cole Poorman learns riding techniques from aDreams Go On volunteer as volunteer Rachel DiAndrealeads Star. Middle: Rider Ashley Foose experiences the

freedom of riding Flash with the help of DreamsGo On volunteers Linda Smith (l), Tony Frank (r)

and Autumn Harper (front). Bottom: EthanFurgeson (l) andCole Poormangroomone

of theDreamsGoOn therapy horses.


Bringing home a rescue/shelter dogshould begin before you even start looking.One of the most commonmistakes peo-

ple make is choosing a dog by appearancealone. A dog needs to fit your lifestyle, per-sonality, age, and activity level. Choosingthe right breed is the first step in the rightdirection.Next, having the neces-

sary supplies is in order.Stick to the basics. A prop-erly sized crate and bed, ahigh quality food, foodand water bowls, and aleash and collar designedfor the weight andstrength of your breed.Even with this new addi-

tion to the family, it’s es-pecially important to keep to your normalroutine. Dogs thrive on schedules and con-sistency. Taking a few days off work to spendquality time with your new friend only con-fuses your already puzzled dog.Introducing your new pet to other dogs

depends on the individual but as a rule ofthumb do so slowly and in neutral territoryrather than in your home“territory”or thehome/yard of the other dog.Training should begin the moment your

dog walks through the door. Setting thetone immediately will set both you and yournew pet up for success and happiness.Be sure not to expect a seamless transi-

tion. Some dogs take months to finally un-derstand what you expect of them and howto simply co-exist with humans in a humanworld. Be patient and give your new pet andyourself time to adjust. A big mistake peoplemake is to change their strategy often be-cause they hit a snag or think that what

they’re doing is not work-ing. Consistency and pa-tience are the two wordsyou must live by and fol-low. It will pay off! Also re-spect your dog. Every doghas its own personality.Even though you mayhave been hoping for a‘snuggler’, not all dogs liketo be hugged but your pet

will have other amazing qualities that you’lldiscover as they becomemore comfortablein their new home.Megan Sanchez, ABCDT, Owner/Trainer

Blair Canine Coaching is an Animal BehaviorCollege Certified Dog Trainer with over 6 yearsof professional experience and a lifetime ofpersonal experience. She volunteers much ofher time with local rescues working to help so-cialize and train homeless pets so they are pre-pared to find their forever homes. Megan canbe reached at [email protected] orblaircaninecoaching.webs.com or on Face-book:BlairCanineCoaching. P

Training shouldbegin themomentyour dog walksthrough the door.

Courtesy photo

Megan Sanchez withLyra, a Shepardmix,who was adopted by

photographer DanielleImler from the CentralPa Humane Society.


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Next comes LukeNot long after, Mike and Dianne were con-

tacted by a family friend who had a youngbloodhound they could no longer care for.Luke was 16 months old and now lookingfor his fifth home.When they went to meetLuke, he immediately took to Mike and hasremained by his side ever since.After finding Noah and learning that his

name means”comfort”and that Luke means“light giving,” they felt even more stronglythat they were being guided back on therescue path.“The meaning of their names alone can

bring comfort to a family to know the dogsare out there trying to find their loved one,and provide hope and light to the personwho’s lost,” says Dianne.With so much divine intervention seem-

ingly showing them they way, family mem-bers decided the perfect name for theirteam would be Heaven Scent Search andRescue.

Heavenly scentHaving found their calling again, Mike and

Dianne realized they were back in business.Two weeks later, they began training Luke,along with Noah.Dianne and Mike work with the public as

much as rescue personnel. Bloodhounds re-quire a lot of socialization for their field of

work, so they take the dogs to events wherethey can interact with people.Training also takes place year round for

both dog and handler, including two, week-long intensive training seminars each yearwith the dogs and other handlers using real-life scenarios.When the harness is placed on the dog, “it’s

like putting a uniform on,” says Mike, “theyknow it’s time to work.”“Work is a game to them,”

Dianne quips, “like hide andseek. They love to do it. Thetrainers’ job is to enhanceeach dog’s skills so they areprepared for the most in-tense of searches and in theharshest of terrains.”“You never know where

the search is going to endup or how long the trail may last. As handlers,we have to be able to recognize how wind,temperature, terrain, time of day, time of year,and vehicles on scene, all play a factor in theway a bloodhound will ‘work’ a trail,” she says.“It is the combination of being able to readyour hounds’body language and understandwhat scent is doing in the terrain where youare working that creates a competent dogteam.”

