EBHS Unleashed

Which is the Most Loyal Dog Breed?

Karen Sparapani — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:30:42 GMT

I came across an interesting article today that asked the question "What is the most disloyal breed of dog?"

Short answer - nobody knows.

The slightly longer answer is that it depends of what your definition of loyal is. Is a dog that will be equally as friendly to anyone (including their immediate family) less loyal than a dog breed that might rank low in "territorial defense" but high in "aggression toward owner"? Who wanted to know this, anyway?

It seems that since most dogs are now bred for conformation and not for what they were originally intended (like terriers being vermin hunters) it is impossible to really say what a dog of a certain breed will be like anymore.

You can find in any one breed of dog social animals, anti-social animals, friendly ones, aloof ones, playful ones and couch potato ones. You cannot really generalize about breeds anymore. Surely, they look the same, or pretty close to it. Saying that all Labs make great family dogs is not true. In fact, the only dog that has been in the shelter here over the past 3 years that made me fear for my life was a yellow Lab that I am sure would have taken me out if it had the chance.

My black lab, Murphy, is a loyal dog. Loyal to anyone that has food. He would forsake my husband, whom he prefers over all others, to get a treat from a stranger, and then follow them home without so much as a look back.

My dog Baxter, a Tibetan Terrier, is loyal to me. He follows me everywhere, cries until I get home, sleeps by my side, gets jealous if I pay attention to any other dogs and usually listens to every command I give him. Does this make him a good dog? Baxter is a textbook Tibetan - couch potato, mellow, affable personality, likes walks, loves everyone, warms up to strange dogs. If he spends time at the neighbor's house while we are away he cries and acts the fool until I get home. Is it healthy for him to be like this? Am I in denial that he might really just have an unhealthy attachment to me that is compounded by separation anxiety? Like any good mom - I can only see his good side, so I do not ponder these questions too much.

In contrast, our baby Tibetan Terrier, Rocco, is completely different from Baxter. For some reason he is hand shy, and runs from all of us, but will come on his own to snuggle next to me on the couch. If I call him, he flips me "the paw" and runs off to do his own thing. Which is usually hiding under the deck out of reach (I will be closing off the deck with lattice in the spring), or rolling in deer poop. We have to let him run in the yard with a long line on him so when we call him we can make him come. I work with enough trainers to know that you should not call a dog unless he is going to come or he will never come when you call. He was housebroken much faster than Baxter, but otherwise, slower to learn everything else. He is everything a Tibetan is not supposed to be. Which makes me think that my decision to love a breed based on looks and the general description of the breed temperament is a bit of a folly.

In a shelter, people look and judge most dogs on their appearance just like I did. Sometimes people will look at a dog that is active and acting badly in the kennel and think that the dog would not make a great companion because it is not sitting there nicely and quietly waiting for adopters to come into the kennel. I think what this study tells us most of all is that each dog is an individual, and even though you may have a stereotype in mind such as a terrier being super active, or a Border Collie being super smart, you have to spend some time with each dog to really make a decision on whether it will be a great fit for you and your family. I have seen a few Border Collies that were not terribly bright, but that does not mean they would not be a great friend. I have also met some Terriers that were so mellow they only got up to eat or snuggle.

There are over 200 dog breeds with millions of members (including ones not acknowledged by the AKC) and I suppose that there are many more millions of mixed breed dogs as well. They are all unique in personality and temperament, just like we are. The same is true for cats. There are probably a billion cats in the world, and anyone that loves more than one cat can tell you a million ways that their cats are different.

The only thing that the dogs and cats in the world have all have in common with each other is that through their eyes, we are the ones that need the training.

To Houston and Back

Karen Sparapani — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:16:27 GMT

Happy new year everyone! While I was away I took a road trip to Houson, Texas to visit family. You never know how lucky you are until you see how the grass is not always greener.

Whenever I travel, I always make a point of doing two things. First to visit the local graveyard. This is usually far more interesting in older locals, or in Europe. Then I visit the local humane society, or whatever is passing as one in that area. I think it tells you a lot about a community by seeing how they treat their departed loved ones, and by how they treat their animals.

In Houston, I did not get to visit a cemetery. But I did get to see first hand the problems that they have with stray animals, and their local Humane Society. I noticed so many stray animals on the sides of the road there. Texas is odd in that you can have a city and then nothing for miles. There are stray dogs everywhere, and I suspect many stray cats which are better at hiding and blending in with the environment. I could have filled my car up 10 times over with strays.

The local humane society, Houston Humane Society , was a beautiful brand new building, the kind I wish we had. They had so many animals there, but there were lots of adoptions going on. They told me that they get so many surrenders each day it is hard to keep up, but they are always available for people because they cannot bear to see the animals let loose somewhere.

They have a vet clinic on site, and they do not do spays and neuters until after an adoption gets approved, far longer than the day or two that it takes here, as our animals are sterilized before they are made available for adoption. Unfortunately, they do have time and space constraints, and they will not make an animal over 5 years old available for adoption. This is because the public will not adopt them, and then they will take up badly needed kennel space for the many animals coming in behind them. This is sad, and I am glad that we are able to adopt out animals of all ages, and that we do not have any time or space constraints. As well, they will declaw cats - even all 4 paws - right there at the time of spay or neuter. We have a very strict no 4 paw declaw policy, and to know that a shelter is declawing cats is pretty hard for me to accept. They did say they do it because they know people will do it anyway and at least the cat is going to only have surgery once. It is still pretty creepy to me.

As well, if you are a pitbull or bully mix of any kind, you best stay out of Houston. They will euthanize all pits and pit mixes as they have terrible fighting problems, and people will not adopt pitbulls. Of course, this is a too horrible for me to comprehend. While I realize that bullies have a social stigma, they do not deserve that. I rarely see bully breeds here at EBHS that cannot be made available for adoption. I cannot remember the last one that we could not adopt out for behavior issues, in fact.

I met some staff members there who gave me a short tour of the facility, and I was impressed with the new building, the vet care they offer the public, and the entire group of staff and volunteers that were on duty while I was there. They were so nice, and helpful, and willing to answer all of my questions. I know they wish they could do more for the animals, but they are overwhelmed in a way that even I cannot comprehend. I am glad that I do not have to!

The people of Wisconsin will never know how good they have it compared to the residents of Houston when it comes to animal welfare. The animals of Wisconsin are pretty lucky too!

I am glad to be back, and I will need some time to recover before my next road trip. I am so happy to be back at the shelter, and finally able to start blogging again. I am looking forward to a wonderful year, and hope to be able to share many more stories from the shelter and beyond.

Bark Humbug

Karen Sparapani — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:02:05 GMT

Our 24 hotline received a call before we opened today from a woman who said that she had found a stray, black, pit/lab mix, a senior, who needed medical attention about 6 hours away up north. She got our number from a dog rescue where she first tried to give the dog. She lived in Milwaukee and wanted to know what to do with the dog. The staff suggested to this woman that she contact the local sheriff in that area, and see if anyone reported a missing dog, and to find out if there was a shelter in that area. Since they lived in Milwaukee, they were told to call the Milwaukee animal control facility, if they were unable to find the owners.

Then, this morning a couple showed up with the exact dog that was described on the phone this morning, a senior pit/lab covered in cancerous tumors. They said that they found the dog at Brookfield Square this morning. The man bringing the dog here would not give us his ID, and he kept saying that he hoped he was not going to get "bit in the a**" over this.

