Brittany and Paris will have to go elsewhere for their pocket pooches. Four ritzy LA and Beverly Hills pet stores that cater to high profile puppy buyers, have been successfully closed in recent months following a year-long campaign organized by Best Friends Animal Society.
The successful campaign packed and two-punch approach. Activists were able to trace puppies being sold at the stores to puppy mills, while the store clerks were telling buyers that the puppies did not come from puppy mills, resulting in allegations of fraud. And outside the stores, protesters garnered support from the neighborhoods and kept potential buyers away. Posh Puppy of Beverly Hills closed in May and Pet Love of Los Angeles, described as the Goliath of them all, closed in December.
I'm sure Paris and Brittany will just fly to New York for their new furry fashion accessory pooches, but this is a huge step in cleaning up the retail pet trade. And best of all Best Friends has defined an effective model that you can follow in your own community.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Fear-mongering isn't just for politicians
Veterinary care is big business. And whenever profits are involved, so is corruption. Yes, even when it comes to taking care of your best friend. Some of the best fear tactics come for your veterinarian and even from animal adoption organizations who provide veterinary services. Learn to recognize "fear-mongering," question their motives and make an educated decision for your Yorkie's health.
Distorted claims
Here's an example from the Boulder Humane Society's October 2008 newsletter, which greatly exaggerating the need for current rabies vaccinations, "Is Your Pet Protected From Rabies"
"If a pet isn’t current on this vaccination, that is required by law, then the animal must be quarantined at a veterinary hospital for six months. If the guardian cannot afford this expensive quarantine then the State will require that the pet be euthanized. Don’t let this happen to your pet!"
and...
"Rabies is 100% preventable and yet 55,000 people worldwide die of rabies each year."
Actually, Section 6-1-24 of the Boulder municipal code states a 10-day quarantine. And that's if your dog bites someone and if the dog has never been vaccinated for rabies. Also, most quarantines, for dogs that have been vaccinated for rabies, though expired, are allowed to be in your own home, unless there's probable cause that the dog is a danger and you would not comply with the quarantine. A six-month quarantine is rare and extreme. And "euthanized"? The only time a dog would be euthanized is if it or the person it bit started showing symptoms of rabies, which is highly unlikely.
As far as the yearly death toll quoted of 55,000 people worldwide, that is true. However, the article fails to state that those are mostly in third world countries without our widespread vaccination programs. The average U.S. death toll for rabies yearly is 1, and those are individuals typically bitten by bats or racoons.
So what about your own veterinarian?
You get a card in the mail saying that vaccinations are due for your dog. You're a responsible dog owner and want to make sure you protect your dog, so you bring him in. In the lobby and everywhere you look are publications and posters professing the problems of fleas and ticks, the importance of vaccination boosters and the dangers of heartworm, complete with grotesque pictures of canine hearts infested with heartworms. These materials are nothing more than advertisements provided by the drug manufacturers. Your vet makes a steady profit administering heartworm "preventative," flea and tick control and all those vaccination boosters. And it gets you into the clinic for a checkup.
That's only the beginning. Next comes the veterinarian. I recall conversations such as "you're better off having them on heartworm preventative all year round" or "I'd hate to be treating them for heartworm next spring." And "well, yes, a three-year rabies booster is allowed now, but I recommend a yearly booster to make sure they're protected." More on these subjects later.
Breath of fresh air
My veterinarian's office is refreshing. The lobby is full of natural, healthy foods and chews, nutritional supplements and natural remedies for basic care. The posters are of happy, healthy pets. The only publications are reprints of articles about natural care, homemade feeding, and holistic approaches to vaccination and pest control. Nowhere are the advertisements from drug manufacturers. Absent are the usual fear-inducing photos of heartworm infestation and distorted statistics.
I'm not advocating not vaccinating your pets. I'm not advocating not putting your dogs on heartworm. Just do your research online before you go. The major veterinarian universities and the American Veterinary Medical Association now endorse three-year protocols for rabies and many other vaccinations, as opposed to yearly boosters. Those yearly boosters may very well do more harm than good. And if you don't live in an endemic area of the country, your dogs may not need heartworm preventative at all - or not year-round. Vaccinations, heartworm preventative and flea and tick control help your veterinarian to pad the bill. Heartworm preventative is not a preventative at all - it's a wormer. It's a poison that kills baby heartworms, if present, before they reach the adult stage. It's actually a small dose of heartworm treatment, but "preventative" sounds much less harmful.
