Rocket began his life as a stray puppy wandering the streets of Sacramento, California. Sadly, shelter officials deemed him unadoptable due to his boisterous nature. Just one day before his scheduled euthanasia, he was saved by a group that trains dogs for search and rescue missions. This week, the former death row dog deployed to Texas with his handler, Windsor Fire Protection District firefighter, Mike Stornetta to assist in the rescue efforts.
Rocket and Stornetta’s mission to Hurricane Harvey’s hardest-hit areas marks the first Urban Search and Rescue K-9 team deployment in 12 years. Their friends and coworkers posted these words of encouragement to Facebook on Monday:
“The team arrived in Texas this morning after 20+ hours on the road. Mike and Rocket are trained in finding live victims during disasters. They have trained together for several years in order to be prepared for just such a disaster, they are ready and willing and we know they will do an awesome job! Stay safe Mike and Rocket!”
Rocket is an official FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) dog. He has trained alongside Stornetta each day since joining the K-9 team, even responding to real-life emergencies like helicopter crashes. His USAR training means Rocket is prepared to find people who are still alive, but trapped in some way.
Rocket’s energetic nature makes him the perfect candidate for this type of service.
“It’s an amazing story,” Stornetta told KTVU. “You take an animal that some people might consider worthless… you take that animal and give that animal a job and they go from worthless to absolutely priceless.”
Chance Patterson had just picked up his dogs from Vail Doggie Day Spa & Lodging in Vail, Colorado after working a double shift at Larkburger when he was struck head-on by a drunk driver. Carlitos, a German Shepherd, was killed instantly. Izzy, a Pit Bull, ran away from the accident site in terror and confusion.
Patterson was severely injured and was in the hospital for about a week. Meanwhile, Izzy was missing for 5 days. Every day, people tried to find and rescue the pup, but to no avail.
It finally took the familiar face of Lisa Blazynski, an employee at Vail Doggie Day Spa & Lodging who knew Izzy well, for him to finally come out of hiding.
The doggy daycare even kept Izzy, who was miraculously uninjured apart from a sprained toe, until Patterson was healed enough to manage her.
Here’s a video of the reunion between Izzy and Patterson.
Patterson is glad to be alive and holds no ill will against the drunk driver. He is staying with a friend in the Denver area until he heals enough to get out of the wheelchair.
The debate as to whether grain-free diets are best for our pets remains unsettled. While some dog owners swear their pup became healthier and happier after omitting grains, others claim that it’s a necessary part of their companion’s diet. Some even consider the entire thing a fad.
So what’s a pet parent to do? In short, there is no right or wrong answer; what matters is that the dietary needs of each individual dog are met. Unless your pup has an actual allergy to grains (in which case, they should not be eaten), perhaps a better question to ask should be, “What’s the best way to incorporate grains into my dog’s diet?”
We had Dr. Michel Selmer, DVM, CTCVMP, weigh in on the subject. Also known as “The Caring Vet,” Dr. Selmer is a Certified Veterinary Food Therapist (CVFT) who uses principles from Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) to treat his patients. If you want to learn more about taking a holistic approach to your pet’s healthcare, check out his book The Best of Both Worlds: An Advanced Guide to Integrative Veterinary Care for Happier, Healthier Pups. You can also follow him on Facebook.
iHD: Why are grain-free diets important – or is it just a “fad”?
Dr. S: Some believe grain free diets are important and some do not. Yes, our domesticated best friends are not wolves. Wolves, their ancestors, primarily hunted prey animals that were herbivores (vegetarian animals). So, their diet consisted of approximately 60%-70% protein/fat and the remainder pre-digested vegetarian cuisine from the stomach contents and about 10% organ meat.
iHD: If wolves didn’t eat grains, are the necessary for our dogs?
Dr. S: Our dogs are domesticated and do not hunt. If our dogs were forced to find their own food, it would be from dumpsters behind restaurants and whatever people gave them. In essence, they are not the same as their ancestors. I would prescribe a grain-free diet if the dog was allergic to grains. Otherwise, a general formula for a healthy middle-aged dog would be 1 part protein, 1 part complex carbohydrate and 1 part fruits and veggies. There is no one diet that is appropriate for all dogs, and over the course of their lives, one diet will never, in any way, be specific enough for dogs with individual needs.