I was not made aware of the earlier phone call until these people left, but upon seeing the dog, I got sick thinking that if the first story was true, that they really found this dog up north, that I really should try and find the owner. This dog was not skinny, and though it had cancer, it seemed otherwise very well taken care of. This dog was loved for 10 or so years, and now it is going to sit here for 7 days all alone, and probably not be made available for adoption due to its health. There might be a family that is out there looking for a best friend that will never know what happened to it.

So I called the phone number on the surrender sheet and explained to this man that someone called in about this dog this morning saying that they found it up north. While it was possible that these people did dump the dog when they were told how to handle the situation, but, if it was his family that found the dog, could he please tell me where up north they found the dog so that I could attempt to find an owner. He said that it was not him, that he did not call, and that they found the dog at Brookfield Square.

OK - so I went and checked the call log from the 24-hour phone, used the reverse directory, and then discovered that the phone was in fact this gentleman's home phone number. I called there hoping that whoever called this morning would be there and more forthcoming about where this dog was found. No answer. So I called the cell phone of the gentleman who dropped off the dog, and explained that I knew that this was the dog that was reportedly found up north, and I did not know why he would not tell me where it was found because I simply wanted to try and find an owner. He then lashed out at me verbally saying that I was never to call him again, and that I did not know who he was dealing with, and that he found the dog in Brookfield. I said that if he cared enough to make sure the dog was safe in a shelter, that he could just tell me where he found the dog so I could help let it spend it's probably last Christmas with his family.

At this point, I think he threw the phone down and started screaming at the woman who was with him when he brought the dog here. "Why didn't you say what I told you to say?" "Why are you doing this to me?" and many other things that were barely intelligible, but nothing nice. So I hung up.

So now, I have a dog. A sweet, male, black, senior, lab/pit mix, with visible tumors all over it's body. A dog that will not be made available for adoption due to it's health. Does this dog belong to the couple that dropped it off? A relative of theirs that lives up north who could not afford medical care for the dog and asked them to help? Did they really find a beloved family member and take him 6 hours away to wait 7 days in a stray ward with no hope of being found? This dog deserves better than this. I am so angry and frustrated that I cannot help him.

This dog also has no microchip - and I hate to belabor a point, but if your dog loses a collar, it will always have a microchip and be able to be reunited with you - no matter how far it may get from home.

Breeder, breeder on the wall...who is the best one of them all?

Karen Sparapani — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:26:00 GMT

Today, we are going to continue our discussion about where to find an animal companion. Aside from shelters, or breed rescue, we have "breeders". Now, there is a lot of contention as to what a breeder is, or who may call themselves or consider themselves a breeder. I am going to write about each kind, and I will reserve my own judgment, allowing you to decide the best one for you.

If you have a male and female dog that you allow to mate, and then sell the puppies to the public, does that make you a breeder? It certainly depends on who you ask. I guess there are different types of breeders.

Some people will have a great dog, usually a purebred, that they will not spay or neuter because the dog is beautiful, well-tempered, and they feel that this dog should have puppies to make other dogs just like that one. Sometimes these people will advertise looking for, or to provide, stud service in newspapers, or other classifieds. I have met many people in my life who have done this. Typically, these are people who are just regular people, looking to make wonderful puppies, maybe to keep one, but certainly to sell the rest. They may give the stud dog a fee or a puppy for their services. Most of the time, these people have purchased their dog from someone just like them, kind of a hobby breeder, and the dog will have AKC papers, and possibly have a champion or two on the pedigree. Typically, these are the kind of dogs that you will find for sale in the newspaper, or on the bulletin board at the grocery store. Many times, these kinds of breeders will breed their dog two times a year, until the dog is about 5 or 6, then let them retire. They typically do not do any genetic testing for things like hip dysplasia, or eye conditions. Often, this is a simple cash purchase with no guarantees, or promises to take the dog back and refund money if there is a problem, or give a new puppy when available. These breeders rarely require you to sign a spay/neuter contract which could someday spawn a new breeder just like them after the first heat of a female. These people do love their dogs, and the dog they are breeding is their own family dog.

Then there are other breeders, who have a few breeds of dogs they like, having breeding pairs of them. Typically, they will focus on two or three breeds, having puppies several times a year from each female, and selling the puppies. I think these are more business-y type breeders. They are very similar to the breeders I spoke about above, but these folks are a little more ambitious. There are some who really try to purchase well bred dogs for breeding, but there are many others who simply find a fertile male and female and let nature take it's course. These people are very much about making money, advertise a lot, even on signs on their front lawns. These folks often do guarantee their puppies, and will offer a limited refund or an exchange for congenital defects for about a year. That said, most dogs that have congenital defects will not show signs of these until they are older than a year, so that warranty is limited itself. They will take many forms of payments including credit cards, and will sometimes sell puppies over the internet and ship for an extra cost. This is a money making enterprise for them and you should do your homework, especially if you are buying a puppy sight unseen. They also offer a choice for a "full" AKC registration which will allow a buyer to pay more so that you can breed the dog and register the puppies with the AKC so that you can charge more for any puppies you decide to breed, or they will sell for less with a "limited" AKC registration that will not allow you to register any litters of puppies with the AKC. They will also often charge more for females than males in order to get an upfront commission on any puppies you breed and sell.

(Here is a little secret - AKC papers do not necessarily mean a whole lot. They are a record of a dog's heritage. That is it. Most confirmation dog shows, and some obedience shows will require the dog having an AKC registration paper, but do not think that because a dog has an AKC pedigree that it is better than a dog without one. I will say that if you buy a dog from a breeder who shows for confirmation, this pedigree will have champion bloodlines across the generations and you are probably paying a premium for the dog for reasons I will discuss below. But, if you buy a dog without any champion bloodlines in the first or second generation - and many "papers" I have seen will not have ANY champions listed on them - do not feel like you should pay top dollar for that dog. Papers for a dog like that are not proof of anything but lineage - and does not mean that the dog has any better breeding than a dog without papers.)

The last type of breeders are the confirmation breeders. These are the people that show their dogs many weekends each year. They have carefully planned litters, and will only breed their best dogs. You can look at these people and see the most dedicated people to a breed that have ever lived, or crazy people who devote their entire life to their dogs. There is a lot of truth in each of these characterizations. Breeders at this level will do genetic testing on any dog that they want to breed to make sure they are not carrying anything that can be passed down to the next generation. Many breeds have some disease or defect, so these tests can include x-rays and blood work. They will only breed a female once a year, and usually at about 2 years of age, and only after the dog is a finished champion. This requires driving all over the country, going to shows to collect points, you need majors and minors and it can be confusing, so I will not even try to explain points here. As well, most working dogs, or herding dogs will be trained to perform their special duties like agility work, herding livestock, hunting, or scent work and get titles in those areas before they are bred. These breeders live for a breed and will only breed the best to the best to ensure the future gene pool of this breed is the strongest and most diverse possible. Many of these breeders will have a website - mostly to show the world how awesome their dogs are with photos of winning events, action shots, and then shots of the dog living a normal life with their family. A great number of these breeders are veterinarians, but many are regular people who outside of their normal every day life take on weekends of long drives, spend hours grooming, training, and spoiling these dogs so that they can turn it on in the ring. These breeders are the most difficult to get a puppy from, and I know this from experience. Since they have limited litters, you can have a long wait for a puppy. If you live close to them, they will often want a home visit, and to meet your family before placing a puppy. Many of these breeders will tell you after they meet you that you might be better off with another breed due to incompatibility with your lifestyle, which is not easy to hear, but you should take it to heart if they actually come out and say this. If you live far, they may ask a friend or another breeder to do this home visit. They will not place a show potential puppy in a "pet" quality home. That is because "pet" people like me will not keep up with possible show grooming needs, or the proper conditioning for a grand champion. If you are waiting, and there is a litter of 6 puppies, and 4 may be show quality, and there are only 2 for "pet" homes, you might have to wait for the next litter. Show quality puppies are usually sold for high dollars and with conditions like co-ownership, exclusive breeding rights, and you may have to let your dog leave for several vacations a year with a handler to be shown. "Pet" quality puppies are sold at more moderate prices, but you will be paying a premium for them as well. Why? A confirmation breeder typically does not make any money in breeding. After the genetic testing, the show life which requires special vehicles, traveling and lodging costs for many weekends of showing, grooming, loss of income from their civilian life, and other incidental costs like the best of foods, training and fieldwork and other incidentals, these people are usually in the red.

