June 2013

See how Bark Busters changedthe life of an Airforce dog han-dler or, view the “Aspen’s Story”video on YouTube.com

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Issue 5: Volume 7

Cover photo and this photo by Paw Prints by Jamie PetPhotography.

contents

EVENT CALENDAR 6June 2013

THE SCOOP 7Canine News and Happenings

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 14The Sport of Lure Coursing

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 16Top 10 Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know

HEALTH & WELLNESS 18Part II: What You Need to Know About CancerTreatments

BODY & SOUL 20Peace, Zen and Harmony with Dogs

ADOPTION 24Humane Animal Rescue Program (HARP)

VETERINARY DIRECTORY 26

PublisherJennifer Kitchens-Street(281) [email protected]

Advertising(281) [email protected]

Contributing WritersJan DavidsonBob WilliamsKatie RediskiMichelle Spencer

Staff PhotographerJamie Fincherwww.pawprintsbyjamie.com

Urban Paws MagazinePO Box 1556Spring, TX 77383www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Web:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

© Copyright 2013. No part of thispublication may be reprinted orotherwise reproduced without thepublisher’s written permission.Urban Paws magazine assumes noresponsibility for unsolicited manu-scripts, feature and idea submis-sions, or photographs, and suchmaterial will not be returned. UrbanPaws magazine assumes no liabilityfor the contents herein and has theright to refuse advertising for anyreason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product orservice contained herein; we doencourage you to support ouradvertisers whenever possible.

Please tell our advertisers thatyou heard about them in UrbanPaws Magazine!

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6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

June 2013For a full listing of events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

JUNE 1Cold Ones for Kitties fundraiser. Southern Star

Brewery, 1207 N. FM 3083 E. in Conroe from 6:00

- 10:00 p.m. Beer, Music, Food and Fun benefiting

the Montgomery County Animal Society and the

Bruce Kapp Memorial Animal Fund to raise funds

to continue our feral/free roaming cat sterilization

program. Admission is $20 in advance or at the

door entitles attendee to 5 craft beers. Purchase

tickets in advance at

www.southernstarbrewing.com.

JUNE 1PugHearts Garage Sale at the Woodedge

Subdivision’s club house, 10403 Greencreek. 8:00

a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PugHearts goal is to raise $2,000

for the dogs in their care. Visit

www.pughearts.com to donate items.

JUNE 2Strykers Bark in the Park presented by Barker

Street Gourmet Dog Bakery. Nothing says summer

like baseball. Grab your leash and head to the ball-

park for The Woodlands Strykers Dog Day. Gates

open at 5:30 p.m. Game starts at 7:05 p.m. For

more information, visit

www.barkerstreetbakery.com.

JUNE 10-14Houston SPCA Critter Camp. Kids can spend a

week with their favorite critters and learn about

the animals cared for by the Houston SPCA. For

additional dates and to register, visit

www.hspca.org.

JUNE 12Visit Mission Burrito on June 12th, from 4:00 pm-

10:00 p.m. and let the staff know you are dining

for Special Pals. A percentage of each meal will

benefit the shelter. Mission Burrito LaCenterra,

23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd in Katy. For more informa-

tion, visit www.specialpalshouston.org.

JUNE 21Take Your Dog to Work Day. On this day, thou-

sands of pet owners will work with their dogs to

celebrate the 15th annual TYDTWDay. In addition,

the entire week, June 17-21, has been designated

Take Your Pet To Work Week™. So, if your compa-

ny is closed on Fridays or if you want to invite all

types of pets, select any day during the week to

host a special event at your workplace. To learn

more, visit www.takeyourdog.com.

