Happy Valley Animals

V alley Winter Issue

HAPPY ANIMALS Winter Issue

Celebrating Creatures & Community

The Waiting Room Can you adopt one (or two) of these sweethearts? Some have been waiting and waiting ...

HOORAY!Previously featured in The Waiting Room...

SASHA

BENJIE

I’m just a youngster, but due to my high energy level and what some people think is my “tough guy look” (really?) I’m just being overlooked. I’m a neutered male, only 1 year old, and a very loveable Pittie. I’ve been at the shelter since November 28th, and I’m ready to leave. I’m so very, very smart and eager to please! With exercise and fair rules to live by, I have all the makings of a dear and best friend. Contact the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center.

I arrived on December 10th as a stray, and TJO made me available for adoption when nobody claimed me. I’m 3 years old and a spayed female, Lab/Pit Bull. I’m a real people dog, and I really eat up all the rubbing and pets available, so being here in the shelter is pretty hard on me. I have a grade 4/6 heart murmur, and I think the combination of being a bully breed with a significant heart murmur makes finding me a home quite challenging. But I do need a home and someone to love and love me back! Contact the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center.

2 Happy Valley Animals

“Mrs. Woofers (above) was adopted by the most amazing person. The second she met her, we all knew why the dog had waited so long. Love at first sight indeed. We transferred Pillsbury (below) to Sonsini Shelter in Pittsfield. He was adopted the first day by what sounds like a fantastic woman who had adopted an elderly Boston Terrier from them two years ago who had just died. We were told she walked in, met Pills, and just started crying and left with him! Sometimes getting these dogs and cats a change in scenery is all it takes!” Pam Peebles, TJO

Hello my name is Phil and my life began as a pet store kitten in Pittsburg, PA. I then lived in a home for 12 wonderful years, but alas, my family could no longer keep me. It is not easy to be in a cage, especially for older cats like me. And, I’m a black kitty which sometimes makes it harder to notice me. I must admit that I am pretty sad at Dakin no matter how many people try to cheer me up. I’m a Domestic Short Hair, neutered male, 12 years old My hope is that someday soon I will be lucky enough to find a home for my next 12 years. Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

Some people call me “nosey,” but I’m just very curious about everything going on around me. I feel responsible for the comings and goings of all the other animals at Dakin and I will greet you as soon as you come to visit. I’m a confident girl and will join you while you are doing just about anything (reading, watching TV, working on the computer). I get along with both cats and dogs and will fit nicely into any household. Someone really sweet paid for my adoption. All I need is you! Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

Are you an active person or family looking for a dog that can keep up with all of your activities? If so, then I’m your girl! I’m told that I’m an active couch potato: I love going for runs, hiking, swimming, and most of all frolicking around in the snow, but if you’re having a lazy day I’m more than happy to curl up on the couch with you or snuggle in bed as you read. I get along with male dogs. Some females are agreeable to me but not all. No smaller animals please! I do know basic commands and I’m very eager to learn more.I’m 2.5 years old, a spayed female, and a Love-a-Bull mix Come fall in love with me! Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

PHIL

MIMI

TWEETER

SNOWBALL

I’m a handsome man in need of a new home, two years old and a neutered male. Did you know that rabbits make wonderful indoor pets? We generally get along well with other animals like dogs and cats. We can be litter box trained too. It’s a lot of fun watching us hop and play. We enjoy out of cage time every day and like being with our people.–Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

All animals previously featured from the DPVHS have been adopted!

2 The Waiting Room

12 Happiest Animal(s)Becky and Macci and Bean and Emmy

13 Animal ArtistryMargot Apple

8 Book Excerpt from The Great Animal Orchestraby Bernie Krause

CONTENTS

16 Dog TrainingImproving Your Dog’s “Come” Commandby Shannon Fitzgerald

Publisher: Nestling PressExecutive Editor: Elissa AlfordContributing Editor: Mary KoncelArts Editor: Nancy GordonAssistant Editor for Avian Affairs: Ms. HenMail: P. O. Box 112, Northampton, MA 01060Phone: (413) 695-4605Email: [email protected] Valley Animals is published bi-monthly (6x/year) and distributed free throughout Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties.Subscriptions are available by mail for $20 per year.Please note that photos and stories submitted by mail cannot be returned.We encourage readers to patronize our advertisers, but cannot be responsible for individual advertising claims or offers. We reserve the right to refuse to publish advertising for any reason, and assume no financial responsibil-ity for failure to publish an advertisement or for typographical errors.All original content copyright (c) 2013 Happy Valley Animals. Original content contained herein can not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.COVER PAINTING by JANET EVANDERFor more of her work, see janetevander.com.

Happy Valley Animals 3

23 In Memoriam Dark Egger

19 Humane HopesHelping Lost Pets Get Back Homeby Kara Holmquist & Linda Huebner, MSPCA

5 Welcome 15 Ask the Hen by Ms. Hen, with Dick Wagner

6 Celebrate Age Bette and Suze

22 Helpful Humans Directory

17 For the Love of Horses

Two Aging Mares by Mary A. Koncel

7 Speaking of Animals

Lady by Jeannette T. Rivet

10 Tech Toys Woof, Woof, WHAT??!! by Stacey Kors

9 Arts & TravelBook: Buddy Travel: Gibraltarby Nancy Gordon

21 Our VetsHyperthyroidism: A Common Disease in Older Catsby Dr. Lori Paporello and Dr. Ellie Shelburne

T H E Y D E P E N D O N U S . W E D E P E N D O N Y O U .

Love is worth aspecial gift.

Name _______________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________

City _______________________________________ State ________ Zip ______________

Phone ________________________________ Email ________________________________

I want to make a gift of $__________ � in honor of: � in memory of:

________________________________________________________ � pet � person

We will notify the person honored of your thoughtful gift.

Please provide their name below:

Name ___________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________________ State _______ Zip ______________

Love is worth aspecial gift.

Make your gift securely online at

www.dpvhs.org or mail this form to:

Dakin Humane Society, 171 Union

Street, Springfield, MA 01105.

This Valentine’s season, honor your pet

with a gift that reflects your love of animals.

Donate to the Dakin Humane Society in

honor of a special person or pet.

Photo by Sam Masinter


WELCOME

Dear Fellow Animal Lovers,

Since this paper started, just about three years ago, it has featured articles about backyard chickens off and on, because I was excited to be living with and learning about hens.

Eventually, Dick Wagner’s column, “Ask the Hen,” started appearing in every issue.

You’ll see that I’ve written about one of our chickens, Dark Egger, on the In Memoriam page.

My delight in chickens, along with friend and colleague Mary Koncel’s pleasure in her own longtime flock, lead us to start a website: mychickensandme.com, where we’re trying to cover everything related to chicken care, culture, and welfare. In doing this, we’ve realized that we need to be sure to emphasize education and welfare, because the backyard chicken movement has a hidden downside for both the animals and for the heroes working directly in the field of animal welfare.

For example, shelters are having to deal with increasing numbers of unwanted and abandoned chickens. The wonderful folks at the TJO shelter in Springfield “liked” our chicken site’s new Facebook page with a posting of Cotton, who will be available for adoption soon. This has inspired us to feature shelter and sanctuary chickens on our site. But the post also silently pointed to the fact that backyard chickens—even if their lives have been far better than Barbara’s, pictured below Cotton—may still be treated much like objects, perhaps discarded after they’ve outlived their “purpose.”

