SHELTIE WISE

SHELTIE WISE
The monthly newsletter of the Shetland Sheepdog Club of No. NJ
August 2007
Club website: www.sscnj.org
Meeting Notice – Sept 7, 2007
The next meeting of the Shetland Sheepdog Club of No. NJ
will be held on Friday, Sept 7, 7:30 pm at the Westfield
Community Center.
Pat Marchello, editor --jetsong@comcast.net
Additional nominations for any of these offices can be
made at the September meeting. If you choose to make any
additional nominations, please read Section 4.4 of the
Club’s By-laws. A copy of the By-laws can be found on
the Member’s Only portion of the Club’s website. If you
cannot access this portion of the site, please let me know.
We will be making final plans for the AKC Responsible
Ownership Day and our our Back-to-Back Specialties.
The program for the evening….Lisa will talk about home
cooking for your dog and the benefits of even using
"people" food as snacks/treats. But wait – that’s not all!
We all we also be making our own treats to bring home!
We hope that everyone will try to attend. Guests are
welcome. Directions to the site are on our website.
www.sscnj.org
NJ Dog Federation Meeting – Sept 17
AKC Legislative Analyst Phil Guidry will be presenting
a program at the Federation's next meeting, Sept. 17.
Details at
http://www.njfederationofdogclubs.org/meetingnotice.htm
Members of member clubs are welcome.
Fall Specialty Raffle
Summary of June minutes
President's Report: July 29 we will host a barbecue at
Demarcus Park. Tara Darling will be there taking pictures.
Herb will e-mail an invitation to all.
Vice President: Ideas for Obedience/Rally match which
will hook us in with Rally for the Point Show. Motion was
made by Elaine, seconded by Pat, to allow Donna to work
on this. Will also work with Diane Silbermeyer - has a
herding facility. We could have various seminars, put on
AKC Match and performance event. Goats and Sheep.
Handling Clinic to teach how to work with the
animals..instinct test. basic seminar. May not be this year,
but for next year. Herb suggested we may qualify for an
ASSA grant. Donna will look into that, another Rally
seminar or possibly Agility.
Treasurer's report: About $500 paid out for the calendars
and, with the money taken in at the Rally Seminar, Full
report was sent to Board Members by Ursula.
We will be having a raffle at our fall specialty. If you
have any dog item(s) to contribute, please bring them to
the September Meeting.
Fall Specialty report: We are on target for our specialty.
Some trophies are still available. The premium list to Rau
by the middle of June. We are supporting Sheltie Prizes in
obedience at Palisades. $400 per judge for airfare.
Proposed Slate of Officers
Education: Marge could not make this meeting. Maybe
she will be here in the fall. September: Lisa will show us
some dog biscuit recipes and everyone will try their hand at
making some.
The nominating committee proposes the following
slate of officers for 2007-2008:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Corresponding Sec
Recording Sec
Board:
Sheltie Wise
Herb O’Brien
Donna Colletti
Ursula Dudek
Joyce Oscar
Elaine Wishnow
Aneita Frey
Mike Oscar
Membership: No report
Weighs and Means: Raffle for door Mat. $2.00 a piece.
New Jersey Federation: Meeting Monday night. Herb
will scan the newsletter and sent it out. We need to write to
oppose this bill. The cruelty bill will pass. Mr. Lance
doesn't read the bill (1026) so we need to write before July.
Six bills are up. Home Owners bill they are supporting.
Page 1 of 13
Donna asked to write a letter expressing our club's
disappointment about not being kept abreast of things.
They also seem to be very secretive about things.
Publicity: Flyers are updated. Please post to make more
exposure for the club.
Awards: Sylvette for Sundae. Ursula and Buddy for Ch.
Wildoak Back Talk and Ch . Wildoak's Ryan (These names
may not be correct, if not I apologize.)
Refreshments: There will be a new list for next year.
Sheltie Wise: Pat will get a subscription for the Match
Show Bulletin for the Club.
Old Business: New York Dog Responsible Day..need
handouts.
Brag: Abigail got her Rally Novice Degree. She had a
perfect 100 at her last show, but only took a third place
because, with her little legs, she could get the time needed
for 1st.
Upcoming events,
seminars, clinics etc.
