Urban Paws Magazine

Solid Gold Dog food continues to produce the finest pet food for your dogs and cats. The #1 allergy of pets is soybean, #2 is wheat and #3 is corn. They make the animals chew at the root of their tails and lick their feet. Solid Gold doesn’t use these allergic grains. They use amaranth, millet and barley. These grains have a history of health. In the Old Testament, Ruth is gleaning millet in Boaz’ field. In the loaves and fishes story, it is barley that makes up the loaves. In June 2010, the radio show “Coast to Coast” had a guest tell how some food has been purposely altered causing disastrous results. A farmer used to save seeds from this year’s crop, to plant next year. Then, large companies began to pro-duce Terminator Seeds. The seeds have been genetically modified (GM) so as not to be able to reproduce, causing farmers to buy new seeds every year. These genetically altered seeds are 98% soybean and 90% corn. The government has partnered with the chemical companies. The official term is Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO. These GMO foods were tested on mice. The male mice’s testicles were no longer pink. They turned purplish showing lack of oxygen. Some had cancerous tu-mors. Instead of 100% female mice conceiving, only 30% became pregnant. When these 30% were bred, only 10% conceived. Then these 10% were bred, zero were born. The control group was fed non-GMO food, almost 100% conceived. When GMO alfalfa was fed to female pigs, sows, they were then bred. X-rays showed the placenta sac with the fluid, it was empty – no piglets at all. Yet the non-GMO food sows produced normal piglets. When the guest on the radio called the chemical company why these ter-minator seeds were produced, she was told there were too many people in the world, and this was a form of population control. Isn’t this what is the basis of the New World Order!!! If you intend to breed your dogs, and are feeding pet food with soybean or corn, you may get zero puppies. Soybean is sometimes called lecithin. Solid Gold used to get Alaskan wild caught salmon for our dog food. But we were informed that the area has been “fished out”, we were told to use farmed salmon. Never! Farmed salmon is fed GMO corn. The owner of Solid Gold dog food has been raising and showing Great Danes for 50 years. For 30 years, Solid Gold produced many healthy supplements, one of which was called Solid Gold Concept-A-Bitch. They FDA forbid her to pro-duce this herbal aid to pregnant bitches. They said that conception and pregnancy were diseases and only vets should be allowed to breed dogs! The lady’s vet is only 32 years old. When the lady told this to her vet, he said that this was ridiculous, he had other things to do. Also, if breeders are now forbidden to breed by the FDA, where are the future puppies going to come from?

Solid Gold doesn’t use sunflower oil in its dog food. The Swedish National Cancer Institute’s 10 year study found a 69% increase in cancer. Solid Gold doesn’t use peas – which may cause gas; or peanuts / peanut butter a well known allergen, or avocados. Dr. Karen Halligan warns that avocados may contribute to pancreatitis.

To obtain a free catalogue or to find a store near you call: (619) 258-7356 (M-F 10-5 PST) or(619) 258-1914 (M-F 10-5 PST) orE-mail us at [email protected] orwww.solidgoldhealth.com

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets,the Holistic Animal Nutrition Center1331 N. CuyamacaEl Cajon, CA 92020

Solid Gold is a member of theNational Nutritional Foods Association,The Organic Trade Association and the Health Freedom Association.

A lady came to our Solid Gold store and bought a bag of our “Just a Wee Bit” dog food for the little dog. When asked what kind of dog she had, she replied that she didn’t have a dog. She had chickens. She replied that she used to feed corn, but about a year ago, their feathers began to fall out, they developed cancer tumors and her egg production dropped considerably. Everything improved when she switched to Solid Gold “Just a Wee Bit” dog food.

Now for our story: Angels Unaware

Farmer Brown was walking along a road when he heard a tiny sound. It came from a near-by box. Inside the box were some tiny puppies. All had been struck on the head and most had died. But one was still alive although her head was dripping blood. It had been a deliberate killing. Farmer Brown carefully picked her up, wrapped her in his handkerchief and went home, where she was slowly nursed back to health. She looked to be a Border collie mix. Per-haps the mother had bred with a mixed breed dog and the owner didn’t want the puppies, so he decided to kill them. Farmer Brown named the puppy, Angel. Soon the farmer and Angel would go out and do their work. In time Angel was also about to be a mother. She has three lovely puppies. One night, Angel was late returning home. Around suppertime, Angel came into the house carrying a towel in her mouth. Inside the towel was a new born human baby girl. Angel put the baby in her litter box, cleaned it up and cuddled it to keep it warm. Farmer Brown had called the sheriff who quickly came out and transported the baby to the hospital. Seems as though a young unwed girl had given birth to the baby, wrapped it in a towel, and placed it by the side of the road to die. Then, along came Angel and took the towel and baby home. Several months later a couple adopted the baby girl. They knew the background and decided to name the baby, Angela. In the fullness of time, Farmer Brown passed away. Shortly afterwards, so did An-gel, the Border Collie mix that no one wanted. Angela grew to be a fine young lady. This is a true story and took place in Scotland.A phrase in Hebrews 13.2 that says “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this, some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

MADE IN THE USA

Editorial

hen I started Urban Paws four years

ago, my intent was to educate and in-

form readers on the responsibilities of pet ownership.