So here are a few facts about getting chicks, caring for hens, and the fate of roosters, that are often downplayed or ignored. They may influence how or whether or not you get chickens, or how you add to your existing flock. It’s not an exhaustive list, but some things to ponder.

ORDERING BY MAIL

Very few – to the vanishing point – people want roosters. This means that male chicks are almost universally disposed of in various and often cruel ways immediately after hatching. If you’re thinking of ordering by mail, query the hatchery to find out what they do with male chicks and choose accordingly. We’ll be posting any hatchery information we can glean from them on our website. (Note that having chicks die in transit is not uncommon.)

LIFE SPAN OF A LAYING HEN

Hens can live as long as cats or dogs, but their laying capacities begin to diminish after the age of 3. If you have chickens just for eggs, you’ll need to keep adding to your flock, which means a larger coop and pen and higher feed costs. Older hens may not be laying as much in later years, but after providing you well they deserve a happy retirement.

ADOPTION

Chicken listservs, shelters, and sanctuaries have chickens who need homes, or check with local chicken enthusiasts. If you already have chickens, be sure to quarantine your adopted newcomer(s) until you’ve had time to check out and deal with any health issues.

Just like other animals, chickens are smart and feeling creatures. Here’s to being as commited and kind to our feathered friends as we would to those with fur.

Cotton will be available for adoption at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption (TJO).

Barbara - rescued from a factory farm battery cage, wearing a sweater to keep her body warm. Picture taken by Ed Thompson, a London-based photographer.

Celebrate Age—and Unconditional Love!


“Suze is a Cockapoo, and I have no idea how old she is, or where she came from initially. The story is that my niece, Jill, who took these pictures, has a dog named Thor who is

picked up every day by doggy day care, because Jill is a lawyer and a busy woman! One morning, when the day care lady picked up Thor, she had this little bundle of fluff curled up sleeping beside her. Evidently a family that had three dogs couldn’t take care of them and brought them by the daycare place, and Suze was one of the three. Well, Jill saw this cute little thing and thought, ‘Aunt Bette needs this dog!’ I had lost my last dog the previous October, and I was trying manfully to do without a dog, but of course I was already looking. Jill started talking up this little girl and brought her to me, and I’ve had her a year and a half now. In the morning, she knows that I’m awake, but she cuddles up on her half of the bed and doesn’t act like she’s awake, but she is—so I can get up and do whatever I need to do and then “wake” her up. If I tell her I’m going to brush my teeth and then brush hers, she waits for me, and then it’s her turn. When she sees me getting dressed to go out, she goes into her crate herself. I give her some treats, and she’s good for three hours. I actually didn’t teach Suze anything —she’s just got me totally figured out.” Bette Barto

SPEAKING OF ANIMALS

Lady by Jeannette T. Rivet


One winter morning in 1990, on arriving at the

construction company where I worked, Ben, the Yard Superintendent, told me we had a visitor. When I asked him who, he pointed to a scrawny dog who was shaking from the cold. He said she had invited herself in, but would not allow him to come close. I was sure that I could coax her, but she stood on the top of a pile of railroad ties and watched us perform silly antics to try and get her to come down to let us help her. Every morning, Ben opened the gate, and within a few minutes, there she was...reigning over all of us, but refusing to let us near. I would give her water and move it a little closer every day, but she waited until I was back in the office building to come down and drink. Ben brought dog food and fed her in the same way. We felt that she might have been abused, and therefore kept her distance; however, we noticed that she was going to be a momma and we knew we had to shelter her. I named her “Lady” because she played the stand-offish queen on her throne when she went up to the top of the ties. Eventually, she came when called but, I don’t think it was in answer to her name, however, she knew whoever called would have a treat. Even the office and field employees were very friendly to her. Also, within a short period of time, she came close to eat and drink but still would not be touched. Ben

made a place for her in a small room near his office and she settled in. She really scared us because she bounded into the busy street and horns blared to scare her out of the way, and there was a time when she was nowhere to be found. She didn’t come to the yard or sit on her throne of railroad ties. We thought about her adventures on the busy streets, and felt sure the worst had happened. Every morning, I asked Ben if he had seen her as did the other employees, but the answer was always the same. “Nope, she hasn’t come home yet!” One morning, Ben called to me that he wanted to show me something in a shed that was never used. He opened the doors and there was Lady with eight puppies. She had dug a conical nest in the ground of the floorless shed. Only one thing had been stored in that shed for quite a few months, I was told. It was a roll of pink insulation. She had masticated it and lined the cone-shaped nest with it...for warmth & softness, I imagine. She looked tired but her puppies were trying to nurse and she let them. One puppy had died and she placed him at the top of the nest very carefully and Ben took him away.

We gave her the privacy she deserved, and only peeked in to see what was happening.

She was eating well and drinking and was a great mom. Her pups were happy and very rambunctious. I realized that the shape of the nest also kept the pups from climbing out and getting out of the building. Clever Lady!The puppies were all shapes and sizes. One looked like a German Shepherd, another looked like her, part Doberman, but all were lovable little mutts. Now that the puppies were older, the noise level had gone up and we had to move the gang to a place where we could keep everyone clean and healthy, and where they would not annoy visitors with their yipping and eventually their barks. I had a job to do that had to be done quickly, before the owner of the company would ask us to get rid of the litter. I went to him and asked if I could take the pups to the vet! He let me have my say, and with a smile said yes and told me to charge it to the

company. (The company was already feeding Lady and they fed the pups later, also.)

The vet said they were healthy and did the shots, etc. One pup was a runt, and he asked if I wanted to leave her. I said no because she was short-haired as was one of her brothers,

and I was going to keep both of them. Two is better than one, when you work full time. I would go home on my lunch hour to feed them, change the papers, etc. I named them Belle and Beau. Before the pups could be separated, every day at lunchtime, I went to the “kennel” to clean it and play with the pups. Lady was so happy to see me that she would sit with me for a while, and train her puppies to be respectful...mouth over the head; little nip at the ear.. then, she would heave a huge sigh and go up to the second level of the room to her quiet space and watch me as I sat there with her brood. Finally, at about ten weeks or more, something had to be done with this bundle of fur and feet and frenzy, and the FBI had nothing on me. I was the Puppy Police and interviewed everyone who wanted a pup—or maybe interrogated is a better word.I named the Shepherd Butch,

as he was bigger than all the others. An employee asked for him, as he knew an elderly man who lived alone in an area that had gangs. The pup took to him right away and I was told that the man sat on the porch with Butch and was never bothered. Most of the dogs were taken by employees who had made themselves known to the pups and Lady. When a pup left , she would walk the person to their car and then go back to her place in the building. All were given a good home, and I think Lady was glad to be on her own, again. Lady was still coming at night and sometimes during the day, but she still ran out into the street without looking. All attempts to block places that she could get out of, were of no use. Maybe she was not a stray, but a runaway. Eventually her adventures did cause her death, when she was struck by a car and died instantly. Belle and Beau (Black Lab mixes) came home with me two weeks after Easter of that year. They gave me the love and security and peace of mind that I needed after my husband’s death twenty-three years ago. What a joy they were to live with. But that’s another story.

Jeannette Rivet always had a dog until she moved to an apartment in her 70s. Her grandchildren tell her that their dogs love her, and she tells them that the feeling is mutual. Rivet has six children, 13 grandchildren,

and four great-grandchildren.

BOOK EXCERPT “What causes giraffes, until very recently thought to be rather quiet, to vocalize in frequencies so low that we can’t hear them with our ears alone? Is that the only bandwidth in the biophonic structure open to them?”