Annual Sheltie Rescue Picnic
Deer Path Park, Cedars Pavilion
Sunday, September 16, 2007
FMI -- contact Aneita
From Elaine…
At Hunterton Hills, Meg got her first leg in Rally Excellent
and Abigail at 14 mos. got her Rally Advanced with a
fourth place ( she placed for all three legs, had scores of
94,94,and 94 and got her degree in three shows.) She also
got her C.D. with a second place. Was a pretty great day.
CRIES…. They are gone from our sight,
but never our memory.
This was a difficult
summer for both Aneita
and I. We both said
goodbye to our blue
boys….
“Travis”
I said good-bye to
Travis.
Pat
Sept. 17 -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS
AKC Dog Day
New York
The day will also include a microchip clinic, various
demonstrations, newspaper representatives as well as the
news stations. (See article included in this issue)
BRAGS….
“Tiger”
Herb’s puppies….
Not quite
two weeks later, Aneita said goodbye to Tiger.
Thank you for your cards and thoughts, they
meant so much.
Sheltie Wise
Page 2 of 13
AKC RDO Day in New York City
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Dogs Can Boost Your Health,
Research Contends
Dogs are better than cats at improving their owners'
physical and mental health, suggests a study by a researcher
at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Dog owners have lower cholesterol and blood pressure,
fewer minor physical ailments, and are less likely to
develop serious medical problems, according to Dr.
Deborah Wells, a senior lecturer at the university's Canine
Behavior Centre.
Wells found that people who adopted dogs and cats from
animal rescue shelters experienced a decrease in minor
ailments, such as colds, headaches and dizziness, in the
month after they brought their pets home, the Telegraph
newspaper reported.
However, only dog owners still reported those
improvements after 10 months.
The study was published in the Health Psychology Journal.
"It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being
by buffering us from stress, one of the major risk factors
associated with ill health. The ownership of a dog can also
lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the
development of social contact, which may enhance both
physiological and psychological human health in a more
indirect manner," Wells wrote in her study.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=601206
Peamutt Butter
Oven 350° Bake time 20 minutes
2 Tbl corn oil
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup water
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
Combine oil, water & peanut butter. Add in flour, one cup
at a time. Knead dough until firm. Roll out to ¼” thick
and cut with desired cookie cutter. Cook on an ungreased
cookie sheet. Makes about 2 ½ dzn depending on the size
cutter you use. (If I am in a hurry I will use a pizza cutter
and just roll it along cutting out squares or rectangles.)
Sheltie Wise
The AKC® Communications Department is busy planning
its fifth annual celebration of AKC Responsible Dog
Ownership Day (AKC RDO Day). While the event will be
celebrated by hundreds of AKC clubs across the country on
the day of their choice this September, AKC will hold its
flagship event in New York City's Madison Square Park on
September 15, 2007.
We are proud to be working with our sponsors Invisible
Fence Company® and Best Friends Pet Care in making the
upcoming AKC RDO day a great success.
The event will include many fun and educational activities
for all dog lovers, including the ever popular "Meet the
Breeds." We will be conducting microchipping and Canine
Good Citizen Tests (CGC), agility and obedience
demonstrations, as well as fun activities for all participants.
We would appreciate you sending this information along to
any other local fanciers who might be interested in
participating. Please contact us at
Communications@akc.org or at 212-696-8308 if you
would like to participate in AKC RDO Day.
The following is a list of confirmed participants in 2007
AKC RDO Day:
AKC Meet the Breeds:
American Russell Terrier Foundation Club
American Cesky Terrier Fanciers Association
Chinook Club of America
Italian Greyhound Club of America
United States of America Coton de Tulear Club, Inc.
English Setter Association of America
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America
Meadowlands Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club
Xoloitzcuintli Club of America
Swedish Vallhund Club of America
American Water Spaniel Club, Inc.
American Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club
Irish Red & White Setter Association, Inc.
Golden Retriever Club of America
Long Island Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.
Black Russian Terrier Club of America
Boston Terrier Club of New York
Scottish Terrier Club of America
Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern New Jersey,
Shetland Sheepdog Placement Services of NJ, Inc.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America
American Belgian Tervuren Club
Siberian Husky Club of America
American Pomeranian Club
Airedale Terrier Club of Metropolitan New York
United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club
Raritan River Akita Club Inc.
