san diego pets magazine

MARCH 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com2

www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MARCH 2012 3

PUBLISHER/EDITORCasey Dean

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSClaire Harlin

Kendra HartmannMartin Jones Westlin

GUEST WRITERSChristine Bessent, DVM

John CarlsonTamara Goldsby, Ph.D.

K.R. JohnsonArden MooreJudith Pierce

Stefanie Schwartz, DVMJason Sweitzer, DVM

CONSULTANTJeffrey R. Jenkins, DVM Diplomate, ABVP (Avian)

www.drexotic.com

CARTOONISTBarbara Fuscsick

Puppy Paws Productions

www.puppypawsproductions.com

ADVERTISINGCasey Dean (619) 573-5615

[email protected]

Marjorie “Kirby” (858) [email protected]

San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing,Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. No partof this publication may be duplicated or reprinted withoutexpress consent from the publisher. Editors reserve theright to edit all content. Submissions are welcome, andmay be edited for content and clarity. Please forward allunsolicited material to the editor. Views and opinionsexpressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher.The publisher reserves the right to approve or acceptadvertising orders and content. All contents are copyrighted2012. All rights reserved.

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The 40-pound, 18-month-old retriever mix wasdiscovered the morning of Monday, Feb. 20, afterhaving suffered a single gunshot wound throughthe torso and both lungs, his oxygen depletion andloss of blood resulting in a state of shock—but

barely in time, motorist Eladia Espinoza alerted police. Oneofficial said the responding officer “probably broke the speedlimit getting [Chance] into the veterinary hospital, and I’m notgoing to fault her for that.”Personnel at the VCA emergency animal hospital in Mission

Valley reacted equally swiftly. The next day, ominous pins andneedles gave way to cheers and sighs of relief. Through a combination of oxygen therapy, skillful medicine

and luck, staff vet personnel had saved Chance’s life. ByWednesday, he was eating; on Friday, he was released to thecounty department of animal services; the next day, thedepartment began accepting applications for his adoption. The department stopped taking apps on March 3, but Dan

DeSousa, a department lieutenant and press representative,said the volume of prospects is another cause for optimism.“We’ve had people express interest in adopting him since

the story broke,” De Sousa said. “We actually got applicationsbefore we told people we were accepting them.”Chance is recuperating at the department’s Carlsbad

facility, DeSousa said, “because we can isolate him betterfrom other dogs there. With his lungs healing right now, we

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

Chance didn’t have a tag or a microchip when he was found lying by the side of Viejas Grade Roadnear Willows Road in East County, but amid his colossal good fortune, he didn’t need them.

Photo by Casey Dean

Luck and skill played equalparts in Chance’s recovery

H BdD 5COVER STORY


B y J O H N C A R L S O N , D E P U T Y D I R E C T O R

SEE OFFICER, Page 7

ON THE COVER: Chance and Gina Raygosa, the CSDAC officer who rushedhim to the emergency care, reunite a week after the shooting ordeal. Evenafter a bullet went through this pups entire body, he is still full of snugglesfor everyone he meets. He and many other animals at the County Shelterhave had a rough start, but deserve a second chance. Photo by Casey Dean

Most of us have heard the term Animal Control Offi-cer (ACO), but you may not know much aboutwhat these officers do. In decades past, they were

often referred to as the “dog catcher” and thought of as un-skilled—and often uncaring—laborers. But, while the animalwelfare industry is still working to overcome that and otherstereotypes, nothing could be further from the truth today.An ACO is a professional law enforcement officer—just like

a police officer or deputy sheriff—who specializes in laws re-lating to or affecting animals. In California, they have all ofthe powers of arrest and authority to serve warrants of apeace officer.ACOs with the County of San Diego Department of Ani-

mal Services do not carry firearms. Most agencies arm theirofficers with a baton and pepper spray, as well as special toolsto humanely capture and restrain animals without injury. Weexpect them to protect the public by capturing a dangerous oraggressive animal without injuring it.Like the police and sheriffs, ACOs are well trained profes-

sionals who are required to be knowledgeable in a wide va-riety of areas. ACOs for the County of San Diego mustsuccessfully complete a rigorous 10-week Animal LawEnforcement Basic Academy with topics including animalhusbandry and first aid, conducting criminal investigationsand gathering evidence, to civil liability and child abusereporting. After that, they work with a Field Training Officerto hone their skills.ACOs for the County of San Diego respond to emergencies

24/7. A typical day starts early (6 a.m.) by preparing theirpatrol vehicle and gathering the list of pending calls. The of-ficer will then drive to their patrol area to begin handling calls.As they work through the list of calls, they must also respondto new high priority calls for service. Their trucks areequipped with lap top computers which save a lot of time. The pending calls are incidents that are not currently in

progress but reported by residents. Usually, reports of dogsbeing allowed to be off leash; dogs that have attacked orthreatened a person or other animal; animals that are not re-ceiving proper care; health and sanitation concerns; and other

The Animal Control Officer

don’t want him exposed to a dog that has kennel cough orsomething like that and have him start to degrade again. Look-ing at him today, he’s a happy little dog.”DeSousa said it’s likely Chance had been shot a very short

time before Espinoza’s call. DeSousa added that it will take a week to determine the top

three adoption prospects. “We will contact them and ask them to do an interact with the

dog,” he said. “Based upon how those go, we’ll then pick ourtop choice. “There are a lot of people who want this dog, but we have to

do what’s right by the dog. We need to find him the idealhome.”Perhaps mere moments, DeSousa said, were the difference

between this story and a report of a far different nature. “Thedog was an inch away from dying,” he explained. “The bulletwent through the lungs and just missed the heart. The lungswere damaged severely. Without the intervention, the dogwould have died [Feb. 20].“It’s amazing. I’m sitting there looking at a dog shot and left

for dead, and here he is.”Luck was with Chance that day. And everything else being

equal, that fortune is about to rub off on some worthy areafamily.The search is still on for the assailant, who may face felony

animal cruelty charges.

The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services providesdog licensing and animal control services for the unincorporatedareas of San Diego County and the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar,Encinitas, San Diego, Santee, and Solana Beach.

