Diamond Pet Food Recalls

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded their pet food recalls. Click here for updated info.

The Need For Help & The Feral Cat Population
(from the AC Paw Blog)

Feral communities in Traverse City and the outlying areas have become a very serious issue. While most people are feeding the cats, AC PAW is receiving calls every day as
to what can we do to help all these animals. Educating the public on the importance of spaying and neutering has been one of our main goals. But that is not being done and more and more litters of kittens are being born every year. Many of them do not survive. Some are born very sick, they are killed by predators, or their mother is killed or hit by a car. Some freeze to death in the winter. 

This has been very hard for any rescue group to see happen, but the calls we receive are overwhelming not only for feral communities, but for animals that are stray, abandoned, abused, or owner relinquished due to life changes. AC PAW has tried to help as much as we can, but we are limited on our volunteers, our foster homes, and on our finances. We rely 100% on our donations to keep going and with the economy being so slow right now our donations are way down and our expenses way up.

We are reaching out to the community, who has been so supportive of AC PAW over the years. We would like to start live trapping in some of these feral communities, spay, neuter, and release these animals. Most can never be family pets as they have never been socialized. Once a feral cat is over four months old, the chances of socializing them is almost impossible. Our goal is to stop them from reproducing and find them a safe place to live.

AC PAW is hoping the community will open up their heart and understand what we need to accomplish these goals. We are in desperate need of people who have a barn and will house these cats once they are spayed and neutered where they will supply food and water for them and a warm place to live in the winter. We are in need of financial help and volunteers to help us with this tremendous project.  

Again, AC PAW is asking the community for their support. We are also reaching out to the local veterinarians for their personal and financial help in spaying and neutering the cats once they are caught.
If you would like to help in any way, please contact AC PAW at www.acpaw.org.

To make a financial donation, please visit our Paypal account here.

From the Traverse City Dog Park Website...an Update

Congratulations to our local and visiting canine friends! You are now on your way to having the first fenced, off-leash dog park in Traverse City. We have reached our fundraising goal of $15,000 for fencing and construction of the park. A big “bark of thanks” goes out to everyone who donated money and time to make this project happen. With the generosity of businesses and individuals who live in Traverse City and the surrounding area—along with those who live downstate, in California, Arizona, New Jersey and elsewhere, we achieved our goal in less than four months. Working together we proved once again that Traverse City is a great place for people and pups to live and visit.

A big thank you also goes out to the Parks and Recreation Commission and its Chair, Gary Howe, for helping to champion the dog park and facilitate the planning and our fundraising efforts. We want to thank Lauren Vaughn of the Parks and Recreation Division who cheerfully took on the project and worked with us on planning, tracking donations, and will now head up the implementation. Many people in the Parks and Recreation Division and with the City of Traverse City will be instrumental in making this park happen—thank you!

So, what is next? The city will go through a bid process and approval before any work can begin. They are still hoping to break ground in late May or early June. We will keep you updated on how things are progressing and any planned events in the coming months.

You may have seen the Record Eagle article on Parks and Recreation looking for ideas on naming the park at Division and Bay where the dog park will be located.If you have an idea, please email it to Mr. Lauren Vaughn at lvaughn@ci.traverse-city.mi.us. Please note, the name you suggest should not be dog park specific. Since the park also hosts tennis courts and a playground, it cannot be dog park specific.

You can see draft guidelines for the park here.

And, as we can soon say, “See you at the dog park!”

PS. If you didn’t have a chance to donate, but wanted to help with the park, we can use future donations to enhance the park with additional amenities. Just click the “Donate” button on the home page of tcdogpark.com for more information. 

National Be Kind to Animals Week May 6-12

Proclaimed by the American Humane Association, the 99th annual “Be Kind to animals Week” is a time to acknowledge our love for pets, and is also the nation’s oldest officially recognized week of observance for a special interest.

In observance of the national event, the Cherryland Humane Society invites the public to visit the shelter. A $5.00 spay/neuter rebate for any dog or cat not altered and adopted from the shelter during “Be Kind to Animals Week” is being offered. Pet care information is available. Knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer pet care related questions.

