APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com2

H BdD 5WELCOME

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 3

PUBLISHERCasey Dean

MANAGING EDITORMartin Jones Westlin

DESIGN DIRECTORCasey Dean

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSClaire Harlin

Martin Jones WestlinNicole Sours Larson Chandra Moira Beal

CONTRIBUTINGPHOTOGRAPHERSNicole Sours Larson

Claire HarlinMartin Jones Westlin

Lizzy Mellini

DISPLAY ADVERTISINGCasey Dean

Casey@sandiegopetsmagazine.com(619) 573-5615

Marjorie “Kirby”mkirbykirby@gmail.com

(858) 775-4432

San Diego Pets Magazine is published monthly by Dean Publish-ing, Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. No part of thispublication may be duplicated or reprinted without express consentfrom the publisher. Editors reserve the right to edit all content. Sub-missions are welcome, and will be edited for content and clarity.Please forward all unsolicited material to the editor. Views and opin-ions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishers.Publishers reserve the right to approve or accept advertising ordersand content. All contents are copyrighted 2011. All rights reserved.

San Diego Pets MagazineP.O. BOX 601081San Diego, Ca 92160-1081

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PLEASE

RECYCLE

SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com

PHOTO BY LIZZY MELLINI

www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPets

www.twitter.com/SanDiegoPets

San Diego Pets Magazine changesownership and editorial perspective

Welcome back to San DiegoPets Magazine! Workingas the Production man-

ager at the San Diego CommunityNewspaper Group, I have been in-timately involved in the creation ofSDPM over the past five years. Somuch so, I jumped at the chance tokeep it alive when I heard it wouldno longer be in print. It took fivemonths, but at last, I am very happyto announce; We are back in print!

San Diego is packed with funloving pet people who own a widevariety of pets. We enjoy pet eventspractical every week of the yearand there are countless shelters andorganizations that need ongoingsupport. This magazine intends toentertain and educate while provid-ing a unique platform to showcasethe San Dieagan Pet Lefestyle.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Insideyou will find a rabbit with a job, thereal history and importance of theVeterinary profession and part twoof our October article, “Veterinarymedicine reflects human advances.”

Cheers,

IN OUR MAY ISSUESam, the Cooking Guy,

dishes on his dogs

We want to hear from you!Yap it up on our social mediapages, or e-mail your thoughts to:

Info@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com

Sam Zien’s new book, Sam theCooking Guy: Just Grill This!, isavailible online and in book stores!

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APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com4

H BdD 5COVER STORY

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San Diego is a sentimental place forCesar Millan. Not only is he present-ing his new line of pet products herein April; this is the first city he lived inwhen he came to the United Statesfrom Mexico 20 years ago.

Known as the star of Dog Whispererwith Cesar Millan, which airs on theNational Geographic Channel in theUnited States and on more than 100countries around the globe, Millan hascome a long way since his San Diegodays. Back then, he had no money, nohome and no knowledge of English.But he was proficient in a lesser-known but universal language: dog.

And for Millan, this isn't just a tal-ent. It's a philosophy.

"We as a country speak English, andhuman being is a race," Millan ex-plained in a recent interview from his43-acre Dog Psychology Center, lo-cated just north of Los Angeles inSanta Clarita. "We make the separationbetween people based on social status,but dogs don't understand that con-cept. They only recognize that thewhole world is energy. We as a wholedon't have a healthy relationship inour political, economic or educationworlds. And we don't have a healthyrelationship in our dog world, either.Let's at least start with something thatis willing to change."

At any given time, the center ishome to dozens of celebrity pets, or"unfixables," Millan is trying to reha-

bilitate. He also oversees "behavior re-search" at the facility, he said. The ideaof the center is derived from what Mil-lan learned from his grandfather inMexico, whose mutts always roamedthe family ranch. There, exercise was anecessity and not just recreation—forboth people and dogs.

His humble upbringing also al-lowed him to build a nature-basedconnection between himself and thedogs, he said. The rancho dogs in Mex-ico are not in the public environment;

neither do they share intimate spaceswith humans. Millan said that's whythey behave different, and often disre-spectfully, in America. Given love overexercise and discipline, dogs often"take over," he said.

Don't let dogs be soulmates orchildren, said Millan—"Just let dogsbe dogs."

At a young age, Millan loved dogsand admired the well-trained American

Leader of the packRags-to-riches 'dog whisperer' Cesar Millan

to headline April 9 event at Hilton Mission Valley B y C L A I R E H A R L I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

SEE MILLAN, Page 6

dogs like Rin Tin Tin and Lassie hesaw on TV. He was teased by otherkids for being at one with his caninefriends. They called him el perrero,meaning "dog boy."

"I always said I wanted to be theworld's best dog trainer," Millan said.

The $60 paycheckSoon after Millan first crossed the

Mexican border into San Diego (witha paid guide from Tijuana), twowomen Millan refers to as "angels youcould see" took note of his talent andwere the first to help him to his feet.They ran a pet grooming shop inChula Vista, which Millan stumbledupon when he was walking the streetslooking for work. Despite the lan-guage barrier, they gave him not onlya job but also a key to the shop, andthey let him sleep there. (Since then,Millan has achieved U.S. citizenship.)

"They were older,” Millan ex-plained, “and they didn't want towork with aggressive dogs anymore,so that's why they gave me the work.

When I went in there, they took me tothe back, gave me clippers, and Istarted grooming a cocker spaniel. Iguess I did a good job."

That was the first time Millan hadever used grooming clippers; on therural farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, wherehe was raised with little means, theyused scissors. It was also the first timeMillan had earned $60 in one day.

"That was a lot of money," he said. "Ithought I was supposed to keep 10and give them $50 back. It was somuch! I was so naḯve.”

Millan was off to Los Angeles aftertwo months in San Diego. He said he"loves the energy and landscape" here,but he added that "In Mexico, whenpeople speak of el Norte (the UnitedStates), they always say 'Disneyland'or 'Hollywood.' So that's where Iwanted to get to."

He hasn't heard from the womenwho helped him, nor does he remem-ber the exact name or location of thatgrooming shop he came across whiletrying to survive his very difficult firstdays in a new country, but he wondersif those generous Chula Vistans haverecognized him as an internationallyknown dog behavioralist.