When deciding on what to feed your dog, you must take into consideration the dog’s age, breed, sex, energy level, history and evolution of the breed, climate the dog lives in, where its ancestors came from, season of the year, and any medical or energetic condition your dog may have.
In short, the food you feed your pet should be fresh, wholesome and varied. Beyond that, it would be wise to consider applying a TCVM [Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine] approach to feeding your dog for ideal health.
iHD: Why can too much grain in your dog’s diet be harmful to their heath?
Dr. S: Too much of anything is bad. Balance is the key to optimal health. Grain is only a problem if a dog is allergic to a specific grain. For example, If your dog is allergic to barley, I would not advise you feed your dog barley. If your dog is not allergic to barley, then it is not harmful for your dog.
iHD: Is it hard to find true “grain-free” food?
Dr. S: It can be challenging to find a commercial dog food that is grain free. As a certified veterinary food therapist, I commonly formulate custom home-prepared diets for owners to provide the individual varied wholesome diet their dog needs. Be advised that I do not recommend you just go out and try to cook for your dog. You will need a properly trained certified veterinary food therapist or board certified veterinary nutritionist to help guide you to assure the home prepared diet is balanced.
iHD: What types of diets / foods would you suggest?
Dr. S: If you were to take away all of my other tools as a veterinarian — all other modalities, all surgical options, all medicinal remedies — but were willing to implement a prescribed diet designed for your pet, I’d still be able to treat many of the diseases and symptoms I treat in my hospital today. Many diseases can be cured using food as medicine because food is the critical centerpiece to ideal health.
Essentially, kibble is fast food for our pets. It is not smart to make it your dog’s lifetime, day in and day out meal. We live in a fast food nation of overfed and undernourished people, and commercial kibble only guarantees the minimum daily requirements of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Just like the fast food industry for us. Will kibble – fed occasionally – do harm to your dog? No. Just like running through the drive thru occasionally won’t do irreparable harm to your child. The key word here is “occasionally.”
I know the ideal way to feed a pet is to use wholesome, whole foods prepared to meet my dog’s specific nutritional needs. it’s important to note that even the best bagged food is far inferior to a varied, whole food diet.
There is no one diet that is appropriate for all dogs, for their entire lives an one diet will never, in any way, be specific enough for dogs with individual needs. Canned foods are better than dry kibble foods. If you choose a canned food be sure that it is AAFCO approved, look for the stamp on the label. Home prepared diets, if properly done by a veterinarian, are better than canned foods. My book, The Best of Both Worlds: An Advanced Guide to Integrative Veterinary Care for Happier, Healthier Pupshas an entire chapter on how to use food as medicine. I hope you check it out.
We want to give a special thanks to Dr. Selmer for taking the time to share his expertise with us and our pet-loving readers.
It’s Imperative for You to Teach Your Dog to Come When Called
And there are many ways that you can do so.
But, my favorite way to teach my dog to come when called is by playing “hide and seek”.
However, I understand that many people can’t find the time or another person to help them. For them I would say… TRY HARDER.
Single-handedly, this, and restraint (someone holding your dog away from you when you call him), is THE BEST way to teach your dog to come when called.
Simply put, it is fun!!!
And, fun games make for reliable behaviors!
However, we need a multitude of ways to teach our dogs to come to us, whether it be formal obedience style or just functional style.
So, what is the quickest way to teach your dog to come when called?
I think the quickest way (minus the aforementioned style), is teaching them when they are on leash and you are working on leash training and obedience.
Let’s be clear, if you have absolutely NO leash manners, you can’t expect your dog to listen to any other command. He is simply out walking and pulling and yanking and sputtering to fulfill his own needs and do what he wants.
This, by the way, is not a great way to work with a dog.
Dogs should learn leash manners and learn to listen to their human while they are on leash.
It isn’t easy, but it is worth it. If you need help, read this and ALL of the highlighted articles within, because leash manners is one of the most difficult things you can ask your dog to perform.
