Get healthy! Get a dog!

It is a proven fact now that having a pet is good for your health... If only Ponce de Leon had stopped by a local animal shelter or rescue, he could have easily found the 'Fountain of Youth' he was searching for!

We consistently hear about how having a pet keeps our senior citizens young and engaged... 

This week's story about a dying man and his last request - to see his beloved Chihuahua - was granted by the hospital which had a strict 'No Pets' rule... 

As you can see from the video and information - CLICK HERE , James and his BFF, Bubba, were reunited and James is now doing MUCH better... 

It does not take much... Unconditional love and devotion from a dog or cat... And you realize life is precious and our four-footed friends enrich our lives... 

This does not show up on a life profit and loss statement, ya know?... And for those senior citizens that are pretty much house-bound, their pets are the source of companionship, keeping them from being as lonely when their children and busy lives diminish the number of visits... 

But pets are not just healthy for senior citizens... They are healthy for all of us...
  

LAUGHTER... Our pets are forever doing something that makes us giggle throughout the day... Or we are doing something to them that causes us to laugh... 

We share our funny pet stories and photos with others at work or in our lives... Ask someone if they have a dog or cat - or a pet - and you are likely to see them whip out their cell phone and start showing you pictures and videos they have taken... 

Whether it is some quirky behavior or us dressing them up at Halloween, any pet is going to bring laughter into your life and this is very healing and brings joy!  

COMPANIONSHIP... Many of us that are pet owners will tell you that we like dogs (or cats) better than people... Doesn't mean that we are introverts and isolationists... You can have a really bad day at work, dealt with road rage coming home and that door opens up?... Your dog doesn't care about any of that - they are just ecstatic that you are FINALLY home!... Attitudes are contagious and a few pets and kisses?  The day doesn't seem that bad after all, ya know?... 

And because dogs can read our body language MUCH better than we can read theirs, they do almost seem like they can read your mind at times... You can tell them anything and you know they will keep your darkest secret, will lay aside of you when you're not feeling that well and while they cannot talk back to us in English, they get their message across... 

Dogs exist in the here and now... They are situational creatures... They are social animals... They don't care if you are fat, ugly, old, young, male, female and so on... They are not judgmental and can turn the dullest day into one filled with the sunshine of love... 

STRESS RELIEVER... When dealing with stress, touching and petting is an effective stress reliever... As much for dogs as it is for us...

There is something about that cadence of petting your dog which brings back rhythm and a sense of peace to us as humans... Ever notice while you are petting your dog, they reach a point of a DEEP sign and it seems like their whole body just does an instantaneous relax?... 

It works the same way with us... And also why doctors recommend autistic children have a pet... There is a lot to be said for having a pet that loves you, understands you when you are stressed and enjoys being part of 'de-stressing' you... 

BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION... One of the physical ways doctors measure the effects of stress on a human body is by taking our blood pressure... 

There have been countless studies done on the effect of pet ownership on high blood pressure... Whether you are sitting and watching fish swim around in an aquarium or just enjoying watching your dog fall asleep, you will experience a decrease in your blood pressure... 

This is another reason more and more assisted living facilities are bringing in dogs for mascots... It has proven to be beneficial to the residents both in lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and providing uplifting mental attitudes... 

EXERCISE... Having a dog will cause you to get out more and exercise... Even if it is a short walk around the block, every little bit helps to get us up and out of couches and chairs, not positioned in front of a TV or computer monitor... 

There are groups that meet up in dog parks now... Like the new version of 'coffee clutchers' from the 50's or leaning over a neighbor's fence to have a conversation... 

It is a good way to get to meet and know your neighbors (as long as you pick up after your dog) and a great way to exercise yourself!... There are just so many places now that allow you to bring your dog and even if it is a run to Lowe's to pick up something for the house, you will enjoy it as much as your dog does!

These are the ways we thought of living a healthier lifestyle by having a dog... How about you?  Does your pet keep you healthier?

UT OH... 'Owner Surrendered'....

Ah, those ill-fated words... "Owner surrendered"... Immediately the majority of the general public believe a dog must have been surrendered to a shelter because somehow it is defective... 

