Pawsitively Amazing- A Newsletter for dog owners

Sit Means Sit of Palm Beach County presents
Pawsitively Amazing

Month, Year - Vol 1, Issue 1

In This Issue

Christmas Poems

Recommended Vendors

Holistic Pet Cuisine
Simmons Veterinary Hospital
Floresta Animal Hospital

Dear, Pet Enthusiast

Welcome to this edition of our electronic newsletter designed for dog lovers who might want some helpful tips on training. This is also to help keep our Palm Beach clients informed on what's happening in our local area.

To manage your subscription to this newsletter just scroll over to the sign up section. If you feel that your friends could use some information, or our services, then forward this to them.

Bob Burnell
Sit Means Sit of Palm Beach County
561-543-5583
RobertBurnell@sitmeanssit.com

Wishing you a Happy Holiday

The staff of Sit Means Sit of Palm Beach would like to extend our warmest wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday.

Christmas Poems

A Rescue's Christmas Poem

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town, every shelter is full - we are lost, but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare, we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call, "Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!
But now we sit here and think of the days.. we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew - now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash, they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children:, "don't come when they call", we "bark when they leave us", climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed, now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew... we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse -let to roam- now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye... "Maybe someone else will give you a try."
So now here we are, all confused and alone... in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat, with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer... we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads.. of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears - our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn - could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year - can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat... and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live, and more of us will, if more people will give.

--Author Unknown

The Night Before Dog-mas

'Twas the night before Dog-mas, when all through the pound,
Not a puppy was yelping or playing around.
Our leashes were hung by our kennels with care,
In hopes that St. Bernard would soon find us there.

Chihuahuas were curled up all snug in their beds,
While visions of doggie treats danced in their heads.
Max in his collar, on somebody's lap,
Had tucked in his tail for a midwinter's nap.

When outside the room there arose such a clatter,
My ears perked right up to hear what was the matter.
Away to the window I jumped up with glee,
And barked at the shadows that were cast by a tree.

The glow from the moon changed night into day,
And started me thinking, "Woof, woof, time to play".
When, what with my puppy-dog eyes did I see,
But a splendid dog-sled, led by doggies like me!

With a regal furred driver, commanding, not stern.
I yelped to the others, "That must be St. Bern"!
More rapid than greyhounds, our saviors they came,
And we barked and we howled and called them by name.

"There's Duchess! There's King! fat Chance, and bare Buffy!
On Fido, On Scooter! On Rover, and Scruffy!
Go by the red hydrant and run past those trees!
Nothing can stop you, not even some fleas!"

As puppies at play chase after a stick
And race to their masters so lovely and quick,
So out in the field his canines all flew,
Catching the Frisbees that St. Bernard threw.

And then in an instant I heard at the door
The scratching and clawing of each little paw....
As I pulled in my nose and was turning around,
Through the door St. Bernard came in with a bound!

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his tail,
His wood cask adorned with an icing of hail;
A bag of chew toys he had brought in with him,
And his mouth was turned up in what looked like a grin.

His eyes, how they twinkled!
His ears flopped, how merry!
His coat shone like crystal, his nose like a cherry!
His big sloppy mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the fur on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a bone he held tight in his teeth,
And his collar encircled his neck like a wreath.
He had a large face and a furry round belly,
That shook when he barked, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was fluffy and plump, a big cuddly old pooch
And I laughed when I saw him and gave him a smooch!
A wink of his eye and a wag of his tail;
We knew right away we'd have homes without fail.

He howled not a howl, but went straight to his deed,
And took down our leashes that soon we would need.
He opened the door and families stood there,
With children, all smiling, and much love to spare.
He leapt to his sled, to his team gave a call,
And away they all flew as if chasing a ball.

But I heard him exclaim, as he chewed on a bone:
"Happy Dog-mas to all and to all a good home!"

Author Unknown

For everyone that has rescued a dog, thankyou.

For those of you looking for that next family member- please look into a local shelter or rescue group.

Holiday Safety Tips

Dog Tip: Holiday Pet Safety Checklist

You can help keep pets safe during the holiday season by following the tips below. For other important, timely tips for cold weather protection, traveling with pets and safety issues, as well as behavior guidance, go to www.paw-rescue.org and click the Dog Tips link.

* Many holiday plants can lead to health problems in dogs and cats. Among the plants to keep out of reach are holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies.

* Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is poisonous to pets.

* Pine needles, when ingested, can puncture holes in a pet's intestine. So keep pet areas clear of pine needles.