In the spirit of “Be Kind to Animals Week”, the Cherryland Humane Society encourages people to consider adopting one of the multitudes of homeless animals the shelter receives annually. CHS Executive Director Mike Cherry states, “there are many wonderful dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens at the shelter ready to provide a lifetime of love, joy, and companionship for an individual or family.” Cherry further states, “because of the unconditional love and benefits pets bring to us, they deserve our kindness.”

For more information about “Be Kind to Animals Week” visit the shelter at 1750 Ahlberg Road in Traverse City (Ahlberg Road is located at the south end of LaFranier Road south of Hammond Road), or call 231-946-5116.

Peach Ranch Offers Unique Equine Assisted Therapy Programs for our Community
(April)

Situated on 26 acres on Hooiser Valley Road in Traverse City, Peace Ranch is a rare gem in our community that many people aren't even aware of. Click here for the rest of the story.

Cherryland Humane Society Receives $10,000 Grant to Spay & Neuter their Animals
(April)

The Cherryland Humane Society in Traverse City recently received $10,000 from the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture's 2012 Companion Animal Welfare tax check-off funds, which generated $134,253.06 under the competitive grant cycle. In all, 15 state registered animal shelters/humane societies were given grant money for reimbursement for the purchase of supplies, services and materials for spay & neuter activities. Groups receive between $5,000 and $10,000.

The Animal Welfare Fund was established under Public Act 132 of 2007. The fund supports efforts relating to the spaying and neutering of animals, and helps finance the costs for protecting and caring for animals that have been subjected to cruelty or neglect. Taxpayers may elect to contribute $5, $10, or any other amount to the fund on their annual state tax returns.

The money received by CHS will be used to pay for the spaying and neutering of their adoptable cats and dogs.

“Michigan residents have a strong desire to help local animal shelters struggling with increased numbers of cats and dogs coming into their facilities,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Steven Halstead. “These funds will help with the sterilization of pre-adoption pets; and hopefully get these animals more quickly into their forever  homes.”

Since this program began, $356,454 has been collected and funded 39 projects across the state. MDARD is planning the next round of “requests for proposals” for  October 2012 and is based on the tax check-off contributions from taxpayers this year.

The 2012 grantees include: Allen Park Police Department (Allen Park); Al-Van Humane Society (South Haven); AuSable Valley Animal Shelter (Grayling); Cherryland Humane Society (Traverse City); City of Madison Heights Animal Control (Madison Heights); Elk Country Animal Shelter (Atlanta); Humane Society of West Michigan (Grand Rapids); Ionia Co. Animal Shelter (Ionia); Jackson County Animal Shelter (Jackson); K-9 Stray Rescue League (Oxford); Lifeline for Pound Buddies/Volunteers for Muskegon Co. Animal Control (Muskegon); Livingston Co. Animal Control (Howell); Paradise Animal Rescue (Columbiaville); Pet Resource Network Inc. (Otsego) and Roscommon Co. Animal Shelter in Prudenville.

Jerky treats, dead dogs and the FDA
(April)

Chicken jerky treats (and other meaty jerky treats) manufactured in China are bad news. There are reports of dogs becoming ill and dying after eating the treats – and the numbers are increasing. Click here for more info.

Holistic Healthcare for Pets?
(April)

The Ticker sat down with Nowak, a licensed veterinarian who has practiced traditional small animal medicine and surgery in northern Michigan for several years, to find out why she decided to transform the way she worked with her animal clients. Click here for the story.

No More Pound Seizures in Mecosta County
(April)

PCRM recently filed a complaint against the Mecosta County Animal Shelter in Big Rapids, Mich., to stop the shelter from selling dogs to laboratories, and local activists have worked hard to end the practice. In response, the county controller announced that the shelter plans to stop providing dogs for experiments. Click here for more on the story and also here at PCRM's website.