So, who is the best of these type of breeders? It is up to the reader to decide what is best for them. I know that cost, timing, location and many other factors go into deciding which type of breeder is the best for you. Doing your homework and research on a breed is the most important part of the process of purchasing a dog from any breeder. Many people love the look of a Border Collie, but few know that Border Collies are smarter than most people (and I include myself in that group). I firmly believe that if Border Collies had opposable thumbs, and could speak a language they would run the world, in a very fast and intense manner. Buying a Border Collie from a hobby breeder is very easy, and relatively inexpensive. However, if this is the wrong breed for you, you may come home to a dog who has destroyed your home because they needed a job to do, and they may appoint themselves the couch un-stuffer, or the drapery remover.

I guess the less you know about a breed, or about dogs in general, the more you should educate yourself and search out all the different types of breeders and learn from all of them. Then you will be able to see firsthand the good and bad points of each type of breeder.

Of course, if a purebred puppy is not an absolute necessity, I urge you to go to your local shelter, or breed rescue and adopt a dog that needs a new family first. Puppies will always find a home, but adult dogs are often overlooked, and they are a real treasure.

All of the above applies to cats as well - though most people will never buy a purebred cat, when there are literally millions of kittens born each year in need of families. I assure you that purebred cat breeders are much the same as purebred dog breeders, so the above advice is applicable to cats as well.

Next week we will talk about different ways to help put an end to puppy mills.

Breed Rescue 101

Karen Sparapani — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:31:22 GMT

I get calls at the shelter every single day from people looking for a certain breed of dog. Statistically speaking, 1 out of 4 dogs in a shelter is a purebred. But, we do not always have St. Bernards, Corgis, Bernese Mountain Dogs, English Bulldogs and other popular breeds. Fortunately for people with their hearts set on a certain breed, there is usually a breed rescue ready and waiting for them to call and apply for a waiting animal.

I am surprised that more people have not heard of breed rescues! These groups are all volunteer based, and instead of a shelter, these dogs get to live in foster homes. They get to work on their manners and housebreaking if they need it, and the foster families get a good idea of what living with the dog will be like, and in turn, find out what the best family would be for that dog.

Just about every single breed has a breed rescue. If you go to Google or another search engine - type in your state, your breed and the word rescue and you will get a list of the local breed rescue websites for that breed. Most of these groups have websites that show pictures of the available dogs, and then give you the procedure on how to adopt them. You will find that breed rescues are more expensive than a shelter to adopt from. That is because most of the time, these volunteers pay for everything themselves, and most do not get deals from vets on care for the animals. The groups rely on donations of funds and goods just like a shelter. That said - do not think for one minute that any rescue group or shelter makes money on adoptions. We all spend far more on the animals than we could recoup in an adoption fee. It really is a labor of love.

Adopting from a breed rescue may be more difficult than a shelter, and in most cases they will require a home visit. While this may sound a little invasive, it is one additional way that the group can ensure that you have the proper space, and family to give this animal a forever home. Also, since most of the breed rescues have to work a job (or two!) to subsidize their rescue efforts, phone calls and emails can take up to a week to return. This puts off many potential adopters, but it is the nature of the beast.

A great way to help a breed rescue, and possibly find your forever dog, is to volunteer to become a foster home. The rescue group will check you out, and do your home visit, call your vet, meet your dogs (if you already have one or more), get some references, and then you can become a foster family. You may get a dog right away, or it may take a while. This may not be the dog you want to spend the rest of your life with, but you will be helping it become more adoptable while it lives with you. You may rethink your decision to live with the breed, or you may decide that this breed is even better than you thought!

At EBHS we have lost more foster homes through them adopting their foster dogs (you know who you are!!) but fortunately, we get a few more people looking to become a foster families. I imagine the same thing happens to breed rescues. I will say that breed rescues can only rescue as many dogs as they have foster homes for, and it is painful to these people to not be able to help every single dog that comes to their attention needing rescue. So if you can foster - or are thinking about it - why not give it a try?

I personally foster for a great German Shepherd rescue group (GSRAW). I have had the honor of fostering some great dogs and being a part of finding them a new home. German Shepherds are my favorite breed, but unfortunately, I work too much to live with a dog that is smarter than me. When I retire, I am definitely going to adopt a dog through my rescue. Maybe I will meet them through fostering, or someone else in the group will foster them.

In any event, if you have your heart set on a certain breed and nothing else will do, I urge you to contact your breed rescue. I know you will not be disappointed!

The 12 Beds of Christmas

Karen Sparapani — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:55:27 GMT

The 12 Beds of Christmas bed drive for our dogs has officially begun! We have found these beds to be the longest lasting and most comfortable of the beds available for use in the kennels here at the shelter. These beds stand up to teething puppies, chewing adults, and all the other abuses beds can suffer while in a shelter environment. Surprisingly, every single dog will use these beds! Even our puppy mill dogs who have never seen a bed before!

If you would like to help out the animals at EBHS and donate a bed this Christmas, please go to this link:

http://www.kuranda.com/catalog/donate_landing.php?intShelterID=3880

Choose either a medium (35x23) or a large (40x25) size to help us reach our goal of 24 new beds (12 of each size) before the end of the year! You can donate a bed in the name of someone, or in honor of someone, or just because you love animals! The names of the donors are listed right on our web page http://www.ebhs.org/.

We hope that if you are choosing to add a new companion animal to your family this season, that you will avoid the temptations of buying a puppy or kitten from a pet store, and go to your local shelter, or call the breed rescue associated with the breed of dog you are looking for! When there are so many dogs and cats looking for a home, there is no reason to line the pockets of puppy millers and brokers.

Also - instead of setting your sights on a puppy, think about adopting an adult cat or dog! They will bond to you just as quickly as a puppy - and often require way less training. They can be instant best friends!

Since I wrote about Petland on this blog, I have been asked to talk about how to stop puppy mills and where to find companion animals. This week we are going to explore the best ways to find your new best friend. Tomorrow we are going to talk about breed rescues. Next week we will talk more about what you can do to stop puppy mills in the state of Wisconsin and beyond!

WHO NEEDS TRAINING?

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:51:04 GMT

I have a guest blogger today, who has given me permission to post an article she wrote for her Italian Greyhound Rescue. Take it away, Carol!