JUNE 1-30 Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. Visit your localanimal shelter to find the perfect furry felinefor your family.

event calendar

Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the most up-to-date information, news and events!

the scoop

Rover Oaks Pet Resort to HostOperation: War Dogs, a Month-LongDonation Drive to Support U.S. MilitaryK-9 Fund

Rover Oaks Pet Resort is preparing to launch itsthird annual month-long donation drive,Operation: War Dogs, to support US MilitaryK-9 Fund and United States War DogsAssociation (USWDA). The drive officiallybegins on Memorial Day and ends onIndependence Day, July 4, 2013. Last year,Rover Oaks raised over $10,000 for US MilitaryK-9 Fund through Operation: War Dogs.During Operation: War Dogs, donors can stop

by Rover Oaks Pet Resort in Houston nearReliant Stadium or Rover Oaks Katy near KatyMills Mall to make a contribution or simply maila check to Rover Oaks made out to US MilitaryK-9 Fund. Rover Oaks will be giving away a freenight of lodging at their facilities to every donorwho contributes $100. Donations of $25 willreceive a commemorative army dog tag neck-lace. In addition, Rover Oaks will decorate theirfacilities with patriotic paw prints presenting thenames of the clients and community memberswho contribute to US Military K9 Fund. Everydollar counts and anyone interested in donatingis encouraged to stop by either Rover Oaks loca-

Urban Paws Magazine 7

tion to make a contribution in their name or inhonor of a soldier they wish to recognize.These donations will help provide an abundanceof critically needed items including K9 medica-tions, food, grooming tools, bedding and othernecessities.

Donations will be accepted at either RoverOaks location. Rover Oaks Houston, 713-662-2119, is located at 2550 West Bellfort, Houston77054. Rover Oaks Katy, 281-693-7687, is locat-ed at 24250 Kingsland Blvd., Katy 77494. Tolearn more about Rover Oaks or for directions,visit www.roveroaks.com. For more informationon US Military K-9 Fund, visit:www.usmilitaryk-9fund.org.

Special Pals’ Board of DirectorsAnnounce Change in Leadership

The Board of Directors of Special Pals, a limit-ed-intake, no-kill animal shelter located in westHouston, announce that Yvonne David has lefther post as executive director of the organiza-tion. “We are grateful for Yvonne David’s years ofservice and commitment to the mission ofSpecial Pals, and we wish her luck on futureendeavors,” said Joycelyn Urech, Chairman ofthe Special Pals Board of Directors.The Board has appointed shelter staff veteran

Elizabeth Trick as the interim executive director,and has established a transition team to ensureseamless operations during this time. Trick willsupport the board’s oversight and the shelters’ongoing work during the interim period, during


the scoop

which time the team will assess Special Pals’executive leadership needs."I am pleased to accept the position as inter-

im executive director and I look forward to pro-viding leadership and continuing our mission asa no-kill organization,” says Trick. “I am dedi-cated to making the necessary changes toimprove our performance, broaden our scopeand enhance our impact in the community." During the transition period, Special Pals will

continue to host low-cost wellness clinics onscheduled Saturdays and perform spay andneuter surgeries, while also continuing its pri-mary mission: finding permanent, qualifiedhomes for the over 65 cats and dogs currentlyresiding at the shelter.

Local Brewery to Host ‘Cold Ones forKitties’ to Fund Stray Cat Spay/NeuterEffortsSouthern Star Brewing Company in Conroe, TXwill host a fundraising event on June 1 from6pm – 10pm to benefit local efforts to spay andneuter Montgomery County’s stray and free-roaming cats. The Bruce Kapp MemorialAnimal Fund (BKMAF) and MontgomeryCounty Animal Society (MCASociety) havepartnered to promote ‘Cold Ones for Kitties’ toprevent the birth of unwanted litters of kittens.The event will feature beer, food and a perform-ance by country music recording artist GradySkelton.