I recognized a void in the amount of information that

was available to dog guardians and wanted to share my

experiences along with the expertise of the pet profes-

sionals that I have come to know.

This issue’s feature story deals with nutrition. It’s one

of the important contributors to a healthy pet and just

as we are taught to make healthy eating choices, we

should also learn how to make them for our four-

legged friends as well. It’s not always easy to determine

what exactly is in that bag of dog food and looks can

be deceiving. For information on how to decode pet

food labels, turn to page 14.

W

URBAN PAWS MAGAZINEP.O. Box 1556Spring, Texas 77383281.384.5431www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com

© Copyright 2010. No part of this publication may bereprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publisher’spermission. Urban Paws magazine assumes no responsibil-ity for unsolicited manuscripts, feature and idea submissions,or photographs, and such unsolicited material will not bereturned. Urban PawsMagazine assumes no liability for the con-tents herein and has the right to refuse advertising for any reason.

Tell our advertisers you heard about them inUrbanPaws!

This month’s cover dog is a Boxer named Kelby. She is

currently available for adoption through Lone Star

Boxer Rescue. To read her story and view other adopt-

able dogs, flip to page 24.

If you like freebies (and who doesn’t?), be sure to enter

the Urban Paws giveaway, featured on page 26. One

lucky reader will win an adorable tank set from Ruff

Ruff & Meow. Good luck contestants!

Jennifer Kitchens

Issue 5: Volume 4www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

AAuugguusstt,, 22001100

On the Cover

Photos by Ashlee Newman Photography.Urban Paws Magazine 5

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

AAUUGGUUSSTT 99Dog CPR, First Aid, Safety, Geriatric Concerns &Emergencies at Rummy’s Beach Club. 9:00 am - 5: 00pm. To register, call 713.446.3805.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 1144Vaccination clinic every second Saturday of the monthat Four Seasons Veterinary Hospital. Noon til 4:00 pm.For more information visit www.fourseasonsvet.com.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 1144Food and Supply Drive at Special Pals. 3830 Green-house Rd. 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Help make a difference andjoin Special Pals in the fight against hunger. For a list ofitems needed, call 281.579.PETS.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 2211City of Conroe’s Dog Days of Summer event at Wig-gins Village Park, 565 Bryant Rd in Conroe. 9:00 am -11:00 pm. The Houston Frisbee Disc Dogs will be on-site to perform tricks with their amazing canines. Otheractivities include pet contests and adoptions. For moreinformation visit www.cityofconroe.org.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 2233Tellington Touch (T Touch) class at Rummy’s BeachClub. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. To register, call713.446.3805.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 2266National Dog Day. Celebrated annually and serves tohelp galvanize the public to recognize the number ofdogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowl-edges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each

Calendar

August 2010 Events

If you would like to have your group’s eventsadded to our calendar, please email us at

[email protected].

The Scoop

Dock Dog Sessions Now at Willow Creek Ranch of TomballBeginning in July, Willow Creek Pet Ranch of Tomballopened their dock to the public and announced thatdock dog sessions would be available for those wantingto participate. Sessions are two hours long with a max-imum of eight dogs per session. For reservations, call832-656-2844.

�

The pound sold her to a lab.Don’t let more dogs suffer her fate.

Visit www.aavs.org/LostDog

day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 22882010 Houston SPCA Pet Telethon will be broadcastlive on Channel 39. The Pet Telethon is one of theSPCA’s largest fundraising events and helps them tocontinue their efforts to promote commitment to andrespect for all animals. Tune into to Channel 39 be-tween 3:00 - 8:00 pm.

AAUUGGUUSSTT 2299Gulf Coast Cocker Spaniel Rescue Launch Party atRover Oaks Pet Resort. 12:30 - 3:30 pm. Admissionfee is $20 for individuals or $35 for couples and in-cludes a BBQ plate, Rover pass and door prize entry.To purchase tickets visit www.gulfcoastcockerspaniel-rescue.org.

8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

ver the past century, the beagle has be-come quite a popular breed in theUnited States. In fact, in the 1950’s, this

breed enjoyed a brief stint at the number onespot for most sought after dogs in America.

Royalty in Great Britain was known to keep packsof these hounds for hunting purposes. To thisday, beagles are still used for hunting, althoughmost are simply family pets to be loved and en-joyed.

