Missing Foster Dog

In Search of Dexter. Have you SEEN this Dog?

Summer is coming to an end with only a few weeks left for camping. Are you considering going camping with your pet?

Consider these tips before you go.

Properly Securing Your Pet In a Vehicle

For years, Americans have been buckling up. The proper use of lap/shoulder belts have been shown to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat car occupants by 45 percent, while reducing the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. Further research has shown that non-belted rear seat passengers increase the death rate of front seat passengers by up to 5 times. We buckle up ourselves and children to ensure all passengers safety, or do we? What about our pets?
With pet travel on the rise, more and more dogs and cats are suffering severe injuries from not being properly restrained. A pet that is not properly restrained in a vehicle is a danger to itself and other passengers in the vehicle. Even the best behaved pet travelers can get overly excited or frightened while riding in a car. This behavior can easily distract the driver, causing an accident. An unrestrained pet can potentially become a flying projectile in the event of a sudden stop or accident “a lethal danger” to the pet and other passengers in the vehicle. Unfortunately, instances of pets being thrown through the windshield are all too common in severe accidents.
The dangers are more likely than one may think. A vehicle involved in an accident traveling at only 30 mph can cause a 15 pound child to create an impact of 675 pounds. Similarly, a 60 pound dog can cause an impact of 2700 pounds. Imagine the injury such an impact would cause for the helpless pet as well as other passengers.
Responsible pet owners need to take heed of the dangers of unrestrained pets. Many pet owners believe restraint is not necessary for “around town” travel like the bank, the post office, or the pet store. However, this is when most accidents occur.
Yet another important consideration is that in the event of an accident, a frightened pet may run out into traffic while rescue workers enter the vehicle to assist passengers. Or it may attack those who are trying to help. There are many pet vehicle restraint options available. Pet safety belts, pet car seats (with built-in seat belts), pet travel crates & kennels, and vehicle pet barriers are some excellent options. Selecting the proper restraint option, best suited for your dog or cat is essential. Whatever method you choose to properly restrain your pet in your vehicle, be sure to give your pet ample time to adapt.
For example, if you choose a travel crate, place the crate in your home and put some of your pets favorite toys or blanket it. Allow your pet to go in and out of the crate at its leisure. Eventually, put the crate in your vehicle and place your pet in crate. Start out taking short car rides and gradually increase the time until your pet is comfortable. If you choose a pet safety belt, let your pet wear the harness around the house. Allow them time to feel comfortable in the harness prior to strapping them in the car. Similar to the travel crate, start out with short car rides and gradually build up. No matter what method of restraint you utilize, back seat or cargo travel is the safest.
In addition to safety, make your pet’s comfort a priority. Just as it’s important for your “seat” to be comfortable your pet’s seat should be comfortable too.
Let’s all do what’s right for our pets. Pets are members of the family and their safety is our responsibility.

TripsWithPets.com is the #1 online resource for pet travel. Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com.

Recipe of the Month

Apple Crunch Pupcakes

A fruity treat your dog will adore

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups water 1 medium egg

1/4 cup applesauce(unsweetened) 4 cups whole wheat flour

2 tbsp. honey 1 cup dried apple chips(unsweetened)

1/8n tbsp. vanilla extract 1 tbsp. baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla together in a bowl

3. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well blended

4. Pour into lightly greased muffin pans

5. Bake 1 1/4 hours

Dog Nutrition cont’d

Eggs

Loaded with protein and a host of vitamins and minerals, eggs provide blue ribbon-worthy luxurious coats. Are raw eggs ok? Some say no, citing concerns of salmonella poisoning and a biotin deficiency caused by a substance in whites, while others say yes ( and give them the shells too.) Noting that salmonella is fairly rare in dogs and the yolks contain enough biotin to overcome any deficiency. Bottom line: If you are worried – go ahead and cook them.

8 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Pets cont’d

3. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to dogs in large enough quantities. Chocolate also contains caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, and certain soft drinks. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. For example, dark chocolate and baking chocolate contain more of these compounds than milk chocolate does, so a dog would need to eat more milk chocolate in order to become ill. However, even a few ounces of chocolate can be enough to cause illness in a small dog, so no amount or type of chocolate should be considered “safe” for a dog to eat. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid or irregular heart rate, restlessness, muscle tremors and seizure. Death can occur within 24 hours of ingestion.

D.I.N.O is pleased to offer 6 weeks of Pet Secure Insurance with their adoptions. DNA kits to adopters, Discounted Training through CAT, earth options dog food, grooming ($30) and boarding is also available for purchase.

