MetroPet January/February

MetroPet Jan/Feb 13 1/7/13 9:02 PM Page 1


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SSTRESSTRESS ANDAND YOURYOUR PPETSETS

We LoveOur Pets

January/February 2013

ARTICLES

5 Why Does My Dog Pull Me?

7 Product Showcase

8 What is Osteoarthritis?

10 Taking Away the Worry... So You Can Enjoy the Furry!

12 Jazz Up! Settle Down.

14 Preserve the Memory — Pet Portraits

17 We Love Our Pets

18 Look in the Mirror — Stress and Your Pets

21 National Train Your Dog Month

22 What’s in the Food Your Pets Eat?

24 Cats and Gum Disease

27 Cold Weather Tips

28 Fresh Start for a New Year!

30 Pawzlle

32 Chip’s Next Adventures

35 Pet Services Directory

Submit your

favorite pet’s photo atwww.metropetmag.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!MetroPet Magazine wishes you a Happy New

Year. The new year brings a sense of joy andhope for most people. We are ready to tacklenew resolutions and start fresh. If this is the

case for you, check out the article on page 28, AFresh Start for a New Year! It has some terrific ideas ofhow to include your furry friend in your new year resolu-

tions. January is National Train Your Dog Month.

Regardless of the age of your dog, or the length oftime he/she has been a part of your family, now is a

great time to refresh your training. Refreshment mighttake a few days, or a few weeks, but getting started is easy.

Read the article on page 21 and check out the tips atwww.trainyourdogmonth.com.

It’s cold outside. If you are going outside, remem-ber to wear a coat, gloves and a hat. But how do youprotect your furry friend in cold weather? Read the top

ten cold weather tips in the article on page 27. Do you hate going for a walk with your dog because

he literally pulls your arm off? There is a cure. See theeducational article on page 5 about a leash made right

here in Kansas City. These leashes have helped thousandsof families have a better relationship with their dogs.

PublisherBarbara [email protected]

Editor/ProductionManagerDan O’[email protected]

Magazine LayoutROI Marketing816.942.1600 • [email protected]

Advertising SalesAd Sales: 913.548.1433

Deals of the [email protected]

Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433Ad Sales: 913.548.1433Fax: 913.387.4313

Contributing AuthorsJim BartlettMike DeatheRon DayePat HennessyPawlean JourneHeddie LegerTeresa MillerJohn Rowe, DVM, CVAMary SellaroSusan TowerCheryl Waterman, CVPM

January / February 20134

Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPetMagazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration for publicationto [email protected]. All materials are subject to editorial review. © 2012 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Request reprint permissions at [email protected] Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.

Staff & Contacts

MetroPet Magazine

Have you visited a shelter lately? The KansasCity area now has two brand new facilities and a newretail location for a third shelter. Each facility is awe-some. If you are thinking about getting a pet — startshopping at the shelters. But save yourself some timeand visit their websites to view adoptable pets. If youalready own a pet, visit their retail locations to pur-chase treats, toys and other items. Profits from theseretail stores benefit the pets and the shelters.

New pet contest in 2013 — MetroPet will beannouncing a new pet contest in 2013. Completedetails will be in the March, 2013 issue.

We are still getting awesome pet photos. Check outthe latest photos on page 17. Please send us your won-derful photos and we will share them with others.

Sincerely,

Barbara Riedel, Publisher

P.S. Thanks to all advertisers and our readers for agreat 2012. We look forward to a terrific 2013!


BY RON DAYE

How many leashes, harnesses or headhalters have you purchased to try to stop your dog frompulling? How much time have you put into trying to makeyour dog heal? Wouldn’t it be nice to have one leash thatdoes it all? Wouldn’t it be nice to build a better relationship

between you and your dog?

There is such a leash. It was cre-ated by a Kansas City company calledRUN-Devue Leashes. And, there is a

philosophy to go with the leash! Andthe leash comes with a philosophy

to help you walk withyour dog.

Have you everwondered why your

dog likes to walk you? Why sometimes itseems hopeless that your dog will ever

walk with you? Do you get frustratedwhen it comes time for you to take

your dog to go potty or just asimple walking exercise.Have you taken your dog

for walks and after about20 minutes of tug of war yourdog starts walking with you, only to find the next time you go for a walk itstarts all over again?

A BIG DIFFERENCE

Look, PULLING is PULLING and WALKING is WALKING, there is a big dif-ference between the two. Have you spent a lot of money with a trainer butyou still don’t have the end result you were hoping for? Now don’t get mewrong there are a lot of wonderful dog trainers out there and some not somuch, but a lot of the same philosophy stands true with most trainers.

Whydoes my dog pull me?

“Consistency in Training” is one of the mostcommon pieces of advice from trainers. Some train-ers will have you stop and wait for your dog to cometo heal position and other trainers may have you stopand walk the other way, so your dog’s attention is onyou, which it should be. The “Consistency inTraining” comes from YOU not the trainer.

Howdo I stop it?

Look, PULLING isPULLING and WALKINGis WALKING, there isa big difference between the two.


January / February 20136 www.metropetmag.com

Here is an example: Today you trained with your dog exactlylike your trainer instructed. WOW, what a wonderful day of train-ing! You are in high spirits and life is good!

The next morning, however, you wake up late for work and thatday’s training class started something like this, “okay boy, quickly,quickly now, go potty, yup let’s go hurry now daddy is late forwork…”

So all of the training you just did yesterday was rewrittentoday… your consistency plan was just changed and so did yourdogs training.

There is one simple thing I would like to share with you andone of the biggest rules I can think of…Are you ready for it?

DOGS ARE TRAINED BY US!Our dogs are what we train them to be and everything we do

with our dogs is a training lesson!There are lots of smells, sites and attractions in the world that

drive dogs nuts. One of the biggest and most important thingsabout walking with your dog is YOU. Everything else in the worldshould be secondary when it comes time to walk with YOU. It trulyis a wonderful thing to have a dog that walks by your side and Iwill let you in on a little secret—your dog enjoys life with you byyour side just as much as when YOU let them walk YOU.Remember, our dogs are what we train them to be and everythingwe do with our dogs is a training lesson.

Our dogs are what we train themto be and everything we do withour dogs is a training lesson!


PULLING IS A NATURAL THING

Did you know: When our dogs pull us — we pullback on them — it is a natural reaction. As Newton’sthird law of motion says: To every action there is alwaysan equal and opposite reaction; or the forces of two bod-ies on each other are always equal and are directed inopposite directions.

So what does this mean? When your dog pulls, yournatural and opposite reaction is to pull back, so everytime this happens you are successful at training the fol-lowing:

1. Because you pull your dog backward you give yourdog something to pull against, so your dog canpull harder.

2. This is the most important part — by pulling yourdog backwards, YOU are reinforcing that pulling isa good thing, because you are doing the samething as your dog, but in the opposite direction.

WALKING NATURALLY

When most people walk with their dogs, especiallywhen their dog pulls, your body is tense; your arms arenaturally lifted, like you are some kind of body builderor prize fighter getting ready to do battle… LOL. This isnot the way you walk normally when you are not walkingyour dog… or is it??? Hmmmm…

Remember, our dogs are what we train them to beand everything we do with our dogs is a training lesson.What this means is this — if I learn to walk with mydog in the same manner I do when I don’t have mydog, my dog will learn to walk with me.