Stray and free-roaming cat sterilization,referred to as Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR),is touted by national stray-cat expert group AlleyCat Allies as the only proven method to slow the

overpopulation of stray cats and reduce thenumber of unwanted kittens entering ournation’s shelters.Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS)

may take in as many as 60 kittens in one day dur-ing ‘kitten season’ – the spring and summermonths when kitten births are at their height.“During ‘kitten season’ we cannot even hope tosave them all. Not enough adopters, not enoughfoster homes. Many kittens die needlessly whenthose deaths could have been prevented just byspaying and neutering,” laments Jane Holman,MCAS Kennel Manager and BKMAF Director.“It’s truly a shame. And it’s time our communi-ty banded together to make a serious impact.”Holman has recruited a network of volunteers

to locate, trap and transport cats for surgery andpartnered with veterinarian Dr. Todd Haydenwho can perform around 30 surgeries in oneday. BKMAF and MCASociety together havefunded the spay/neuter of nearly 250 cats. Itcosts these non-profit organizations $40 to alterand vaccinate each cat but the groups say it isworth it.Rosanna Russell, MCASociety board member

states, “We’re hoping this will make a lasting dif-ference and that soon in the future we will seefewer and fewer litters of kittens ending up atthe shelters.” Russell goes on to say, “Othercommunities have implemented successful TNRprograms. I know we can too.”Admission is $20 per person and includes full-

size samplings of five Southern Stars premiumcraft brews. Those in attendance are encouragedto bring folding or lawn chairs as seating is lim-ited. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance


the scoop

The Shotwell family participated in the fundraiser atThe Village at Gleannloch Farms on Saturday andadopted their latest family member Shyla.

A pet fair attendee visits with dog Odie at the recentPet Adoption and Fundraiser at The Village atGleannloch Farms.

The Village at Gleannloch Farms resident EvelynJones enjoys a hamburger with staff member Gina atthe Pet Adoption & Fundraiser.

online at southernstarbrewing.com.For more event information email mcasvolun-

[email protected].

The Village at Gleannloch Farms PetAdoption and Fundraiser EventThe Village at Gleannloch Farms teamed upwith Abandoned Animal Rescue (AAR) ofTomball to host their second annual PetAdoption & Fundraiser on May 4th. The no-killshelter run entirely by volunteers is full to capac-ity and is raising money to expand its space. Thefundraiser brought in over $300 in monetarydonations and received over $500 in requesteddonated items. “This is our second year to team up with AAR

and we really enjoy being able to help them raisemoney to save these animals,” said KathyJohanns, executive director at The Village atGleannloch Farms. “AAR runs completely ondonations and the work of about 25 volunteers,and our residents enjoy being able to help raisemoney to see these animals be saved and adopt-ed.” “We are so grateful for everyone who came

out to The Village at Gleannloch Farms todonate money and items and adopt animals,”said Debbie Allison, volunteer coordinator andexecutive director of AAR. “We want to do thebest thing for these animals and are in the mid-dle of a building campaign trying to build a newfacility in the back for more space. We are still inneed of monetary donations, sponsors, and ani-mals to be adopted to progress even further.”For more information on AAR, please visit

www.aartomball.org.

SOLID GOLD FREEZE DRIED RAW BEEF

Many pet owners like to feed raw meat, but the

constant recall of raw meat with salmonella poisoning

or ecoli has put a stop to many sales. Solid Gold Freeze

Dried Raw Meat has solved this problem. We dropped

the temperature of the beef to -120˚ below zero. This

kills all diseases. Then, we put in a nitrogen fl ush which

takes out all the moisture. The fi ve pack is almost equiv-

alent to 7 pounds of raw meat with the water removed.

The single patty pack is equivalent to a pound and a

half of raw meat. Spread out pieces or concentrate as

needed. Break apart with fi ngers and mix with kibble

or use as a treat or bait. Not greasy. No need to carry a

freezer box.

SOLID GOLD FREEZE DRIED RAW BEEF

kills all diseases. Then, we put in a nitrogen fl ush which

takes out all the moisture. The fi ve pack is almost equiv-

The Cute Story It had been a long day at the dog show. The owner of two Rho-desian Ridgebacks was exhausted. She was going to rush into a fast food place, grab a sandwich, and the go back to the hotel. She had bought two 5-count Buckaroo Beef packages to mix in with the dry Solid Gold dog food that night. It was easier than trying to open a can of meat. Her two Ridgebacks were sleeping quietly in the van. Should she leave the new packages of Buckaroo Beef in the front seat or not? The two fi ve packs were equivalent to almost 14 lbs. so they couldn’t possibly be that hungry. She had planned to break up the patties for supper, for a bedtime snack and breakfast with kibble. Sounded like a good plan. Rhodesians are very smart. When she returned to her van, all ten patties were gone, they had very carefully opened the packages and enjoyed every bite. Now for a little water, please. So much for the best laid plans---

Ask your local pet store for a free catalogue. If they don’t have a SunDancer catalogue, call us at (619) 258-7356, M-F, 10am to 5pm Pacifi c time. Or e-mail us at [email protected]. You can also visit our website at www.solidgoldholistic.com.

Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center1331 N. Cuyamaca, El Cajon, CA 92020

The 5 count package is $19.74 plus shipping Single count package is $4.27 plus shippingWe accept all major credit cards as well as checks.

To order, call (619) 258-7356, Monday thru Friday 10 am to 5pm pacifi c time, or go online to www.solidgoldholistic.com.

“When mostof us talk to ourdogs, we tendto forget they’renot people.”

Julia Glass

mutt mugs


training & behavior


The Sport ofLure Coursing

Icelandic Sheepdog: Gaia's Bjort CGC "Ruthless"


ure coursing, originally a sport that was

exclusive to sighthounds, is a growing

sport for all dogs now that the AKC has intro-

duced the Coursing Ability Test (CAT). The

sport of Lure Coursing is based on live game

coursing but now, instead of live game, plastic

bags are used as "prey." The CAT involves dogs

chasing the prey, or lure, around a predesigned

course. The length of the course that each dog

runs depends on their size and breed with small

dogs and flat-faced breeds running shorter dis-

tances than taller dogs. Many dogs take right to

the sport, as it plays on a dog's natural prey

drive. Still, even dogs who don't chase the lure

the first time can learn to love it after a couple

of tries. This is a sport that is fun for dogs and

their humans!

Before taking your dog to a CAT event you

will need to make sure that your dog is in good

physical shape. Many dogs run at full speed

when chasing the lure and it can be very hard on

a dog that is not used to that type of activity. If

you are not sure that your dog is healthy enough

for the sport, make an appointment with their

veterinarian to get their opinion. Also, work on

a reliable recall command with your dog. For

this sport, dogs run in a large, open field and

you will want to make sure that your dog will

come back to you after they've finished running

the course. For owners, make sure that you wear

comfortable shoes and, if you cannot easily hold

on to your dog when he is excited, consider

bringing a friend to help! Finally, bring water for

you and your dog and consider bringing his

crate as well.

For more information on Lure Coursing, eli-

gibility for participation, and events near you

visit the American Kennel Club website at

http://www.akc.org

L

By: Katie Rediske

Doberman Pinscher: UKC Ch Mystery of Spanish Chest CGC "Dreizehn"

1) A dog is a dog. The greatest misconceptionmany dog owners have is to assume their dogscommunicate the way people do. Dogs instinc-tively follow the same rules and exhibit many ofthe same behavioral patters as their wild ances-tors. To effectively train your dog, you must firstunderstand his instinctual pack behavior.

2) All dogs think in terms of survival.Dogs instinctively know that living with others,under the leadership of an assertive pack mem-ber, increases their chances for survival. As adog owner, one of your responsibilities is tomodel a leader’s strong and consistent character-istics so that you will be accepted as the leaderand your dog will learn to respect and obey you.Your leadership will help your dog feel safe andeliminate many behavioral problems.

3) Dogs don’t understand English. In

addition to barking, growling and other gutteralsounds, dogs rely heavily on body language. Andyet, your body language can easily be misinter-preted. By understanding how dogs communi-cate, you will avoid the mistake of telling yourdog one thing while your body language andvoice tone tell him something completely differ-ent.

4) Dogs are neither spiteful nor deliber-ately naughty. There are three reasons why adog misbehaves or disobeys: 1. He does notunderstand what you want. 2. He does not con-sider you his leader, or 3. He is suffering fromsome kind of stress or fear. Understanding thiswill help you address your dog’s problems andbehaviors.