England can most definitely be credited for thedevelopment and preservation of the breed.However, this dog came to the United States in1876, where the breed was not cared for in thesame manner in which it had been in England.That was changed by importing beagles fromEngland and maintaining careful record keepingof the breeding that took place with these dogs.

By 1885, the American Kennel Club (AKC) rec-ognized beagles as an official breed, and in 1888the National Beagle Club was formed, establish-ing the breed standard.

The beagle has consistently remained in the topten most desirable breeds, undoubtedly due to itssweet, friendly nature and abounding energy thatmakes it a perfect family pet. Beagles can be theperfect pet for many families since the charac-teristic of this breed usually include a friendly andsocial nature. However, the popularity of breedslike beagles has led to the establishment of manypuppy mills where dogs are bred for profit in-stead of health and quality of the animals. Thisis why it is so important that you take the time todo plenty of research before you purchase oradopt your beagle by reading arti-

cles such as this and talking to experts like rep-utable breeders and veterinarians for informationand recommendations. The best way to avoid anysurprises after adopting or purchase of a dog isto understand the breed and what is required tocare for one.

Beagle rescue is another avenue to finding a bea-gle. There are many beagles waiting for a secondchance to find a loving home. Rescue organiza-tions, such as the Houston Beagle Rescue, canprovide you with adoption information.

The purpose of this article is to improve the pub-lic’s knowledge about beagles who can be a per-fect companion for an active family. Althoughthey are a little more difficult to house train thanother breeds and not always very interested inlearning training commands, the beagle is a lowmaintenance, clean dog that will live to a ripe oldage. At about 25 pounds and 15 inches tall, thisenergetic breed makes a fantastic family com-panion.

Want to meet a beagle? Houston Beagle Rescueholds a Meet and Greet event the second Sundayof every month. You can meet and interact witha variety of beagles of all ages and sizes. To learnmore about Houston Beagle Rescue, visit the or-ganization’s web site at www.houstonbeagleres-cue.org.

Meet the Breed

The Beagle By: Tom Clanton

O

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jump, and play when they are overweight andobese? Very few, extra fat makes it difficult foryour pet to take deep breaths and they tire quicklyjust trying to do so. Exercise can help eradicatesome of the extra fat; however your pet doesn’twant to exercise because it takes too much en-ergy and is too much work. Reduced exerciseleads to additional weight gain which leads to alethargic pet.

Finally, should your pet require emergency sur-gery or just need a routine dental cleaning, theirreduced lung capacity affects their ability toprocess anesthesia. And all that fat makes surgerymuch more challenging for your pet’s surgeon.

Genetics (your dog’s breed), medical diseases, anoverabundance of treats, slow metabolism, in-correct measurement of food can by individuallyor collectively initiate the cycle of weight issuesfor your pet. Health problems associated withoverweight or obese pets are expensive to treat.

ften when we hear the name “Garfield,”we envision an orange and black, inde-pendent, sassy, FAT cat – not a real cat,

a cartoon character cat – and we smile becauseGarfield is funny. Garfield is humorous for hisjudgmental, self-centered outlook but also for hisFAT, roly poly appearance. Yes, obesity is funnyin relation to Garfield; however, it is serious, veryserious in relation to our own dogs and cats.

Pet obesity is responsible for a host of life-longproblems. Joint problems, Arthritis, Diabetes, di-minished lung capacity, poor surgical condition-ing, and heart disease are just a few of themedical conditions prime for an overweight pet.

The 2009 National Pet Obesity Awareness DayStudy revealed 45% of dogs and 58% of cats inthe U.S. are estimated to be overweight or obese,making pet obesity “the biggest health threat topets in the US,” according to lead researcher Dr.Ernie Ward.

Obesity, Arthritis, and joint problems create acyclical threat in our pets. Obesity leads toArthritis and joint problems. Soreness resultingfrom Arthritis and joint problems lead to re-duced pet mobility. Reduced pet mobility leadsto obesity and the cycle begins again.

Extra body fat is another result of obesity. Extrabody fat leads to insulin resistance in cats. In-sulin resistance in cats creates diabetes…see thecycle beginning again.

And who – human or animal - wants to run,

O

Healthy Tails

By: Dr. Jim Amyx, Four Seasons Veterinary HospitalPet Obesity - Not a Laughing Matter

These same health problems can also becomelife-long problems often shortening the life ofyour pet!

Is it worth it? Absolutely, not!

Whether your pet is overweight or not, make sureyou are feeding your pet the correct amount offood. Make sure the treats you offer your pet arelow in calories and approved by your veterinarian.An annual medical exam, walks in the neighbor-hood, even tossing the Frisbee to your pet canhelp your pet maintain a healthy weight. Re-member, a healthy pet is a happy pet!