Now, I know this might seem weird, but the philoso-phy is correct. Walking with your dog shouldn’t be apulling match. Learn more about these leashes and howto stop your dog from pulling.

RUN-Devue Leashes were createdby Ron and Kim Daye. They havehelped over two thousand familiesgain better control over their pullingdogs and build a better relationshipwith their dogs. For complete detailsand to watch videos which demon-strate how the leashes work, visitwww.run-devue.com. Leashes can be ordered online orpurchased at local retail locations. Each leash soldcomes with a money back guarantee. If you have ques-tion or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us atanytime. We are ALL ABOUT SUPPORT!!!


RUN-DEVUE LEASHESRUN-Devue leashes havehelped thousands of dog ownersgain better control over theirpulling dogs. By being in bettercontrol of your dog, you enjoy abetter relationship and have moretime for Pawsitive Training! Stopbeing frustrated and stressed. Trya RUN-Devue leash. We haveTHOUSANDS of satisfied customers— money back guarantee! Notsure it will work for you? See thebefore and after online video atwww.run-devue.com.Order online at www.run-devue.com

Pet insurance is gainingpopularity. With it’s low costand comprehensive cover-ages many pet owners areopting to insure their furrycompanions. Trupanion PetInsurance offers low costoptions which can cover 90%of the veterinary costs thatarise from a pet getting sick

or injured. Details at www.trupanion.com.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

PET INSURANCE

A MUST READ BOOK!Are you pulling your hair out?Is Fido peeing and pooping in allthe wrong spots? Well Keep itSimple Stupid Dog Training’s DogOwner’s Book of Poop and Pee willshow you how to get Fido to “GO”in the right place, at the right timeand even improve the way the twoof you communicate. Buy theebook at www.amazon.com. Agreat holiday gift!Order online at www.amazon.com


MetroPet Magazine January / February 20138

BY JOHN E. ROWE, DVM, CVA

ASK A VET

Osteoarthritis is simply the ongoing degenera-tion of cartilage and joint fluid in variousjoints over time. It occurs in everyone tosome degree with the aging process. Bothgenetic and environmental factors play

key roles in its progression and prevention.

SIGNS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Many pets are slow to rise after sleeping or rest-ing. Stiffness in the legs and back may lessen withmovement. Short stilted gaits and sore muscles areoften observed. Cats may simply choose not to jumpas high or as often. It is important to note thatmost dogs and cats will now cry out in pain. Somemay exhibit subtle grunts and groans, while othersmay be agitated or grumpy.

It is important to note that most dogs andcats will not cry out in pain. Some mayexhibit subtle grunts and groans, while othersmay be agitated or grumpy.

WHAT TYPES OF ANIMALS ARE

AFFECTED?Any pet can be affected by OA. Seniors,

athletes, those with breed or genetic predis-positions and individuals who have suf-fered traumatic injuries are most com-monly impacted. Seniors most oftencome to mind, but most pets begin theprocess much earlier in life. Somechanges can be seen radiographicallyby six months of age! That is why prevention is the key.

OSTEOARTHRITIS? What is

WHAT CAN WE DO?Weight control is paramount. Did you

know that the heavier you are the moreinflammation you have in your joints? Newresearch has found that inflammatorymediators are produced in your fat reservesand cause inflammation throughout thebody. Exercise and diet can actually pre-

vent arthritis! If your pet isalready overweight, we can

easily reduce weight usingproper nutrition, probi-

otics, and healthy prod-ucts like Slentrol® tomanage appetite morenaturally.

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamins, antioxidants,glucosamine/chondroitin,omega-3 fatty acids, and chon-

droprotective agents (Adequan®) areessential for the healing proves to occur.As inflammatory mediators and free radi-cals damage cartilage and joint fluid,these agents reduce and remove free radi-

cals and stimulate new cellgrowth. Not all supplementsare created equal. Please ask

us for our recommendations.


9www.metropetmag.com MetroPet Magazine9

NSAIDSNon-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs have long been used for

arthritis pain and inflammation. Many people avoid their use fortheir pets, thinking they areunhealthy. However, research hasshown that judicious use of NSAIDSin low doses consistently can slowdown and reduce arthritis throughtime. It is important to note thathuman NSAIDS are not safe for use inpets. Veterinary formulations, such asRimadyl®, is thoroughly tested forlong term use as needed.

ACUPUNCTURE AND LASER

THERAPY

Many people are unaware of thetremendous benefits of these modali-ties. When using acupuncture andlaser therapy as part of a preventativehealth program, we simply use fewer pharmaceuticals! We can nat-urally reduce pain and swelling, stimulate circulation and healing,

and enable the body to rehabilitate much quicker than using con-ventional methods alone. Talk to us. We are here to help.

KEEP MOVING!Strong muscles mean more healthy joints and

better flexibility. Using a “whole body” philosophywhile combining contemporary and alternativemedicine is key in the preventative health and man-agement of every pet. Your involvement is veryimportant to your pets health. Together, we can livelonger, healthier lives.

Dr. John Edward Rowe owns AidAnimal Hospital, located in the Waldoarea at 8343 Wornall Road, KansasCity, MO. Dr. Rowe has been practicingveterinary medicine for over 20 years,incorporating western and easternmedicine in a cooperative approach tohealing and wellness. He and his wifehave two children and are pet parent

to four dogs, two adopted through Aid Animal Hospital, and two pet rats. Heis honored to work with knowledgeable and loving staff, who are crazyabout working with animals, as is Dr. Rowe.

When usingacupuncture andlaser therapy as partof a preventativehealth program, wesimply use fewerpharmaceuticals!



As pet owners prepare their resolutions for the new year, often money manage-ment and budgeting are high on the list. A new year is a great time to investin a family’s future, and that should also include the furry members of thefamily. Pet expenses can often be overlooked, but these expenses can add upthroughout the year. As budgets are easiest maintained if every expense is

accounted for, pet expenses must be included as a line item in a family budget.Most families understand the one-time expense of a new pet — the purchase price or

adoption fee, a new bed or place for the pet to sleep, toys to keep him busy, and a collarand leash for walks. They even understand the cost of the initial veterinary visit, whichensures the new pet is healthy and sets a baseline for future visits.

ONGOING EXPENSES

But it’s equally important to understand the ongoing expense of a pet. For instance,twice-yearly veterinary visits are necessary to maintain good pet health and catch healthissues early. Monthly flea and heartworm treatments will help ensure a happy pet and ahappy home, as will vaccinations (some yearly, some every two or three years). Food and ahealthy supply of treats are an obvious addition to the list, and this can vary from pet topet (cats eat much less than a Great Dane, for example). And then the cost of pet sitters,dog walkers, and other services may be needed for busy workweeks or during the holidays.While all of these activities can add up to hundreds of dollars a year or more, they are allexpected expenses that can easily be factored into a family’s budget.

BY JIM BARTLETT

Taking Awaythe Worry...

