Petsecure's Paws Across Canada

Petsecure wants to see your pets! Share a picture of your dog or cat along with their name and hometown and Petsecure will add them to their interactive Paws Across Canada map. 

Photos can be posted to the Petsecure Facebook timeline or tweet a photo to @Petsecure on Twitter. 

Daisy's dog

We have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Kiwi, who was our baby for a few years before we actually had babies. She has a soft temperament and is friendly and easy going. But the pet experience I'm going to share today is the story of how we chose our second dog, a Golden Retriever named Sully. 

When Sully was born we had two kids aged one and three. We were just about to move into a new house and weren't even considering another addition to the family. But a lady who had previously looked after my kids announced on Facebook that her Golden was having puppies. Both puppy parents were small Goldens (about 50lbs) so we figured the puppies would also be on the small side. Also, I knew they would be raised surrounded by young kids so ours wouldn't come as too much of a shock. It didn't take much convincing and we were heading over to meet the 3-week-old pups and choose the one we'd welcome into our home a few months later. 

There were six puppies all stumbling around the room when we arrived. They were all adorable. The four of us (me, my husband and our two kids) all sat down in a circle around the dogs so we could pick our favourite. The puppies were wild, gnawing on toys, peeing on the floor, wrestling with each other. It was mayhem and hard to get them to sit still long enough to make a decision. Within minutes though, and amidst the chaos, Sully waddled over to our one-year-old daughter Daisy and plonked himself down in her lap. He remained there for the whole 30 minute visit as she gently stroked his ears. 

Obviously, there was no question. He was the dog for us, or should I say, for Daisy. A couple of months later, we picked up our (much larger) puppy and brought him home. Sully and Daisy have been the best of friends ever since. There's a bond between these two that doesn't exist between any other dog and human in our home. She's taught him how play gently and be mindful and respectful of children. He's taught her how to treat an animal and be conscious of their emotions and signals. They play, they cuddle and he always keeps a watchful eye out for her. 

Oh, also, he's now a strapping 85lb, 2-year-old puppy. So much for small! 


- Shannon Woodward, Mum to Kiwi & Sully (and a couple of human babies as well) 

Hamilton/Burlington SPCA Announces the Wiggle Waggle Walk & Splash 25th Anniversary

HAMILTON ON (June 25, 2014) – The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) is pleased to announce the 25th anniversary of the Wiggle Waggle Walk & Splash event, taking place September 7th, 2014 at Confederation Park and Wild Waterworks. 

In partnership with the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Wild Waterworks, this year’s Wiggle Waggle Walk & Splash event will feature a 5-kilometer walk, a doggie pool party, vendor marketplace, dog agility show and live music. 

Registration begins at 10:00am and the event concludes at 3:00pm. 
Registration is open for the Wiggle Waggle Walk & Splash online at www.hbspca.com. Pledges raised will help support homeless and abused animals in the Hamilton/Burlington community. 


To celebrate the milestone anniversary of this popular event, the HBSPCA Board of Directors is hosting the Bark n’ B-BQ fundraiser on Friday, September 5th from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. For more information visit: http://hbspca.com/donate/join-our-events/bark-n-bar-bbq/ 

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The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA protects animals from people, cares for animals in its Companion Animal Hospital, kennels and foster homes and teaches responsible pet ownership. The HBSPCA is a donor-based, private non-profit charity. 

Charitable Registration Number 11923 6750 RR0001. 

HBSPCA Contact 

Melissa Bennett, Donor Development Officer. mbennett@hbspca.com 905-574-7722 ext. 330 

What's in a Name?

Allow me to introduce you to my 8 month old Siberian Husky, his name is Loki. It occurred to me recently that naming a puppy is certainly a big deal and may require careful consideration. A new pet owner might strive to choose the right name that suits their puppies’ appearance, personality, sex, uniqueness, and breed.

The name Loki originates in Norse mythology, he was described by scholars as that of the Trickster God or God of Mischief. In my experience naming my new pup was a struggle, but Loki chose his name, and what an appropriate choice it was…

About a month ago I decided Loki was grown up enough to get a big boy bed. My neighbour has this really great bed for her dog that I decided I would buy for Loki. It’s large and plush and has a removable cover so it can be washed and is described as ‘indestructible’.

Excited, I headed out to the local pet store and made this fairly substantial purchase thinking this bed will last him YEARS and somehow he will appreciate that I purchased such a lovely INDESTRUCTABLE bed for him. Turns out he instantly took to his new bed. I spent about an hour with him, observing him with his newly claimed sleeping spot, and then headed out for work.