As humans, our parents taught us to always try and think the best of other folks... In rescue (and especially after many years doing rescue), most rescue folks have seen the absolute worst of the human species and generally have a hard time doing this, regardless of the teachings our parents gave us... Such is the case with the dogs that are surrendered by their owners... 

There is a stigma attached to the term 'owner surrender' that somehow infers a dog is 'damaged goods'... If that is the end of your thinking, then please allow me to share some of my experience from 30+ years...

Folks adopt or buy dogs and puppies with their eyes and not their heads... Oh, that puppy looked so cute when you first saw them... Your boyfriend and you were SO in love and while not ready to conceive a baby, you felt getting a puppy together would cement your relationship...

Now you have broken up with your boyfriend and every time you look at this now grown adult dog, you are reminded of what a putz your ex-boyfriend was... Into the trash went his photos (if not burned first), the romantic gifts he gave you, mementos of your 'firsts' created together... And the dog?... Cute as a puppy, this dog now reminds you of failure and a broken heart - off to the shelter he goes if you can't give the dog away... FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

Our parents have somehow learned to adapt and compromise their lifestyle around their cherished pet... Dad or mom get old and pass away... While Dad would put down a pitty pad at night because dear old Spot couldn't hold his bladder through the night, you have a brand new house and aren't going to make accommodations for Spot and your carpets... Besides that, you are mourning Dad and you can't emotionally cope with a new dog in your life... Off to the shelter this dog goes...  FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

Your friend has a dog they can no longer keep and as a friend, you agree to take the dog... Oh my goodness!  This is a great dog and she never potties in the house, doesn't bark and wouldn't it be nice to have a companion in your life?... And you will be doing a favor to your friend (relative, associate, etc.)... Used to coming and going as you like, now you have to go home after work and let the dog out or they will mess all over your house, be destructive because they are left alone too long or get into some kind of mischief... Is it their fault?... No, but now you realize you don't have the kind of commitment needed to have a dog as a pet - you'd have done better getting a guinea pig or fish... Now what?.. Everything the dog does (or doesn't do) is magnified into larger proportions until you come to the realization, "I don't have enough time for a dog"... Or?  "No wonder Becky gave you up - you are a bad dog!"  FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

What about the owners that don't believe in spaying or neutering their pets?... Or can't afford it?... Or don't have the time to get the dog into the vets to have it done?... Or simply think they'll let the dog have one litter so the kids can experience 'the wonder of life' and then you realize what a HUGE job having a mom with 7 puppies is going to be!  You wrongly think that everyone loves puppies and they'll get adopted... Oh, how wrong you are... In California, if a puppy cannot be spayed or neutered, they cannot be adopted by a shelter or rescue and because we are always so full, most shelters cannot provide 8 weeks of care and space required for those puppies to grow and mature... FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

People lose their jobs and/or their homes in today's economy...  Many times through circumstances not of their own making... Something has gotta go and usually the pets are the first thing.... FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

And finally?  As much good as we have in the human species, we have as much bad... Some owners are simply neglectful of their pets and others are just plain out abusive... Officials step in and decide what is best for the animals and remove pets from these types of circumstances... FAIR? No, of course not, but this is how that dog ended up in a shelter...

Do any of these reasons mean that this is a 'bad' dog?... No, but the dog might need rehabilitation, medical care or socialization and training to become the 'Lassie of your dreams'... And if you decide against a dog to adopt because it is an owner surrender, you might want to rethink your position...  It is HIGHLY possible that you might find the true love of your life in a local rescue or shelter... Rescued dogs have an 'attitude for gratitude' not found in other dogs who have had an easy going of it in life...

So next time you hear the term 'owner surrender', please remember what you have read here today and give that dog a second chance at a decent life!

We're too hot!

Because TLC's rescue shop is located in a high traffic mall, every week or so someone leaves their pooch in the car in the summer heat.  Not knowing exactly what to do, people come into the rescue shop to report it.

It is illegal in California to do this.  It's the law - and bear in mind - any peace officer, humane officer or animal control officer is able (legally) to break into your car to remove a pet you have left there in the heat!  Not only will you be fined, you'll have to pay to have your window or door repaired as well... plus whatever vet/hospital costs to treat your pet!