When I was growing up in Detroit, and my

parents and their friends and family listened — really listened — to something that was outside the ritual buzz of their daily lives, they mostly turned to music. And, when I was present, they usually chose forms within a very narrow range of expression deemed appropriate for young, impressionable ears, a rather pretentious mix of the classics and a wee bit of jazz. Tolerated but never really acknowledged were all the extraneous noises that also penetrated our environment.So with either certain kinds of music or irksome noise as my early listening template, imagine my sense of wonder when I discovered for myself —lying alone in my room during those spring and summer evenings — that all the living organisms outside my window were singing melodies that merged into a much larger choir. The joy was a secret I was certain no one else would understand. It was only a good deal later that I recognized all living organisms generated a unique sound signature. For instance, when viruses let go from a surface they’ve been attached to, they create a detectable sonic spike — a sharp, quick change in amplitude measurable by only the most sensitive instruments. Then there are the low-frequency moans and clicks — far below what humans can detect unaided — of the largest living animal on the planet, the blue whale.

For one of my first jobs in Hollywood, I was hired as part of a sound crew during the filming of a B movie. Trying to encourage me to quit, the film director exiled me to Iowa in August and charged me with recording the sound of corn growing. He wanted me off the set, he explained, because he didn’t need two sound recordists and, as I was working under union contract, I couldn’t actually be fired. So off I went, ever dutiful and on a mission. Like Brer Rabbit in the briar patch, I obediently sat in the middle of a cornfield about fifty miles west of Des Moines all night long with my microphone held up to a stalk of corn, waiting for some event to occur—I had no idea what. It turns out that corn makes a sound as it expands telescopically, the staccato-like clicks and squeaks reminiscent of rubbing dry hands in quick, jerky movements across the surface of a well-inflated rubber party balloon. The sound of corn growing. And the sounds little things make! The first time I heard ants “sing,” I was nearly fifty years old. I was speechless for hours. Ants “sing” by stridulating—rubbing their legs across their a b d o m e n s . W h i l e working on a project

in the American Southwest desert, my team and I were filmed by National Geographic as we recorded fire ants attempting to remove a pair of small lavalier microphones I had placed over their nest’s

entrance. The ants’ actions—the command signals to workers to remove this impediment—were communicated entirely by sound. I’ve often heard people say that the voice of a creature depends on its size — that small creatures have tiny, soft voices, while larger animals are somehow louder. But careful listening will quickly explode this myth. The Pacific tree frog outside my bedroom window is about the size of my little fingernail. Its voice can be heard more than a hundred yards away. One evening this spring, it registered 80 dBA at ten feet! Baby vultures in the forests of Ecuador have bodies so small that they would fit neatly in the palm of your hand, yet their roar is so loud and fierce that it would be great in a horror movie. On the other hand, many large animals have relatively

soft voices — for example, the giraffe (except for its low-frequency sounds), the California gray whale, the tapir, the capybara, and the anteater. When it comes to natural sounds, there are few rules. Our preconceptions are almost always trumped by the incredible diversity of life on earth. Anemones produce unusual sounds, although we have no idea how or why or what the sound might mean to other organisms in the vicinity. On a soundscape trip around Southeast Alaska, my group found a tide pool filled with barnacles, rockfish fry darting from place to place to hide, small crabs, clams, and some brilliantly colored anemones. One, whose mouth part (the center cavity) had grown to nearly five inches in diameter, looked particularly inviting for an experiment. I gently lowered a hydrophone into the cavity. Immediately the fleshy core of the creature sucked the instrument deep into its middle while the tentacles engulfed the rest of the object, searching for something of nutritional value. Finding none, the anemone expelled the hydrophone with a couple of loud, obscene grunts. If anemones create sounds, what about other creatures we’ve overlooked? For instance, why would insect larvae create sound signatures? Some do. In marine environments, where many larvae appear to vocalize, is there already

a climate of competition at such an early stage? What would motivate hippos to vocalize under water, and how close are those utterances to some species of whales? In muddy river environments, it’s important to remain in contact with other members of the bloat. Like gray whales, hippos are social animals that like to stay in contact, producing similar grunts and other sounds. What causes giraffes, until recently thought to quiet, to vocalize in frequencies so low that we can’t hear them with our ears alone? Is that the only bandwidth in the biophonic structure open to them? Are they taking advantage of an empty channel so their voices can be heard by other giraffes? We have only partial answers to questions like these and are just now realizing that we have much to gain by listening critically to the natural sounds of the earth and its nonhuman inhabitants. When I’m in the field observing animals up close, I try to imagine what they hear, and how the shapes of their ears might collect sound. I want to know how they perceive acoustic information. Cup your hands behind your ears and slowly turn around. The sounds gathered by the ear extensions make the sound appear louder and more focused. You’ll hear more because your ears just got bigger.

Reprinted with permission from Little, Brown and Company.


ARTS & TRAVEL

by Nancy Gordon

Unruly Rooster Offers Unexpected Life Lessons

In this true tale of man versus beast, it’s not clear

who actually won. After a painful divorce that left him feeling like a failure, journalist Brian McGrory seemed pretty darn set in his bachelor ways, watching sports, hanging with the guys, drinking beer. You get the picture. His only responsibility, aside from his work at the Boston Globe, was taking care of his golden retriever, Harry. Harry, however, ultimat-ely led McGrory to the veterinarian he would eventually marry and her two daughters, a move to the dreaded suburbs, and a menagerie that included rabbits, frogs and a very obnoxious rooster named Buddy. In case you’re not up on rooster behavior, their

job in life is to produce a flock and then protect it from predators. Unfortunately for McGrory, Buddy viewed him as a threat to his gaggle of three human females, an intruder in the harem. Much to McGrory’s cha-grin, Buddy chased him, pecked at him and “tried to castrate” him. Not fun. Buddy spoiled his vacations, his sleep, and his yard,

but McGrory, clearly a saint, put up with it all because he knew how much his fiancée, Pam, and her kids loved Boo-Boo, as they called their feathered friend. I kept waiting for McGrory to put his foot down and tell Pam, “It’s me or Buddy,” but no such ultimatum ever came. Instead he just went with the flow, trying to tolerate Buddy’s god-awful, non-stop crowing, not saying a word when a virtual poultry palace arose majestically in the back yard, never uttering a complaint when Buddy pooped all over the deck and porch. Jeez! Man up, as my son would say. McGrory’s style is light, fun, and funny. On a visit to his vacation home in Maine, which of course included the family’s pets, McGrory

recounts how Buddy refused to have anything to do with the yard, wanting only the safety of the house. Buddy tried “pecking his way through the glass doors that led into the living room. He pecked and pecked and pecked, pausing only long enough to defecate on the flooring that I was so irrationally proud of you would think I had nailed it together myself, big black-and-white gobs of feces that hit the wood with a cringe-inducing splat. When he wasn’t pecking and splatting, he was screaming at the top of his lungs, warnings to predators lurking in the woods and pleas to the girls inside to protect him from the ruthless dangers of this godforsaken place.” Although McGrory gives up his bachelor ways in the city that he loves, he comes to learn, with some help from his nemesis, that life is a series of trade-offs and that adults who choose to have a family have to step up to the plate and be there for them. I guess he finally manned up after all.

Nancy Gordon most recently worked as a journalist for Reuters in New York City. She can be reached at [email protected].