Page 3 of 13
Metropolitan Maltese Rescue
Tibetan Terrier Club of America
Berkshire Valley Basset Hound Club
Nutmeg Portuguese Water Dog Club
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America
Meadowlands Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club
American Maltese Association
Pug Dog Club of America & Pug Dog Club of Greater NY
American Tibetan Mastiff Association
Irish Terrier Club of America
Norwegian Elkhound Club of America
Participating Organizations:
Natures Recipe
Invisible Fence
Best Friends Pet Care
Oster
NY Dog Magazine
Central Park Paws
NYC Dog
This was taken from Texas A&M site. If you have a
dog affected with this, please visit this site.
http://www.shalaine.com/dm/livingwithdm.html
LIVING WITH
DERMATOMYOSITIS
Your sheltie has some hair missing on its face or feet
and/or legs and/or tail tip. What do you do? First get the
dog to the vet and have a diagnosis made. Have skin
scrapings done to rule out demodectic mange, cultures to
rule out fungal infections, and skin cytology to rule out
bacterial infections. If these are all negative the next step is
a skin biopsy sent to a dermatohistopathologist for
diagnosis. If this comes back as DM (Dermatomyositis)
you wonder what your options are.
Firstly, as soon as the DM positive dog is old enough, have
it neutered or spayed. Hormonal changes, particularly
when males reach sexual maturity and when females cycle
into their first heats, can cause DM to worsen. And a DM
positive dog is certainly not one you would want in a
breeding program. DM symptoms can range from simple
small areas of hair loss to crusty ulcerated sores to muscle
involvement causing eating/drinking difficulties to
megaesophagus. Areas commonly affected by skin
symptoms (hair loss and/or crusting and/or ulcerated sores)
are the face, ear tips, feet and/or legs and tail tip. Muscle
involvement can show up as sloppy drinking or eating, a
peculiarity to the gait or both. Fortunately muscle
symptoms in shelties are relatively rare as the majority of
DM affected dogs have skin symptoms only.
DM symptoms can be treated quite successfully and there
are several medications that can be used. We have opted to
Sheltie Wise
use Trental, a human drug, to treat symptoms as there are
very limited side effects (vomiting and/or diarrhea) and
these are eliminated if three rules are followed: use only
the brand name drug, Trental, never generics; give with at
least 1/4 cup of food; monitor the dog’s weight as the dose
of Trental is calculated by weight. You might also add
Vitamin C and Vitamin E to the dog’s daily diet. If the dog
has large areas of hair loss on the top of the muzzle, do
monitor for sunburn. If this becomes a problem, use a
waterproof sunblock for infants. On dogs with severe skin
symptoms, there may be loss of hair around the eyes,
including the eye lashes. These dogs are more susceptible
to eye irritations especially when windborne allergens are
high. One of the natural tears products for humans can be
used to lubricate and cleanse the eyes during these times.
A favorite is Refresh or Refresh Plus. In this brand each
dose of medication is sealed into its own little applicator
tube so there is no chance of contamination as there would
be in regular dropper bottles. Use the Refresh Plus at night
and Refresh during the day. If the dog is having ulcerated
areas, use an antibiotic ointment such as Neopsorin or
Panalog until it is healed. Vitamin E and Aloe Vera creams
work wonders to keep the bare skin soft and lubricated. If
you live in very cold areas with ice and snow, and the DM
dog has feet/leg hair loss, doggie booties might be a
consideration. Certainly limiting their exposure to frigid
weather would be wise.
My first two shelties with DM symptoms were born back in
the late 1970s and lived long, healthy, happy lives until the
age of 14 when each died peacefully in their sleep. I
currently house and care for the Texas A&M Vet school’s
colony of DM affected dogs. These study dogs ranged in
age from 7 wks months to 15 1/2 years. The older dogs
have been affected with DM for 7 years. We have found
that once the initial flare-ups of DM are under control,
these dogs have few problems. The majority of flare-ups
after control happen during periods of hormone fluctuation
as many of these dogs are still intact. We have found that if
Trental is stopped, some regression of DM symptoms will
occur within the next year. But many of these DM dogs
have been off Trental for three years and their recurrence of
DM symptoms is minimal. The more severely affected the
initial DM outbreak, the more recurrence (loss of hair for
the most part).
