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Page 1: Julie Mannis Hoisingtonmatchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/351/... · Pricing for pet portraits starts around $125 for a small, simple portrait of a single pet and ranges
Page 2: Julie Mannis Hoisingtonmatchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/351/... · Pricing for pet portraits starts around $125 for a small, simple portrait of a single pet and ranges

EDITORJulie Mannis Hoisington

DESIGN DIRECTORCasey Dean

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSMartin Jones WestlinNicole Sours Larson

Sindi SomersJudith Pierce

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSNicole Sours Larson

PRODUCTION ARTISTSCasey DeanChris Bakerd Davidson

David Ramsey

ADVERTISING SALE S MANAGERHeather Snyder

[email protected](858) 270-3103 X115

ADVERTISING SALESKim Donaldson x104

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTMike Fahey x117

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAnne Terhune

PUBLISHERJulie Mannis Hoisington

San Diego Pets Magazine is published bi-monthly by Mannis Com-munications, Inc. and The San Diego Community Newspaper Group,P.O. Box 9550, San Diego, CA 92169. No part of this publication maybe duplicated or reprinted without express consent from the publisher.Editors reserve the right to edit all content. Submissions are welcome,and will be edited for content and clarity. Please forward all unsolicitedmaterial to the editor. Views and opinions expressed herein are notnecessarily those of the publishers. Publishers reserve theright to approve or accept advertising orders and content.All contents are copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

san diego pets MAY–JUNE 2009Inside This Issue

COVER ART BY

It’s not enough, the native Dublinersaid, to simply clone eyes, noses and jaws.She’s after expression and temperament,just as she seeks to capture the mood inher other work by being in the momentwith her locale. See details on page 4.

Deirdre O’Byrne

H BdD 5

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 20092

P.O. Box 95504645 Cass StreetSan Diego, Calif. 92109858.270.3103858.713.0095 [fax]sdnews.comsandiegopetsmagazine.com

4. Cover Story

5. Finding a Pet Artist

7. La Jolla Pet Parade

8. Scoops

14. Pets Calendar

16. Rabbits

17 Pet Health

18. Pet Toys

20. Animal Resources

23. Pet Marketplace

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 20094

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II might have a lot of the worldon a string, but bring up the subject of doggie karma, and thatstring morphs into a giant ball of grimy, dismembered twine. In1993, Her Highness’ bestfriend Zenobie ran away dur-ing a stroll in the woods northof Copenhagen (searches bythousands of volunteers failedto turn up a trace). Celimene,Zenobie’s replacement, died12 years later on the heels of alingering illness. And in 2006,2-year-old Helike was rushedto an animal hospital afterbeing hit by a car.

All three animals weredachshunds, which may illus-trate Margrethe’s genuinelove for the breed (i.e., her af-fection for dogs is motivatedby the animal, not by publicopinion, and that’s cool). Allthree animals were central fig-ures in trillions of press pho-tos–the monarchy is wildlypopular in Denmark, andanything in its connection isthe target of a certain overkill.But there’s no record of allthree animals, or even one, asthe subject of a painted por-trait. And that’s a shame. Trib-utes like that are defined asacts of love by the labor-intensiveness alone.

Just ask somebody who cre-ates them.

Deirdre O’Byrne–the sameoil painter and watercolorist who’s made such a splash with herurban and rural landscapes, seascapes and, yes, human be-ings–would have made an exceptional pet portrait artist to thequeen’s Court. It’s not enough, the native Dubliner said, to sim-ply clone eyes, noses and jaws. She’s after expression and tem-perament, just as she seeks to capture the mood in her otherwork by being in the moment with her locale. Nothing escapesher scrutiny, down to the natural color of the coat. Purplishsnouts and orangish manes often underscore dew-eyed expres-sions of chagrin, as if to remind the animal there’s more to lifethan food and slippers.

“Because I love color,” the Mission Valley resident explains, “I

started introducing a lot of color into the paintings, like exag-gerating, just pushing color. People say ‘how do you pick the col-ors.’ It’s more my feeling toward the photograph or the pet itself.

I just go with what I’m feel-ing, and that’s how I come upwith the color scheme.”

The universal canine coun-tenance makes those feelingscome easy.

“They look sad,” she says.“That’s the thing with dogs.When they have their normalface, they do look a little sad.You have to try and get theirtongues sticking out to make’em smile.”

It’s one thing to manufac-ture that smile, which the 48-year-old O’Byrne has beendoing since she was probably19. It’s another, she said, toencourage its natural evolu-tion in a healthy pet. The bestportraits, after all, are thebyproducts of the best exer-cise regimens.

“I had a neighbor,”O’Byrne explains, “who hada great Dane–two greatDanes–in an apartment. Iwas, like, ‘I seriously hopeshe’s lookin’ after thosedogs.’ But she was reallygood. She walked them everysingle morning and everylunch and every evening. Ifelt better knowing she waslooking after them. If you’re

the kind of pet owner who takes them out, like, once a week, youshouldn’t even have a pet. Twice a day, minimum, is when a dogshould be taken out.”

Lore has it that Margrethe’s dogs were exercised faithfully–anoutdoor stroll, in fact, led to Zenobie’s disappearance. That’s thelast we’ll see of the royal little tyke–not so, O’Byrne said, formany pet owners who choose to capture their pets’ visages forposterity. Dogs, cats, birds, horses, rabbits, snakes, lizards, evenant farms: Pet portraiture is big biz these days. New York’s DoyleDogs in Art auction cites a record $590,000 paid for a single workin 2005 (it was expected to go for less that a tenth of that figure).A hilarious doggie courtroom scene painting was expected to

Artist Deirdre O’Byrne places a personal premium on her clients’ well-being

B y M A RT I N J O N E S W E S T L I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

ART COURTESY DEIRDRE O’BYRNEThis little guy's name, oddly enough, is Whiskers. He's the kind of subject

Dierdre O'Byrne (a cat owner herself ) has been painting for about 30 years.

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5

fetch up to $50,000 at this year’s event.A 2008 Massachusetts art sale, featur-ing several portraits of wildlife andsporting animals in action, netted $3.2million, with transactions held onmore than 550 lots.

And the retail pet business itselfisn’t exactly slouching. Food, toys,clothes, even health insurance andburial plots: The National Retail Fed-eration estimates that the industry will

rake in some $20 billion during 2009, the recession notwith-standing.

“I think animals are the new generation of babies,” O’Byrnesays. “A lot of people aren’t having kids nowadays, and theyhave pets. They’re just as important as another person. I justthink that a portrait of your pet is something you have forever.Sadly, all our pets don’t live forever, and a few of my clients haveasked me to paint their pets who’ve just passed away.”

O’Byrne says she recently received an e-mail from a gentle-man whose terrier was the central figure in one of her portraits.“It just gives him a lot of peace of mind when he looks at thepainting. It just really brings him a lot of comfort. That reallymeans a lot to me.”

And forget the record sales and bids. For cat owner O’Byrne,the dollar mentality pales against her genuine respect for the por-trait’s subject.

“Dogs are just so fun to look at,” she explains. “They makeyou laugh when you look at them. All your problems go awaywhen you have a dog or a cat around. Everything melts. I thinkthey’re the most therapeutic things ever, on this whole land.

“If I ever saw anybody doing anything wrong to a dog, they’dhave to deal with me.”

It’s a cinch Queen Margrethe feels the same way. After all,those thousands of volunteers who looked for Zenobie showedup chiefly because Her Highness appealed to their public good-ness of nature; to boot, she seems like the kind of person who’dbe looking out for your animal’s safety if the shoe were on the

other foot. Nonetheless, one seriously major element is missingfrom the royal palace–a vestige of the dearly departed familymember whose predicament brought all those people out in thefirst place.

Your solution, however, may be as near as Mission Valley. For more information on O’Byrne’s artwork, visit

odoodle.com.

MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com

ART COURTESY DEIRDRE O’BYRNEOne dachshund-crazy Danish monarch would benefit mightily

from O'Byrne's acquaintanceship. O'Byrne's whimsical use of color is a major element in her work.

Deirdre O'Byrne

H BdD 5PET ARTISTS

You’ve decided you want to com-mission a professional portrait of yourpet. But how and where do you findthe right painter who can capture yourpet’s essential qualities?

Many pet portraitists exhibit at localpet-related festivals and art shows,such as the twice-yearly ArtWalk (inLittle Italy and on the Embarcadero),La Jolla Festival of the Arts, San DiegoCounty Fair and other shows through-out the region. Others show their workat art galleries and local pet-related

businesses. Several exhibit at animalrescue organizations, including the SanDiego Humane Society & SPCA, orwork with rescue organizations such asthe Feral Cat Coalition, Rescue House,Helen Woodward Animal Center andbreed-specific rescue groups, whichmay be able to make a recommenda-tion.

One of your first decisions is themedium–oil, acrylic, watercolor, penand ink, mixed media?

Many pet artists have galleries

posted on their websites, along withinstructions on how to photographyour pet to get the best results from aphoto-based portrait. Other pet artiststake their own photographs or occa-sionally work from life.

For most artists who take commis-sions, the price of the portrait dependsprimarily upon the canvas size, butalso upon the number of animals andthe complexity of the background.

Finding and selecting a pet artistB y N I C O L E S O U R S L A R S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

SEE PET ART, Page 6

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H BdD 5 PET ARTISTS

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 20096

Pricing for pet portraits starts around $125 for a small, simpleportrait of a single pet and ranges upward into the thousandsfor large canvases with multiple pets and detailed backdrops,with mounting and framing extra.

San Diego artist Ronda Ahrens, who has a local, nationaland international clientele, is a former graphic designer andgallery owner and now a full-time artist. For the last year shehas focused primarily on pet portraits, done in an affectionate,whimsical style, and has long supported animal welfare andrescue groups.

“I’m all about rescuing an animal before getting one from abreeder,” she explains. She currently lives with a Chihuahua-corgi mix and a Boston terrier, both rescues, and used to havea tuxedo rescue cat.

Many of Ahrens’ clients find her at art shows, including Art-Walk and the La Jolla Festival of the Arts, through the Leap-ing Lotus Gallery in Solana Beach or through her website,www.rondaahrens.com.

She works from clients’ photos of their pets — cats, dogs,birds, horses and others — and does a sketch first, givingclients the opportunity to approve background details.

“I’m working on a large painting for a client in Paris show-ing their bulldogs dressed as a French admiral and Marie An-toinette,” she says.

She has designed and donated poster and T-shirt artworkto the May 16 La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival, which benefitsSNAP and the Feral Cat Coalition’s permanent spay and

PET ART, Continued from 5

SEE PET ART, Page 7

“Place Sitting” by Marcia Wigdahl

“Pop Dogs” by Gloria Lee

“Vinny” by Rhanda Ahrens

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MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 7

H BdD 5PET PARADE

La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival May 16 to benefit

new spay/neuter clinicB y N I C O L E S O U R S L A R S O N

The first annual La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival will stepoff in the seaside community on Saturday, May 16 withcostume and look-alike contests and exhibits of artists andpet-friendly businesses from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residentsand their pets will parade from 10 to 11 a.m.

Sponsored by Promote La Jolla, the coastal commu-nity’s business association, the new event is the kickofffund-raiser for San Diego’s first stationary high-volumespay and neuter clinic, now being developed jointly bythe Spay & Neuter Action Project (SNAP) and the FeralCat Coalition (FCC).

The new clinic is their latest effort to combat pet over-population. It will expand their current subsidized spay-ing and neutering services for low-income families as wellas serve animal rescue organizations and caregivers ofabandoned, homeless and feral cats.

“La Jolla has a long history of being pet-friendly. Whenthe business association was looking for a new event, theythought of their businesses’ pet friendliness and decidedto revive the pet parade and festival started in the late1930s,” explains Candy Schumann, volunteer executivedirector of SNAP.

Participation is open to the public. For more informa-tion call Promote La Jolla, (858) 454-5718. All proceeds willbenefit the SNAP-FCC clinic fund.

neuter clinic. She can be reached [email protected].

Mission Beach artist Marcia Wig-dahl paints “mostly dogs, but occa-sionally a cat sneaks in.” Also a dogtrainer, she admits dogs are herbiggest love. She does occasional com-missions, but normally works fromher imagination and life experience,which influence her whimsical style.

“When I do a commission, it’s be-cause I’m intrigued by the animal.Mostly I get an idea and it evolves intoa story about an animal, usually aboutsome sort of behavior or relationship.I tend to do something that makes peo-ple happy,” she explains.

Wigdahl’s work is on display atNoah’s Natural Pet Market, 4431 CassSt., Pacific Beach, and on the GlobalDog website, www.theglobaldog.com.She plans her own website soon. Herwork is usually at the San DiegoCounty Fair. Contact her via e-mail [email protected].

Other San Diego pet artists to checkout include veterinarian/artist Dr.Christy Berg, who has a gallery of herwork online at www.sunsetcliffsani-malhospital.com, Gloria Lee, who’swork can be viewed at www.pop-dogs.com, painters Yvonne Gillengertenat www.portraitpetpaintings.com andMarna Schindler at www.Doggoni-tArt.com; and watercolorist SinclairStratton at www.sinclairstratton.com.

PET ART, Continued from 6

“Tiller Gale” by Marna Schindler

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H BdD 5 SCOOPS

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 20098

Meet the Chargers at REINS of Life

Have you ever wanted to meet theSan Diego Chargers in person? At the20th annual REINS of Life CelebrityGolf Tournament, you can! Our veryown AFC Champion San Diego Charg-ers will be playing in this intimate tour-nament, as well as signing autographsand posing for pictures.

This charity golf tournament, spon-sored by Mr. Clean Maintenance Sys-tems, will be held Monday, June 8 at thebeautiful and private Vista Valley Coun-try Club. All proceeds will benefitREINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Pro-gram (www.reinsprogram.org), a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Fall-brook that provides therapy on horse-back to children and adults withdisabilities.

REINS has students from all overSouthern California and cares for peoplewith disabilities such as autism, cerebralpalsy and Down syndrome, along withrare disabilities like Angelman syn-

drome and Wiedemann Rauten Stauchsyndrome (a premature aging disorder).

With handouts from the Olive Gar-den of Carlsbad, a silent auction, put-ting contest and 50/50 raffle, thistournament is sure to be a blast! Call theREINS office, (760) 731-9168, for moreinformation.

Pet therapy teams willhelp Rady fund-raiser

Join the Oncology/Hematology Serv-ice of Rady’s Children’s Hospital &Health Center to celebrate the lives ofchildren with the Celebration of Champi-ons! Kids, families, friends, survivors andsports teams run, walk, wheel or walkeraround a course on the beautiful MarinaPark North near Seaport Village to raisefunds for medical care on Saturday, May16 from 8 to 10 a.m.

The 12th annual event is a celebrationof life, a celebration for surviving chil-dren, for those who have passed away,and of the strength and courage of thesechildren and their families. This is the

11th year for the very successful partici-pation of therapy dog teams, working thecrowd and working their magic withthese special children and their families!

The great band Rockola plays at lunch andinto the afternoon.

Please call with questions or ideas, andpass the information along to any and allteams you know. RSVP to [email protected] or call (619) 281-7050.

‘Shangri-Paw’ is themefor Spring Fling

Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 21stannual Spring Fling is presented by O’Ri-ordan and Associates on Saturday, June 6in the Fairbanks Village Plaza in RanchoSanta Fe.