On the rescue trailThey’ve assisted on many cases involving

lost children and Alzheimer’s patients, as

well as, lost hunters, hikers and criminalcases.“That’s the importance of calling us right

away and what we stress to rescue person-nel,”Mike explains. “The quicker we can getout there on the trail the better, with lesschance of contamination.”“Bloodhounds are scent discriminatory andare unique in what they do. All rescue dogshave their own specialty, bloodhounds were

bred for one specific reason,‘man-trailing,’ finding hu-mans,”Mike says, “No twopeople smell the same, noteven identical twins ortriplets and we’ve workedwith both. Your scent is like athumb print to them. No twopeople smell the same tobloodhounds.”Dianne and Mike work

strictly as volunteers givingtheir time to help search and rescue teamsthroughout 12 counties.“We were both brought up to volunteer,”

says Mike. “It is so rewarding when you cango out and help someone in need. It’s notalways a good turn out, but it always helpsto bring closure to the families.”“It’s an adventure I never dreamed I go

on,” says Dianne. “I’ve done things I wouldhave never done.”And, together with Mike, Noah and Luke,

the Heaven Scent Search and Rescue Teamcontinues to train and wait for their chanceto lend a nose. P

Continued from Page 15

“Work is a game tothem, like hideand seek. Theylove to do it.”

—Dianne Thees


ByMary HaleyFor Central PA Pets

f all the places to stay in thecountry, one of the top 10 that’sthe nicest to stay at with yourpet is right in our area in Tyrone,according to the Internet travelsite, TripAdvisor.com.Stony Point Bed & Breakfast at

1400 North Ave. was rated among the Top10 properties in the U.S. that allow pets ac-cording to a survey by TripAdvisor of morethan 1,000 animal owners.According to the survey, 49 percent of the

pet owners surveyed plan to travel in thenext year with their pets. Among that groupmore than half will stay in hotels with theirpets, up from 51 percent from the year be-fore, while 35 percent plan to stay in a vaca-tion rental.Stony Point became a bed and breakfast

10 years ago, but only began accepting petswithin the past year, said manager PaulZoltoli. The fee for pets, mainly cats anddogs, is $25 and pets are allowed to roamfreely throughout the premises, he said.“People wanted to find a place where they

could bring their pets so they didn’t have toleave them at home,’’ said Zoltoli, who has acat himself. “They’re like a member of thefamily to them and I understand that.’’Lesley Carlin, a travel expert with TripAdvi-

sor, said it’s easier now than it was before forpeople to take their pets on the road be-cause many more accommodations will ac-

cept animals as guests.“We’ve realized for some time that travel-

ing with pets is getting more and more pop-ular,’’ she said, which she said is why theInternet site did the survey.Staying at bed-and-breakfast establish-

ments, which may have delicate antiques,doesn’t seem to worry either the pet owneror the innkeeper, said Carlin. Most of the top10 places were B&Bs, with several in theAsheville, N.C. area, according to the survey.“It’s really amazing how well most pet

owners keep their pets under control,’’ shesaid.The Stony Point home, which has 114 “ex-

cellent’’ reviews on Trip Advisor, is 92 yearsold. It was the former home of a Pennsylva-nia Railroad executive and was later ownedby the Edward Newlin family, then passed toDudley and Peggy McNitt, who renovatedthe home, Zoltoli said.One reviewer who grew up in Tyrone re-

cently stayed at the home and said he willdefinitely stay there again when he visits hishometown.“While growing up, I never knew what a

historic landmark the town has here on thehill,’’ said the reviewer, who only listed hisname as Craig T., said he lives in Denver, Pa.Room rates range from $75 to $225 de-

pending on the day of the week. The pet feeis in addition to the room rate. To makereservations, call 684-1400. P


Top: Innkeeper Paul Zottoli and felinefriend show off the Tuscarora Room.Right: A home away from home—B&Bmedicine cabinet stocked with all theammenities youmay have forgotten.


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By Patti LawsonFor Central PA Pets

You might get taken to the cleaners inthe divorce, but it’s possible to hang on toyour hound with a little understanding ofhow the family court views the family pet.Divorce is never easy, and sadly when evena once idyllic love affair ends, it brings outthe beast in us. Of course it’s worse whenyour beloved pet is caught in the middle,but dragging the dog fight into divorcecourt is not always the solution.

