Crusty Puppies Update

Kirby and Amadeus, our current foster puppies, are less crusty after a week of treatment for Demodectic mange. Despite their appearance, they are not contagious. Demodex mites are normally present in the hair follicles of dogs, humans, and other mammals, but Demodectic mange only develops in animals with weakened immune systems.

On the other hand, Sarcoptic mange (aka scabies) is contagious and can be spread from dogs to humans, cats, ferrets, and foxes. Veterinarians determine what type of mange a dog has by performing a skin scrape to identify the mites under a microscope.

Both Demodectic and Sarcoptic mange are usually treatable and easily controlled, however, it takes dogs a significant period of time to recover from bad cases. Kirby and Amadeus will likely need another month of treatment before they can return to the animal shelter for adoption. Because most animal shelters don't have the resources to house animals for weeks or months at a time, the sad reality is that mange is all too often a death sentence. Knowing this makes all the work of caring for two noisy, messy, smelly puppies worthwhile.

___________________________________________________________

P.S. We welcome any and all guesses about Kirby's breed (the little brown guy). At first we thought he was a Chihuahua mix, but now we are wondering if he might actually be a larger Shepherd mix. Feel free to weigh in!

Happy National Dog Day From Dewey & Greta!

In honor of National Dog Day, I'm sharing some of my favorite pictures of our two Rebound Hounds, three-legged Dewey and blind and paralyzed Greta, indulging in some of their favorite pastimes: snoozing, snacking, wearing hats and costumes, snoozing, and more snoozing. Hooray for hounds!

Invasion Of The Crusty Puppies...

These two little guys are the primary reason that I haven't been posting with much regularity this week. We began fostering Amadeus (the black terrier) and Kirby (the Chihuahua mix) on Thursday after our first shift as volunteers with our local city animal shelter. I was prepared to encounter some sad cases, but these guys were just way too pitiful to leave behind when it was time to head home at the end of the night.

Both pups arrived at the shelter with advanced cases of untreated Demodectic mange. This noncontagious skin disease occurs when Demodex mites proliferate and cause hair loss and skin lesions. Demodectic mites are normally present on dogs (and other mammals including humans!), but they can multiply exponentially and cause mange in puppies and dogs with suppressed immune systems. Puppies are especially susceptible to developing mange because their immune systems are not fully mature.

The good news is that Demodectic mange is treatable. As awful as Amadeus and Kirby look now, they will be as good as new in a few weeks. They get a daily dose of medication and regular baths with benzoyl peroxide to help their skin heal. The pups look better already after just a few days of treatment and are happily oblivious to their crusty, scabby appearance as they scamper around the house playing and making mischief just like any other pair of puppies. Stay tuned for updates on their progress!

Meet The Three-Legged Mayor Of Divide, Colorado!

Training Deaf Dogs - It Can Be Done!

I spent part of my afternoon with Alice, a gentle and curious deaf Pit Bull mix, during a volunteer training at Oakland Animal Services, our city shelter. Like many deaf dogs, Alice is learning how to understand obedience commands through hand signals. Training deaf dogs is really not much more challenging than training hearing dogs - it just requires different techniques. Check out these articles for more information:

Training The Deaf Dog: Just Because She Can't Hear Doesn't Mean She Can't Learn
By Stacy Braslau-Schneck, CPDT

Training The Hearing Impaired Dog Is Not Difficult
By Mardi Richmond, The Whole Dog Journal

Deaf Dog Training Tips
Deaf Dog Education Action Fund (DDEAF)

Training Deaf Dogs
By Dr. Jennifer Messer, Modern Dog Magazine
___________________________________________________________

One final thought:

"For perhaps, if the truth were known, we are all a little blind, a little deaf, a little handicapped, a little lonely, a little less than perfect. And if we can learn to appreciate and utilize the dog's full potential, we will, together, make it in this life on earth." -Charlotte Schwartz

Callie Mae: An "Inspurrational" Cat With No Legs

Last month we learned about Oscar the English cat who's outfitted with two prosthetic feet. Today we discovered the story of Callie Mae - a tenacious calico who gets around incredibly well despite the fact that all four of her legs have been amputated. You've got to see it to believe it!

"Love Is Blind" - A Heartwarming Rescue Story

After working in animal shelters for several years, I often feel like I've seen it all. When my pal Vicki sent me this story, however, I was truly astonished by what I read. First, by the awful cruelty and carelessness that led someone to abandon two helpless blind dogs, but more importantly, by the heartwarming heroism of author Todd Miller for intervening to save the lives of these deserving animals despite the assumption that "no one would want to adopt two old beat up blind dogs."

Marilyn (above left) and Elvis (right) are alive and thriving today because Todd and his wife welcomed them into their home - blindness, advanced age, heart murmurs, and all. Our world needs more people like Todd, people who will take a stand and recognize that disabled animals are still worthy of love, affection, care, and life.

"Love Is Blind" by Todd Miller

Three-Legged Dogs Get Around A-Okay

When people first meet our three-legged dog, Dewey, their first question is usually "How did he lose his leg?" which is something I would love to answer. Since he's a rescue pooch who was found as a stray, we have no idea how he came to be a tripod. Because I'm curious myself, I can understand others' interest.

The second most common question about Dewey is a little more surprising, though. People often ask "Can he walk/run?" especially if I'm holding him or he's cruising in the doggie stroller with Greta. It always amazes me to remember that people sometimes mistakenly believe that three-legged dogs aren't mobile, but then again, they probably haven't had their lunch stolen from the top of the table by a tricky little tripod (that feat, by the way, entailed not just walking, but hopping, climbing, gobbling, and very fast thinking on Dewey's part!).

The truth is that three-legged dogs generally get around very well. Veterinary oncologist Dr. Greg Ogilvie puts it this way: "Dogs are born with three legs and a spare." If you're curious to learn more about the amazing abilities of tripods, check out these links:

• Tripod Dogs Show Their Glass Is Still Half Full
  
• www.tripawds.com
  
• When Does Amputation Make Sense for A Dog?
  
• Post-Amputation Care

Greta & Dewey Take To The High Seas!

Being disabled doesn't keep Greta and Dewey from having a good time! On Sunday the four of us headed to Monterey for a whale watching adventure. Blind Greta sniffed the salt air and kept her cool on the open ocean in her doggie sling, proving to be quite the little seafarer! Three-legged Dewey was more nervous about the whole experience, but seemed to feel more confident as a sailor once he had his "small man" jacket on. Just another adventure for our rebound hounds!

Here In This House...

Here in this house...

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs "out there."
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake, my world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.

I will feel the sun's heat and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.

I will be talked to, and even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.

My name will be used in joy and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...

I will never be used as a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never to used to improve peoples' images of themselves.

I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house...

I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch... knowing that no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored.

If I am scared, I will be calmed.

If I am sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, not an afterthought.

I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...

I will belong.

I will be home.

~Laura Cathleen Patterson

__________________________________________________________

Photo note: The brown-eyed beauty pictured above is Elenor, one of the many wonderful dogs waiting patiently for her "house" at Oakland Animal Services in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have met Elenor in person, and she is as warm and friendly as they come! If this poem has moved you, please consider opening your heart and home to a deserving shelter dog like Elenor...