The theme of this year’s event is“Shangri-Paw… A Stylish Utopia for AllCreatures.” Spring Fling co-chairs LaurieMcCrink and Katie Shull, with vice-chairElizabeth Davidson, guarantee an eveningof fun, fine art, food from the area’s bestrestaurants, hosted bars and great music.Planners hope this year’s Spring Fling will

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MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 9

H BdD 5SCOOPStransport guests to the permanentlyhappy paradise described in the 1933James Hilton novel “Lost Horizon.”

A highlight of “Shangri-Paw” willcome during the live auction whenguests will bid on travel, sports and din-ing packages.

For more information, visit HelenWoodward Animal Center, 6461 El ApajoRoad in Rancho Santa Fe, call (858) 756-4117 or purchase your tickets online atwww.animalcenter.org.

See Spot glide at SurfDog Competition

See Spot surf during the “Loews Coro-nado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition,”the nation’s largest surfing competitionfor man’s best friend, on Saturday, June20 in Imperial Beach. There’s no dog pad-dling for these surf dogs. Canine counter-parts are invited to hang 10 (errr, 20) for agreat cause.

Last year, close to 60 brave surf dogs hitthe waves and thousands of spectators

gathered to watch the competition un-fold. This year’s event is expected to drawan even larger crowd with visitors fromacross the U.S. Since Loews CoronadoBay Resort launched its first dog surfingcompetition in 2006, the concept has gar-nered international attention.

This year’s event includes:• 10-10:30 a.m., optional surfing lessons

for less experienced canines eager to catchtheir first wave

• 11-11:45 a.m., Category One: smallsurf dogs 40 pounds and under

• 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Category Two:large surf dogs 41 pounds and over

• 12:30-1:30 p.m., Category Three: tan-dem surfing with dogs and humans

• 1:45-2 p.m., Awards ceremonyThe cost to enter the competition is $50

for Category One or Two and $55 for Cat-egory Three. There is no cost to attendand watch. Hotel packages are available.

In addition to the Loews Surf DogCompetition, canines, owners and spec-tators will enjoy a variety of burgers, hotdogs and snacks prepared by the talentedchefs of Loews. All proceeds will benefit

the resort’s nonprofit partner. To registeror for more information, please visitwww.LoewsSurfDog.com.

For information on the resort, pleasevisit www.loewshotels.com.

May 14 annual Pet Rescue Day on the Bay

On Thursday, May 14, HornblowerCruises & Events will present the ninth an-nual Pet Rescue Day on the Bay event tobenefit the Helen Woodward Animal Cen-ter. By donating a gently used blanket ortowel, you and your dog cruise free on anyone-hour Harbor Cruise on the Big Bayaboard Hornblower.

Items will be collected from 9:30 a.m. to4 p.m. at 1066 North Harbor Drive on theSan Diego Embarcadero. Last year Horn-blower collected more than 2,000 blanketsand towels, and had hundreds of atten-dees with their dogs take advantage of thefree cruises. The event is sponsored in partby Petco, Frosty Paws Frozen Treats forDogs and the Port of San Diego.

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Donors will also receive a “doggie bag”from Petco with treats, coupons and othergoodies (people perks, too), as well as sam-ples of Frosty Paws Frozen Treats for Dogsand other fun items.

Although the cruise ticket can be usedany time, dogs may only cruise free on PetRescue Day on the Bay on May 14 only.Dogs must be on a leash and are allowedto ride along on a one-hour Harbor Cruise.Cruise departures are at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m.,12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.For more information about HornblowerCruises & Events and Pet Rescue Day onthe Bay, call (619) 686-8700 or visitwww.hornblower.com/petrescueday>. Tolearn more about Hornblower Cruises,visit <http://www.hornblower.com>.

Fiesta Island clean-updeemed a success

Fiesta Island Dog Owners (FIDO) and ILove A Clean San Diego teamed up inApril to help clean up one of San Diego’smost precious treasures: Fiesta Island at

Mission Bay Park. The event drew morethan 130 volunteers who showed theirsupport by collecting nearly 600 poundsof trash from the area.

The increase in volunteers and trashcollected made this event particularlysuccessful for the group, which plans tocome together and clean up the off-leashexercise area a few times a year.

“The goal of our clean-ups is to demon-

strate FIDO’s commit-ment to protecting andpreserving the fencedoff-leash exercise area,”says Dr. Jean Spengel, aFIDO board member. “Itis the last leash-free areaof its kind of California,and we want to doeverything we can tosave it from unnecessaryand costly develop-ment.”

Fiesta Island is hometo San Diego’s largest off-leash dog area, and FIDOhas worked diligently

with city officials in an effort to save theunique area from development that re-duces off-leash park space. FIDO, the self-appointed steward of the island, iscommitted to making the area the clean-est dog park in the county.

FIDO began with a handful of peoplewho have utilized Fiesta Island as asource of recreation and exercise forthemselves and their dogs for more than30 years. This group is dedicated to thepreservation of the island in the face ofmassive redevelopment through the Mis-sion Bay Master Plan Redevelopment bythe City of San Diego.

For more information, contact JeanSpengel at [email protected].

UKC announces its 2008 top breeds

The United Kennel Club (UKC) ispleased to announce its Top Ten regis-tered purebred dog breeds for 2008. Eachbreed represented in the Top Ten reflectsthe “Total Dog” philosophy that is thebackbone of the UKC. Truly – “Our DogsDo Stuff!”

The Top Ten breeds include: 1. Treeing Walker Coonhound (Scenthound Group) 2. American Pit Bull Terrier (Terrier Group) 3. Bluetick Coonhound (Scenthound Group) 4. English Coonhound (Scenthound Group) 5. American Black & Tan Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200910

H BdD 5

Prices are right to get a newLEASH on life today!

Being San Diego Natives with 34 years of experience

we know the Real Estate Market here

Marianne Kendall & Olaf619.708.3523www.mariannekendall.com

Darlene Allen & Ella858.539.4412

www.darleneallen.com858.488.4090

Photo by Arteye Productions

SCOOPS

Fiesta Island clean -up

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6. Redbone Coonhound (Scenthound Group) 7. Beagle (Scenthound Group) 8. Labrador Retriever (Gun Dog Group) 9. Plott Hound (Scenthound Group) 10. American Eskimo (Northern Group) The UKC Top Ten Breeds boasts seven

scenthound breeds, including treeingwalker and bluetick coonhounds, placingin positions one and three, respectively.Also, the rise in popularity of other breedssuch as American pit bull terrier and bea-gle (having held these positions for thethird year in a row) clearly shows the gen-eral public’s desire to own beautiful dogsthat are not only wonderful family petsbut can perform competitively in skillevents.

It is important to note that while thislist reflects the top breeds in the UKCRegistry, it is not intended to represent the“Most Popular Dogs in America.” Therehas never been any viable research to de-fine a list of America’s “most popular” or“most numerous” purebred breeds. Tolearn more about UKC breeds, events andto view UKC’s Top 50 breeds, please visitwww.ukcdogs.com.

Foster families needed for ‘Tweenies’

Each year, the Department of AnimalServices receives hundreds of kittens thatare younger than 8 weeks old and andtherefore not old enough for our adoptionprogram. Referred to as “Tweenies,” thesekittens are usually between 4 and 8 weeksold and need foster care outside the shel-ter environment. Foster families will needto provide extra care and socialization forthese kittens until they are old enough toreturn to the shelter for adoption at 8 or 9weeks of age.

The department will provide all thenecessary supplies and food to those whowish to become a “Tweenie” foster par-ent. We will give you food, bowls, toys,litter and bedding to help raise the kit-tens. All you need to provide are a lovinghome environment, socialization andsnuggles.