When the dog becomes the bone ofcontention in the divorce or separation,couples find little help in our justice system.In courtrooms across the country, except forrare exceptions, the family pet is still treatedlike any other piece of property. Millions ofcouples who divorce or separate with petsare confused and dissatisfied with a courtsystem that ignores the emotional value oftheir “fur children.”Often who gets the ca-

nine is no different than whogets the coffee table.Having a court institute a

pet custody arrangement isstill the exception. Courtsaren’t yet ready to give ca-nines the full custody con-sideration due children.However, couples who actrationally can consent toanything in their divorce agreement. Hereare some tips for those divorcing with dogsor other pets:Always consider thewelfare of your pet first.Make sure any new living arrangement al-

lows pets.Don’t use possession of the pet as punish-

ment for your spouse.Consider the children…the pet is a great

source of comfort during this difficult time.Make financial arrangements that cover

vet care and other pet costs.

Next time…prepare a “pet-nuptial agree-ment” to protect your pet when the “happilyever after”ends.

Patti Lawson is the award winning author of“The Dog Diet: A Memoir: What My DogTaught me About Shedding Pounds, LickingStress, and Getting a New Leash on Life” (HCIBooks). She and her canine companion, Sadie,are finishing a second book about legal“Doglemmas” including custody. You can findmore information about her at www.thedo-gdiet.com. P

Central PA Pets illustration by Hannah Frank


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• Provide a secondary source ofenergy• Supply fiber to support properdigestion

• Most important nutrient fordogs and cats• Transports nutrients and wastethrough the body• Acts as a solvent and lubricantto keep muscles and tissuesworking properly

• Ensure a balanced diet for thespecific needs of an animal• Metabolize nutrients for energy

• Need to be balanced tonsup-port the healthy function ofbody systems• Support strong bones• Support healthy nerves, muscles*Vitamins andminerals are partof a complete and balanced for-mula and can be derived natu-rally from food or be added as asupplement during production.*Benefits of Premium andNatural Foods• You feed less because there’smore nutrition per kibble.• You get more servings per bag,lowering the cost per serving.

• Your pet produces less wastefor easier clean up.• Your pet gets better quality nu-trition which can contribute tooverall healthBy feeding a premium food,

pets can live a healthier life whichmay result in fewer health-relatedissues later in life. Premium foodsare designed tomaintain healthysystems to avoid intestinal disor-ders, skin and coat conditions,hip and joint problems, allergiesand obesity.Don Carney, has been aman-

ager for Petco for more thanseven years, currently at the Al-toona location. He is a certifiednutrition expert. Don and his fam-ily share their homewith a sevenand a half year old rescued,mixed-breed dog, an African GreyParrot, a Chinchilla and 11 differ-ent reptiles, including snakes, tur-tles and lizards. P

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By Don CarneyFor Central PA PetsDogs are omnivores. They thrive on combination of meats and

plants. Their nose is their main sensory organ and is 100 timesstronger than a human’s. Dogs do not savor food, they have 1,700taste buds (humans have 9,000 taste buds). Dogs digest food in12-30 hours, they have expandable stomachs, and have highstomach acidity (humans digest food in 30 hours to 5 days).

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By AmyHannaCentral PA Pets

hat better way to rewardgood behavior than with atreat? Perhaps a delectablepeanut butter lollipup or yo-gurt-dipped barkscotti?Or, if you’re trying to

watch that girlish figure,maybe you’d rather opt for a

low-fat veggie pupcake?Allergies? How about an all-natural

wheat, corn and gluten-free sweet potatocannoli?Hold the soy.When it comes toour pets, treats havegone

to thedogs and it’s gourmet all theway.As people continue to build and place

a stronger emphasis on their relationshipwith man’s best friend, it’s been reflectedin their spending habits. There is noth-ing too good for Fido when wanting toexpress appreciation for the uncondi-tional love pets provide.