"I think they would have contactedme by now," he said.

In L.A., things weren't easy either.Millan found himself on Skid Row, adowntown area that houses one of thelargest homeless populations in thenation. Civic clean-up initiatives andanti-camping ordinances have led tochanges in the area, but it was charac-terized by cardboard boxes and camp-ing tents lining the sidewalks whenMillan was there in the early 1990s.

Millan found work as a kennel boy,and his way with canines didn't gounnoticed. A client of the kennel wasimpressed with the way Millan han-dled his golden retrievers and encour-aged him to start his own businessventure. Millan considered a dogwalking or dog training business, buthe had no vehicle, a vital necessity insuch an operation.

"He ended up becoming my boss,"Millan said. "He said, 'I'm gonna giveyou a job washing cars, and I'll giveyou a car.'" Now equipped with aChevy Astro van, Millan said he wentto his friends and neighbors andstarted asking if he could walk theirdogs. And he didn't just walk dogs—he Rollerbladed with a pack of them,

Do you everthink you can’tdo it? You can.

Set the intention andfollow through. Yourdogs will thank youfor being the leader.”

– Cesar Millan

“

MILLANCONTINUED FROM Page 5

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APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com6

charging $10 per dog for the walk, afeeding and a bath.

"I was the Mexcan guy who couldwalk a pack of dogs," Millan said. "Peo-ple would see me walking 30, 40 dogsin the street. Pit bulls, Rotts, Germanshepherds. All off-leash."

The sight attracted the attention ofnot only new clients but also ABC newsanchor Peter Jennings' film crew. "It wasthe best publicity, but it wasn'tplanned," Millan said. "I was just doingwhat I needed to do to make money…and the dogs thought I was the mostamazing human being on the planet."

A burglar-proof warehouseActor Jada Pinkett Smith is one of the

people Millan credits in helping him riseto success.. Then an up-and-coming TVstar, Pinkett Smith, wife of actor WillSmith, met Millan through a mutualfriend and sought him out to care for herhard-to-handle security guards—fourRottweilers. The two developed a closefriendship, and she has attributed theideas she learned from Millan to help-ing her achieve a successful marriage.

“Having met Cesar, he got me morebalanced," said Pinkett Smith in an ar-ticle in Millan's monthly magazine,Cesar's Way. "Cesar helped me under-stand that in every aspect of life, youcan’t be afraid. There are solutions.There’s cooperation. You have to figureout the components to make a relation-ship work.”

Pinkett Smith paid for Millan's Eng-lish classes for a year, and another ac-quaintance let him and the dogs hewas caring for live in his used clothing

warehouse. Millan described thewarehouse as being in "the 'hood" ofsouth-central L.A., tucked in an alleyon 61st Street. The warehouse ownerfriend's offer helped both men—Mil-lan had no money at the time, and theowner had been having trouble withbreak-ins. What better way to preventbreak-ins than a pack of security dogsonsite 24-7?

That location is where the Dog Psy-chology Center was founded and theDog Whisperer TV show was started.When the Los Angeles Times got wordthat Millan was caring for celebrity petsand that clients were seeking him outfrom all over the world, they sent a re-porter to spend a few days with him atthe center. She observed him day in andday out, and one of the last questionsshe asked was: “What would you liketo do next?”

"I said, 'I would like to have my ownTV show,'" Millan responded, "and thenext Monday I had producers at mydoor."

Millan is also known for his dog-training empire, built on bestsellingbooks, DVDs, the magazine and, mostrecently, a line of "Pack-Tested" productssuch as brushes and toys. He'll presenthis new products on the weekend ofApril 7 at the annual International As-sociation of Canine Professionals con-ference at the Hilton Mission Valley, andhis San Diego visit will include akeynote lecture at 2 p.m. on April 9. Theaudience will be given a chance to askMillan questions.

Tickets are $95 and are available atwww.canineprofessionals.com.

The world accordingto Cesar MillanQuotes from the 'dog whisperer'

“Every family needs a dog.

Having a dog creates a con-nection to Mother Nature."

“I don't train dogs. I train

people and rehabilitate dogs."

“A dog will never be obedi-

ent if it walks in front of itsowner from day one. Instinc-tively, dogs live in packs.They need a pack leader—and the owner needs to bethat leader."

“Dogs are very simple. We

make it complicated for themby not understanding whothey are and what they needand their language and howthey create their behavior."

“As a society, we love dogs.

But we don't understanddogs."

“[People] are on a mission

to make a dog human. This issomething that benefits hu-mans only. We're becoming avery selfish society."

“We learn honesty, loyalty

and integrity from dogs.Dogs will never stab you inthe back or lie to you."

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 7

H BdD 5 WORKIN’ RABBIT

APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com8

Love ona Leash“Mary” is an elderly woman who lives in a nursing home

and suffers from senile dementia. She has been unresponsiveto her caretakers for several weeks and spends all her timelying on her side, staring at the wall. But one day, someoneenters her room, and Mary tries to sit up, her face lighting upas if seeing a long-lost friend. That someone is a white rabbitnamed China, who, along with her caretaker, Blanca Unguez,visits people like Mary through the San Diego chapter ofLove on a Leash.

Mary enjoys China’s presence so much that, speaking herfirst words in weeks, she asks if China can stay in her bed forthe whole night—but she has to settle for the promise of an-other visit.

China is a Certified Therapy Rabbit, a designation that al-lows her to make social visits to people like Mary and to helpothers achieve a particular goal, such as visiting libraries tohelp improve children’s reading skills. Love on a Leash ispart of the Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy, whichbegan in San Diego in the 1980s. The program now has chap-ters in 28 states.

Unguez and China’s destinations include retirement and as-sisted living homes, where they may work with patients withAlzheimer's disease and senile dementia. They also visit hos-pitals and interact with children, teenagers, veterans and peo-ple with physical or emotional disabilities.

Unguez adopted 6-year-old China, a Californian rabbit(cross-bred from New Zealand Whites, Himalayans andChinchillas), from the San Diego House Rabbit Society, a 20-year-old organization devoted to improving the lives of rab-bits in the county. Society volunteers rescue abandonedrabbits and find permanent homes for them. They also seekto reduce the number of unwanted rabbits and to improvethe animals' lives by helping people better understand thesecompanion animals.

