The 575 Project

Once again the creative folks at Best Friends Animal Society have conceived a unique and poignant strategy to bring attention to abandoned animals: The 575 Project. This collection of art is the brainchild of contemporary artist and Best Friends co-founder Cyrus Mejia. Several years ago Mejia confronted a terrible statistic: Between four and five million companion animals are put to death annually in the U.S. Five million would equate a staggering 13,800 every day, or a heartbreaking 575 each hour.

The 575 Project is an educational tribute to these animals. Mejia collected a slew of cat and dog related items from animal shelters across the country to incorporate into his work for the exhibit. Many of the pieces are constructed out of 575 objects like "Carry Me Home" - the dog house pictured above which features 575 collars.

Mejia's project has appeared in several locations including the Senate rotunda in Washington, DC. Currently, The it's on view at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah as part of a larger, multiple artist exhibit called "Art For Animals." It runs through January 16 and a portion of all sales will benefit animal welfare organizations, so stop on by if you're in the area.

The number of homeless animals who are killed in our cities and towns every year is a true tragedy. The terrible reality is that the animals in the greatest jeopardy are the ones deemed "less than perfect" in one way or another - those who are too old or too young, those who may be deaf, blind, maimed, ill, injured, or even the "wrong" color. These cats and dogs are the ones who need us the most, and that is why I strive to spread the word about disabled pets. Although they may face unique challenges (and even a bit of special care), these animals still have so much to give - all they need is a chance.

For more details about The 575 Project, visit http://www.cyrusmejia.com/ or http://www.bestfriends.org/

Greta & Dewey Wish You A Happy Thanksgiving!

Dewey's Beach Excursion

Last weekend Dewey and I ventured out to the waterfront for some beachcombing. Greta happily stayed behind to hold down the fort - she loathes the beach! I wonder if that's a common thing with wiener dogs? Anyway, Dewey seemed to have a great time hopping around and playing king of the mountain on the logs. Hopefully, if the weather continues to be mild we can keep beachcombing all winter!

P.S. This is also a showcase of Dewey's "manly" collar which was a gift from Annie's mom. Dewey was getting quite a lot of grief for his pink and purple accessories (hand-me-downs from his sister), so Annie and her mom got this handsome brown and blue number to lend our little tripod an air of masculinity :-)

Hans Lends A Helping Paw

The Rebound Hounds are always on the lookout for stories that illustrate disabled dogs in action, especially when they are helping others. Recently we discovered a Dachshund named Hans who is doing just that in Florida. Hans gets around in a wheelchair, but that doesn't seem to slow him down at all! In fact, Hans makes twice weekly visits to Peninsula Rehab Center at Flordia Hospital Oceanside where he offers patients hope and inspiration as a therapy dog.

Hans' mom, Anne, is a nurse who got the idea to bring her special pooch to the Rehab Center after working with a patient who was frustrated by having to use a walker. Hans immediately proved to be a big hit!

Since his first visit, Hans has become a regular fixture in the stroke therapy program. Patients focus on regaining movement and motor control by petting him and giving him treats.

Animals can have an amazing affect in hospitals and care facilities, and I think that a disabled dog like Hans can make a particularly profound impact. Way to go Hans!

Holly - An Adorable Tripod In Need Of A Home

Little Holly is a darling 3 year old Lhasa Apso mix who is currently avaliable for adoption at the animal shelter where I work. Like our Dewey, Holly's right hind leg has been amputated. Never fear, though: she is doing just fine with three limbs! Tripod dogs cope quite remarkably, and the little ones tend to do especially well since they have less weight to balance.

Holly was also treated for a condition called cherry eye. Like many animals, dogs have three eyelids - the upper lid, the lower lid, and a third clear eyelid (the nictitating membrane). The third eyelid contains a tear gland and works much like a windshield wiper as it sweeps across the cornea clearing it of debris. Cherry eye happens when the third eyelid's tear gland swells up and comes out of position. Cherry eye is typically treated surgically and the recovery time is brief, as it was for Holly. For more details about cherry eye, check out this site. And for more information about adopting Holly, feel free to contact me!

Dachshunds At Work

Here are a few recent shots of Greta and Dewey on the job. They accompany me to my office at the animal shelter most days, and as you can see, they are often very hard at work (sleeping!).

Canine Cancer Awareness

November is recognized as Pet Cancer Awareness Month by many animal advocacy groups, so we are taking this opportunity to address canine osteosarcoma - commonly known as bone cancer. Osteosarcoma accounts for over 95% of all bone tumors in dogs and treatment often entails limb amputation.

Many of our favorite tripods ended up with three legs because of bone cancer. Fortunately, dogs like the osteosarcoma survivor pictured above are able to adjust remarkably quickly to life with three legs. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, "The vast majority of dogs will adapt very well after limb amputation, even if arthritic in other joints, overweight, or a large dog breed."