Do You Want Your Dog To Have Good Leash Manners?
Check out our class, where we show you how you can teach your dog to have impeccable leash manners, even if right now, he’s out of control, always jumping on you during walks, or biting and tugging on the leash..
Dogs may not be able to use words to get their point across, but they’re always communicating. If you know a little about their body language and behaviors, you’ll realize that your pup’s message is loud and clear!
When our companions are bored, they tend to drop some not-so-subtle hints, although it can manifest itself in many ways. Remember that no matter what behavior your dog is exhibiting, some extra physical and mental stimulation should help cure the spell. But certain tendencies may be better remedied with one plan of action versus another (for instance, offering your pup a puzzle toy versus a 15-minute walk).
If your dog starts acting unusual in any way, you should always consult with your vet first. But if he gets a clean bill of health, consider whether he’s displaying one of these signs of boredom – then help him beat it!
The purchase of each of the toys below also provides a toy to a shelter cat in need through Project Play.
Sign #1: Destructive behavior
Does your pooch chew, shred, dig, and get into things, even if you’re home? This could be a sign that he has too much pent-up energy that needs to be released! If he decides to gnaw on everything while you’re gone, boredom could still be the culprit – or maybe it’s a case of separation anxiety.
How to beat it:
You need to help your dog stay occupied, otherwise, he’ll keep himself busy (and not in a good way). Spend time every day playing with your pup or taking walks together. (If you can do this at least twice a day, even better!)
If he’s digging in the yard or “stealing” your stuff and running around the house, a long, brisk walk or jog will help expel some extra energy. If he seems to have an affinity for chewing and destroying, consider investing in beneficial chew toys, digestible chew sticks, or all-natural bully sticks that’ll keep his jaws busy when you’re too busy to play. He may also enjoy a fun pull-apart toy that can be dismembered and then put back together.
Sign #2: Tail chasing
If your dog has been chasing his behind in endless circles, chances are, he needs something else to keep him occupied. Once medical issues have been ruled out (especially if the behavior borders on obsessive), it’s safe to assume that your pup is just bored.
How to beat it:
Play stimulating games with your pup or work on training techniques in order to prompt mental stimulation. When you’re not able to give Fido your full attention, toss him a puzzle toy, like a treat dispensing ball. He’ll be happily challenged, enjoy a few treats, and stay busy while playing his one-dog game. (Just remember that it’s never a replacement for one-on-one time with you!)
Sign #3: Demanding your attention
Whether your pup sticks her nose in your face or starts barking incessantly at virtually nothing, she certainly knows how to get her way… she’s got your attention, right? Again, once medical issues are ruled out, this behavior is indicative that your pooch is desperate for something to do.
How to beat it:
Since giving in to this behavior rewards it, try preventing it, instead. If you can, pull out the leash and take your dog for a long walk in the morning to stave off cabin fever during the day. Hopefully, she’ll be fatigued enough to want to lie down rather than annoy you with her persistence! And be sure to give her some extra attention when you can, because that’s probably what she wants the most.
Sign #4: Listlessness
First and foremost, dramatic changes in energy level should always prompt a vet visit. But if everything checks out, your dog’s depressed, lazy behavior may mean that he’s bored and has given up on the hope of having fun.
How to beat it:
No dog should feel this way! If yours has begun to mope around more than usual, it’s time to switch things up and go on an adventure! A trip to a dog-friendly beach, park, or hiking trail should shake her out of her rut. Even a simple car ride can provide the change of scenery she needs. Just make sure she travels in safety! Some good items to consider for the trip include a dog safety belt for the car ride, a portable water dish and a pet first aid kit.
Stave off future boredom spells with one or two daily walks or play sessions, even if they’re only 10-15 minutes each. And keep in mind that the occasional outing can be good for everyone!
Sign #5: Excessive licking or chewing
Has your dog begun gnawing, chewing, or licking herself (or you) more often then usual? Again, consult your vet first and foremost. But given a clean bill of health, she may be over-grooming as a way to keep herself busy.