Healthy Snack Alternatives

Try giving your dog bite-size pieces ofvegetables such as green beans, car-rots, yams, celery and broccoli.

You can also freeze small chunks ofapples, kiwi, or watermelon for yourdog to lick on a hot summer day.

Avoid onions, garlic, avocado, grapesand raisins, which can be toxic todogs.

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Feature Story

You Are What You EatThe same holds true

for our canine companionsBy: Jennifer Kitchens

utrition is one of the most importantfactors to consider in regards to car-ing for your pet. We’ve all heard thesaying “You are what you eat.” The

same holds true for our pets. Just as you would-n't subsist on a diet high in fats, sugars, salt andpreservatives, neither should your pet. Diseaseprocesses in your pet can be attributed to poordietary habits, just as with humans. Dental prob-lems, cardiac disease, kidney disease, cancer, al-lergies and arthritis can all be attributed to by apoor diet and/or lack of exercise.

Fifty years ago, most dogs ate table scraps. Thirtyyears ago, cereal companies cornered the petfood market in supermarkets and agriculturalfeed stores. Today’s pet owners drive to petsuper-stores that display a dazzling array of col-orful bags of dry premium foods, convenientsemi-moist packets, and gourmet diets for pup-pies, adult dogs, old dogs and overweight dogs.The selections have become quite varied. So howdo you choose?

Nutrition is the foundation of good health forpeople and the same is true for our animal com-panions. Diet is the most important componentof your pet’s health care. The best diet for yourdog or cat is not unlike the best diet for you – itconsists of a variety of whole foods enhancedwith vitamins and minerals, enzymes and sup-plements, when necessary, to promote optimalhealth, prevent disease or to address health is-sues.

Our animal companions are natural hunters andcarnivores - just look at their ancestry. The dog at your feet (or on your sofa) has evolved fromthe wolf, and his digestive system is virtually the same despite thousands of years of domestica-tion. They have very short intestinal tracts gearedtoward the consumption and digestion of rawfoods.

Commercially prepared kibble has become thestandard diet for most pets in our culture. It is relatively inexpensive and quite convenient.Knowledgeable pet owners and many veterinari-ans, however, are becoming increasingly aware ofthe true nutritional needs of companion animalsand are taking a proactive approach to nutritionby placing more importance on getting the high-est quality ingredients and carefully controlledpreparation than on cost and convenience.

The next piece of information is designed to helpyou understand how to read pet food labels. Petfood packaging has become more elaborate andmay even show mouth-watering photos of meatsand fresh vegetables. But to really know what thatbag of food contains, you must turn it over andread the ingredient list.

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Urban Paws Magazine 13


Selecting the right food foryour pet can be a dauntingtask. There are so many op-tions amongst the aisles offood in your local pet store.While many pet owners ap-

preciate variety, most don’t know where to beginwhen it comes to making the right decisions fortheir pet’s diet. Aside from the sheer volume ofpet foods available on the market, a large part ofthe confusion for pet owners is due to the pack-aging and labeling techniques used by various petfood companies.

Companies know that most people are morelikely to read the bold print on the front of thepackage than they are to read the nutritional in-formation printed on the back or side. Somebrands will claim their products to be ‘all natu-ral’ or ‘complete and balanced’, but these state-ments are often misleading. It is important tolearn how to decode the information on pet foodpackaging, so that you can make an educated de-cision about what to feed your pet.

There are two main methods used in producingdry kibble. One is by extrusion/expansion andthe other is drying. The most commonly usedprocess is extrusion, where the ingredients areground, mixed together and cooked on high heatand under high pressure to produce kibble. Thekibble is often passed through a machine thatsprays on a coating, which is generally a flavorenhancer.

Federal and state laws and regulations apply tothe various aspects of pet food including ingre-dients, manufacturing processes and labeling. Vir-tually all state pet food laws and regulations arebased upon the work of the Association ofAmerican Feed Control Officials. AAFCO is anorganization of state officials who regulate ani-mal feed, which includes pet food. Members ofAAFCO developed standard ingredient defini-tions, nutritional requirements, labeling and other

guidelines.

Most states require under their state animal feedlaws and regulations that pet food labels be reg-istered and approved. Pet food labels are requiredto provide truthful and non-misleading informa-tion, as well as:

• Identify the products as a dog or cat food• Display the quantity statement and name of manufacturer or distributor• Display a brand name that is not misleading as to content or nutritional properties• Provide a guaranteed chemical analysis that conforms to state animal feed laws• List ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight in the product.• List ingredients in accordance with AAFCO definitions

A pet food may not express or imply any claimthat a product is complete, perfect, scientific, bal-anced, etc., under AAFCO regulations, unless:

• It is nutritionally adequate for a normal animal in all of its life stages (growth, adult mainte-nance, and gestation/lactation), or• The claim is modified by stating that it is complete and/or balanced for one or more specif-ic life stages.