One of the questions on our adoption application is “Will you be taking your dog to obedience classes?” The answer often surprises me as most potential adopters answer the question with a confident "only if the dog needs it". As someone who has adopted several dogs and fostered hundreds, I can tell you that most dogs “don't need it” at all because they are VERY good at being dogs! They dig, bark, jump on people, potty in the house and do all the other “doggie" behaviors that sometimes drive us crazy and they do it all without training! However, most IGs we see in rescue are here because they outsmarted their last owner, didn't listen, jumped on people, barked, came IN the house to potty vs. freezing outside like a silly big dog, etc. In other words, they were masters at doing what they do best, being a DOG!! They need no class or training. It comes naturally! Dogs will be dogs and are quite happy doing so, however it's we humans that have a problem with some of their so “inappropriate behavior”. (Don't even get me started on poop eating, rolling in worms, humping and many other dogs behaviors we humans find intolerable)! So does your dog “NEED an obedience class?” Mostly likely if he could talk he would say "NO Way" but most humans I know do! Because it is we humans who want the dog to not only live in our world, but to behave the way WE think they should in our world, so it's up to us to train them how! We, the humans, need an obedience class to teach them these things!

A trained dog is a joy to have as a companion. It's no coincidence that most dogs surrendered to shelters have never had an obedience class and behavior problems are one of the top reasons dogs are relinquished to shelters and humane societies! Dogs were born with the instincts to be dogs. Despite our domesticating them, they share over 99% of their DNA with the wolf! Most dogs only need classes because we want them to act differently than their doggie instincts tell them. We need to take the class so we can learn to communicate with the dogs in our life.

I'm a believer that there are no bad dogs, only untrained dogs! I'm also a believer that every dog should take their human to an obedience class! Every one of my dogs has taken a basic obedience class at the very least. Like I tell all my first time students who hope their "dog will learn in class", I tell them THEY will learn more than their dogs because it's WE who need the training!

Before continuing on with the many benefits of a training class, I would like to share a somewhat humorous account of why I say every dog and human should attend class! About 2 decades ago, I adopted 2 wonderful ADULT dogs from shelters (translation: someone else trained them for me) that were very well behaved and generally good dogs. Sure we had some initial separation anxiety problems but overall they were great dogs. I feel bad with what I know now because those 2 dogs, although I am sure I gave them the best life I could, got an inexperienced owner who thought she knew how to communicate and train dogs. After all, I grew up with toy poodles from the time I was 8 years old. Later in life I went on to foster Greyhounds, then adopt and foster Italian Greyhounds. Based on some basic abilities that I had observed and learned over the years and probably some basic instincts, the dogs and I did just fine. THAT IS UNTIL AN ITALIAN GREYHOUND NAMED AYANNA CAME ALONG!!!!

Oh yes, many of you know my beautiful blue girl who, I joke, “put every gray hair on my head”. I adore her. I adopted her about 9 years ago and Ayanna and I share a bond that is so wonderful. We know what each other is thinking and we communicate very well. If she could talk, we would finish each other’s sentences! Today at 10, she is still a challenge, but that's part of what I love most about her now that I know how to manage it! I always say that just when you think you know it all about animals, they have a way of humbling you! Ayanna did more than humble me. She made me realize that I didn't know much about dogs and their behavior and I most likely just got "lucky" to have good dogs and fosters! Now I had met my challenge with her. I also always joke "never get a dog that is smarter than you" and I had a foster that was smarter than me when it came to the dog world. Of course at first I was in denial. Ayanna was just a "bad girl". Still today she wags her tail when I say that and thinks it's a good thing! She would potty wherever she wanted, wouldn't listen, would mark my belongings (yes, girls can mark), constantly pushed the envelope and basically made my life hell! Fostering was no longer fun. It was a challenge and I had met my match, even though she came in as a very shy, very underweight, and malnourished 10 pound package!

Not only did I not enjoy living with this foster girl, I had no bond with her at all! I threw a fur coat and fancy collar on her thinking “thank God she's pretty, someone will adopt her and love her". As time went on things got worse, not better. Ayanna had a lot of health issues so she was going to be with me awhile. One day it hit me like a brick that if I didn't enjoy living with this girl, how was anyone else going to enjoy her? No fancy clothes or pretty face would make up for what a pain in the butt she was! I vowed to do something about it. I took Ayanna to both regular obedience classes and private lessons. She was so badly behaved in the car that I remember the trainer and I driving around for an entire training session just to work on her car behavior! I had a list a mile long of Ayanna's inappropriate behaviors for the trainer! Of course NONE of this could be my fault. She was just a bad dog. So, what did we really learn in these training classes? I say we, but it was mostly me who had to do the learning! Ayanna learned to listen, but more importantly I learned how to communicate with her and how to provide the mental and physical stimulation that a smart dog needs! So what else did I learn, and why should you train your dog?

IMPROVES COMMUNICATION

Even with people, if you can communicate well you are more likely to get along. Communication is the key to success in both the human world and the dog world! Imagine if you were suddenly dropped into a foreign country where all the rules were different and you didn't speak the language. Well that's what our dogs live with everyday! They don't speak English. Sure they can learn words, but they communicate in a very different manner than we do and by relying on other senses such as their eyes through body language, their nose through scent, etc. Training classes will help your dog learn OUR language but more importantly, it will also help you learn THEIR language!

BUILDS A BOND

When your dog understands what you want from him, he is more secure and happy and you don't become frustrated with your dog's behavior. You understand each other. You can communicate without saying a word! You have a bond that truly grows from communication and understanding.

GIVES YOU TOOLS

Training gives you tools and alternative behaviors to help your dog deal with new situations, and you to deal with problems that arise. Training or learning is never over in the dog or human world. We are constantly learning and training helps us to learn new ways to manage behaviors that might come up. Our dog companions are usually with us for 10-15 years. We need tools to help them live in OUR world!

SOCIALIZATION

It's socialization with people and dogs in a controlled setting. Dogs need to be with dogs. Dogs need to get along with people. A class provides interaction for your dog with other dogs and other people, in a very controlled environment with people of similar interests! Therefore it is fun and educational for both your dog and you! Nothing is sadder, in my opinion, than a dog afraid of other people or worse yet, unable to interact with his own kind!

FUN

I never thought training could be fun! I never thought dogs really liked to learn but I was wrong. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't like to learn! It's fun for them. When I start training one of my dogs, they all come running as if to say "I want to try it" or "I can do that". Think about how we learn new things all the time and that learning or school can be fun for humans and for dogs!

ENHANCED LIFE

Often dog owners say "well my dog sits (insert behavior) at home just fine" but the key to a well behaved dog is to have them listen around distractions and other settings. Training teaches your dog to be a good citizen in public, NOT just at home. My dogs have gone to senior homes for therapy visits, traveled on vacation with me, gone to work, and stayed at nice hotels because they are generally well behaved. I think dogs, just like children, should behave in public and the reward is a more stimulating life where they can go many places!

BUILDS CONFIDENCE

Training builds a dog's confidence. Just like people are more confident when they learn new things, so is a dog. There is nothing sadder in rescue than a dog that is insecure. I know no better way to make a dog more confident, secure and happy in our world, than to teach them new things and to teach them to listen.

SAFETY/PIECE OF MIND

I always teach my puppy owners that if you can only teach your dog one thing, and you can teach him to do it perfectly, teach the come command. In my opinion every dog should have a VERY reliable recall. It’s the one and only command that might just save your dog’s life one day. It amazes me how many people say it 100 times a day, don’t reward a dog when he does come, and basically teaches their dog that come is “optional”. This command (if taught properly) can truly save your dog’s life! That alone is worth an investment in training classes!