How to beat the fear-tactics
Distorted claims
Here's an example from the Boulder Humane Society's October 2008 newsletter, which greatly exaggerating the need for current rabies vaccinations, "Is Your Pet Protected From Rabies"
"If a pet isn’t current on this vaccination, that is required by law, then the animal must be quarantined at a veterinary hospital for six months. If the guardian cannot afford this expensive quarantine then the State will require that the pet be euthanized. Don’t let this happen to your pet!"
and...
"Rabies is 100% preventable and yet 55,000 people worldwide die of rabies each year."
Actually, Section 6-1-24 of the Boulder municipal code states a 10-day quarantine. And that's if your dog bites someone and if the dog has never been vaccinated for rabies. Also, most quarantines, for dogs that have been vaccinated for rabies, though expired, are allowed to be in your own home, unless there's probable cause that the dog is a danger and you would not comply with the quarantine. A six-month quarantine is rare and extreme. And "euthanized"? The only time a dog would be euthanized is if it or the person it bit started showing symptoms of rabies, which is highly unlikely.
As far as the yearly death toll quoted of 55,000 people worldwide, that is true. However, the article fails to state that those are mostly in third world countries without our widespread vaccination programs. The average U.S. death toll for rabies yearly is 1, and those are individuals typically bitten by bats or racoons.
So what about your own veterinarian?
You get a card in the mail saying that vaccinations are due for your dog. You're a responsible dog owner and want to make sure you protect your dog, so you bring him in. In the lobby and everywhere you look are publications and posters professing the problems of fleas and ticks, the importance of vaccination boosters and the dangers of heartworm, complete with grotesque pictures of canine hearts infested with heartworms. These materials are nothing more than advertisements provided by the drug manufacturers. Your vet makes a steady profit administering heartworm "preventative," flea and tick control and all those vaccination boosters. And it gets you into the clinic for a checkup.
That's only the beginning. Next comes the veterinarian. I recall conversations such as "you're better off having them on heartworm preventative all year round" or "I'd hate to be treating them for heartworm next spring." And "well, yes, a three-year rabies booster is allowed now, but I recommend a yearly booster to make sure they're protected." More on these subjects later.
Breath of fresh air
My veterinarian's office is refreshing. The lobby is full of natural, healthy foods and chews, nutritional supplements and natural remedies for basic care. The posters are of happy, healthy pets. The only publications are reprints of articles about natural care, homemade feeding, and holistic approaches to vaccination and pest control. Nowhere are the advertisements from drug manufacturers. Absent are the usual fear-inducing photos of heartworm infestation and distorted statistics.
I'm not advocating not vaccinating your pets. I'm not advocating not putting your dogs on heartworm. Just do your research online before you go. The major veterinarian universities and the American Veterinary Medical Association now endorse three-year protocols for rabies and many other vaccinations, as opposed to yearly boosters. Those yearly boosters may very well do more harm than good. And if you don't live in an endemic area of the country, your dogs may not need heartworm preventative at all - or not year-round. Vaccinations, heartworm preventative and flea and tick control help your veterinarian to pad the bill. Heartworm preventative is not a preventative at all - it's a wormer. It's a poison that kills baby heartworms, if present, before they reach the adult stage. It's actually a small dose of heartworm treatment, but "preventative" sounds much less harmful.
How to beat the fear-tactics
- Read publications, such as The Whole Dog Journal, which advocates natural care and has no advertisers to bow to. And check out blogs, such as Pet Connection, full of pet news and no nonsense.
- If your vet's office is papered in drug manufacturer posters and publications, find a new vet. Otherwise you're probably helping send him on a trip to Hawaii from the drug company. They provide incentives for prescribing these meds, just as with your own doctor.
- If your vet believes your dog needs yearly boosters for rabies (in states where a three-year vaccine is allowed by law), find one who isn't such an old fogey.
- Learn to listen for those fear-mongering words and, if they are overwhelming and add a lot of charges to your bill, go elsewhere.
- Ask questions regarding the necessity and safety of any prescribed medication. If you don't get satisfactory information to make an education decision, look it up online - then find a new vet.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The joy of chewing
Young dogs like to chew. Even tiny Yorkies. Sometimes what they chew can damage your house and furniture. Other times, chewing may necessitate a trip to the emergency vet.
My neighbor's Labradoodle puppy swallowed several pair of her underwear. Seriously. Some of them "passed through." Others got twisted in the intestines, causing an obstruction that required surgery and thousands of dollars in vet bills. He also swallowed rocks and bark from the yard.