Now, I can’t exactly tell you what happened in the next 30 minutes… only Loki knows the truth, but I can speculate. At some point, and perhaps I attribute too many human qualities to Loki, but I believe a switch in the God of Mischief’s mind went off. I am certain as soon as he heard the front door close and my truck pull away, the wheels started turning and the Trickster God had a plan in mind. ‘Don’t tell me something is indestructible’ I imagine him thinking. Half an hour later, my roommate walked in to a destroyed indestructible bed, with Loki as the blue eyed center piece in the middle of a stuffing netherworld! There was no tail between the legs, no apologetic look on his face, no, he was grinning ear to ear, wagging his tail and proud of his accomplishment.

Needless to say it took my roommate just about as long to clean up the mess as it took Loki to methodically create it.

The next day I took the destroyed bed back to the store from whence it came, the store clerk looked at it and laughed. ‘What kind of dog do you have?’ he asked. ‘A 7 month old Siberian husky’ was my response; he immediately refunded me.

Remarkably Loki has not destroyed the $15 bed he had since I brought him home 5 months ago, and is quite content with its ‘destructibility’.

So what’s in a name you ask? In my case, amongst the 15 or so names I tried on him, Loki was the only one he responded to when called by said name.  Just goes to show you never know if a name will suit your dog or if your dog will suit his name. It seems that Loki has really grown into his, and this is just the start of our adventures…

Sheena Neel, Loki’s Mom

Petland Canada's Amy shares her personal pet experience - GAP

As far back as I can remember, there has been animals and pets in my life. I was born in Tilbury, Ontario, a small farming community where my family spent weekends at a friend's local farm. I loved visiting the farm and being around the animals, especially the piglets. I grew up surrounded by animals, I have many fond memories and really directed my passion to work with animals.

January 1998, I moved back to Winnipeg, leaving my family behind in Calgary. I searched for an apartment that was pet friendly. I was so excited to be able to have a pet that was my own. I made my journey to the Winnipeg Humane Society to adopt my very own cat. As I journeyed through all the adoptable I visited so many animals that needed to find their forever homes. It was overwhelming to make a choice, I asked myself how could I ever choose and leave someone behind. Then something amazing happened, as I washed around, an orange tabby reached out and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and he was the one, then I realized that there were two. That day, Loki and Newton chose me and my life has never been the same. They also lived up to their names, Loki is the trickster and Newton my cat that figured everything out. Both so social and affectionate.

We have moved across the prairies together, they helped me through tough times, celebrated the good times and I have been caught having full conversations with them.

This past Christmas, Newton's wonderful life came to an end. This was the first time that I experienced this and I was not prepared. This has made me an even better pet person as I can now empathize and share my experience. I was also so worried about Loki, as he lost his brother, we worked through everything together and this has brought Loki and I even closer.

Since I adopted Loki, he has never left my side. Every day, he greets me at the door, follows me around the house, talks to me and sleeps above my head. They have been a huge influence and such a positive impact on my life. Pets really do make life better. J

Murphy is HomeSafe!

Anyone hear this story coming out of the U.S. this week! What a great HomeSafe tale :) 

The Human Walking Program

An innovative adoption program in Melbourne, Australia changed the way people look at shelter dogs and helped rescue thousands. 
The Lost Dogs' Home launched its Human Walking Program earlier this year to provide desk-bound Melbourians with a chance to get out of the office, get some exercise and get to know a shelter dog. Promoting healthy living and shelter adoption, the Human Walking Program turned the tables on shelter adoption by sending the message that the dogs are, in fact, rescuing the humans.  
Check out the video!
Studies have shown the average working hours of full-time employees in Australia are long and have been steadily getting longer which is contributing to extra stress, poor family relations and a lower quality of social relationships. 

"We don't always realize as office workers how many hours we spend cooped up inside rarely getting out. So what better way to spend a lunch break than with a friend who will  no doubt take the stress out of your day!" - Kate Hoelter, The Lost Dogs' Home General Manager, Fundraising and Communications. 

During the event, over 5,000 office workers were rescued and every dog was adopted. 

An Interview with Cheryl Herperger, City of Calgary's Off-Leash Ambassador Program

Terri Perrin

InfoStream Staff Writer

Infostream staff writer Terri Perrin speaks with Innovation showcase presenter Cheryl Herperger, Business Strategist on the Community and Strategic Service Team at The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services. Cheryl is also the lead for The City’s innovative new Off-Leash Ambassadors volunteer program.