If there is any doubt about the resilience of tripods, check out the inspirational story of Jerry, a three-legged German shepherd who continued to enjoy many hikes, road trips, and excursions to the beach during his brave battle with osteosarcoma. Although Jerry crossed the rainbow bridge in early October, his spirit lives on at http://www.tripawds.com/ where his humans share resources and insights with others.

Backyard Breeders & Puppy Mills = Disabled Dogs

What's wrong with this picture? This dachshund is a double dapple. Although he may look cute, he is both deaf and blind - the result of irresponsible breeding. When dapple doxies are bred together, their double dapple offspring often have numerous birth defects including underdeveloped eyes (or no eyes), blindness, deafness, and missing limbs. So why are they bred at all? In a word: money. The more "exotic" the dog, the more a breeder can charge customers. Of course, the eyeless, blind, deaf, deformed dogs are not usually sold. These puppies are described as "flaw dogs" and are routinely killed (or "culled" in breeder parlance). The lucky ones might be abandoned or dropped at animal shelters, which gives them their only chance at finding loving homes.

Puppy mills are particularly notorious for creating disabled dogs. The adult dogs are kept in horribly cramped cages, often wire rabbit hutches without blankets. The wire can easily create skin sores and the overcrowded conditions can lead to fights that leave dogs maimed. Since females are relentlessly bred over and over and over again, they develop mammary tumors. Veterinary care is virtually nonexistent, so puppy mill dogs have a host of ailments from mange to broken limbs.

Puppy mill puppies are typically not much healthier than their parents. Inbreeding leads to numerous genetic defects that result in all kinds of maladies; some are visible, others do not come to light until the dog is older.

Although Rebounds Hounds is committed to supporting disabled dogs of all stripes, it's heartbreaking to think that dogs are harmed, injured, and deformed almost intentionally by reckless backyard breeders and puppy millers. Together we can take a stand to help reduce and eventually eliminate these outfits so that they stop producing crippled animals. Here's how you can help:

1) Never purchase a pooch from a pet shop! Virtually all of the puppies that are sold in retail stores originated in a puppy mill. Even though it's hard to resist that cute doggie in the window, consider the cruel environment that it came from. Along these lines, don't patronize stores that sell puppies. A reputable pet supply shop will not sell live dogs!

2) Don't be suckered into buying a "rare" or exotically patterned dog from a breeder. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Breeding for unusual color patterns like the double dapple often results in deformed, deaf, or blind puppies. Even if the dog you're looking at seems perfectly healthy and hopelessly cute, consider that it may have had "defective" litter mates that were destroyed or abandoned. Just as reputable pet stores don't sell dogs, legitimate breeders don't try to combine color patterns for the sake of profit.

3) Visit http://www.stoppuppymills.org/ to get the scoop. This is a very informative site with lots of tips and pointers. Even if this is all old news to you, help spread the word! Send an email to friends, family, and colleagues and share the stop puppy mills website. It's truly astonishing how many people still don't know about the pet store / puppy mill connection. If we all work to inform folks, the dogs will be the ones who benefit...

TTouch - A Great Technique For Disabled Dogs

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a TTouch workshop with Greta. It was my first experience with this intriguing alternative therapy. TTouch (short for Tellington Touch) is a method of light hand and fingertip motions that are applied to the body. The technique was developed by British animal behaviorist Linda Tellington-Jones in the 1970s during her work with horses. In the 1980s, Linda expanded TTouch to include other companion animals such as birds, dogs, and cats. Since then, TTouch has been further broadened to help wildlife, zoo animals, and even humans!

Many people mistake TTouch for massage, although they are quite different. While massage is focused on manipulating muscle tissue, the purpose of TTouch is to engage the nervous system. The light strokes and circular motions provide tactile input that is carried through the sensory nerves to the brain. The ideal outcome is a release of tension and increased body awareness. The TTouch training center in New Mexico describes it this way, "The intent of the TTouch is to activate the function of the cells and awaken cellular intelligence - a little like 'turning on the electric lights of the body.' "

Okay, so if all this sounds a little mysterious, I must confess that even after taking a TTouch workshop I'm still trying to fully understand the method. I really think that there's something to it, though. It makes sense that the lightly applied strokes and circles that comprise TTouch would help reduce an animal's stress, improve circulation, facilitate bonding, and help diminish adrenaline and cortisol levels while increasing serotonin.

For a disabled dog, these objectives are especially important. TTouch can be a wonderful supplement to other forms of care and therapy. Greta is a very nervous dog with limited mobility, so our TTouch session offered a nice chance to help her gain more body awareness and feel calmer.

Still wondering what TTouch is all about??? Here are several techniques:

Noah's March
This TTouch is customarily used to begin and end sessions. For Noah's March, use your flat hand to softly follow the contours of your animal's body. Use long, sweeping strokes and keep your fingers relaxed.