How to beat it:
Think of alternative ways to keep your dog’s mouth, paws, and brain busy. Perhaps a rousing game of fetch with a funky ball or a treat-filled training session will do the trick. She may also love an exciting new toy to play with or a yummy bully stick to gnaw on once game time is over.
Hurricane Harvey has battered the Texas coast for several days, making it’s first landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, it weakened to a tropical storm, but still continues to unleash high winds and gallons of rain on the Gulf area. However, the Gulf Coast is no stranger to hurricanes, and though many people have lost their cars and homes, most residents take it fairly well, considering that the situation is officially a disaster. A spirit of community comes over the affected area, and ordinary men and women have been helping those in flooded homes find their way into shelter all over the city of Houston.
In a situation where so many people are in danger, losing vehicles and homes, pets can often become an afterthought to rescuers. The shelter situation in Houston has been “iffy” at best for pet owners. The George R. Brown Convention Center is currently being used as a shelter, but organizers have been turning away evacuees who attempt to bring pets with them. Unable to find other shelter for their animals, and unable to return home, they’ve had no choice but to sit outside the convention center, in the wind and rain with their pets. The Red Cross also has several shelters available for those in flood zones, but is not allowing pets either.
The comfort of pets, part II. A woman reacts as she is told she can’t bring her dog into a shelter for evacuees. [LM Otero/AP] http://pic.twitter.com/dAwWy2IyU6
Pet owners in Houston are told NOT to leave their pets behind. If your home is not safe for you, it’s not safe for your cat or dog either. But with the roads flooded and rain continuing to fall, it’s not as easy as it usually is to just find boarding for your animals. It’s being stuck between a rock and a hard place for Houston evacuees – where are they supposed to go when no one will give shelter to their furry loved ones?
Houston resident Jim McIngvale, better known as Mattress Mack, owns Gallery Furniture and has been a trusted face in a community of more than four million for decades. His stores may be the largest in Houston, and he has generously opened both – to both people AND their pets. It’s a huge relief to those unable to take them anywhere else. Gallery Furniture (both Katy and Northline stores) have beds, food, and electricity for all who find their way there.
Photos have been surfacing all over social media of rescuers wading through the high water with pets, trying to keep them dry and getting them to higher ground. In such an uncertain, ongoing situation, it’s heartwarming to know that Texas hasn’t forgotten that their pets need to be safe, too!
If you’re in the Houston area and need to evacuate, take good care of your pets, no matter what! Gallery Furniture has recently announced that it is at capacity, but there are other shelters taking pets as well. There is no reason to leave your pets alone to suffer the dangerous conditions out there.
When dogs reach one year of age they officially leave puppyhood behind them, but that doesn’t mean they lose their love of play. In fact, young adult dogs are more primed for action than ever!
They have a full set of powerful adult teeth; their awkward “teenage” limbs are fully developed and ready to run; and their eager young minds are always in search of fun and adventure!
These 10 toys are perfectly designed to keep adult doggos happy, healthy and forever young at heart!
The aptly named Wunderball is perfect for young, energetic pups! When tossed it has a wacky, unpredictable bouncing pattern that keeps dogs on their toes. It even floats for those days at the beach or by the pool. The Wunderball is made from extremely durable 100% natural rubber so it is safe for pets and the planet. Strong, healthy teeth can puncture the ball without destroying it – the textured design simply closes up around any holes!
Best of all, for every ball purchased, Project Play will donate another to a shelter dog in need!
The KONG Tugger Knots series are perfect for pups that love to tug! These tough, interactive toys are minimally stuffed to prevent messes and have a squeaker inside for added excitement. The unique looped rope design adds durability during play and gives humans something to grab onto.
Every dog needs a good old-fashioned squeaky toy to play with! Choose from the 10-inch elephant, duck or pig. These toys are great for teaser-style play and pups that love to snuggle with their favorite plushie.
The Dogwood chew toy by PetStages is perfect for nature loving pups that enjoy gnawing on sticks. It comes in four sizes to suit even the most powerful jaws and contains the natural wood flavor and texture dogs love without the risk of splintering. Dogwood chews are made in the USA and are great for busy chewers or pups with anxious chewing habits.