At the federal level, pet food is regulated by theU.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. De-partment of Agriculture and Federal Trade Com-mission. Both the FDA and FTC have authorityover labeling and advertising claims. In additionto the states, FDA regulates pet food ingredientsand finished products. The FDA also imposescertain requirements that apply to all food, bothproducts for people as well as products for pets.The FDA has the authority to issue a consumerwarning in the event that it deems a product onthe market to be unsafe and should be with-drawn.


So, what do you need to look for in a quality petfood? We’ve broken it down the key factors toconsider when choosing the right food for yourpet.

FOOD QUALITYWhat to look for: Nutritional adequacy. Doesthe food have optimal nutrient levels to meet theneeds of your pet, and do they meet the currentneeds of your pet’s life stage (puppy, adult, sen-ior)? Read the ingredients. They are listed in de-scending order of their respective amounts byweight. The label will also show a guaranteedanalysis of the minimum amount of crude pro-tein and fat, the maximum amount of moistureand crude fiber and the added vitamins and min-erals.

Be suspicious of: Misleading labels. For exam-ple, it is not required to give the actual amountof each ingredient so they are listed as relativeamounts. Food ingredients can also be listedunder different terminologies–meat sources canbe meat and bone meal (ground animal car-casses), meat by-products (liver, kidney, lungs,etc.) or meat (muscle). The chemical analysis forthese listings may be generally the same but thequality of the protein can vary considerably.

WHOLESOMENESSWhat to look for: By definition, the word whole-some means “good for one’s health” and thewholesomeness of a food source has an effecton digestibility. Search for sources that you wouldnot be afraid to eat yourself.

Be suspicious of: Food sources that make yousquirm such as meat by-products. It is best toavoid products that contain mostly grains as adiet high in grains is not truly wholesome for acarnivorous pet.

PRESERVATIVESWhat to look for: Most commercial pet foodsmust have a shelf life to ensure that they will be

sold before they spoil. This requires that preser-vatives be added, especially to prevent the fats inthe foods from becoming rancid. Most pet foodmanufacturers use Butylated hydroxyansole(BHA) and the related compound Butylated Hy-droxytoluene (BHT) and/or Ethoxyquin. Someare now opting for more natural preservativessuch as vitamins A or C or herbal products suchas rosemary.

Be suspicious of: Synthetic preservatives aslisted above. It is best to look for foods that usenatural preservatives or none at all. There ismuch controversy on this topic and it may be awhile before it’s completely resolved.

PALATABILITYWhat to look for: Does your pet like it? Keep inmind that if you are switching from one food toanother, you need to allow some time for yourpet to adjust to the new taste. Try mixing someof the old food with the new one for about aweek to gradually make the transition.

Be suspicious of: Foods that your pet shy awayfrom or refuses to eat. Again, it may take sometime for the transition to a new food.

COSTWhat to look for: Most of us look for an inex-pensive pet food as long as it seems wholesomeand healthy, although today’s pet food consumersare turning more and more to high quality foods.The reality is that good quality protein sourcescost money and the extrusion process is a factorin he overall cost.

Be suspicious of: Cheap pet food. The oldadage is true: You get what you pay for. Cheaperproducts tend to be made from poor quality in-gredients. It is not always true although, that themore expensive the product, the better the food.It’s important to keep in mind that colors, artifi-cial flavors and fancy packaging also add to thecost. These features mean nothing to your petand in fact, some of these food frills may actuallybe unhealthy.


Training

over lives with us, in our house. He’s fed reg-ularly. Normally he eats twice a day thoughnot necessarily at the same time each day.

Rover however, doesn't know that he's not living witha pack in the wild. He doesn't have the same apprecia-tion of the finer things in life that I do. He's as happylying in a mud puddle as he is lying on the tile underthe air conditioning vent. Dogs, living in the wild, haveto work in order to eat. They scavenge and hunt and ifthey don't find food on a particular day, they don't eat.

Rover eats out of a bowl for our convenience. His nat-ural instincts are to search and work in order to eat.Even very young pups have to work, pushing, scram-bling and climbing on mom to get to the source ofnourishment.

Dogs were part of early man's hunting parties. Theywould find and corner prey for the hunters. Numerousbreeds were developed initially to either hunt or assistin hunting. Their natural hunting abilities were furtherhoned through selective breeding. Terriers, retrievers,pointers and spaniels to name a few were all initiallybred to either hunt or help with hunting. For most oftheir existence if the dogs came up empty pawed, theydidn't eat.