City of Calgary Off-Leash Ambassador Program

INFOSTREAM (IS): Before we get start talking about your Urban Animal Conference experience, please tell us about your past and present Pet Experiences and how it relates to your current position with the City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services.

Cheryl Herperger (CH): I have lived with dogs since I was three years old and I currently share my home with two Golden Retrievers and two Labrador crosses. They are the loves of my life! When I was six years old I wanted to be a vet, but I had an issue with blood. Still do! So that was a bit of a problem. [Laughs.] Instead, in order to still ‘work’ with animals, over the years I have been on the boards of directors of several humane societies and now work for Animal & Bylaw Services.

I love watching my four dogs and they give me pure joy. I believe that walking your dog is the foundation of the relationship with your pet; so working on the Off-Leash Ambassadors project is perfect for me. I have worked with The City for over five years, as a community recreation coordinator, and had often worked in collaboration with Animal & Bylaw. When the job came up at Animal Services in the fall of 2013, I though “This is perfect! Furry friends and men in uniform. Works for me!”

IS: Tell us why the Off-Leash Ambassador program was created.

CH: We were getting feedback from both dog owners and non-dog owners alike on issues in most of our parks, but especially from two particular parks in the NW. Our investigation clearly indicated that there was a lot of confusion and concerns relating to off-leash etiquette. Some people we completely out of control. We knew that an education and public awareness piece would benefit all citizens. We have 24 dedicated Animal & Bylaw officers and, with a population of 1.4 million people, 122,000 licensed dogs and 151 dedicated off-leash areas, that’s a lot of ground to cover! The Off-Leash Ambassador program was developed to provide role models in the parks who could help people to voluntarily comply with bylaws and provide an avenue for citizens to express concerns and pass along comments to City staff. This is a volunteer-based, citizen-led ambassador program designed to assist bylaw officers. The bottom line is that the program is about education, not enforcement.

IS: What is the main focus of the program?

CH: One of the most important issues that the Off-Leash Ambassador program addresses is that even in an off-leash area it is imperative that dogs be under control at all times. It is not about showing up and just letting them run. We require people to have audible or visual command or control of their dogs. Dog recall is really important. Many people come to the park and they are busy talking or texting on cell phones or visiting with friends, rather than watching their dogs. You really must be aware of where your dog is and what he or she is doing.

IS: Tell us about the program launch.

CH: We had intended to start Off-Leash Ambassadors on July 1, 2013, but the city was under siege by flooding, so we did an official re-launch on September 5. The pilot program was introduced in Egerts and Bowmont Parks; the two parks where we had a high number of concerns and issues. We started with four volunteers. We provided them with logo-wear, so they could be easily identified, and a backpack filled with supplies including printed materials and ‘Bags on Board’ poop bag canisters to hand out to people for free. We have given out about 5,000 canisters to date.

IS: What kind of training and support do volunteers receive?

CH: Volunteers complete a comprehensive training and orientation program that includes a thorough review of our bylaws. Our Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaws that are 33 pages long are now summarized in a pamphlet. They are also instructed on basic animal behaviour – calming signals, posturing and more. They are trained to approach people positively, with a ‘did you know?’ attitude. We now have 35 volunteers for the two parks and it is interesting to note that not all of them are dog owners. The program has gone citywide and we hope to have ambassadors at all 151 of our off-leash areas by 2015.

IS: How do you recruit volunteers and what is their time commitment?

CH: Calgary is a dog city and a volunteer city so it hasn’t been difficult to get people to signup for the program. We have recruited using The City’s website, blog and social media, as well as emails to community associations, 122 dog walking groups, vets, groomers, retail, and the dog organizations. Quite a wide range of people have signed up, including several veterinarians and dog trainers. It is quite the diverse group. I am positively overwhelmed with their passion and commitment.

IS: How is the program funded? Are there any corporate sponsors?

CH: The City Council's Innovation Fund supports the program. Animal and Bylaw Service’s submitted an application and two councilors sponsored it. This funding pays for volunteer training and support, as well as supplies, such as jackets, leashes, backpacks, pet first aid kits, notebooks, etc.

IS: What is the general feedback about the program from your community?

CH: People notice a difference already and are asking how they can help. It has all been very encouraging. The program has created a social network of volunteers connecting with dog owners. It is an ‘in’ for positive communication and education.