H BdD 5COVER STORY


similar situations.ACOs wear many hats. They mediate neighbor disputes

involving animals, educate people about proper animal care, issuecitations for minor violations and impound animals to ensure thesafety both of the public and the animals. An ACO must be aproblem solver, a teacher,an authority figure, adetective, and most of alla rescuer. Throughout allthey do, ACOs show howmuch they care about theanimals that they dealwith. This is most evidentwhen they are called onto end an animal’s suffer-ing in a gentle, compas-sionate way. ACOs helpreunite owners with theirlost pets. They do whatthey can to stem the tideof neglect and cruelty ofindiscriminate breeding for profit and animal fighting.Another very important job performed by the ACO is humane

education and dog bite prevention. By visiting local schools toteach children how to behave around animals – dogs in particular. In conjunction with the court system and local prosecutors, the

Responsible Pet Ownership Program provides a three-hour train-ing class to people who have been charged with or convicted ofminor animal-related violations. Similar to traffic school.ACOs investigate crimes against animals. All too often, ACOs

deal with dangerous, violent people. Cockfighting and dogfightingactivities go hand-in-hand with illegal gambling, drugs, and guns.The largest cockfighting case in U.S, history was handled here inSan Diego which resulted in the seizure of 5,000 fighting birds andthe arrest of many individuals at the scene. Another all too common and dangerous situation is the dog (or

cat) that has been hit by a car. The officer is faced with the hazardsof the roadway as well as the instinctive reaction for the seriouslyinjured animal to bite. However, they have techniques and equip-ment designed to safely move the animal to their vehicle so thatemergency veterinary care can be obtained.When responding to a report of an attacking dog or one that has

bitten someone and is still at large, the ACOs treat these calls as anumber one priority and respond as quickly as possible. Once onscene, their first priority will be to protect the public from the ani-mal and attempt to capture it. Once that is accomplished, theowner will be contacted, if known, and very often, issued a citationto appear in court to answer for the violation. Animal Control Officers are a unique and special breed of per-

son. They are educators, advocates, law enforcement officers, andabove all, animal lovers. They provide a vital service to the com-munity they serve.

OFFICERCONTINUED FROM Page 5

“To protect the health, safety andwelfare of people and animals.”


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

Goading a city to its pastoral past

Hershey, the founding member of San Diego’s Goat Jus-tice League, has fought for relaxed regulations forurban agriculture — that growing phenomenon

wherein residents of major metropolises the world over are get-ting back to their rural roots with backyard chickens, goats andcommunity gardens — since her pet goats, Prudence and Faith,were banished from her Ocean Beach home based on the com-plaints of a neighbor a couple years ago. Hershey was admittedly keeping goats without the legal

backing of a city ordinance, but, she said, she had received theblessing of every homeowner surrounding her property tohave them, and only after she had been enjoying the benefitsof fresh milk and cheese — not to mention the companionship— for a full nine months did her next-door neighbor decide heno longer wished to live within striking distance of a couple ofminiature goats. “He said they were too loud,” she said, “so I used a decibel

meter to measure their noise and it turned out they registeredabout 70 [decibels], which is the same as human conversation.”Hershey pointed this out to the city worker assigned to assess

neighborhood code compliance, but she was told the city does-n’t base compliance on such details. It takes into account onlythe validity of complaints based on existing city ordinance. Asher goats were not covered under San Diego’s former regula-tions on urban agriculture, their noise level wasn’t the issue —they weren’t allowed at all, quiet or not. Prudence and Faithwere not legal San Diegans.Hershey was lucky enough to have a close friend in Alpine

who agreed to take the goats — “I was able to maintain visitingrights” — but she wasn’t satisfied returning to simple cityliving, buying her milk from the store. And as much as shemissed the fresh dairy, she missed her pets more. “It was a huge blow [when I gave up Prudence and Faith],”

she said. “It was heart wrenching. I was in tears and it reallybroke my heart.” Hershey will not get Prudence and Faith back (“They have

a new owner who really cares for them”), but she will get thenext best thing: Jolene, a half Nigerian dwarf and half LaMancha (a breed that, Hershey said, is famous for being the“strong, silent type”) and Jolene’s lone kid, Cilia. On Jan. 31, theCity Council approved changes to the local urban agricultureregulations, making it easier for residents to have chickens,goats and bees, as well as making local produce from retailfarms and community farmers’ market stands more accessible.Hershey has been involved in the months-long process ofrewriting the regulations by attending community meetings topromote the practice of urban agriculture and working withcity staff to create an all-encompassing ordinance. At a meet-ing of the Planning Commission in December and again atthe council’s Jan. 31 meeting, she provided a quick-and-easyhow-to demonstration on pasteurizing milk to alleviate fearsof food-borne illness.“The government trusts us to buy raw meat,” she said.

“So why shouldn’t we be able to handle raw milk?”Under the new regulations, which go into effect sometime

this month, San Diegans may have up to five chickens with no

Laura Hershey wants goats. Specifically, she wants her goats back.

setback requirement (previously, the set-back was 50 feet from any structure, mak-ing it nearly impossible for many residentsto legally keep chickens). Additionally, twominiature, de-horned (neutered, if male)goats are allowed, as are bees if they are atleast 30 feet from an off-site residence.The regulations went through the Plan-

ning Commission and two City Councilmeetings with unanimous approval all theway. The plan, however, was not withoutits detractors. At a meeting of the La JollaCommunity Planning Association (LJCPA)in January, fears ranged from public healthnightmares to concerns about the welfareof animals brought home by people whomight be less-than-equipped to care forlivestock. One LJCPA trustee voiced con-cern that those who see urban agriculture asa popular fad might jump on the band-wagon, but county shelters may have tocarry the burden once the realities of caringfor goats or chickens are discovered.Another trustee, Mike Costello, wonderedwhat would happen to the roosters mis-takenly taken for hens as chicks.That particular concern, says veterinar-

ian and owner of the Avian and Exotic An-imal Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins, shouldnot present much of a problem, especiallyif eager urban agriculturalists purchasetheir chicks from a hatchery. Thosechicks, he said, are already vaccinatedand sexed — meaning their gender isdetermined by a professional. Thatdoesn’t mean they don’t make mis-takes, he said, but “it doesn’t happenvery often.”As for the possibility of absentee

chicken parents, does Jenkins (whoraises his own chickens in his back-yard, which he says is about the size ofa “postage stamp”) expect we’ll see an

influx in abandoned or neglected chick-ens?“It hasn’t been a huge problem in the

past, and chickens and ducks have alwaysbeen available for sale,” he said. “It takesso much preparation to decide you wantthem and it’s an expensive project to start,so it pretty much deters anyone who mightneglect them down the road. It’s a chore...and you have to be somewhat dedicated todo it.”Furthermore, Jenkins said, those with

chickens tend to love them as they wouldany other pet.“The people we see love their chickens

so much that if [the chicken] never laidanother egg, they would probably keepthem forever as pets,” he said, citing theclients he recently saw who paid close to$1,500 to have their hen spayed and givenmedical attention. “Backyard chickens aregreat, and they make excellent pets.They’re friendly, outgoing and highlyintelligent. My wife even has one that sitson her lap regularly.”Jenkins’ chickens are like family mem-

bers, he said. They are companions, butmake no mistake: they’re also there toprovide their human caregivers with fresheggs.“We do have expectations they’ll lay

eggs,” he said. “But we also have expecta-tions of our children — ‘Take out thegarbage, dammit!’ — and they’re familymembers, too.”As for Hershey, she’s busy kid-proofing

her home. Goats, she said, are notoriouslycurious and will chew on or knock downanything they’d like to get a closer lookat. To avoid any complications withproblematic neighbors, she is waitinguntil the regulations take effect to bringhome Jolene and Cilia, who are currentlyresiding on a ranch in Ramona. She visits

them often, but said it getsharder every time shegoes to see them andcan’t bring themhome.