This little red heart-shaped toy looks like a simple, snuggly pet pillow, but it is SO much more! The Project Play™ Comfort Cuddler™ is designed to help dogs relax during times of stress or whenever they must be separated from their favorite humans. Simply tuck an item of clothing or bedding carrying your scent into the Comfort Cuddler’s pouch. The mesh window allows your scent to permeate out and provide soothing comfort as your pup snuggles.
Tuffy toys are incredibly durable making them a great choice for dogs that love soft toys, but destroy them in minutes! Constructed from four layers of bonded material, stuffed with non-toxic fiber, and assembled with seven layers of stitching, the Mega series are Tuffy’s most heavy-duty dog toys.
Occupy your pup’s busy brain with this treat dispensing rubber ball. One end has a capped hole for pouring in your dogs’ favorite treats, and the opposite end is open for doling them back out. Inside the ball are multiple levels of tiers that trap the treats, forcing your pooch to toss, bounce, roll and flip the toy in order to earn his prize! The brain ball is a perfect solution for young dogs learning to cope with separation anxiety.
The Hyper Pet Flying Duck is a durable bungee toy designed for dogs that love to hunt and/or swim. The thumb-released slingshot launches the toy up to 100 feet in the air! They even float on water so feel free to launch the duck over the pool or lake for your favorite furry swimmer to retrieve.
Even healthy young pooches can suffer from doggy breath! The new Fresh Mint Scented Brushing Ball by Project Play “brushes” your dog’s teeth and freshens her breath while she plays! Dozens of rubber spikes grind away plaque in hard to reach places and the bumpy texture helps brush the tongue, removing odor-causing bacteria.
Whether your dog is a fierce competitor in disc dog challenges, or simply enjoys a good game of toss in the backyard, the Project Play™ Flying Disc is a winner! Constructed from 100% natural rubber, the disc is flexible so it won’t hurt your dog’s mouth and durable so it can hold up to vigorous play.
Approximately 500 Montreal “Pit Bull-type” dog owners have received letters informing them that they have four weeks to “dispose of” their pets.
According to the letter, the recipients failed to provide the required documentation on their dogs prior to the March 31 deadline, or the documentation they provided was incomplete.
Since the deadline has passed, these owners are not being given the chance to remedy the documentation problem. They must now find new homes for their dogs in towns without breed restrictions or surrender them to animal shelters. The city then requires they fill out a form attesting the dogs are no longer in their possession.
If they do not comply, the letters threaten legal action and the seizure of the dogs. No contact information was provided for the owners to respond to.
The controversial Pit Bull ban was voted into law by the Montreal city council in late September 2016. Under the law, any Pit Bull-type dog – a determination made strictly based on appearance, not genetic testing – was required to be sterilized, microchipped, vaccinated for rabies, and registered at a cost of $150 per pet by June 1, 2017.
Those in compliance with the law must now ensure that their Pit Bull-type dogs are muzzled at all times when outside of their homes – including in their own backyards. Unregistered Pits are subject to seizure, euthanasia or forced removal from the municipality. Owners of unregistered dogs of any breed face fines of $300 to $700.
According to Gonzalo Nunez, a spokesman for the city of Montreal, the letter recipients were previously contacted by city employees letting them know their applications were missing information. He told CBS News that the letters were sent as a last-resort following a “rigorous analysis” of each file.
The dog owners may have received prior notice, but according to Sophie Gaillard, a lawyer with the Montreal SPCA, local shelters did not.
“We should have been warned or given some kind of heads up before these letters came out,” Gaillard said.
The ban could result in potentially hundreds of dog owners seeking refuge for their pets at local shelters – facilities that do not have the space or the resources to accommodate the influx. The Montreal SPCA has vowed to fight the ban and even sued the city, saying the new bylaw is “discriminatory, vague and unreasonable.”
In response to the overwhelming number of calls they received from letter recipients, the Montreal SPCA posted advice on Facebook. They encourage dog owners to file a complaint with city ombudsman Johanne Savard and contact a lawyer to help them challenge the city’s application.