China’s foster parent suggested she would be a good ther-apy bunny, so Unguez got in touch with the San Diego chap-ter of Love on a Leash. “It’s been wonderful since theget-go!” Unguez said. “Everyone has been so supportive. It’san excellent organization, like one big family.”

China had to get her vet’s blessing to ensure she was fit forthe work. She then went through a thorough evaluation andcritique with the chapter president. China and Unguez vis-ited lots of facilities along with other chapter captains to see

different settings and experience room-to-room visits versusgroup visits. China was then ready to begin working on herown.

Unguez explained that a typical visit lasts about an hour,depending on how China feels. “My bunny comes first,” shesaid, always making sure China is in her harness and on aleash at all times. She doesn’t allow any treats during a visit,and she makes sure China gets plenty of exercise before andafter the visit.

“She may be placed in someone’s lap or their bed,” saidUnguez of a typical day. “Or if they just want to see China in herstroller, they pet her there. She always cheers up people whoappear lonely or sad. Many have never petted a bunny before.”

Rabbits make good therapy animals because they are socialbeings. Some therapy pets can be too big to visit someone in abed or sit on a person’s lap, but rabbits are just the right size.They tend to look cute and nonthreatening to most people.

B y C H A N D R A M O I R A B E A L | S A N D I E G O P E T S

RABBITS SPREAD JOY AND REHABILITATION THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Photos Courtesy Alison Giese Photo Creations

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 9

“I have seen grown men melt at thesight of a bunny,” Unguez said. “Anyrabbit who is friendly, confident and out-going would do well in this kind ofwork.”

China also visits a public library, wherechildren take turns reading to her.

“The kids just seem to relax while read-ing to her,” Unguez said. “They get to tryout new words and meanings in a non-threatening way. They are more comfort-able talking to a rabbit, so they are moreconfident about trying new things.” Somechildren have never touched a real rabbitbefore, and Unguez, who also volunteerswith the San Diego House Rabbit Society,enjoys answering their questions abouthow rabbits live and how to take care ofthem.

Unguez and China’s work extends out-side Love on a Leash. After Unguez dis-covered that the incidence of cancer inanimals is growing at a similar pace tothose of human cancers, she decided todo something about it. Every year,Unguez and China participate in theAmerican Cancer Society’s Relay for Life,

held in Chula Vista. Unguez pushesChina in her bunny stroller along theroute, and she displays her “Bunny Can-cer Quilt,” which features the faces ofrabbits with cancer or those who havedied of the disease.

“Many people don't realize that bun-nies get cancer, too,” Unguez said. “Thetreatments for cancer in humans are thesame for bunnies, too. We need to find acure. I hope my quilt raises awarenessabout this issue.”

Unguez said she has noticed that evenpeople used to the presence of therapydogs or other animals are always de-lighted to see a rabbit. “When they realizeChina is a real live rabbit, they smile, petand hug her, and that is what Love on aLeash is really all about: a few momentsof smiles and happiness and educatingpeople about the joy of rabbits.”Love on a Leash is actively seeking

more rabbit volunteers. To find out moreabout the pet therapy program, visitwww.sandiegoloal.org. To learn moreabout San Diego House Rabbit Society,visit www.sandiegorabbits.org.

Animalplanet

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 11

If you've heard in passing that 2011marks the 250th anniversary ofveterinary science, be advised that

little news flash is technically way outof date. Indian emperor Ashokafounded animal hospices 250 years be-fore Christ; the ancient Egyptians bentover backward to prolong the lives oftheir cats, which they considered gods;and dogs have been under man's do-mestic care for 120 centuries. It wasonly in 1761, when France's King LouisXV, tired of the political upshot from acattle disease, ordered an animal hos-pital built at Lyon—and ancient vet-erinary science morphed into modernveterinary medicine, with practition-ers feeling their fledgling oats as truemen of the healing arts.

Two-hundred fifty years may be adrop in the veterinary bucket on agrander scale—but just as the modernpet industry has taken on a life of itsown since then, the global animal-carecommunity has labeled 2011 WorldVeterinary Year, replete with 299 con-ferences, congresses and seminars inthe interest of the practitioners' contin-uing education. The event even has abrand name—Vet2011—and is repre-sented in 81 countries from Algeria toVenezuela. World Veterinary Yearlaunched in Versailles, France in Janu-ary and will close on Oct. 14 in CapeTown, South Africa following semi-nars on food production and diseasecontrol.

B y M A RT I N J O N E S W E S T L I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

AnimalplanetSan Diego vet official weighs in amid World Veterinary Year

Jennipher Harris, San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association president, says SanDiego holds its own amid rampant shortages of practitioners. (Courtesy photo)SEE VETS, Page 12

San Diego gets to weigh in the balance Oct. 2 through 6, asit plays host to the national meeting of the American Associ-ation for Laboratory Animal Science. And while the publicmind might blanch at the thought amid adverse press aboutthe treatment of the test subjects, Jennipher Harris, presidentof the San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association, iseager to reassure that the animals are in the best of hands.

“We as veterinarians,” Harris asserted, “are committed tothe welfare of animals at all times. This conference would beone where we would want to educate on how these animalsare treated and the precedents that have been set in order toinform the public. That's very important from the veterinar-ian's point of view.”

Rampant shortage of practitionersMeanwhile, the umbrella American Veterinary Medical

Association will mark World Veterinary Year at its annualconvention in St. Louis this July. But in terms of attendance,the celebration might not fare that well. The country suffersfrom rampant veterinarian shortages, Harris said, especiallyin rural areas—and the dilemma extends locally. San Diego

County, Harris said, has a paltry 600 association membersto serve a potential human client population numbering inthe hundreds of thousands. Some of those live out of state.And their ranks shrink even further amid the cluster of lessvisible vet professions.

“Veterinarians,” Harris explained, “do a lot more than actu-ally have [animal care] practices. They work in microbiology,

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VETSCONTINUED FROM Page 11

This spire marks a spot at which Indian Emperor Ashoka foundedan animal hospice 250 years BC. (Public domain image)

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 13

pathology, pharmacology; the list goeson and on. There are veterinarians in allthe slaughterhouses in the UnitedStates inspecting carcasses. There's aveterinary corps in the Army. There areveterinarian organizations helping withthe disaster in Japan. So there's alwaysgoing to be a shortage, not just in thegeneral practices but also in every vet-erinary profession that's out there.”