“They’re very goodpets,” she said. “Emotion-ally, it’s a good thing tohave that companionship,to have someone who’shappy to see you whenyou get home. And when Idrink their milk, I thankthem every time.”

H BdD 5FEATURE


Urban agriculturein a nutshell:GOATS: Two — no more, no less —may be kept in single-family zonesand on lots developed with single-family homes. They must be de-horned and males must be neutered.Sheds must be predator-proof, haveeasy access for cleaning and be wa-tertight, ventilated and draft free withminimum 5 square feet per goat.

CHICKENS: Up to five chickens maybe kept with no setback requirements.Up to 15 chickens may be kept withno setback from onsite residence, butwith a coop at a 15-foot setback. Up to25 chickens may be kept at 50 feetfrom any residence. Coops must bepredator proof with easy access forcleaning, sufficient space for freemovement, water tight, ventilatedand with 6 square feet per chicken.

HONEY BEES: Up to two hives maybe located no closer than 30 feetfrom an offsite residence and 50 feetfrom the public right-of-way. Morethan two hives must be located 600feet from an offsite residence and 100feet from the right-of-way. Theremust be a reliable water sourcewithin 10 feet, a 6-foot tall screenunless elevated at least 8 feet abovegrade, hives must face away from theclosest property line, must be locatedwithin a secured area to protect thecolony and members of the public,and keepers must be in compliancewith recognized best practices forbeekeeping

For a full list of updated urbanagriculture regulations, seewww.sandiego.gov/development-services/industry/pdf/urbansum-marytable.pdf.

Laura Hershey hangs with a friend's goats on thecouch. Some owners have found that goats, muchlike dogs, make good indoor/outdoor pets.

H BdD 5VET Q&A


Dr. Stefanie Schwartzis a board certified vet-erinary behavioristbased in Southern Cal-ifornia. She sees pa-tients at CaliforniaVeterinary Specialists inCarlsbad and at TheVeterinary Neurology

Center in Tustin, CA. Formore information, please call (949) 342-6644or visit www.veterinarybehavior.org.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,I’m writing for my cat, who goes out

and has narrowly escaped coyotestwice. What’s your advice?

Cat With 7 Lives Left

Dear Cat With Seven Lives Left,Stay inside!!! Coyotes, cars, disease,

snakes, and disturbed people are alldangers to pet cats who are allowed toroam outside, even if they stay close toyour home.Coyotes are hungry and will soon

have more mouths to feed as pups areborn beginning in early spring. They aremore attracted to neighborhoods wherecats roam outdoors, which also help

them to lose their fear of people. Mostcats don’t get a second chance nevermind a third. Your cat really is lucky, buthow far do you want to push your luck?Cats live longer, healthier lives re-stricted to the indoors. Is it ‘cruel’ tokeep your cat indoors? Isn’t it morecruel to expose him to all the dangersand use him as coyote bait? So ask your-self, do you feel lucky? Well, do you?

Dear Dr. Schwartz,I rescued my dog Charlie from the

shelter last year. He is a 3-year-oldMaltese and has a big yard to play in.The problem is he keeps escaping fromthe front door when we open it and heruns straight across the road to visit thefemale Yorkie who belongs to myneighbors. Last week he was almostsquashed by a truck. What should I do?

Thanks, Charlie’s Angel

Dear Charlie’s Angel,Make sure Charlie has at least two

long leash walks every morning andafternoon/evening every day. Ask yourneighbor if one of these could include aplay date with their Yorkie in your yard(or theirs) if it’s fenced in. If he has areliably fun day, he won’t take suchrisks to get out. Make sure to get himneutered as soon as possible; neutereddogs make fewer escape attempts. Puta bell on his collar so you can hear himcoming and be aware of where he iswhen you open the front door. It can behelpful to leave a short leash on him soyou have a better chance of steppingon it if he starts to build up speed. Ifyou prefer, place a baby gate acrosshis approach to the front door to savehim from a tragic fate. He was luckyonce but we don’t want to test fate.

Behavior Bytes

Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, MSc, DACVBVeterinary Behavior [email protected]

H BdD 5PET PRESS


Layla is an 8-month-old, once overly hyperactive Aus-tralian Shepherd. Sunny is a blonde Standard Poodleshow dog. Cosmo is a Golden Retriever who has battled

fearfulness in the past. Buddy is a mixed breed with aggressivegenes, who lost his brother to euthanasia and was on the samepath after nipping at two people.These dogs come from very different backgrounds and

walks of life, but they have something in common — they'veall come together under the training of Lyssa Noble-Dennis,owner of Whole Dog Sports Center in Carlsbad, and they arenow well behaved and raking in top honors at agility train-ing competitions.Noble-Dennis opened the facility on Jan. 2, but she has a

following of loyal clients that dates back many years. Evenher classes have become close-knit, with the dogs and own-ers in a class forming close bonds and working together intheir training. "It's all about bonding," said Noble-Dennis, adding that

dog training is not just for dogs with behavior issues. "Wehave services and classes for dogs from puppyhood to thesenior years. All these dog sports, they keep dogs healthymentally and physically."Agility training is one of Noble-Dennis' specialties, however

Whole Dog Sports Center offers a variety of dog-centeredclasses and services, from acupuncture to breed-specific meet-

For Carlsbad dog sportscenter, fun is the focus

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 SPORTS, Page 14

Cosmo Photo by Claire Harlin

H BdD 5 PET PRESS


up groups to scent classes. She evenhosts a "Meet the Vet" event on the firstFriday of every month.Noble-Dennis said most of her longtime

clients keep coming back not only becausethey achieve the highest level of relation-ship building between them and their pet,but also because it's just plain fun.

"The Whole Dog Centeris geared towards fun,fun, fun with your dog,"she said. "The motto is'Everything Fun For Youand Your Dog.'"While Noble-Dennis realized early on

that she had a knack for communicatingwith dogs, her background is not just inanimals. She studied clinical psychologyat San Francisco State University andbegan working as a child therapist, butrealized during the process of applyingto Ph.D programs that it wasn't for her.She discovered her passion while in-terning for the Society of the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals' (SPCA) AnimalBehavior Hotline."Anyone with a behavior problem

could call in, and I would call them backand send them information on how tosolve their behavior problem," she said."We did this so the pet wouldn't end upback in the shelter."Noble-Dennis was first mentored and

trained by accomplished behavioristGwen Bonenkemp at the SPCA, and shemoved on to work under well-knownservice dog trainer Martha Hoffman.For the past 18 years, she has been in-volved in all aspects of dog training.From obedience competition to policedog training to herding and hunting —she's trained more than 9,000 dogs.She's put championship titles on

many dogs in both local and nationalcompetitions, however she said her ownstudents have beat her a few times. "I don't speak any other languages,

but I can speak dog pretty well," shesaid. "I tell people I'm a dog interpreter."For more information, visit

www.wholedogsports.com.