For more information about the “Twee-nie” foster program, please e-mail one of

our foster care coordinators at the sheltermost convenient for you: North CountyRegion, Vanessa Brush [email protected]; San Diego Region, KimTardy, [email protected];South County Region, [email protected]

Rattlesnake avoidancetraining for dogs

Rattlesnake avoidance half-day train-ing clinics for dogs are now beingformed on Sundays through out thesummer by the German ShorthairedPointer Club of De Luz Mountain Em-pire. Dogs of all breeds are welcome.The classes will include information onthe habits and locations of snakes, thetime and weather in which they appearand a few chilling details that can saveyour life as well as your dog’s.

The fee for the class is $100 (per dog); $50per registration will be donated to the Ger-man Shorthaired Pointer Rescue.

For additional information on rattlesnakeavoidance classes for dogs or to sign up, call

(760) 726-4813 ; e-mail <mailto:[email protected]> or visit <http://www.gsp-res-cue.org/>.

Education programs utilize animals

The San Diego Humane Society andSPCA proudly announces several newhumane education programs aimed athelping young learners across San DiegoCounty. The new “Playful Paws” GirlScouts Patch, Listening E.A.R.S. and Ed-ucation Outreach programs are all de-signed to support the San DiegoHumane Society’s mission of promotingthe human-animal bond while servingas a learning resource for students ofmany ages.

“Education is a vital component of theSan Diego Humane Society’s programsand services,” says community programsmanager Stacey Zeitlin. “Teaching chil-dren to value animals not only encour-ages positive attitudes towards all livingthings, it also establishes a sense of re-sponsibility to make the world a better,

MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 11

H BdD 5SCOOPS

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H BdD 5 SCOOPS

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200912

more humane place.”The following are the San Diego Hu-

mane Society’s new Education pro-grams being introduced in 2009:

Girl Scouts “Playful Paws” PatchExpanding on current Girl Scouts pro-

grams offered at the campus, the SanDiego Humane Society now offers a spe-cial Girl Scouts patch program. The“Playful Paws” patch differs from thetraditional Girl Scouts pet care badge asit was designed specifically with the SanDiego Humane Society’s mission inmind and is offered only at the SanDiego Humane Society campus.Through this program, Scouts will learncommunity service and leadership skillsthrough pet-related activities, such ascreating “enrichment“ toys for the shel-ter’s animals. Upon completion of theprogram, each Scout will receive a beau-tifully designed “Playful Paws” patch.The program is open to all Girl Scoutlevels and ages.

Listening E.A.R.S. (Education andReading Success)

The San Diego Humane Society’s newListening E.A.R.S. program utilizes theconnection between owning a pet andreduced stress levels to help aid stu-dents struggling to improve their read-ing skills. To complement existingliteracy programs and curricula at or-ganizations and learning centers such asthe Barrio Logan College Institute, TaftMiddle School and the San Diego StateUniversity Community Reading Clinic,the San Diego Humane Society willbring companion animals to these facil-ities. Students, both children and adults,will be encouraged to read to the pets.Students will have less anxiety and feelless self-conscious while reading as theyare soothed by the pet’s presence, al-lowing their reading skills to improvemore quickly.

Humane Education Outreach andCheck-Out Bags

While many schools would like tobring their students to the San DiegoHumane Society’s campus and partici-pate in our Humane Education pro-grams, not all schools have the resourcesto do so. The San Diego Humane Soci-ety’s Education Outreach program canbring humane education curricula di-

rectly to these schools. Through theOutreach program, a Humane Societyeducator will prepare a detailed lessonplan in keeping with California’s stateeducation standards.

Lessons are divided into three cate-gories: pet issues, character traits andlife sciences as they relate to caring foranimals. Teachers can sign up for one orall three. Rather than bringing many an-imals and creating a “show-and-tell”style environment, Humane Society ed-ucators bring one pet at a time to eachclassroom, which focuses the studentson the lesson at hand and teaches themproper animal interaction skills. No feeis charged for this program; however,schools are asked to make a donationwhen possible.

For teachers that prefer to lead theirown lessons, the Humane Society alsooffers Humane Education check-outbags. For more information about theseprograms, including details about fees,scheduling and availability, contactAnnie Petersen, (619) 243-3432 [email protected].

Seniors get more than puppy love

Canine Companions for Independence(CCI) recently launched the Senior Initia-tive to increase placements of assistancedogs with seniors and senior-serving or-ganizations through the help of a grantfrom the Carlsbad-based Gary and MaryWest Foundation. CCI is a national non-profit organization that enhances the livesof people with disabilities by providinghighly trained assistance dogs and ongo-ing support to ensure quality partnerships.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau,approximately 41 percent of adults ages 65and older have disabilities. CCI assistancedogs can help: They aid seniors with phys-ical tasks, enhance physical and speechtherapies, alert those with hearing loss toimportant sounds and provide an immeas-urable emotional boost. Best of all, CCI as-sistance dogs, their training and ongoingfollow-up support are provided free ofcharge, thanks to the generosity of founda-tions, corporations and individual donors.

In addition to placing assistance dogswith disabled seniors in their homes, CCI

places dogs with professionals and volun-teers who work with seniors in rehabilita-tion, therapeutic and assisted livingfacilities. Dogs are trained to serve clientswith a wide range of physical disabilities,including spinal cord injury, brain trauma,hearing impairment and multiple sclerosis.

Oceanside resident Val Valentine helps awide range of people with her CCI facilitydog, Shirley. Val and Shirley volunteer to-gether at a local retirement home and hos-pital, and with special-needs children. Valstarted “working” with Shirley immedi-ately after retiring as a staff member at CCI.She credits her experience with Shirley formaking retirement more fulfilling.

“I really don’t know what I would havedone with my time if I had not committedto volunteering with Shirley,” says Val.“Watching people smile because of her issuch a gift! Many of the people we visit areseniors who are so appreciative of the com-pany. Their stress and pain seem to fade asthey pet Shirley, and she loves the atten-tion!”

For more information, visit www.cci.orgor call (800) 572-2275. Applications areavailable online.

Tails wag for hotel’s ‘Canine Cocktails’

What’s goes “woof” and is blue all over?“Canine Cocktails” at the new Hotel In-digo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, locatedat 509 9th Ave. (cross street Island Ave.)

Canine Cocktails will be downtown SanDiego’s newest tail-wagging happy hourwhere guests, locals and their pet poochescan mix and mingle over cocktails everyTuesday (starting Sept. 8, 2009) from 6:30 to9:30 p.m. in the lobby of Hotel Indigo SanDiego, adjacent to the Phi Bar and Bistro.The weekly event is free; neither humansnor dogs pay a cover charge to attend.

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MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 13

Come and see us at our new

location!

4680 Clairemont Mesa BlvdSan Diego, CA 92117

(858) 483-1573VISIT US ONLINE

www.CheshireCatClinic.com

Cheshire Cat Feline Health Center

We cater to individual needsPreventive Surgical Dental

Nutrition Counseling Medical Senior Care

OpenMon-Fri7a.m.–6p.m.

Saturday8a.m.–2p.m.

La Jolla author Hazel Phillips has al-ways loved animals and is passionateabout adopting through rescue organiza-tions. Having just released her first novel,a whimsical parrot-centric tale written toappeal to adults and children alike, sheis donating sales of the book, available asan eBook, to qualified animal rescuegroups and shelters as a fund-raisingtool.

Needing a creative outlet as she la-bored to remodel her home, Phillips fan-tasized about an unlikely trio of eccentricbut flawed parrots who find themselvesin an animal shelter filled with dogs andcats awaiting adoption.

The result is “Parrot Heads,” a charm-ing, illustrated tale of the birds’ anticsand adventures as they adjust to theirnew situation, attempt to get along witheach other and team up to use their in-sight and empathy to help other shelteranimals overcome their own flaws to

find their “forever” homes.Currently “Parrot Heads” is available

through Aztec Doberman Rescue(http://dobermanresq.com/ph) andFriends of County Animal Shelters(FOCAS), www.focas-sandiego.org.

