Water Safety For Your Dog

By: Tristan Andrews

Summer is a great time to enjoy the water with your dog. Whether you like boating, fishing or just taking a dip in the pool, your dog probably wants to do these things with you. But, do you know how to keep your dog safe in the water?

Many dogs are natural swimmers but that doesn't mean that yours is. There are many dogs that have some natural fear of the water. That means that you can't just assume that the first time you take your dog out to the lake or even the swimming pool that he will hop in and start dog paddling.

You should also keep in mind that dogs come in all shapes and sizes. It's not easy for some dogs to swim because of the way they're built. A Newfoundland or a Portuguese Water Dog, or a Labrador Retriever, have dense, water-resistant fur that sheds water. The Newf and the Lab carry a little extra fat that can keep them warm in cold water. The Lab has a tail like a rudder to help him in the water. The Portuguese Water Dog has webbing on his paws that helps him paddled in the water. Not all dogs are built to be champion swimmers like these dogs.

If you plan to have your dog near the water the first thing you should do is buy him a proper life jacket for dogs. Yes! They do make life vests for dogs! They are made from the same material as the life vests for humans. You can order them online or you may find them in a pet superstore.

Choose a life vest for your dog that is brightly colored. You want to be able to see your dog if he is out in the water away from you. Make sure that you get a vest that fits your dog well. The vest will have straps that fit around your dog in several places.

Once you and your dog are near the water you can help your dog learn to swim by slowly walking him into the water. Don't force him to go deeper than he wants to go. Most dogs will catch on and enjoy themselves. Dogs actually do dog paddle. But you shouldn't make your dog go into the water if he doesn't want to go. Remember to stay close by in case your dog has any problems. This is true whether you are swimming in a pool or any other small body of water.

It's particularly important with pools for you to teach your dog how to find the side so he can get out on his own. Many dogs drown each year because they don't know how to get out of the pool. If your dog can't find the steps then he may drown because he's stuck in the water. Swim with your dog to the side of the pool where the steps are and help your dog find the steps with his legs. Show him how to step out of the pool and make sure that you see him do this.

NEVER allow a dog to swim unattended. If you have a pool you should always keep a gate to the pool closed or keep the pool otherwise off-limits to your dog.

Swimming is a lot of fun for dogs but dogs can and do drown. Please be careful about allowing your dog near water.

Iams Dog Food Review

By Kristie Macris

Specs

Iams produces several types of canned and dried dog food for all life stages of a pet's life--from puppies to senior dogs--including premium and veterinary formulas. Which type of Iams dog food you choose will depend on your pet's breed, size and health. Each dry food formula comes in different kibble sizes, including MiniChunk for smaller dogs. Ingredients vary drastically in the various Iams formulas, so a little research will pinpoint the best formula for your dog.

Perks

Iams offers several formulas in the mid-range price level. Most can be purchased at retail pet chains. With the introduction of the Iams Healthy-Natural line, the company moved towards more natural, protein-rich ingredients in its dog food. All Iams brands and formulas are better quality than supermarket dog food, and most dogs will do fine on it.

Sacrifices

As a larger dog food producer, the quality of ingredients falters when compared to more expensive, all-natural products from boutique producers. This is most evident in the canned food selections, which sometimes contain large chunks of bone or fat. The general public image of Iams is that its products are unhealthy; plus, the company tests its products on animals, which must be weighed when purchasing food for your pet.

Bottom Line

Iams offers several solid formulas, which provide the nutrition that your dog needs at a reasonable cost. In general, you should buy the best dog food that your situation allows. If your dog develops itchy skin, gas or bad breath, switching to a different Iams formula may help.

Darwin the Bichon Frise Mix

Darwin is a mix of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mom and Bichon Frise dad. He is a ball of happy, fluffy craziness! He is incredibly smart, loves to play fetch and loves everybody and every dog. He's quite the little social director whenever in a group of other puppies. If there were ever a human trapped in a dog's body, I think it would be him!