DINO Rescue is pleased to offer boarding for $20 per day. Preference will be given first to our adopters, but we will happily accommodate others if space allows.

Please contact us for further information on our boarding! Thank you from the DINO Rescue team!

DNA My Dog Canine Genetic Testing

Your dog’s unique DNA – Only $10

DNA My Dog’s simple cheek swab DNA test lets you learn every breed in your dog and gain insight into the unique genetic background of your dog including the history of their breed, personality traits, exercise levels, and so much more!

Every dog has its own unique DNA. DNA My Dog provides you with a kit and very simple instructions for swabbing the cheeks of your dog and collecting your dog’s DNA samples. The test is easy, painless and takes under a minute.

Impawsible – Possible

www.impawsiblepossible.com

Urban Freedom Calgary: ***For dog & human friendly dogs only*** Class limited to 6 dogs!!!

Pre-requisite: None except dog must be human & dog friendly

Class Description: Are you embarrassed by your dog’s behaviours and bad manners? Does he run in the opposite direction when you call him? Does he pull you down the street on your walks, leaving you in puddles of spilt lattes? Does she struggle to find focus in the urban environment amidst the myriad of distractions. If you answered “yes” to any (or all) of these questions then Urban Freedom is for you. Transform your dog into an ideal urban citizen, this fun and educational program

Number of Classes: Urban Freedom Calgary consists of 14 Classes over the course of 7 weeks at 14 unique outdoor locations in Calgary (each class is 1 hour)

Tuition: Regular: $289 + GST DINO Rescue: $231.20 + GST (Save 20%)

Feisty Fido: ***For dogs with fears, aggression, reactivity and/or anxiety *** Class limited to 5 dogs!!!

Pre-requisite: None

Class Description: Does your dog make embarrassing displays at the end of her leash? Does she lunge, bark, snarl and growl at dogs, strangers, skateboards, cars, bikes or even snowmen? If you dread leaving your house with Fido for fear of what, or whom, you may run into then this class is for you. In this 6 week class dedicated to Feisty Fidos, you will learn everything you need to know to manage and permanently modify these undesirable behaviors so that you can leave your house with confidence – looking forward to whatever “challenges” are lurking around the next corner.

Number of Classes: 6 Classes (First Class is Human only orientation)

Tuition: Regular: $289 + GST DINO Rescue: $231.20 + GST (Save 20%)

Color

Through their eyes

My family and I had this discussion last night. We were divided. Some said yes while others said no that dogs do not see color. The fact is while their color vision is somewhat limited and different than ours, they do see color, and a look at the world through a dog’s eyes can provide insight into how they perceive the world. Their color vision is most similar to a human with red-green color blindness, although there are other differences. Dogs are less sensitive to variations in gray shades than humans are, as well as only about half as sensitive to changes in brightness.

Make Room In Your Heart

I know that you still search for me

Within the room; by the fireside

Eyes alight with hope reflected

In the flames, and tears you’ve cried.

But I am not, and cannot be

Laid by your side another day,

For your bonded love has set me free

Letting my wounded soul fly far away.

But still I see you growing older

Day by day the greyness showing

In a world that’s getting colder

Each step you take; loneliness growing.

I also see my kindred kind

Who shiver and weep upon the path

Knowing not their state of mind

Betrayed by the humans that they had.

Thrown by bushes and left to roam

Or caged in pounds without a home

These lonely dogs know nothing of

The life we shared; the home; the love.

So now I need to ask of you

A friendly favour, perhaps overdue.

Won’t you open your heart to take one in,

And let the love of man and dog begin.

By Moya Muldowney, 20

20th January 2006

Check out our T-shirts

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Volunteers of the Month

Alberta Lost Pet Locator

My name is Marie Jennings and I am owner/director of Alberta Lost Pet Locator. I have been working with dogs for over 18 years in one form or another. I hold a certificate of achievement with MAR (Missing Animal Response) in compliance with Missing Pet Partnership.

I started this service in memory of my lost pet “Zoe” who went missing last year. When I began my search for Zoe I realized there were few resources available to help me in my search. Zoe meant everything to me and I decided then I would research and develop a service to help others in their search for their lost pets.

I currently have a “Facebook” account that list missing pets reported by several agencies and the public. This information is updated daily and has proven results.

I also provide an “on site” search and rescue service where I will organize and facilitate in the capture of lost pets.

The goal of Alberta Lost Pet Locator is simply to aide in the recovery of lost pets and reuniting those pets with their family.

As mentioned in our first part of the newsletter, Maria is helping us to find DEXTER.

Barb is the new head of Foster and Transport.
Thank-you for your time, support and dedication. Means a lot to DINO.