According to the American Veteri-nary Medical Association, only abouttwo-thirds of the nation's 86,000 vetsare in private clinical practice. Thereare only 28 veterinary schools in thecountry; the veterinary medical collegeat Pomona's Western University ofHealth Sciences is closest to San Diego.UCSD's Veterinary Medicine Center,which is not a teaching institution, spe-cializes in clinical services for SouthernCalifornia vets and pet owners.

Harris said that when she graduatedfrom UC Davis in 2003, there were jobsfor every vet in her class. The tightereconomy has affected the professionsince then, like everywhere else—vetsare working more hours and refrain-ing from hiring. San Diego's market,she said, is keeping up fairly well withpet owners' needs.

The lawyer and the kingThe country may

have only 28 vetschools, and competi-tion for enrollmentmay be brutal accord-ingly—but such athreadbare landscaperecalls Louis XV'sdilemma as he calledon Claude Bourgelat,

who became the so-called father ofveterinary medicine rather by default.

Bourgelat was actually an attorneyby trade, founding Lyon College, theworld's first veterinary school, in 1762amid a cattle plague called Rinderpest,which often accompanied militarycampaigns and is similar to smallpox.Nearly 30 years would pass before an-imal practitioners noted a decline inthe incidence of the disease—but the

school's pioneering efforts persistedjust in time for Vet2011. An announce-ment from the United Nations' Foodand Agriculture Organization declar-ing the eradication of Rinderpest isdue sometime this summer.

Amid it all sit the animals—theworld's 400 million dogs, unnumberedcats and untold millions of other crea-tures, domiciled and otherwise. Theirprovider-to-patient ratio is colossallylow; then again, Harris said, a rarefiedconstitution is required of the humanswho seek the caregiver role.

“It goes beyond the love of ani-mals,” Harris said. “I'm an animal sur-geon, and my job requires me to inflictsome kind of pain on an animal to tryto make it feel better. In that regard,my job isn't always pleasant.

Extraordinary human beings“But the ultimate outcome is when

you do make them better and the im-provement you see in the pet and also

in the [human clients], in making a dif-ference in their lives. It's not just theowners per se; it's the kids and every-one who's touched by this animal.

“There's a lot that goes into it. There'sso much training you have to committo (usually four years of undergradschool and four years of veterinarytraining, followed by post-curriculartraining in a specialty). You have to loveall the general sciences, not just veteri-nary science, because there's a lot oftraining you need before you can evenget to veterinary school.”

Arguably, that kind of stayingpower heralds some extraordinaryhuman beings beneath it. And asVet2011 gears into full swing, the ironyis that their immeasurable contribu-tions to the general welfare are mostkeenly felt by those whose expressionsof gratitude are limited at best.

Martin Jones Westlin is managing editor of San Diego Pets Magazine.

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Claude Bourgelatfounded Lyon Col-lege, the world's firstveterinary school. (Public domain image)

Part II:Veterinarymedicine reflectshuman advances inholistic medicine

H BdD 5 HEALTH

APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com14

Step into the Animal Healing Center(AHC), located at 1228 Vega St., just offMorena Boulevard in Bay Park, andyou know that you’re not in a tradi-tional veterinary office. The exteriorlooks like a cottage, complete with acolorful plant-bedecked porch, whilethe restful, art-filled reception andtreatment rooms are set up with sofasand comfortable chairs.

It’s just the nurturing environmentKeith Weingardt, DVM, envisionedwhen he opened the holistic veterinarypractice in 2006. Katie Kangas andAmanda Aldridge, both DVMs alsotrained in holistic therapies, practicewith him, as does Ann Montalto, anRN who provides canine massage andbodywork. The setting reflects thewarmth and kindness the vets andtheir staff radiate.

A graduate of Cornell UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine inIthaca, N.Y., Weingardt was workingas a emergency and critical care vet ata specialty hospital in San DiegoCounty when his dog, Max, was diag-nosed with a brain tumor.

Already frustrated with the limits ofWestern veterinary medicine, Wein-gardt began looking for alternativetreatments when Max developed se-vere side effects from massive doses ofsteroids. The holistic vet he consulted

recommended nutritional supple-ments and homeopathic remedies aswell as a raw diet. Soon, Max was eat-ing better, with diminished side ef-fects, and the treating vets were able toreduce his steroids. Max lived anothersix months, with a greatly improvedquality of life.

Max’s illness proved a turning pointin the traditionally trained Wein-gardt’s career, confirming his suspi-cion that many conventionalveterinary diagnostics and treatmentsoffered limited benefits. He studiedwith a San Diego holistic veterinarianand trained and became certified inveterinary acupuncture, chiropracticand traditional Chinese medicine, in-cluding the use of Chinese herbs, be-fore opening AHC.

Weingardt and his colleagues viewtheir practice more as an adjunct tothat of general veterinarians and referclients to other vets for traditional orspecialized treatments as needed.They also offer general health and nu-tritional counseling, helping animalsget on the right diets with appropriatesupplements. Pets usually come tothem, Weingardt explained, “after tra-ditional medicine has exhausted itsoptions.”

“A lot of clients see changes in theirpets and bring in their other pets,”

added Kangas, who has also served asan emergency vet and spent five yearsas medical director for the San DiegoHumane Society.

“When we opened, (an exclusivelyholistic practice) was a niche waitingto be filled,” Weingardt explains.

He recommends that those seekinga holistic practitioner ask likemindedfriends for recommendations andcheck credentials. “If someone’s offer-ing services, they should be educatedand certified in what they’re offering,”he said.

The following list of holistic veteri-narians and veterinary therapists rep-resents a sampling of San Diegopractitioners recommended by otherveterinarians and clients.

Holistic Veterinarians/Acupuncture/ChiropracticAnimal Healing Center 1228 VEGA ST., SAN DIEGO 92110(619) 276-5900www.animalhealingcenter.netKeith R. Weingardt, DVM, CVAAcupuncture, traditional Chinese medi-cine and herbs, chiropractic, generalhealth and nutritional counseling, caninemassage and bodywork. No general vet-erinary services; coordinates with pets’usual vets.