5) Aggression is instinctual in everybreed. Whether Chihuahua or German

training & behavior


Top 10 Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know


Shepherd, a dog’s breed has nothing to do withaggression. Instead, aggression is instinctual andcaused most often by fear of the unknown–thatis, whatever the dog cannot understand or doesnot recognize as normal. When a dog becomesfrightened, he will do one of two things: fight ortake flight. By reinforcing leadership with yourdog, you can avoid unacceptable or uncontrol-lable aggression.

6) You can teach an old dog new tricks.Dogs are continuous learners and have goodmemories. The three things that primarily influ-ence a dog’s behavior are association, experienceand instinct. By conditioning your dog andeffectively showing him what you consider goodand bad behavior, you can help him change hisbehavior.

7) Bad behaviors may be natural, butthey do not have to be normal. Most peo-ple consider digging, chewing and jumping asunacceptable dog behavior–but to dogs, theseactions are natural. As our dog’s primary educa-tor and leader, it is our job to teach him thatwhat he considers natural behaviors are not nec-essarily acceptable in our households.

8) It’s illogical to get angry with yourdog. Dogs do only what comes naturally orwhat they’ve learned through association, sogetting angry–or using physical force–is bothinappropriate and counterproductive. Moreover,never use your hands for disciplining, becausedogs find this provocative and threatening. Useyour hands as little as possible when train-

By: Bob Williams, Bark Busters Home Dog Training

ing–and when you do, make sure your dogalways associates your hands with gentlenessand pleasure.

9) Correct your dog on the spot. Becausedogs learn from association, they will compre-hend your message only if it is delivered in atimely manner. A correction must be issued atthe precise moment the dog is either contem-plating or actually doing something wrong.Because it can be difficult to catch your dog inthe act, find ways to simulate situations in whichyour dog would normally misbehave so that youcan then correct him immediately and guide himto the appropriate behavior, while praising hiscorrect decisions.

10) Dogs experience the world different-ly than humans. With 25 times more olfacto-ry receptors than humans, dogs can sense odersat concentrations millions of times lower thanwe can. In addition, a dog’s eyesight has beendescribed to be like that of a person who iscolor-blind. Dogs use other cues (such as smell,texture, brightness and position) rather thanrelying on color. With acutely developed hear-ing, dogs can hear sounds four times fartheraway than humans–but dogs also hear selective-ly. They can sleep beside a blaring television, butwake up as soon as they hear something unrelat-ed to that.

Bob Williams is a Master Dog Trainer and BehavioralTherapist for Bark Busters Home Dog Training. To schedulean appointment, call 713.771.2275.

elcome to our series on companion

animal cancer. In the previous arti-

cle, we discussed events that typi-

cally occur after your pet has been diagnosed

with cancer. In this article, we answer some

questions about chemotherapy treatments and

present tips on how to find the best oncology

team for your pet.

Choosing a treatmentVeterinary oncology is still a growing field. In

some cases, usually due to geographical or

financial concerns, your choices may be limited.

If you do have the opportunity to choose from

more than one treatment facility, ask yourself a

few questions:

• Is your doctor a board certified Veterinary

Oncologist?

• How far away is their office? How well does

your pet handle the trip? Will you be able to

travel there weekly, monthly, etc? Do they have

hours that will accommodate your schedule?

• Do they offer financial plans, counseling, assis-

tance?

• Will your pet remain with you during treat-

ments? Will you drop your pet off for the day

for treatment?

ChemotherapyThe word itself makes you cringe. But, remem-

ber, the goal of cancer treatment in pets is to

control or eradicate cancer cells while preserv-

ing a good quality of life. Cancer treatment is

fluid and there is room for assessment at each

step in the road.

Some cancers normally respond very well to

chemotherapy, while others do not. Your veteri-

nary oncologist will be your most reliable

source of information on this subject and will

guide you through the decision making process.