Contrary to some popular beliefs, these DM affected dogs
are happy and living high quality lives. Many of you that
attended the 2002 ASSA Symposium met “Khissy” the tiny
silvery blue severely affected DM dog. Yes, she’s not the
most attractive sheltie in the world, but don’t tell her that—
she thinks she’s gorgeous!! I have to watch her eyes for
irritation and have to be more vigilant on her dental care
since her lips don’t meet due to the scarring from her initial
outbreak of DM when she had sores around her lip line but
otherwise, she’s a normally active sheltie. She rules the
household and controls access to the bed at night with an
“iron fist” and she doesn’t bother with the “velvet glove”.
Once the initial ulcerated sores are cleared up, even a
severely skin affected sheltie is pain free. One collie that
Page 4 of 13
participated in the drug therapy study on Trental had
muscle involvement. When eating approximately 3/4 of
her food would dribble out of her mouth. After a month on
Trental this dog was swallowing 3/4 of her food. Her gait
and activity levels much improved on Trental as well. In a
dog with these symptoms, Trental would probably be a
lifelong need. There is no reason to euthanize a dog with
DM unless its quality of life is poor. If a study dog ended
up with megaesophagus or it had muscle involvement that
didn’t respond to drug therapy, euthanasia would certainly
be a consideration. Euthanasia is not necessary for skin
symptoms. Even our three very severe skin symptom DM
dogs have good quality of life and have already found
permanent adoptive homes once the studies are over.
We are currently (fall 2004) researching the use of
tacrolimus ointment 0.1% applied to the DM affected areas.
Early results suggests that dogs that are more mildly
affected and treated as close as possible to initial onset may
best benefit from this medication.
If you have questions about DM or about caring for a dog
with DM, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sherry Lindsey RN BSN
Shalainetx@aol.com
PO Box 310233
New Braunfels, TX 78131
830-620-6661
Sheltie CD.
Anyone who got a chance to look
through it at the national no doubt was pleasantly surprised
with the scope of the project. Linda Churchill and
committee put many many hours into making this CD a
reality, it was a labor of love :- The CD is fabulous; and a
wonderful reference and learning tool for anyone interested
in the Shetland sheepdog.
Cost $42.95 ($39.95 plus shipping).
Order from Ann Watson, 188 Maple Lake, Bridgeport,
WV 26330; (304)842-3457. Send order with payment in
U.S. funds, make check payable to ASSA, cost $42.95
($39.95 plus shipping).
How to talk — and
listen — to your pets
Here’s a guide to interpreting
what their tails, ears and fur are
saying
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Sheltie Wise
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 8:58 p.m. ET June 19, 2007
When dogs are happy or feeling friendly, their mouths
open with a nice display of tongue. In this photo, Twyla's
mouth is wide open in a happy smile. She's looking at
someone, indicating interest and curiosity.
When my black-and-tan Cavalier, Twyla, is happy or
excited, she twirls on her hind legs. When she wants a treat,
she looks at me, then at the cookie jar, then back at me.
When she wants to go out, she heads downstairs and sits in
front of the door. And there’s never any doubt that she’d
like a belly rub. Despite her lack of words, she’s a great
communicator.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could talk, like Dr.
Doolittle, to the animals? Of course it would, but take
heart: We actually can talk with them, in a manner of
speaking. Human vocabulary may elude our pets, but they
all communicate in consistent ways. By learning to read
their tails, ears, fur and vocalizations, we can become fluent
in such foreign tongues as Siamese and Persian, Pekingese
and Bernese.
Look at tail wags. In a study with the less-than-riveting title
“Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different
emotive stimuli,” Italian scientists observed that dogs’ tails
wag more to the right when they feel positive about a
person or situation.
That’s intriguing because it reflects research in humans
showing that the left brain, which controls the right side of
the body, is associated with such feelings and emotions as
affection, security and relaxation.
It’s a pretty cool discovery, but more important is the
ability to read basic body language and know which wag
means “I’m so happy to see you” and which one means
you’re about to find a dog attached to the seat of your
pants. For instance, a slow, stiff tail wag is more a warning
than a welcome. This dog is signaling potential aggression.
Most people know that confident dogs carry their tails up,
while insecure pooches approach with tails tucked between
Page 5 of 13
their legs, but there are many other ways animals tell us
what they're thinking.