By NICOLE SOURS LARSON | SAN DIEGO PETS

Drs. Keith Weingardt and Katie Kangas, traditionally trained veterinariansnow practicing holistic veterinary medicine, sit in the homelike receptionarea of the Animal Healing Center, located in Bay Park. Photo by Nicole Sours Larson

Thewholepet

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 15

Healing Hope511 S. CEDROS AVE., SUITES A & B,SOLANA BEACH 92075(877) 738-4673www.healinghope.net Tamara Hebbler, DVMHolistic veterinary services only;acupuncture, muscle testing, nutri-tion, nutraceuticals, glandulars, ho-meopathy, herbs, flower essences,chiropractic and energy therapies.

Home Sweet Home Veterinary Housecalls(619) 226-7297www.sdhousecallvet.comDawn Ziegler, DVMIn-home visits in central San Diegofor general and holistic veterinaryservices; health exams, vaccines,medications, lab tests, acupunc-ture and chiropractic treatments;wider North, East and SouthCounty service area for in-homeeuthanasia.

Cardiff Animal Hospital2159 SAN ELIJO AVE., CARDIFF 92007(760) 436-3215www.cardiffanimalhospital.com Monica A. Laflin, DVMTraditional and holistic veterinaryservices; physical therapy, acup-uncture, chiropractic, homeopa-thy, Chinese herbs and Reiki.

Kensington Veterinary Hospital3817 ADAMS AVE., SAN DIEGO 92116(619) 584-8418www.kensingtonvet.comPatricia J. Ungar, DVM, CVATraditional and holistic veterinaryservice; acupuncture, homeopathy,dentistry, nutritional counseling;spa and grooming.

Acacia Animal Health Center655 W. CITRACADO PARKWAY, ESCONDIDO 92025(760) 745-8115www.aahc.usCarmine Bausone, DVM, CVA,

Director of Integrative & Holistic MedicineTraditional and holistic veterinarymedicine; acupuncture, chiroprac-tic, physical rehab and Chineseherbs for birds, rabbits, reptiles andother exotics plus cats and dogs.

Physical Therapy/WaterTherapy/Rehabilitation Animal Acupuncture andRehabilitation Center(AARC)10441 ROSELLE ST., SUITE D, SAN DIEGO 92121(858) 638-4171www.aarcsd.comClaire Sosna, DVMAcupuncture, Chinese herbalmedicine, physical therapy andrehabilitation, water therapy,underwater treadmill.

Cutting Edge K9 RehabMARKIM PET RESORT, 4393 CARMELVALLEY ROAD, CARMEL VALLEY 92130(619) 227-7802www.cuttingedgek9.com Trish Penick, Physical TherapistPhysical therapy, personal trainingfor dogs and water therapy withheated pool and underwatertreadmill; vet referral required.

PAWsitive Rehabilitation1362 GARNET AVE., PACIFIC BEACH 92109(858) 270-1690www.pawsrehab.comRenee Wallis, RVT, CCRP, CCRAMassage, physical and watertherapy, underwater treadmilland custom-fit dog braces andcarts; vet referral required.

Tinassy’s K-9 Splash-R-Cise10925 HARTLEY RD.,SUITE E, SANTEE 92071(619) 200-7619www.tinassysk9splashrcise.comWater therapy, massage andexercise programs.

Annabelle: Choosing holism over surgery

A long-haired calico with beautiful markings and a“felion’s” temperament, Annabelle Hillary—named forSir Edmund Hillary, conqueror of Mount Everest, be-cause she was such a climber—was found under a carin Arlington, Va. as a semi-feral month-old kitten.

She was just 13 when I discovered several lumps onher belly. My husband and I rushed her to our vet, whoremoved and biopsied the lumps. The diagnosis ofadenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancerrare in spayed females, stunned us, as we had just lostour elder cat, Shasta, at age 20 two weeks before.

We authorized our vet, Dr. Andrea Newman of theOld Dominion Animal Hospital in McLean, Va., to con-sult a veterinary oncologist in Portland, Ore., who spe-cialized in this cancer. He recommended a radicalmastectomy and chemotherapy, which at that timewas extremely harsh.

Whether we proceeded with the treatment or didnothing, we were forecast the same outcome: a maxi-mum six months to a year to live.

We scheduled, rescheduled and cancelled the sur-gery twice after consulting my own acupuncturist,who also treated animals. We also rejected an experi-mental cancer treatment, proposed by a holistic vet,that we knew Annabelle would never tolerate.

Instead, we gave her lots of love and took her foracupuncture treatments to Dr. Jordan Kocen at SouthPaws Veterinary Specialty Center in Springfield, Va. Hisown dog had had cancer. He told us he couldn’t cureAnnabelle nor promise to prolong her life but that hecould improve her quality of life.

He advised monthly acupuncture treatments andChinese herbs mixed into her food. Under Kocen’s care,Annabelle improved and stabilized.

Annabelle, which Newman called her “miracle kitty,”lived nearly five years with her holistic treatments, fi-nally saying goodbye at 18. – Nicole Sours Larson

Multiple jobs, “me-first” culture leave less time forpuppy house training

Are more people adopting older dogsbecause they don’t have the time or pa-tience to train a puppy, let alone havechildren?

Flexcin International, which operatesthe FlexPet Shelter Program to assist inthe adoption of older dogs, believes thistrend is accelerating. Even actor GeorgeClooney’s girlfriend Elisabetta Canalissaid recently she doesn’t feel the need tohave children because she’s happy withdogs instead.

In a nationwide online survey, Flexcinasked approximately 1,250 pet ownersbetween ages 21 and 30 if they'd ratheradopt an older dog instead of a brand-new puppy. Roughly 61 percent saidthey would opt for the former. Of thatpercentage, 89 percent said they didn’thave the time or the patience to house-train a puppy because of working mul-tiple jobs or other time challenges. Morethan half (54 percent) also said they arechoosing to have dogs instead of chil-dren because they’re not sure they canhandle a child's larger needs.

“While we’re not saying their deci-sions are right or wrong, it’s clear thatthe stresses of working multiple jobsand a more ‘me-first’ society are im-pacting how people view puppies andchildren,” said Tamer Elsafy, CEO and

founder of Flexcin International. “Tenyears ago, the opposite trend was tak-ing place, where people always optedfor the puppies instead of more seniordogs with less energy serving a com-panion role.”