SPORTSCONTINUED FROM Page 13

Reality RallyGillian Larson, was a contestant on

the TV show Survivor in 2008 and nowshe is producing what has become thepremier Reality Star fundraiser in thecountry and a major Temecula event in-volving over 500 people in its produc-tion and thousands attending. RealityRally is a three-day weekend event toraise funds for Michelle’s Place, a localbreast cancer resource centre The eventis a weekend of “Fun for Funds” onApril 13th-15th 2012 with over 100 Re-ality Stars and 6 Canine stars from theSo Cal Surf dogs and Chopper. The Re-ality Rally game is the main event.Teams of Reality Stars and the public,play a 4-hour "Amazing Race" kind ofgame, in a competition involving crazyactivities and fun challenges Everyonecan be part of the event in some way,"There is something for everyone, playthe game, volunteer, sponsor, donate,play golf, come to fun parties or comeand watch for free. Bring the family tosee the dogs and we also have snakesand horses !!Please help our great dogs raise money

http://realityrally.com/index.php/real-ity-stars/2012-reality-rally-canine-starsCheck out the website for complete

details www.realityrally.comEmail Gillian if you have any ques-

tions. [email protected]

New Blood TestScreens for Cancer Veterinary Diagnostics Institute, Inc. (VDI)has released a simple blood test, INCaSe ca-nine cancer screen, that screens for caninecancer in the apparently healthy dog.INCaSe (Initial Notification Cancer Screen) isperformed as part of a routine wellness visitto detect cancer early or confirm that thedog is cancer free. The ultra-sensitive andhighly specific test detects malignant growthbefore any overt signs of disease are appar-ent. By detecting cancer early, more effec-tive treatment options are typically available.Stay informed by visiting VDI on Facebook orat www.vdilab.com.

H BdD 5PET PRESS


Overcoming Anxiety to Find LoveMJ was found darting in and out of

traffic during the busy morning commute.Recognizing the dangerous situation, agood Samaritan pulled over to try to help. Although the 3-year old Pit Bull Terrier

had an ear infection and some hair loss,his real challenge would require the timeand skills of our Behavior & Trainingdepartment, who would spend the nextweeks using positive reinforcement andcounter conditioning to help with hisshyness and sensitive startle responseto sounds. Thanks to the trainers andSherman Street caregivers who workedwith him, MJ was able to make tremen-dous progress toward overcoming hisbehavioral obstacles. And judging by thephotos his new family sent us, it wouldappear that now he’s feeling anythingbut anxious.

His new mom couldn’t be happiereither and tells us, “We absolutely LOVEMJ. He fits in perfectly with our family...MJ wags his tail constantly and evendanced with me this morning. The vetkept complimenting him on his behavior,demeanor and disposition. Thank you so,so much for the training and the care yougave him and for trusting him with us.He is a cherished member of the family.”

About the San Diego Hu-mane Society & SPCAThe Humane Society offers San Diegans awide range of programs and services thatstrengthen the human-animal bond, pre-vent cruelty/neglect, provide medical careand educate the community on the hu-mane treatment of animals. More informa-tions at www.sdhumane.org

See ad on page 26


We two-leggers can be far tooproficient at what-if andshould-have thinking. By

replaying past mistakes and investingfar too much time trying to orchestratefuture scenarios, we don’t alwaysallow ourselves ample time to embraceliving in the present and enjoy life’ssmall delights.We can all take lessons from a couple

of San Diego cats answering to thenames of Henry and Zeki. Neither en-joyed much luck as kittens. Henryneeded his front leg amputated – afterit was possibly crushed by a car -- tosave his life as a young stray. Zekimiraculously survived a brutal knifeattack that took a big chunk out of herback as a young pregnant stray.Both cats have every reason to be full

of hiss and hatred. But both have shookoff their rough starts to be poster cats forall things good, positive and playful. Let’s start with Henry’s tale. He beat

the odds by winning the heart – andhome of an ardent dog lover namedCathy Conheim who had a dim view ofcats. But then one day, Henry limped toher home with his mangled front paw.A veterinarian gave Conheim two op-tions: euthanasia or finance Henry’samputation surgery and care for himduring his recovery. Conheim opted forthe latter, not knowing at the time howmuch this would alter her life forever.“I never thought in a million years

that I’d have a cat,” confesses Conheim,a psychologist in La Jolla. “I grew upwith a mother who hated cats becausethey killed birds. Until I met Henry,that’s how I viewed cats, too. But whatI learned from Henry is that hate islearned. I also learned how remarkableand resilient Henry is. The day he wokeup without a front paw, he just startedwalking with three paws.”When Conheim adopted Henry, she

began writing about her about-face at-titude toward cats to her friends. Theyshared her feline insights with theirfriends. All of this led to her creating awebsite called Henry’s World, author-ing books, children’s workbooks andsharing life’s lessons by becomingHenry’s official scribe and inspiringthousands all over the globe.In 2010, Henry was named ASPCA

Cat of the Year at an award ceremonyheld in New York City. Conheim isn’t abig fan of air travel, but made the ex-ception because of the impact Henryhas made on her life.“Henry teaches us to play the paw

we’re dealt,” says Conheim. “Animalsmake great teachers because they arefully present beings. They don’t seemto dwell on the past. They simplymove on.”Zeki is a Turkish Van mix with a

spunky survival attitude, an uncannyability to make friends with dogs and acharisma that wins over people whonormally are not feline fans. I shouldknow. I adopted Zeki just a few monthsafter her knife attack. She was in a fos-ter home with far too many cats and de-veloped herpes and conjunctivitis andnearly lost her left eye to a corneal ulcer. Today, Zeki travels with me to pet

shows, serves as my teacher’s pet in mypet first aid classes and even hob-nobbed with pet celebrities like dogtrainer Victoria Stilwell and Tillman,

the skateboard-surfing Bulldog in LasVegas. She is believed to be the only catto have a baseball signed by Hall ofFame pitcher Orel Hershiser, has aFacebook page and has been featuredin a national television show calledTales For the Pet Lover’s Heart.The scar is still visible from the emer-

gency surgery needed to suture herback together. Nerve damage causesher to waddle like Charlie Chaplain,but Zeki is all about scoring turkeytreats, getting chin scratches and swat-ting paper wads across my tile floor.The next time you have a minor hic-

cup in life – like a bad hair day orstanding in a long line for coffee, I hopeyou take a moment to cherish life’s un-expected good moments – just like apair of cats named Henry and Zeki do.Given the chance, pets can unleashgood health and can-do attitudes in us.

Founder of Four LeggedLife.com and creator ofNational Dog Party Day,Arden Moore is an ani-mal behavior consultant,best-selling author, pro-fessional speaker andcertified pet first aid in-structor. Tune into her

Oh Behave! Show on Pet Life Radio and enroll inher pet first aid classes. For more information,please visit www.fourleggedlife.com, www.pet-firstaid4u.com and www.petliferadio.com.