For those unable to contest the city, the SPCA’s remaining options are heartbreaking. They recommend that owners pack up and move to a territory where there are no regulations against Pits. Alternatively, the SPCA says to “find a person to whom you can entrust your dog temporarily or permanently and who resides in a territory where there is no regulation aimed at certain dogs according to their breed, crossing or physical characteristics.”
If that option fails, they ask that owners send them descriptions and photos of their dogs to be posted for adoption on their website. And as a last resort, dogs previously adopted from the SPCA or those residing in a borough they serve may be surrendered to the organization.
Readers opposed to breed specific legislation may sign the Care2 petition urging Montreal to repeal its Pit Bull ban.
Here at iHeartDogs, we think there’s a dog out there for anyone who wants a companion. Maybe you’re a homebody who loves to hunker down. Maybe you’re more of an outdoor type who’s in search of an exercise buddy. Perhaps you’re somewhere in between. Whether you’re looking for a pooch that’s large, small, fluffy, short-haired, active, lazy, whatever, there’s a dog in a shelter who’d be perfect for you – you just have to find him or her.
Sometimes, pinpointing a pup who’s a great fit for your family is the hardest part. Rescuing is important to you, and you know that a dog is a lifetime commitment. So, you carefully consider all the attributes that you’re looking for: size, coat, gender, age, energy level, breed, and compatibility with other pets and children. It’s not that you’re being too picky, it’s that you understand the importance of your family and your new dog living in harmony together – forever.
But how do you know where to find the best canine candidates without searching dozens, even hundreds of shelters in and near your state?
That’s why we here at iHeartDogs made it our goal to simplify this process. The Pet Adoption Match quiz asks questions about your personality and preferences to pair you with shelter dogs in your area. Once the results are in, you can narrow them down by location, breed, size, age, and gender.
It’s like eHarmony for dogs: plug in some information and find the perfect pup for your family! And somewhere, in a shelter nearby, those dogs are waiting for their heroes to come and rescue them.
And in some ways, this is much better than your traditional dating site. You can be assured that the pooch will look just like they do in their profile pictures. Your match will never be a phony because dogs are the epitome of honesty. There won’t be any awkward “first date” conversations, and you’re just about guaranteed to find true love.
In a sense, picking a mutt is more serious than picking a mate, because the only ones doing the “breaking up” in these relationships are the humans. Once you commit to a canine, it should be for a lifetime; and in return, you’ll get more love and loyalty than you ever thought possible.
This Pet Adoption Matchquiz will help you find the pup who’s right for your family while giving one more shelter dog a chance to live a full and happy life. Talk about a match made in Heaven!
If you’ve turned on the news or logged onto social media, you’ve seen images of the disaster that is currently sweeping southeast Texas.
Houston is being pummeled by Hurricane Harvey, and the storm isn’t over yet. As families struggle to find higher ground, the devastating reality is that many pets are getting left behind. While a few shelters allow animals, some force owners to keep them outside, and others don’t permit them at all.
But that isn’t stopping advocates and pet lovers from doing what they can to rescue our helpless furry friends from the torrential floods. This world can be tough, but in times of trouble, people always have a way of coming together.
1. First is this man, who not only defends the people of our country, but the animals in it.
A rescue worker carries two dogs to safety after evacuating their family from floodwaters in Houston, Texas. http://pic.twitter.com/dhoi5P7Ukq
5. This taxi driver let a hawk take refuge in his vehicle.
WATCH: A man in Houston claims a hawk would not leave his taxi cab as Hurricane Harvey barreled toward Texas Friday morning. http://pic.twitter.com/j2nZbarkvZ
Then there’s this shout-out for the Los Angeles fire department canines. Because in times like these, rescue dogs just wag their tails at the prospect of saving more lives.
You may know that iHeartDogs.com and iHeartCats.com partner with Greater Good. If you’d like to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, you can donate to the Emergency Disaster Relief for Victims in the Gulf Coast fund through Greater Good.