Pets suffer greatly from heat exhaustion and stroke - faster than humans do - and dogs do not have sweat glands like humans do... just a few on their feet.  They cannot perspire and rid the excess heat by panting.  As the temperatures rise, even panting can only help so much.  Heat stroke occurs when normal body mechanisms cannot keep the body's temperature in a safe range. Dogs with heavy coats, heart or respiratory troubles, those who are exercising too much in the heat, as well as overweight, very young, infant, and elderly dogs all need special consideration in the heat and have a greater likelihood of developing heat stroke.

HEAT STROKE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• A rapid or erratic heartbeat/pulse
• Rapid breathing, or struggling for breath
• Increased, excessive, loud, heaving, irregular panting or the sudden stopping of panting
• A very high body temperature - usually, cell damage begins to occur at body temperatures over 106 degrees
• Excessive drooling, or frothing at the mouth
• Dark red gums
• Vomiting
• Barking or whining
• Anxiety or agitation
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Lack of coordination - stumbling and/or trouble standing or walking
• An anxious, vacant, or staring expression
• Listlessness or weakness
• Shaking or seizures
• Dry mouth and nose
• Lack of urine production
• Weakness and muscle tremors
• Glazed eyes and/or dilated pupiis
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Collapse or unconsciousness

Animals showing these signs need immediate medical treatment.  So take the dog to a veterinarian or animal emergency room NOW. If your pet starts to retch and vomit, this can be a sign that the body temperature is reaching 109 degrees Fahrenheit. Soon after, the dog will go into shock, followed by possible seizures and a loss of consciousness. These are all serious signs and the dog must see a veterinarian immediately. This is an EMERGENCY! Even at the earliest stage of heat stroke, you may be fighting for your dog's life. If not treated immediately, these symptoms can be followed in minutes by collapse, seizures, coma, and death.

If untreated, hyperthermia (heat stroke) results in kidney, liver and/or heart failure. Dogs who are treated after a significant delay may survive, but could be left with permanent effects such as blood clotting disorders, metabolic abnormalities, muscle damage, and/or brain dysfunction, etc.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT HEAT EXHAUSTION AND/OR STROKE:
This is a life threatening situation and needs immediate veterinarian attention. There are a few things you can do if your vet has to call you back or on the way to the veterinarian's office or emergency room:

1. Immediately move the dog to a cooler area. Place the dog in a shady area or put a large umbrella over him/her.
2. Offer the pup small amounts of water (too much water may cause the dog to vomit and add to your pet’s dehydration).
3. If the dog will not drink of his/her own accord, then wipe the mouth area with a clean, wet cloth.
4. Sponge down the whole body, including tummy and groin area with COOL, not cold water. Cold water will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping. This could send your dog into shock from the sudden drop in body temperature.  NEVER throw buckets of water over the dog, or throw him/her into cold water, as these actions will almost certainly put the dog into shock, making the situation far worse than it already is!
5. If you do not have an electric fan, improvise one with a towel or something that will cause a draft around the wet dog; however, do not do anything that might panic him/her unnecessarily. Fanning the dog will help to cool him/her through the process of evaporation. If the dog has collapsed, continue with the above steps until professional help arrives. Be prepared to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should it become necessary. The dog needs electrolyte replacement and oral replacement is not sufficient. The electrolytes need to be replaced through intravenous (IV) administration.

"But I am just going to be 5 minutes".... How many times have we all heard this?  When it is 75 degrees outside, in 10 minutes the temperature inside your car can reach 100 degrees.  At 85 degrees, the inside of your car will reach 90 degrees in 5 minutes.  A dog's normal body temperature is 99.5 to 102.5º.  At 105 to 106º, the pet is at risk for developing heat exhaustion. If the body temperature rises to 107º, your pet has entered the critical zone of heat stroke. With heat stroke, irreversible damage and death can occur... yes, in less than 5 minutes.





Be an advocate for dogs left in cars - print out the flyers and keep in your car... See a dog in a car?  Leave it on the owner's windshield!