The Zigzag TTouch
This is another easy one that helps get the attention of nervous dogs. The name of the Zigzag TTouch indicates how it's done. Simply move your hand across the body in a zigzag motion with the fingers spread apart. Begin near the shoulder and work downward.

The Clouded Leopard TTouch
The Clouded Leopard is the essential TTouch. All of the additional circular TTouch are variations of the Clouded Leopard. To perform it, your fingers should be slightly curved (somewhat like they would be positioned over a computer mouse). Use the pads of your fingers to make light circular motions all over the animal's body.

Additional TTouches focus specifically on the ears, mouth, legs, and tail. The goal of them all is to release tension, build confidence, and create body awareness to positively influence behavior and communication. For more in-depth information, check out this great article at the Senior Dogs Project or visit the TTouch website. Also, if any of you have experience with TTouch we would love to hear more about it!

Gus, The "World's Ugliest Dog" Has Passed Away

Gus, the reigning champ of the annual "World's Ugliest Dog" contest has passed away after a long battle with skin cancer. The 9 year old Chinese Crested was a tripod with one eye - his rear left leg was amputated in order to remove a cancerous tumor and he lost his eye in a cat fight. Gus was rescued by Jeanenne and Janey Teed when they discovered that he was being confined to a crate in someone's garage. This sweet guy was fortunate enough to spend the last years of his life as a pampered pooch in Florida, and the prize money he won in the 2008 World's Ugliest Dog contest was used to treat his cancer. RIP Gus. You were an inspiration to tripods and "unique" dogs everywhere.

Rebound Hounds In Repose

Yesterday I finally got 3-legged Dewey the dog bed I know he's been dreaming of. He always jumps right on his canine friend Annie's comfy bed at work, so I figured he'd like one of his own. Greta has never shown much interest in dog beds, preferring nests of blankets instead. Dewey, however, seems to be in sheer heaven in his new bed! After his time as a stray out on the streets, he definitely doesn't mind being pampered! Check out that blissful little face...

Greyhound Racing Banned In Massachusetts!

Tuesday's election was historic in more ways than one: In Massachusetts, voters passed the Greyhound Protection Act, marking the first time that dog tracks have been banned as the result of a citizen's initiative. The landmark vote will phase out commercial greyhound racing by 2010.

For dogs and dog advocates, the ban can't come soon enough - Massachusetts state records indicate that more than 800 racing greyhounds have been injured over the past six years. Almost 80% of the reported injuries were leg fractures. The sad reality is that racers with broken legs are euthanized more often than not. Now that voters in 12 out of 14 Massachusetts counties have taken a stand against this inhumane sport, dogs who have spent years in cramped kennels will finally get a chance to live as companion animals.

Gentle greyhounds like Snake (pictured above) definitely deserve to have homes and families of their own. Snake is a retired racer who served as the Yes On 3 spokesdog. Check out www.protectdogs.org and www.grey2kusa.org for more information about Snake and all the details of the Massachusetts racing ban.

Hopefully this historic legislation will influence the remaining states where live greyhound racing still takes place: New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, West Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon. Greyhounds deserve better!!!

Canine Blood Donors

Just like humans, dogs (and cats) rely on each other for blood transfusions when they are ill or injured. Many dogs can donate blood to vet hospitals, although requirements vary. Our local canine blood bank mandates that doggie donors must be between 1-5 years old and weigh 55 pounds or more, so unfortunately Greta and Dewey aren't eligible. Aside from the weight and age requirements, though, lots of disabled dogs are still able to provide donor blood. Recently we discovered two extra special dogs who do just that: Levi and Goldie.

Levi is a handsome blind Dalmatian who lives in Wales. He was born with a condition called Retinal Dysplasia which rendered him sightless. When Levi was 5 months old, he developed Glaucoma in his left eye, and at 11 months the Glaucoma appeared in his right eye. As a result, both of Levi's eyes had to be surgically removed. According to his humans, however, none of this seemed to affect Levi's happy personality.

Best of all, Levi's blindness didn't stop him from being a canine blood donor for several years. Levi was known as an especially calm and patient donor, making him a favorite of the vet staff and his transfusions helped save several lives. Way to go Levi!

Goldie, a lab mix, is a tripod who lost her front left leg after being hit by a car. She was a stray at the time of the accident, but a good samaritan got her the emergency care she needed and the vet staff who treated Goldie ended up collectively adopting her! As a permanent resident at an Oklahoma City vet hospital, Goldie regularly donates blood to other dogs in need.

Despite their limitations, Levi and Goldie have been able to lead great lives and help dogs with traumatic injuries, clotting disorders, surgical blood loss, bone marrow problems, and many other aliments. Pretty amazing, isn't it?!? Levi and Goldie both demonstrate that a dog doesn't need 4 legs or sight to help others...

If you have a medium to large sized dog, I encourage you to explore blood donation options in your area. Regardless of your best friend's physical ability, he/she may still be able to save lives!