Ears, for instance, are full of attitude. Both dogs and cats
prick their ears up or forward to show interest and lay them
back when they’re fearful.
Have you ever stroked a cat, only to have it suddenly strike
at you with claws or teeth? If you had been paying closer
attention, you might have noticed a fixed stare, flattened
ears, flailing tail, fur standing on end or skin rippling
beneath your hand.
Those are all signs that the cat is probably being
overstimulated, says Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat
behavior consultant from Redwood City, Calif. She says
too many people don’t recognize signals that a cat is about
to bite or scratch.
communicate with any animal is to learn the basic
principles of that animal’s behavior and respond fairly and
consistently. Play, exercise and training will all enhance
your relationship with your dog or cat.
‘Can I have some chicken?’
Once you really begin paying attention to and interacting
with your pets, their inventiveness and complexity may
surprise you.
Take Wyn, Burch’s Welsh Springer spaniel.
“Wyn would sit politely across the room and watch if my
husband ate a snack,” Burch says. “One day, Wyn must
have really wanted some of whatever Jon was eating
because he just couldn’t stand it — he came over and
tossed his prized orange ball at Jon. I said, ‘I think he is
willing to trade his beloved ball for some of your chicken
sandwich.’
Jon Bailey, a behavioral psychologist, was intrigued. He
took the ball and gave Wyn some chicken.
“Now, we have a dog who uses the ball like a credit card.
When he wants something, he brings the ball and offers it
for whatever it is he’d like to ‘buy.’”
In other words, Wyn and Jon learned to speak each other's
language.
When dogs concentrate, their mouths close and they look intently at the
object or person of interest. Here, Twyla is blinking, a sign of friendly eye
contact, as opposed to staring
An ongoing learning process
Not everything we think we know about animal body
language is correct. Some 20 years ago, a popular belief
was the idea that people needed to communicate with dogs
using wolf-pack behavior such as scruff shakes and “alpha
rolls” — holding the dog on its back and staring at it.
Another misunderstanding involved how to establish
leadership over dogs. Trainers advised owners to show they
were in charge through such actions as entering doors
before the dog or eating their own meals before feeding the
dog.
“Some were led to believe these procedures would fix any
behavior problem,” says Mary R. Burch, a certified applied
animal behaviorist from Tallahassee, Fla., and author of
“How Dogs Learn.”
While it's certainly important for your canine pal to
recognize that you’re the top dog, such dominance
techniques won’t magically solve all behavior problems.
What’s needed, Burch says, is specific training tailored to
each behavior. She explains that the best way to
Sheltie Wise
Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning author who
has written many articles and more than a dozen books
about dogs and cats. She belongs to the Dog Writers
Association of America and is past president of the Cat
Writers Association. She shares her home in California
with two Cavalier King Charles spaniels and one African
ringneck parakeet.
© 2007 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19228835/
Sources:
Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the
Native Language of the Domestic Dog,” by Brenda Aloff
“Dog Talk: Understanding Canine Body Language and
Communication,” a DVD presented by Donna Duford
“Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat – Not a
Sour Puss,” by Pam Johnson-Bennett
“Paws for Thought: How to Understand What Your Cat Is
Thinking,” by Anne Leighton
“For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your
Best Friend,” by Patricia B. McConnell
“On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals,” book and DVD
by Turid Rugaas
Page 6 of 13
How to Take a
Puppy Photo!
Photographing a new puppy with a
conventional camera (remember
those?) isn't quite as simple as it may
seem. Here are the instructions:
1. Remove film from box and load camera.
2. Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in
trash.
3. Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds
from fur.
4. Choose a suitable background for photo.
5. Mount camera on tripod and focus.
6. Find puppy and yank dirty sock from mouth.
7. Place puppy in previous spot and return to camera.
8. Forget about selected spot and crawl after puppy on
knees.
9. Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand.
10. Get tissue and clean puppy-nose-print from lens.
Baggage" is by Evelyn Colbath. . She wrote many other
wonderful poems, but no longer has a website (Gitano
Road) exhibiting her poems and her rescue work with
Scottish Terriers
Photos from the tattoo
clinic….
Baggage
By Evelyn Colbath
Now that I'm home, bathed,
settled and fed.