My husband and I recently returned

from a three-week tour of Spain and Portugal, but the highlight of the trip, according to my spouse, was neither Spain nor Portugal. It was Gibraltar, one of the last outposts of the British Empire. What’s so exciting about a big rock attached to the southern coast of Spain where people speak English and eat fish and chips? The Barbary apes are the big tourist draw, although they neither live in North Africa nor are they apes. Actually tailless macaque monkeys, these wild critters, numbering about 300, scamper about the Rock of Gibraltar, leaping onto the shoulders of unsuspecting tourists. They just sit there for a while and then leap off, onto other surprised visitors. Of course they’re hoping for a handout, which some foolish people give them, even though signs say not to feed them. One woman with an ice cream cone was breaking off bits and then handing them to one of the monkeys. I said to her that the furry fellow looked aggressive, but she dismissed my concern. Moments later when it made a grab for her cone and she pulled it away, it bit her. Yipee!! Score one for the monkey! Am I a bad person for taking gleeful delight in

her bite? Clearly yes, but I don’t care. She deserved it. After that incident, I was even more nervous about the monkeys and kept moving away from them as they approached, determined to avoid contact. But clearly I’m not capable of outsmarting a small primate, because I soon felt a whomp on my shoulder as one leapt up from behind me. I

completely panicked and forgot every bit of advice our guide had provided moments ago, such as keep your hands down at your sides. Instantly my hands flew up to my sunglasses, clutching them for dear life, despite the guide having said that they never took glasses or hats, unlike their cousins in India, who make off with anything they can grab, including cameras. Once I calmed down enough to enjoy the experience, I realized that the monkey was surprisingly light and seemed to want nothing

Monkeys on Our Backs

more than to hang out on its new perch, where it stayed for a few minutes before leaping down and scampering off on a new adventure. My husband also had a visitor on his shoulder. He put his arm out, and the monkey used it to balance better.

Andy said its touch was soft and gentle. We didn’t see any other tourists get the special attention we did, so of course we had to come up with a theory as to why they liked us and not the many other humans nearby. Andy and I are shorter than average, so our theory is that the monkeys did not have to

leap as high to reach our shoulders as they would have to for taller people. Of course we have no proof this is correct, but that’s our story and we’re sticking to it. Finally an advantage to being a shrimp! 5

TECH TOYS

Woof, Woof, What??!! by Stacey Kors

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Dog Translator, FreeRonald Bell Entertainment

When I first saw Dr. Doolittle as a child

(the original, 1967 version, not the dreadful Eddie Murphy remake from the 1990s), I became obsessed with the idea of being able to “talk to the animals.” At the time, the only guinea pig I had available was actually a parakeet, Mr. Spock, recently passed down from my older brother. Given Mr. Spock’s propensity to bite my finger whenever I reached into his cage, and to fly, full speed, into the nearest window or mirror the minute I let him out for some exercise, I questioned the worth of trying to communicate with such a—forgive me!—bird-brained companion. Decades later, I started keeping company with friendlier, chattier, dogs and cats, and found myself trying to “translate” the variety of meows and woofs that were being addressed to me. Did that bark mean “I need to go out” or “why aren’t you

playing ball with me?” Was that a “feed me” meow, or a “pet me” meow? (In the case of my late, lovey, blob-of-a-cat Faust, his communication was usually limited to a single, declaratory sentence with a fill-in-the-blank noun: “I need x NOW.”) I was intrigued, but admittedly skeptical, when I came across the “Dog Translator” app by Ronald Bell, which claims to record your dog, analyze the noise s/he’s making, and provide a “translation.” (A cat version is also available). While I didn’t expect a level of animal understanding akin to Jane Goodall from a free iPhone app, I was hopeful that it might provide some insight into basic dog communication. I took the app on a test drive—or, rather, test stroll—the next time Shiva and I went out for a walk. Almost immediately, we ran into one of Shiva’s buddies, Cleo; Shiva jumped all over her, wrestling and growling in

her usual dog-play way. I pulled out my phone, hit “record,” and waited excitedly to see what the outcome would be. “Bring me snackies,” read the translation. “Think steak.” Hoping that Shiva wasn’t thinking steak when grabbing at Cleo’s scruff, we finished with playtime and continued down the street. Soon we encountered a dog that Shiva didn’t know; obnoxiously territorial with strange dogs, she began barking aggressively. While steering her away, I hit “record” again. “I’m tired” was the response. Right. Over the next 24 hours, I tested the “Dog Translator” in a variety of situations, with Shiva making distinctively different sounds. Alarm barking when someone came to the door generated “Did someone say snackies time?” Soft-but-urgent woofing prompted by a noise outside was first translated into “I’m ready for some petting,” and

then “I wish I was human, so I could have steaks whenever I wanted.” (The apps’ translation of dog language may be terrible, but you’d think they could at least get English grammar right.) Given the wildly off-the-mark responses, I found it hard to believe that this app was even recording Shiva’s sounds. I mean, I may not be Cesar Milan, but I know enough about dogs to get a general sense of what they’re saying—from an aggressive growl or bark, to a sad or needy whimper, to a happy and excited woof of greeting. So out of curiosity, I did one final test: in my quiet living room, with Shiva fast asleep on the couch beside me, I hit “record.” The app “analyzed” the silence, and responded with “Even fierce predators need cuddles sometimes.” Perhaps the “Dog Translator” should claim to be telepathic instead.

Stacey Kors is a freelance culture writer who splits her time between the writer-rich, pet-loving regions of Brooklyn, NY and Western MA.


McCusker’s Market3 State Street, Shelburne Falls

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.(413) 625-9411

Green Fields Market144 Main Street, GreenfieldM-F 8-8, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5

(413) 773-9567

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Locally owned food co-op for over 30 years with two stores:

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an even better place to live.

269 High St. Greenfield (413) 773-9639 Mon - Fri 8 - 6 Sat. 8 - 5

Products and equipment for your pets and farm animals

Check our website for animal categories and information www.greenfieldfarmerscoop.com

Local - Farmer Owned

Come see what our local farmers brought in today!Open 8 am-9 pm daily at 330 N. King StreetNorthampton, MA (Just south of I-91 exit 21) Everyone is welcome. rivervalleymarket.coop

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Bella can’t get wait to get her teeth into Smiarowski Farm asparagus

...where the apple is justthe beginning!Corner of Rte. 116 & Bay Road, South Amherst

(413) 253-9528 * www.atkinsfarms.com

Farm Fresh Produce

Country Bakery

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Meat & Seafood

Specialty Foods

Homemade Fudge

Specialty Cheeses

Fresh Sushi Bar

Full Service Florist

Gifts & Gift Baskets

Savory Suppers

Beer & Wine

A modern country market nestled in one ofA modern country market nestled in one ofA modern country market nestled in one ofA modern country market nestled in one ofA modern country market nestled in one ofthe oldest apple orthe oldest apple orthe oldest apple orthe oldest apple orthe oldest apple orcccccharharharharhards in Neds in Neds in Neds in Neds in New Enw Enw Enw Enw Engggggland.land.land.land.land.Atkins FAtkins FAtkins FAtkins FAtkins Farararararm specializes in gm specializes in gm specializes in gm specializes in gm specializes in grrrrrooooowinwinwinwinwing qualityg qualityg qualityg qualityg quality

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99 Main Street Haydenville, MA

(413) 268-8387

Pet Grooming with Diane LeveilleConveniently located at

the Family Veterinary Center

Becky: I had two cats when we met, and Macci had one, and then she got another. So we each had two when we moved in together, and then it was exponentially different.Macci: Two plus two is way more than four when it comes to cats.Becky: But they managed somehow to blend together. After they were gone, we did have a couple of years of being cat-free. Macci: We’d never known each other without them, so we thought it would be a good idea to see if there really was a relationship there, or if it was all about cats.Becky: I don’t remember how we decided it was time to have cats again, but in 1999 we got Bean and his sister, Danceler, who died a couple of years ago. Macci’s family in Mississippi had kittens, and Macci sent photographs to me. We didn’t have any questions about getting Bean.Macci: When Bean was a kitten he would fall asleep anywhere, and he still does. If you picked him up right now and held him on his back like a baby he would eventually fall asleep. Becky: His sister was much more adventurous …Macci: … and smarter …Backy: … and smarter, so Bean got left behind a lot. When Bean and Danceler were kittens we used a piece of plywood to keep them in a smaller space, and Danceler would just get up and over and then we’d hear “Mew! Mew!” because Bean couldn’t get out. Continued on p. 16.