“I really want to help the rescue or-ganizations that are hurting now,”Phillips explains.

To purchase “Parrot Heads” directlyfrom Phillips or discuss use of the eBook asa fund-raiser for your organization, e-mailher at [email protected].

H BdD 5SCOOPSCanine hero lauded for‘dogged determination’

Author HazelPhillips holds

the cover of hernew eBook,

“Parrot Heads,”which she is

offering to selected animal

rescue organiza-tions as a fund-

raising tool

Sales of ‘Parrot Heads’ eBook benefit animal rescue organizations

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O B Y N I C O L E S O U R S L A R S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T SBy KEVIN MCKAY | SAN DIEGO PETS

Cabrillo, a Por-tuguese water dog,was showered withpraise and adora-tion for his role insaving propertyand, quite possibly,human life.

Cabrillo becamethe first canine to be recognized by the SanDiego Fire-Rescue Department for his re-lentless effort to alert his sleeping owner,Sandra Angel, to a raging house fire justdoors away.

Around 3 a.m. on April 2, the persistentpooch began scratching at Angel’s mattress,tugging at her sleeve and going from win-dow to window of the Rosecrans Streethome to rouse his sleeping master.

“That’s when I smelled smoke,” saidAngel. “I got out of bed and saw a smokyhaze and the orange glow of a fire from thehouse a few doors away.”

Set in motion by Cabrillo’s alarms, Angelcalled 911 while her boyfriend, CharlesWilliams, began waking neighbors and urg-ing them from their homes.

Officials credit Cabrillo’s alertness andunrelenting effort to wake Angel andWilliams for triggering a rapid response byfire crews and other emergency responsepersonnel.

As a result, fire-rescue officials recognizedCabrillo for his “dogged determination”Tuesday with the first “Honorary Fire Dog”award — complete with a lifesaving com-mendation and a box of doggie treats.

Angel, is a Realtor with Coldwell Bankerin Point Loma.

COURTESY PHOTO BY ROBERTO ZEBALLOS

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sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200914

H BdD 5 CALENDARMAY 2009MAY 92ND ANNUAL "PAWS TO CELEBRATE" NORTH CO. HUMANE SOCIETY FUND RAISER6pm-10pm - Cost: $225.00 VIP Tickets $125.00 Regular tickets per per-son with discounts for group tables purchased. MORE INFO: www.NCHumane.org (760) 757-4357

MAY 14PET RESCUE DAY ON THE BAY TO BENEFIT HELEN WOODWARDANIMAL CENTER & RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY 9:30am-4pm – Cost: Bring a towel or blanket receive a free 1 hour baycruise from Hornblower Cruises, 1066 N. Harbor Drive, 92101, to usethat day with your well behaved leashed dog OR any other day with-out your dog up to Dec. 31st. 2009. MORE INFO: http://www.hornblowerholidays.com/sd/pet_rescue_day.htm

MAY 16-17MT. PALOMAR KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW9am-4pm - Cost: Free to watch, NEW LOCATION this year at Bates NutFarm. 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, 92082MORE INFO: www.BatesNutFarm.biz (760) 749-3333

MAY 23 WALK A MILE FOR ANIMALS - DOG WALK & ANIMAL FAIRE8am-1pm - Cost: Entry fee is $15.00 and walkers will receive T-shirt & bottleof water. The walk will start & end at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Loca-tion: Rancho Coastal Humane Society, 389 Requeza St., Encinitas, 92024. All

proceeds will benefit Rancho Coastal Humane Society.MORE INFO: 760-753-6413 or visit http://www.rchumanesociety.org/

MAY 29DOGGIE CAFE 6-8 p.m. Cost: $10 suggested donation. Bring your friendly, on-leash dogto socialize with other dogs while you learn how to keep your poochcalm in a distracting cafe setting. Dogs should be at least four monthsold and up-to-date on all vaccines. Limited beverages, sandwiches, sal-ads, and more available for purchase. Complimentary desserts and dogtreats provided. Behavior and Training specialists will be "on-paw" to an-swer training questions.MORE INFO: (619) 299-7012 x2230

JUNE 2009JUNE 64TH ANNUAL NOVELTY FUN DOG SHOW IN ALPINE8am-11am NEW LOCATION Viejas Outlet Center 5005 Willows Road,Alpine, 91901. This is a 'fun" event with prizes and refreshments. En-tries are $6.00 per class or $20.00 for 4, money raised through theAlpine Lions Club will go to benefit training of Animal Assistance Dogs. MORE INFO: http://www.alpinelions.org/fundogshow.html or EmailBeck at [email protected] or (619) 200-0675

JUNE 6THE 6TH ANNUAL ENCINITAS WINE FESTIVAL TO BENEFIT SEVERAL CHARITIES INCLUDING THE RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY.5pm-8pm – Cost: Tickets start at $75.00 per person. Held at the Quail

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Botanical Gardens. Guest will stroll around the grounds sampling finewines and beverages from around the world while tasting the bestdishes and desserts from local restaurants. MORE INFO: http://www.EncinitasWineFestival.com or call RanchoCoastal Humane Society at 760-753-6413.

JUNE 6 21ST ANNUAL SPRING FLING“SHANGRI PAW,” THE SOCIAL EVENT OF THE YEARBenefiting The Helen Woodward Animal CenterMORE INFO: www.AnimalCenter.org 858-756-4117

JUNE 7NATIONAL CAT PROTECTION SOCIETY (NATCAT) ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE & FUNDRAISER1pm-4:30pm - Cost: Free. A purr-fect retreat celebrating the catshelter’s 41st anniversary with door prizes, a silent auction, raffleprizes, tasty refreshments and many kitties to greet. Location is theNATCAT shelter. 9031 Birch Street, Spring Valley, CA 91977.MORE INFO: [email protected] or 619-469-8771

JUNE 12 – JULY 5 DEL MAR FAIR – FARM ANIMALS THIS YEAR IN THE BARN WITHTHE BIG WHALE PAINTED ON THE FRONT.10am-7pm - Cost: Free with fair entrance of $11.00. The new AgriFairwill have new exhibits. Be aware the Fair will be CLOSED 2 Mondaysthis year on June 15th & June 22nd. MORE INFO: http://www.sdfair.com/fair/index.php?fuseaction=fair.home

JUNE 13-14 BAHIA SUR KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW9am-5pm - Cost: Free Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd., Chula Vista, 91910 MORE INFO: http://www.sandiegodog.com/bahiasur.htm

JUNE 14 FIESTA DEL P.A.W.S. FUND RAISER TO BENEFIT PAWS, PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT3-7pm Cost: $85MORE INFO: 619-297-7297 www.PawsSDC.org

JUNE 205TH ANNUAL LOEWS SURF DOG SMALL WAVE COMPETITION 10am-2pm - COST: $50 for Surf Dogs in Heat One & Two and $55 forHeat 3. There is no cost to attend and watch. Snacks and beverageswill be available for purchase at the event (cash only). All proceedswill benefit the Resort’s Good Neighbor Council, a group of employ-ees who volunteer their time to help raise money for various non-profit organizations, including Modest Needs and PAWS ofCoronado. MORE INFO: www.LoewsSurfDog.blogspot.com or call 619-424-4000ext. 6696.