Help Save Orphaned Pets
(April)

It's that time of year again when cats and dogs will be reproducing and some will end up in bad cirumstances. Please check out this past story on how you can help.

Corrected Cherryland Humane Society Annual Shelter Report Numbers
(April)

The 2010 CHS Michigan Annual Shelter report has been corrected to reflect the following information:

Total dogs received: 661
Returned to owner: 8
Adopted: 625
Euthanized: 10

Loving Our Pets Through Heartache and Loss
(March)

It's been a hard month for some of my friends in the animal community. Many of them are dealing with sick pets and quite a few have lost their pets recently. Whether it's cancer, old age or an unexpected illness or injury, the loss is felt the same. It doesn't matter if they were able to spend 14 years with their special friend or 14 months. In the end, it was their best friend – their buddy. Losing a pet is very hard to go through but the rewards from sharing our lives with them make it all worthwhile. Click here for more.

Take a Bite out of Cancer at Grand Traverse County's Bark For Life Event this Spring
(March)

The Grand Traverse County Bark For Life Mini-Relay event is an irresistible way to partner with your canine best friend to “take a bite out of cancer”, smile, and make new friends – both canine & human. Bark For Life presents a unique opportunity to celebrate cancer survivorship, to honor those lost to cancer, and to fundraise in support of the American Cancer Society programs and services. Please see the calendar section for more info.

Traverse City Dog Park Update
(March)

Over 130 dog lovers and dog park enthusiasts came to Lil Bo Pub and Grille recently to celebrate Mardi Paws and help raise funds for the Traverse City Dog Park. The night was a great success and we raised over $1602.00 with proceeds from the door, the 50/50, and selling Mardi Paws cookies.  Wait there is more! Nancy at Lil Bo said her 25% donation came to around $400, but she has offered to round it up to $500. That brings the proceeds for the night to $2102.00!

A big thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated Fat Tuesday Eve for a good cause. The support for the park has been phenomenal including support from our local businesses. Please give these Mardi Paws supporters a "like" on Facebook, a post on their website, or a good old fashioned thank you when you next visit their businesses. They are: Lil Bo Pub and Grille (sponsor of Mardi Paws and Silver Bone Donor), D.O.G. Bakery, Minerva's, Bubba's, State Street Grille, Happy Tails Doggie Daycare, Humane Train, LLC, State Theatre, Allure Salon, Fit for You, The Crown, Pooch 'n' Purrs, Grand Traverse Athletic Club, Great Lakes Pet Memorial and Lucky Jack's.

A huge thank you also goes out to a great group of volunteers. Without their work organizing the event and at the event, Mardi Paws would not have happened. Congratulations to Chris and Colleen Smith! Winners of the 50/50 split!

Click here for a pdf of the donation form that you can download.

If you are interested in helping out with fundraising, please email them here.

Kalkaska Dogs Soon to be Fashionable AND Comfortable
(March)

There have been some changes going on at the Kalkaska Animal Shelter lately. Volunteers within the community are working together to make life better for the cats and dogs at the shelter. One such volunteer is Cheryl Dinger with Tiny Paws Daycare and Boarding Service. She is working on a project to make coats for the dogs to wear while they are outside in the cold.

The Women's Resource Center (WRC) has partnered with Tiny Paws and Sew Unique to help create these dog coats for the shelter. WRC will donate gently used coats that don't sell in their store and they will be turned into high fashion for Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas alike. Gone are the days from the past when these dogs would be ridiculed because they weren't up to date on the latest colors and styles.

The coats will stay at the shelter, where the styles and sizes can be matched up to the breeds.

(above: Chris at Sew Unique, creating patterns for the dog coats made from donated coats from WRC.)

It takes about two hours of labor for each coat and it costs about $5 per coat for materials. Volunteers sewers are needed if you'd like to help with the project. Materials are needed as well: sew-on (non-glue) velcro strips, and double folded binding tape to make the coats (for strong edging). If you would like more information or are interested in helping, please contact Cheryl at 421-1554 or email Tinypaws@charter.net.

No word yet on whether bathing suits will be designed for the summer months.