HAPPIEST Animal(s)

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PhysicalTherapy

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Margot Apple may be best known for her collaboration with Nancy Shaw on the Sheep in a Jeep series (Houghton Mifflin). But her favorite books are the one’s that she both wrote and illustrated, such as Blanket and Brave Martha (Houghton Mifflin). She is always thinking of ideas for more stories to illustrate. There are ideas involving horses (of which she has three), cats (she has seven), people, and magic ... no sheep! Growing up in inner city Detroit, Michigan, Margot dreamed of having horses. She and her best friend spent hours riding their stick horses playing that they were on the range or in the forest in the vacant lots in their neighborhood. As a child, Margot was often sad about living in Detroit; she wanted to live on a farm and have dogs and horses. All grown up, Margot now has her animals and incorporates them into her illustrations. She has illustrated over 60 books for young readers. Margot doesn’t remember when she first started drawing. “It was just something I always did. I have no brothers or sisters, so I think my drawing kept me company.” Her parents encouraged her artistic talents by sending her to art classes for children and then to Cass Technical High School, where she studied commercial art. Following high school, Margot went on to get her art degree at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating, Margot freelanced in graphic arts and illustration. She has illustrated a little of everything-from text books to children’s magazines like Cricket and Ladybug. With the success of the Sheep series, Margot has enjoyed illustrating many more popular books for children, including Just Like My Dad (Boyds Mills Press), Appaloosa Zebra (Greenwillow), and The Name Quilt (Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux). Boo Cow (Charlesbridge) is now available in paperback. Margot lives in Shelburne Falls with her husband and her menagerie.

From “BOO COW,” Margot Apple , Illustrator

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ASK THE HENMs. Hen offers advice on life, relationships, and grooming from a hen’s perspective.

Translated by Dick Wagner.

Dear Ms. Hen,I have an 11-year-old son. Let’s call him “Jimmy.” Jimmy is a small boy for his age, and this is now beginning to cause him some problems at school. He started middle school this year and is in with a bunch of new kids who didn’t attend his elementary school. These kids started calling him ‘Stumpy’ and ‘Shorty’ or other mean names. He is really getting depressed about this, and the school hasn’t really been very helpful with stopping the bullying. I have taken Jimmy to several doctors, but they just tell me all the standard things—like he is perfectly healthy, that he may suddenly catch up (you know, have a growth spurt), that girls are maturing faster at that age, etc. That may all be true, but it doesn’t help Jimmy now.

I understand that there are some breeds of chickens that grow to be ten pounds within twelve weeks. Now that is what you call a growth spurt. Is there anything that we humans can learn from you hens that might help my boy?

Signed,Short on Information

Dear Short,There certainly is a lot you can learn from us hens about size that would help. But it’s not what you think. First, the type of chicken you are likely referring to is called a Cornish Cross (Cornish ‘X’). It isn’t really a breed of chicken but rather a hybrid, and they form the foundation for the meat chicken industry in the United States. You wouldn’t want your son to imitate them, those poor birds. Even when they are being raised humanely, which most aren’t, they just grow too fast. In fact, they grow so fast that the rest of their body can’t keep up! They can have heart, digestive, and other problems from growing this fast, and it is not unusual for them to have broken legs because they put on weight faster than their bones grow. No, you don’t want “Jimmy” to be like that. Instead, I am wondering why size is a problem. Being bigger isn’t the same as being better. Bantam (small) chickens come in a variety of breeds from Australorps to Zwergs, and some of these bantam breeds are among the most beautiful and elegant of all chickens. What tails some of them have! Let me tell you, you haven’t seen a tail until you have seen a black-breasted golden phoenix bantam with a five foot tail. Now that’s what I call a ‘big’ chicken. Those little birds strut around like they own the world. So tell Jimmy that size doesn’t matter and that attitude does. Tell him to strut his stuff! I’d suggest a faux tail, but humans just don’t seem to have the same reaction to a good set of tail feathers as we hens do. Your loss if you ask me.

And while we are talking about those poor Cornish Crosses, remember that you can do a lot to improve chicken welfare by how you shop. Whenever possible, buy cage-free eggs and meat from free ranging birds. Read the labels carefully, and maybe even do a little research about different companies. Some have figured out that a lot of humans do want to shop humanely, but these companies use the label “cage-free” although their hens still have almost no space or sunlight. The informed use of your purchasing power will help improve the lives of my friends and colleagues!

Remember, combs up, and spring will be coming soon. Sometime this spring we’ll have to have a chat about Easter chicks.

Signed, Ms. Hen

Continued from p. 12.

We think he might have fallen down the steps …Macci: … but I don’t think that caused a brain injury. He just knows he’s gorgeous, and he’s gotten by on his looks a lot. Becky: After Danceler died, we were in Mississippi, where Maccis’ brother worked in a junkyard. He’d intended to spay a feral mother cat but hadn’t gotten to it. He said, “People took a couple of the kittens, but I’ve got one more left and I’m go-ing to bring it home in a pillowcase.” And he did—he arrived home with a satin pillowcase knotted at the top and this little bulge in the bottom. He opened it up and a little grey head appeared and goes, “Sssss!” Macci: My brother said, “If you don’t want her I can bring her back. The gate is locked, but I can just throw her over. The alligators probably aren’t out yet.” He was totally working on us.Becky: She’s still feralish. We’ve really had to woo Emmy. She likes to sit next to you but she doesn’t like to be picked up a lot. Bean was really good with her right from the start. He wanted to play and wrestle, and he was very gentle, though the bigger she got the more aggressively he wanted to play, and now, every once in a while they get into a …Macci:. …tussle. Becky built those little shelves up there for Emmy because Bean wanted to play more than Emmy did, and she still goes up there. She has a little bowl with a few piece of dry food in it that she has to jump up there to get that Bean can’t have.

Becky: I know that I’m covered with cat hair most of the time. We went to the Empire State Building once, and they had a display where you went into a black light. I had on this dark purple thing, and I knew the cat hair was bad, but I didn’t real-ize how bad! How do people with cats wear dark clothes and go places with no hair on them?Macci: They dress outside.

5

DOG TRAINING

Improving Your Dog’s “Come” Command with Treats and Hide & Seek by Shannon Fitzgerald, Leading the Way Dog Training

Teaching Your Dog What “Come” Means

Begin by choosing a location with limited to no distractions. Most likely this will be indoors, but if outdoors, on leash. For this lesson you will need good treats, not your everyday treats. Use really yummy treats like diced chicken, cubed cheese, dried liver, etc.

