Last week's column discussed the pros of adopting fostered pets. Today we'll look at what it's like to be a foster parent. I interviewed Cuyahoga Falls resident Anne Caston, who has been fostering dogs for Rose's Rescue for four years. Rose's Rescue is based in Rootstown, but doesn't really have a shelter; they mainly care for pets in foster homes. One of those foster homes is actually Camp Bow Wow in Cuyahoga Falls. The doggy day care houses dogs for Rose's Rescue as well as another rescue, Paws & Prayers of Akron. People interested in adopting a well-socialized dog can visit Camp Bow Wow …
While cages are lined with homeless dogs and cats at places like Pawsibilities Humane Society of Greater Akron and Summit County Animal Control, there are hundreds of other local pets waiting for homes who are actually already in homes. These pets are being fostered temporarily until their perfect family finds them. You just have to start looking! Many people prefer to adopt from the pound only, for good reason. Those animals are on death row. Animal control picks up stray animals accepts surrenders, and needs to have a quick turnover. Those who don't find homes quickly, are euthanized to …
In my recent column about moving with a senior cat, I described how this move was harder on my 16-year old cat than any of the previous seven times he had moved with me. Although he appeared to go back to normal after about three days, it turns out the move was harder on him that I ever could have imagined. Symptoms, Emergency Vet Visits and Diagnosis Charlie stopped eating last weekend. This is always the biggest sign to me that something is wrong and the minute it happens I call the vet...especially with Charlie, who has lived, slept, and dreamed food his entire life. In fact, aside from …
In last week's column about the volunteer brigade of dogs and their owners at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I wrote about how dogs in the patrol had to pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) test. I thought I'd look further into this program for residents interested in certifying their proper pooches. Why Utilize the Canine Good Citizen Program? A CGC dog is a well-mannered dog. Dogs who pass the CGC evaluation are obedient in the home and well-socialized in public. They also have a good foundation for other activities, such as agility, tracking, or performance. Most importantly, dog …
There are many reasons to be proud of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, one being that it is one of the only parks in the national park service that allows dogs in all areas of the park on-leash. Another is that it is one of the first to create a job for those dogs: park ambassador. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) created a volunteer patrol group this year for dog owners to enjoy the trails with their dogs while assisting park visitors and rangers, as well. Paul Wallace of Cuyahoga Falls is one of more than 40 volunteers who take to the trails with their dogs, committing to 40 hours…
My cat Charlie, geriatric now at 16, has always been a notorious bruiser. Nothing fazes him much, and if it does he prefers not to show it. This sharply contrasts our prim and proper 2-year-old ragdoll, Aura, who is sensitive to the core and wears her little fragile heart on her mitted sleeve. So last weekend, when we moved into our new home off state Route 59, I told Aura to watch Charlie for cues on what was going on. "Charlie has moved to new homes with me eight times," I told Aura. "He's a pro. Stick with him and you'll be fine." When we first arrived at the new home, Charlie acted as he …
While driving home and listening to NPR last week, my head tilted during another story about the misbehaving economy. The expert being interviewed was discussing large companies that are cutting workforces when he mentioned that small, locally-focused businesses like dog walking and pet sitting are seeing growth. Lynn Kindsvatter, owner of Time 4 Paws Pet Sitting agrees. "This year has picked up and exceeded the years before," she said. Lynn has been running her pet sitting business for about five years, since she retired from a career in the corporate world. She lives in Cuyahoga Falls with …
Some dogs are just big puppies that never grew up. I once heard someone say that having a dog is like having a perpetual two year old in the house. They can and will get into anything. You learn quickly after living with dogs or cats that you can't leave your drinks on tables that are parallel to wagging tails, or leave your dinner on the TV tray just for a second while you leave to get a drink. Pet proofing the home is a task that never ends. I'll never forget the second week with my first cat, Charlie. I set down a big box of full-sized donuts on the coffee table and went to get some milk. …
In general, our pets feel most comfortable at home, especially when we are with them. But some pooches and purr boxes are more sensitive than others, and any shift in their daily routine can cause stress, fear, and unpredictable behavior. Such stress can cause a whole host of other issues, including: Diarrhea & colitis Shedding Nervous/obsessive compulsive behavior, such as excessive licking Snapping or growling Hiding, shivering, shaking, and general actions that result in pity parties Every pet is different. During thunderstorms, my childhood dog would run and hide. If you tried to go to …
When I read that a K-9 police dog died last month after being left in a hot patrol car in New Castle, PA (east of Youngstown), I was outraged. The police are who we call for help when we see dogs in distress, and here a poor K-9 officer died at the hands of one. The officer knew enough to keep the car on with the air conditioner running, but at some point during the three-plus hours the dog was trapped, the air stopped working and the dog died of a heat stroke. If that's not shocking enough, I learned that many K-9 officer dogs die this way. Just a few of the many incidents include: Cincinati…