AC Paw, Missaukee County Humane Society and the Osceola County Animal Shelter Win Top Awards from Pet Friends

Every year, the Michigan Department of Agriculture releases the “Michigan Animal Shelter Activity Reports” for licensed animal shelters in Michigan (please click here for the full report for 2010). Fostering-only groups do not have to report but some do. This report includes, among other things, intake and euthanasia information.

Pet Friends organizes the information every year for the animal groups listed our our "shelter" link so that our readers can have a better understanding of their local animal organizations.

This is the 3rd year of the Pet Friend Magazine's Annual "PAW" Award (Pet Friends Animal Welfare Award). The winners are based on the percentage of the least amount of euthanasias for the year 2010 compared to the intake numbers of cats and dogs. One new rule this year is for the shelter to take in at least 50 animals to make them comparable to other shelters in deciding who wins the awards.

AC Paw and the Osceola County Animal Shelter have tied for a win for the 2010 PAW Award from Pet Friends Magazine in the dog category for the least amount of euthanasias.

AC Paw and the Missaukee County Humane Society have tied for a win for the 2010 PAW Award from Pet Friends Magazine in the cat category for the least amount of euthanasias.

Please click here for our list of the shelter statistics for the Northern Lower Michigan animal shelters in our area.

The HSUS and Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition Offer Reward in Cheboygan Horse Abandonment

The Humane Society of the United States and the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition are offering a reward of up to $2,750 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the abandonment of a horse on a road near Cheboygan, Mich.

The Case: News reports give the following account: On May 2, 2012, animal control officers from the Cheboygan County Humane Society responded to a call about a sick horse lying on the side of Otsego Rd. near the Otsego County border. Eyewitnesses reported that a trailer had been pulled up to the scene and the horse had been dumped from it. By the time animal control officers arrived at the site, the horse, emaciated with hips and backbone protruding, was in such bad condition that he couldn’t stand up and had to be humanely euthanized. The chestnut horse was wearing a halter and was estimated to be in his teenage years.

Cheboygan County Humane Society director Mary Talaske points out that there are people living nearby who are involved in horse rescue and who could have helped the owner of the horse. In addition, the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition—of which The HSUS is a founding member—has a hay bank and resources readily available to horse owners who are having trouble feeding or caring for their horses.

“The Michigan Horse Welfare coalition has a hay bank and resources to assist horse owners with farrier and veterinary care, and there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to neglect or abandon their horse,” said Jill Fritz, Michigan state director for The Humane Society of the United States and president of the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. “Animal abandonment is against the law, and we are hopeful that this reward will bring forward anyone with information about who allowed this horse’s health to deteriorate and left him to die.”

There are many responsible alternatives to abandoning a horse, including: selling the horse to a properly vetted private owner, leasing the horse to another horse enthusiast, or relinquishing the horse to a therapeutic riding center, park police program, or approved rescue or sanctuary. If a horse is incapacitated and can’t recover, humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian should also be considered. Auctions can be dangerous for horses because they can be purchased by killbuyers and forced to enter the abusive horse slaughter pipeline including auctions, inhumane transport and the ultimate painful betrayal—horse slaughter.

Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

The Investigators: Cheboygan County Animal Control is investigating the case. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Cheboygan County Humane Society at 231-238-8221.

Resources: The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. To see information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, click here.

The Spay Neuter Express is Coming to Traverse City in May

The Spay Neuter Express out of Lowell is coming to Traverse City on May 10th and 11th to operate a mobile low cost spay/neuter clinic for our community. It will take place on the Spay Neuter Express bus in the parking lot of Tractor Supply in Traverse City.

Local rescue groups H.A.N.D.D.S. to the Rescue and Frisco & Joey's Mission are signing up participants and volunteers. They anticipate being able to fix 60 pets each day with a breakdown of 10 male dogs, 10 female dogs, 20 male cats and 20 female cats each day. To get your pet in for surgery, please call Patti at 231-645-6040 to schedule. There are still slots open.