So You Can Enjoy the Furry

But then there isthe question ofunexpectedexpenses. Howdoes a pet ownerprepare for theunexpected trips tothe veterinarianbecause of an illness or injury?


www.metropetmag.com

UNEXPECTED EXPENSES

But then thereis the question ofunexpectedexpenses. Howdoes a pet ownerprepare for theunexpected tripsto the veterinarianbecause of an illness or injury? Everything from astop at the veterinarian for evaluation after arough encounter at the dog park, to a 3:00 a.m.dash to the emergency clinic with a cat that can’tstop vomiting — these sorts of issues come atunexpected times, and without proper financialplanning, pet owners could run up against insuf-ficient funds for proper care. This is even truerafter an expensive holiday season, when the creditcard bills start rolling in from holiday spending.

Pet insurance is a popular way to help protectfinances during these times. And with pet insur-ance, a family can include a line item in theirbudget for their monthly premium that in effectallows a family to budget for these unexpected

veterinary costs. Great insurance providers offer 90% coverage and no payoutlimits so pet owners can afford the very best care for their pets, without hav-ing to first consult credit card or savings account balances.

A new year means a fresh start. With a strong budget that includes lineitems for every member of the family, the new year can also mean morefinancial freedom and the chance to enjoy 2013 to the fullest.

Jim Bartlett is the Regional Partner for Trupanion, a petinsurance provider offering one simple plan with 90% cov-erage. Jim works with veterinarians throughout the KansasCity Metro and surrounding areas to help pet owners affordthe best and most appropriate care for their dogs and cats.Jim is the proud guardian of Murphy, a two-year-oldGerman Shepherd mix born on St. Patrick’s Day.

11MetroPet Magazine



OKso some of you are wondering (again), hasMikey lost his marbles for good this time?The answer, (I think) is no…not yet!Instead, we are heading into one of myfavorite games to teach dogs, JAZZ UP AND

SETTLE DOWN!The goal of this game is to use the idea of opposites to teach

Fido to calm down when he is acting crazy. Think about the abovequestion on the colors of black and white. They are opposites, sounderstanding one is really dependent on understanding the other.

Let me ask you a fewquest ions…1. Would you like a command to use when your

dog is completely bonkers?2. If you did not know what black looked like

would you understand the color white?3. How on earth can you teach a dog to calm down

if they don’t understand being crazy?

JAZZ UP

It works that way with all opposites. Would you understand noisywithout quiet, hot without cold or, for the more philosophical of youout there, ying without yang? Is it making more sense? Good, now backto dog training…

How on earth are we ever going to get a dog to calm down on com-mand without understanding what being crazy is? Simple, we aregoing to put both on cue and practice, practice, practice. All you aregoing to need is a kitchen table, your dog and some tennis shoes! Thegame goes something like this…you get Fido all sorts of crazy bychasing him around the kitchen table. Then all of a sudden you puton the brakes and run the opposite direction, this time letting Fidochase you. Right before he catches you, turn on a dime, face Fido andgive the settle down command! Now don’t expect a miracle here!Getting Fido to lie down and relax (to the point of being on his sideand getting a tummy rub) is not going to be easy or fast; but withpractice and patience the results will become better and come faster.

BY MIKE DEATHE

SETTLEDOWN!


want a dog who truly understands the command of “settledown” go get your tennis shoes and start not only training yourdog but also getting some exercise and having some fun with

him!

Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who foundhis passion as a dogtrainer in 2008. He isthe author of Keep ItSimple Stupid (K.I.S.S.)Pet Blog, and has writ-ten several books ondogs and dog training. As an avid pet lover, he reg-ularly sees dogs and cats that never find a home, so

in 2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz “R” Us, a t-shirt andpet product company with the motto of “Saving Pets...One T-Shirt ata Time.” In 2010, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (KISS) DOG TRAININGwas born. Since then Deathe has been teaching dogs and owners atBroadmore Kennels, located in Shawnee, KS. For more informationabout KISS or Muttz “R” Us visit us on Facebook, twitter or followthe blog at http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com. We can’t wait tohelp you speak dog as a second language.

Now for the kicker…once Fido is calmed down, get up and startthe game all over again with you chasing Fido around the tableand so on!

Not only is this game a lot offun for you and Fido, but itgives Fido a chance to learn“Jazz Up and Settle Down”which are both sides of the cointhat 100% of dog owners desper-ately want, but in many caseshave no idea how to get. Westand there with our humanbrains, yelling at our dog whenthey are being crazy, expectingthem to understand what wewant without even bothering to show them…That my friends isthe beauty of this game! The only time you are really going toneed the dog to “settle down” is in fact when they are crazy; andif we don’t practice the command while the dog is crazy, then canwe really expect it to work? Like all things in dog training, com-mon sense smacks us in the face as we realize that a silly game of“Jazz Up and Settle Down” practiced 3-4 times a week, unlocksone of the great mysteries of problem behaviors in dogs. So if you


How on earth are we evergoing to get a dog tocalm down on commandwithout understandingwhat being crazy is?



with a petportrait

Awell done pet portrait can memorialize your pet and remind you of why youlove them so much. A good artist can capture your pet’s personality in apainting but you have to give them a decent reference to begin with. To takea good photo of your pet, there are a few simple rules to follow.

1Be aware of the lighting. Outdoor natural lighting is best, and an overcast dayis the best of all. If it’s a sunny day, morning or afternoon is better because itgives a diagonal angle to the light and is softer than the up-and-down harsh-

ness of noon. If you’re taking pictures on a sunny day, make sure you have your back to the sun.

Facing the sun will cause your camera to read too much light and a whole exposure wewill be wrong.

Overcast days are best for pictures! You can take a good picture anytime of day andyou don’t have to worry about where the sun is located. You can also try using a flash onan overcast day if the picture seems a bit flat.

If you’re inside, take pictures with and without a flash. If the flash is the only light,it can create harsh shadows, redeye and give a startled appearance to your pet. The red-eye is easy enough to fix for an artist, but the harsh shadows are not. This aspect of flashlighting can be mitigated with other lamps turned on in the room (usually best for the

lamp itself not to be in the shot). Often thedaytime light from a window is enough tocreate an interesting indoor picture with-out a flash.

2Be aware of the angle you’re tak-ing the picture at. Crouch downand take the photo at the pet’s

eye level. A common mistake is to standabove your pet to take the picture.

3Include the whole body! Take amoment and look through thecamera lens to notice if every-

thing is included! Cut off feet and toes arenear impossible to re-create for the artist.If the best you have is a picture withoutthe feet, then the best the artist can do isput the feet in the grass as if it was meantto be that way in the first place. (Seephoto and painting above.)

4Send the artist the highest reso-lution photo you can. This isimportant so that the artist can

print a good of a reference for your paint-ing. Take a moment to understand yourcamera and its settings. Most digital cam-eras have a default setting of the lowest

BY SUSAN TOWER

PRESERVE THEMEMORIES!

Photo given to the artist.

Portrait created by the artist

Zues


resolution. It’s likely that you’ll need to changethat to be able to have a high-resolution photo-graph. Changing the settings doesn’t have to bedifficult. You just have to start out knowing thatit’s possible and that the manufacturer has triedit’s best to make it obvious and easy. You wantthe biggest file (the most memory) you can get.