I don't want to make Rover go out and catch or find hisown food. Rummaging through the neighbors' trashand hunting their cats or children would likely upset myneighbors. But, it's not a bad idea to have Rover workfor his food. There are benefits to having a dog “earn”his meal. It can be a great way to slow down a vora-cious eater. It can also be used as a way to give Roversomething fun and entertaining to do. There are a num-ber of ways to do this. The following are some of thestrategies that we use.

Buster Cube: This practically indestructible hard plas-tic cube is a great way for Rover to work for his food.Some clients even use them to give their dogs all oftheir food. The Cube has a hole in the center whereyou would drop in the kibble. It also has an internalmaze. Once you put the food inside, you give it a fewturns to distribute the food into the maze. Rover thenhas to manipulate the cube to dispense the food.

By: Jeff Drier, Bark Busters Home Dog TrainingWill Work for Food

R Leo Canine Genius: This is a softer yet rugged rubbertoy shaped like a vase. You put the kibble in throughthe "neck" and Rover has to manipulate it by rolling,bouncing, tossing, and or dropping it to get the foodout. The food gets harder and harder to get out as heempties it. You can even connect multiple toys togetherto make it even more of a challenge.

Kong: This favorite toy can also be used to make Roverwork for food. Put his kibble in it and "seal" the endswith either a little Kong paste or peanut butter. Thenfreeze it. He'll have to lick through the seal to get to thefood. While easier than the Buster Cube or Canine Ge-nius, it will still slow him down and make him work alittle bit. This one could also be used with wet food.

Scatter Feeding: All you need is a yard or a room whereyou don't mind dog food on the floor. Take Rover'sfood and while he's watching, scatter it around. If youdo it outside he'll spend time using his nose to searchfor it, inside he's more likely to just look for it. Eitherway it will slow down the eating process which can bereally helpful with dogs that "wolf" their food.

All of these methods will make Rover work for hisfood. They encourage him to use his brain, figurethings out and as I said, slow down his eating. Themore we make Rover work and use his brain to figurethings out the calmer he'll be.

You can use these ideas as part of a "nothing in life isfree" strategy. Make your Rover work by doing sits be-fore getting petted, going out and when you put hisleash on. Dogs actually expect to have to work. Themore “jobs” we give dogs to do, the happier they are.Dogs like using their brains and we want thinking dogs.If Rover never gets mentally challenged he's liable tohave excess energy. When we make dogs think andwork it tires them out. A tired dog is a good dog. I did-n't just make that up. Really, it's true. Help your Roverto use his brain and work for food and affection. Aworking dog is a happy dog.

Program is Aimed at Providing a Healthy Alternative

New “Whole Food” Canine Nutrition Program Launched

new canine nutrition brand,

backed by an Inc., 500 animal

health corporation, has launched a

new diet category for dogs that will forever

change the way people feed their dog.

The Proportions Whole Food Nutrition Pro-

gram, the latest entry into the multi-billion

dollar dog food market, is the first created

specifically for dog owners who understand

the value and health benefits of real, whole

food versus processed, manufactured food

products.

This new Whole Food Nutrition Program is a

healthier alternative to traditional feeding

programs. Additionally, the Proportions pro-

gram allows dog owners to create a cus-

tomized meal specifically for their dog

based on seven different variables beyond

the dog’s weight, including breed, gender,

age, and activity level, to determine an in-

dividual dog’s specific daily caloric require-

ment.

A

Like human “Whole Food” diets, the Propor-

tions canine program is a healthy alterna-

tive to the highly processed conventional

diet and works by:

• Reducing carbs and starches by feeding

a reduced portion of high quality dry food

• Increasing healthy, natural proteins and

vegetables via a pumpkin “stew” with

hand-carved chicken portion

• Increasing the amount of fruits and veg-

etables in the diet with a “harvest mix”

portion

To start the program or to receive a free

sample, visit www.proportions.com and

complete a brief questionnaire about your

dog. Each month of food will be delivered

right to your door so you can watch your

dog enjoy a meal like no other!


Ten finalists are competing for a chance to win$5,000 worth of pet food for their rescue group.

Through the Doing More™ for Pets RescueStory Contest, scores of Rally to Rescue® Am-bassadors submitted their own rescue stories.Contest judges chose 10 finalists from the sub-missions.

The Grand Prize winner will receive couponsgood for up to $5,000 in Purina® Pro Plan®brand Pet Food. They will also receive a trip toOaks, PA, to attend the 2010 Kennel Club ofPhiladelphia and National Dog Shows.

A popular vote combined with a judge's scorewill determine the Grand Prize winner and willbe posted on the Rally to Rescue website on De-cember 1, 2010.