So, what happened with Ayanna? I did place Ayanna twice with great previous adopters, but she was too much for them so she was returned. I cried both times she left and knew I made a huge mistake. After all, our bond was so strong from the training, and I had learned SO much from Ayanna! When she was returned a second time, I adopted her. She went on to get her Canine Good Citizen Certificate, Junior Coursing title, become a therapy dog, and also do some agility for fun. Almost a decade later, she continues to remind me that I don't know it all and humbles me when I think I do. She also continues to challenge me and remind me that I have to meet her needs too and not just expect her to meet mine, that she lives in my world but I also must understand and live in hers! I adore her and we are so close. That isn't all Ayanna did for me. I was so forever changed by my training experiences that I became an assistant at class and went on to become a trainer. All my own dogs (and several fosters) have all gone through at least basic obedience classes in a classroom setting so they can get the socialization. I have taught at the same place that trained Ayanna and I, for about 8 years now. Ayanna loves to go to each class with me, where she sits in her soft bed watching me almost as to proudly say "I taught her everything she knows!"

You think? Another shocker in the news...

Karen Sparapani — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:50:11 GMT

Wow! I just heard on TV and the radio that Petland sells puppies from puppy mills! What an incredible development that the HSUS spent much time and money investigating. They could have saved those resources by calling me, because anyone that works in animal welfare in this area could have told them without any doubt that of course Petland sells puppies from puppy mills. We know the puppy mill breeders, so we know exactly where they come from.

What reputable breeder would hand over a puppy to be sold in a pet store? Not any reputable ones that I know of. I cannot tell you how many people surrender puppies here at the shelter, that they bought on impulse, had them overnight, realized they were overwhelmed and tried to return the dog to the store only to find out that the store would not take the dog back. No refunds! They would not even take the dog back and not offer a refund. How is that for being responsible, Petland?

Here is how the puppy mill system works. Breeding farms raise hundreds and sometimes thousands of puppies a year depending on the size of the puppy mill. These dogs are sold to puppy brokers, usually for about a hundred dollars each. The puppy mill brokers then have contracts to sell these puppies to puppy stores, Petland being the largest in the U.S., I believe. The brokers sell the puppies for a few hundred dollars, then Petland marks up the puppies a couple more hundred dollars.

So, the consumer who loves the look of say a Cavalier King Charles spaniel will walk into a pet store and see one for $900 or more, and think well, that is a great price for that trendy breed. They have maybe looked into breeders that charge at least that and more for a Cav puppy. What is the difference, right?

Well, Petland puppy was conceived and whelped by any two dogs thrown together for breeding purposes, they could even be littermates. Breeder puppy has parents that were shown in a ring, have gotten championship titles for being the best of the breed in that competition. Their parents were tested for genetic problems that can be passed down, and they themselves would also be tested for any problems that occur in the breed.

Petland puppy did not see a vet until they arrived at the pet store, but it would have received several vaccinations more than it needed, given to prevent the spread of disease. Breeder puppy has been to the vet at least once since it was born, and was properly vaccinated.

Petland puppy was taken away from it's mother and littermates too young to learn lessons like bite inhibition, and are often socially underdeveloped. Breeder puppy stays with it's litter until around 10 - 12 weeks. This puppy learned how to play nice with others, is not fearful, and has gotten the best possible start in life, going from a home to a home.

Petland puppy was given to it's new family because they had a credit card, cash or check. Maybe they came in on a whim. Maybe they think shelters are dirty, and they do not like having a background check done on them. Maybe they do not know where to find a reputable breeder. But they want a puppy. Today. After spending a few minutes with the puppy, they are sold a puppy and a bunch of supplies and are sent on their way.

Breeder puppy's new family have know about him/her since before they were born, or shortly after. Often the breeder will wait to match personalities to a new family. She will save the show quality pups for show families, and then find families for the other puppies that for whatever reason (like markings, structure, personality) are not destined for a breeding program. These are still wonderful puppies. This family has seen pictures of the puppies each week, have watched them grow up, and are fully prepared to take the puppy home after waiting 10 weeks.

While both puppies now have families, who had the best start in life? Who's life was started in a chicken coop type cage exposed to the elements, and was brought into this world just to make a buck?

When Petland puppy has behavior problems, training issues, or develops genetic issues after the 1 year "warranty" is Petland going to care? I think not. When breeder puppy has these issues, the breeder is always there for the new family, and will replace or take back a dog no matter what.

So, now that it is on the news will people listen? Did they listen when Oprah said that pet store puppies come from puppy mills? Some people thought so. Yet, we see pet store dogs each week surrendered here because the cute little puppy grew up and needs too much attention, or it costs too much to take care of. Or they are not home enough to take care of a dog.

Well thank goodness we now have confirmed that Petland sells puppy mill puppies. I have been around long enough to know that things will never change, and Petland and other stores like them will find another source or another way to justify selling puppies to make money.

I will just thank goodness for shelters and breed rescue groups, because until people stop wanting to instantly satisfy ever whim they get, including buying a little puppy in a store because it was so cute, but without realizing the commitment they are making, places like EBHS will always be available for these animals. Petland sure isn't going to be.

Me vs. the Deer, Guess Who Won?

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:32:43 GMT

How many times have I written, and lectured, and warned people about deer this time of year? I thought I was doing a good job at cautioning people and advocating for the deer. Apparently, the deer did not think so.

While driving with my daughter the other night a doe leapt in front of my car. This is one of the stories I always hear, about how the deer jumped right in front of a moving car and in the back of my head I am thinking that this person was speeding, not paying attention, or was otherwise distracted. A deer would not jump right in front of a moving car, would they? They can't be that dumb can they? They sure seem to be able to avoid most of the hunters I know.

I slammed on my brakes, steering straight ahead, not wanting to hit the oncoming car in the opposite lane. Fortunately, my car stopped about a foot away from her, I can still see the details of the fur on her face and the white of her eye. As I sighed with relief that I missed the deer, my car shuddered from a slam on the passenger side as one of this doe's older fawns (there were two, one managed to stop and dart away) ran into the car and then ran back into the woods.

Don't worry, it did not even have a limp when it ran away.

My car, however, was not as fortunate.

I really cannot complain though. I think everyone in Wisconsin either has experienced a deer vs. vehicle situation or knows someone personally who has. A former neighbor lost her stepmother when her father was driving and hit a tree while trying to avoid a deer. I have insurance, so I will pay my deductible, and get my dent removed. I am just thankful that my daughter was not injured.

When animals do things like that I always think of Gary Larson and his Far Side cartoons. How the animals were always smarter than the people. I can conjure up in my head the two young deer back in the bushes panting with one of them mocking the other for being so clumsy. Humans always tend to personify the animals.

That is why I yelled into the woods at the deer while inspecting the damage to my front passenger side fender. I know he feels contrite after my verbal tongue lashing, and I am sure he will never do something so dangerous again. But just to be on the safe side, I will take the long way from now on to avoid the roads more wooded.

I am not looking for a rematch.

Shelter News Bites

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:53:51 GMT

I hope everyone is out voting! Please go vote if you have not done so already!

I feel especially rested after getting back the hour I lost in the spring due to daylight savings time. I have gotten through the mountain of paperwork on my desk, and I am feeling chatty today! So let's share!

We have adopted out almost all of the 12 puppies that were on the floor last Friday - which is wonderful! They were a great group of dogs that will be excellent family members. They started off in one of our best foster homes, where they were born, and then went to some other great foster homes until they could be spayed and neutered, and now they are beginning their lives with their new families. I am so excited for them all!