If you turn to page 30 of the September issue of Cat Fancy Magazine, you'll see the story of yours truly and how I successfully introduced a kitten into the home of Charlie, an alpha, senior tomcat, who was 14 at the time and cranky. It's a lovely and succinct story that describes all the careful planning I undertook to design a happy, multi-cat household around the desires of King Charlie, rather than around my own. It doesn't tell the whole story, which was quite a challenging chapter in our lives. I didn't want a kitten and I didn't want a girl. I have an affinity for boy cats, even though…
When it comes to natural healing, chakra balance, Reiki and even the paranormal, animal communicator Liz Madsen is really tuned in. In 2006, Liz started getting involved with Reiki, an ancient Eastern technique for stress reduction and the promotion of healing. Now a Reiki Master, she offers the homeless pets at the Berea Animal Rescue a wonderful gift: she telepathically communicates with them and tries to help them feel more comfortable while they sit cages, waiting for a home. One method to help relieve them of stress is dabbing them with Bach Flower oils. These natural flower essences …
Due to scheduling conflicts, my third feature on a local animal communicator has been postponed to next week. So, I wanted to write a bonus column on tools we all can use to communicate with our pets. Animal communication for "everyday people" might not be as clear as a telephone call to a friend, but it can be more than the pretend conversations we have with them in those secret, sometimes embarrassing voices we reserve for our pets (I do it and I know you do it, too). We all live busy lives, and when our pets are healthy and don't seem to need us, it's easy to take them for granted as a …
Sandi Evans of Canton calls herself the Critter Communicator. As one would expect, Sandi has always had a deep love for animals. However, unlike some who claim they were born with the gift for communicating with them, Sandi believes we all have the gift; we only need to learn how to fine tune it. Prior to becoming an animal communicator, Sandi never worked with animals. She retired just this year after 30 years at the Stark County Board of DD (Developmental Disabilities). She learned to sharpen her ability to talk with animals in 2003, and I must say she is a natural. According to Sandi, when…
As someone who is intrigued by, but not reliant upon, the spiritual realm of psychics, astrology, and mediums, I recently went out in search of local animal communicators. Today's column is the first in a series of three features profiling local animal lovers who claim they can talk with your pets and understand what they are feeling. I've learned a lot in speaking with these women, and I even feel I've become a better pet parent from the experience. My first interview was with Barb Borkowski. Barb is an empathetic woman with a background in nursing, massage therapy and reiki who first felt …
Until now, I've resisted doing the math on how much my pets actually cost me monthly. For the sake of this column, dear readers, here it is: One dog, two cats, two seniors, two cases of arthritis, one case of feline asthma, one case of feline hyperesthesia and one case of feline herpes of the eye = $382 per month. That number is very sobering. It adds up to over $4,500 a year and it only includes food, medicine and vitamin supplements. It doesn't account for vet visits, like the $300 we spent on the dog's teeth cleaning, heartworm test and suspicious lump removals last month (they were benign…
I'm a volunteer at Pawsibilities...I think. I can't remember the last time I actually made it out there to help. I have the best of intentions, really I do. But since I work from home, the lines between my work time, family & pets time, free time and errands/chores time is quite blurred. Thankfully, there are some amazing organizations that make helping animals very easy, with zero to little extra time or cash required: 1. Pedigree's Every Dog Deserves campaign During the month of June only, Pedigree will donate food to shelters across the country every time someone engages with the brand …
Recently, I've heard numerous stories from friends who have rescued orphaned squirrels and found injured rabbits, turtles, deer, dogs and cats on busy roads. It occurred to me that while I would be eager to help too, I'm not sure I would exactly know what to do. So, I compiled this list of options for those needing to assist a stray or injured animal in our area: Stray Healthy Pets If you find a stray dog or cat that doesn't appear hurt, you can report the animal to the County of Summit Division of Animal Control at (330) 643-2181 or (330) 643-2845. The Akron shelter is also known as "the …
At the front desk of Wyoga Vet Clinic, there is a print out from an advice column taped to the counter top. The column is a reprint of a letter from someone in the veterinary industry offering tips for pet owners who bring their pets in to the vet. One of the points the reader makes it to ask that pet owners not dispense advice to each other in the waiting room. So recently, I had to bite my tongue when the woman in front of me turned down a request to test her dog for Heartworm. Thankfully, the woman behind the desk let her know what an important test it was, and she agreed to have one …
Last December, I first heard about the danger of stray voltage as it relates to pedestrians and dog walking and wrote an article about it for another publication. Stories abound in big cities, like New York of dogs who are electrocuted while being walked near conductive objects like light poles, electrical boxes and manhole covers. Now, the danger is striking closer to home. WKYC's Tom Meyer investigated contact voltage in Cleveland last week, a few months after a Yorkie was zapped by a light pole while being walked in the Metropark in Bedford. Luckily, the Yorkie survived, but his paw still …