JUNE 20CHULA VISTA ANNUAL PET FEST8am-1pm - Cost: FREE, $12.00 to go on 2-mile Doggy Dash Walk. Thisfun event located in a beautiful park setting and features entertain-ment, pet-related activities, vendor village of pet products and serv-ices, obedience demonstrations and pet adoptions. Location isMemorial Park in Chula Vista. 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910. MORE INFO: www.ThirdAvenueVillage.com or 619-422-1982

JUNE 26TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY Register your company or workplace to take part in the National TakeYour Dog to Work Day, sponsored by Pet Sitters International. To get your kit and posters go to http://www.TakeYourDog.comMORE INFO: http://www.TakeYourDog.com

JUNE 22-26ANIMAL CAMP FOR KIDS 6 TO 12 - A WEEK IN THE WORLD OF ANIMALS 9:00am to 4:00pm Cost: $175.00 Each day campers will get to experi-ence the life of a different animal group as they learn what it is like tobe trained without speech, move like a cat, build shelters and muchmore. Rancho Coastal Humane Society is located at 389 Requeza Streetin Encinitas. CLASSES FILL QUICKLY To Register Call (760) 753-6413 orvisit http://www.rchumanesociety.org/

MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 15

H BdD 5CALENDAR

MAYBUNNY 101Saturday, May 9, 3:30PM to 5:30PMHRS Bunny Supply Store4805 Mercury St., Suite C, Kearny Mesa$15 fee includes subscription to The Rabbit Reader. Pre-registration required by May 7. Email or call 619-718-7777 to register.

MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIESVeterinary Orthopedic Manipulationpresented by John Harrison, DC, CVCPSaturday, May 16, 4PM TO 6PM4805 Mercury Street, Suite CFee: $5 donation at doorThis presentation discusses Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation, known as VOM. Thistreatment is for animals experiencing issues such as stiffness, muscle or joint problems,or other medical conditions that would benefit from orthopedic manipulation.

SDHRS OPEN HOUSESaturday, May 30, Noon to 4PM4805 Mercury St., Stes. B & C, Kearny MesaDoor prizes, raffle, refreshments and more!

JUNEBUNNY 101Sunday, June 14, Noon to 2PMHRS Bunny Supply Store4805 Mercury St., Suite C, Kearny Mesa$15 fee includes subscription to The Rabbit Reader. Pre-registration required by June 12. Email or call 619-718-7777 to register.

MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIESEnriching Your Rabbit’s LifeSaturday, June 20, 4PM TO 6PM4805 Mercury Street, Suite CFee: $5 donation at doorHRS volunteers will present ways to encourage your rabbit to explore and play, and interact with your family. This presentation will include hands-on opportunities for children to create art, and fun toys and furnishings for their rabbit’s home.

BUNNY CALENDAR Check out all upcoming events at: www.sandiegorabbits.org/aboutus/events.html

ONGOING EVENTSHRS BUNNY SUPPLY STORE OPEN:May: 2, 9, 16, 23June: 6, 13, 20, 27July: 4, 11, 18, 25

HRS ADOPTION DAYS:May: 3, 17June: 7, 21July: 5, 19

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Have you ever purchased an expensive toy for your bunnyonly to find he prefers to play with a paper plate? Often sim-ple things we find around the house bring more pleasure toour rabbit friends than more costly options found in pet storesor online.

Toys for your rabbit do not need to be expensive or evenpurchased, though there are many wonderful items you canbuy. If you’re counting your pennies, like many of us, theseideas can help you come up with hours of fun for your bunnywith little drain on your wallet.

Things you already have at home: Paper bags: Bunnies LOVE paper bags! They dash inside

them and hide, chew holes in the corners and pull themaround by the handles. Your Henry’s, Trader Joe’s or otherpaper shopping bags are perfect for this.

Cardboard boxes: A simple cardboard box can become theultimate bunny castle. Cut holes in the side so they can comeand go, and place sheets of newspaper or the telephone book

inside for shredding fun. They’ll jump on top to become “kingof the castle” and hide underneath for an afternoon snooze.

Canning jar rings make fabulous bunny rattles. Paired witha ring from your shower curtain rod, you have a clangy-bangytoy! These are a huge hit with my bunnies at home.

Empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes are perfect forstuffing with fresh hay or wadded up paper towels. Bunnieswill chew on them and fling them around.

Empty Quaker Oats boxes (the round kind) are great tun-nels for little bunnies. Cut out the bottom for tunneling fun.

Straw whisk brooms (the little ones for sweeping upcrumbs) are great for chewing. Just make sure they are cleanand new.

Old towels for bunching and re-arranging: Bunnies are nat-ural “interior decorators” and love to smooth things out andmove them around.

Large rubber balls: Buns like to bump them with their nosesand follow them around. It’s so fun to watch them playing“soccer” in the family room as they run the ball around.

Branches from apple trees or other “seed” fruits: Avoidstone fruit trees (cherry, peach, plum and apricot) as they canbe poisonous. Make sure they are free from pesticides andwell-dried.

Dried pine cones: They should be clean and dried over aseveral-month period.

Junk mail catalogs for ripping and shredding (bunnies lovethe noise of tearing paper).

All of these ideas are bunny-tested and approved! For more great ideas on how to keep your bunny busy with

a variety of toys, visit San Diego House Rabbit Society atwww.sandiegorabbits.org and click on “Behavior.” To findgreat, bunny-safe treats and toys, visit the HRS Bunny Storeon Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., at 4805 Mercury St. (corner ofRonson & Mercury), in Kearny Mesa.

~ Judith Pierce, San Diego House Rabbit Society

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200916

H BdD 5 RABBITS

Bargain Toys for Bunnies

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H BdD 5HEALTHY PET

We all know what fleas are, those annoying, dark-colored crea-tures that hop on our pets when they sit or roll in the grass, visitthe beach or park or stop to say hello to a fellow furry friend. Al-though they seem to jump as if they are flying, fleas are wingless in-sects capable of piercing skin and sucking blood. This in itselfsounds unappealing, but add to it the potential of having these un-welcome visitors as permanent resi-dents in your home, laying eggs,multiplying relentlessly and causingstress and potential discomfort to youand your pets. Although this is not a de-sirable situation, it is one many of ushave experienced. In addition to this,some animals are allergic to flea saliva.This allergy can lead to more severeskin irritation that gets worse as the an-imals lick, scratch and bite the affectedareas in an attempt to get relief. Fleasare also capable of transferring diseasesbetween animals. It is obvious we needto keep fleas away from our pets andhomes, but how do we do it?

Most people have heard of the over-the-counter “spot on” treatments, suchas Advantage and Frontline. Although some may have success withthese, fleas can and do build up a resistance to them. If you havetried these or similar pesticides and they have not worked, now youknow why! In addition to the possibility of these products not solv-ing your problem, they are highly potent chemical pesticides.

So what can we do to keep our pets safe and flea-free in SanDiego County, which seems to be paradise for this pest population?Luckily, we have a number of independently owned health-con-scious pet stores throughout San Diego County that offer naturalalternatives to the toxic options.

I have tried a variety of natural products, and found that onceapplied they worked great — temporarily. I also have learned thatusing multiple products is sometimes necessary.

To give you a head start when addressing your external envi-ronment, helping your pets have a strong inner defense is essentialin successful flea control. Nutritious foods and any needed sup-plements, along with adequate exercise, will help build and main-tain a healthy immune system. Fleas prefer a weak host, as it allowsthem to flourish with more ease. The healthier your pets are, theless likely they are to be affected by fleas.

Bathing can also help eliminate fleas on your pets, but be carefulnot to over-bathe them, which can lead to dry skin and other issues.A monthly bath with a gentle, natural shampoo, along with thor-ough water-only rinses as needed, will help in the fight againstfleas.

It is also important to remember that the fleas on your pet areonly a part of the war to conquer. In addition to those that you canphysically see, you can rest assured that there are growing flea fam-ilies happily nesting in your rug, bedding, upholstered furnitureand anywhere else that provides a safe place for them. I recommendvery frequent vacuuming of carpet areas, as well as upholstered

furniture. Immediately disposing of theused vacuum bag will help avoid rein-festation.

Tomb Stone by Great Life is a spraythat seems to kill fleas on contact, or atleast slow them down enough so theycan be picked off. I was told it is safe tospray it on bedding, furniture and anysurface, as well as on your pet. Withlavender being one of the main ingredi-ents, I found that it smells pleasant,which is a plus when spraying it in andon your home environment. Citronella-based Purely Botanical Flee, Flea! byDancing Paws is another spray thatsome have had great success using.Both sprays are available at Paw Coun-try in La Mesa, www.welcometopaw-

country.com. I recommend spraying the product into your handfirst and then applying it on your pet.