Stand toe to toe with your dog, with 30 yummy treats in your hand (or in a treat pouch). You will be working with your dog facing you. The delivery and timing of the treats is key: the moment the treat is delivered to your dog’s mouth say “come,” and repeat this step 30 times each training session. You will want to practice 2-3 times daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing to allowing mild distractions, then practicing in the more active part of the house, your backyard, or out in front of your home outside,

etc. (Again, if you’re outside, have your dog on leash!)

Reminders & Suggestions

1. You may choose any word you wish in place of the word “come.” Common other choices would be “here,” “now,” “place,” or using the word “come” in a foreign language. Especially if “come” has poor associations for you and your dog, choosing a new word can be ideal.

2. There should be no movement on your part when giving treats. Your dogs can sit or stand.

3. There is no need to use your dog’s name, as adding this to “come” can be confusing.

4. The more you practice, the better the recall.

The Hide and Seek Game

To begin, you will need a helper (more players are welcome), and regular treats of a meaty type, not a crunchy kibble type.

To begin the game Hide & Seek, one person calls the dog using only the dog’s name. For example: the person would call “Fluffy, Fluffy,” and only when the person can actually touch the dog do they say the word “come” and deliver a treat.

Just as in the previous training, the timing is key”

the moment the treat is delivered to your dogs mouth is when you say “come.” You will want to change locations for your next turn. If several people are playing, each person should hide in a new location before calling the dog.

Reminders and Suggestions

1. If you have more than one dog, train them separately.

2. This can be a great rainy day game or a fun game for a dog on limited activity restriction from the veterinarian.

3. Repeat your dog’s name as long as it takes to get your dog to come, ad use a happy welcoming voice.

Most importantly, have fun!

Copyright 2012 Leading the Way Dog Training



by Mary A. Koncel

FOR THE LOVE OF HORSES

Two Aging Mares

DION TACK 660 West St., Rte. 116, Amherst, MA 01002

“Your Local Source for Horse and Rider”

(413) 230-3458

Last week I trailered Maxine to Connecticut

for a lameness exam.As the technician trotted her up and down the driveway, one of our vets, a wonderful vet with a great Irish accent, turned to me and said, “She must have been something in her day.” I almost cried. For the last few months, I’ve been coming to a hard realization. My horse and I are getting old. In her, I see and feel it in subtle and not so subtle ways that I struggle to acknowledge – or, depending on my mood, sometimes not acknowledge. Her long back is starting to drop, and, as the rules of equine physiology and gravity dictate, her ribs are more obvious than last year. Then there’s her coat. It’s still a beautiful red chestnut coat, but because of Cushings disease, it tends to grow a bit longer and coarser now. And I see more and more white hairs, starting first with her muzzle and around her eyes, and then gradually flecking the rest of her body and her legs. Vet visits are more frequent too–not only for her Cushings and Lyme disease, but also for her stiff hocks and persistent, but almost imperceptible, lameness in her right front hoof. Injections have helped along with special egg bar shoes

and new prescriptions that offer to temporarily fend off the inevitable. Next comes me. Never the most nimble person, I find

myself struggling to get my left foot in the stirrup, then, once accomplished, tumbling onto Maxine’s back with little to no grace–even with the help of a newly purchased, extra tall mounting block. Once on, I’m generally comfortable, but twice this year I’ve been bounced off by a sudden shy or stumble – one on a trail and the other in the

middle of a black top road. Both have taken a hit on my confidence. I won’t mention my back or knees. So in addition

to wearing a helmet, I’m now sporting one of those high-tech protective vests that “combine optimum fit with a high level of shock absorption.” It’s also a cheery blue! (Another newer, even more high tech option was what is best described as modified air bags in a vest that inflates upon impact. But I decided to

start more simply, given all the scenarios that come to my mind when I imagine combining horses and air bags.) I’ve experienced the aging

of many animals in my life–

dogs and cats, a canary and chickens, a couple of turtles and guinea pigs, to name a few. But there’s something about a horse that’s different – and harder. Maybe it’s the length of time they’re with us —being the long lived creatures that they are. Or maybe it’s the type of relationship we develop with our horses. This became the topic of conversation between my good friend Arlyn and me during a long and fairly recent trip to Maine. Companion animals? Family members? Valuable livestock? For one reason or another, all of them came up short. But, being wise and fairly bored people after the third hour of driving, we persisted and finally agreed: Partners. Yes, partners indeed seemed an appropriate choice. Maxine came to me as a fairly green 4-year-old almost 16 years ago. On the day I went to try her out, February 19 to be exact, I rode her around the indoor riding arena while her owner gave me her


BUBBLES Bubbles is a sweet, silly cat who is looking for a forever home. He is about two years old and has been neutered and vaccinated. He appeared, crying, at the home of a friend. Bubbles was very thin and so weak he could barely stand up; he had clearly been on his own a while. Attempts were made to find his owner, but the feeling was that he had been dumped. This sweet cat has been in my spare bedroom for three months. He has become more comfortable and more loving and I have gotten to know him. When allowed to walk around the house, he follows me like a dog. He is not needy, and is content to sit next to me on the couch. His desire is just to be near me. Bubbles absolutely loves playing. He goes wild for his fishing pole bird toy, but also entertains himself playing with his many toys. Bubbles needs to live as an indoor cat because he is FIV+. He most likely contracted this virus through fighting with another cat. He can live with other cats as long as they are not fighting. I have had Bubbles out with my cats and he does best with the cats who ignore him. He doesn’t go looking to start trouble, but if another cat starts some-thing, he will not back down. He doesn’t mind my dogs, but they are used to cats. He will stand up to a dog if he feels threatened. He has only one flaw—that he will bite when he does not like something you are doing. This does not happen as often now that I am learning what circumstances elicit a bite, and I am hoping that Bubbles will mellow with time, as one of my other cats has done. This already does seem to be happening. I am looking for a big-hearted person willing to provide Bubbles with a roof over his head. The easy solution would be for me to keep him, but I can’t take on any more cats. I am willing to provide his food and litter and to pay for his annual vet exams. Please email me if you are interested at: [email protected].

history and the owner’s son played with plastic trucks in the sand footing. She had a lovely walk and trot and could also jump, but her canter was still a lurching something or other. Although Maxine had never been ridden on the trail, I decided it was time she tried, since that’s what we would be doing lots of. So down the road we went until we found a path through a corn field. Despite some nasty wind and a little sleety rain in Middletown, New York, Maxine marched on, ignoring passing cars, walking past a barking dog and through—well almost, through—a largely imposing puddle. We returned to the barn elated. I had fallen in love with Maxine the minute I saw her on the cross ties, but the combination of her willingness, her curiosity, and her trust in me and mine in her in those 15 or so minutes sealed the deal. I wrote a check as soon as we returned. (Note: I blatantly violated the first rule of horse shopping–never ever buy one on the first visit. Oh, well.) I want to believe that right then and there we both knew we had entered, for better or worse, into a long and enduring partnership. In the past 16 years, we’ve taken tons of lessons and clinics, competed somewhat successfully in lower level dressage, and, of course, logged in hundreds of miles of trail riding, both by ourselves and with friends. I’ve taught Maxine to cross bridges and creeks, load on and off trailers without fussing, do shoulder-in

and haunches-in at the trot and sometimes the canter, and so much more. She’s taught me to be patient, sit her big trot, be sensitive with my hands, seat, and legs, and so much more. I have to say, though, that being a typical red chestnut mare as well as a Thoroughbred, she sometimes hasn’t been easy. She has definite opinions and a strong sense of self. Yet I know that for every time that I’ve been frustrated with her, she’s probably returned to her stall or pasture grumbling to her equine buddies because she was equally frustrated with me. Then there’s the time. Once, at a work-place retreat, after we were asked to describe a typical week in our lives, a colleague commented that it seemed like I spend more time with my horse than my husband. I declined to confirm the accuracy of his assessment even after I quickly tallied up the hours spent grooming her, riding her, trailering her, and cleaning her stall and tack. To some degree, our wonderful vet with the great Irish accent was right. Maxine was something in her day. But, in my less self-indulging moments, I have another realization – that there’s still lots of something left in her – and by extension, me. Of course, I’d love to shave 10 years off of both of us, but since I can’t do that, I’ve simply stopped counting them. That’s my version of new math. And it works for me.

