Issue No. o2 • DEC- JAN 2016 • FREE

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE

ALL I WANT FORCHRISTMAS IS MY

TWO FRONTTEETH

HOMEMADEPEANUT BUTTER

TREATS

A Home for theHolidays

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONScontact@lowcountrydog.com

LOWCOUNTRYDOG.COM

Our Staff

DOGYOUR SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS

LCDM believes that our dogs are our bestfriends, and that’s why we need a reliable

source to turn to for information on all things“dog” in our community. Our mission is to be the

number one local resource for dog ownersregarding regional dog-centric and dog-

welcoming events, health & wellnessinformation, dog training, trends, and local

news. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to thepublic for various lowcountry-based pet non-

profits, and we promote pet adoption and otherresponsible pet care practices.

Founded in Charleston, South Carolina as aprint magazine, we have been consultingsince 2005 with the area’s pet experts tobring you a complete guide to living yourbest life with your pet in the lowcountry.

Brian FosterPublisher, BUSINESS RELATIONS

Vanessa ZuloagaPublisher, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

TacoChief Canine Correspondent

PeanutColumnist

CONTRIBUTORS

Southern Vintage Design and Photographywww.southernvintagedesign.com

WritersIsabelle Maloney

Dr. Janet McKimJulie Murray

CONTENTSCOVER STORY

FEATURES

WWW .LOWCOUNTRYDOG .COM

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24 MAKE YOUR OWNDOG TREATS

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE

A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!COVER PHOTO & PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED SOUTHERN VINTAGEDESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Easy recipe your dog will love!! Page 24From Shopping Local toTaco's Picks. Page 16

PEANUTS TIP AND TREATS

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ISMY TWO FRONT TEETH

DOGS FOR ADOPTION

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG FORYOUR LIFESTYLE

HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTERDOG TREATS

YOUR LOCAL SOURCEFOR ALL THINGS DOG

EST. 2005

TOP THINGS TO AVOID THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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PEANUT'sTIPS AND TREATS

WELCOME TO

Mistletoe, Holly and Poinsettias are all dangerous ifingested. Stick to the fakes!

Don't leave candles untended, our fluffy happy tailscan knock them over and cause a fire.

Be mindful of human food and sweets. Bones andmany human foods are not good for us dogs. Stick

with treats we can safely enjoy.

Watch wires and batteries, these can give us a realshock if we decide to chew on them.

Make sure that tree you brought in the house issecure, you won't want us to knock it over or it fall onus and why can't we pee on it again? It is a tree, right?

EAT, DRINK& RESCUE

Dog Adoption Event

Sunday, January 10 12-5pm

1234 Camp Road, James Island

lowcountry dog 6

As for most of us, my doginstantly became the love of mylife. Within minutes of meetinghim and barely knowinganything about him, I adoptedhim. My dog, Dale, is ahandsome Labrador/Pitbull mixand is almost two years old. Hisprevious owner was neglectfuland denied him any chance toexpress the overwhelming lovethat he has to offer, butthankfully we were broughttogether and now I am therecipient of that love. I alwayslook forward to our daily trips tothe dog park, even though hemanages to find the largest mudpit and immediately lays directlyin it. He’s the best alarm clockI’ve ever had. His adorable facemakes it impossible to be madat him for waking me up ateight o’clock on my morningsoff. He is always so excited foranother day, whether he’snapping in his favorite chair,swimming in the lake at theJames Island dog park, or sittingwith me while I work on myhomework.

While he is an amazing dog, wecertainly still have things towork on. With the coming of theNew Year, the first thing we aregoing to learn is personal space.

Dale doesn’t quite understandthat not everyone wants to havea dog in their lap every time theytry to sit down, especially whenhe’s 65-pounds.

by Brian Foster

NEW YEAR's RESOLUTIONS

FOR ME AND MY DOG!by Isabelle Maloney

His uncontrollable excitement upon meeting a new friend is notalways appreciated, especially when it’s the mailman who was notexactly pleased with Dale’s paw prints decorating his uniform.

Needless to say, he is now more cautious when he comes to deliverDale’s monthly Barkbox. The next thing we are going to work on is tounderstand that not all food is his food, which I unfortunatelycontribute to by giving him an occasional tater-tot on our Sonic runs.My relatives were certainly not happy with his eagerness to indulgewhen he grabbed a few slices of turkey off of the table duringThanksgiving dinner. My grandmother, who had spent hourspreparing the meal, was not as amused, but thankfully she eventuallyfound it as funny as the rest of us did. It could’ve been worse; at leasthe didn’t get the whole turkey. The last of our big resolutions for theNew Year is one that will be most difficult for me, but I expect will bethe one he enjoys the most, which is my promise to take him on moreruns. Running is one of his favorite activities, and one of the mainthings I hate, but hopefully I will learn to love it like he does. We havemany things to improve, but having Dale be a part of my life has beenthe most rewarding experience I have been blessed with thus far.Even though I grew up having dogs, cats, goats, bunnies, and horses, Ihave never felt such a strong connection to one of my four-leggedfriends.