Also, more andmore pet lovers are lookingto address the nutritional needs of their pets,sending companies scrambling to introducetheir newest line of healthy pet food products.Pet owners, wary of all the new products

and ingredients on the market, or who havebeen troubled by pet food recalls, are awak-ening their own primal baking skills and re-turning to the kitchen— that room with anoven— to create homemade treats usingbasic ingredients.Pet treat shops— barkeries, if you will —

are opening left and right, operated by ani-mal-lovers turned bakers. They offer a selec-tion of gourmet treats fit for humanconsumption— less the intense flavors —with many treats so ornately pleasing to theeye, they can make the mouth water.The bakers stick to simple, often organic in-

gredients, free of preservatives, by-productsand artificial flavorings and colorings “to en-sure the freshest and healthiest dog treats,”said Leigh Burger, owner ofWanna BiscuitBakery in Newry.Burger recently opened the doors of her

new business, which offers six flavors ofcrunchy biscuits (that maintain a longer shelflife) and a bakery case filled with more than15 gourmet treats (that must be consumedquickly or refrigerated). After researching the



Leigh Burger, owner ofWannaBiscuit Bakery in Newry, lets hertwo-year-oldmixed breed, Ripley,sample one of her creations.


market, she settled on a list of core ingredi-ents, including chicken, liver, pumpkin, car-rot and peanut butter, and a variety ofhealthy, crunchy textures pleasing to thepickiest of pooches.Like Leigh, Nancy Hans, owner ofWoof

Stop Barkery in Cranberry Township, ButlerCounty, has her treats analyzed by an inde-pendent lab and is registered with the Penn-sylvania Department of Agriculture in orderto list the amount of crude protein, fat, andfiber in each serving.Hans, who has

been bakingtreats since 2001and decided totake her passionto the public in2011, credits herexperience work-ing as a dog obe-dience instructorand as an assis-tant veterinarytechnician withproviding agreater knowl-edge and under-standing that ahealthy diet isjust as importantfor our pets as itis for us.The experts say

if you decide toget adventurousand don yourown biscuit-mak-ing apron, keep itsimple and usebasic ingredients that are safe and nutritiousfor dogs. Avoid the ‘no-no’ list of foods thatcan be poisonous to dogs— chocolate (usecarob instead), garlic, onions and raisins —and talk with your veterinarian to learn moreabout which ingredients are best to use in-cluding those that can provoke allergies,such as wheat, soy, corn and gluten.It may sound like a lot to remember, but

like Hans said, “It is up to us to make gooddecisions for our dogs.We all want our dogsto be around forever, and I do everything Ican to provide them with a first rate qualityof life. We owe it to our dogs to teach themright from wrong and reward them withgood things. It is our commitment to them.”Happy barking! Er, baking! P

WannaBiscuit Bakery’s display case showsmany different varieties of biscuits madeby Leigh Burger.

Legendhas itJames Spratt, anAmerican electri-cian, is creditedwith inventing thefirst dog treatwhile living in Lon-don in the 1800safter observingdogs in the ship-yard eating scrapsof discarded bis-cuits. Sprattpatented histreats, now known200 years later asMilk Bones®.

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Special to Central PA PetsNatural disasters occur when we least ex-

pect and often we find we are unpreparedto care for ourselves, let alone our pets, inthe aftermath.Dan Boyles, director of Blair County Emer-

gency Management, said everyone shouldhave a prepared, written and well-rehearsedplan to care for people, pets and propertythat can be used in the wake of any emer-gency or disaster.“I call it a pre-game show,”he said. “That’s

what you’re doing. You’re putting a pre-game plan together to keep yourself safe,along with everyone in your jurisdiction.”Planning is crucial because in an emer-

gency, local authorities might not immedi-ately be able to gain safe access to the areaaffected or provide direct information onwhat is happening and what you should do.

Create a pet emergency supply kit.Make two kits:In one, put everything your pets will need tostay where you are. The other should be alightweight, smaller version you can takewith you if you and your pets have to getaway.Food in an airtight, waterproof container –3 day supplyWater – 3 day supplyMedications, medical recordsFirst aid kit (talk to your veterinarian about

what is most appropriate for your pet’semergency medical needs. Include a petfirst aid reference book. Keep a list of namesof vets or veterinary hospitals in cities whereyou might need to seek temporary shelter.)Collar with id tag, harnass or leash.Crate or other pet carrier.Sanitation – include litter, box, newspapers,paper towels, plastic trash bags, householdchlorine bleach. You can use bleach as a dis-infectant (dilute nine parts water to onepart bleach).Picture of you and your pet together – ifyou become separated, a picture will helpyou document ownership and allow othersto assist you in identifying you pet. (Includedetails about species, breed, age, sex, colorand distinguishing characteristics)Familiar items – favorite toys, treats, andbedding can help reduce stress for your pet.Obtain “PETS INSIDE” stickers and place ondoors and windows, include the numberand types of pets in your home, along witha phone number where you could bereached. If time permits, remember to write“Evacuated with Pets”across the stickers, ifyou flee with your pets.