5Capture your pet’s personality in thephotograph.Dogs are easy to pose, andif they have a little bit of training it’s

even easier. If your dog will sit when you tellhim, you can hold a treat and photograph theirrapt attention and excited alertness. If your dogdoes tricks or a unique task, get a picture ofthem doing that. For example if your dog isgreat at catching frisbees, take several pictures— one of them is likely to turn out.

You have to be a little bit more observant andsneaky when photographing a cat. They won’ttolerate being posed, and it’s laughable to askthem to sit or stay. However, you can engagethem by photographing them playing with afavorite toy or get their attention with a treat.


Better yet, take their picture in a favorite napping spot.

6The reference photo has to be in focus! Artists may be talented butthey’re not usually miracle workers. If they can’t see it, they can’tpaint it. It’s always a good idea to take several pictures to assure you

or your pet didn’t wiggle on a favorite pose.


7Multiple pets — adding a pet to apicture. If you want a pet portraitwith two or more pets but you don’t

have a good picture of them all together, agood artist can combine them but there are afew things to keep in mind.

The lighting and the angle of the shot arethe two most critical components. In otherwords if one photograph has strong lightingcoming from the left and the other one hasthe lighting coming from the right, that’sgoing to be very difficult to combine — it just won’t look right.


Also, if one of your references istaken at the pet’s eye level and theother one is taken from above, thatwon’t work either.

It’s ideal to take several photo-graphs of the pets in the same sit-ting at the same angle with thesame lighting. This way it’s easy forthe artist to interchange heads, toesand tails to make the perfect pet

portrait. To submit your pictures, email or snail mail your images to

the artist. Once your photos are submitted, the artist shouldcontact you to discuss the images and to give you a timeline forcompletion. A 50% deposit is usually expected at the initialstage, with the balance due upon completion.

Susan Tower is a professional illustrator and art instructor liv-ing in Prairie Village. When she graduated from college in GrandRapids, MI, Hallmark Cards, Inc. moved her to Kansas City whereshe worked as a designer for several years. Susan has alwaysloved animals and used to show horses in the dressage and hunterjumper circuits of Michigan. She has been a happy collie ownerand she now lives with just two rascally cats.

It’s ideal to take severalphotographs of the petsin the same sitting atthe same angle with thesame lighting.



WRIGLEY AND STORMY

Wrigley is a labradoodle; Stormieis a Black Tabby! Wrigley loves to puthis arm around Stormie to cuddle uptogether and go to sleep on our bed.Now that Wrigley is growing up ourother cat, Sunshyne has finallywarmed up to him.

Submitted by Brandi S.

DODGER

I adopted Dodger, a 1 year old chocolatecocker, about a month ago, so this is his veryfirst experience with snow. I think he likes it!Submitted by Cindy B.

BELLA This is Bella just sleeping on herfavorite chair. Good think she didn’t wat upwhen I was taking the picture. Bella is as sweetas she looks! Submitted by Hannah M.

Our PetsWeSubmit your favorite pet’s photo

at www.metropetmag.com

SUZEE

Suzee likes to “smile” in the mornings and talk to herfive other sheltie sisters/brothers. She loves to get in the toy box atnight and chew on many at once. Submitted by Lisa M.

WILLOW

Willow came to our familyas a rescue, she was mal-nourished and a bit scaredbut quickly became part ofthe family. We love her somuch and each day shebrings us a smile! We can’timagine our lives withouther sweet face and funnypersonality!

Submitted by Amanda T.



tions. The dog might sit with his back to you, approachlow-like crawling while wagging tail, coming to you in anarc instead of straight on, freeze-like a statue, paw or sniff.

How a person deals with stress in their personal lifecan often predict their ability to help their dog learn tocope. If a person meets life head on and deals with life’sissues, even though it may be difficult for a while, theirdog most likely will be comfortable in new situations. Aperson who can handle a high level of stress learns thereare ways to cope. On the other hand, if a person runs fromthe problems of life and can’t face challenges, their dogmost likely will become fearful in new situations. A per-son, who cannot handle stress, panics and runs away whenhe is forced to cope. When the person who has no copingskills is finally forced to become accountable, and thereare no other options, unpredictable reactions can occur.

It really doesn’t matter how you say it; stress is a fact of life. Dogs,like people, experience stress. It is often a very difficult process tosuccessfully learn to cope, recover, and then gain the confidence toface the world all over again.

Dogs have very complex and subtle communication skills. A humanhas the ability to talk about and communicate their feelings throughthe use of verbal language. A dog, however, does not have the ability tospeak and communicates their fears through body language.Unfortunately, humans often either misinterpret their dog’s signals orneglect to monitor their dog’s reactions in certain situations.

Since dogs are experts in reading body language, they will quicklylearn to read what humans are feeling and will quickly learn to react toyou and the environment. If you are tired, sad, worried, frustrated orstressed, a dog will be alert to these emotions. It is very common for adog to try to help you feel better or calm down. A dog uses calming sig-nals to diffuse a situation in both dog to dog and dog to human situa-

MirrorLook in the

STRESS.PRESSURE.ANXIETY.

BY MARY SELLARO



A dog who doesn’t have the ability tocope, or if their signs of stress are ignored ormisinterpreted, can become so fearful an actof aggression can occur or a dog will simplyrefuse to be in a place, situation or aroundpeople which once seemed familiar. Lookingat a situation where this occurs, human anddogs are usually at the opposite end of thespectrum in thinking. In the dog’s mind, hehas given a sufficient amount of signals tothe human which should have been“caught.” To the human, the dog’s reactioneither leaves them confused or is considered“out of the blue.”

RECOGNIZING STRESS

Can you tell if your dog is experiencinganxiety? Do you watch your dog’s reactionsin all situations? If the answer is “no” or“sometimes,” this needs to change immedi-ately. It is your responsibility to understandwhat is happening in your dog’s head andconsistently react before it reaches a criticalmoment. (See chart at right for symptomsto watch for in your pet.)

BODY

• Stiff-muscles tense• Appears “weary” or tired• Body low to the ground-as if trying

not to be noticed• Tail low-may wag differently• Hackles up

SOUND

• Whining• Barking

MOUTH

• Panting with tight or wide openmouth

• Lip licking• Yawning• Teeth chattering• Drooling

EYES

• Whites exposed• Pupils dilated• Turning head away to avoid eye con-

tact• Squinting• Glazed over• Blinking

FACE

• Worried look-wrinkled brow• Ears back

POSTURE

• Scratching, sniffing, stretching• Stops-reluctant or refuses to move• Wants to leave area or situation• Sweating through pads• Continuous jumping up or clawing• Circling-seems to be seeking direction

WATCH FOR THESE SYMPTOMS


January / February 201320 20www.metropetmag.com

RESOLVING THE PROBLEM

When signs of stress are observed, having a plan and knowinghow to react will help your dog learn to cope and trust your judg-ment in stressful situations.

• Take a break-move out of the area or situation; far enoughaway so you see the dog visibly relax. A change of environmentcan help the dog calm down and refocus. If space allows, take awalk or play a low-keyed game to change the dog’s frame of mind.