Betty Walter works with several different rescue groups and has 4 dogs of her own. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, she had her 4 dogs, plus she was caring for 11 dogs from the rescue groups. She was also pet sitting a dog for a friend. And as Harvey grew stronger, the number of dogs kept growing. She told us:
“1 small dog came to my window earlier Saturday morning. 2 are homeless people’s dogs that live around there. They asked me for help. 2 are neighbors dogs that belongs to people.”
That makes 21 dogs total in her care. Walter could hear dogs crying that had been left behind by her neighbors. On Facebook, she wrote:
“I don’t think I will ever forget those cries for help from dogs in my neighborhood. A lot [of] people kept their dogs outside. I tried so hard to go rescue a couple. The water was too high. They cried for hours…I stayed [in my home] until I got help.”
As the flood waters kept rising, Walter found herself trapped in her attic with all the dogs.
Rescuers first came through on Saturday, but they were only focused on people and weren’t able to save any dogs, so Walter waited for help until Sunday.
After 14 hours trapped in her attic with 21 dogs, help finally arrived on Sunday. 2 men from Deer Park were walking through Walter’s neighborhood with a boat and insisted on helping Walters and the dogs.
They managed to fit all 21 dogs in the boat and got them and Walter to safety. Walter wrote:
“I was worried there was too many dogs on the boat and it would [tip] over. I told them I would stay behind and for them to make 2 trips. They said NO we are taking all and you. We had 21 dogs on this boat. No place for any humans on this boat. We had to walk in water over my head to get out.”
It’s important for people to realize that rescuers are not always going to be able to help rescue pets during such a large natural disaster. It’s best to plan ahead and know what you would do with your pets in case of an emergency or an evacuation. Walter added:
“Have a plan together for your pets. Some first responders will not pick up big dogs. I was lucky these guys came by helping people with dogs.”
Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this terrible storm, animals and humans alike.
The scientific interest in studying canine cognition has led to the development of a slew of test protocols—some uniquely designed for dogs and others modified from the field of comparative psychology. Many of them employ visual tasks to test dogs’ capabilities. In order to succeed with touch screens, at discriminating fine details in tests of their abilities to follow gazes or gestures, to understand object permanence, to identify faces or facial expressions, their visual perception is part of the equation. However, most of the studies are designed based on human, rather than canine, visual perception.
An estimated one in six dogs suffer from car sickness during travel, but driving with your dog is necessary for maintaining their health and enjoying new adventures together. After all, vet visits are a must and outings to the beach just aren’t the same without the family pup.
So how do you help your dog manage this unpleasant problem?
The nausea, drooling, shaking and anxiety seen during car travel may be caused by the balance mechanism within the ear or just plain old fear of the vehicle’s strange sights, sounds, smells and sensations.
True motion sickness is far more common in puppies, just as it is more common in children than adults. The reason is that the ear structures that control balance are not yet fully mature, causing a sensation similar to vertigo during travel.
Most dogs will outgrow this unpleasant problem, but others struggle with driving-related nausea all their lives. Even after the ears have fully matured, they may still associate car rides with nausea and vomiting, having been conditioned by their early negative experiences.
Several simple tricks can reduce nausea during travel:
Limit food consumption for several hours before a trip
Give a small sugary treat like a jellybean (no chocolate or xylitol!) just before heading out
Always have your dog face forward in the vehicle to help prevent nauseating visual cues
Make sure the vehicle is cool and well-ventilated
Crack the windows to balance the air pressure in the car with that outside the vehicle
Reconditioning an anxious or fearful pup to enjoy – or at least tolerate – the car is a bit more complicated. In order to break the association between riding in the car and stress/nausea experts recommend you:
Give your dog a week or two off from all car travel
Change vehicles to avoid association with past unpleasant experiences
Use treats to make the car a fun place for your dog – but be careful not to overdo it!
Provide special toys your dog only has access to in the car
Gradually build your dog’s tolerance to car trips
For dogs that do not respond to reconditioning techniques, drugs may be necessary. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription drugs on the market to treat the symptoms of motion sickness and anxiety associated with travel.
Just as every human’s response to medication is different, the same is true for our dogs. Dramamine may do wonders for some, while others need something stronger. Always consult your veterinarian before starting any new medication.