All I Want for Christmas ismy Two Front Teeth!

by Dr. Janet McKim VCA Charles Towne Animal Hospital

Dogs have 42 adult teeth. Cats have 28. Whathappens to those choppers from puppyhoodto their senior years depends on you.

Dogs and cats develop gum and dentaldisease the same way we do. Bacteria in themouth infiltrate the gum tissue causinginfection on the surfaces of the teeth andaround the gums. The gums become irritatedand if plaque is not removed, infected. Theinfection spreads along the tooth root intothe bone supporting the teeth.

Meanwhile tartar begins to form on the toothsurface as calcium from the saliva settles intothe plaque. This gritty surface begins to formwithin days and attracts more plaque. Soonwe have a tooth that is bumpy and browninstead of white and slick accelerating theprocess.

lowcountry dog 8

Plaque bacteria smell awful. To make it worseyour dog and cat licks its fur spreading thefoul odor from paws to his tail. You mightalso notice your pet doesn’t chewcomfortably, tips his head slightly to slide thefood away from an infected or loose tooth. Hemight drop food or even refuse it. There maybe bleeding when he tries to chew hisfavorite toy. In the most severe cases you maynotice a lump develop on his face under hiseye – this is an abscessed tooth root. Not allabscessed roots form a lump on the face. Butall rotten teeth hurt. Ask anyone unfortunateenough to have experienced a dentalabscess. Your dog and cat can’t tell you butthey are living in chronic pain.

The damage doesn’t stop here. The normalbarrier provided by healthy gums has beenbreached; bacteria from the infection areentering the bloodstream (bacteremia)

heading to the liver, kidney, and heart tissue.

Your pet’s health is at risk.

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Help your pet keep more than his two front teeth!

Following these steps can can help keep teeth and gums healthy in dogs and cats:1. Have your pet’s teeth evaluated by your veterinarian.

2. Have them professionally cleaned if recommended to begin your home care plan witha clean surface (remember you get your teeth cleaned every 6 months and you brush! It’sno surprise your pet may be due for a cleaning if he’s never brushed his teeth!)

3. Start brushing your pet’s teeth at home – this is the gold standard and your veterinarianor veterinary technician can help teach you how.

4. Not every pet will allow their owners to brush their teeth, no matter how much theylove them. If you own one of these go to step 5!

5. Formulate a home plan using products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council(VOHC.org); tested by veterinary dentists for safety and efficacy.

I recommend a combinationapproach for home care, asupplement in their water(they have to drink right?), adental diet (you’re going tofeed them, right?) And avariety of chew toys toencourage removal of plaquebefore it has a chance to beevil.

The results will surprise andpossibly delight you and yourpet.

lowcountry dog 9

A Home for the

Holidays!HANK WISHES FOR A FOREVER HOME!

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Photography by Southern Vintage Design and Photography

Hank is a 2 year old terrier mix with anabundance of energy. He is not a bad dog,

but Hank is scared and afraid and in orderto compensate for his fear he shows a lot ofnervous energy and requires lots ofattention. He was found as a stray, nevergiven the chance to develop importantsocial and behavioral skills. The only dog atPet Helpers deemed ‘dog aggressive’ bybehavior expert Amy Sadler, Hank’s anxietyis often mistaken for aggression. He is just anervous dog trying to deal with his own fearand emotions of living a lonely life in theshelter. Let it be known that while Hank ismost certainly a highly energetic dog, he isone of the sweetest, funniest, best-pal kindof dogs around. He wears a perpetual smileand never seems to be able to keep thatwagging tail still.

At first, Hank was considered one of ourdifficult cases. Labeled aggressive, unable tosocialize with other animals at the shelter,and a requiring a lot of work and constantattention from Pet Helpers’ animal caretechnicians. Day after week after month,

our staff worked so very diligently withHank, aiming to help Hank become a wellbehaved dog, one no one could say no towhen seeing him on the adoption floor.

Meet Dixie (RIGHT) Sheis a sweet girl but is

shy. Dixie responds to her

name and basic

commands.

Lucky and Cricket(BELOW) are very

attentive and loving dogs.