I got off cheaper. Sampson chewed my sofa corners and pillows. Daisy chewed the walls, baseboards and corners of my dresser. Yorkie-size destruction can still be costly - and dangerous. I've had a couple close calls with Sampson swallowing end pieces of chew toys. Daisy's had severe gastritis, warranting several trips to the vet. I even caught her starting to chew on an electrical cord that was luckily unplugged.
The biggest mistake new pet owners make is giving their new puppy too much freedom. Too much accessibility to the house leads to too much chewed furniture, too many accidents on the carpet, too many occasions to cause destruction and worst of all, too many occasions to seriously endanger themselves.
Create a safe room in the house, like a kitchen or laundry room, with linoleum or other easy-to-clean surface. Puppy proof the room just like you would a small child. Cover electrical sockets. Move electrical cords out of the way. I used masking tape to secure them to the wall where it was not feasible to unplug them, making them less attractive to chewing. Remove small objects in reach or anything you don't want destroyed. Block exit from the room with baby gates, rather than closing doors, so the dog knows you're nearby. Put down newspaper or pee pads. Set up a comfortable crate or bed in the room and supply it with safe chew toys.
Sampson and Daisy love Merrick Flossies - and so do I - my Yorkie pacifiers. I throw a couple Flossies down and it keeps my demanding little dogs busy for hours. To doggie senses these beef tendons dried in a spiral are pure heaven. The smell of dried cow flesh, the texture of a fresh kill, the perfect shape for gripping and holding in place, dense and hard for chewability without being hard enough to crack teeth, and soft and stringy upon chewing, cleaning in between teeth like nothing else. They provide hours of doggie chewing enjoyment.
There are lots of Merrick Flossie imitations, but I'd stick with the real thing. Do not buy any if it's not clear that they were made in the U.S.A. Imported rawhide and other chews have been found to be treated with Arsenic (yes, that's rat poison) and may contain salmonella bacteria.
Always supervise your dogs when you give them chew toys and treats. As they chew them down, the end pieces can become a choking hazard. Also make sure they don't chew too much at one time. I buy the Jumbo Flossies - the largest Merrick makes - for my tiny Yorkies. They can chew through a small Flossie in a fraction of an hour and that's just too much indigestible stuff in their tummies. I only let them chew down a couple inches of a Jumbo Flossie at a time, then take them away for another day. The ends will be wet and stringy and I worry about bacteria - they are an animal product after all. I don't know if it helps, but I store the half-chewed Flossies in the refrigerator and nuke them in the microwave for about 15 seconds before handing them out again, to hopefully reduce or kill harmful bacteria.
Numerous chew toys and treats are on the market. Try to stick with natural products, made in the U.S.A. Read the reviews online about chews that are known to be problematic, such as Greenies. I don't recommend giving bones, raw or cooked, to Yorkies. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter and fracture, leading to choking hazards. Raw bones I think are just too risky for Yorkies' sensitive tummies. Even with the Merrick Flossies, I find if I let my dogs chew too much down, the next morning they may have upset tummies.
Keep your dog safe, restrict their access to the house unless closely supervised (use a leash or lead in the house if necessary) and provide safe chews and you'll get through the dreaded chew stage. But keep up with the chews, like the Flossies, throughout their life, to keep their teeth clean, their gums healthy and their breath fresh.
My neighbor's Labradoodle puppy swallowed several pair of her underwear. Seriously. Some of them "passed through." Others got twisted in the intestines, causing an obstruction that required surgery and thousands of dollars in vet bills. He also swallowed rocks and bark from the yard.
I got off cheaper. Sampson chewed my sofa corners and pillows. Daisy chewed the walls, baseboards and corners of my dresser. Yorkie-size destruction can still be costly - and dangerous. I've had a couple close calls with Sampson swallowing end pieces of chew toys. Daisy's had severe gastritis, warranting several trips to the vet. I even caught her starting to chew on an electrical cord that was luckily unplugged.
The biggest mistake new pet owners make is giving their new puppy too much freedom. Too much accessibility to the house leads to too much chewed furniture, too many accidents on the carpet, too many occasions to cause destruction and worst of all, too many occasions to seriously endanger themselves.
Create a safe room in the house, like a kitchen or laundry room, with linoleum or other easy-to-clean surface. Puppy proof the room just like you would a small child. Cover electrical sockets. Move electrical cords out of the way. I used masking tape to secure them to the wall where it was not feasible to unplug them, making them less attractive to chewing. Remove small objects in reach or anything you don't want destroyed. Block exit from the room with baby gates, rather than closing doors, so the dog knows you're nearby. Put down newspaper or pee pads. Set up a comfortable crate or bed in the room and supply it with safe chew toys.