There are also vaccines available each day. Please go to their website for prices at www.spayneuterexpress.com.

Currently, donations and volunteers are also needed. They are looking for donations to help with hotel costs and food for staff and volunteers. There are also specific donations needed for this clinic. The Spay Neuter Clinic Wish List includes the following: two eight packs of paper towels, two 40 quart/10 gallon wastebaskets, heavy duty garbage bags, plastic gloves (four/100 count), disinfectant cleaners (safe for pets), towels, blankets, canned kitten and puppy food, fifteen medium cat carriers (borrowed) and twenty five wire dog crates (borrowed).

If you would like to volunteer, please call Jess at 231-645-0394. They are looking for 20 volunteers each day.

Van Donated to Cherryland Humane Society

In April, there was an article about CHS receiving a spay/neuter grant. There was also a very generous donation of a van from Traverse Motors to enable CHS to transport adopted dogs and cats from CHS to participating veterinarians where the procedures will be done. The new owners will pick up their new pets from participating veterinarians following the procedures. The program enhances the pre-sterilization efforts of the CHS and will ensure that each adopted animal will be unable to reproduce, which will help to bring resolution to the pet overpopulation problem. Because the spay/neuter costs will be provided for, it is anticipated that adoptions will take place at an accelerated rate.

AC Paw Having Big Adoptathon at Cherry Capital Cadillac Subaru in Traverse City

Are you looking for a special new family member? Come on out to Cherry Capital Cadillac Subaru on Saturday, May 12th from 10 am to 3 pm at 1747 S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. There will be dogs and cats available for adoption as well as a canoe raffle, popcorn and sno cones. They will also be accepting pet supply donations so if you have any food, pet toys or other items you'd like to donate, please stop by.

Grand Traverse County Community Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient

Debi Miner

The Employee Recognition Team organized a new program last year called "The
Grand Traverse County Community Volunteer of the Year Award" in recognition of National Volunteer Week. The first recipient for 2011 was George Champlin. Nominations for our 2012 recipient were solicited and two of Debi’s co-workers, Mona Williams and Dianna Anderson nominated her and Debi Miner is the recipient of "The Grand Traverse County Community Volunteer of the Year Award" for 2012!

As one of the nominators stated, “the passion that she and her family has on behalf of pets and their owners is extraordinary. The amount of time and energy devoted to H.O.P.E., the "Bark in the Park" program, the two rescued animals from Hurricane Katrina, the volunteer work at the Cherry Festival Parade and the countless referrals for animal adoption at the county Animal Control and pet fair clinics. It's hard to encapsulate the devotion and heart she has for those she has helped in the past and will help in the future. The best way to recognize her for this is to award this honor.”

Debi and the employees that nominated her, Mona and Dianna have been asked to attend the Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 25th, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.

In addition, there will be press releases, and Debi’s name will be placed on the plaque near the front elevator on the 2nd Floor of the Governmental Building, a $25 Downtown Gift Certificate and a Certificate signed by the Commissioners.

Congratulations Debi!

Grand Traverse County County to Start Cremating Dogs instead of Putting Them in the Landfill
(April)

On March 7th, the Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to begin cremating their dogs instead of putting them in a dumpster and throwing them in a landfill. The issue arose when a Beagle was found laying on top of their dumpster last year which upset many local animal groups and county residents. The cremation contract was awarded to Great Lakes Pet Memorial & Crematory out of Traverse City and the ashes will be placed in the Memorial Garden.

Instead of throwing the dogs away like trash, which their owners have already done, the county is now disposing of the dogs in a more respectful way. The costs to taxpayers will be about $400, depending on the amount of dogs who need to be euthanized and their size. This is a small cost for the peace of mind it will bring to county residents who don't want Grand Traverse County dogs thrown in a dumpster.

Special thanks to Tom Buss, the Environmental Health Manager who oversees the Animal Control Department, for working on this project.

More on the Dana Round Horse Abuse Case and Possible Changes to Grand Traverse County Animal Control
(April)

The recent horse abuse case regarding Dana Round stirred up a lot of emotions about how animal abuse cases are handled within Grand Traverse County. Read more about this here.