Cricket is the attention hog

but Lucky becomes more

social quickly. Cricket likes

rib rubs, tennis balls,

digging in the dirt, and

getting his backside

scratched. Lucky likes

getting his neck scratched

and laying in the sun.

They suffered a traumatic

experience when their

previous owner was the

victim of a violent crime. 

Pet Helpers’ behavioral staff and animal care technicianscontinue to work tirelessly on his behavior, social skills, andhyperactivity. Leash walking, play time, and socialization havebeen big developments for Hank. While months ago he waslabeled ‘dog aggressive’, now Hank even skateboards with staffto the dog park, enjoys play groups and can be leash walkedappropriately. Hank has made some major changes andimprovements in his behavior, but it is still recommended thathe is the only animal in the house, and that Hank’s adopter befully aware that continuing training is extremely important forHank’s continued behavioral growth.

We were so glad when Hank arrived at Pet Helpers. He hasbeen at Pet Helpers for 375 days and counting. Far too long fora great dog like Hank. We know with more hard work,

behavioral training, and care, Hank will one day find a foreverhome with the patience and love he so deserves. Until then,

Hank continues to need your help. Your strong and steadysupport allows us to help animals like Hank get a secondchance at a bright future. He is an amazing dog. Incrediblysmart, active and charismatic, he’d bea great candidate for a CEO job! Hank couldn’t have come to abetter place.

Home For The Holidays-Dogs for Adoption

Click each dogs name toview their profile

Thanks to our sponsors!

HankPet Helpers- Brenda Burbage

AJPet Helpers- Larry Haskell

RuthPet Helpers- Pam Haskell

BrodyPet Helpers- Nicole Morris

ScipioPet Helpers- Amy Thompson

DixiePet Helpers- Larry Haskell

LuckyPet Helpers- Amy Thompson

CricketPet Helpers- Chelsea Bradford

YogiSinbad Sadie- Peggy Beason

BaxterSinbad Sadie- Peggy Beason

ColeSinbad Sadie- Peggy Beason

BrunoSinbad Sadie- Peggy Beason

HollyWaters Edge- My Name is Milk

JebLowcountry Lab- My Name is Milk

TinaRescue Charleston-

Carla Hutchins

LilyRescue Charleston- Nancy Easgleson

MochaRescue Charleston-

Jennifer Lohse

HolidayGift Guide

Shop Local!

1. Holiday Bow-tie Collars2. Hanukkah Menorah Toy3. Hanukkah Gelt Toy4. Holiday Bakery Cookies5.Holiday Cuddle Pulls6. Tough Lump of Coal7.Holiday Hugglehounds8. Holiday Bootie 9. Holiday Flower Collars

HolidayGift Guide

HolidayGift Guide

Located at Pet Helpers Animal Shelter1447 Folly Road

James Island, SC 29412OPEN 7 DAYS a WEEK

Designer Items at Non-Designer PricesHarry Barker designer beds- varioussizes, colors and pricesHarry Barker Holiday Toys from $8Lola & Foxy Leashes from $18Many more items, come shop today!

10% off with mention of Gift Guide

Taco's PicksHolidayGift Guide 1. Puppies Make Me Happy

T- Shirts For Mom!

2. Tagg Location Collarso I never get lost!

3. RUFFITbackpack so

I can goeverywhere

!

4. K-9 Kannon tennis BallLauncher so I can run!

5. Waiting for SantaPJS to cuddle moms in!

6. South Shore DogBed to rest my head!!

CLICK ITEM TO VIEW HOW TO BUY!

Choosingthe RightDog foryourLifestyleBy Julie MurrayPhoto by Southern Vintage Design

You have finally decided that the time isright to get a dog! Life is good. Then ithits you - where the heck do I begin?!? You are not alone in your struggle. Thereare more than 400 dog breedsworldwide and it may seem like adaunting task. However, we are here tohelp make things easier and make sureyou and your new furry family memberare as happy as possible!

Dogs come in all shapes, sizes andpersonalities. You may have an idea inyour head of your “perfect dog” but thereare lots of things to consider before youmake your final decision.

lowcountry dog 24

How long will the dog be alone each day?Do you have a flexible job that will allow you togo home at lunchtime for walks?What is your usual level of activity? Are you acouch potato or a ball of energy?Do you want a dog who is very affectionate orone who will do his own thing?Will you be able to keep up with grooming forcertain breeds? What is your living situation? For example, ifyou live in a small one-bedroom apartment, alarge, active dog is probably not for you unlessyou can commit to daily trips to the dog park. Do you have small children? Not all breedsmay be compatible with kids.

Here are some questions to askyourself before adopting?