Buck Mountain Herbal Gold Parasite Dust for Animals, which isavailable at Point Loma Pet Pantry, www.pointlomapetpantry.com,has brought relief to many pets. I recommend applying it on yourpet while either outside or in an open area. This powder can be ap-plied directly onto your pet, bedding or furniture, as well as the car-pet, and then vacuumed up. However, it is a yellowish powder andnot everyone may choose to have this added to their belongings.Grocery store-purchased borax, which contains boric acid and di-atomaceous earth, available at Paw Country and Point Loma PetPantry, are two other flea-killing powders that can be sprinkled oncarpets and vacuumed up.

Another option is FTI Pet Products’ Flea Treats. Both my dog andcat love these tasty tablets as treats! They contain brewer’s yeastand B vitamins and are available at Point Loma Pet Pantry, HealthyPet Pantry in El Cajon (www.healthypetpantry.net) and WholesomeChoice Pet Market in Rancho Bernardo (www.wholesomechoi-cepetmarket.com). Some people swear by them. I have never usedthem alone, but instead as an additional precaution, along with aspray, the parasite powder and of course diligence.

If you have questions about flea treatments, behavioral issues ornutrition concerns, I welcome your e-mails at [email protected] may wish to visit my website at www.wildtame.com to learnmore about alternative and holistic approaches to pet care.

Diligence can keep San Diego dogs and cats flea free

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

MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 17

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Cats, dogs and birds all need distinc-tive toys, but recent recalls of dangerousChinese-made toys raise questions.

What should we look for — and avoid— when we select pet toys?

“Look for solid construction,” advisesMary Jansky, co-owner of Noah’s Natu-ral Pet Market in Pacific Beach.

Jansky favors “green,” eco-friendlytoys made of renewable materials suchas jute, bamboo, untreatedwool and rubber. She urgespeople to read labels on toysjust as on pet food and knowtheir origin and contents.

“I have to know where(toys) come from and whatthey’re made of. If it’s some-thing made of PVC we won’tcarry it. It’s the same problemwith toxic chemicals as with lead-painted toys,” she explains.

For both dogs and cats she recom-mends interactive toys, such as a fishingpole to entertain cats, and for dogs aleather, wool or jute-covered chewabletoy. Among their most popular toys are“egg babies,” which challenge dogs topull squeaker-filled “eggs” from astuffed animal.

Dogs, Jansky says, can be trainednot to shred toys. She advises in-teracting with dogs and puttingtoys away the minutethey start toshred them,a tricktaught

her by her trainer.“They learn pretty quickly that the toy

is to play with and not to shred. I try toeducate people about playing with toys— and buying durable toys,” she adds.

Colorful, interactive dog toys, de-signed to appeal to both dog andhuman, are popular sellers at Muttropo-lis, located in La Jolla, Solana Beach andonline.

“The choice of a toy depends uponwhat a dog likes, chews and eats. Somedogs want an unstuffed animal to carryaround and some dogs want thesqueaker. The size of the dog doesn’t de-termine the size of the toy — a small dogmay drag a large toy,” explains Mut-tropolis associate Lisa Russell.

She recommends toys that challengethe dog, keeping him occupied and en-

tertained, such as their popularpuzzle-type toys. Her favorites

include pull-apart stuffedanimals, squir-

rels popping

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200918

H BdD 5 PET TOYS

“The size of the dog doesn’t determine the size of the toy — a smalldog may drag a large toy”

How to select safe pet toysB y N I C O L E S O U R S L A R S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

— Lisa Russell

Flappy Toys from OurPet’swww.flappydogtoys.com

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H BdD 5PET TOYS

from a tree trunk, a fabric-cov-ered “bone” layered with squeaky pull-off rings and a carpenter’s pocket apronwith pull-out tools.

For balls, Russell suggests a fully di-gestible boiled wool ball or a texturedball that can be filled with treats.

“The more you keep dogs enter-tained, the mellower they are,” sheadds.

Muttropolis also offers interactive cattoys, including a fling-a-string battery-operated toy, motorized rolling Bubble

Mouse, long-legged spiderwand and numerous catnip-filled toys.

For cats, Maria Brinson,owner of The Purring Parrot,an avian and feline retail re-sort in Point Loma wherethey hand-make cat and birdtoys, recommends catnip-filled or feather toys onstrings or wands to bring out

cats’ stalking in-stincts.

“You don’twant small partslike buttons orbeads that theycould easily in-gest and noth-ing they cansnag themselveson,” she ex-plains.

At her board-ing facility she

uses a laser pointer at playtime. She ad-vises keeping it away from their eyesand limiting use for cats addicted to thelaser’s red dot.

“Use the laser in short bursts becausesome cats want to chase it too long andget overheated,” she says.

For parrots, they’re experimentingwith a durable gelatin that congeals likeplastic and is safe for chewing.

“Birds need to be able to tear apartand shred their toys,” explains Len LaR-iccia, owner of Bird Crazy in Kearny

Mesa. They also need complex, puzzle-like toys that challenge them and stimu-late their intelligence.

He recommends brightly coloredwood toys that birds can chew and de-stroy as they do naturally in the wild.Younger birds require softer woods thanmature birds.

LaRiccia emphasizes avoiding expos-ing birds to any insecticide or plant ma-terials treated with systemic poisons,which are fatal to birds.

As with cats and dogs, small, detach-able objects — beads, buttons, bells,squeakers, fasteners or latches — aredangerous for birds, which can catchtheir beaks in small openings.

In choosing safe, durable pet toys, thekey is to know your supplier, especiallyyour local pet shop. Expect to pay morefor better quality, but that may save youmoney ultimately. Responsible shopstend to select well-made toys fromknown vendors that stand behind theirmerchandise.

Contact information: Noah’s Natural Pet Market, 4431 Cass St.,

Pacific Beach, (858) 270-8161, www.noah-snaturalpetmarket.com.

Muttropolis, 7755 Girard Ave., La Jolla,(858) 459-9663 or 227 S. Cedros, SolanaBeach, (858) 755-3647, www.muttropolis.com.

The Purring Parrot, 3015 St. Charles St.,Point Loma, (619) 223-2326, www.thep-urringparrot.com.

Bird Crazy, 8868 Clairemont Mesa Blvd,(858) 576-9858, www.birdcrazy.com.

‘First Dog’ not from a shelter? Let’s move onMarie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO of the American Hu-

mane Association, is quick to point out that while it is disap-pointing that Bo, the Obamas’ new Portuguesewater dog, did not come from a shelter, there arebigger issues for the public to focus on.

“How about considering what the Obamas didright?” Wheatley asked. “At least the public knowsthat the Obamas researched the breed, made sure itwould fit in with their lifestyle, and gave a home toa dog that did not come from a puppy mill or have apermanent home. That in itself sets a good examplefor the public. It’s time for the country to wish themwell, congratulate them for adding a companion an-imal to their family and move on to more importantissues that are affecting the U.S.”

American Humane Association, the only national nonprofit or-ganization working to protect both children and animals, com-

municated to its constituents that the Obamasmade a personal decision and were very thoughtfulabout how their future pet would fit into their fam-ily and their household.

“Adopting from a shelter or breed rescue groupcertainly would have sent a very strong messagethat ‘shelter dogs’ need homes and that even thepresident can find the perfect companion at a shel-ter or rescue group,” Wheatley said. “We activelypromote adoptions of all animals and have madeour thoughts known to the White House — includ-ing the fact that as many as 25 percent of all ‘shel-ter dogs’ are purebreds.”