Be sure to vote for Kaylene online at www.rally-torescue.org. You can only vote once, so make itcount! Voting ends on October 1st.

Kaylene’s Story

Alone, scared and covered with blood, the petitesix-month old Siberian Husky lay on the side ofthe road with a bullet in her face. Some cruel per-son shot her and left her to die. Luckily, theHouston SPCA ambulance picked her up andtransported her to their facility. The HSPCA con-tacted Pat Snyder with Husky Haven, Inc. to seeif she would take the young dog. Husky Havenhas given over a thousand second chances toabandoned and abused dogs over the years. Afterhearing her story, Pat knew that she had to givethis girl a second chance, too. She named the dogKaylene.

Pat rushed Kaylene to Dr. David Wainwright'soffice. X-rays revealed a bullet in her nasal cavity.Teeth and bone had shattered from the impact.For four hours, Dr. Wainwright delicately re-moved splintered bone fragments from Kaylene'sface and mouth. He extracted bone from her jaw,and subsequently, lost the teeth on the upperright side. He left the bullet to avoid removing aneye. The gunshot wound left a hole the size of aquarter in her muzzle. After several months, thehole closed up completely.

During recovery, a large black and white SiberianHusky named Tango was in Pat's care while hisowner worked overseas. Kaylene and Tango be-came fast friends. When Tango's owner returnedto Houston and saw the strong bond that had de-veloped between the two, he decided to adoptKaylene. She finally has a wonderful foreverhome with her best friend.

Doing More for Pets Rescue Stories Contest 2010

Houston Husky Chosen as Finalist in a Nationwide Campaign


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ravo!, manufacturer of the Bravo! line offresh frozen raw diet products, has signeda sponsorship agreement Pennie Mahon,

owner of Houston-based Barks 5th Avenue, herteam of five disc dog competitors, making themthe newest members of Team Bravo! Among thisgroup are three U.S. and world finalist and twoTexas State Champions. Mahon and her team willrepresent Bravo! at competitions and demon-strations across the country over the nextyear.

Established last year, TeamBravo! is a specially-selected group ofdogs-and-people whopossess a “can do” attitudeand community spirit in all as-pects of life, family, work, sportand play.”

Mahon and her dogs participatein Freestyle Disc, a fast-pacedsport including flips and multi-ple catches, which is said to be the highest levelof competition in addition to a crowd pleaser.The owner and dog create personalized routineswhich are set to music. Teams are judged in areasincluding canine athleticism, degree of difficultyas well as showmanship.

Mahon’s high-energy group of herding dogs in-cludes: Airbandita, a nine-year-old Blue Heeler;Spinner, a seven-year-old Australian Shepherd,Texas State Champion 2006 and regional winnerof Purina Dog Challenge in 2007 and finalist in2008; Gabriel (affectionately referred to asGabe), a six-year-old Blue Heeler and Australian

Houston Based Disc Dogs Named Newest Members of Team Bravo!

BBrraavvoo!! NNaammeess NNeeww TTeeaamm MMeemmbbeerrss

Border Collie mix and son of Airbandita who isalso a 2008 Texas State champion, Gabe’s two-year-old son Psych; and the youngest and mostpromising of the group, ZZ, Australian Shep-herd who will turn one this summer. Both Air-bandita and Spinner are retired fromcompetition, but take part in disc demonstrationsacross the country.

“In order to do well in this sport, a dog musthave a good temperament, must be able tofocus and multi-task,” said Mahon. “They

also need to have speed, agility,stamina and a good

spirit, as their routines runfor a solid two minutes.”

According to Mahon, aside from nat-ural ability, diet is an essential part ofthe dogs performing well.

“I have been approached by othercompanies over the years, but I was

never enthusiastic partnering with them. Ithought if I was going to be sponsored by a dogfood company it had to be one I could be proudof and a product I believed in, which is what Ifound with Bravo!,” Mahon said.

Mahon began feeding Bravo! about a year ago.“The biggest differences I noticed right awaywere that my dogs were more satisfied after eat-ing. There was no licking the bowl for any scrapof what was left; they were completely satiatedand full. I also noticed that the dogs had betterendurance,” she said. “Their coats were morebeautiful than ever and their breath improvedtoo.”

B

“Using asport that my dogs and I love topromote, a great product,pet adoptions and ac-tivity, is a very cool

thing.”


Both Psych and Gabe have earnedspots at the finals being held thisSeptember in Chattanooga, TN.Earning a place in the finals is a chal-lenge in itself, as more than 27 teamscompleted from their region whichincluded Texas, Oklahoma,Arkansas and Louisiana. There isonly one chance a year to qualify andthe team must finish top three over-all to move to the finals. Both dogsare also qualified for the AshleyWhippet World Finals in Naperville,IL Labor Day weekend.