Arden Moore, ACCBC, ADCBCPet trend, behavior and safety [email protected]

Zeki joined me at Super Zoo in Las Vegas inNovember 2011 and calmly like Tillman thefamous skateboard-surfing bulldog sniff herbutt as a greeting. That’s his owner, Ron Davis.And Tillman loves cats – he has one at home.

In 2010, Henry was named ASPCA Cat of the Yearat an award ceremony held in New York City.

She came to me in 2009. Someonehad dumped her in Big Bear andjust left her to fend for herself.

My friend Linda took her in, probablybecause she could not say no to thisvery verbal, meow-y cat, but soondiscovered a big problem… actually,two smallish yappy problems: her twoJack Russell terriers.Now, Jacks are bred to chase after

small, furry critters, and that’s exactlywhat a 9-pound, longhaired black catis: prey. Worse, the dogs didn’t justchase her; they terrorized her. Finally, out of desperation and a

heart too big to toss Coco back out inthe snow, Linda started keeping Cocolocked in a back bedroom. Sure, shehad plenty of food and water and alitter box kept clean, but Coco wasn’tgetting something all living thingsneed.Aw, c’mon, you know.She was left alone all the time, just

hiding under the bed or sitting in thewindow.Cats may be independent, but they

are also warm, loving creatures thatsuffer when they are neglected.So, now you’re thinking, “This is a

lucky cat? KR must be out of hermind!”It just happened that Linda and her

hubby decided to move out of thestate. They wanted to take their Jackswith them, but they knew that tryingto drive to Oregon with the dogs andthe cat in one car would be a disaster. One phone call later, and I inherited

Coco.So Linda and her hubby drive down

to San Diego with Coco, and voila! I in-stantly had a new furry friend whowanted nothing to do with me at all. Coco fled up the stairs, hid under thebed and refused to speak to me. Thus began my campaign to win her

over. I put food and water upstairs andlet her be so she could adjust. I believethat she came out and explored thehouse after I went to bed – the housewas dark, quiet, and devoid of JackRussells.I’d like to think she felt her luck

change that first quiet night.By the next morning, she felt com-

fortable enough to talk to me, and sheeven allowed me to scritch under herchin, which led to a frisky attack. Itossed a fuzzy bug, and she chased it,tail high and frizzed, then wove herselfaround my ankles, mrrow-ing at thetop of her lungs. I petted her, tossed thebug again, and our morning routinewas born.I soon realized that Coco’s long fur

was matted and knotted, so brushing


My cat Coco is the luckiest cat in San DiegoB y K R J O H N S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

COCO

SEE COCO, Page 23


You’re vegetarian, you shop withyour own recycled bags andwork hard to keep your waste

out of the landfill, so it make sense thatyou are leaning toward an animal com-panion that matches your green lifestyle.Look no further – rabbits are one of themost planet-friendly pets around!

Rabbits Create a Very SmallCarbon Paw Print Like you, rabbits are herbivores.

They eat only plants and grasses. Theyare “local” consumers, enjoying freshhays and greens. Shop at your localfarmer’s market for their daily salad andenjoy an extra bonus; ask for the “trim-mings” from carrots, beets, turnips, etc.and get them for free! Hay can comefrom your local feed store (or in SanDiego from the House Rabbit Society’scommunity hay sales program), de-creasing the “food miles” required tosustain your rabbit companion. A rabbit’s waste is comprised of bro-

ken down hay fibers, which is cleanand free from bacteria that are harmfulto our environment or us. This makesthem cleaner, fresher smelling, and eas-ier to care for than other species. Sure,you still have to dump a litter box butits contents can go straight onto yourcompost pile. If you use a rabbit-friendly paper or wood-based litter boxfiller that, along with bunny’s drop-pings and hay, makes wonderful com-post material.Love to garden? Plant a vegetable

and edible flower garden to feed you –and your rabbit – and use bunny’s litterbox waste to fertilize the plants and actas mulch to protect roots and hold inmoisture. You don’t even have to com-post it first; rabbit waste is nutrient richand safe to use right from the litter box.If you belong to a garden co-op or agardening club, your rabbit’s litter boxwaste will be like “gold,” everyone willwant some!

Rabbits Love to RecycleRabbits love “green” toys. Card-

board boxes make great “hidey” homesand are fun to chew. Empty tissueboxes or toilet paper tubes stuffed withhay make yummy treats. Old maga-

zines and phone books translate intohours of shredding fun. Empty paperbags create fun hiding places. No needto spend money on expensive newtoys; just share your junk mail andpaper-based waste with bunny!Rabbits also love babies’ toys.

Heavy plastic chew toys and rattles arefun to fling, rattle, and chew. Toddlerplayhouses from Little Tikes makegreat bunny play areas. You can pickthese up at resale shops for children.

Think Green When Choosingand Caring for Your Rabbit Adopt – don’t shop. Visit your local

shelter, humane society or rabbit rescuewhen looking for a rabbit companion.Thousands of rabbits end up with localanimal welfare agencies, in need of agood home. When you purchase from abreeder or pet store, you are contribut-ing to the problem of animal overpop-ulation and not enough homes for

every bunny born.Spay or neuter your rabbit compan-

ion. Another important step in stem-ming overpopulation is to get yourrabbit altered as soon as he/she is oldenough. Males can be neutered at about12 weeks, and females at 20 weeks.Contact San Diego House Rabbit Soci-ety to get referrals to rabbit-experi-enced vets and lower-cost spay/neuteroptions for rabbits. Altering your petrabbit will not only prevent babies, itwill make your rabbit a healthier andhappier companion and aid in litter boxtraining. Use non-toxic cleaning products.

Vinegar & water make the best clean-ing solution for bunny’s washable bed-ding, toys, and litter box. Also, keepyour yard and home free from pesti-cides and harmful fertilizers.For more great ideas on the green benefits

of adopting a rabbit companion, contactSan Diego House Rabbit Society [email protected].