* The extra cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look like chew toys to pets. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries. Unplug lights when you are not home.

* Anchor Christmas trees to the ceiling with a string to keep it from falling on pets.

* Do not let pets drink the holiday tree water. Some may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria. Check labels for tree water preservatives and artificial snow, and buy only those that are nontoxic. Some folks use screens around trees to block access to electrical cords and gifts.

Very important: do not put aspirin in the water (some folks do this thinking it will keep the tree or plant more vigorous). If a pet ingests the aspirin-laced water, his health or even life can be at risk.

* Pets, particularly cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach of pets.

* Keep other ornaments out of reach of pets. Ingestion of any ornament, which might look like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments. And remember, shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body.

* Put away toys after children open their gifts. Small plastic pieces and rubber balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. Ingested plastic or cloth toys must often be removed surgically.

* Avoid toxic decorations. Bubbling lights contain fluid that can be inhaled or ingested, snow sprays and snow flock can cause reactions when inhaled, styrofoam poses a choking hazard, tinsel can cause choking and intestinal obstruction, and water in snow scenes may contain toxic organisms such as Salmonella.

* Keep candles on high shelves. Use fireplace screens to avoid burns.

* Hi-tech shooing: A timely product Im not sure Id recommend, but if you have any experience with it, let me know. The StayAway canister from Contech Electronics uses a motion-detection device to sense when a pet approaches some off-limits area (countertop, table-top, candles, fireplace mantel, holiday tree), then activates a burst of compressed air and a one-second warning screech.

Other low-tech methods: place sticky mats, crunchy aluminum foil or bubblewrap on or around the area ... tie balloons around the area ... put some pennies in empty plastic drink bottles and balance the bottles on the bottom branches of the holiday tree or plant so that theyll noisily tip over if a cat or other pet jumps at or on the tree.

* Holiday guests and other activity can be very stressful and even frightening to pets. It can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure pets have a safe place to retreat in your house. And make sure they are wearing current I.D. in case they escape out a door when guests come and go.

* Reduce stress by keeping feeding and exercise on a regular schedule.

* Always make time to care for your pets. Some folks get lax about walking their dogs, and a few resort to letting pets out on their own. This puts the animal in danger, while also leading to nuisance complaints and dog bite incidents. Remind pet owners not to take a holiday from responsibly caring for their pets.

* When pets are stressed by holiday activity or during travel, they may require more water. Dogs typically pant more when they feel stressed. Keep fresh water available for them to drink.

* Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower essence available in most health food stores, is a natural stress reliever that many folks keep on hand at home and in travel kits. It can often help both people and animals recover from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue, chocolate ingestion and irritation. Put a few drops in the dog�s water bowl or portable water container. For stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on their ear or put a drop on the towel in their crate or carrier. Flower essences are free of harmful effects and can be used along with conventional medicines. Another safe, nontoxic Rescue Remedy-like product is Animal Emergency Trauma Solution, available from www.greenhopeessences.com, where you can also get Flee Free to combat fleas nontoxically. Other flower essence sources include anaflora.com and perelandra-ltd.com.

* Do not let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol, that can cause illnesses from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis and other toxic reactions. In addition, candy wrappers, aluminum foil pieces and ribbons can choke pets.

* Keep pets away from gift packages as well as your gift wrapping area. Ingested string, plastic, cloth and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage and require surgical removal. And pets have been severely injured by scissors and other items left on floors and tables.

* Keep pets away from the garbage. Use pet-proof containers.

* If you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian and/or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.

* If your pet ingests glass, broken plastic, staples orother small, sharp objects, call your veterinarian.
In the meantime, you can give your dog supplemental fiber in the form of whole wheat or other high-fiber bread, canned pumpkin or Metamucil, any of which can help bulk up the stools the help the foreigh material pass through the dogs digestive system. Dosages depend on the size of the dog. For Metamusil, try a teaspoon for a small dog, a tablespoon for a big dog. For pumpkin, feed one-quarter to two-thirds of a cup. Some folks recommend feeding the dog cotton balls to help pass the foreign objects, but others in the veterinary field caution against this since cotton balls can compound the problem.

* By the way, now is a good time to double-check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices and replace batteries. Safety, of course, is the key reason -- but here's another good reason. When batteries run low, the devices often emit alert or alarm sounds at frequencies that can be painful and frightening to many pets. If you're not home when the alert/alarm sounds, your animals will have to endure that sound until you return, which can be traumatic. So always keep fresh batteries in those devices.

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