More information about this surveyand Flexcin International, Inc. can befound at FlexPet4Shelters.com.

Arrest made in alleged puppy torture

A Newark, N.J. woman was arrestedTuesday, March 29, in the case of a starvedpuppy allegedly thrown 19 stories into agarbage chute and left for dead.

Kisha Curtis, 28, was charged withtorture and torment of a living creature.She faces 18 months in jail or a $3,000fine if convicted.

The emaciated 1-year-old pit bull,hailed by animal care workers as a "mir-acle dog," was discovered March 16 bymaintenance workers inside a garbagechute at a Newark apartment building.The dog's bones protruded from his fur,and he had no body temperature. Ani-mal care workers with the AssociatedHumane Societies/Popcorn Park calledit one of the worst cases of crueltythey've ever seen.

Newark Animal Control rushed thedog to a nearby emergency center,where he was given a blood transfusion,pumped with fluids and covered with

heating blankets. The dog was laternamed Patrick because he made it intoSt. Patrick's Day. Veterinarians said hewould have died within 6 to 12 hours ifhe hadn't received medical attention.

Curtis has denied throwing the doginto the chute, claiming he was tied upoutside and that someone else took him.

Patrick, who is making a slow butsteady recovery, is receiving donationsfrom as far away as Europe and has aFacebook page created in his honor. An-imal rights advocates are proposing ameasure called “Patrick's Law,” whichwould put in place tougher animalabuse legislation.

For more information on Patrick, seeahscares.org.

Survey: Consumers plan to pamper dogs

According to the latest Spending andSaving Tracker from American Express,nearly one- half of dog owners intendon pampering their dog(s) this year.Spending on gifts for special occasions(such as birthdays) is the most popularway they’ll do so (44 percent), followedby taking Fido along on their travelsand staying at hotels that cater to theirpets’ needs (12 percent).

Other findings:• More than two in five consumers have

one or more dogs living in their homes.Consumers who said they have dogshave two, on average.

• Dog owners spend an average of $101on their dogs each month, with menspending nearly 30 percent more thanwomen on their dogs ($120 vs. $86, re-spectively).

• Slightly less than half of dog owners (48percent) purchase dog toys in a month.Average monthly output on toys is $18.

• While more dog owners in the NorthCentral region (60 percent) plan topamper their dogs in 2011 than thegeneral population (49 percent), dogowners in the South will spend moreon special occasion gifts for their dogsthan dog owners overall ($77 vs. $63,respectively).

H BdD 5 PET PRESS (Compiled from news reports)

APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com16

In withthe old?

Pet clothing line puts safety first

Montreal-based LuvGear has teamedup with San Diego-based PETCO to in-troduce a line of organic apparel and ac-cessories for dogs designed to helpprotect them from the dangers of heat.Planet PETCO apparel, featuring Lu-vGear technology, will be introduced inMay as part of the recently launchedPlanet PETCO line of eco-friendlylifestyle and care products that encour-age sustainability.

TempAlert is designed to warn dogowners when external temperatures arereaching levels that may be harmful orfatal to a dog. “Alert” icons are sewn di-

rectly onto the clothing or material andserve as a visible warning sign when thetemperature reaches a dangerous level.In normal conditions, the alert patchdisplays a dark blue thermometer.When the outside temperatures reachapproximately 100 degrees, the blue dis-appears, and an “alert” warns theowner to take necessary steps.

Amber Alert-inspired system reunites pets, owners

Mark Jakubczak, founder of PetAm-berAlert.com, announced that between2009 and 2010, his Amber Alert-inspiredcompany has helped to recover morethan 1,000 lost pets and returned themto their homes.

PetAmberAlert.com uses phones,faxes, computers and dedicated soft-ware to alert thousands of neighbors,animal shelters, pet stores, police sta-tions and veterinary offices in the areawithin an hour a pet is reported missinganywhere in the United States andCanada.

“When pets go missing, pet ownerscannot spread the word fast enough.That is why I created a fast, reliable miss-ing pet alert system,” Jakubczak said.

Amber Alert is an emergency re-sponse system employed in response tothe suspected abduction of a child. Itwas named after 9-year-old Texas girlAmber Hagerman, who was abductedand murdered in 1996.

According to the Humane Society ofthe United States, 6 to 8 million animalsenter animal shelters each year, and 3 to

4 million are euthanized. The PetAm-berAlert system helps to reduce thisnumber. Featured pet listings remain onthe website for over 360 days or untilthe animals are found.

“Every pet deserves to be returnedhome safely,” Jakubczak said. “We don’twant them to end up in a shelter or thepound.”

PetAmberAlert.com offers a free LostPet Recovery Guide on its website. Thisis an extensive step-by-step guide ex-plaining the actions to maximize a pet’schance of being safely recovered. It in-cludes a lost dog/cat checklist.

TV series reveals truthsabout man’s best friend

Documentary Channel® haslaunched Extraordinary Dogs, a weeklyseries of 30-minute episodes on howdogs have been trained to take advan-tage of their keen senses, agility, stam-ina, loyalty, instinct and defensecapabilities.

Featuring breeds such as Newfound-land Labradors, golden retrievers,Alaskan huskies, miniature Schnauzersand bulldogs, Extraordinary Dogs re-veals the myths and realities about theastonishing talents of man’s best friend.

New episodes of Extraordinary Dogswill air each Sunday at 8 p.m. throughApril 24.

Documentary Channel is primarilyavailable through satellite televisionservices DISH Network (Ch. 197) andDirecTV (Ch. 267).

H BdD 5PET PRESS

Bad Dog: A lesson in healingBOOK REVIEW

Can a dog improve your health? In MartinKihn’s case, a dog kept him sober.

Bad Dog: A Love Story, Kihn’s new memoir, isnot a typical, fuzzy dog book. The premise: Mangets drunk; man gets dog; man, because he's ine-briated, fails to impart an ounce of discipline ondog. Here is a story about a man’s struggle to stay

sober and tame an unruly but irresistibleBernese mountain dog named Hola in NewYork's Washington Heights.

Kirkus Book Reviews calls this “an endear-ing read, full of hope, humor and humility.”This book proves dogs’ salubrious effectson humans—both mentally and physically.