GO GREEN WITH A RABBIT COMPANION


Providing good quality joint sup-port supplements is one of themost common and important

aspects of maintaining joint health,especially in colder weather and as thepet ages. With so many products avail-able how does one choose the rightproduct for your pet’s specific needs?Here are a few key ingredients that areimportant to look for when shoppingfor the perfect joint supplement. Glucosamine is perhaps the most

widely known and one of the mostimportant ingredients for joint health.Glucosamine is a fairly small particleand is absorbed well by the body andis used to make thick and viscous jointfluid. This viscous joint fluid cushionsthe two bone endings and allows themto glide smoothly over each other. Therecommended amount of Glucosaminefor a 50 pound dog is 1000 milligramsper day. If there is less than this it issimply not enough. Chondroitin is another common in-

gredient found in joint supplements.This molecule is an important compo-nent of cartilage. It is a larger moleculethan Glucosamine and thus is not asreadily absorbed into the body. MSM is an ingredient that is widely

known to have an anti-inflammatoryeffect. This is important as inflamma-tion causes the release of hydrolyzingenzymes. These enzymes cause thebreak down of the joint fluid thatcushions the joint.Hylauronic Acid is another compo-

nent found in many joint supplementsthat chemically is the same as jointfluid. Wouldn’t this be the ideal prod-uct to give to your pet you might ask?The downside of Hylauronic Acid isthat it is a very large molecule andunlike Glucosamine it is not absorbedwell into the body. Herbs are also a great choice for joint

support. A few herbs to look for areboswelia, an herb that also helps to stopthe breakdown of joint fluid, yucca,

curcumin, and corydalis. Cinnamon isalso a great choice because it has aslight warming quality for pets thathave joint issues that tend to get worsein cold weather.One other suggestion is to add

Omega 3 fatty acids to the pet’s diet.Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflamma-tory by nature and help to providegreat joint support as well.As always, it is generally a good idea

to be preventative when it comes tojoint care. It is a great idea to supportyour pet throughout their life ratherthan wait until problems occur.

JOINT SUPPORT – Demystifying Joint Support SupplementsB y D R . C H R I S T I N E B E S S E N T, D V M

Christine Bessent, DVM is theowner and founder of Herbsmith Inc.She created Herbsmith Inc. as a wayto provide impeccable quality herbalsupplements for pets. Dr. Bessenthas been a practicing Veterinarianfor nearly 25 years in Southeast Wis-consin, most of which as a HolisticVeterinarian.


More than 20 years ago, Lisa Hamilton realized a prob-lem —the euthanasia list at shelters is very long andmost animals are on it because of behavior or medical

needs. Being an animal lover, she decided to do somethingabout it. What began with her taking pets into her home, car-ing for them and then adopting them out has turned into oneof San Diego's largest rescue organizations, usually housingwell over 100 animals at a time.Oceanside-based Boxers N Birds Animal Rescue Inc. is a

product of Mission Animal and Bird Hospital, which recentlyopened a state-of-the-art facility at 655 Benet Road. The rescuegroup is housed in the hospital's former building — located justaround the corner — and managed by Hamilton, the hospitaladministrator, and Pam Chandler, marketing and communica-tion director. "We not only work full-time at a very busy hospital, but every

waking breathing moment we spend taking care of dogs andcats and birds in some capacity," said Hamilton, adding thatmost of the hospital's employees either volunteer for Boxers NBirds in some way or tote animals home to administer treat-ments after-hours.Mission Animal and Bird Hospital owner and veterinarian

Bob Cartin has kept the rescue group alive by subsidizing theexpenses of the old facility, which adds up to about $40,000 ayear in utilities alone. He has also provided medical care forBoxers N Birds since its beginnings in the late 1980s.The rescue group's name is derived from Hamilton's passions

— boxers and birds — and although it has a ring to it, the grouphas always catered to all breeds. Hamilton and Chandler are inthe process of getting their 501c3 status, and they are consider-ing changing the group's name to Second Chance at Life."We're actually one of the only all-breed rescue groups," said

Hamilton, adding that Boxers N Birds is also one of the onlyrescue groups that takes in birds. "Most are breed-specific and

H BdD 5RESCUE SPOTLIGHT

Helping more than just Boxers N BirdsB 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

very selective about what they take in. We have shelters, evenin L.A., that call us because they know we'll take even dogswith behavior problems. They'll say, 'Please make room for thisparticular dog,' and one of us will drive up and get it."Ninety-nine percent of rescued birds come from shelters,

which don't adopt out big birds because they don't have themedical staff to take care of them, Hamilton said. There areseveral volunteers with Boxers N Birds that are particularlyinterested in working with birds that have behavioral oraggression problems.Both Chandler and Hamilton have a passion for rescuing

animals that dates back to childhood. Chandler's family tookin many dogs when she was a child, and when she was oldenough, she started volunteering at her local shelter.Hamilton has been working in vet hospitals since she was 14

and cleaning cages."From the moment I was old enough to start thinking about

it, I knew what I wanted to do," she said.She said her drive to rescue animals not only comes from the

heartwarming aspects of saving lives, but also the downsidesshe's experienced in her years of working in hospitals. "The passion to help comes from being the one having to do

the euthanasia and knowing there's got to be another answer,"she said.For more information on Boxers N Birds, email Boxer-

[email protected] or call (760) 433-3763 ext. 224.

Left: Lisa Hamilton started what has become one of San Diego’s largestall-breed rescue groups, Boxers N Birds, by taking pets into her home andadopting them out. Right: Pam Chandler, the marketing and communi-cations director of Boxers N Birds, one of the only recues in San Diego tak-ing in birds.

» DO YOU KNOW A RESCUE THAT DESERVES THE SPOTLIGHT?SEND US A NOTE TELLING US WHY TO [email protected]


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

Fuzzy Wolf CanineTraining AcademyCert. Trainer Program, Group & PrivatePet Parent training. (831) [email protected]

Ark Animal HospitalSmall animal veterinary hospital6171 Balboa Avenue, SD, CA 92111Open Mon–Sat • (858) 277-3665http://www.arkahsd.com

County of San Diego Department of Animal Services(619) 767-2675 • www.sddac.com

EasyTurf A Field Turf CompanyRequest a FREE DESIGN consultation2750 La Mirada Dr, Vista, CA 920811-800-550-7270www.sdpets.easyturf.com

Home Buddies by Camp Bow WowDog Walking, Pet Sitting & Dog TrainingBonded and Insured (619) 889-7767www.myhomebuddies.com/LaJolla

California Veterinary Specialists 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008,(760) 431-2273 • 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSFour Legged LifePet event speaker Arden MooreDog/cat behavior consultsHost dog parties • (760) 433-3480www.fourleggedlife.com

Bark Avenue Resort and Kamp655 Benet Road, Oceanside, CA. 92058 (760) 433-3763 Ext. 7Email: [email protected] www.BarkForPets.com

List your Business, call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

Alma and Ray of Encinitas were attheir wit’s end. Sleep was a faraway dream recently

snuffed out by Baby, their beloved fe-male tabby cat. Her days as a baby longgone, yowling and prowling caused thefamily sleepless nights and made theirhome the local red-light district for cats. Clearly, the time for Baby’s spaying

had arrived. While the low-incomefamily adored Baby, living paycheck topaycheck, they faced the excruciatinglikelihood of giving her away if no al-ternative emerged on the horizon. Fortunately, Alma, Ray and Baby kept

their family intact when a caring localnon-profit pet organization for low-in-come families spayed their furry baby. However, too often cats and dogs like

Baby are left to indiscriminately breed,producing a huge overpopulation ofstrays and unwanted animals left tofend for themselves on the streets andcanyons of San Diego county, often end-ing up in animal shelters. Not onlydoes this lead to a decimated bird pop-ulation (by feral cats), but can even bedangerous to humans (in the case ofstray dogs), as well as unsafe for the an-imals themselves.