What youwill do in an emergency.Assess the situation. Depending on circum-stances and nature of emergency the firstimportant decision is whether you stay orget away. Plan for both possibilities.

Create a plan to get away. Plan ahead howyou will assemble your pets and anticipatewhere you will go. If you go to a public shel-ter, keep in mind your animals may not beallowed inside. Secure appropriate lodgingin advance for your pets. Consider family orfriends, a hotel that accepts pets or a board-ing facility or veterinary hospital.Develop a buddy system. Plan with neigh-bors, friends or relatives to make sure some-one is available to care for or evacuate yourpets if you are unable to do so. Designatespecific locations, one close by and one far-ther away, where you will meet in an emer-gency.

Make yourself familiar with what types ofemergencies are likely to affect your region.Learn about local and state emergencyplans. Blair County Emergency Services of-fice offers free classes on emergency prepa-ration that can be given to schools, churchgroups and other community organizations.Call 814-940-5905 for more information.For more information about howto prepare, visit www.ready.gov orcall 1-800-BE-READY

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Dan Boyles, Blair County EmergencyManagement Director, has served in theemergencymanagement sector for 25years. He has participated inmore than65 national responses.



By LaDonnaMcCraryFor Central PA Pets

ermit crabs can makegreat pets for the first timeor experienced pet owner.By following just a fewsimple instructions, yourhermit crab could be apart of your family foryears to come.Upon bringing your her-

mit crab home, it is best tohouse it in a 10-gallon or larger aquarium.A 2- to 3-inch gravel or sand/hermit crabsoil base should be used to line the bottomof your tank. Make sure your new hermitcrab’s home is able to maintain a moisturerate of about 70 percent. You might haveto mist it daily in order to ensure this.Temperature is possibly the most impor-

tant ingredient to a healthy and happy her-mit crab. Hermit crabs come fromwarmclimates, therefore their controlled climateneeds to be maintained at around 75 de-grees. Drafts are not your friendwith this pet.

Water quality is a must! Do not use hardwater that has high iron content. Bottledspring water is the safest. However, waterconditioner can be purchased to helpmodify your tap water to asafe alternative.Watermust be available at alltimes for the hermit crab.A small sponge should beplaced in a non-metalcontainer to providesafety and prevent possi-ble drowning.When feeding hermit

crabs, it is recommendedthat a good commercialfood be offered to givethem the necessary vita-mins and minerals theyneed to stay healthy. There are severalbrands available. Treats like coconut, ro-maine lettuce, apple or popcorn, may beoffered several times a week. A cuttlebone

or calcium block is also suggested as a cal-cium source.As your hermit crab grows, it will need

spare shells to grow into. They seem toenjoy moving into emptyshells as they search for thehome that feels the best.Hermit crabs are good

climbers and will enjoycoral or any type of non-resinous wood placed intheir aquarium to exerciseon.Like most other pets,

hermit crabs respond togentle care as they learnto trust their new owner.

LaDonna McCrary is theowner of Heads N’ Tails Pet & Feed Supply inBedford. For additional questions on hermitcrab care or supplies, contact her at814-623-8129. P

Water quality is amust! Do not usehard water that hashigh iron content.Bottled springwater is the safest.

Central PA Petsillustration byHannah Frank


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Editor’s note: In 2009, Mirror pet bloggerAmy Hanna interviewed best-selling novel-ist Dean Koontz, an Everett native, about histhen-new book, “A Big Little Life: A Memoirof a Joyful Dog Named Trixie,” written afterthe passing of his Golden Retriever, a formerservice dogwho had bounded into his life.Since then, Koontz’ Trixie-related projectshave taken on a life of their own, becominganother prodigious niche in his prodigiouscareer. In light of the Trixie phenomenon,which you can see for yourself atwww.deankoontz.com/trixie, we’re reprint-ing these excerpts from that interview.

AH: You say that Trixie taught you to‘trust your instincts’. How exactlywould you say she did that?