Keanu the husky mix also just went home today. I really liked him, he had such a great personality. We have another dog, Indie on the floor. He is a pit mix who looks like the worlds largest French Bulldog. I would totally adopt him if my husband would let me. He is great with everyone! He does snort a bit, but that is because he is a little overweight. I think it lends him some charm.

I am sure that I am not the only one who has noticed the large amount of deer running around lately. There was a news story about how car vs. deer incidents are on the rise here in Wisconsin, and I really believe that! I cannot stress enough how important it is to be vigilant while driving during this time of the year when deer are enjoying mating season and paying even less attention while they dart across roads. There is never a winner in a car vs. deer situation, so protect your car, your family, and your life by making sure you use caution on the roads. If you see one deer run by stop immediately and wait as they usually travel with friends, or their older fawns who are apt to wait for them to safely cross a clearing (or road) and then run after them.

I have also seen tons of wild turkey around my property lately. There is a small flock of them, running around my yard. The strangest thing is to see them perched in a tree. It seems so unnatural to see a turkey in a tree, but that is because I am used to Thanksgiving type turkey which are so big they could never get off the ground. I feel their pain!

We had a new group of kids from Lad Lake start here at the shelter. Each group lasts 8 weeks. We are looking for some adult volunteers to work with us and them on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. They are with is from 9:30 to 11:00am. We work on obedience training with the dogs, and some shelter work, like washing dishes and mopping floors. That kind of thing. If you are interested, call Carol Sumbry at the shelter (262-782-9261), and we can get you set up. It is really fun working with the boys, I enjoyed the last group a lot, and this group is already a lot of fun!

Well, I am going to go home and start watching the election results in a few minutes. I wonder what the world will be like tomorrow? We will have to find something else to talk about now, which is fine with me. I would much rather talk about the shelter animals anyway!

Cat People vs. Dog People

Karen Sparapani — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:57:32 GMT

I am sure that I am not alone when I say that I wish I was sitting next to a warm fire right now...where did the nice fall weather go? I can always tell when fall has arrived when the Italian Greyhounds who "work" at the shelter start wearing quilted coats instead of just their regular casual wear.

I have always known that there are distinct differences between cat people and dog people. Now, there is a study that confirms my suspicions, along with some other concerning information. It turns out that having a cat is more attractive to single people, while living with dogs is more attractive to families.

The AVMA conducts surveys of pet owners every five years, and publishes the results in the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook. In the 2007 edition, dogs rule as the companion choice for families: 67.0 percent of dog owners are married compared to 61.8 percent of cat owners, and 52.6 percent of dog owners are families of three or more, compared to 47.0 percent of cat owners.

One finding that is very upsetting is that cat owners are much less likely to seek veterinary care for their animals, and they spend less on their animals compared to dog families, and this divide seems to be growing. At EBHS we see many cats easily surrendered, it seems like cats are the disposable companion for many people. For instance, when the owners of a cat get a new puppy and the existing cat does not like the new puppy - guess who ends up at the shelter? The data revealed that 82.7 percent of dog owners made at least one annual visit to a veterinarian, compared to 63.7 percent of cat owners.

The AVMA data also showed that the average expense per household on veterinary expenses for 2006 was $366.

The study also showed that almost 50% of pet owners considered their animal companions to be a member of the family. I thought that would be higher.

In 2006 there were 72 million canine companions in the US and 82 million feline companions. There were more households with dogs (43 million compared to 37 million for cat households), but many households with cats had more than one cat, which explains the disparity.

An Open Letter to the person who abandoned the sick Vizsla puppy at Brookfield Square last night

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:29:56 GMT

I do not know who you are, and I cannot imagine what possessed you to abandon an incredibly sick puppy at a mall in Brookfield. I am not sure what kind of thought process leads someone to think that turning a sick puppy loose in a mall parking lot in the middle of the night would be a good idea. Aside from the fact that the puppy obviously needed medical attention, the poor little thing could have been run over, attacked by wild animals looking for food in the dumpsters, or just suffered from exposure, as it was very cold last night.

No matter, I guess. When you put him in that parking lot and drove away while he watched and wondered what was going on, his death sentence was certain.

Last night at 4am our Humane Officer responded to a call from the Brookfield Police when they found your emaciated puppy at Brookfield Square. Your puppy was completely dehydrated, and incredibly sick. Our Humane Officer knew right away what was wrong with your puppy by the smell, it had Parvo. She brought your puppy straight to the emergency vet who tested your puppy, confirmed that it was positive for Parvo, and left him overnight for treatment.

This morning we transferred your puppy back to the shelter to prepare it to be picked up by a foster family for the long-term care it was going to need. By lunchtime your puppy passed away, as it was too late to save the little guy. The disease had taken its toll on his vital organs and he was too weak to live.

I wanted YOU to know that.

Because the police officers who found your puppy, the humane officer who rescued him, the shelter staff and the vet clinic staff who administered his medical care, all have to feel sick inside about the short life and miserable death of the poor little puppy that you could not even bother to take to a vet for vaccinations that might have saved its life, or for treatment when he became ill. We tried to save him. We did not even know him, or his name. But we did more to save his life than you did. He died with a stranger at his side wondering where you were.

You must have had him for a few weeks. He must have had a name. He must have been really cute, and done funny puppy things. You knew him, and you should have loved him enough to care what happened to him. Instead you took the easy way out and you chose to not know what happened to your puppy, by dropping him off and leaving him for us to take of.

For all I know, you think that this little guy was saved, and has gotten medical treatment, and is being taken care of by the nice family who found him. You know, the nice family who was shopping at the mall at 4am on a Monday night. Maybe in your imagination you think there was a happy ending for your puppy. Well, there was no happy ending, and his cold little body is in our freezer.

I hope that you remember him next time you think about adding an animal to your life. Remember that if you cannot commit to taking care of an animal for better or worse, in sickness and in health, or for richer or poorer, you should not buy one, adopt one, or otherwise take responsibility for one.

I hope you sleep well tonight. I know I won't.

Top 10 Human Medications that are Harmful to Animal Companions

Karen Sparapani — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:16:48 GMT

My friend Lolita sent this information to me regarding the Top 10 Human Medications (courtesy of the ASPCA website) that are harmful to your animal companions if ingested. There were a couple I was unaware of, so I thought I would share:

NSAIDs
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach and intestinal ulcers and—in the case of cats—kidney damage.

Antidepressants
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome—a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.

Acetaminophen
Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen, which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage.

Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
Medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as cause seizures.

Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil—an anti-cancer drug—is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded cotton swabs used to apply the medication.

Isoniazid
Often the first line of defense against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of severe seizures that may ultimately result in death.

Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures.

Anti-diabetics
Many oral diabetes treatments—including glipizide and glyburide—can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures.

Vitamin D derivatives
Even small exposures to Vitamin D analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure—including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure—often don't occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion.

Baclofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures and coma, which can lead to death.

How "Old" is Your Dog? I Know How You Can Find Out!

Karen Sparapani — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:43:13 GMT

Dog years? Most of us think of dog years as the equivalent of 7 human years for one dog year. Recently when going to my vet they had a new chart that showed a correlation between a dog's weight and their "age" - meaning the heavier a dog was the older it was.

As far as human years, I took a test online about a month ago that told me I was 3 years younger than my actual age because of my lifestyle. Apparently, being boring is extending my life. However, the site suggested that I could live 2 years longer if I started flossing religiously, and since I plan to live long enough to drive my children and grandchildren crazy, I have started flossing a lot!