Sampson and Daisy love Merrick Flossies - and so do I - my Yorkie pacifiers. I throw a couple Flossies down and it keeps my demanding little dogs busy for hours. To doggie senses these beef tendons dried in a spiral are pure heaven. The smell of dried cow flesh, the texture of a fresh kill, the perfect shape for gripping and holding in place, dense and hard for chewability without being hard enough to crack teeth, and soft and stringy upon chewing, cleaning in between teeth like nothing else. They provide hours of doggie chewing enjoyment.
There are lots of Merrick Flossie imitations, but I'd stick with the real thing. Do not buy any if it's not clear that they were made in the U.S.A. Imported rawhide and other chews have been found to be treated with Arsenic (yes, that's rat poison) and may contain salmonella bacteria.
Always supervise your dogs when you give them chew toys and treats. As they chew them down, the end pieces can become a choking hazard. Also make sure they don't chew too much at one time. I buy the Jumbo Flossies - the largest Merrick makes - for my tiny Yorkies. They can chew through a small Flossie in a fraction of an hour and that's just too much indigestible stuff in their tummies. I only let them chew down a couple inches of a Jumbo Flossie at a time, then take them away for another day. The ends will be wet and stringy and I worry about bacteria - they are an animal product after all. I don't know if it helps, but I store the half-chewed Flossies in the refrigerator and nuke them in the microwave for about 15 seconds before handing them out again, to hopefully reduce or kill harmful bacteria.
Numerous chew toys and treats are on the market. Try to stick with natural products, made in the U.S.A. Read the reviews online about chews that are known to be problematic, such as Greenies. I don't recommend giving bones, raw or cooked, to Yorkies. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter and fracture, leading to choking hazards. Raw bones I think are just too risky for Yorkies' sensitive tummies. Even with the Merrick Flossies, I find if I let my dogs chew too much down, the next morning they may have upset tummies.
Keep your dog safe, restrict their access to the house unless closely supervised (use a leash or lead in the house if necessary) and provide safe chews and you'll get through the dreaded chew stage. But keep up with the chews, like the Flossies, throughout their life, to keep their teeth clean, their gums healthy and their breath fresh.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The real expense of bringing home baby
I'm often asked if I know where to get a Yorkie puppy. It's not usually that the prospective owner can't find a Yorkie. The buyer just doesn't want to pay the high cost. Typically from $1000 on up and even $500 for an adoption. Yes, that may seem like a lot of money up front, but that is only the beginning.
You are often better off paying the high price for a Yorkie from a very reputable breeder right from the start. Typically these are breeders for conformation - the show dogs. Reputable breeders take great care regarding the health and breed characteristics of their dogs. Breeders who sell to pet stores or other avenues strictly for profit, may not be as careful.
Very quickly that $800 dog from the strip mall pet store can end up costing you thousands in vet bills and a great deal of heartache when health problems and birth defects arise within weeks or months of bringing home baby. Whereas the $1200 Yorkie from the reputable breeder is more likely to be free of birth defects and sickness. That new baby will also need neutering or spaying, typically at 6 to 8 months old. Are you prepared for all the other costs that will quickly arise?
- Spaying or neutering, $300-500
- Teeth cleanings, $200-$500
- Grooming, $35-45
- Food, varies
- Car seat or crate for travel, $25-100 (watch for my blog post to come)
- Illness and emergencies, $50-$4,000
- Vet office visit fee, $40-55
- Vaccinations, vet office fee plus $15-25 per vaccine
- Pet insurance, optional (watch for my blog post to come)
- Harnesses, leashes, beds, toys, chew toys and more
My point of this summary of costs, is that you will likely encounter most of these expenses during the life of your pet and many right from the start. I know the initial cost of a Yorkie is overwhelming, but so are all these other expenses. Make sure that you truly can afford the routine care and emergencies that may arise. That initial cost of your Yorkie is only the beginning. You have a commitment to provide for and care for your dog for the rest of it's life.
You are often better off paying the high price for a Yorkie from a very reputable breeder right from the start. Typically these are breeders for conformation - the show dogs. Reputable breeders take great care regarding the health and breed characteristics of their dogs. Breeders who sell to pet stores or other avenues strictly for profit, may not be as careful.