Chemotherapy typically comes in the form of

pills or liquid injectables. Intravenous, intra-

muscular and subcutaneous injections must be

given at your veterinary office by qualified doc-

tors and technicians. Some injections take just

minutes, while others are delivered over a peri-

od of hours. At some clinics, you may be

allowed to stay with your pet if they are receiv-

ing a short injection. Intravenous chemothera-

py can be dangerous if it leaks outside of a

vein, so it is best for your pet to remain calm

and still during treatment. If your presence

seems to excite your pet, the staff may ask you

to wait outside for a bit while the treatment is

in progress. In rare instances, some pets may

require medication to help them relax during

the injection.

If your pet is receiving a treatment that is given

over a number of hours, you will be asked to

leave them at the facility during that time.

Normally, in such cases, there are rules and reg-

ulations in place to keep both you and your pet

W

Part II - What You Need to Know About Cancer Treatments

health & wellness


safe during lengthy chemotherapy infusions.

For instance, only a qualified staff member can

attend to urine, feces and vomit should they

occur during an infusion.

Chemotherapy treatments tend to follow a

proven protocol or schedule. You should be

presented with a schedule prior to treatment.

The schedule should also include information

about when certain blood tests must be run.

While these blood tests normally do not indicate

the cancers response, they will provide critical

information about how your pet’s organs are

handling treatment and alert you to infections.

Some pets may also qualify for a clinical trial.

Normally, your veterinarian will present this

option to you if they

think it may be appropri-

ate for your pet.

Occasionally, some com-

panies will provide you

with free or discounted

medications for partici-

pating in their trial.

Speaking with your veteri-

narian about the common

and not so common side

effects of chemotherapy

and the proper precau-

tions needed when cleaning up after a pet who

has recently received a chemotherapy treatment,

is a very important step. These issues will be

addressed further in an upcoming article.

In our next article, we will discuss common side

effects of chemotherapy agents, and the med-

ications used to treat them.

“New England Pet Hospice & Home Care supports those car-ing for ill, elderly and special needs animals at home followingthe human hospice and palliative care models of interdiscipli-nary care. Learn more and get your FREE subscription toWag & Purr: Your Guide to Comfort Care for Pets atwww.NewEnglandPetHospice.com"

By: Michelle Spencer, Veterinary Technician, Oncology Specialist

body & soul

By: Jan Davidson, Elegant Hippy

yours!Diffusing essential oil blends also helps with

everyone’s body-mind balance. Lavender isalways a good choice, but there is also ClarySage, Cedarwood (great for pest control, too!)

a n dBe r g amo t .These arejust a fewthat can beblended withother essen-tial oils tocreate won-derful aro-matic blends.C u s t o mblends canalways be

developed to support emotional well-being;however, make sure that you are using essentialoils and not fragrance oils. Essential oils havetherapeutic constituents,; while fragrance oils donot.

Lastly, Reiki energy healing is anotherapproach. However, I am always careful not totry to Reiki the dogs if I am not centered–thehealing energy doesn’t flow well when the prac-titioner is not centered.There you have it, a three-pronged holisticapproach to achieving Peace, Zen, andHarmony: Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, andReiki.

Jan Davidson is a certified natural products manufacturer, aro-matherapist, holistic health consultant, and Reiki master. Sheis part owner of Elegant Hippy. www.eleganthippy.com.

am all about holistic living. Peace, Zen, andHarmony…with three dogs in the house-hold. Hmmmm…so how do I keep it all

together? Sometimes I don’t. Have you ever hadone of those days (but you don’t realize how ithas affectedyour atti-tude)? Mythree let meknow. Likewhen youare sick andyour bestb u d d ysnuggles upwith you,my three tryhard tobring meout of the funk. Most times they manage it. Have you ever noticed your little four-legged

friend acting out-of-sorts? What is your firstthought? More training? Discipline? Thosemight help; however, you might want to checkyour attitude first, then check your little (or big)buddy’s health, and medications.Two of my four-legged buddies take medica-

tion to help control immunity. Both medicationscan cause behavior and personality changes.They also reflect back attitude shifts that I have.Holistic methods help in both areas.

Bach Flower Essences in their water helpseven out temperament. Because it is safe, eventhe dog not on medication can enjoy its benefits(so can you!). Rescue Remedy (also a Bach for-mulation) also helps with anxiety – theirs and

I

Peace, Zen and Harmony with Dogs


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Your enrollment helps homeless pets!

GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws


While human safety is paramount, we have

learned valuable lessons from previous hurri-

canes about the importance of incorporating

disaster planning for animals.

When a hurricane threatens you and your fam-

ily, be sure to also make plans to keep your pets

safe.

Before there is a need to evacuate your home

due to a hurricane, it is wise to make sure that

your pets are all current on their vaccinations.

Pets that will be boarded will need proof of cur-

rent vaccinations at many boarding facilities.

Determine where your pet will stay during the

storm, if you have to evacuate.

Check with family and friends who are not in

the path of the storm to see if they can watch

your pets. If there is no one who can help,

check with specialized pet shelters, veterinary

clinics or animal control shelters. Once you find

someone who can care for your pets, work the

location where you will drop them off into your

evacuation route.

When severe weather threatens, bring your

pets inside well before the storm begins. Remain

calm, and calm your pets if they become agitat-

ed. Call ahead to confirm your selected pet shel-

ter is still able to care for your pet.

Once the storm has passed and you return

home, it is important to remember that your

pet's surroundings may have been changed by

the storm. Familiar scents and landmarks may

no longer be there. Your pet can easily become

confused or lost.

You should walk all pets on a leash until they

are able to reorient themselves. This will also

help keep them safe from hazards such as

downed power lines, debris and reptiles that

may have been brought in by high water.

Plan for your pet's safe evacuation before an

emergency arises to ensure a smooth and easy

evacuation process.

If your pet becomes lost during the storm, call your local animal control officefor information on where lost pets can be claimed. Bring your pet's photo withyou for easier identification.


WHAT TO BRING:

• Enough pet food for one week

• Food bowl

• Water bowl

• Bottled water

• Leash

• Harness or collar

• Proof of vaccinations

• Rabies tag

• Portable kennel

• Litter box and litter for cats

• Trash bags for stool disposal

• Newspaper or towels for crate lining

• Heartworm preventative

• Flea and tick protection

• All medications

• For exotic pets, bring their entire habitat,

including heat lamps and extension cords

Your pet’s kennel should be large enough for

him to stand and turn around. Collapsible wire

crates are best if your pets might be in a non-air

conditioned environment for an extended peri-

od. A battery-operated fan that can attach to the

cage can be a much appreciated addition.

Molded plastic airline-approved crates make for

easier transport and are best for animals that

don’t travel well in the car.

WHAT TO DO:

• Don’t leave your pet at home! While most

evacuations last only a few days, there are times

that you may not be able to return quickly. The

safest place for your pet is with you.

• If you are going to a hotel, call ahead and

make sure, in advance, that animals are wel-

come. Many hotels relax their policies during

times of crisis, but don’t assume that this will be

the case. For on-line information about pet-

friendly hotels, check out

www.bringyourpet.com, www.petswelcome.com

or www.pets-allowed-hotels.com.

• If you are staying with friends or family, make

sure that your pets are invited as well. If not, ask

for recommendations of nearby veterinary hos-

pitals or boarding kennels and make reserva-

tions in advance.

• Be sure that your pets are up-to-date on all

vaccinations and bring proof of vaccinations

with you. It is a good idea to ask your veterinar-

ian now for a copy of your pet’s vaccination

record. Keep this with your emergency kit.

• If your pet is on medication, bring at least a

two week supply.

• Identification of your pet is crucial! The ideal

form of identification is a microchip or a tattoo.

At minimum, your pet should have a tag with his

name, your name, and your phone number on it.

Pictures of your pet that capture identifying fea-

tures are also a good idea.