Mary A. Koncel is a Clinical Instructor at the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts Veterinary School, and the author of a volume of poetry, You Can Tell the Horse Anything, from Tupelo Press.

I’m such a sweet, quiet, gentle girl. I’m currently in a foster home where I’m doing very well. I’m 10 years old, spayed, and a Lab mix, who enjoys the company of other dogs and prefers a calm household. I can be a little shy at first but don’t let that fool you - I absolutely love attention!! I’ve been diagnosed with a food allergy, so I need to be on a restricted diet for the rest of my life. Other foods make me super itchy and it’s important that I only get a specific type of food. I feel so much better than I did when I first came to Dakin. I only need one more thing to make life sublime…that’s a family to call my own. Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

MOLLY

THINLEY

I am a sweet, playful girl who needs some “T.L.C.,” a Domestic Short Hair, and spayed female, around 2.5 years old I got the name Thinley because I was so skinny when I arrived at Dakin as a stray. Now, I’m a purr-fect weight with all the good food I’m getting. I’m an independent cat who would prefer the chance to go outside on a sunny day. I’ve had a lot of transitions in my life so far, so I’m looking for a home with kind people who will give me lots of love. Could that be you? I’m purring at the very thought! Contact the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

HUMANE HOPESKara Holmquist,

Director ofAdvocacy, MSPCALinda Huebner,

DeputyDirector, MSPCA


Kara & FinleyLinda & Ladybug

The new law that updates statutes relating to animal

control, which took effect on October 31, requires animal control officers (ACOs) to scan stray animals for microchips to determine if they have a home. Some ACOs have since received donated Home Again universal microchip scanners, which will detect many different microchips, thanks to a grant from Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC) and Hopkinton Drug. If your ACO does not have a scanner, you might consider a fundraiser to purchase one for him/her.

If your animal does not yet have a microchip implanted,

talk to your veterinarian and local ACO about getting one. Some ACOs offer microchip implantation with their rabies shot clinics. Even if your dog wears a collar with tags or your cat stays indoors, it’s a good idea to have a microchip

– it may be your pet’s ticket home if he/she gets lost or is stolen.

Because lost animals may be found by people

who don’t have microchip readers, it’s still a good idea to use tags – ID tags, rabies tags, and licenses. For dogs, they can be affixed to regular collars or harnesses; cats can wear safety collars with tags, too.

When choosing which collar or harness to

use for your animal, make sure that it won’t come off, but isn’t too tight, either. There are countless stories of animals who slip their collars and run off, sometimes never to return. On the other hand, choke and prong collars won’t slip off of a dog on a leash, but aren’t the most humane choices. There are lots of options for collars, harnesses, and head halters, such as the Gentle Leader,

Helping Lost Pets Get Back Home

so you should be able to find something that works well for you and your pet.

When traveling with your pet, make sure that he/

she is safely secured in a crate and/or car restraint, such as a seat belt harness system or behind a grate in a larger vehicle so that your pet won’t be able to move around the vehicle enough to distract the driver. Identification is particularly important when you’re away from home, since lost pets may behave differently in another environment and no one will recognize your pet.

The Massachusetts Animal Coalition is

having an “All About Dogs” meeting on Jan. 13th and a “Whole Cats” workshop on March 24th at Tufts in North Grafton. See www.massanimalcoalition.org for more information.

M9170 Haydenville, MA

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Dr. Robert G. Sidorsky, DVM 888-625-9353

Would you like a subscription to Happy Val-ley Animals? They are available for $20/year. Our address is Happy Valley Animals, P. O.

Box 112, Northampton, MA, 01060.

Do you have comments or suggestions? Is there an animal or animal person you think should be featured, or an issue you’d like ad-

dressed? Email [email protected].

Conveniently located on Rt 10, next to Furs A Flyin’, we’re locally owned and only seem small—we have ALL the high-quality brands you’re look-ing for to care for your dog, cat, guinea pig, hamster, bird, or other pet!

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[email protected]/hairys.petsupply

[email protected]

OPEN MONDAYS, 9-5, TUESDAY-FRIDAY, 8-7 & SATURDAYS, 9-5.


OUR VETS: Dr. Lori Paporello and Dr. Ellie Shelburne Northampton Veterinary Clinic

Hyperthyroidism: A Common Disease in Older Cats

As our patients age, they are at an increased risk

for developing diseases of their organ systems. The most common metabolic disease of cats over the age of 10 is hyperthyroidism (an increase in the production of thyroid hormone). These patients often present to us with a history of increased appetite and activity and weight loss. Pet owners frequently report that their older cat is acting “kitten like” and is more vocal especially at night. Less commonly they may have changes in litter box behavior, or experience vomiting and diarrhea. On physical exam we often notice a greasy, spikey coat and feel a nodule in the neck on either side of the trachea. The nodule that we palpate is a non-cancerous growth on the thyroid gland that produces excessive thyroid hormone. The result is an increase in metabolic rate, which causes the described clinical signs. Unfortunately, the underlying cause of this disease has not yet been determined but is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental and dietary factors. The initial stages of

hyperthyroidism are subtle and not threatening to the patient. Left untreated, however, hyperthyroidism will cause significant weight loss, liver and heart disease and a progressive decline in the kitty’s quality of life. The disease is generally easily diagnosed by coupling the clinical history with a simple blood test that measures the patient’s thyroid level. Several treatment options are available to manage this disease in our senior patients. Of course each has its pros and cons making some treatments more suitable to the individual patient than others. The most common treatment option is medical management with a daily oral medication called methimazole. This medication is relatively inexpensive but does require giving a tablet to a kitty twice daily on an ongoing basis (often easier said than done.) The tablet is small and tasteless. Most cats can be medicated by hiding the tablet in a treat (such as a pill pocket), crushing the tablet and hiding it in a small amount of canned food or turning the medication into a flavored liquid. For the most difficult-to-medicate patients the methimazole can be compounded into a salve that can be rubbed on to the ear and absorbed through the skin. Occasional negative

side effects include severe facial itchiness, liver disease and changes in blood cells. Lab work should be evaluated regularly to monitor for these generally reversible side effects. The gold standard of treatment for hyperthyroidism is radioactive iodine therapy. This involves a single injection of radioactive iodine that selectively destroys the abnormal portion of the thyroid gland while sparing the normal function of the gland. The advantage of this option is that the treatment is actually curative. Occasionally, a sec-ond injection is needed but generally no further treatment is required. There are, however, a few negative aspects to this treatment option. Because radioactive iodine is highly regulated, only a limited number of facilities provided this service. Therefore, travel is often required. Also the treatment is rather expensive as it includes a significant workup. Patients must be hospitalized in quarantine for several days after treatment while radioactive wastes are eliminated. And while this is often more stressful for the owner than the kitty it is a bummer for everyone involved. The benefit of course is that after the initial expense and stress of treatment no further ongoing management is required making this a great option when possible for most cats that are not severely geriatric. The least favorable treatment option (and one that is rarely utilized) is surgical removal

of the thyroid gland. Given the inherent risks of surgery for the geriatric patient this option is seldom recommended, especially given the other safer available options. The newest treatment option, and one which holds great promise, is a prescription diet which is formulated to be low in iodine. The pros are that this is a safe and effective option for treatment and is as simple as feeding your cat. The tricky part is that the patient must eat this diet exclusively, which can be difficult for both the patient and owner, especially if the patient is finicky (and what older cat isn’t) or there are multiple pets (or kids) in the home, which can make feeding an exclusive diet nearly impossible. The only good thing about hyperthyroidism is that the increased metabolic rate that it produces causes a super blood supply to the kidneys. In the older patient this super blood supply can actually maintain function in the aging kidney. When the over