IS: This was your first Urban Animal Conference experience. What did you think about it?

CH: It definitely added to my passion about community development. There is so much we can do. I was so impressed with the wide range of keynotes and presentations. I took tons of notes and am busy following up to create potential partnerships. I can’t wait until the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October.

IS: Speaking of the Summit, what do you hope to take away from – or contribute to – the event?

CH: By October we will have had a full spring and summer of the program and am pleased to have extra time for my presentation to talk about what we learned. I’ll be able to share what changes and enhancements we have made. I look forward to hearing from other presenters. In my experience, conferences promote creative conversations and ideas. How wonderful to be able to be there, with like-minded, passionate and dedicated people. I can’t wait.

For more information on off-leash etiquette and dog recall training, check out Barbara Walmer's Guest Author post! 

The 2014 Urban Animal Regional Conferences presented the second annual Innovation Showcases. Across the continent, 20 local Innovators were given the opportunity to share their stories and successes with Urban Animal subscribers. From those, eight were selected to present at the 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies, October 22–25 in beautiful Lake Louise, Alberta.

I have a cat too!

Sun beams are a cat's best friend.

It's true, I have a cat. Two and a half years ago when my sister moved to Australia I was given her cat, Eden. I kept calling her 'My Sister's Cat' until about a year ago when my vet pointed out that if I had been caring for, feeding and living with said cat for more than a year, it was now officially my cat. Admittedly he had a point.

Eden is not really a normal cat in my estimation. First of all she is LARGE, to say the least. She has tried many diets and we've done blood work to make sure there wasn't a medical reason for it but she's just a fat cat, 18.6 lbs to be exact. 18.6 lbs of cat that knows exactly when you have a full bladder and exactly how to sit on said bladder to make it just that little bit more uncomfortable. Of course, you are now trapped under a fat, purring cat so getting up to relieve your poor bladder is not actually possible. I can say honestly that I believe she sits across the room and watches how many glasses of water I've consumed before calculating that my bladder must be full and as such, it's time to cuddle with the fat cat.

Waiting for Squish to run by.

Eden is not a fan of Squish. Squish hasn't figured out that she's bigger than Eden but she has figured out that Eden doesn't like her. Eden knows this and intentionally waits until Squish starts to play fetch in the house and then proceeds to hide until the dog runs by, at which point she runs out and screams at Squish. I'm certain Eden takes great pride in this 'game' of hers.

I do keep faith that they may some day tolerate each other. Every couple of days they can manage to cuddle me on the bed at the same time. It works, as long as no one moves or touches each other.

"You wanted to sit here?"

I can't say I'm a cat person by any sense of the term but I feel certain Eden and I generally have a mutual love/hate relationship, as long as there's food in her dish.

Lisa Milton, Squish's Mom,
@summitLisa, lisa.miltonwork

When good pets go bad

Your once calm and quiet Golden Retriever has started barking and chewing the kids toys. Is it a change that has developed with age? Been learned from other dogs? Or is this new behaviour something you may have unknowingly introduced... 

InfoStream Guest Author Barbara Walmer provides strategies for behaviour reinforcement in pets. 

Your dog is a part of your family.  This is definitely the way most people feel about their pets.  Do you expect that a member of your family could display inappropriate or aggressive behaviour?  Many families handle both human and animal members of their families differently when they exhibit behaviour that we label as inappropriate or aggressive.  Ignoring, re-directing, punishing, and disassociating are all methods different people utilize. 

Behaviour is constantly changing, in both humans and animals.  We do what works for us, on both an emotional and practical level.  To keep behaviour strong it needs to be reinforced.  If an animal is not reinforced for a certain set of behaviours, they are likely to change strategies.  For example, a dog who lies quietly on its dog bed is ignored will change its behaviour to getting up and barking, in order to get attention. 

Remember dogs are social animals who want to be a part of the action, which includes verbal and physical interaction.  We often are passive when behaviour that is exhibited is “appropriate”, but react to behaviour that is “inappropriate”.  Often behaviour problems start with small behaviour changes that go unrecognized or ignored for a period of time until they become problematic.  At this point, an animal has practiced the behaviour sequence many times and been reinforced (by the environment or people).  This is typically when people come to seek guidance. 

The good news, is behaviour is constantly changing. The bad news is the animal is finding the current behaviour pattern reinforcing and effective.  We have to change this dynamic in many situations to allow the animal to find other behaviours (typically ones they did before) more reinforcing.