1) Drive Your Cat Crazy with Crazy Cat's Cat Quest! 2) Animal Planet toy avaliable atPetSmart. 3) Large Goodie Bone by KONG are Designed Specifically for Large BreedDogs…or Those Who Think They Are! 4) Kitten Play-n-Squeak toys sealed with cat-nip available at pet retailers.

MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 19

Bo , the First Dog.

1 2

3 4

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H BdD 5 ANIMAL RESOURCES

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200920

Animal Adoption OrganizationsA Passion For Paws Akita Rescue Cheryl Weatherford (858) 551-7511www.APassionForPaws.org

Angel Wings Cat Rescue Inc. Wilma Daubman (760) 744-0764www.AngelWingsCatRescue.comBat Rescue Richard Wilkins (858) 679-0211www.batrescue.orgChihuahua Rescue of San Diego Ann Pollack (858) 277-3557 www.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.comGerman Shorthaired Pointer Rescue (760) 726-4813www.GSP-Rescue.orgGreyhound Adoption Center Toll Free 1-877-478-8364www.greyhoundog.orgGreyhound Connection (619) 286-4739www.GreyhoundConnection.orgOperation Greyhound Bruce or Bob (619) 588-6611www.OperationGreyhound.comPaws of Coronado Louise Shirey (619) 435-8247www.PawsOfCoronado.orgPit Bull Rescue of San Diego Kate John (858) 361-3592www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.comPug Rescue of San Diego Countywww.pugbutts.comSan Diego House Rabbit Society Judith Pierce (619) 718-7777www.SanDiegoRabbits.orgS.D. Turtle & Tortoise Society (619) 593-2123www.SDTurtle.orgSouthwestern Rottweiler Club San Diego Deanna Giller (619) 645-8800 www.SRCSD.netWestie Rescue of California (619) 579-6395www.WestieRescueCA.comSan Diego Bulldog Rescue Finding loving homes for bulldogs in need.You can help our program by visiting www.ralphs.com.Select "Community" and use our NPO number 90619. web: www.sdbr.org Phone: (619) 501-0219

Animal Welfare OrganizationsLabrador Harbor Sue Frounfelter (619) 892-0049www.LabradorHarbor.orgLions, Tigers & Bears Bobbi Brink (619) 659-8078www.LionsTigersandBears.orgProject Wildlife Caring for sick, injured & orphaned wildlife (619) 225-9202www.ProjectWildlife.orgZoofari inc. - A partner in preservation Jackie Navarro (760) 630-9230www.Zoofari.net

Dog Beaches/ParksNO LEASH REQUIRED LOCATIONSCoronado Beach North end of Ocean Blvd., South of Naval base& North of Lifeguard TowerSouth Coronado Cays Park Coronado Cays Blvd.Del Mar North Beach N. end of 29th Street Sept.15 to June15 onlyFiesta Island Sea World Dr. & Fiesta Island Rd.Ocean Beach Dog Beach end of Voltaire St. & W. Point Loma Blvd.

LEASH REQUIRED LOCATIONSCardiff State Beach Old Hwy 101, Cardiff lot seasideCoronado Tidelands Park Mullnix Dr. & Glorietta Blvd.Del Mar Beach S. of Powerhouse Park & Ocean Ave.EncinitasSan Elijo State Beach, Manchester Ave.Imperial Beach5th St. & Imperial Beach Blvd.OceansideOceanside Harbor, Hamor Dr. west to HarborLa Jolla Shores Beach 8200 Camino Del Oro From 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. onlyMission Beach -The Strand S. end of Mission Blvd. at channel entranceFrom 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. only

Dog ClubsBREED SPECIFIC DOG CLUBSAztec Doberman Pinscher Club of San Diego Angie Monteleon(619) 443-8944 www.AztecDPC.com

Irish Setter Club of San Diego Madelon McGowen (619) 441-7339 Email - [email protected] Diego Whippet Association Jo Rufing (619) 477-4222www.SanDiegoWhippets.com

DOG WALKING SOCIAL CLUBSSan Diego County French Bulldog meet-up Robert Goulet (760) 207-0332 www.FrenchBulldog.meetup.com/41

AGILITY/DISC/DOCK/FLYBALL/LURE COURSING/OBEDIENCE & SPORT DOG CLUBSAll Breed Obedience Club Inc. (619) 287-2211 www.aboci.comBallistic Racers Flyball Team B & J Matsumoto (619) 991-5267Catchers on the Fly Pamela Beane (760) 471-9087www.CatchersOnTheFly.orgLuratics Lure Coursing & Earth Dog Pat Bennett (619) 749-0724www.Luratics.comMartini’s Ranch – Agility Debby Wheeler (760) 294-4085www.MartinisRanch.com

HERDING CLUBSAction K9 Sports Terry Parrish (760) 739-8673www.actionk9sports.com

Spay & Neuter ServicesFeral Cat Coalition (619) 758-9194www.feralcat.comPet Assistance Foundation Betty Brokaw (619) 469-5008www.orgsites.com/ca/pet-assistance/SNAP – Spay Neuter Action Project (619) 525-3047www.Snap-SanDiego.org

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MAY—JUNE 2009 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com 21

H BdD 5ANIMAL RESOURCESAnimal Shelters & Humane SocietiesSHELTERS THAT WILL ACCEPT STRAYS & HAVE ADOPTIONSBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYCounty Animal Services – Central5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 236-4250www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.BONITACounty Animal Services – South5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 685-6309www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.CAMP PENDLETONCamp Pendleton Animal Shelter4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120CARLSBADCounty Animal Services – North2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92009 (760) 438-2312 or (760) 746-7307www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.CHULA VISTACity of Chula Vista Animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123Hours: M-F 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.CORONADOAnimal Control Facility700 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.EL CAJONCity of El Cajon Animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am to 5:30 pmESCONDIDOEscondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.comHours: 7 days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. OCEANSIDENorth County Humane Society 2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92054 (760) 757-4357 www.NCHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

THESE SHELTERS ONLY ACCEPT OWNER RELINQUISHED ANIMALSBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYSan Diego Humane Society & SPCA 5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat-Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m.EL CAJONFriends of Cats15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.ENCINITASRancho Coastal Humane Society389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.RCHumaneSociety.orgHours: 11 a.m. -5 p.m. every day except Tues. 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.RANCHO SANTA FEHelen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.SPRING VALLEYNational Cat Protection Society9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5 p.m.

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H BdD 5 ANIMAL RESOURCES

sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MAY—JUNE 200922

Emergency HospitalsBONITA/CHULA VISTASouth Co. Emergency Animal Clinic (619) 427-28813438 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat. Sun.Open 24 HoursPet Emergency & Specialty Center of South County (619) 591-4802885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat. Sun.3:30pm-8am www.PESCSanDiego.comCARLSBADCalifornia Veterinary Specialists (760) 431-2272 2310 Faraday Ave. Carlsbad, CA 92008 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.comENCINITASVCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd. Encinitas, CA 92024 7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCANorthCoast.comESCONDIDOAnimal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 7 Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.comKEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONTAnimal ER of San Diego (858) 569-06005610 Kearny Mesa Road San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.LA MESAPet Emergency & Specialty Center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105 La Mesa, CA 91942 7 Days 24 hrs.www.PESCSanDiego.comMISSION VALLEYVCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center (619) 229-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South San Diego, CA 92108 7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCAEmergency.comMURRIETACalifornia Veterinary Specialists (951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.comPOWAYAnimal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-738712775 Poway Road Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.www.AnimalEmergencySD.comSAN MARCOSCalifornia Veterinary Specialists (760) 734-4433 100 N. Rancho Santa Fe Road #133 San Marcos, CA 92069 7 Days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.comSORRENTO VALLEYVeterinary Specialty Hospital (858) 875-750010435 Sorrento Valley Rd. San Diego, CA 92121 7 Days 24 hrs.www.VSHSD.com

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H BdD 5MARKETPLACE

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