All nicely tucked in my warm
new bed,
I'd like to open my baggage, lest I forget,
There is so much to carry - So much to regret.
Hmmm... Yes, there it is, right on the top,
Let's unpack
Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my perch hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave,
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage; Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things - And take me right
back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage, to never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me?
Sheltie Wise
Page 7 of 13
Below is SSCNNJ’s response to Montclair regarding their proposed dog legislation.
July 22, 2007
Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern New Jersey, Inc.
c/o Donna Colletti
468 Buckhorn Dr.
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Township Council
205 Claremont Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
ATTN: Borough Clerk Office
REF: Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 82 of the Township Code Entitled “Animals” To Provide Regulations
Regarding the Restraint and Tethering Of Animals
Dear Members of the Montclair Council:
The Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern New Jersey, Inc. opposes the ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 82 of
the township code entitled “animals” to provide regulations regarding the restraint and tethering of animals (dated July 10,
2007 Revised 4). These changes will affect many good pet owners and in essence they will then be considered to be neglectful
and abusive when in actuality they are not. The provisions are not necessary and are misguided. Anybody who cares about
animals will not want to see real neglect and abuse.
The provision banning tethering for more than 30 minutes a day could actually be abusive to a pet because it may not have
enough out time thru out the day and evening to potty.
Most abuse needs to be reported unless your Animal Control Officer happens to see it.
A pen does not prevent abuse anymore than a tether. You will still get the call stating the water has been frozen for 3 days or the
dog is skin and bones. This requirement only hurts the good pet owner who may or may not be able to afford or be allowed to
put up a pen. Who determined that an appropriately tether animal is neglected and /or abused and needs a pen to prevent this?
When a person uses a crate to transport their animal it is used for the safety of that animal. The way the provision determines
the size of the cage/carrier makes it very unsafe for most animals (dogs). Some animals would not be able to be put in a crate
with this provision because a crate large enough could not be purchased and or fit in the vehicle. Many companies make
crates/carriers that are securely fastened with adequate ventilation and large enough for an animal to travel in a vehicle.
Number B (3) can only assume you are talking about your local professionals who are in numerous businesses pertaining to
animals. The professional businesses that can be thought of do handle their clients appropriately for the time they are there.
Would like to know who is going to determine who is a competent person and physically capable of controlling and restraining
the animal? Is this going to be judge only when there is an incident? Is everyone who holds a leash going to be looked at to see
if they are a competent person and physically capable to hold the leash of that animal?
The changes you seek are not defining neglect or abuse. The provisions just add more laws and rules to the books and make
good owners bad and it puts government in the animal owner’s home/property and the local businesses. Most of these rules will
and can make it difficult to have an animal. It will also put undue burden and expense on the town. The provisions will
probably cause many animal owners to relinquish their animal.
The penalties for these violations are extreme and unreasonable since a lot of decent animal owners and others in the animal
business will be targeted.
Imagine coming home from food shopping and finding a notice that your animal has been seized and impounded because it was
tethered for 45 minutes. You learn, upon conviction your punishment for this you could be fined up to $2000.00, imprisonment
in the county/municipal jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any
combination thereof as determined by the Municipal Court Judge. Then you find out that each day on which a violation of an
ordinance exists shall be considered a separate and distinct violation and shall be subject to imposition of a separate penalty for
each day of the violation as the Municipal Court Judge may determine. Then you learn you have to pay the impounding agency
Sheltie Wise
Page 8 of 13
for costs incurred. Then you learn that if you can not provide proper restraint as describe within the seven-day period and/or
pending a court hearing the impoundment agency shall take permanent possession of your animal.
Can’t imagine what punishment in fees, jail time, community service and any possible combination thereof if a person is
deemed as not a competent person physically capable of controlling and restraining the animal that is held on leash they are
holding. This targets every person with an animal without any rules to determine how this will be deemed.
The SSCNNJ understand you want to protect the animals and citizens in your town but this amendment fails to address real and
serious abuse and neglect of animals and harm to citizens. SSCNNJ ask you to drop this amendment and utilize the laws already
in existence.