Oakwood Pet Cremations Announce New Name
and Pet Loss Certifications
(April)

To answer to the changing needs of pet parents, Oakwood Pet Cremations has recently gone through a renovation, revision of service offerings and name change to more closely reflect their new identity. Oakwood Pet Cremations is now home to Oakwood Pet Memorial Center and offers pet lovers throughout Northern Michigan ”The Thoughtful Alternative” when their beloved pets are faced with illness, old age and eventual death.

The newly renovated facility features an expansive show room complete with a peaceful viewing and farewell room. With the addition of many new services, pet owners will have the peace of mind in knowing that they will be guided and comforted by people who can relate to their deep grief, their need to memorialize their pet and to celebrate the life that was shared together. Pet parents and their beloved animal companions will be treated with the dignity and respect that anyone should receive upon death, for just as each relationship with our pets is unique and special, so are pet parent’s needs.

In addition, owners Mike and Mandy DePuy received their certification in Pet Loss & Grief Companioning as well as their status as Certified Pet Loss Professional (CPLP) in a week long class in Fort Worth, TX, in October 2011. The courses were sponsored by the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance (PLPA) and Two Hearts Pet Loss Center.

Mike and Mandy were among the first in the country to complete this certification and were recently awarded their Charter Member pins last week at the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Association meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Pet Loss and Grief Companioning program was developed by re-knowned grief counselor Dr. Alan Wolfelt of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and Coleen Ellis, founder of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, both pioneers and experts in pet loss throughout North America. This certification will enable pet loss professionals to better help their communities and pet parents before and after the death of a pet.

Located in beautiful Leelanau County, Oakwood Pet Memorial Center offers cremation and burial services, pre-planning guidance, 24/7 service, personalized memorial pieces, memorial ceremony options and grief support. For more information on Oakwood Pet Memorial Center or for a free “Guide to Planning Ahead”, please contact Mike De Puy at 231.649.3963, email here or go to the website here.

Helping Homeless Pets, Four Paws at a Time
(March)

There can never be enough resources when it comes to helping homeless animals. Even with all of the animal control facilities, shelters, humane societies and rescue groups, there is still a need for individuals who are out there saving lives on their own. There are many people in our community who are silent angels, rescuing and caring for wildlife, pulling dogs from high kill shelters and putting them into rescue and people fostering dogs themselves and adopting them out using their own means. Click here for more.

Unique Pet Care Business Opens in Traverse City
(March)

Small Paws Pet Cottage, a one-of-a-kind luxury boarding suite located in East Bay Township, has opened for business offering private boarding for cats and small dogs.

Rented to only one family at a time, the cottage provides a safe, clean and comfortable place for pets to stay while
their owners are away for vacation or work-related travel.

The climate-controlled pet cottage has 200 square feet of space, is comfortably fumished for small pets, and includes a flat-screen TV and a radio/CD player for pets that are soothed by familiar sounds.

Feline guests enjoy lounging or exercising on a kitty climbing tree and a fully fenced yard is available to canine guests for supervised outdoor exercise and play time. Cottage guests are able to relax and play without exposure to loud noise, unfamiliar or larger animals or illnesses.

"While some pets adjust well in a kennel environment or when left at home alone, others need extra attention and care while their parents are away. As the on-site pet sitter, I can provide that kind of individual care," says Bonnie Cudney, owner of Small Paws Pet Cottage. "The cottage was created as an alternate choice for people who desire private accommodations for their pets."

The demand for quality pet care is at an all-time high as people travel for business or leisure.

Small Paws Pet Cottage offers a unique choice for pet parents who seek loving, private care for their small companions.

More information is available at the Small Paws Pet Cottage website here or by calling 231-995-5377. Visitors to the website can also view an on-line calendar to check for available dates.