-active thyroid is treated and corrected, borderline kidney function that was supported by the hyperthyroid state can be unmasked. In some patients, the balance between treating hyperthyroidism and managing kidney failure can be like walking a tight rope. Frequent monitoring is needed to identify these patients and to maintain the highest possible quality of life for them. Your veterinarian can help rule out hyperthyroidism for your cat with a comprehensive physical exam and history, and routine geriatric blood screening. If diagnosed, your vet will counsel you about the most appropriate treatment op-tion for your senior kitty given your circumstances. Most of these patients have an excellent quality of life well beyond diagnosis. For some, treatment allows for significant improvement in their quality of life during their golden years and resolves underlying health issues that owners hadn’t fully appreciated until they were treated.


Helpful Humans

GOAT GROUPS

Come, Sit, Stay. Dog Obedience Training at your home by Stan Pollack, Canine Educator with 30 years of experience. Disobedient dog? Aggres-sive hound? Destructive pooch? Does your dog rule your home and drag you when you try to walk? I can help. Valley Time Trade member. To see a video of training tips and learn more about my philosophy of dog training, go to Check out the video at: www.stanthefixitman.net/dog-training/.

Since being established in 1992, Leading the Way has been dedicated to enhancing the relationship of our two- and four-legged clients. Family owned & operated, with 25 years of experience in training and education. Shannon Fitzgerald & Melissa Mehlman share our knowledge through doggie daycare, all levels of dog training plus trick training, therapy dog training, show training, AKC Canine Good Citizen and behavior modifi-cation to build strong canine-human partnerships based on love and re-spect. Located at18 Chestnut St. in Florence, 413-559-7011. Visit us at www.leadingthewaydogtraining.com.

Western Mass Goat Alliance. Where goat people can connect. Ev-eryone is welcome, whether you’ve had goats for years or you¹d like to have them in the future. Folks with dairy goats, meat goats, fiber goats, miniature or full size breeds, pack goats, cart goats, goats for brush clearing, education, therapy goats, pet goats, etc — all are wel-come to join. Goats can be a valued part of permaculture and sustain-able food systems, providing a delicious, healthy source of meat and milk products. Sign up at pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/western-massgoatalliance.

DOG WALKING/PET & HOUSE SITTING

Sarah’s Pet Services, LLC is proud to be the premier dog walking service in the Pioneer Valley. We offer pet & house sitting as well as dog walking in Northampton, Easthampton, Hatfield, Florence, Leeds, Whately, Hadley, Amherst, and the surrounding areas. We’re sure you and your pets will ap-preciate our friendly, experienced, and reliable services. We’re also excited to introduce a new service: Doggy Day Trips! These are half-day hikes in the woods and hills of the beautiful Pioneer Valley—exercise, socialization, and good ol’ fun in a natural environment. Give us a call 413-626-5406, or send us an email at [email protected].

Easthampton Feed sells items for the home, farm, and family. We have high quality products at reasonable prices, topped off with the great customer service that you expect and deserve! Whether you’re a pet or horse owner, landscaper, or backyard hobbyist, our staff will spend time with you and do their best to meet your needs. (Looking for organic, non-GMO feed? We have it.) We’re located “on the Rail Trail,” right in the heart of Easthampton: off Liberty, off Union (Rt. 141), and off Rt. 202 at 18 Mechanic Street. Hours: Mon-Friday, 8AM - 6PM, Sat 8AM - 4PM. Closed Sunday.

DOG TRAINING & DAY CARE

DOG TRAINING FEED STORES

Country Corral in Williamsburg has feed—more than twenty brands—for your pets and livestock, and well as tack, other pet sup-plies, and gifts. In business for more than 20 years, owner Tim is always behind the counter and ready to lend advice in finding and choosing the best item for your needs—and also a hand in getting them out to your car or truck. Customers say, “Outstanding prod-ucts and service,” a place that meets “all your animal vegetable and mineral (!) needs,” and “the best feed store I have ever been to.” Stop by 35 Main Street Rear (look for the sign to your right on Rt. 9) Wil-liamsburg, MA. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

FEED—ORGANIC, NON-SOY, NO GMO

Countryside Organics believes that certified organic and non-soy grains are healthier for you, your animals, and the environment. We also use the finest quality supplements: Thorvin™ Kelp, Fertrell™ Poultry Nutri-Bal-ancer with Probiotics, Course High Calcium Limestone for Calcium, Or-ganic Alfalfa, Organic Flaxseed, and Redmond™ Conditioner. Our feeds are formulated with nutritional needs in mind, and we do not change our formulas due to cost fluctuations of specific ingredients, so your animals receive the same feed throughout their feeding cycle. Ask for us at local feed stores, including Easthampton Feed and the Tip Top Country Store in Brookfield, and learn more about us at countrysideorganics.com.

If you or someone you know has lost a pet, please join us for a weekly (or as needed) pet loss support group. The group is held as an open forum, and everyone is welcome. Meetings are held from 6-7:00 p.m. at the West Springfield Library, dates variable. For more infor-mation, contact Doreen McDonald at 413-732-0373 .

PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP


White Rose Pet Memorial Services

PET CREMATORYBrattleboro, VT

www.whiterosepet.com(802) 254-4749

By Appointment Only

Saying goodbye is difficult. We understand.After meeting us and visiting our facility, you will leave

with the assurance and confidence that you have made the best decision for your cherished companion.

Once you come through our gate, our facility is reserved exclusively for you and your pet. No one will interfere

with your final private time together.

COMPLETE, COMPASSIONATE AND DIGNIFIED AFTERCARE SERVICES.

In Memoriam

555

“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.”

Henry Beston, The Outermost House

DARK EGGErMay, 2009 - OCTOBER 2012

This past fall we lost our second hen. I buried Dark Egger on a Saturday in the back of the lingering perennial garden, set her in the grave that I dug in soft earth on the most glorious of days. I ringed her in flowerettes of sedum and aster, and poured dirt over her brown and mahogany feathers, noticing one last time the swirled shawl they made around her neck—her one beauty, this thin but always commanding hen. I had already held her stiff body and stroked her— feathers so soft—and I had, for just a moment, held her truly close, closer than she would have allowed in life, our once-reigning queen. I was thinking: ashes to ashes is the way of things. And that living in the presence of small losses, and to allow for the presence of small sorrows, like this one, could be seen as a gift and a reminder. What would be harder would be to not love life enough. So much better to love too much: the last bees who were then making their way among the roses, and the maples raining down the leaves I love to sweep, and this latest hen departed.

—E.A.

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