Puppies rescued from flooded shelter

Updated: Tuesday, 29 Dec 2009, 6:41 PM EST

Published : Tuesday, 29 Dec 2009, 12:05 PM EST

PALM HARBOR - They are cute and cuddly, and in just a few weeks, they'll need a home.

More than 50 puppies were rescued from a shelter in Georgia and brought to the Bay Area last week.

Rick Chaboudy, the executive director of the Suncoast Animal League, took them in.

"The shelter up there had had, numerous days of rain and flooding. It sort of receded, and then the next couple of days, they had more rain. And not only were they flooded with rain, they were flooded with puppies," Chaboudy said.

He said it became a stressful situation and they asked for help.

Luckily, the Suncoast Animal League has a good group of volunteers. They stepped up, becoming foster families.

Kari Mercaldi and her girls have two of the puppies. They named them Oreo and Comet.
They are a mixed breed, about 4 weeks old.

The family wakes up with them at night to feed them. Both puppies must be bottle fed.

"It took us a couple of times of practice to bottle feed them, because they don't eat like a baby. It's not like you put it in their mouth and they suck it. It kind of goes all over and they chew on it," Kari explained.

Chaboudy is grateful for the volunteers. He said without them, they would have only been able to take in a few of the dogs.

"Given the room at the shelter, there's only a handful we could have helped. So, having this foster base is incredible. Instead of helping five or six, we could help all 50-something of these puppies," he said.

Mercaldi said the first night was rough.

"I think they were a little stressed out. Oreo, he cried non stop. All night, crying, crying, crying."

But now they are getting used to their family, playing and getting lots of hugs.

The puppies will be neutered or spayed in a few weeks. By 8 weeks, they will be ready for adoption.

Mercaldi said they love having the puppies around. "I think it does more for us than it does for them. It's pure giving. They're cute and they love. They have so much love."

Give the gift of life this Xmas

Monday December 14, 2009

By JEREMY TAN

IT’S the time of year when we’re all busy buying gifts for friends and family and making their Christmas wishes come true but for a group of unfortunate animals, the only gifts they wish for is a home and a chance to live.

Of the thousands of stray and abandoned animals that come through the doors of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Penang, only a very small percentage ever find new homes.

The unlucky ones are put to sleep, because the num- ber of animals received far exceeds the shelter’s capacity to house them.

To help these poor animals avoid that sad end, the SPCA, together with New World Park in Penang, recently launched the Give A Gift Of A Home project in conjunction with the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

SPCA Penang president Datuk N. Ramanathan (in yellow) checking out the pictures of dogs and cats up for adoption which adorn the Christmas tree.

A big Christmas tree was lit up recently at New World Park, decorated by shiny baubles as well as images of around 60 dogs and cats that were up for adoption at the shelter.

The adorable animals with dreamy eyes looked as if they were begging people to give them a loving home and a chance to live.

Just below the pictures are details of the animals like their names, characteristics and vaccination history.

“This tree signifies man and animals in unity. We hope some of these animals will find a home in time for Christmas,” said New World Park senior manager Clarence Tan.

A few puppies and dogs have been adopted since the tree was put up, but there were as yet no takers for the cats.

SPCA administrator Lily Leng said that the felines up for adoption at the shelter had been vaccinated, spayed and were free of diseases and in perfect health.

All dressed for Christmas: A dog visiting New World Park with its owner for the SPCA Penang Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

She added that the centre also screened prospective pet owners to ensure they were matched with the perfect animal based on their lifestyle.

The centre’s staff also offer advice on the care of the animals.

“The most im-portant thing is whether the owner can care for their adopted pet and provide it with basic needs. We also try to encourage kids to come to our shelter and spend some time with animals,” she said.

So, why not save a life this Christmas and adopt one of these unfortunate animals?

While they may not be of the best pedigree breeds, deep inside, they’re equally capable of showering their new owners with lots of love, affection and loyalty.