Today I received an email from the same website that promised to tell me my dog's real age. Since I have 3 dogs, and only one is a senior, I just tested Murphy, my 11 year old black Lab. The site asked all kinds of lifestyle questions about Murphy, and what he eats, and what his personality and activity level are like.

I was happy to find out that he is 63 years old, which is 7 years younger than his age/breed average. Not too shabby for a dog that would forsake me for anyone with food for him.

Here is the link if you would like to see how old your dog is:

http://www.dogage.com/reg/regassess.aspx?cbr=RA66_RA

The test does take a few minutes so be patient. I am happy to know that Murphy should be with my family for more years than I thought!

Happy Tuesday

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:22:01 GMT

We have a lot of happy things to share with our readers today!

First of all, Charlie, an English Springer Spaniel mix, who was so unhappy in his kennel went to his new home today! He was one of those dogs that looked so pitiful in his kennel, but outside of his kennel he was a total firecracker. He has a great personality, and he is so handsome. I am glad that he has found his forever home.

Trace, a long-term feline resident also went home today. My heart always goes out to the cats here, there are so many people surrendering cats, and so few people adopting them. Trace won his lottery today, and he has a great new family to call his own. I hope the other 40 cats we have here can get just as lucky!

We have a few great events coming up that we hope you can come to. First is the Barkitecture event hosted by Vetter Denk. On Thursday, October 23rd they are having a party to help EBHS raise funds, and to show off their amazing homes in downtown Milwaukee. My two passions are animals and architecture, so I will be there checking out their Bluff Homes, and supporting my beloved shelter.

On Saturday, October 25th we have two great events happening. For rabbit lovers, we are having a rabbit training class called Rabbitopia II...the Training Begins. There will be two classes, one at 11:30am and one at 1:30pm. These classes will teach rabbit lovers great ways to help reinforce the positive behaviors in their rabbits, and then discourage unacceptable ones. You can call the shelter to sign up for either class at 262-782-9261. Crated rabbits are welcome for nail trims and gland cleaning.

Also on Saturday, October 25th, EBHS is taking part in Harvest Fest at the Village Court Shopping Center in Elm Grove. There is going to be free pumpkin decorating for kids, a kids costume contest, and an animal costume contest, cart rides, food, music, treats and raffles to enjoy. It will be a great way to spend the day, with your children, and your dog! The event is from 10am - 3pm. We hope to see you down there!

The M&I Bank Employees Association came in today with one of those giant checks (which I totally love! It makes you feel like Ed McMahon just showed up!) and made a donation to EBHS from the employees at the local M&I Banks. I want to give them all a big shout out and thank them for their generosity. With the economy the way it is, we need all the financial help we can get! Christmas in October courtesy of M & I Bank! Thanks to all of the M&I employees for their generosity and kindness!

Also, have to mention our good friends at Elite Electric. Gerry, the owner, came to the rescue of the shelter and did some electrical repairs that we needed done and donated his time and materials. He has definitely confirmed his awesomeness to me through his always professional work, and his generosity! Turns out he is an animal lover too! Thanks to Gerry and Elite Electric (located in Milwaukee).

The front office cat - who is adoptable - has decided that my office is the best place to hang out. He sits in my window, and since there is 23 pounds of him, he rolls around knocking things all over the place. He is so funny when he sleeps, and everyone that walks past my window on the way into the shelter laughs as they walk by, but unfortunately, no one has applied to adopt him yet. If you would like a big chunk of cat to call your own, come in and visit Louie. He is polydactyl too, so he has too much body and too many toes. He is a big gray meatball. You will love him!

No Easy Answers for Animal Aggression...

Karen Sparapani — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:58:10 GMT

Today at the shelter I was sitting at my desk when I heard some children in the lobby start crying and wailing. Typically, this occurs when a family surrenders a companion animal for some reason, and I felt terrible for the kids. Their crying was so long and insistent I felt myself almost start crying because it was really heartbreaking to hear. When they left I went out to investigate what happened, and I found out that the family was euthanizing their dog here at the shelter because it was dangerous and had bitten a few people, including small children. The family was worried that the dog would really hurt someone and that this was the most humane way to handle the situation.

When good people have dogs with bad behavior, there are no easy answers. Euthanasia in the case of a seriously injured or ill animal is an easy call to make. Deciding to euthanize an animal because of a behavior issue like aggression is incredibly difficult. You ask yourself "Will the animal ever do this again? Can I change my lifestyle so that this animal will never be in this situation again?" If an animal has been an otherwise wonderful companion except for this one incident, how do you forget all the good and make the ultimate decision to end it's life?

Obviously, the situation described above is very difficult to go through. But, I would have to say that even harder is having your dog harm another animal or even worse, a person. The guilt some people feel when their dog has injured another person, especially a child, is enormous. Other people get angry and blame the victim and it can tear families or neighborhoods apart. My own sister was bit in the face by my Uncle's dog, and had to undergo several painful plastic surgeries to try and fix her mouth. Her upper lip was practically torn off her face, and her face will never be the same. My mother and her brother, my Uncle, have not spoken in 20 years because of this.

What is the right decision to make when your family dog is dangerous to the general public?

Every day in the U.S. hundreds of animals bite hundreds of people. Many animal bites are never reported. Some are reported to authorities, others to humane societies, for investigation and "bite quarantine" which is essentially a rabies hold. In 10 days, if the dog or cat has not developed rabies, most of these animals are given back to their owners. Some owners make the painful decision to euthanize the dog. There is never a rhyme or reason in why one animal goes home and why one does not. It is almost always the owner's decision to make.

When it comes to other living things, there is never a one size fits all solution. If you have an animal with aggression issues, I would advise you to start with your veterinarian to make sure there is not a medical cause for it, then seek the advice of an animal behaviorist who can give you a better idea of what you are dealing with. They may recommend training, intense behavior modification, or even have you consider re-homing the animal to an environment that is better able to handle the behavior. At some point you may have to consider if euthanasia is the right decision.

I do not have all the answers and I wish I could end this story in a happy way. Today, there was an unfortunate outcome. I can only hope that this family can find peace in the fact that they made the right decision for them, and that this dog is now in a place where it will not hurt anyone else, or be hurt by anyone else. It is hard for children to understand these things, and I can still hear those kids crying in my head and my heart is breaking for them all over again.

Back to the Blog!

Karen Sparapani — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:41:31 GMT

I'm baaack!

I have been away far too long. I was busy getting ready for Wag Fest, then recovering from Wag Fest, then catching up from all the work that did not get done because of Wag Fest. So, I apologize for my long absence.

I want to congratulate Team Raman for their second consecutive win in Wag Fest fundraising! This is not only testament to their winning personalities, but also their dedication to the animals at the shelter. They are excellent supporters, generous donors, and two people that I consider dear friends. Thanks again to all the Wag Fest fundraisers, because without them, we would not be as successful in fundraising at Wag Fest!

The shelter has been busy and very active and we are trying our best to weather the storm created by the flailing economy. We have the double whammy of receiving less financial help from the community, and the added work of the many surrenders from people who are truly suffering financially by losing a home or job during this mess. I am praying that this is as bad as it can get but when you turn on the news the talking heads keep saying it is going to get worse before it gets any better. That does not bode well for a lot of companion animals out there who may lose a family.

On the bright side, we have some wonderful animals on the adoption floor right now. Darby is the best dog ever, and I wonder how she ever ended up here. She is a beautiful mixed breed dog with the best temperament. We have had some puppies, and some great cats and kittens come available as well. What we need now is to find them some forever homes.