Sincerely,
Donna Colletti
Vice President SSCNNJ
Donna received this from a friend…
Ice cubes/ice water and dogs
Hello Everyone,
I am writing this in hopes that some may learn from what I
just went through. We went to the Steel Valley Cluster this
past weekend. We were having a fair weekend till
Saturday. On Saturday was the EVRC specialty, I had my
Baran boy with me as this was his first show as a veteran.
Baran was so happy to be in the ring again after about a
year of not showing. He was all geared up and showed like
a trooper. He was at the top of his game, and everyone was
commenting on how good he looked at 71/2 years old.
Baran was Best Veteran Male and went on to the BOB
ring, in the BOB ring Baran again showed great he showed
so good I figured he would make the cut and have a chance
at no less then one of the two AOM's.
Well anyway it did not work out that way. After showing
we went back to our site/set up and got the dogs in their
crates to cool off. After being back about 30min. I noticed
Baran was low on water. I took a hand full of ice from my
cooler and put it in his bucket with more water. (Note: I
use a small Playmate cooler at ringside with ice water in it
also. Have for over 15 years now) I use small 2qt. buckets
in my crates. He had maybe ½ a bucket when I placed him
in his crate after coming back from the ring. We all then
started to get all the dogs Ex'ed and food ready for them.
I have a 18 foot trailer with AC and set up as a rolling
kennel it fits 7 42" crates, and MY express Van holds 1
48", 1 42", and 3 36", crates all the crates in the van have
24 " box fans over them. I had Baran in his 48' crate in
the van cause that is the place he loves to be. He loves to
be able to see everyone and everything.
After checking the dogs and thinking they were cooled off
enough we feed everyone. As we were walking around
picking out the feed dishes from the crates, one of my
friends stated that Baran seamed like he was choking. I
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went over and check on him and he was dry heaving and
was real drolly. I got him out of the crate to check him
over I noticed he had not eaten, he was in somewhat
distress. I checked him over from head to toe and did not
notice anything. I walked him around for about a min.
when I noticed that he was starting to Bloat. I did
everything I was taught to do in this case. I was not able to
get him to burp, and we gave him Phasezime.
We jumped on the golf cart to take him down to the Show
vet to find out that he did not have a bloat kit, He referred
us to the clinic that was to be on call, but we found out
that the clinic was closed. After finding another clinic that
was open we rushed Baran to that one. We call ahead and
let them know that we were on our way. They were set up
and waiting on us and got Baran stable very fast. After
Baran was stable and out of distress we transported Baran
to AVREC were he went into surgery to make sure no
damage was done to any of his vital organs. I am very
happy to say that Baran is doing great, there was not
damage to any vital organs, and he still loves his food.
In surgery the doctor found that Baran's stomach was in its
normal anatomic position. The Doctor and I went over the
events of what happened up to the point of Baran's
Bloating. When I told him about the ice water he asked
why I gave him ice water, and have I always did this. I
told him my history behind this practice and his reply
was "I have been very lucky for the past 15 years." The ice
water I gave Baran cause violent Muscle spasm in his
stomach which caused the bloating. Even though I figured
his temp was down enough to feed and give him this ice
water his internal temp was still high. Dr. Vogf stated that
giving dog's ice to chew or ice water is a big NO, NO;
there should be no reason for them to have ice/ice water.
Normal water (room Temp.), or cooling with cold towels
on the inter thigh. This is the best way to help cool a dog.
How Dr. Vogf explained it to me was like this: If you as a
person fall into a frozen lake what happens to our
muscles? Think about that, then compare that to your dog's
stomach.
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I felt the need to share this with everyone, in the hopes that
some may learn from what I went through, I do not wish
this on anyone. Baran is home now doing fine. He dose
not like the fact that he has to be walked on lead in the
yard to keep him from running. He hates not being able to
go out and rough house it with the others, but is doing
great. So please if you do use ice and ice water, beware as
what could happen.
Why chocolate poisons dogs and
how to treat chocolate dog
poisoning
From: http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dogpoisoning.shtml
While the pathetic begging look that goes across the face of
a dog wanting chocolate can weaken the most stoic dog
owner, stay firm. Do not give in. Ever.Once dogs have
tasted chocolate, they want more.And for dogs, that's a bad
thing.
You might disagree, thinking back to a time when you
noticed a dog enjoying a tidbit of chocolate with no
deleterious effect.
Don't be fooled.