Less yowling, more purring:Silent heroes of Spay San Diego sound the horn to spay and neuter 2,012pets in February in new low-cost program

B y TA M A R A G O L D S B Y, P H . D . | G U E S T C O L U M N

Spay San DiegoThis is about to change. Numerous

silent heroes of the San Diego animalworld – from the San Diego HumaneSociety to the National Cat ProtectionSociety to private veterinarians - havejoined forces to improve the lives of areapets and people with a low-cost spayand neuter program called Spay SanDiego. “It’s wonderful after twenty years in

San Diego animal welfare to see every-one in the Spay San Diego coalition join-ing forces and working toward thesame goal: helping animals,” says Jim

H BdD 5


Iceland PureThe Clean Power of NatureUnscented pharmaceutical-gradesalmon oil for your pets.http://www.icelandpure.com

Leashes and LovePet Sitting and Dog Walking CompanyServing San Diego and surrounding areas(619) 296-4928www.leashesandlove.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSLu Meyer, Obedience AcademyK-9 Family Matters, Only the best will do!Trusted, Experienced, Award WinningObedience Training. (760) 436-3571www.EncinitasObedience.com

National Cat Protection SocietyA shelter whose mission is dedicatedto the protection and welfare of cats.9031 Birch St. • Spring Valley(619) 469-8771 • http://natcat.org

Leash Your FitnessFitness class for you and your DOG.Classes / events throughtout San Diego.619-822-3296http://www.LeashYourFitness.com

Project WildlifeWildlife rehabilitation and education887 1/2 Sherman Street, SD, CA 92110Wildlife Hotline 619-225-9453www.projectwildlife.org

Pet First Aid 4 UDog and cat 1st aid, CPR classesHands-on training. Earn certificate.Throughout S.D. • (760) 433-3480www.petfirstaid4u.com

Mission Animal & Bird Hospital655 Benet Road, Oceanside, CA. 92058 (760) 433-3763 Email: [email protected]

PoopPac Dog Walkers CaseBAG IT – PAC IT – TRASH IT!Enjoy your walk in styleNo Odor - No Mess - It Works!www.pooppac.com

Silveira, President of Rancho CoastalHumane Society in Encinitas.Spay San Diego has set out the am-

bitious goal of spaying and neutering2,012 San Diego County animals inFebruary to coincide with World SpayDay on Feb. 28th and at press timewere well on their way to achievingthat goal. The Spay San Diego February event,

though, is only the beginning of whatis planned to be a longer-term project,according to Renee Harris, ExecutiveVice President of the San Diego Hu-mane Society and SPCA. The coali-tion’s goal, Harris says, is to “turn offthe spigot of strays and unwanted ani-mals, which will decrease the numberof animals coming into the shelter.” Harris states, “The project is lifesav-

ing because if we can prevent addi-tional unwanted animals, we canconcentrate on finding homes for theanimals in shelters.”“Our hope is that by combining our

[the coalition’s] efforts, we can bring af-fordable spay/neuter services to thecommunity and make a significant im-pact on reducing the number of un-wanted animals, ” says MichelleQuigley, Director of the North Campus,San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.“The strategies being developed by

our diverse organizations will go a longway in solving the challenge of pethomelessness in our community,” says

Dr. Robert Cartin, owner of MissionAnimal and Bird Hospital in Oceansideand veterinarian for Spay San Diego.Spay San Diego believes that every

dog and cat deserves a loving, safehome and plans to halt the snowballingunwanted animal population in itstracks. But they can’t do it without thecommunity’s help.

A community call-to-actionQuigley says, “This project is a call-

to-action and the start of a community-based movement to help improve thelives of people and animals throughoutSan Diego County.” “If you care about your four-legged

family member and about animals ingeneral,” Dawn Danielson, Director ofSan Diego County’s Department of An-imal Services implores the public, “it’stime to join Spay San Diego and getyour pet spayed or neutered.”Cindy Williams, Manager of the Na-

tional Cat Protection Society (NatCat)in Spring Valley sees the heartbreakingeffects of pet overpopulation every dayin her community, which is why shesays, “If you LOVE them, FIX them.”For more information about low-cost

spay or neuter and Spay San Diego, visitwww.spaysandiego.comTamara Goldsby, Ph.D. is a Research

Psychologist at UCSD, animal advocateand freelance writer.

became part two of our morning rou-tine: play, brush, morning constitu-tional on the patio, breakfast. It tookme a week to get all the mats out, in-cluding the time I spent cutting theworst ones off her. That was a slowprocess, because I didn’t want to cutmy wiggly feline. There is nothingworse than cat-guilt! Besides, itwould have caused a rift in our bud-ding friendship.Now? Her long, black fur is silky

and shiny, her eyes are clear and alertand she is frisky and playful and hascompletely wrecked my couch (mybad; I neglected to get her a goodscratching post, a mistake which isnow remedied). And, best of all, she isreally my little Coco-nut!Maybe I’m the lucky one.

HOW GREAT WOULD ITBE TO SIC BEES ON ABULLY? Or get a fly tohelp you cheat on ahistory test? Simon is abug whisperer with abig problem and a se-cret that may lead himto his mother’s killer.

The Eleventh Sense, by KR JohnsonAvailable now on amazon.comwww.TheEleventhSense.com

What bugs you?

COCOCONTINUED FROM Page 18

“If you LOVE them, FIX them.”

Emergency HospitalsBONITA/CHULA VISTAPet Emergency & SpecialtyCenter of South County (619) 591-4802885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 www.PESCSanDiego.com

CARLSBADCalifornia Veterinary Specialists(760) 431-2273 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, www.VCANorthCoast.com

ESCONDIDOAnimal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 7Days 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, CA92108,7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCAEmergency.com

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

POWAYAnimal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-738712775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m. to8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.www.AnimalEmergencySD.com

SAN MARCOSVeterinary 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, CA 92121 7Days 24 hrs.www.VSHSD.com

Animal Shelters & Humane SocietiesACCEPT STRAYS & HAVE ADOPTIONBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYCounty Animal Services5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

BONITACounty Animal Services5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

CAMP PENDLETONCamp Pendleton Animal Shelter4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120

CARLSBADCounty Animal Services2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92011 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

CHULA VISTACity of Chula Vista Animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123Hours: M-F 10am to 5pm Sat. 10am to 4pm

CORONADOAnimal Control Facility700 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 8:30am to 4:30am

EL CAJONCity of El Cajon Animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5:30pm

ESCONDIDOEscondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.comHours: 7 days 10am to 5pm

OCEANSIDESan Diego Humane Society-North (For dogs)2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

San Diego Humane Society-North (For cats )572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

ACCEPT OWNER RELINQUISHED ANIMALSBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYSan Diego Humane Society-San Diego Campus5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat-Sun 11am-5pmEL CAJONFriends of Cats15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm

ENCINITASRancho Coastal Humane Society389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.sdpets.orgHours: 11am -5pm every day except Tues. 11:30am-5pm

RANCHO SANTA FEHelen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11am to 6pmSPRING VALLEYNational Cat Protection Society9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5pm

H BdD 5 RESOURCE GUIDE

MARCH 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com

A Passion For Paws (Akita Rescue)(818) 925-4827www.AP assionForPaws.org

Baja Dog Rescue(619) 407-9372www.bajadogrescue.org

Bat Rescuewww.batrescue.org

Boxers N Birds (all breeds rescue and adoption)Like us on Facebook. 3308 Mission Ave.Oceanside, CA 92058. (760) 433-3763 x224www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA1647.html

Cat Adoption Service(760) 550-2287www.sdcats.org

Chihuahua Rescue of San Diegowww.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.com

Forgotten Paws Animal Rescuewww.forgottenpaws.org

German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue(760) 726-4813www.GSP-Rescue.org

Greyhound Connectionwww.GreyhoundConnection.org

Independent Therapy Dogs, Inc.A non-profit therapy dog organization providingtherapy dog visits for anyone who would like one.e-mail: [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/idtdinc/

It’s The PitsSpecializing in the Bully Breeds(858) 484-0985

List Srv 4 Therapy Dog TeamsA listing service/electronic bulletin [email protected]

Operation Greyhound(619) 588-6611www.OperationGreyhound.com

Paws of Coronado(619) 522-7371www.PawsOfCoronado.org

Pit Bull Rescue of San Diego(858) 693-7331www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.com

Rescue House(760) 591-1211www.rescuehouse.org

San Diego House Rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

S.D. Turtle & Tortoise Society(619) 593-2123www.SDTurtle.org

Second Chance Dog Rescue(619) 721-DOGS (3647)http://secondchancedogrescue.org

Westie Rescue of California(619) 579-6395www.WestieRescueCA.com

Rescue, Adoption andService Organizations

24


VetDepot Discount Pet Meds &Supplies • Save up to 60% on all leading brands including: Frontline,Cosequin, Greenies & Heartgardwww.vetdepot.com

Sophie Bella's StudioProfessional PhotographyCall Us for Your Holiday Photos858-717-6200www.sophiebellasstudio.com

Silva’s Dog TrainingTraining Puppies and Adult Dogs“From the Moment They Arrive Home!”(760) 613-3175www.silvasdogtraining.com

Star Grooming on FifthProfessional Pet Stylist1845 Fifth Ave (Between Elm & Fir)(619) 571-1795 www.stargroomingonfifth.com

TouchNpaws & MakeNscentsComfort * Wellness * MobilityServing the North County area (Mira Mesa up)(619) 405-4144 • www.TouchNpaws.com

The Total Dog, Swim & Gym3060 Industry St., Ste. 108Oceanside, CA • 760-721-1DOG (1364)www.mytotaldog.com

TTouch for dogs, cats and rabbitsBy certified practitioner Mary E. Cannon858-361-8038www.crittertouch.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSList your Business, call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

Puptown Doggie Daycare205 16th Street.San Diego, CA 92101(619) 234-5778 www.puptown.net

San Diego Humane Society & SPCA(619) 299-7012www.sdhumane.org

SD House Rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

Shelter Dogs To Dream DogsLearning With Love Dog TrainingAnimal Behavioral Specialist(619) 813-1252, [email protected]

Whole Dog Sports CenterDog training agility sports. All levels.6,000 sq ft indoor field. Classes available.Located in Carlsbad • (760) 931-2600 www.WholeDogSports.com

Welcome to theDr.'s Corner. I amDr. Jason Sweitzerand I am a veteri-narian at MissionAnimal and BirdHospital in Ocean-side with a specificinterest in Emer-gency Medicine,Behavior, and Ex-

otic Animals. This column will be yourchance to ask a vet your questions. I will tryto pick the topics that are the most timelyand useful to pet parents but will try torespond to all e-mails. Please submit yourquestions to [email protected].

Q: WITH EASTER RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER,WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY PETS SAFE?

A:Spring is coming and it is agreat time of year for our furryfriends, unfortunately there

are several dangerous toxins to be waryof. One of the most deadly can be EasterLilies. Unlike Poinsettias that are mostlyjust very upsetting to animals, all lilies,but especially Easter Lilies, are toxic. Justlike anti-freeze, even a small amount cancause kidney failure. Unfortunatelymany cats like to chew on them and theycome in many bouquets. The best ap-proach is not to bring them into yourhouse but if your cat does get into them,give your veterinarian a call immediately.

There are many other toxins that canbe around this time of year, especially in-side those plastic eggs and the easter bas-kets. Some candy and gums use anartificial sweetener called XYLITOL. Thiscan cause liver failure for your pet with avery small amount. While most of usknow how dangerous chocolate can be toour canine companions, chocolate cov-ered raisins have a bigger risk. Grapesand Raisins can cause kidney failure insome dogs. We haven't figured out howto tell which dogs yet so it is best just toavoid giving them to any dogs. If you ac-cidentally leave an easter egg out for toolong, the mold that grows on rotten foodcan cause severe seizures.Lastly, the infamous spring cleaning

may be good for your health and home,though dangerous for your pets. Manyof the cleaning chemicals you use havepungent and irritating odors and ourpets have much more sensitive nosesthan we do, especially our birds. Be sureto open the windows and ventilate thehouse well when you clean. Also, be sureto let any chemicals dry and clean sur-faces afterwards with water because an-imals walk around on their feet and licktheir feet clean. So even a slight residuecan be ingested by your animal andupset their stomach or cost you an emer-gency trip to the veterinarian.If you aren't sure if your pet got into

something toxic, please give your veteri-

narian a call immediately as minutes andhours can make a lot of difference. A goodresource for information on toxic plantsand other toxins is the ASPCA PoisonControl Hotline at (888) 426-4435 or thewebsite at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poi-son-control/. The $65 fee is worth it to getpotentially life-saving direction for yourpet. They also give you a case numberyou can give your vet to follow up andget personalized recommendations forany toxin. If your trusted family veteri-narian is closed, be sure you know whereyour local emergency hospital is locatedand put their phone number in your cellphone and on your emergency phone listahead of time. I look forward to reading your ques-

tions and a chance to help all of our fam-ily pets. Spring is nearly here andtogether we can make sure we keep yourpets healthy.

MARCH 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com/events26

Food, Fun, and FundraisingFriday, March 9, 20123pm-8pmIron Fist Brewing Co

Paws in the ParkSunday, March 25, 20128 a.m.–Noon (Kit Carson Park)escondidohumanesociety.org

Bark 4 LifeMarch 31, 2012Imperial Beach

Reality RallyApril 13-15, 2012www.realityrally.com

Del Mar Pet ExpoApril 14-15, 2012

Parkinson’s Step by Step5K Walk/RunApril 21, 2012Liberty StationCALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

M ore events and details posted online:

www.SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com/events

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