As humans, we can contribute to undesirable behaviour by not acknowledging it.  The sooner we recognize behaviour changes and seek help with an accredited trainer the better it is for all.  Behaviour continues to change.  Be aware!

- Barbara Walmer CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, KPA CTP, ACDBC

How many have to die?

Costco and many other retailers don't seem to be getting the message despite the fact pet owners, veterinarians and pet nutritionists are shouting it from the roof tops. Pet jerky treats from China are bad. Just this morning CBC released yet another story about a dog death in Calgary that the attending veterinarian, Julie Schell from Bow Bottom Veterinary Hospital attributed to Vitalife Duck Tenders purchased at Costco. Both PetCo and PetSmart have made the smart decision (pun intended) to pull some China sourced treats from their shelves in recent weeks after a renewed interest in the topic.

2014 Jerky Stats (Source: Rodney Habib, Pet Nutrition Blogger)

• 1,000 deaths in dogs and more than 4,800 complaints about animal illness;

• Since last October the FDA has received about 1,800 new reports of illnesses and deaths; 

• Total : 5,600 dogs and 24 cats;

• Two toddlers and an adult who ingested became ill;

• One of the children was diagnosed with a salmonella infection. The other child developed G.I. illness and fever that mirrored the symptoms of dogs in the house that also ate the treats. The adult reported nausea and headache.

Effects of Jerky Consumption on Pets:

• About 60 percent of the cases involve symptoms of gastrointestinal trouble and liver disease;

• 30 percent involve kidney disease;

• 10 percent other problems, including neurological and skin conditions.

What should you do as a pet owner? 

Start by reading the labels of anything you buy your pet. If there is still a question, contact the manufacturer for Certificate of Origin to verify where their ingredients come from. 

My Personal Pet Experience - GAP with Eric from Pets Plus Us

We often talk about being ‘pet lovers’ and like to talk about our personal ‘pet experience’ whenever we can. Well, I always thought my pet experience led me to be a dog lover not a pet lover. 

Growing up our family always had cats, sometimes 4-5 at a time plus new litters. We had no less than 30 cats while I was growing up. I can recall the cardboard box my mother used to keep track of the kittens and how we tried to hide them from my dad by keeping them in my brother and I’s bedroom.  It was never successful as after a few days one of those adorable four legged furry curious kitty’s found their way out of the bedroom in into my dad’s lap. He never really took a shining to cats, he was a ‘dog guy’ but those pesky cats and kittens were always attracted to dad. He would rest on the couch and every-time he woke up there was a cat snuggled somewhere on the couch with him. They found their own way there or one of my 3 siblings or me gently placed it to see my dad’s reaction.

The cats always slept on the clothes (believe it or not, I didn’t always put my clothes away when I was younger) on my bed, and I felt I was always trying to fend for myself against those annoying cats in my room.  This led me to become attached to our first dog Toby (a rescue) and this is when I think I started to become a dog lover, not a cat lover, therefore not a pet lover. I think the cats got jealous and one evening while I was sleeping one of the pregnant cats decided that giving birth to four kittens on my pillow while I slept was the ideal location. This was the final ‘cat…astrophe’ for me, I was definitely a dog lover. 28-years and two dogs later, Toby and Kelly (also a rescue) I was definitely an exclusive dog lover.

Bruin

Fast forward a few years and our Pets Plus Office provided a permanent home to a stray FIV cat named Bruin, adopted from the Burlington Humane Society. Bruin has war wounds from defending himself after 18-months of surviving on the streets. He now has a loving home, gets 2-square meals a day, probably gets too many treats and is treated like a princess. He has taken over one of our meeting rooms, now known as ‘Bruins Office’. Bruin has a unique character which makes you fall in love with him. If I am out of the office for a few days he gives me the silent treatment when I return. I now miss Bruin when I don’t see him for a few days and I need to know how Bruin is doing so I keep updated by visiting his personal Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BruinTheCat). Bruin has re-ignited my appreciation of cats and because of Bruin I now call myself a ‘Pet Lover’ not just a ‘Dog Lover’. It took Bruin to show me I really always liked cats but kept telling myself I didn’t. Now if we could only change Bruin’s name to Leaf (as in Toronto Maple Leafs) everything would be good in the world! 

Thank –you Bruin for opening my eyes and for being you!  

Eric from Pets Plus Us