This list is not all-inclusive, but it should provideyou with a good jumping off point. Also, youmay want to complete this 10 question surveyfrom Animal Planet - it asks you all the rightquestions and provides a recommendation ofyour “top breed” as well as a list of “runners up”.

http://www.animalplanet.com/breed-

selector/dog-breeds.htmlOnce you have your lifestyle figured out, it maybe time to head over to your local animalshelter. If you are still unsure of the kind of dogthat is right for you, ask to speak with anadoption counselor and they can provide youwith additional guidance andrecommendations based on their experienceand knowledge of dog behavior. Anotherresource to take advantage of is Petfinder.com.

They help you find the type of dog you arelooking for and provide all kinds of informationon adoption, local shelters, pet care and muchmore.

Another important thing to do during thisprocess is keep an open mind! If yourestrict yourself to looking for the “idealdog” you can miss out on an amazinganimal. For example, if you are set onadopting a puppy, you may want tobranch out and consider a dog who is abit older. He may be past the chewingand jumping phase and perhaps isalready housetrained! Or, if you had yourheart set on a purebred dog, consideradopting a mixed breed. They are morelikely to be free of genetic defectscommon to purebreds.

By now, you should be feeling confident inyour knowledge of how to choose the dogthat is best for you! Just do your research,

take your time and before you know it,you will have a furry friend who fits rightin with your family.

Hank- 3 yWaters Edge- Nicole Morris

LunaFrancis Willis- Carol Donnelly

SalemFrancis Willis- Jennifer Lohse

FluffyLAR- Larry Haskell

Pup PupLAR- Mary Rogers

Tim TimLAR- Pam Haskell

MarneyDoc Williams- Jennifer Lohse

Miss BDoc Williams- Tamara Hale

SashaDoc Williams- Shannon Gurrick

H O M E M A D E

P E A N U T   B U T T E R

C O O K I E S .

A simple and easy recipe to make your

favorite dog a treat they will love.

INGREDIENTS

2½ cups rice flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup natural peanut butter

1 cup water

2 tablespoons honey

1 egg INSTRUCTIONS­Preheat oven to 350F

­In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, and the egg. Add peanutbutter, water, honey and stir until you have stiff dough. the dough becomes

very firm and sticky. you may need to use your hands, or the paddleattachment on your mixer.

­Roll out the dough about ½ inch thick between 2 sheets of cling wrap anduse a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. the treats barely spread and rise,

so get creative with your shapes.­Bake for 20 minutes, until golden.

­Keep in an airtight container or give as gifts!

HappyHolidays!

WARM WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

BearCAS- Erin Wagner

Sassy SusieCAS- Danielle Crumb

SandyCAS- Deborah Robinson

VenusValiant- Richard Bettencourt

RiverValiant- Holly Foster

Buckwheat and LilyValiant- Vanessa & Taco Zuloaga

ChanceValiant- Judith Miller

TideValiant- Veronica Benner

DoozerValiant- Jennifer Lohse

MonaOrangeburg- Lauren Martin

CainOrangeburg- Bryce Hilton

ZiggyOrangeburg- Jennifer Hall

JonahDaisys Place- Molly and Me Pecans

ReaganCarolina Coonhound-Jeannette Seagraves

IrisCarolina Coonhound- Jeannette Seagraves

DieselFrancis Willis- Lynne Russell

GloryThe Bridge- John Davidson

Maggie MaeThe Bridge- Pam Davidson

EVENTCALENDAR

December

January

12/12  Santa Paws for Valiant Animal Rescue Doggie pics with Santa Claus­Greystar Daniel Island Village

12/12 SHARE the LOVE at Crews Subaru of Charleston,toy donations, pictures w Santa. 11­2pm

12/12 Folly Beach Christmas Parade

12/13  20th Annual Christmas Light Parade and TreeLighting, Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant 5:30pm

12/9, 12/16, 12/23, 12/30 BARN JAM­ Awendaw Green­Dog Friendly Venue­ 6 pm

ALL MONTH­ Holiday Festival of Lights­ James IslandCounty Park

01/10  Lowcountry Dog's Adoption BBQ and Brew Local rescues show off their pups­Smoky Oak Taproom, James Island 12­5 pm

01/06, 01/13, 01/20, 01/27 BARN JAM­ Awendaw Green­Dog Friendly Venue­ 6 pm 

Email us about your events to befeatured here!

 contact@lowcountrydog.com

Craft Beer + Dog Park=Enough Said!

1859 Folly Road

Food, Beverages and Fun

DOG FRIENDLY PATIO

1234 CAMP ROADJAMES ISLAND

DONATION BOXES CAN BE FOUND AT THESE LOCATIONS AS WELL AS MANY MORE­ SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL LIST