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 17

(Send your news reports to Press@SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com)

APRILThe entire month

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month American Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals(212) 876-7700aspca.org

Friday, April 8, through Sunday, April 10

Fiesta Del Mar Arabian Horse ShowEnjoy three days as contenders fromSouthern California compete in dozensof back-to-back classes at the Fiesta DelMar Arabian Horse Show. The beautifulDel Mar Fairgrounds grandstand arena isnow covered. First- and second-placewins at this year's shows will qualify forRegional Championship shows. Spon-sored by The Tierra Del Norte ArabianHorse Association and The Arabian HorseAssociation.tdnaha.org

Saturday, April 9

Balboa Barks: A Day of Peace, Love & Canine CompanionsEveryone (and his dog) is invited to a dayfor the family at Balboa Park's PresidentsLawn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. General ad-mission is $7 (children 5 and under get infree), and parking is free. Proceeds bene-fit Canine Companions for Independ-ence, a local nonprofit organization thatprovides free assistance dogs to peoplewith disabilities.cci.org/faf/home Saturday, April 9

Cesar MillanFans of the Dog Whisperer cable TVshow will not want to miss this rare op-portunity to hear Millan speak in the inti-mate setting of the Hilton San DiegoMission Valley hotel (see our cover story

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APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com18

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 19

for more). Sponsored by the Interna-tional Association of Canine Profession-als, Millan's presentation closes theannual International Association of Ca-nine Professionals conference, whichbegins Thursday, April 7. Iditarod cham-pion Jeff King , dog nutrition specialistWendy Volhard and animal trainer JoelSilverman are among the speakersscheduled for the weekend.canineprofessionals.com

Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10

TonksWest Annual Cat ShowAt the Point Loma Conference Center,2600 Laning Rd., Saturday from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. TonksWest is a Cat Fanciers' Associ-ation-affiliated club. Cash at the door;free to wounded military with ID. Freeparking. $2 off coupon online atTonksWest.org

Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10

Adoption EventPETCO partners with local shelters andrescues to hold adoption events at ourstores to help find loving homes forthousands of adoptable pets eachmonth. You can find a local pet adop-tion event at a PETCO store on manyweekends, especially at our NationalAdoption Weekends each month. Spon-sored by Halo, Purely for Pets® Adopt adog or cat and receive special offers, in-cluding $5 off any Halo Spot’s Stew dogor cat food (while supplies last). Adopt acat during National Adoption Weekendand receive a free 16-lb. jug of PETCOCat Litter (while supplies last). All petparents who adopt enjoy additionalsavings from PETCO's Think AdoptionFirst™ care and savings program. Ask astore associate for details. Check withyour local PETCO store for exact timesand details.

Tuesday, April 12

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Dayhelps animals in need

Join Ben & Jerry’s and the San DiegoHumane Society and SPCA for the 32ndannual Free Cone Day! This annualevent dishes out free cones to thankcustomers and encourage giving backto the community. The events runs fromnoon to 8 p.m., with mobile adoptionhours noon to 5 p.m. All donations re-ceived at the Horton Plaza Ben & Jerry’slocation will go directly to support theprograms and services of the San DiegoHumane Society and SPCA. The Hu-mane Society will have wonderful petsavailable for adoption on-site duringthe event. The society’s expert trainers,volunteers and staff will be onsite toscoop cones for hungry customers!

Week of April 10-16

National Animal Control Appreciation WeekNational Animal Control Association(913) 768-1319nacanet.org/aco_appreciation.html

Saturday, April 16

5K Walk & Fun Run

The annual Parkinson’s 5K Walk & FunRun at NTC Park in Liberty Station willhave a novel twist this year—a trainedyellow lab/Great Pyrenees service dog

named Honey Bear will be leading ateam of her own. Honey Bear, the unof-ficial mascot of the Parkinson’s Associa-tion of San Diego, has been namedcaptain of her team (13 members andcounting) and has raised close to $2,000with the help of her owner, CatherineRodriguez. The duo can be found at theTeam Honey Bear booth at the walk,passing out juice and T-shirts for teammembers and signing or “paw-printing”copies of Honey Bear’s new book.ParkinsonsWalkSD.com

Saturday, April 16

Bark for LifeThe American Cancer Society Bark ForLife is a noncompetitive walk event fordogs and their owners to raise fundsand awareness for the American CancerSociety's fight against cancer. From 10a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veterans Park in Impe-rial Beach. main.acsevents.org

Saturday, April 16

Teach Your Dog To Surf!“Doggie surf clinic” days will be held be-tween 10 and 11 a.m. in preparation forHelen Woodward Animal Center’s 6thAnnual “Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon” Sept. 11.Registration limited to 25 dogs per clinic.Limit one dog per human. Cost is $45per dog. Each clinic is 1 hour each andwill be held at Dog Beach in Del Mar. (858) 756-4117 x 312animalcenter.org

Thursday April 21-Sunday, May 8

Del Mar National Horse ShowDel Mar Fairgrounds(858) 792-4288delmarnational.com

Wednesday, April 27

Free Feral Cat Spay DayAlley Cat Rescue(301) 277-5595saveacat.org

SEE CALENDAR, Page 20

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APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com20

Wednesday, April 30

Third Annual PETCO Foundation GalaCelebrating more than 12 years ofmaking a difference for animals, thePETCO Foundation will host its thirdannual fundraising gala at 5:30 p.m.at the newly upgraded San DiegoMarriott Marquis & Marina. Thisyear’s event honors Ellen De-Generes, a longtime friend of thePETCO Foundation and co-owner ofpet food maker Halo, Purely for Pets,for her lifelong commitment to ani-mals. Proceeds from the event willbenefit the Halo Pet Foundation.petco.com/gala

MAYSaturday, May 7

Annual Pug PartyFrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DelMar Fairgrounds Infield Pavilionarea.Vendors, Unique Pug Boutique,food, prizes and the Annual PugContest.pugsandiego.com

Saturday, May 7

Barkin’ Beach Bash

Crown Point Shores, Mission BayYou and your furry friends will havea tail-waggin' good time as we walkto celebrate our love of animals andraise funds to ensure that petsthroughout San Diego receive thecare they so deserve. Festivities willinclude a three-quarter-mile walk,vendors, tasty food and more!sdhumane.org