• Make sure you are relaxed yourself-stay calm. Humans canuse calming signals back to dogs-take a deep breath, avoid directeye contact with the dog-look away, yawn, and blink your eyes orstretch.

• Redirect the dog with obedience exercises. Training will helpkeep the dog’s mind busy on working instead of being anxious.

• Keep conversation upbeat and light-do not smother withsympathy. Empathy is key-identify with the dog and help him getpast his fears.

• Seek the advice of a trainer if the dog’s anxiety continues toget worse or does not subside.

OBEDIENCE TRAINING

Training provides structure and predictability for a dog.Everyone, both dogs and humans, are more comfortable whenrules are clear and expectations are consistent and carried outfairly.

Dogs are not humans; they think and react differently than wedo. People must take the time to understand how a dog thinks andinterprets the human world they live in.

While we cannot protect our dogs from ever having a stressfulmoment, we can teach them there is an alter-native.

Mary Sellaro hasbeen training dogssince 1990. She hastaught group and pri-vate lessons frompuppy throughadvanced. Mary hasalso worked with dog owners on behavioralissues, including aggression. She developedand implemented a training class program forRetired Greyhounds as Pets. Mary has been thetemperament test evacuator for the Children’sMercy Hospital’s Pet Pal Program since 1997.Mary is now the Director of Training forPooches Paradise Daycare and Resort in theWaldo area of Kansas City. Mary is a certifiedAmerican Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenevacuator.

Since dogs are experts inreading body language...



Please join the Association of Pet Dog Trainers(APDT) in celebrating National Train Your DogMonth! The 2013 celebration will be better thanever!

INCREASE THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DOG

The Association of Pet DogTrainers (APDT) promotes thecaring bond and relationshipsbetween people and their dogs.The organization works toincrease public awareness ofdog-friendly training tech-niques. Unfortunately, thereare many thousands of dogsthat are relinquished to ani-mal shelters due to lack oftraining or due to owners notknowing how to deal withbehavior issues. Often ownersare at a loss as to finding a reliable resource to help them. TheAPDT has designated the month of January as National TrainYour Dog Month to bring awareness to the importance ofsocialization and training. More important than all, the goalis to inform the public that training your dog can be simpleand enjoyable!

January has been selected as National Train Your DogMonth because so many dogs and puppies are adopted andbrought home during the winter holidays. Within a few weeks, the adorablenew addition to the family becomes a challenge to live with and the sheltersbegin to fill. The goal of National Your Dog Month is to help these new petparents start off the new year with their newest family member in the bestway possible.

The APDT hopes that the every dog owner, shelters, and other profession-als in the pet care community will visit the event website (www.trainyour-dogmonth.com), to learn more about how easy and fun training can be. “Itis the APDT’s belief that a better understanding of dog behavior can lead tohappier, healthier and harmonious households for humans and canines.”For more information, visit www.apdt.com.

The goal of National TrainYour Dog Month is to helpthese new pet parents startoff the new year with theirnewest family member inthe best way possible.

with information provided the APDT

National TrainYour Dog Month

APDT CELEBRATESNATIONAL TRAIN YOUR

DOG MONTH!For more information about

National Train Your Dog Month orthe Association of Pet Dog Trainersvisit www.apdt.com or theFacebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/NationalTrainYourDogMonth?v=wall

BY HEDDIE LEGER


You look at the labels of the foodsyou buy for your family, right?Have you looked at the labels onthe food products you buy foryour four-footed family members

recently?If you haven’t, do it now. What are the

main ingredients? Where is the productactually made? Where are the ingredientssourced?

The question you may have (just as Idid 10 years ago when I began reading thelabels on my own food) is, "What am Ilooking for?"

ORIGIN

The best place tostart with any pet foodor treat is to determinewhere the product ismade. The UnitedStates and Canada havemuch tighter regulations on what can beused in pet food than Brazil or China,although even our regulations still allow

for the inclusion and use of ingredientsyour pets just don’t need.

INGREDIENTS

What is the first ingredient in the foodor treat? Is it corn, wheat, soy or someother filler that can be used to increaseprotein levels? Your pets will do better withdigestible meat protein sources such aschicken, beef, lamb or other meat proteins.The word "meal" following a protein sourcespecifies a meat protein source that is con-centrated, and that is just fine.

Keep in mind that meat proteins havedifferent quality levels. Your pet food com-

pany is not required to indicate these levelson their packaging, so find a company youtrust to select the highest quality protein

ingredients. It’s just like selecting meat atthe grocery store — prime or choice gradesare far superior in protein and digestibilitythan lower grade meats. If you aren’t surewhich manufacturers are best, talk with anutrition expert at your independent petshop. Remember that flashy advertisingdoesn’t always mean the highest quality petfood. There are many, many pet food com-panies in the industry and most have lotsof information on their websites, so do alittle research into their quality standardsand testing to find a company with whichyou are comfortable.

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE USED

What should NOT be in your pets’ foodis as important as what’s in it. I personal-ly shy away from vague terms like poultryand animal. I like my pets’ proteinsources to be specific — duck, chicken,turkey — not just what is available on

the market that day. Poultry may be chick-en, turkey, duck and/or “animal”; you canjust guess at the mystery meat.


WHAT’S IN THE

FOOD YOUR

PETS EAT?

BY TERESA MILLER

The best place to start with anypet food or treat is to determinewhere the product is made.


Ingredients like corn hulls and brewersrice are simply fillers with little nutritionalbenefit. You’ll find that waste in your backyard. Why pay for something your pet does-n’t use? You will find that foods with quali-ty ingredients recommend feeding less forthe same nutritional requirements? That’sbetter for your pet’s digestion as well as lessfor you to clean up. In a similar manner,forget the artificial colorings. Your petdoesn’t like food because of its color.Believe me, they will like a meat-based foodmuch better!

Last but not least, by-products. By-products are not an essential part of yourpet’s diet; they are a cheap ingredient usedto increase protein levels. By-products arethe parts of an animal like bones, blood,intestines, lungs, ligaments and almost allthe other parts not generally consumed byhumans. These parts can be ground togeth-er and sold as by-products for pet foods,and the composition often varies frombatch to batch.

THE FINAL WORD

You make decisions about your diet ona daily basis to keep you healthy andhappy. Your pets rely on you to make thosedecisions about their diets. Take a littletime to find out what is in the food yourbuying and where it comes from. Ask ques-tions; call your pet foods manufacturer andothers; go to an independent pet store andtalk with their staff about the best choicesfor your pets. There are likely several goodanswers to what works best for your pets soconsider rotating from food to food everycouple of bags to give your pets variety andthe benefits of each pet food. Eating thesame diet every day for the rest of theirlives, regardless of how healthy, can causeissues. Find a set of foods your pet likesand that you trust and start a rotation pro-gram today. Good foods don’t have to costmore if you know what to look for.