The problem, according to veterinary experts, is that eating
a speck of chocolate leads a dog to crave more. It can mean
that your dog will jump at a opportunity to get any type of
chocolate, not knowing that certain chocolates are more
lethal than other types. Larger amounts of chocolate,
particularly of the most toxic type, can bring about epileptic
seizures in some dogs, and in all dogs, can kill.
Poisoning of dogs by chocolate is not as uncommon as you
might think.
"Chocolate ingestions are one common reason why pet
owners and veterinarians call us," said Dana Farbman,
Certified Veterinary Technician and Manager, Client and
Professional Relations, ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center. "However, it would be difficult to verify an exact
ranking in frequency of calls, as the types of substances we
receive calls on can vary greatly depending on many
factors, including the time of year. We generally do
experience somewhat of a rise in chocolate calls around
holidays, such as Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Valentine's
Day and Mother's Day.
Why is Chocolate Lethal?
Chocolate contains theobromine. A naturally occurring
stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases
urination and affects the central nervous system as well as
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heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's
the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.
Symptoms of Chocolate Dog Ingestion and Poisoning
You can recognize that your dog has eaten a toxic dose of
chocolate from the symptoms. Within the first few hours,
the evidence includes vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity.
As time passes and there's increased absorption of the toxic
substance, you'll see an increase in the dog's heart rate,
which can cause arrhythmia, restlessness, hyperactivity,
muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting.
This can lead to hyperthermia, muscle tremors, seizures,
coma and even death.
How Much Chocolate Is Deadly?
If a 50-pound dog eats a teaspoonful of milk chocolate, it's
not going to cause serious problems. However, if that same
dog gorges himself on a two-layer chocolate cake, his
stomach will feel more than upset and soon it's likely he'll
be vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.
To answer the question "How much is too much" is not
simple. The health and age of your dog must be considered.
Obviously if your dog is aged and not in top shape his
reaction to a plate of chocolate is going to be different from
a young healthy dog of the same weight.
Another fact that must be considered is this: Not all
chocolate is the same. Some has a small amount of
theobromine; another type has a large amount and still
another contains an amount that is somewhere in between.
The quantity has a relationship with the weight of your dog.
Small dogs can be poisoned it is easy to understand, from
smaller amounts of theobromine than large dogs.
Which chocolate is the safest, relatively speaking?
White chocolate. It has the least amount of theobromine: 1
mg per ounce. Far on the other side of the spectrum is
baking chocolate, which has a huge 450 mg of theobromine
per ounce!
Here are a few other chocolates for you to ponder: hot
chocolate, 12 mg of theobromine per ounce; milk
chocolate, 60 mg/oz; and up there near baking chocolate:
semi-sweet chocolate with 260 mg/oz.
You might try using this to remember these chocolates
from least to most toxic: What Happy Moose Says BAA?
Or: White-Hot-Milk-Semi-Baked. If you have a better way
to remember, contact us!
Knowing which chocolate is the most toxic is important,
but leaves one wondering how much must be eaten to
poison a dog. The list in this box should be helpful. Maybe
you can clip it and post it on your refrigerator?
White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound
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of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of
white chocolate to cause signs of
poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds
for a 10-pound dog.
Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of
body weight. Approximately one pound of
milk chocolate is poisonous to a 20-pound
dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog.
The average chocolate bar contains 2 to 3
ounces of milk chocolate. It would take 23 candy bars to poison a 10 pound dog.
Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic
level.
Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of
body weight. One-third of a pound of
sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog;
1/6 pound for a 10-pound dog.
Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound
body weight. Two one-ounce squares of
bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound
dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.
CJMF 6/03
More Information
How To Care For Dogs Who Have Eaten
Chocolate
First Aid Tools That Should Be In Your
Home
First Aid Kit: Deluxe
Toxiban: Activated Charcoal
Dog Owner's Home Veterinary
Handbook: Top-Rated First Aid Book -Includes chapters on emergencies, such
as poisoning, burns, broken legs and
more. Another reader put it this way:
"Plenty of other books are going to
provide you with glossy color photos and
generic information, but when you need
information--real, solid stuff you can
leave teethmarks in -- this book is what
you need"
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Picnic Photos…
The weather didn’t stop us from having fun!
Sunday, July 29th
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Here are some of the Tara Darling’s pictures….
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