SMALL PAWS PET COTTAGE
2188 Abbie Lane
Traverse City, MI 49696
Contact: Bonnie Cudney
231-995-5377
Email here

The Evolution of Couch Potatoes and Lap Lumps
by guest contributor, Georg Schluender
(March)

If you watched the Super Bowl you most likely saw the VW ad of the dog that couldn’t fit through the door to chase the car and went on to develop its own wellness program. Its purpose beyond selling the car seemed to say, “Hey media viewers we have a pet obesity epidemic!”

The facts are, “Over half the nation’s dogs and cats are now overweight making obesity the leading health threat of our pets. Largely preventable diseases such as arthritis and diabetes are being seen in record numbers costing pets their life and owners millions in medical bills. The reality most of these cases could be avoided simply by preventing weight gain and shedding excess pounds.” States Dr. Ernie Ward, author of Chow Hounds, and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

To put a human perspective on it a 12 pound Yorkie is equivalent to a 5’4”, 218 pound female. A man standing 5’9” weighing in at 217 pounds equates to a Labrador retriever being 25 pounds overweight! You can translate you and your pooches own weight equivalents here.

Dogs are truly like strange looking family cousins for they share more physiological and digestive similarities with humans than any domesticated mammals with the exception of primates. The hunter-gather relationship which dogs and humans have collaborated over the last 85,000 years has drastically changed in the last century. The conveniences of fast food allow us to move less and spend that time watching an average of 28 hours of TV a week. The decreasing need to harvest fruits and vegetables or hunt has caused less active lives and consequently less healthy dogs.

Prevention is the key word and accomplished with two simple strategies of a measuring cup and exercise. Of course mindful eating habits include also knowing exactly what you are putting in both you and your dog companion’s bodies. “Kibble Crack,” as Dr. Ward calls dog foods that have high concentrations of sugar, fat, and salt produce the reward chemical in the brain called dopamine. This has been scientifically proven to cause rats to engorge themselves and is the same thing happening to dogs and humans alike. The Veterinary Research Institute has developed a ‘Dog Food Calculator,’ which can help you estimate the proper serving size for your pet and can be found here. Simply put if you see fat or sugar listed in the first ten ingredients chances are the food is focused on palatability instead of nutrient enrichment and protein.

In the process of evolution dogs and humans have engineered themselves to be enduring of physical activity in order to roam long distances to hunt prey. Studies by the leading wolf expert, Dr. Mech, determined that packs of wolves travelled an average of 28 miles a day in search of food. We have taken this away from the domestic dog and the fact is science has proven there is no better preventive measure for disease than aerobic exercise. Not surprisingly the Dog Whispers prescription for successful behavioral treatment mandates exercise first and consistently.

You’ll of course want your veterinarians and physicians approval by having the following test performed: Complete physical examination and body condition scoring (BCS,) routine blood tests, CBC, Serum chemistries, total thyroid hormone (T4,) free T4 by equilibrium dialysis, complete urinalysis, blood pressure, resting respiratory rate, resting heart rate, thoracic circumference (chest,) abdominal circumference (waist,) ECG, X-rays, and other tests as determined by your pet’s condition.

Once you’ve done that you’re ready to start power walking your dog and recommend using a hands free leash system similar to the Cardio Canine or learning more about the sport of Canicross. We use the same amount of energy walking or running on a level surface as our dogs yet they burn 0.8 calories per pound at a pace of 3.7 to 4 mph while humans only 0.73 calories per pound per mile. For a 150 pound person that means about a 100 calories during a 20 minute walk.

So now that your done reading this article take the next step in creating a healthier life for you and your dog companion and take a walk!

Georg Schluender is an Animal Behavior College certified dog trainer that has been rescuing German Shepherds for 25 years and developer of DoggieTrek Fitness. A nature based wellness business for dogs & their human companions. For more information contact him here.

Notes from the Court Hearing Regarding Nakita Booth's Request to Get Horses Back from Horse North Rescue

These are my notes as they were taken at the hearing. There were some instances where what people said was inaudible. I am willing to fix any errors that are brought to my attention from anyone else attending the trial.

Click here for more info.