Teresa Miller is founder and president ofTreats Unleashed, a natural pet supplies

store with a focus onproviding healthychoices for pets. Whileliving in New York City,Teresa had grownaccustomed to feedinghigh-quality, all-natural pet food to theirtwo dachshunds, Max and Mickey. Aftermoving back to St. Louis, her hometown,Teresa was unable to find the health-centricproducts that she knew contributed to herpets’ good health. Teresa and her husband,Ian, started Treats Unleashed, the naturalplace for pets, a brick-and-mortar shop forpet parents to learn about holistic choicesand alternatives for their pets. TreatsUnleashed was started in 2001 and hasgrown from a small kiosk in a local mall,Treats Unleashed is a thriving company withmore than 45 employees, seven retail loca-tions and an active wholesale and onlinetreat business. She and Ian recently adopteda new dashound, Cooper.



Let me give you a clue, the answeris the same for both questions! Itis periodontal disease.

85% OF CATS AFFECTEDUnfortunately, periodontal disease

affects 85% of all cats older than 3,according to the American AnimalVeterinary Dental Society. Yet onlyabout 1% of affected cats receive prop-er dental care, according to the AAHA(American Animal HospitalAssociation) Compliance Study. And,unfortunately, the diagnosis and con-trol of this disease is often the ONE BIGTHING that can make a difference inyour cat’s overall health and well-being.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITYYour first responsibility, as a good


cat owner, is to make cer-tain that your veterinarian isdoing a thorough and com-plete oral assessment dur-ing your cat’s annual orsemi-annual wellness exam.He or she should be able togive you an assessmentranging from Grade 1through 4, as to the level ofdental disease in your cat’smouth. No. 1 being the mildest gingivi-tis to No. 4 being extreme periodontaldisease with a need for extractions. Ifyour veterinarian is not checking yourcat’s mouth, ask him or her to do itand to give you some type of assess-ment.

IT IS A BIG DEALYou may ask “why is this such a big

deal?” It’s a “big deal” because peri-odontal disease plays a huge part in

your cat’s overall health. It can have astrong negative effect on not only yourcat’s ability to eat pain-free and hisbreath, but on his or her essential inter-nal organs, such as heart, kidneys, andliver. Unchecked plaque in your cat’smouth (as in your own) allows harmfulbacteria to flourish and overgrow, whichcauses periodontal disease.

These harmful bacteria enter thebloodstream through lesions in yourcat’s gums. And the worst thing about itis that it doesn’t always take the pres-

Catsand GumDiseaseQUESTIONS:

• What is the No. 1 disease seen in generalveterinary practice?

• What’s the most under diagnosed anduntreated disease seen in veterinary?

Unfortunately, periodontaldisease affects 85% of allcats older than 3, accordingto the American AnimalVeterinary Dental Society.

BY CHERYL WATERMAN, CVPM



ence of advanced disease for this to take place. Ofcourse, once in the bloodstream, these bacteria travelthroughout the body, and can have an extremely harmfulimpact on your cat’s organs. Kidney disease, heart dis-ease and liver disease are all things we want to avoid, ifat all possible.

A HUGE IMPACT ON A CAT’S HEALTHTo illustrate my point that dental health is so impor-

tant, I want to share a story that Dr. Schomacker sharedwith me recently. As we all know, cats are extremelystoic animals and do not show symptoms or pain, evenwhen they may feel really bad. This particular patientwas new to our clinic, and in fact, had not seen a veteri-narian in quite some time. The owner apologized for herkitty’s grumpy behavior, saying that he used to be great,but since he’d gotten older he was getting very grumpy.(By the way, we don’t look at old age as a disease.)

Dr. Schomacker wasn’t concerned, she’s used tounhappy patients, however, she actually wasn’t able toexamine him without using a little gas anesthe-sia. Once she was able to proceed and beganthe examination, Dr. Schomacker, starting at thetip of his nose. She opened his mouth and thereshe found that he not only had severe periodon-tal disease, but 8-9 teeth needed to be extract-ed. (A panoramic x-ray would show us exactlywhat was going on beneath the gum line andclarify any questionable need for extractions.)

The owner felt bad that they hadn’t known heneeded the procedure, and promptly made theappointment for the dentistry and extractions.The procedure was done and the owner wasscheduled to bring her cat in for a follow-upexam. Upon seeing that this kitty, which hadbeen totally untouchable, was coming in for hisfollow-up post dental appointment, Dr.Schomacker was somewhat concerned.

We really don’t like to have to anesthetize apatient for just a follow-up. However, when theowner arrived with her kitty and Dr.

The difference in his attitude?He was no longer in, whatmust have been, horrendouspain!


Schomacker went into the exam room (expecting the worst), Mr.Grumpy had turned into Mr. Sweetie. He was walking around theroom with his tail up, and immediately walked over and beganrubbing against Dr. Schomacker’s legs. The difference in his atti-tude? He was no longer in, what must have been, horrendouspain! She was able to examine his mouth with no problem what-soever.

STORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELFThe above story speaks for itself. I cannot stress this point enough, if your kitty

hasn’t had a thorough oral exam in the past year, do him or her a favor, makean appointment and get them into your veterinarian as soon as possible. You willthank yourself, and your faithful companion will be very grateful that he or sheisn’t in pain any longer. And, most important, your cat will be living a healthier,happier life.

Cheryl Waterman is the Hospital Administrator at the Cat Clinic ofJohnson County and a long-time cat lover. She has been with the Clinicfor the past 13 years, and in 2007 received Certification in VeterinaryPractice Management (CVPM) designation. She is a member of theVeterinary Hospital Managers Association and the American AnimalHospital Association. You can contact her directed at the Cat Clinic ofJohnson County, (913) 541-0478.

January / February 201326 www.metropetmag.com

December Pawzzle Answers

...if your kitty hasn’t had athorough oral exam in the pastyear, do him or her a favor,make an appointment...

Call Us With Question If you have any questions regarding kittens or cats, please call the CatClinic of Johnson County, 913-541-0478. We are always happy to help.


www.metropetmag.com

Top 10 ColdWinter Care Tips

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze,become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who areallowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, includ-ing rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleepunder the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, thecat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are out-door cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood beforestarting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice,especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose theirscent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost dur-ing the winter than during any other season, so make sureyours always wears ID tags.

4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomachwhen he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. Hecan ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerouschemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads mayalso bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, asa longer coat will provide more warmth. When youbathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry himbefore taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Considergetting him a coat or sweater.

6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weath-er. A car can act as a refrigerator in thewinter, holding in the cold and causing theanimal to freeze to death.

7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold aswell as adult dogs, and may be diffi-cult to housebreak during the winter.If your puppy appears to be sensitive tothe weather, you may opt to paper-trainhim inside. If your dog is sensitive to thecold due to age, illness or breed type, takehim outdoors only to relieve himself.

8. Does your dog spend a lot of timeengaged in outdoor activities?Increase his supply of food, particularlyprotein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.

9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethalpoison for dogs and cats. Be sure tothoroughly clean up any spills from yourvehicle, and consider using products thatcontain propylene glycol rather than ethyl-ene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal PoisonControl Center more information.

More pet care information can be found onthe ASPCA website at www.aspca.org

10. Make sure your companion animal has awarm place to sleep, off the floor andaway from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bedwith a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

27MetroPet Magazine


January — a time for renewal,a time to reflect on where youare and where you want to be.It is a time to make changestoward reaching your goals.