Humane Animal Rescue Program (HARP)www.harp-rescue.com

H.A.R.P. or Humane Animal Rescue Program is an animal rescue group that was created in early 2008by a group of young adults who saw the need for change in a world so cruel to animals. HARP strivesto help every animal it comes in contact with whether the problem is big or small. We are fighting toput an end to animal abuse and over population and to reduce the statistics of animal euthanasia.HARP's goal is to make the un-adoptable adoptable We are a 501(c)(3) organization and are complete-ly volunteer based. For more information on adopting, donating or volunteering, contact [email protected]

adoption

Meet Lola! Lola is a spayed female pit mix. She is

about 4 years old. Lola and her best friend,

Mattie, were found locked in a warehouse in the

middle of June. They were confined to a small

area surrounded by pallets with no food or water.

Temperatures were far above 100 degrees that

day, and there is no telling how long they had

been in there. We took them straight home.

Mattie, was quickly adopted to her forever home,

but Lola has been looking ever since. She is

extremely friendly to all people and animals. She

Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.

Our cover dog, Lola!


gets along very well with every dog she meets,

but gets a little too excited with cats. The cats

tend to get annoyed, so she would do best with

no feline friends. Lola has a lot of energy and

would benefit from a family that does as well. She

is very loyal, loves to please, and loves to give kiss-

es. Lola will make a perfect addition to a very lov-

ing family. She is spayed, microchipped, and fully

vaccinated. If you are interested in loving Lola,

please email us at [email protected].


Amber

Meet Amber! Amber is afemale Australian Shepherdmix. She is about 5 years old.Amber was found by her fos-ter mom tied to a sign at anelementary school. She wasvery hungry and thirsty so wetook her straight home.Amber had a lot of adjustingto do. She had to learn how tobehave as an inside dog. Itwas clear she had spent herwhole life outside. That wastwo years ago, and Amber is atotally different dog. She isvery friendly, and just general-ly loves life. She loves to playwith toys and bones and reallyenjoys being loved on. Asmuch as she enjoys playing,she also looks forward to agood nap. Amber is spayed,micro-chipped, and vaccinat-ed. If you are interested inAmber, please email us [email protected].

Zachary

Meet Zach! Zach is a neuteredmale shepherd mix. He is about3 years old. Zach was savedfrom the City of Houston's ani-mal control facility, BARC. Hewasn't considered adoptable,because he was heartworm pos-itive and very timid. Zach wassaved just in time, becauseshortly after bringing him homehe became very sick. Zachbecame very lethargic, lost a lotof weight, and contracted pneu-monia. After a lot of medicalattention and tons of TLC wedetermined Zach had barely sur-vived Canine Influenza. One dayhis fever broke and he’s beendoing better ever since. He isvery healthy and happy to bealive, and he appreciates all theattention he now gets. He isneutered, micro-chipped, andvaccinated and is being treatedfor his heartworms. Zach is veryloving and very protective of hisfamily.

Join us in helping our four-

legged friends find loving

homes. Adopt a dog today!

vet directory

VETERINARY DIRECTORY | 2013

Laurie Noaker, DVM, DACVIMVeterinary Emergency Referral Group,Inc. (VERGI)8921 Katy FreewayHouston, Texas 77024(p): 713.932.9589(w): www.vergi247.com

Christie Cornelius, DVMLast Wishes In-Home Pet Hospice and Euthanasia1302 Waugh Drive, Suite 968Houston, Texas 77019(p:) 713.452.0474(w): www.petslastwishes.com

Rick Wall, DVM, CCRPCenter for Veterinary Pain Managementand Rehabilitation10807 Kuykendahl Road, Suite 406The Woodlands, Texas 77382(p): 281.298.5509(e): [email protected]

Nicholas J. Millichamp,BVetMed, PhD, DVOphthal, DipECVO,MRCVSEye Care for Animals17395 Tomball Parkway #3-HHouston, Texas 77064(p): 281.890.3937(w): www.eyecareforanimals.com

Angel Ibanez, DVMAngel’s Pet Hospital24734 Kuykendahl RoadTomball, Texas 77375(p:) 281.290.0360(w): www.angelspethospital.com

Clara Scott, DVMMy Family Vet20120 Kuykendahl RoadSpring, Texas 77379(p): 281.288.0500(w): www.myfamilyvet.com

The Woodlands

Tomball

Mobile

Spring

Northwest Houston

Greater Houston


Documents

June 2013