CALENDARCONTINUED FROM Page 19

SUZI-Q “Suzi-Q” is a 5 year old, Spayed, Female, ChihuahuaBlend. Friendly, furry, fun all rolled into one! “Suzi-Q” willdelight you as a great companion and make a fabulous ad-dition to your family. With her smooth and easy care coat,“Suzi-Q” is simply a perfect pixie of a pal! Fully grown at just11 pounds! Don’t shop…Adopt “Suzi-Q” today from HelenWoodward Animal Center! “Suzi-Q’s” adoption fee: just $195 (+ Microchip Registration Fee)

Helen Woodward Animal Center kennels and cattery OPEN Everyday: Mon-Fri 12 Noon - 6pm; Sat-Sun 11am – 6pm. (adoption applications accepted till 5:45pm)

6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.  Call 858-756-4117, Option 1log onto www.animalcenter.org

CHANDLER “Chandler” is a 4 ¼ year old, Neutered, Male,Papillon Blend. Things are gonna be great! “Chandler” is aperfect pooch ready to please. He knows some basic com-mands but with a small refundable deposit, comes with freetraining with Rob Kuty of San Diego Pet Training! Fully grownat just 12 pounds and best in a home with ages 17 years andolder. Make a coffee date to come meet “Chandler”! He’ll bethere for you at Helen Woodward Animal Center!“Chandler’s” adoption fee: just $195 (+ Microchip Registration Fee)

Congratulations!San Diego Pets Magazine’s, Marjorie“KIRBY,” adopted GiGi this monthfrom the Helen Woodward AnimalCenter. What a cute couple!

For advertising information, You can contact Kirby & Gigi at mkirbykirby@gmail.com, or call (858) 775-4432.

AKELA “Akela” is a 2 ½ year old, Spayed, Female, DomesticShort Haired Feline. Timelessly divine! A blue cream calicowho’s superbly stunning! “Akela” has just the right amountof carbonation along with a smooth and refreshing calm-ness. Perfect companion guaranteed to rejuvenate joy!Enjoy the good life with your special furry friend! Adopt“Akela” today from Helen Woodward Animal Center! “Akela’s” adoption fee: just $75 (+ Microchip Registration Fee)Watch “Akela’s” video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRkvukyCOVY

Spring for a new Love! Add a new member to your family!

SUZI-Q

AKELA

CHANDLER

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 21

Steve Decker knew soon after hergraduation from La Jolla HighSchool in 1969 that she wanted to

be an artist, and more than 40 years later,she has successfully achieved that dream.

She has combined her love of animalswith her passion for painting, and devel-ops professional works for clients acrossthe country. A part-time employee of Tal-bots in La Jolla, she is also under contractillustrating a children's book about a Ger-man Shepherd, and she said she’s work-ing on her own book on “reflections of LaJolla” — a “painterly perspective” of herspirited memories of growing up in thecommunity.

For example, she has already painteda rendering of the La Jolla Historical

La Jollan expresses love of animals through artBy CLAIRE HARLIN | SAN DIEGO PETS

For Decker, book about La Jolla a work in progress

Stevie Decker sits with her English springerspaniel, “Ruby Tuesday.” She once painted at pic-ture of her dog (right) for a Voices for Childrenprivate benefit in La Jolla. Photo courtesy of Stevie Decker

SEE DECKER, Page 22

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APRIL 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com22

Society’s Wisteria Cottage, where sheremembers attending preschool whenshe was three years old, before thebuilding was John Coles Bookstore.She said she wants to donate a per-centage of the proceeds of her book tothe society.

Decker said the book will be for lo-cals and tourists alike, and it will in-clude “some historical sites, landmarkplaces with stories and some history

to boot,” she said. Decker encouragesanyone with a great story about LaJolla’s history to e-mail her at sd@ste-viedecker.com.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Decker’sfamily moved to La Jolla in 1952. Afterhigh school, she studied at the Escuelade Bayas Artes in Sevilla, Spain dur-ing her college years.

"At first I was petrified. My instruc-tor didn't speak a word of English,and my Spanish was minimal to saythe least,” said Decker of her studiesabroad. “When we started to commu-nicate with charcoal and brushes, art

took on a whole different meaning."After college, Decker resided in

Santa Barbara for 25 years, where sheraised 3 sons. She then lived in Tel-luride, Colo., for 12 years, where shetwice published and sold out "Tails ofTelluride," a book of paintings and sto-ries of Telluride dogs and their owners.

In 2009, Decker returned to her rootsin La Jolla, bringing to life a whole newwave of memories and inspiration.

"It is so wonderful to be home, to re-connect with lifelong friends, my fam-ily and of course, stroll by the beachwith my pup, Ruby Tuesday,” she said.

DECKERCONTINUED FROM Page 21

H BdD 5ANIMAL RESOURCES

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2011 23

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SERVICESOCEAN BEACH

Dog Beach Dog WashDo-It-Yourself•Service•Accessories4933 Voltaire St., San Diego, CA 92107(619) 523-1700http://www.dogwash.com

Emergency hospitalsBONITA/CHULA VISTAPet Emergency & Specialty Center of South County (619) 591-4802885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA91910 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 3:30 pm-8am www.PESCSanDiego.com

CARLSBADCalifornia Veterinary Specialists(760) 431-2272 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

ENCINITASVCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, 7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCANorthCoast.com

ESCONDIDOAnimal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA92025, 7 Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.com

KEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONTAnimal ER of San Diego (858) 569-06005610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.

LA MESAPet Emergency & Specialty Center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, 7 Days 24 hrs.www.PESCSanDiego.com

MISSION VALLEYVCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center (619) 229-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego,CA 92108,7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCAEmergency.com

MURRIETACalifornia Veterinary Specialists(951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562,7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

POWAYAnimal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-738712775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.www.AnimalEmergencySD.com

SAN MARCOSCalifornia Veterinary Specialists (760) 734-4433 100 N. Rancho Santa Fe Road #133, San Marcos,CA 92069, 7 Days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

Veterinary Specialty Hospital(760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069www.vshsd.com

SORRENTO VALLEYVeterinary Specialty Hospital(858) 875-750010435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA92121 7 Days 24 hrs.www.VSHSD.com