“We’re really proud and honored tobe supporting Pennie and her teamin not only their athletic endeavors,but in their commitment to promot-ing pet adoptions and activity. Theyare shining examples of the ‘can-do’attitude we feel Team Bravo! repre-sents,” said David Bogner, Bravo!owner and co-founder.

All of Mahon’s dogs will be partici-pating in local and national eventsuntil the end of the year. In addi-tion to competition, the group does between sixand 12 demonstrations a year, as part of theirmembership in the Houston Frisbee Club, wherethey encourage pet adoptions and keeping petsactive in order to keep them happy and out ofshelters.

“Using a sport that my dogs and I love to pro-mote, a great product, pet adoptions and activityis a very cool thing,” says Mahon.

Both the Blue Heeler, more commonly referredto as Australian Cattle Dogs and the AustralianShepherd are high energy, intelligent breeds re-quiring a great deal of exercise on a daily basis toprevent them from becoming bored or frustrated

leading to destructive habits. These traits, com-bined with their natural agility make them idealdisc dogs.

The beauty about Frisbee dogs is that they canbe mixed breeds,” says Mahon. “Dogs with superhigh drive, high energy and who are very smartdo well in this sport.”

Pennie and her stars Psych and Gabriel

Gimme ShelterJoin us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!

Kelby was an owner surrender to one ofthe local shelters due to severe demodexmange. She is 3 years old & a real sweet-heart. As you can see she's made quitea transformation. Kelby is house & cratetrained. She loves playing with her fosterbrothers & sisters but her most favoritething of all is to be cuddled, hugged &loved on! She loves to give kisses too! Shejust can't get enough!! Kelby is still un-dergoing treatment for the demodex butwill have a clean bill of health beforelong. She is available for adoption. If youare interested in adopting, please visit

www.lsbr.org &complete anadoption applica-tion.


LadyBreed: LabradoodleSex: Female | Age: Adult | Size: MediumE-Rescue Houstonwww.e-rescue-houston.org

BubbaBreed: Poodle MixSex: Male | Age: Adult | Size: SmallHouston Humane Societywww.houstonhumane.org

Cover Dog Kelby

Photo by Ashlee Newman Photography.

Kelby before

Urban Paws Magazine 25Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however,there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes.

LuciBreed: Australian ShepherdSex: Female | Age: Puppy | Size: MediumSouth Texas Aussie Rescuewww.southtexasaussierescue.org

BeauBreed: SheltieSex: Male | Age: Adult | Size: LargeHouston Sheltie Sanctuarywww.houstonsheltiesanctuary.com

WhitneyBreed: Doberman PinscherSex: Female | Age: Mature Adult | Size: LargeHouston Area Doberman Rescuewww.hadr.org

RunnerBreed: CollieSex: Male | Age: Adult | Size: MediumHouston Collie Rescuewww.houstoncollierescue.org

Urban Paws Giveaway!One lucky Urban Paws reader will win a tank set from Ruff Ruff & Meow!

AAccttuuaall pprr iizzee iiss aa PPiinnkk PPrr ii nncc eess ss HHuummaann TTaannkk&& aa PP iinnkk PPrr iinn ccee ssss SSll eeee vvee ll eess ss DDoogg SSwweeaattsshhiirr tt ..

You can also customize tanks for you and your dogusing your own artwork! To view other Ruff Ruff &Meow products, visit www.ruffruffandmeow.com.

TO ENTER: Log on to urbanpawsmagazine.com andclick on “Subscribe via e-mail” or send a postcard withyour name, address, email address and daytime phonenumber to “Tank Set,” Urban Paws Magazine, PO Box1556, Spring, Texas 77383, by September 30, 2010.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest is open to legal US residents 18and older as of date of entry. The decisions of the judges are final. Prizes arenot transferable to any other person and may not be substituted for any otherprize. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Theselection of the reviewed items for giveaways is based solely on the discre-tion of the editor. The approximate retail values of the prize is $52.00. All en-tries become the property of Urban Paws Magazine and will not beacknowledged or returned.

FIDO’S FACTS

Your Monthly Dose of Pet Trivia and Tidbits

840Average caloric need of a 25 pound adult dog

200 millionThe number of scent receptors in a dog’s nose(we have only 5 million) so it's important that

their food smells good and tastes good.

$1.5 BILLIONThe amount in US dollars spent on pet foodeach year. This is four times the amount spent

on baby food.

33%of dog owners admit that they talk to theirdogs on the phone or leave messages on an an-swering machine while away.

400The number of recognized dog breeds world-wide. There is some contention, however, as tothe exact number of dog breeds as various ken-nel clubs recognize different breeds. In addi-tion, all "purebreds" are, in reality, derived frommixed-breed dog populations, complicating theissue further.


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