Startling fact of the day: If every single person in America adopted one dog or cat today there would still be thousands of animals without a home. Can you imagine how many animals there must be waiting for a new home?

Please adopt your next companion animal! I never get tired of saying it, and I mean it!

Is Your Dog a Dingo?

Karen Sparapani — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:17:04 GMT

We had a visit from a dog that was adopted here a few months ago that we had named Dingo - because he looked like a dingo. His new family got one of those new DNA tests. The test costs about $65 and it told us that he was part German Shepherd, Pekingese, Cairn Terrier and Alaskan Malamute. A true Heinz 57. You would have never thought any of those breeds were in this dog, but we were fascinated by the results of the test.

When people come into the shelter, they often expect dogs to be a mix of two purebreds. Most often there are many mixes in there and there is no way to know for sure what mix the dogs are. Sometimes a puppy will look like one breed and when they grow up they look totally different. We can make estimates of how big a dog will get, but there are never any guarantees. I have met a lot of people over the years who thought they were adopting a small dog and wound up with a dog you could saddle if you wanted.

There are a lot of dogs I would love to test to see what they are mixes of, but I guess at the end of the day, my biggest concern is finding them a loving forever home.

I hope to see you all out this Saturday at our Wag Fest on Saturday at Fox Brook Park in Brookfield. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we hope that we have a great turnout this year. The event starts at 10am and you do not have to pre-register. Come on down and have a great time with EBHS - and your family, and even your dog (or cat - there was a cat on a leash there last year!).

So You Want to Live With a Puppy...

Karen Sparapani — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:24:41 GMT

Ah, puppies. They are so cute, playful, and make just about everyone smile when you see them. Unless you live with them. Oh sure, there are a few people out there who will tell you that the minute they got their 5 week old puppy home it was housebroken, and slept through the night, and never chewed on anything other than a rawhide. But I live and work in the trenches, and I will tell you that most people that work in animal welfare will tell you that they would take in a 10 year old dog than a 10 week old puppy.

Yesterday, we had a family who adopted a puppy last week come in wanting to return the puppy. The reason? It was being a puppy. This was their first dog. They let the puppy have free roam of the house and it was going potty wherever it wanted to, chasing their cats, and wreaking general havoc. This must have been the happiest puppy in all of Wisconsin last weekend!

We do go over crate-training with potential adopters, but you often meet resistance as people often do not realize what crate training is all about. Most of us grew up with paper training a puppy, in fact, I never even saw a crate in a home until I was in college. Crates were only for travel back in those days. Additionally, I think when most people are falling in love with an animal here at the shelter, they really do not hear anything we are saying as they are just so enamored with this new little family member. Especially puppies.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Puppies are not for everyone. In fact, I have one, and it is really hard work, even for someone who sort of knows what they are doing. You are essentially bringing a baby animal into your home. Not a small dog. My dear friend, and dog trainer, Carol Sumbry often asks people "When were you housebroken? Two or three years old?" Yet, we expect our 3 month old puppies to come home and ask to be let out when they get the urge. They are babies, and need us to teach them everything! Most dogs are not trustworthy in the housebreaking department until they are at least 6 months old, and for some dogs in can take a year! I still remember excitedly calling my husband at his office when our 8 month old black lab puppy, Murphy, finally urinated outside when he was supposed to. I was relating this story to my husband when I looked down to see Murphy pooping on the floor just one foot away from me.

When you bring a puppy home, you should expect the first year of this animal's life to be all about learning where it is acceptable to go potty, where it is acceptable to sit, sleep, and what kind of manners it is expected to have inside and outside of your home. I know it sounds like a lot of work. It is a lot of work. More work than you expect. But, it is worth it in the long run. The reason many people get a puppy in the first place is for the companionship this dog will provide as an adult. You expect a lot of out a little baby animal. Your puppy expects a lot from you, too. Go into bringing a dog into your life with your eyes wide open. If this work is not for you, go for an adult dog. There is often a shorter learning curve, and you can get your instant best friend a lot sooner than you ever thought possible.

Fans of felines are in no easier boat when it comes to deciding on a kitten or cat. Sure, the potty training often takes care of itself, but kittens are capable of gravity defying feats that an adult cat could never pull off due to their size and weight. Our last kitten foster walked up our pant legs (sometimes even our bare legs), climbed houseplants, climbed wooden paneled walls, chewed every cord it could get its mouth on and was a complete maniac in the house. Adult cats can be playful, and even "wild", but kittens seem to have only 2 speeds. Sleeping, and the activity level of a cat on 3 pots of espresso.

Think long and hard before deciding to bring any animal into your life, and about the sacrifices you are willing to make to ensure this animal gets the care and training needed to be a lifelong companion - not a mistake that you will feel guilty about returning to a shelter after a week.

For the little puppy that was returned, we gave her family some new training tips, a crate, and educated them on what life with a little puppy was really like. They took her home again, more confident that they can give her the home she needs. Hopefully in the end, they will be able to make it work. The puppy has really bonded to them, and they really love the puppy.

Happy endings are our specialty, and I am crossing my fingers for just one more for this family.

Night of the Living Chupracabas

Karen Sparapani — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:22:52 GMT

Chupracabras?

When I first heard the word, I could not understand what the staff was talking about. Why do kittens have Chupracabas under their skin? I had recently watched a very lengthy documentary on the National Geographic Channel about Chupacabras - who are according to eyewitnesses supposed to be small little devil animals that kill small animals by sucking out their blood. Despite the teasers for the show, there were no real Chupracabas found and I was disappointed after an hour of being promised evidence of their existence.

My staff was, in fact, referring to something equally as disgusting - Cuterebras. These creepy little fly larvae attach themselves to animals, entering into the host via nose or mouth who then migrate to specific areas in the host's body. Apparently, they usually flock to the head and neck areas of kittens and other animals where they make a breathing hole under the skin and grow into large larvae that can kill the host by causing internal damage and infection.

Cuterebras need to be carefully removed in one piece or they can cause infection and death. After removal, the animal often goes on antibiotics, to prevent infection and illness. Obviously, going to a vet to have this done is a must. The staff showed me a Cuterebra in formaldehyde and it was an inch long and brown and I got the willies thinking about one of those suckers climbing around under my skin.

How disgusting is that? If there is no other reason to keep your cat indoors, preventing them from getting Cuterebras is a pretty darn good one!

Small parasites totally creep me out. Humans have to be just as vigilant in our fight to keep internal parasites out of our bodies as our beloved companions do. In the south, I was always told not to stand in pine needles because the chiggers would get me. When I traveled to NY recently, I was in a cab that had a story that bed bugs were becoming more common in hotel rooms around the world and I was so happy that I was staying with relatives. In the Northeast, it is the dreaded deer tick and Lyme disease. My step-dad and sister both have Lyme disease the contracted in Connecticut.

Our dogs and cats are so lucky that they have Frontline, and Revolution to keep icky bugs away. Our own skin seems so flimsy a defense from these bugs that would like to call us home.

I suppose the moral of today's story is that you should keep your cats in, your dogs on a leash near wooded areas where these flies lay their eggs near the burrows of small rodents and animals, and that no matter how many precautions you take Mother Nature can always take it up a notch on the creepy factor and make you wish you never left your house.

I guess the bright side is that there are no Chupracabas in Wisconsin, because I am sure my Humane Officer and staff would probably not want to have to pick up a stray or injured devil animal who wanted to suck blood in the middle of the night. Not to mention the trouble we would have trying to find a vet to treat it.