Head over to New World Park and check out the many pictures on its Christmas tree.

You might just find a cute little furry companion that will bring lots of joy to your life.

Visit the shelter’s website (www.spca-penang.net) for their pet adoption gallery or call 04-2816559 for more information.

10 healthy puppies all put down 1 day after surrender to warden

By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Early this year, Lester Cunningham took in three stray dogs that he found wandering around his neighborhood in the cold.
And when one of them gave birth a week later, the 49-year-old South Toledoan found himself the unexpected caregiver to 12 more mixed chow-and-shepherd puppies.
He now owned more dogs than he ever imagined and could possibly care for. "They were really nice puppies … but I couldn't keep all of them," he said.
Yesterday, Mr. Cunningham recalled how on Feb. 26 he took 10 of the pups - then about 8 weeks old and all seemingly healthy - to the Lucas County pound. He surrendered the dogs to the office of Dog Warden Tom Skeldon expecting that each and every one would find a new, caring home.
"I was under the impression that the puppies had a good chance of being adopted out because they're puppies," said Mr. Cunningham, recalling how the staff at the dog pound oohed and aahed over the cute pups.
But none made it out of the warden's kennel. According to the agency's surrender logs - all 10 puppies were killed the day after Mr. Cunningham dropped them off.
Mr. Cunningham was shocked and distraught yesterday to learn from The Blade that Mr. Skeldon killed every puppy he brought in. He said he always assumed they found new homes.

"We were all under the impression that these puppies would get a chance to make it," he said.



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For Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, who tried unsuccessfully this month to fire Mr. Skeldon for the hundreds of adoptable dogs he's killed, the quick deaths of the 10 puppies further demonstrates the need for immediate changes at the warden's office.
"It makes me physically ill to think the county is in some sense sanctioning this behavior," the commissioner said. "There is no excuse for this. To me it shows beyond a reasonable doubt why there needs to be changes in leadership at the dog warden."
Mr. Skeldon yesterday did not return repeated requests for comment throughout the day on puppy killing at the pound.
Records documenting the fate of the 10 puppies were also faxed to the warden's attention yesterday morning, but he refused to come to the phone when called by a reporter.
Commissioner Konop also accused the warden of violating the written agreement on puppy surrender forms by killing the pups the day after they arrived. That document, signed by owners who surrender dogs to the pound, states, "I understand that the dog described, if not suitable for sale, may be humanely destroyed."
"I can't imagine any logical reason to kill 10 healthy, non-"pit bull" puppies less than 24 hours after they were turned in," Mr. Konop said. "It's disgusting."
A temporary moratorium on nearly all puppy killings at the pound was one of three recommendations endorsed last week by the county's Dog Warden Advisory Committee. Commissioners have yet to act on the recommendations or be formally presented with them, officials said.
So far this year, records show that 78 puppies have been killed at the county dog pound, most so-called "pit bull" puppies that Mr. Skeldon kills because he considers them "vicious" under Ohio law.
Pete Gerken, president of the commissioners and a backer of Mr. Skeldon, also refused to return calls from The Blade.
Of puppy euthanasia in general, Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak, the warden's first cousin, issued the following statement:
"All of the commissioners are committed to increasing the number of dogs adopted and decreasing the number euthanized. That's why we are working closely with our Dog Warden Advisory Committee to identify changes that will achieve these objectives. … I hope that all dog owners will remember to get their dog spayed or neutered so we can control our overall pet population and prevent unnecessary euthanasia."
One of Mr. Cunningham's puppies found a new home, while he kept one of the stray's 12 puppies for himself, saving its life. That dog, Bailey, is growing into a friendly, healthy, and smart adult dog with a few lovable quirks.
"One ear sticks up like a shepherd, the other flops down like a chow," he said with a laugh.
Contact JC Reindl at:
jreindl@theblade.com
or 419-724-6065.