If your goal is to improve orstrengthen relationships and spend more timewith the ones that matter, such as family andfriends — that should include your furry orfeathered family members as well. They justwant our attention, affection, and companion-ship and in return will give us an endless sup-ply of unconditional love. No matter what thespecies or breed of your animal companion,there are activities you can do together.TTouch® is a wonderful method of gentletouch with a focused intent on improving well-being, while calming and relaxing both youand your companion, thus creating a greatbonding experience.

If your goal is to improve yourhealth don’t forget your canine companions.They could use some cardiovascular motiva-tion and positive stimulation. If you are look-ing to lose weight or tone muscle, take Brunoalong for a power walk or jog. If the weatherwon’t allow for an outdoor exercise regimen,then include Sadie when you work out to yourfavorite aerobics or dance video. She’ll getused to the music and if you put words to yourmoves the two of you could become a“freestyle” dance team. If you are looking toimprove posture and balance then you mightwant to consider yoga, which will improvemental state as well. If you want to get Brunoand Sadie in on the act, put words to thosemovements and next thing you know you will

FRESH START

be doing doggie yoga. They could be models if you take them to a Doga class. Youcan get Ginger kitty in on the act as well, by including her in a Meowoga class.Cats are naturals at yoga!

If your goal is to work on family manners with Bailey, well congratula-tions! Adding words to his vocabulary will give you more options for communica-tion, and that is a noble goal. The bigger his vocabulary, the easier it is for you toget his attention, redirect a behavior, and have fun and meaningful interactions.

MetroPet Magazine28

for the

NEW YEAR


are more expensive, but will save you in the long term bykeeping Max healthier over his lifespan. It will also saveyou time and effort in cleaning up smaller piles of output.

As you bid Auld Lang Syne to 2012 and set your goalsfor the New Year you can find a way to partner with youranimals to achieve those goals. They are an intricate partof your life. They bring joy to you every day (even improv-ing your health). They bring you comfort in your hour ofneed. They deserve to be a part of your goals as they are apart of your life’s journey. Cheers!

Pat Hennessy is the founder ofN2paws, LLC, an organization thatprovides a holistic approach to com-panion animal care through behavioreducation, energy work, and positivetraining methods. Pat is a Level 2TTouch® practitioner, CPDT, ACDBC,and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contactN2Paws via email [email protected], phone 816-522-7005,or visit the website www.n2paws.com.

If you think “come”, “sit”, “down”, and “stay” is all he needs to know,then consider “get it”, “leave it”, “wait” (which is different than stay),“quiet” or “calm”, and the possibilities are endless. “Get it” can come inhandy if you need him to go pick something up and bring it to you.“Leave it” can save his life if you ever come across something dangerousor disgusting that you don’t want him near. “Wait” is a good one for get-ting his attention and asking him to hold on for a minute, while you fin-ish something, gather up items, etc. It is different from “stay”, which isasking him to stay in one place until released. Many of the words thatyou could teach would encourage the kind of responses you might wantfrom any other member of your family, so why not teach them to Bailey?

If your goal is is to save money, you can sew up some of Max’sold dog toys and recycle them by letting him tear them up again. Youcan take toys that Max doesn’t play with and donate them to local ani-mal rescue organizations (along with old towels, sheets, office supplies,and other items from the “wish lists” that you have around the house -this will help you get more organized if that item is on your New Year’sresolution list). You can start a savings account for Max and put $10-20a month in it to help pay for any unexpected expenses that come up (andif you are lucky enough not to have any, then you will have a nice nestegg for Max’s senior years when you will need to add supplements to hisdiet and get a blood profile annually). You can save money by purchas-ing a high quality food for Max (one that is grain-free and/or containsspecific meats, excluding “by-product” and “meat-meal”). These foods




Ch

ip’s

Cor

ner

PAWZZLEBY PAWLEAN JOURNE

For tips on the answers to this pawzzle, read the story aboutthe Chips Adventure article on page 32.



Across:

7. Chip loved the smell of the___________ and cows.

8. What state is Chip trying toremember?

9. We all need help from ourfamily and _________ some-times.

10. Chip would need help fromhis friends and some________ to move forwardwith his plan.

12. Official state mascot andbutterfly is the Eastern Tiger______________.

14. Chip decided to look for-ward to the __________,rather than feel sorry forhimself about his past.

16. With determination, self-dis-cipline and lots of effortdreams can become_______________.

17. His mother would say, "It’soften the _________ key inthe bunch that opens thelock."

18. Something Chip needed tofollow in order to succeed.

22. Chip became homeless dueto a horrible______________.

23. Continuing to give your besteffort, even when faced withobstacles and rejection.

Down:

1. What breed of dog is Chip?2. In episode 10 the paramedics saved the old dog by

using a ____________ to help him breath.3. Chip lost his mother and family which made him an

__________.4. One thing Chip really does not like.5. Hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things

you want to see happen.6. Who would Chip and Penelope need to convince to be

able to follow his plan?11. Who was Chip most wanting to find?13. Official gemstone Star Blue __________________.15. Chip remembered his mother saying — don’t be

_______________.18. Who did Chip need to convince first to help him with

his plan?19. color of the background of the flag in the story.20. Color of the cross on the flag in the story.21. What was the animal Chip’s owner would hunt?

Clues for this pawzzle can be found in Chapter10 Recap and Episode 1 on pg 32.


MetroPet Magazine • JULY / AUGUST 2012 January / February 201332

GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

TO ALL OF CHIP’S FRIENDS ~During 2012, we followed Chip’s Adventures

as he found his way through challenge afterchallenge in finding a new life, new friends and anew family. We learned about perseverance, self-discipline and honesty, the value of a sense of humor,courage, gratitude and loyalty, cooperation, respect,responsibility, citizenship, gratitude and the gift of giving andcaring. This year we continue Chip’s Adventures as he maturesand decides to find out about his original family and where he camefrom. Chip adapted well to being an orphan, but in his heart has a long-ing to find his mother, and any other family members, if he can. In the coming year,we will follow Chip’s Adventures as he travels, sometimes to new places, sometimesto places already visited. Will Chip find his mother and family this year? Stick withChip’s Adventures to find out.

A NEW ADVENTURE!In my heart, I knew I needed to find out if my mother and family had survived

the storm. I remembered a horrible storm, a black box, lots of water and beingscared, but not much more. Even though I have a wonderful life and wonderfulfriends and family, it haunts me day and night, not knowing what happened to myfamily. Not that I lost sleep or anything like that, but still it was on my mind a lot. Irealize there is nothing I can do about the past, but am dedicated to finding out the

answers to my questions inthe future. I need to form aplan and see if I can con-vince at least Penelope andAllen to be an advocate forme and convince their par-ents that a trip could be inour future to find my longlost family. Having an ideais one thing, but being dedi-cated to seeing it through toreality is quite a differentthing. I realize it will take a

AdventureNext

Chip

’s

RECAP FROM EPISODE 10Gift of Giving — The ambulance

was driven by dad, and he and his part-ner got out and had a special facemaskfor dogs, they were giving CPR to the olddog and had the oxygen mask on him.Turns out they were prepared for anyproblem whether it was a human or ani-mal. I breathed a sigh of relief.