Very quickly that $800 dog from the strip mall pet store can end up costing you thousands in vet bills and a great deal of heartache when health problems and birth defects arise within weeks or months of bringing home baby. Whereas the $1200 Yorkie from the reputable breeder is more likely to be free of birth defects and sickness. That new baby will also need neutering or spaying, typically at 6 to 8 months old. Are you prepared for all the other costs that will quickly arise?
- Spaying or neutering, $300-500
- Teeth cleanings, $200-$500
- Grooming, $35-45
- Food, varies
- Car seat or crate for travel, $25-100 (watch for my blog post to come)
- Illness and emergencies, $50-$4,000
- Vet office visit fee, $40-55
- Vaccinations, vet office fee plus $15-25 per vaccine
- Pet insurance, optional (watch for my blog post to come)
- Harnesses, leashes, beds, toys, chew toys and more
My point of this summary of costs, is that you will likely encounter most of these expenses during the life of your pet and many right from the start. I know the initial cost of a Yorkie is overwhelming, but so are all these other expenses. Make sure that you truly can afford the routine care and emergencies that may arise. That initial cost of your Yorkie is only the beginning. You have a commitment to provide for and care for your dog for the rest of it's life.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
A Yorkie is not a fashion accessory
A hundred and fifty years ago Yorkies were working dogs. They were bred to chase and kill rats in the coal pits of England. They were also used for the gruesome sport of "rat baiting," where a dog was thrown into a pit of rats. The winning Yorkie was the one who killed the most rats within a short specified time frame. The famous Huddersfield Ben was both a show ring champion and rat baiting champion.
Now we are bombarded by images of tiny Yorkie heads peering out of pink Gucci bags, sporting diamond tiaras and carried around by celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. In fact, the pocket dog fashion trend is the single worst phenomenon to ever affect the breed. It results in unscrupulous breeding practices, dog theft, bad temperament (of the dog, well, and the owner) and an unhealthy and unnatural lifestyle for these tiny but active dogs. Recently, Paris was actually turned away from a pet store trying to make an impulse Yorkie purchase for a photoshoot. Hooray!
For those of you who want a dog to tote around, might I suggest the plush toy section at Target? Otherwise, take some time to learn about the breed and understand its needs - as a dog. Carrying it around everywhere will most likely result in a snappy, snarling miserable dog or a timid, scared shaking mess. Is that really what you want?
Please say "no" to purse dogs and recognize that a Yorkie is an active dog with the same needs of larger breeds. Learn and appreciate the rich history and tremendous breed characteristics of this lovely little dog.
Now we are bombarded by images of tiny Yorkie heads peering out of pink Gucci bags, sporting diamond tiaras and carried around by celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. In fact, the pocket dog fashion trend is the single worst phenomenon to ever affect the breed. It results in unscrupulous breeding practices, dog theft, bad temperament (of the dog, well, and the owner) and an unhealthy and unnatural lifestyle for these tiny but active dogs. Recently, Paris was actually turned away from a pet store trying to make an impulse Yorkie purchase for a photoshoot. Hooray!
For those of you who want a dog to tote around, might I suggest the plush toy section at Target? Otherwise, take some time to learn about the breed and understand its needs - as a dog. Carrying it around everywhere will most likely result in a snappy, snarling miserable dog or a timid, scared shaking mess. Is that really what you want?
Please say "no" to purse dogs and recognize that a Yorkie is an active dog with the same needs of larger breeds. Learn and appreciate the rich history and tremendous breed characteristics of this lovely little dog.
Welcome Yorkie lovers
As a Yorkie owner, Yorkie sitter and organizer of a Yorkie play group I'm often asked for tips and advice on Yorkie training and behavior - Is it possible to housebreak a Yorkie? Why does my Yorkie go nuts in the car? What do you do about a Yorkie Boy peeing on his long fur? How do I get my Yorkie to wear those cute little booties?
Yorkies are energetic, active, intelligent, beautiful, fun and lovable dogs. If you let them, they can be demanding, bossy, barky, "marky" and totally overwhelm and rule your life.
In this blog I'll talk about my experiences with my two rambunctious balls of fur named Sampson and Daisy and show some of the things that make our life better - and maybe your's too.
Yorkies are energetic, active, intelligent, beautiful, fun and lovable dogs. If you let them, they can be demanding, bossy, barky, "marky" and totally overwhelm and rule your life.
In this blog I'll talk about my experiences with my two rambunctious balls of fur named Sampson and Daisy and show some of the things that make our life better - and maybe your's too.
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