DK: She taught me many things. First, itwas a step-by-step process. One was mysense of wonder which had kind of dimin-ished over the years, and I had gottensomewhat cynical basically because ofthe way some people in your lives, inbusiness, try to take advantage of you.You get sort of cynical about things andthe publishing and movie business, espe-cially the movie business is not the mostgentlemanly in the world; but, watching

her I learned to trust my intuition the wayI watched her always trust hers. And, it al-ways did well by her.And, by intuition I mean not just some

natural instinct, I mean intuition that Godgives us when we’re born to know theright and the wrong way of things and tobe able to recognize the paths we need totake through life, not just making moraldecisions. We’re all given some talent orskill or ability if we’ll only recognize it andembrace it and I wasn’t using my writingskills or abilities to the fullest I don’t thinkuntil I had this dog.

Courtesyph

oto


AH: This is your first non-fic-tion book. You often say howyou drive your publisherscrazy by not wanting to live inthe limelight andmaintain anendless book tour scheduleyet you opened your heart inthis book and reveal to usvery touching personal ac-counts of your life.What in-spired you to do this?

DK:Well, at first we thought,who’s going to care about read-ing about me?! But, I know peo-ple love dogs and this was sucha special dog so I was able toopenmyself up to show howthis dog affected my life. It’s notreally an autobiography, it’s amemoir about this dog, aboutour life, so I also had to talk a lit-tle bit about who I am so peoplecould get a sense of whowewere before this dog came intoour lives.When I gave it

to Gerda (Koontz’swife, whom hemet at BedfordHigh) at the endof the book, sheread it. I said,“What do youthink?” (Shesaid…)“Well, firstof all you say toomany nice thingsabout me.”Well,yes, but maybeyou think I do butshowme one thatisn’t true. I couldn’tpush her to do that, of course, soshe decided she’d remain quietand not identify anything shethought wasn’t true; but it allwas true. She is wonderful andas a consequence I just thoughtit was wonderful, but again, shesaid, “Who will care about this?”I said, “I think they’ll care be-cause people care about dogsand dogs help us share the won-der of life and show you the sa-credness of life in a way andtouch your heart in a way veryfew people in your lives do andthat’s something that peoplewho don’t love dogs will neverunderstand.”

AH: I will always be baffledby those who can’t relate tothe unconditional love a dogcan bring to one’s life. If youcould instill one ‘Trixie trait’ totouch such a person in orderto have them be able to expe-rience this wonder, whatwould it be?

DK: I haven’t thought aboutthat one, but I think about thepeople who came to the housewhen we had Trixie who werenot dog people, how they re-acted to her great affection. Hertail wagging, her looking atthem earnestly and if she reallyliked them she’d give them hertummy; and, there’s somethingabout that that really melts yourheart. Then when somebodycame back the next time even ifit was months later she alwaysremembered that she’d metthem before and she greetedthemwith that greater exuber-ance that she’d greet an oldfriend with and that reallymoved a lot of people. They’dsay, “She recognizes me,”and I’dsay, “Yep she does.” It would sortof startle them I think. Peopledon’t understand the level of in-telligence in dogs. I think youhave to live with a really good,

smart dogthat’s welltrained (as theywant to be) –and, if dogsmake mistakesit’s becausethey haven’tbeen properlybrought up –they reallywant to dothings rightand please andonce you seetheir intelli-gence it’s eye

opening. It sends chills up yourback and you discover there’s apersonality in each one of themthat’s just as different as in ahuman’s personality exceptmost of them are nicer than hu-mans!After we lost her it was so

painful to Gerda she didn’t thinkshe could do it again but I knewwe would because once youhad that level of beauty in yourlife you just don’t want to bewithout it again.Blogger’s note: Eight months

after Trixie’s passing, Dean andGerda finally agreed they wereready to bring another dog intotheir lives. Twomonths later theirfriends at Canine Companions forIndependence introduced them totheir new Golden, Anna. And,after all of the years of somuchunexplainedmagic that Trixiebrought to their lives, it seemedsomewhat beyond coincidentalwhen it was discovered that Annawas Trixie’s great niece. P

Moreabout TrixieDean continues Trixie’slegacy through herownwebsite(www.deankoontz.com/trixie) designed tocommunicate andprovide a lightercommentary to herdad’s profession.

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PAOAGHIC: 006877

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