They looked over at me with worryand relief on their faces all at the sametime. They saw that I had given the giftof my time to get help for the old guy.They had given him the gift of lifethrough their actions and as I watchedthem carefully lift him onto a gurney, Irealized that no act of kindness no mat-ter how small was wasted. Each andevery positive action to help another liv-ing thing has a ripple effect to make lifebetter in an exponential amount yet tobe measured.


good bit of work, an investment of time, and could even involve somemoney which I of course do not have, so I will definitely need the sup-port of my friends and family. So here is my initial plan. Let me knowwhat you think. First, I will come up with an idea to raise some moneyto help cover some of the cost. I will have to convince Penelope andAllen to help me do that. Then, looking at the time of year, we will needto come up with a plan for travel where we won’t run into horribleweather that could causeproblems. Finally, we willneed to look at the mapand form a plan of a routeto travel. We will need tostay dedicated to the planin order to succeed, butthese three steps will makeall the difference. It alwayshelps to have a plan.

I really did not knowwhere to start, but one thing I do remember is that one day before thestorm, I noticed a flag flying on a pole. The flag had a white back-ground with a crimson St. Andrew’s cross, crossing diagonally from cor-ner to corner. I heard someone say onetime that the official gemstonewas a Star Blue Quartz, but I don’t know what that is. My old ownerused to go hunting for turkey and said that the Eastern Wild Turkey wasa sought after prize to hunt, but I did not like guns so never went withher. I never understood what this meant, but learned before the stormthat the Official State Mascot & Butterfly is the Eastern TigerSwallowtail. It makes me feel good that some of these memories arecoming back. Maybe they will help me find where I came from. I don’tremember it ever being cold, but then I was a very young pup.

www.metropetmag.com

DISCUSSION STORY TIPS

1) Do you know anyone that is anorphan, whether it be a two or fourfooted friend?

2) How can you be a friend to that per-son?

3) Have you ever lost anyone you lovedwhether two or four footed, furry orfeathered?

4) How did you feel? 5) People suffer losses every day. It is

how they deal with it and the sup-port they receive that makes all thedifference. What kind of support didyou receive?

Heddie Leger, aCertified HumaneEducation Specialist(CHES), is Director ofCommunity Programsand Volunteers for GreatPlains SPCA. Her lifelongpassion for animal welfare has taken her down thepath of rescue, rehabilitation, training and rehomingof many animals through the Missouri Puppies forParole Program. She is a charter member of theHeartland Positive Dog Training Alliance and KCRepresentative for Animals and Society Institutethrough the KC-CAN Link Coalition. She can bereached at [email protected].

ACTIVITY

From the clues in the story, can you guess whichstate Chip is trying to find?

Read a poem about the Rainbow Bridge. Write yourfeelings about loss of a loved one. Share if you arecomfortable. If not, think about how you can sharewith others. Made a dedicated effort to help someonethat has lost a loved one.

WEBSITES THAT CAN HELP• www.aplb.org • http://pet-loss.net/

We all have dreams. But inorder to make dreams come intoreality, it takes an awful lot ofdetermination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”

Jesse Owens, American Athlete4 time Gold Medalist in Track andField at the 1936 Olympic Games

33MetroPet Magazine


January / February 2013343434 www.metropetmag.comwww.metropetmag.com

Pet Services Directory

KELLI COOPERATTORNEY AT LAW

201 East Loula • Olathe, KS913-254-7600 www.kellicooperlaw.comKelli assists clients with family law, criminaldefense and animal law. She is a passion-ate pet advocate and skilled trial attorney.

Camp Bow Wow, Lee’sSummit 1010 SE Hamblen RoadLee’s Summit, MO 816-246-7833 www.campbowwow.com/us/mo/leessummitAt Camp BowWow your pups reap the ben-efits of exercise and socialization whilehaving lots of fun romping & playing withtheir canine friends.

Attorney at Law

Daycare & Boarding

Camp Bow Wow, Olathe1150 W. 151st Street Olathe, KS913-322-2267 www.campbowwow.com/us/ks/olathe/ Rest assured knowing your camper iswell taken care of at all times whetheryou are gone for one day, overnight or foran extended period.

Dogs World of Fun220 W 31st St Kansas City, MO816-931-5822www.dogsworldoffun.com/ Dog’s World of Fun staff have a passion forworking with animals. It’s a special placewhere pets enjoy grooming, daycare &boarding!

Pooches in Paradise7200 WyandotteKansas City, MO816-361-3388www.poochesparadise.comPooches Paradise was created with your dogsneeds in mind. We are dedicated to offering thefinest in boarding, daycare, obedience trainingand spa treatments. New location — one blockoff Wornall, on 72nd Street.

Treats Unleashed4209 West 119th St.Leawood, KS913-451-2000www.treats-unleashed.comTreats Unleashed is a gourmet pet special-ty store with an in-store bakery. It alsooffers a full line of pet supplies & food, aself-serve bath area & grooming services.

Arbor Creek AnimalHospital 15971 S. Bradley Rd Olathe, KS • 913-764-9000www.acanimalhospital.comWe believe that every pet has a differentset of healthcare needs. Utilizing a blend oftraditional medicine and holistic veterinarygives everyone options!

Aid Animal Hospital 8343 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO816-363-4922www.aidanimalhospital.comFor 37 years, Aid Animal Hospital has pro-vided quality veterinary medical & surgicalservices to Waldo and entire Kansas Cityarea. We pride ourselves on quality cus-tomer service.

AmericanMidwestDistributors820 Atlantic StreetNorth Kansas City, MO • 816-842-1905www.americanmidwestkc.comA local distributor which supplies localstores with Earthborn and ProPac petfood, and various other products.

Pet Food Distribution

Pet Memorial Services

Lee’s Summit Subaru 2101 NE. Independence AveLee’s Summit, MO 816-251-8600www.leessummitsubaru.com This pet friendly dealership offers a wideselection of new and used Subaru’s at lowprices. Check out our service department.

N2Paws 816-522-7005www.N2PAWS.com N2paws is your progres-sive pet partner, providingattunement through a variety of tech-niques to balance the body, mind andspirit of your companion animal.

Pet Food, Supplies, Grooming Veterinarians

Rolling Acres MemorialGardens 12200 NW Crooked Road Kansas City, MO816-891-8888www.visitrollingacres.comOur mission is to serve those who thinkof their pet as one of the family byproviding compassionate, dignified, &ethical after-life care for pets.

Pet Friendly Car Dealership

Trainers

Cat Clinic of JohnsonCounty 9426 Pflumm Road Lenexa, KS913-541-0478www.catclinicofjc.comA feline exclusive clinic! Your cat is animportant part of your family and you wantthe best medical care available. Our teamis ready to provide cutting edge care.

Quivira CrossingVeterinary Clinic 11770 W. 135th St.Overland Park, KS913-647-4141quiviracrossingvetclinic.comQuivira Crossing Veterinary Clinic is a fullservice companion animal hospital. It is ourcommitment to provide quality veterinarycare throughout the life of your pet.

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913-548-1433




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